One of our lovely authors, Susanna Kearsley has just returned from the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference – a week-long event, which this year was held in New York. She’s reassured me she’s still in one piece despite a no-doubt gruelling schedule of socialising with other like-minded romance authors. (If you are interested in knowing more about Susanna’s brilliant historical romances click here.)

Reading various blogs such as Joanne’s Books, Belles and Beaux blog and having seen the Twitter updates from the RWA it looks like the event was a huge success. But it wasn’t all fun and games. Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s keynote speech definitely struck a chord and having read it here I can see why. There’s a charmingly ludicrous misconception about authors drinking lattes in their pyjamas all day and occasionally checking their bank balances to see the royalties rolling in. It’s extremely hard work being a writer and Sherrilyn’s speech shows exactly how tough it can be when the odds are stacked against you. But, as she’s proven, with extreme determination and a little luck, anything is possible.

And congratulations are due to our very own Lauren Willig who walked away with the 2011 RITA award for Regency Historical Romance for The Mischief of the Mistletoe (due out in the UK in November). Put it on your must-buy list now for Christmas…

Lara Crisp, Editorial Manager