Aussie Authors Make Sure Valentine’s Day Gets A Happy Ending
While chocolates and flowers are the usual currency of love on Valentine’s Day, a romance novel is
a better bet, according to the President of Romance Writers of Australia, Ms Alison Ahearn.
“A romance novel lasts longer than chocolates or flowers and it promises a happy ending,” Ms
Ahearn said.
And Australian romance authors are certainly feeling the love from readers after a boon year of
publishing success. In 2009, 70 authors produced 192 titles that are currently being sold around the
world.
“Not only are more Australian authors featuring on bookshop shelves and in e-publishing lists but
they’ve also attracted significant international attention in the billion dollar a year romance fiction
industry,” Ms Ahearn said.
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Victorian author Keri Arthur had two books open at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller
list last year, her paranormal romances Full Moon Rising and Deadly Desire.
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Melbourne based Stephanie Laurens had five books make the New York Times list, The
Untamed Bride finishing at #2 and Mastered by Love at #3.
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Sunshine Coast writer Anna Campbell’s historical romance Captive of Sin was one of only
five mass market paperbacks to be included in the prestigious US Publisher’s Weekly list of
100 Best Books of 2009.
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Melbourne writer Anne Gracie’s To Catch A Thief featured in the US Library Journal’s
Best Books of 2009.
Many of RWA’s authors have found success in the last twelve months with UK-based romance
publisher Harlequin Mills & Boon. The company claims to sell one book every four seconds, or
more than 130 million books worldwide per year.
Romance Writers of Australia aims to help authors achieve publishing success and promotes
excellence in romance writing. Formed in 1991, it has more than 700 members.
For information about RWA, please, contact:
Alison Ahearn, RWA President, on – 07 3289 2560
Bronwyn Jameson, RWA spokesperson on – 02 6924 1973
To contact a romance author near you, please contact:
Annie West on – 02 4942 7018
NEWS 
