Let me be the first to welcome you to the Down Under Divas hangout. And before you ask, yes the banner is a pic of all the lovely Divas. *grin* No, really, it is. *wink* So let me introduce myself and my fellow Divas. We’re a group of Aussie erotic romance authors who decided we have way too much fun hanging out together to not do it every day. In no particular order we are, Lexxie Couper, Jess Dee, Sami Lee and Rhian Cahill. You can find a list of our books on the books page and between us you’re bound to find something to suit your reading tastes.
Last weekend saw the four Divas all in the one place at the one time. (something that is very rare) The Romance Writers of Australia held their annual conference in Coogee, Sydney and we all descended on Jess’s house where we took over much to the shock of her three men. We talked none stop and only managed to be late to conference events a couple of times. *grin* It was great having this “live” meeting. We’re always online chatting and dissecting someone’s latest wip but getting to do that in person is so rare and so thrilling. Friday saw Lexxie and myself pulling apart her current wip and Sunday it was Jess’s turn. Both “chats” led to light-bulb moments for Lexxie and Jess and there’s nothing better than one of those when a story is giving you a hard time. But the chat with Jess was a little more “live” than we ever anticipated it would be.
Picture us all sitting around in comfy chairs, a small table between us and wait-staff ready to deliver any beverage of choice. The sun was streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows and the waves rolling in on the sandy beach across the road proved a gorgeous view. Perfect local for a chat with our writing buddies. Jess was concerned about a particular section of her plot and asked what our thoughts were. As you can imagine we were more than forthcoming. *grin* The discussion was heated (in more ways than one) and each of us brought forward our own points that slowly unraveled the plot so that Jess felt it was necessary to rewrite and scrap some of it. Her hands were shaking but just behind that horrible fear was the notion of renewed hope that all was not lost. (And it wasn’t, that story is now sitting on her editors desk ahead of time.) In our excitement we failed to notice anything around us. The sunshine faded away, the surf went unnoticed and the brief eye-contact with a fellow writer who sat at a table near us didn’t slow the words or curb the explicitness of our conversation.
You see, going “live” and brainstorming is one of the most exhilarating experiences this author has ever had. But it wasn’t until we got up to head to our next conference event that we realized just how “live” we’d gone. Sitting behind us was a gentleman (and I say that because not once did he feel it necessary to interrupt us) who had witnessed the whole show! Red faced and sputtering words of apology we all darted off hoping never to set eyes on him again. lol I can only imagine (and hope) he was the hubby of a romance writer because that would at least mean he had some idea of what was going on. Although I guess listening to a group of women talking about two guys having sex with one woman would be better than hearing them discussing a serial killer. *grin*
Rhian
Pearl
Aug 20, 2010 @ 17:12:31
Congrats on the new blog, ladies!
Look forward to visiting regularly amd reading what you’re up to!
P
Lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 18:03:41
Pearl!! Our first commentor (commentor? Is that right? Or is it commentee?) Anyways, Pearl…seeing as you are our first ever comment-type-person, I’m giving you the first completely impulsive prize. Pick any ebook from any of the Divas’ backlist and it’s yours 🙂
Pearl
Aug 20, 2010 @ 19:46:37
Seriously?!? Wow, who new commenting early in the morning (for me at least, because I think for you it was late in the afternoon) could land me a book 🙂
Let me take a look at Rhian and Sami’s books (as I already have your and Jess’ books that I want on my TBR but Rhian and Sami are new-to-me authors) and I’ll get back to you!
YAY again for the Down Under Divas! 😀
P.S. I think it’s commentor but as English is not my mother tongue I’m not sure LOL
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 20:56:27
YAY!
Congrats Pearl.
😀
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:52:29
Thanks for coming over and being our first Pearl. *grin*
maggienash
Aug 20, 2010 @ 17:45:11
Congrats girls! I agree…brainstorming is very productive!
Have fun!
Maggie
PS Great to see you all at RWAus!
Lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 18:06:08
Heya, Maggie. Ta for the congrats 🙂
Wasn’t RWAus fantastic? I had a great time (it was my first, so I went in a little nervous but I had so much fun I didn’t want it to end)
maggienash
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:08:55
Really? That was your first? I think it was my 5th or 6th 🙂
It was only my second that I wasn’t working at though…so I actually got to go to sessions!
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 20:57:19
Sorry, Mags.
Until you hand that iPad you won over to me, I ain’t talking to you.
*Still sulking*
Jess
maggienash
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:10:01
Nuh..uh….ain’t going to happen!
But I will let you play with it if you like 🙂
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:42:26
Harumph.
Play. Shmay.
I wanted to win the damn thing!
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:51:19
Great to finally put a face to the name. Can’t wait to go on that research *wink wink* trip we talked about.
maggienash
Aug 21, 2010 @ 07:36:22
Oh yes….our field trip! I’ll get back to you with the dates 🙂
Caitlyn Nicholas
Aug 20, 2010 @ 17:49:17
May I be the first to say WOO HOO 🙂
Lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 18:09:17
LOL. You may. Say away… 😉
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:50:24
And you said it so well too. *grin*
Sami Lee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 19:09:52
I will never forget the look on that man’s face when you asked him how much he’d heard Rhian, and he smiled sheepishly and said, “Only a little bit.” Oh man. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages.
Thanks for stopping by Pearl, Maggie and Cait!
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 20:58:54
Yeah, okay, so it was fun for all of you.
Me? I had to walk past that man, my manuscript torn to pieces, and my face scarlet.
LOL, at least he smiled at us when we left.
lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:01:53
And I’ve since read that torn-to-pieces mss and it’s freaking brilliant. I think we need to brainstorm in public more often. It’s good for us (and those listening, I believe) 🙂
How’s Saturday three weeks from now at the revolving cafe on the top of Sydney Centrepoint Tower sound? *snigger*
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:43:04
I’ll be there.
Anyone else?
Everyone is welcome.
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:47:30
Ummm…I suffer from vertigo so this could be a problem……
Pearl
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:25:03
Okay ladies, I need some help!
Since I won Lexxie’s impulsive first comment-person prize I took a look at Rhian’s and Sami’s books but I CAN’T CHOOSE *waaaah*
I want
either
Chasing Sunset by Sami Lee because…I’m a sucker for ménages…and hey there’s a chef involved…nuff said!
or
Singapore Fling by Rhian Cahil because…I’m an even bigger sucker for secret crushes between boss/employee or co-workers.
HELP! Which one should I pick?
Jess Dee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:45:30
Ooh, I’d love to recommend one…but I can’t.
They’re both awesome.
LO, how’s that for an unbiased opinion?
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:48:56
Okay here’s the deal, you can read Sami’s Chasing Sunset but Brody is MINE!!!!
Sami Lee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:00:33
Aw, now I’ll have to confuse her and recommend Singapore Fling he he.
And how many times must I tell you, I created him, he’s MINE.
Lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:08:46
Hmmmm, I’d go with either Singapore Fling or Chasing Sunset. Does that help?
🙂
Rachael Johns
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:38:49
Congrats on the new blog chickies – I’m lucky enough to have met two of you and I know this’ll be an awesome place to hang out 🙂
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:49:52
Only two of us Rach? I thought we were joined at the hip last weekend, how’d you miss the other two? lol
Lexxie Couper
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:11:43
How’d you miss meeting me? And why do I feel so neglected? *sniff*
Sami Lee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 21:59:03
I met Rachael in Sydney three years ago so I got her first RC.
Pearl
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:25:11
LOL!
Well you ladies are a lot of help…NOT
Okay I’m choosing Rhian’s Singapore Fling but her “Brody is MINE comment” has made me decide to go to MBSaM and get Chasing Sunset, if only to snatch Brody away from her LOL, I love a good challenge…
I am emailing you through your website, Lexxie!
Again, congrats on the blog, ladies. Looks like the US is not the only place on my wishlist of countries to visit in order to meet awesome authors anymore *wink*
RC
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:31:19
Pearl everyone knows the hottest authors are found down under. *wink*
Sami Lee
Aug 20, 2010 @ 22:44:52
Excellent decision Pearl. Of course I would have said that no matter what :). Hope you enjoy BOTH stories, and thanks for being a part of our little premiere.
Mai
Aug 21, 2010 @ 00:01:00
Ooohhh new place to hang YAY! Hey ladies, love the new blog, great way to keep tabs….I mean follow my favorite Aussie authors 😀 *waving @ Jess! I have a book or two from each of you and will be happy to read Sami’s work.
dreabecraft
Aug 21, 2010 @ 00:19:42
Oh three of my favorite ladies all in one place. Oh to be a fly on the wall at that meeting lol. And there is a newbie to me too. I do so love newbies lol.
Congrats on the new blog and many great hopes for tons of more blogs to come! And I love wordpress so much eaiser then blogspot.
So I am off to see what Sami has in her arsinal that I can covet. Yeah because that is how I roll. (In my defense I haven’t ate anything today so go easy on me lol.)
Beth C.
Aug 21, 2010 @ 01:36:03
Another great place to visit. Yippee!
Already have books by three of you guys.
Love the look of the place. Sounds like you guys will have a lot of fun. And maybe get a lot of new books written?
Selena Illyria
Aug 21, 2010 @ 03:33:08
Awesome blog. Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun. 🙂
Mari Carr
Aug 21, 2010 @ 06:27:38
Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during your book dissections. Oh hell, who am I kidding? I wish I’d been at the table with you. Great story. Great blog. Great writers. Go Australia!
Heather Boyd
Aug 21, 2010 @ 08:29:37
OMG the four of you in the one place!!!! LOL. Congratulations on getting the blog together. Looks great!
Sami Lee
Aug 21, 2010 @ 15:44:14
Hi there Heather (waving madly). Thanks for coming over.
Sami Lee
Aug 21, 2010 @ 09:00:35
Thanks for stopping by and for the well wishes all of you.
From the newbie :).
Fedora
Aug 21, 2010 @ 14:13:22
Ooh, how exciting, you four! Congrats on the new joint blog–can’t wait to read more 😉
Ro
Aug 22, 2010 @ 07:16:16
Good morning divas,
I am a friend and fan of Sami Lee and after reading she had joined a group of other Romance Writers I had to come and say Hi!
Look forward to reading your blog, I can just feel this is the beginning of something special. Have placed you in my favourites.
Midnight
Aug 23, 2010 @ 04:52:16
Congrads on the blog. I can not help but laugh at the mere thought of imagining this converstaion. It must of been awesome.
:winks: