Rachel blogging Silhouette Desire blog

I'm late, I'm late.... Rachel Bailey has been blogging at the Silhouette Desire about a subject close to my heart...or should I say feet - shoes!!!

Catch Rachel here.

~Eleni

Nikki's debut cover!!!

Yay, we have another cover to show ...

The fabulous Nikki Logan's 'Lights, Camera....Kiss the Boss'.

This debut book is due out in February 2010 in the US. Woohoo!

Another lovely cover for our Bootcamp gals.

Congrats Nikki!

Eleni-fest: please join in

Well Eleni-fest is still going strong.....

Please come and check out my website for details and my blog for my amazing guests.

Also I'm a guest at Romance Writers of Australia's blog (comments open until 21st)

and

our Bootcamper cousins - the Bootcamper 109 blog (comments open until 23rd)

Come on in and join in and also be in the draw to win some prizes!

~Eleni

Nikki blogging at Pink Heart Society

Nikki is blogging about 'The Call' at the Pink Heart Society. Drop in and say hello!

Just click on the title of this entry to go straight to the blog.....

ok having some technical difficulties.....

Click here to go to the blog.

Nikki blogging at Harlequin Romance blog

Nikki is blogging over at the Harlequin Romance blog about My First Kiss.

Book in a Month Challenge

Here at Bootcamp, we are a third of the way through our October Book in a Month Challenge and the word counts are starting to add up.

If you’re interested in trying to write a book in a month, November is National Novel Writing Month and you can register on the NaNoWrMo website http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

The Romance Writers of Australia also have a group dedicated to writing 50K in 30 days http://writeinjune.blogspot.com/. They participate in NaNoWrMo and also run a June challenge, taking advantage of cosying up next to the heater in the Australian winter.

 So if you want to try turning off your internal editor and writing to a deadline, the book in a month challenge is the one for you.

 

Rachel's debut cover!!!

We would like to introduce you to the marvelous Rachel Bailey's cover for her debut book, Claiming His Brought Bride!!

Gorgeous isn't it? The book is due out in the US in January 2010.

Congrats Rachel!!

Eleni-fest: winner & latest

The lucky commentator selected by a random picker and who wins the Super sized writer's pack is: ENISA HASIC

Yay Enisa - and lovely to give a prize to a founding member of RWAus, which has benefited us so much.

Thank you all for commentating.


Today over at my taverna, Bootcamper and my CP, Fiona Gregory is my special guest. Pop over to say hello.

~ Eleni

Eleni-fest: Bootcamper buddies

This week the topic on Eleni-fest is the Romance Writers of Australia conference and the writing community. And what a way to start that topic than to come along to the other place I blog (but not as often) - here!

Signing up for the first Bootcamp (101) offered by RWAus in November 2007 is one of the best things I have done for my writing!

I'm not just saying this because I'm on the 101ers blog. This is heartfelt. While some of us sort of knew each other's names from the Romaus list (RWAus e-loop), most of us didn't know each other well. After two weekends and a week of work in between, this group clicked on a deeper level than I had been expecting. So when Bootcamp was over we continued on with our own e-loop with our Bootcamp mum,  Rachel Bailey & presenter Melissa James.

And nearly two years later, we are still going strong and I am very lucky to say I have made wonderful and lasting friendships on this group. See we don't judge each other - we are a support network and share ups and downs with each other. As time has gone on, with two years of friendship, we have strong bonds.

Initially I had never mentioned my CFS but when I realised this group wasn't temporary and I felt comfortable with everyone, I opened up - & unconditional support poured in. So it helped me to later 'own' my CFS with the broader world.

First thing is first - we do not need to be on the list constantly to know that we are there for each other. We take breaks from posting - we all need them for one reason or another - but the point is no-one is forgotten.

We know our goal is to 'Protect the Work' as our fabulous presenter Denise Rossetti taught us during Bootcamp. So we aim to help each other with this as well at the same time realising life, is well, life. And it can throw some doozies at us. Or throw us some really amazing news. Through it all, we are there. And I think the realism and the practicality of this mindset is what is keeping us going strong. We are different women and respect each other's opinions. Always crucial in a tight-knit group.


We have set up a blog and a website to showcase us and our work. Roseanne highlights our successes in her Mission Reports, including finalling or winning contests, getting the call, or getting a new book contract.  Fiona is now blogging on a more regular basis (so you don't just hear my voice go on and on and on).

We have fortnightly online chats organised by our Chat mum, Annie. We can't all always make it but even if there are just two people chatting, it's always a blast. I know I always get re-energised from the chats. Sometimes we have specific topics, other times it is just a catch up. And it works for us. In 2008, there was a Boot-i-Con, a weekend of Plotting in the Wild, and there will be future Boot-i-Cons.

Part of my conference and joy was meeting most of these wonderful women face-to-face for the first time. I knew them from online but putting names, faces and voices together was amazing. I was the only one of the Bootcampers who hadn't met a single soul face-to-face before August. Finally this was rectified and I had a ball hanging out, sharing ideas, drinks, meals, brainstorming sessions, attending workshops and cheering each other on for our pitches, and most of all having a good laugh.

When I was in the process of writing my application for the grant, everyone helped me - overwhelmingly so and for that I am forever thankful. It wasn't because my fellow Bootcampers 'had' to but because they wanted to. As Roseanne says, Bootcampers Rock!



Friendship, support, encouragement, feedback, brainstorming have resulted by being a part of this group. This is my Bootcamp community...actually make that family. So thanks to Rachel Bailey for coming up with the idea of Bootcamps and RWAus for supporting it. So now you know why doing Bootcamp 101 was the best $50 I have spent on my writing!

So as part of Eleni-fest, I have a giveaway of a Super Sized Writer's Pack (a Writer's Pack with Extras) for one lucky commentator:

  extras

Leave a comment on the following question -
What is the best thing you have done for your writing?
If you are not a writer, what is the best thing about reading?
Blog comments will be open until end Wednesday 7th October.

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING.

I will announce the winner on this blog as well as at Eleni's Taverna.

Thanks for popping here to our Bootcampers blog and for joining in. Please visit me in Eleni's Taverna for more Eleni-fest blogs (including with special guests - Rachel Bailey on the 28th, Nikki Logan on the 24th and my CP, Fiona Gregory on the 8th), as well as entering my website competitions.

Of course keep up to date on Bootcamper news here on our blog and visit our website.

~Eleni

Top 50 Australian blogs....update

Well we are not in the Top 50 but we are in the runners up section. This blog has moved up 23 spots to number 90!! So we're in the top 100 now.

You can see the full list of Jonathan Crossfield's Top 50 blogs here.

Go Bootcampers!!

Eleni-fest: Blog on Sunday

Eleni will be blogging here on Sunday for Eleni-fest and one lucky commentator, will receive a super-sized writer's pack.