2020 Emerald Award Recipient

I am thrilled and absolutely honoured that Reunited with the Millionaire ​is the recipient of Romance Writers of Australia's Emerald Award for best unpublished romance manuscript. The feeling is no less sweeter or exciting the second time around.

I have to admit, I love the Emerald Award. It is it's only kind in Australia and the contest I've found the most valuable. Initially, we submit the first 10,000 words, which is read by reader judges. Full manuscripts are then requested for the highest scoring entries. The top three - or this year four - entries were then sent to the final judge, Meghan Farrell at Tule Publishing.

This was the fourth year I entered the Emerald Award and ​Reunited with the Millionaire was my only entry, choosing not to re-enter previous manuscripts. After leaving conference in Melbourne in 2019, I decided to write something new and focus on category romance. Reunited was created from an old idea and after adding in everything I'd learned from the Deep Dive Workshop with Rachel Bailey, I finally had a story I wanted to tell.

This story was written in August to September 2019, mostly during my walks along the Townsville Strand. Since the book is set on Hamilton Island, I used the ocean views to help stimulate my brain. This method worked the first day I tried it, so every day I was back there, walking and writing until the book was finished.

The book was finished in time for the October Long Weekend, when I planned to visit Hamilton Island to conduct research. This was a very fun trip and you can read more about it here.

I had the partial manuscript polished and ready to submit to Emerald in November, telling myself I had plenty of time to edit and write one unwritten scene by the time the second round announcement came. Can you imagine what happened then?

I didn't touch the manuscript until I received the news it had made the second round. I know, I was very naughty. But deadlines work! One week and three complete read through's later (one aloud and one in a single day!) I submitted the manuscript.

Never, never again! (Yeah right!)

So I was thrilled and dancing a jig (at work) when I received the news it was a finalist! By then, we already knew that there would be no conference due to Covid-19 and I'll admit, I was a little disappointed. But having sat in the ballroom as a finalist before, I was glad I could contain my nerves at home.

So I started planning the party. In the months that followed, Reunited was also announced as a finalist in the Pacific Hearts Award with Romance Writers of New Zealand and the Valerie Parv Award.

Because the book is set on Hamilton Island, I threw a tropical themed Gala Awards dinner at my house. The Awards were to be announced in a Youtube presentation on the 22nd August 2020. I invited my mum over and celebrated with her and our dogs. It was a wonderful night.

In the week leading up to the awards, I also did my first painting that captures a moment from Reunited.

Then Saturday arrived. The New Zealand awards were to be announced at the AGM in the morning, so Mum and I attended the presentation with a tropical breakfast on my sunny balcony. Reunited with the Millionaire placed 5th.

Then the big night arrived. Mum and I dressed in our tropical dresses, Jacob and Isabella wore their new bandannas, and we had fish and chips for dinner. The Valerie Parv Award was announced first, where I came highly commended. Then it was time to announce the Emerald and when I was the last one left standing...well, I can't describe the feeling. I was thrilled.

The fact we weren't in a grand ballroom surrounded by RWA members didn't make the night any less special. My dogs wouldn't have been able to attend then! I felt everyone there in spirit and had a great time cheering for my friends who won awards. I even had the R*by nominated books that I own out on display and in the days of social media, we never feel alone.

To receive this award for Reunited with the Millionaire means so much to me. To have been nominated is such an honour and I'm thrilled to be part of this amazing writing organisation - the RWA. I wish to thank RWA, it's members, the contest co-ordinator Stella Quinn, final judge Meghan Farrell, and all the reader judges who take their time to read the manuscripts and provide feedback. 

I strongly recommend the Emerald Award and all contests to aspiring writers. The feedback is invaluable. Don't be afraid to put your work out there and whatever you do, keep writing!