The 2023 RWAust Conference

Here, finally is the report on the recent Romance Writers of Australia conference in Sydney. I already wrote about it once on the Word Wench Blog, so click here to catch up with that post. I’ll try not to repeat myself too much.  (That’s ErinMoiraO’Hara, good fairy  at the “Glitter” cocktail party)

Having not been to any in-person conference since CoVid first hit, it was both exciting and a little confronting to catch up with so many people at once. Some of the events were really crowded — and noisy. When a bunch of writers get together there is a LOT to talk about.  And it was so good to catch up with friends I hadn’t seen for three or more years.

On the first night in, I had dinner with my friend, Sharon, who was heading to NZ the next day for her work. I first met Sharon when she enrolled in a one-day workshop with me at the NSW Writers Centre, and helped me get back to my hotel. We’ve stayed in touch ever since.

Then on Friday, my friend, historical author Isolde Martyn took me out to lunch at one of her favourite restaurants — The Little Snail. This was my entrée. (Here an entrée is the starter course. I was quite confused when I first ate out in the USA and found that entrée was what people called the main course.) It was the only snail dish on the menu, and I decided that since I eat all kinds of shellfish, why not snails? And they were delicious.

I first met Isolde in the USA at a Romance Writers of America conference in Washington DC, where we were both RITA finalists for Best First Book. She won, and we’ve been friends ever since. (I’m the one with the green top.)

Then on Friday night there was the cocktail party. Our cocktail parties are always costume parties, and this year the theme was “Glitter” and wow, you have no idea how much glitter was in evidence. I particularly loved these glittery boots.

But so many people had glittery outfits. I made do with a beaded top I already had—which I’d been given some years ago — and made a silly OTT turban, with a black feather boa, a strip of silver sequined fabric and a purple and diamanté feather headdress I’d worn for a 1920’s theme, several conferences ago.  (I have a fondnesss for turban-type headdresses.) Here I am in my hotel room before the party started.

And here are some more photos of what people were wearing. (Sorry about the wonky arrangement — I can’t seem to get the layout to do what I want.)

Actually I was stunned at how many people had “proper” glittery outfits. Clearly my wardrobe is lacking. The gray beaded top is the only glittery garment I own — though I do have some sparkly scarves.