I’m blogging today at the Harlequin Romance Authors Blog on the eHarlequin community site.  My topic is memorable proposals (of marriage), so if you have a story to share about your proposal, or you have a favourite proposal scene from a movie, TV show or book, please join us there. We’d love to hear about it!

Claire

Memorable Proposals | eHarlequin.com Community

If you haven’t already, do pop over to Eleni Konstantine’s blog where she’s having a month-long celebration, and talking about grants, writing, conferences and more.

This week’s guests include:

Mel Teshco – 12th October – With prize of a copy of ‘Stone Cold Lover’ or critique of first chapter.

Anne Oliver – 13th October – With a prize of a copy of ‘Memoirs of a Millionaire’s Mistress’ (or a choice of backlist if already have)

Tracey O’hara – 15th October – with a Night’s Cold Kiss promo prize of hat, tote bad and t-shirt,  and a wizard pen.

Claire Baxter – 16th October – with prize of The Best Love Stories of 2009.

Anne Gracie – 17th October – with prize of The Stolen Princess.
 

 

As you can see, I’m going to be a guest on Eleni’s blog on 16th October, and I’ll be giving away a book, so I hope to see you there.  And remember to visit Eleni again next week when she’ll have another selection of special guests.

http://eleni-konstantine.blogspot.com/

Claire

In August the annual conference of Romance Writers of Australia was held in Brisbane. As usual it was fabulous event, full of memorable moments, sparkling speakers, and lots of lovely romance writers (both published and unpublished).

The cocktail party, with an Arabian Nights theme, was great fun, and the Awards Dinner was wonderful.

I’ve been back home for a week and already I’m looking forward to next year’s conference in Coogee Beach, Sydney.

Claire

My book, The Single Dad’s Patchwork Family is one of the novels included in this anthology titled “The Best Love Stories of 2009″.

The anthology is a collection of Romantic Book of the Year Finalists and is due for release in September 2009.

This is certainly the sexiest cover I’ve ever had!

The collection also includes books by Melissa James, Miranda Lee, Fiona McArthur, Trish Morey and Paula Roe. Wow!

I have news! And it’s very exciting!

My book, The Single Dad’s Patchwork Family, has made the shortlist for the Romantic Book of the Year. It’s a real honour to be nominated for this prestigious award, and I am thrilled that the reader judges enjoyed my book.

About the Ruby:

The R*BY Award, affectionately known as The Ruby, is our premier award and the only one of its kind in Australia. Voted on by Australian readers, this contest is open each year to any Australian or New Zealand romance author who has published a long or short romance novel.

Congratulations to all the other finalists!

Here is the full announcement:

2009 Romantic Book of the Year

Romance Writers of Australia has announced the finalists in the 2009 Romantic Book of the Year. This year a record 144 books were entered in 4 categories. And the nominees for Romantic Book(s) of the Year are:

SHORT SWEET CATEGORY:

• Claire Baxter – The Single Dad’s Patchwork Family
• Melissa James – A Mother in a Million
• Marion Lennox – His Island Bride
• Fiona McArthur – The Midwife’s Baby

SHORT SEXY CATEGORY:

• Miranda Lee – The Millionaire’s Inexperienced Love-Slave
• Carol Marinelli – Expecting His Love-Child
• Trish Morey – The Italian Boss’s Mistress of Revenge
• Paula Roe – Boardrooms and a Billionaire Heir

LONG ROMANCE CATEGORY:

• Karina Bliss – Second Chance Family
• Anna Campbell – Untouched
• Anne Gracie – The Stolen Princess
• Elizabeth Rolls – A Compromised Lady

ROMANTIC ELEMENTS CATEGORY:

• Maggie Alderson – How to Break Your Own Heart
• Bronwyn Parry – As Darkness Falls
• Suzanne Perazzini – Beneath The Surface
• Suzanne Perazzini – Crash into Darkness

I am very pleased and proud to hear that my book,  THE SINGLE DAD’S PATCHWORK FAMILY, has won a CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award for Harlequin Romance, along with FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS by Donna Alward, and LAST-MINUTE PROPOSAL by Jessica Hart.

For a full list of winners, go to http://cataromance.com/?page_id=1500

What a great way to start 2009. Thank you, CataRomance Reviewers!

Claire

The winner of my December newsletter contest is:

Carol from South Africa.

Congratulations, Carol!

Carol was the first person to correctly answer the question that I asked in my December newsletter, and she wins a signed copy of Pregnant: Father Wanted.

When I send out a newsletter I always include a contest for those people who have signed up to my mailing list. If you’d like to join, send an email to claire@clairebaxter.com, and I’ll add you to the list.

Happy New Year!

Claire

 This month (December 08) sees the release of Pregnant: Father Wanted in the USA and the UK, as well as in India!

This book will be out in Australia and New Zealand next month, January 09.

 

Australian travel writer Lyssa Belperio may be pregnant and alone, but she can’t wait to be a mother. A job offer on Italy’s Amalfi Coast gives her the chance to make a fresh start…

He’s a soccer player with a celebrity lifestyle. But there’s more to the Italian playboy Ric Rosetti than he lets the world see. Lyssa is different from the glamorous women who hang on his every word. She’s not impressed by his fame and fortune, so the only way for Ric to win Lyssa’s heart is to show her the man behind the headlines!

Romantic Times describes this book as “an appealing romantic fantasy with a gorgeous setting and a lovely hero”.

Cataromance reviewer, Sheryl, says,
“Ms. Baxter has penned these fantastic characters of Pregnant: Father Wanted in a way that will make readers fall for them”.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season whether you celebrate Christmas or not. Best wishes for a good 2009!

Claire

 

There have been two lovely reviews for my next release, Pregnant: Father Wanted, which will be out in December in US/UK and in January 09 in Aus/NZ.

Romantic Times reviewer Catherine described it as “an appealing romantic fantasy with a simple plot, a gorgeous setting and a lovely hero”. 

And Cataromance review Sheryl said, “Ms. Baxter has penned these fantastic characters of Pregnant: Father Wanted in a way that will make readers fall for them just as I did.” 

I’m very happy about these reviews, as you can imagine, and I think it’s about time I gave away a copy of this book. So, if you’d like to win one, send an email to claire@clairebaxter.com, telling me where the book is set. It’s the first of my books to be set outside Australia and I really enjoyed writing it.  

Claire

What better way to celebrate the second birthday of the Pink Heart Society than with a Hugh Jackman Tour?

Visit the Pink Heart Society blog – http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com/ - to find the links. Take the tour, then return to the PHS to vote for your favourite picture.

Enjoy.

Here’s my favourite: