If there is one thing worth being cheap, it is a spa treatment! I had two in Bali - one at a five star resort with a yoga session which was simply amazing. I had a foot spa and a beautiful jade stone massage. I gave that woman a huge tip. Then I did the spa airport departure too where I had a red wine bath with rose petals. When you do a conversion, spa treatments are about half the price they are in Australia.

Mia will do both of these. She'll need a relaxing massage and a red wine bath to make her feel better as she leaves Aiden behind in Bali...

Admitting to this is probably giving away one of my biggest secrets, but yes, I want to write a book set in Siberia. Preferably in winter. Think about it - the isolation, the culture, the cold. I have a story I call my 'dream romance story', one I will write when I feel I'm skilled enough, and this book will be set in Siberia. I'm not entirely sure where yet and obviously I'd love to visit Siberia first, but I'm not sure if that's ever going to happen, so this story will, for now, remain a 'dream'.

I spent the afternoon in Bath when I went to England, saw the Roman Baths, visited the Jane Austen Centre, and had a yummy sausage roll and chocolate brownie at this cute little bakery. I took photos of the beautiful Bath Cathedral and bought a local piece of handmade glass - a penguin figurine. And I don't know...but it was a lovely afternoon and if I were to pick another English town to set a book in, I'd love to write a love story in Bath.

Sounds like a standard location, but I'd really like to set a book in New York. I started one once, which was when I sat on Google Maps streetview and travelled all the way from JFK to Manhattan so I could work out when you first might catch a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline. But I love New York and spent two weeks there once, so I think it'd be awfully fun to set a book here in the city that truly never sleeps.

 Okay, so I seriously LOVE Las Vegas! I spent a couple magical days there once to check out the magicians, see the Grand Canyon, and do some serious shopping. I still can't believe the effect the place had on me...it's like visiting the whole world all at once! If I could, I'd seriously go back there. It's so much fun! I don't know what sort of book I'd like to set there, but it's definitely a place I'll use one day.

I sort of have this opening in my head 'when heroine boarded the plane to Hong Kong and saw the man sitting beside her, she knew it was going to be a long flight...' Whether he's just insanely gorgeous or she knows him, I don't know. That's all I have so far.

I spent a week in Hong Kong and if I'm going to use a setting I've been to, this is definitely an interesting, vibrant place.

Bright, blood red and the birthstone of July, I love rubies simply because of their colour - red! I have one pretty red heart ruby ring, which I don't wear because I haven't ever bothered to get it resized. 

Rubies are corundum. The largest ruby is the Burmese Ruby housed inside the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, which means I've seen it! Except, apparently, I don't have a picture.

Roxanne was the Ruby Princess in the Jewel Kingdom series. She was the second oldest at nine, had black hair, wore red, lived in the Red Mountains, and had a pet dragon called Hapgood!

Chocolate cake is always a winner! Whether it is a nice chocolate sponge or with chocolate chips, or mudcake, chocolate is always the very clear winner!

A soft, fluffy cake - I used to love the one from Coles. Without the icing, of course. I like cake, but I definitely think that all cakes are ruined once iced.

Banana cake/banana bread/banana loaf, whatever you want to call it, the sweetness and texture of this cake makes it my favourite of all the 'fruity' cakes.

The tangy citrus flavour of this cake makes it a clear winner, that and it's pretty, dotty colour.

Mixed in with a bit of nuts and topped with cream cheese, this one is delicious. 

This is my absolute favourite part of going to conference, meeting editors and agents and pitching my manuscripts. It is without a doubt the best way to get your work in front of a publisher. I've pitched at the previous two conferences and while none of my work has yet been picked up, I have received actual feedback on my work from the publishers, which you don't get through the slushpile.

This year, I have three pitches with three different publishers...and I'm pitching three different books! Oh, I have a lot of work to do...

Whether it's catching up with old friends, making new ones, or simply meeting your favourite authors, just talking to other people is one of the best things about conference. We're all writers. We all love books. And you never know who you'll meet either! At my first conference, just being in a room with these people made me feel like a real author and then at my second, I felt like part of the tribe. 

I cannot wait to get to Melbourne and see all these wonderful people again.

At my first conference, the awards dinner was fun because everything was all new and I loved watching everyone be presented with their awards. When Marion Lennox was inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame and the whole room stood to applause, it filled my heart - something to aspire to!

At my second conference, dinner was a little more stressful as I sat there all nervous about the announcement of the Emerald Award, which I was in the running for. I attended with my mum, which was fun, and when I won, it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I treated myself with dessert!

But I love watching the Rubys, cheering on all these amazing writers, and Stand-Ups with Anne Gracie at the end makes you feel like part of the romance writing tribe. I cannot wait to see when I get to stand up this year!

Then there's the after party, which is always fun as we dance until midnight and turn into pumpkins. After all, there is still a whole day of conference in the morning, so we can't be dancing all night.

When you arrive at conference, you always get your swag bag with a couple of books in it and who knows what else. If you're lucky, you may even get some freebies at the Friday workshops! I still have both my RWA bags from 2017 and 2018, which are great for grocery shopping. I love taking my RWA bag to Woolies with me and showing off my awesome writing organisation. 

Conference makes you feel like a real writer, no matter where you are on your journey. After my first conference, I replotted my manuscript on the plane trip home, rewrote it, and won the Emerald Award the year after. After my second conference, I was feeling a lot more motivated and I just keep going. The thing I look forward to most this year is another dose of confidence, because I sure do need it! We always do as writers, whether we doubt ourselves or not.

But the main thing I have brought away from conference both years? I should write for Mills & Boon. I don't know why, but that's what I keep feeling. And this year? I have a manuscript ready and an appointment scheduled to pitch it to a Mills & Boon editor.

​Fingers crossed! I'll blog about the conference when I get home next week!​

Why this is my favourite: It is so dark! What can be darker than a cult of men who believe they are torturing and murdering young women for a divine purpose? And yes, Nora gets right into the itty gritty of descriptive detail, so this isn't a book for the faint hearted.
Plot Summary: Renowned sculptor Clare returns to her hometown to find answers to the nightmares that haunt her surrounding her father's suicide. The teenage badboy turned town sheriff Cameron had loved Clare from afar throughout high school and now that she's back in town, they grow closer and begin a passionate romance. But Clare's return sparks a vengeance and soon Clare and Cameron realise evil lurks everywhere ... even in those they love and trust.
The Characters: Clare is a relatable heroine who is haunted by her father's death and what she may or may not have seen in the forest that night. Cameron is a lovable hero - hot, the town sheriff, with a badboy history and a motorbike to boot!
The Romance: Passionate, hilarious, and very hot. It is almost a fling, sort of 'Best Friend's Sibling', and very much a 'He has always loved her' trope romance.
The Suspense: Gripping and dark. Very, very dark. Murder ... rape ... kidnapping, the works! The murders just keep piling up in this book.
What Makes it Memorable: The nightmares it leaves you with ... so if you don't like the gory details of awful crimes, this book may not be for you.

Why this is my favourite: Apart from the fact it's set on a sprawling Montana ranch and features a number of sexy cowboys, I love this book for one reason - lots of murder, graphic detail, and three separate romances!
Plot Summary: When Jack Mercy dies, he leaves his ranch to his three daughters who have never met. Tess just wants to collect her cash and get back home, Lily is on the run from her ex-husband and finds refuge on the ranch, and Willa finds the presence of her sisters an intrusion. After all, she grew up there and she should inherit. But in order for any of them to inherit their twenty million ranch, they must live on the ranch together for one year. So, while strangers, the sisters must put their differences aside and work together if they want to escape the danger that befalls them when somebody starts killing ...
The Characters: Tess is a screenwriter from Hollywood with no interest in a ranch in the middle of nowhere Montana. Country life is not for her and to live there for a whole year is a terrible inconvenience. So she may as well pass the time by having a torrid affair with the sexy lawyer Nate. Then there is Lily, timid and seeking refuge from her ex-husband. She connects with Willa's maternal half-brother Adam, a sexy half-Indian cowboy who will do anything to protect her. Then there is Willa, the feisty and annoyed cowgirl who wishes everyone would leave her alone to run the ranch - especially her neighbour Ben, who her father had placed as overseer.
The Romance: Tess and Nate engage in a very fun fling with lots of sex, neither of them believing they want anything more. After all, she's only there for a year before she's back in Hollywood. Their story is fun because, after all, you know they'll seek commitment eventually and you want to keep reading to find out how that happens. Then there is Adam and Lily. They become friends first considering Lily's history, but she begins to fall for Adam and realises that she could have a kind and loving relationship with a happy life on the ranch. Then there is Willa and Ben ... like any good neighbours and people with opposing goals, they fight and snipe and resist attraction before giving into the inevitable. I liked this book because I like to have a lot going on in a story, so three romances and six main characters totally worked for me.
The Suspense: While there are a lot of people who live and work on Mercy Ranch, the place is isolated. Therefore, when someone begins killing people who pass through, it has to be one of their own. But who? And why? This book keeps you turning as each sister begins to suspect different people and soon, no one knows who they should trust.
What Makes it Memorable: Three love stories, a lot of tension, and a lot of stake when a ranch worth twenty million dollars is practically up for grabs. There is a lot of descriptive murders and assaults in this book, but when you're writing about horrible stuff, I don't see the point in holding back!

Why this is my favourite: I loved the villain in this book. That revelation was one of the biggest twists of all. There is a lot going on in this book with a few murders, shootings, interesting family dynamics, and an unforgettable love story. 
Plot Summary: After a relationship gone bad, Caroline goes to her grandparent's house - which she's inherited - in Mississippi for some well deserved rest. But rest is not on the cards for Caroline when she meets and becomes attracted to Tucker, a man whose ex-girlfriends start turning up dead.
The Characters: Caroline is a world-class violinist who worked herself to a fainting spell on a world tour. Tucker is a rich southern playboy who lives on his plantation, manages his family affairs, and prefers to keep his relationships in the no-strings-attached category. Until he meets Caroline.
The Romance: Caroline and Tucker end up more or less friends first, especially considering he seems to be linked to the number of murders that show up near his house. But Tucker is not a serial killer and they fall in love. This romance is not as tense as some of the others I've mentioned, but it is sweet and memorable just the same.
The Suspense: There are a number of murders in this book and the suspense is based around 'who is killing these women?' Tucker is an obvious suspect, but he's our hero so it cannot be him. But who else would want Tucker's ex's dead? And why? Plus, there's the father who wants revenge on Tucker as he is dead set on believing Tucker murdered his daughter. There's just a lot going on in this book with many interesting characters so you never know what's going to happen next.
What Makes it Memorable: The identity and motive of the killer and the personal impact this has on Tucker.

Birthright - I love this one for the reunion romance between 'divorced' Callie and Jake, plus the archaeological dig and the baby-snatching backstory.
Homeport - This is a fav for one reason - hot art thief Ryan Boldari!
Carolina Moon - An cold-case murder with a paranormal storyline that reveals a serial killer. I also love the romance between Tori and Cade, as well as the bonus secondary romance between Faith and Wade.
The Reef - This was the first romantic suspense I read of Nora's and I love it because it's a treasure hunt.
The Witness - Two words - Russian Mafia!
The Collector - Another two words - Faberge Eggs!

Whether it's a girl falling in love with her brother's best friend or a man falling for his sister's friend, this trope is always a winner with me and my all time favourite. I just love the tension between both the siblings and the friends, as well as the fact that there may be history between the couple who fall in love.

Some of my favourite Best Friend's Siblings books include Wayward Heart by Cathryn Hein, I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre, and Savour the Moment by Nora Roberts.

​I have written two Best Friend's Sibling manuscripts in my rural romantic suspense series. In the first, my lovable hero has always loved his little sister's best friend and in the second, my feisty heroine who doesn't want a man suddenly finds herself falling for the seductions of her older brother's super sexy best friend.

With a clearly established friendship, I find it very endearing when two good friends realise want more from each other. Whether they've recently discovered their feelings and are caught up in the conflict of whether to pursue the feelings or not, or they've harvested feelings for years and desire is burning strong, I am always cheering for the friends to get it on.

Dear Banjo by Sasha Wasley is one of the best Friends-to-Lovers stories I've read recently. I was drawn to Rachel Bailey's The Finn Factor and Rachael Johns' Outback Dreams because of this trope and one of my all time favourite books is Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern. 

​My category-length romance is a Friends-to-Lovers story where my characters grew up on neighbouring vineyards and have therefore known each other their whole lives. Then I have one manuscript in my rural romantic suspense series in which two best friends finally decide to stop mucking about and accept their love for each other.

I love the tension in these books. There is nothing better than two people getting over their differences and fighting their mutual attraction to finally fall in love. Whether it's just something about the other that the character finds irritating or the lovers are on opposite sides of opposing goals, this trope is always a winner for me.

​Escaping Mr Right by Avril Tremayne is a great Enemies to Lovers book and I love Boundary Lines by Nora Roberts. Pride and Prejudice is also a classic example of an enemies to lovers story.

One of the first book series I wrote was an Enemies to Lovers story in which my heroine was completely in love with a man she couldn't stand. I still love their story today as they were always fun to write. My manuscript Rivenhall Manor, which features three romances, also has an Enemies to Lovers story. Feedback from competitions tells me that readers find it their favourite of the three romances.

I love a good, happy reunion romance because in most cases there is an underlying form of forgiveness in these stories. And forgiveness is often something hard to give. But whether internal or external forces caused the characters to separate, I enjoy reading about them overcoming their differences and reigniting their love because it's usually quite an emotional journey.

My all time favourite reunion romance is definitely Nora Roberts' Birthright - it's full of classic banter between ex-spouses Callie and Jake. I also really liked the reunion romance in Barbara Hannay's Claiming his Family and Rachael Johns' debut novel Jilted.

One of my rural romantic suspense manuscripts is a reunion romance in which my character rekindles her secret relationship with her ex-boyfriend and it's one of my all time favourites.

I like to read a good fling story, when two people decide to have a bit of no-strings-attached sex because, after all, they're in a romance novel and therefore are going to fall in love. And I enjoy watching feelings develop in these relationships as there are so many ways the characters can realise they're in love. Who will realise it first? How will they realise it? Will the other be resistant? Will they both realise but be afraid to tell the other? No matter how it happens, I always enjoy reading this trope.

My two favourite fling books are two of Nora Roberts' romantic suspenses - The Villa and Northern Lights. 
​
As for my own work, one of the other romances in Rivenhall Manor is a fling. It was lots of fun to write and full of very conflicting emotions when feelings finally come into play. 

I'd say this is my favourite as it was the dish I ordered in Mexico and the only reason I probably didn't enjoy it was the quality meat. It wasn't as good as what I get in Australia. Fajita's are traditionally grilled spicy meat and capsicums served with flour or corn tortillas and condiments like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. At Cactus Jack's this is their 'signature' and most popular dish - and I have burn marks from the hot plates.

The photo above is my fajita in Mexico ... as you can see, no hot sizzling plate!

We used to have tacos a lot when I was a kid. Taco shells filled with spicy beef or chicken mince with lots of lettuce and carrot and topped with a bit of taco sauce are still a favourite of mine today. No matter what, tacos are always a winner.

Chilli beef mince in a stew of tomatos (I cut out the beans) and maybe served on a bed of steamed rice - this one is always a winner! At Cactus Jack's, they have all you can eat Chilli Tuesday - it was one of our busiest nights.

Before I ate the fajita at Cactus Jack's, the enchilada's were my favourite. Shredded chicken filling wrapped in corn tortillas, covered with cheese and spicy sauce and then baked, these are served well with rice, salad, and topped with sour cream. No wonder I no longer eat them! All that cheese! 

I used to always be eating nachos - lots of corn chips covered in chilli chicken or beef (or no meat is even better), lots of cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacomale, I used to have it all ready to go in the fridge. I don't anymore ... but if I'm to make nachos, I now make them with my low-carb potatoes! Potato nachos are just as good as the real thing - with the goodness of potato. Let's face it, we all love potatoes more than corn.

Border Collies are my dogs. I have had three border's in my lifetime and I love everything about them. Obviously, they look beautiful with their common markings and gorgeous lush coats. And, of course, they are the most intelligent of dogs.

My first BC was my big sister Laura. She was five months older than me and sadly died when I was in grade two. Then we got Dillon when I was eight. Dillon was in my life for fifteen years and he was the best dog. Very smart, loving, and just an overall good boy. Now, I have Jacob. Jacob is a beautiful boy who loves chasing everything that moves, including flies, and is my loyal baby. You'll often see me tweeting about Jacob.

I also have two BC's in my rural romance novel, where the characters are drawn together by their mutual love for dogs and BC's in particular. Funnily enough, I went through many dog breeds before landing on the BC for this book. Steph and Louis are both based on Dillon, and as the years have passed, they now have a little bit of Jacob in them too.

Fox terriers are cute little dogs and I've had my little foxy Timmy in my life for 13 years now. Timmy is a funny little fellow, who is incredibly loyal to all his family and loves to snuggle up into you or blankets. Often we'd find Timmy curled up in one of our beds. He's also a feisty little dog who likes the bark at the mailman and play what my brother calls 'the crazy game', where he stirs Timmy up. Timmy also likes to hunt lizards and bugs in the garden. And a fun fact - he's allergic to popcorn!

Overall, Fox Terriers are delightful little dogs who love human company and seek adventure in the gardens. I have not actually had a Foxy in my books, but I have used Jack Russell's, who have similar adventurous characteristics and I've been able to base off Timmy.

Dachshund's are beautiful little dogs and are a family favourite of ours. My mum grew up with Dachshunds and my grandmother had a Dachshund I could visit named Schlitz. Dachshunds are gorgeous because they're easily identifiable and I love their big floppy ears! Dachshunds are fearless and playful little dogs and as they were also bred to hunt, they can  be fiercely independent. But they love their humans, will never leave you alone, and they like to snuggle and play, which make them awesome little dogs. The only drawback with the Dachshund, of course, is the care you need to take with their backs. Considering they're long spine, they are more prone to back problems than other dog breeds.

I have not yet featured a Dachshund in a novel, but in all likelihood I will one day! My favourite Dachshund, of course, is Penny, the face of Peter Alexander. I love his pyjamas!

These are the most affectionate and cutest dogs you can come across, I think. If you want a lapdog who will do nothing but love you, then that is the Cavalier. I love Cavaliers because they are small, have beautiful markings in their soft coats, and, of course, their floppy ears! Cavalier's are gentle, friendly, and dignified little dogs. If I was to get a little dog one day, I'd definitely get myself a Cavalier.

I have one Cavalier in my novel - her name is Charlie and she is a little princess who hates to get her paws dirty and loves to curl up with Isabella as Isabella reads books. I also had a Cavalier in my manuscript Almost a Princess, but when I realised Alla was only mentioned a couple of times, I wrote  her out of the story because she wasn't important enough ... I know! Shocking!

I know there are a lot of people out there who don't find the Chihuahua cute, but I am not one of them! What couldn't be cuter than the world's smallest dog breed? Whether they're short haired and look like rats or long-haired and fluffy, I just love Chihuahua's. They're cocky, confident, and noisy little dogs, but they also crave affection and love cuddles. If only we could have all the dogs, I'd love to have a Chihuahua too!

I don't currently have Chihuahua's featured in any book, but my character's mother in my rural romance does have twin Chihuahua's Cooper and Colin who are mentioned.

I tried these for the first time in Hong Kong (or Macau, I think ...) and loved them! Sweet doughy bun with a little bit of saucy meat inside. Yum, yum, yum! Here, I buy the Hong Kong Dim Sim Kitchen BBQ Pork Buns, which are delicious.

It is amazing how good a little bit of beef mince mixed with soy sauce and broccoli can taste, but it's delicious! With a little bit of Chinese five spice, it's quick, simple, and so damn yummy!

I tried dumplings for the first time in Macau too and loved them. Considering I went to the buffet at Macau Tower, I got to try a lot of different foods. Here, I like buying the Hong Kong Dim Sim Kitchen pork and chive dumplings and the Asiana vegetable dumplings.

I didn't like spring rolls as a kid, but I got one at the Tian Tan Buddah in Hong Kong and it was so good! I bought some cheap Coles ones when I got home and didn't really like them, but I do enjoy the Asiana Thai spring rolls.

There is nothing better than thick noodles thrown together with some sauce, veges, and a bit of beef or chicken. Yum, yum, yum!