2018 Emerald Award Recipient

I am thrilled and honoured that my romantic suspense manuscript, Almost a Princess, is the recipient of Romance Writers of Australia's Emerald Award for Best Unpublished Romance Manuscript.

The Emerald Award is an annual contest with Romance Writers of Australia. Initially the first 10,000 words of a romance manuscript is submitted and reviewed by judges. Entrants that receive the top scores are then requested the full manuscript, which is read by reader judges. The top scoring manuscripts out of the second round are then sent to the final judge, who this year was an editor at Entangled Publishing.

At conference in August 2017, Almost a Princess received a manuscript assessment where the doubts I had about the plot and format of the story were discussed and I set out to rewrite the entire manuscript. Having successfully completed this by Christmas, I polished off those first 10,000 words and submitted the story into Emerald in November. It was a lovely surprise when the story made it to the second round, so I completed yet another full manuscript edit and submitted that. The night I received the email informing me I'd made the final round, it was late, I was sick, and this news couldn't have come at a better time. I was more than excited, to say the least, especially after reading the feedback from the readers that brought tears to my eyes. Now though, I was in for a long wait as the winners wouldn't be announced until conference in a few months time.

Mum and I at the Awards Dinner

When I realised I was one of four finalists, I'll admit I was quite nervous. So, I asked my mum to come with me. Even though Mum is not a reader or book lover, she's continued to support me in my dream and I needed to have someone there to hold my hand during the night.

The Emerald Award was announced at the 2018 Romance Writers of Australia Conference at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. Of course, I was already planning to attend. I easily managed to relax in such wonderful company and with the most delicious food. When the award was announced, there was the moment I knew I had won, as they announced from fourth to first and I was the only one left unannounced, and I cannot describe my feelings at that time except being in disbelief.

To receive this award has meant the world to me, and even to have been nominated was an amazing achievement for my work. I was thrilled to share this with my friends in the writing community and, of course, my mum, who managed to capture these amazing pictures of the evening.

Thank you to everyone who helped me achieve this award, including the judges and contest coordinators at RWA. I strongly recommend the Emerald Award and contests like it as no matter what, the feedback is incredibly valuable. The other manuscript I entered into the 2018 Emerald Award placed 22nd.