Hi Readers!

How did March happen so fast? I'm remembering a line from an book in the 80s: "stop the world I want to get off". I don't need the world to stop, but a slow down would be nice!

BOOKMAIL PRIZE TIME

In February, on social media, I promised giveaways to two lucky newsletter subscribers: the first is an Advance Reader Copy of A Home Among the Snow Gums and the second, to celebrate its nomination by ARRA as a finalist in the Best Contemporary Romance 2022 category, is a copy of my book, A Town Like Clarence .

I gave March 10 as the deadline to subscribe, so it's now March 11, and I've used a random number generator (I know: you can find anything on the internet) to pull out two names. I'll email the following two subscribers this afternoon to get their mailing addresses and pop the prizes in the post: JESSY - winner of A Home Among the Snow Gums and SUE T - winner of A Town Like Clarence

WANT TO WIN 100 PAPERBACK NOVELS?

One of Australia's funnest prizes for readers is run by Better Reading (an industry review association) who ask you to nominate a favourite read from 2022 and be in the winning to win 1 of every novel that is listed in their Top 100. I mean, sure, you don't have to vote for mine, lol ... but you could. Here is the link. Deadline is 13 March so you only have two days to enter. I'm barred from voting for A Town Like Clarence because I wrote it, but I did vote for another book. 100 new paperbacks ... my To Be Read pile would become a health hazard but I'd cope. Somehow.

https://www.betterreading.com.au/news/enter-the-draw-to-win-australias-top-100-books-2/

ARRA NOMINATION 2022

I was delighted to hear from the team at Australian Romance Readers' Association that my book, A Town Like Clarence had been nominated in two categories: best contemporary romance and best cover. The cover fairies at Harper Collins made the delicious cover so I can't pat myself on the back too much for that one ... but I was very chuffed to think Joey and Kirsty had found so many friends out there in romance reader land. The awards night is on in Sydney later in March and while I've been a few times, I'm not going this year as I have a few other writerly things coming up in Tamworth and Adelaide, so can't make the trip down to Sydney. Instead, I'm donating a book bundle as a prize for the trivia contest that's being held at the awards dinner (as pictured).

CHITCHAT AND STUFF

• I've been head down bum up (as the saying goes) writing my manuscript for my 2024 release. It's currently in the difficult phase where all the characters are misbehaving and sending me in a million different plot directions and anything could happen. So far in my fictional western Qld town of Yindi Creek there's been a dead body, a three-legged terrier bitser called Possum, and a bit of post-divorce wallowing from one of the main characters. Do those three things go together? Lol: time will tell.

• My Christmas story for the 2023 anthology with Pamela Cook, Penelope Janu, Alissa Callen and Lily Malone is off with the editor being "zhoozhed". We've just been sent a draft copy of the cover which is making the project seem very "real" at last.

• I had the most fabulous time at Redlands Shire - Cleveland Library at the end of February for a Q and A session with readers about A Town Like Clarence . The questions came fast and furious and we had a lively discussion on all things books and ru-ro. After the session, I was delighted to meet a retired nurse who had been in charge of "baby checks" in western Qld, in a circuit that covered Winton, Blackall, Longreach and more ... she shared some wonderful stories that I am hopeful I will be able to work into my manuscript. Belle from Little Gnome Book Shop in Wynnum sold a heap of books so we all ended the day on a big high!

Until next time,

Stella Quinn

For more info on my books visit the Harper Collins website > > links below (Or find me on your favourite retailer in print, audio book and ebook, or on my website www.stellaquinnauthor.com)

The Vet from Snowy River

A Town Like Clarence

A Home Among the Snow Gums

A Country Vet Christmas (coming November 2023)