13 Reasons Why I Don't Want to Switch from Amazon.com to Amazon Australia

By Iola Goulton @iolagoulton

Last week was a mess for many authors, as Amazon appeared to remove thousands of Kindle books from the Amazon.com store. Only they didn't—it was just (just!) that international readers couldn't see the Kindle books.

Authors thought their books were missing.

Readers couldn't find the books they wanted to buy.

Then we found the books weren't missing. It's just Amazon had started geoblocking: checking customer IP addresses, and not permitting international customers to buy from the Amazon.com store. Click here to read an excellent blog post from David Gaughran explaining what happened. Or click here to see my screenshots.

But Amazon messed up. Instead of showing the book page and saying the book wasn't available in the customer's region (as is normal practice on Amazon UK), the books simply disappeared.

Yes, the books could be found in the local Amazon store—in my case, Amazon Australia. But switching to the local Amazon store is not a viable option for many of Amazon.coms international customers. It didn't take me long to come up with 13 reasons why. Or why not:

1. Existing Kindle Library
2. More Variety
3. Better Sales
4. eBook Gifting
5. Gift Cards
6. Giveways
7. Reviews
8. Currency Conversion
9. Affiliate Links
10. Embed Codes
11. Kindle Family
12. Audible Subscriptions
13. Other Subscriptions

Lets look at each of these in a little more detail.

Existing Kindle Library

Switching from Amazon.com to Amazon. com.au means customers run the risk of losing access to their Amazon.com purchases. It shouldn't happen, in theory, but I've heard of people having their entire Kindle purchase history wiped, so anything is possible.

Last time I checked, my Amazon.com purchases didn't show. Now they do. Amazon assures me it's to my benefit to change, but I disagree.

More Variety

Amazon.com has a wider variety of Kindle books available. Well, it did last week. It still does—it's just I can't buy most of them from Amazon.com. I've seen many complaints that customers can't buy specialised books in the Australian store.

Better Sales

A lot of sales are only available at the US site, including free downloads.

Note that only US and UK residents can benefit from Kindle Countdown deals, which is annoying. But switching to Amazon Australia won't get me Countdown deals either, so that's a moot point.

ebook Gifting

Amazon US allows ebook gifting. The Australian site does not. You can check this in the screenshots above: the US site has a "Give as GIft" button below the buy button. This is missing from the Australian site.

Many authors, influencers, and bloggers (including me) like to be able to gift Kindle books to friends, fans, or contest winners.

Gift Cards

Amazon US allows customers to buy and give away gift cards. Authors, influencers, and bloggers often use gift cards as an incentive to get readers to perform some action e.g. comment on a blog post, or write a review (but not an Amazon review, as that would be against Amazon's reviewing guidelines).

Giveaways

Amazon US allows customers to give away books as a promotional tool. Amazon Australia does not offer this feature.

Reviews

Customers have to spend USD 50 per year on an Amazon site in order to be able to review (something I've previously discussed). If I'm forced to move from the US to the Australian site, the time will soon come when I'm no longer able to review on the US site. Reviews have more visibility on the US site, and book promotion organisations require a minimum number of Amazon US reviews before they'll promote a book. Restricting reviewers will make that target harder to meet.

Currency Conversion

Many Amazon customers are also Amazon affiliates or Amazon sellers. It makes sense for them to shop in the same currency they earn in. For most people, this is US dollars, because Amazon.com is the biggest store.

Affiliate Earnings

I'm an Amazon affiliate, which means if you click one of my links and buy something on Amazon, they'll pay me a commission of around 4% for referring you as a customer. I don't earn a lot in affiliate income, but what I do earn is paid out as Amazon US gift vouchers. I could get paid direct to my bank account, but the minimum payment is higher and much of it would be taken as fees.

I've also signed up for the Amazon Australia affiliate scheme. It only pays out to Australian bank accounts ... which I don't have, because I'm not Australian. Because Australia and New Zealand are different countries. Like the United States of America and Canada are different countries. It seems Amazon doesn't understand this relatively simple fact of geography.

Embed Codes

Amazon offers embed codes so bloggers can embed a sample of a book on their blog post, like this:

This embed code was copied from the Australian website, but leads back to the US site. That's great for US customers, but means there is no incentive to switch to Amazon Australia.

Kindle Family

I don't use Kindle Family, but it is a scheme which allows family members to effectively share a Kindle account. There is a catch: the family has to live together and shop at the same store. So if one family member tries to tell Amazon he or she lives in the US (to be able to access the US store), then the Family is broken and they can no longer share the account.

Audible Subscriptions

Audible (Amazon audiobook) subscriptions are still on Amazon US. Yes, customers can transfer them, but that's an added hassle, and one more place for things to go wrong.

Other Subscriptions

Some Amazon users subscribe to newspapers or magazines through Amazon US. I saw one person complain that when they tried to switch to Amazon Australia, they were warned their subscription would no longer be available.

So there you have it.

13 reasons why Amazon.com's international customers will be reluctant to shift to their local store. I'm sure most international customers will be affected by at least one reason—and that's only the impact of shifting as a reader. There are even more reasons for authors.

Yes, there are at least 13 reasons why geoblocking international customers is a bad idea.

Were you affected by Amazon's geoblocking? What was your reaction? Are you planning to stay with the US store, or switch to Australia?

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, works as a freelance editor, and has developed the Kick-Start Your Author Platform Marketing Challenge, an email course for authors wanting to establish their online platform.

When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Book Recommendation - Snowy Summer by Patricia Weerakoon

Book Description:

Annie Samarasinghe has it all together.

Beautiful and brilliant, she has a medical career in Sydney and a fiancé in Sri Lanka.

But on the week of her wedding to childhood-sweetheart Sunil, Annie uncovers the shattering truth behind the façade of his business.

Forced to hide out in the Snowy Mountains, Annie changes her name and her story. When she meets the brusque and arrogant Roy Broughton-Knight, she discovers she’s not the only one hiding secrets. But the more she gets to know Roy, the closer Sunil comes to finding her.

Against the stunning backdrops of Sri Lanka and the Snowy Mountains, Annie and Roy learn to face the betrayals in their pasts and fight their fears. But how will they embrace the possibilities of a future?

Narelle's Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Snowy Summer, and I loved the cross-cultural aspects of the story. The story opens in the sleepy Snowy Mountains town of Jindabyne, Australia, where Annie meets Roy at a masquerade party.

Annie is attracted to Roy, despite being betrothed in an arranged marriage to Sunil. Sunil is her childhood best friend in Sri Lanka who she hasn't seen for many years. We journey with Annie back to her home country, and experience her angst when her dream of a life married to Sunil in Sri Lanka is shattered.

Annie's world is turned upside down and her life is in danger. She escapes Sri Lanka and returns to Australia to start over as Dr. Sheva, the new doctor at a small Jindabyne medical centre.

Roy is a carefree playboy from Sydney, Australia, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He's now hiding from the world on his family's alpaca farm near Jindabyne, and he has a few secrets of his own. The women in his life have let him down. He's slow to trust and wary of love.

Roy meets Sheva at the medical centre, and she reminds him of Annie. He can't forget Annie and their chance encounter at the masquerade party. He's attracted to Sheva, but he's respectful of her cultural background and her faith that underpins her desire to wait for marriage. Sheva's close friendship with the park ranger, Dan, ignites Roy's jealousy and curiosity about Sheva's past.

Snowy Summer is an action-packed contemporary Christian romantic adventure story with medical themes. It's a more edgy read than the typical Christian romance, and possibly too edgy for more conservative readers.

Annie has trained as a surgeon, and she thinks about the human body in a more clinical way than the average person. Anatomical terminology that's not usually mentioned in Christian romances is included the story.

The author is a retired Sexologist. She portrays the attraction between Sheva and Roy, and their thoughts about each other, in a realistic rather than euphemistic manner. There are situations in the story that definitely push the Christian romance genre boundaries.

I recommend Snowy Summer to romance readers who appreciate cultural diversity and are looking for a contemporary Christian romance that deals with real life issues. The blend of Aussie and Sri Lankan culture, and the stunning settings, was a highlight for me. I enjoyed visiting familiar places in Australia and learning more about Sri Lanka.

In April I attended Patricia's book launch for Snowy Summer at the visitor centre in Jindabyne. It was fun to visit the real life setting and hear more about the evolution of the story. Snowy Summer was the contemporary Christian romance manuscript that won our ACW opening chapter contest a few years ago. It was great to see the story published and read the final version.

Introducing A Tuscan Legacy and Solo Tu plus #Giveaway | Narelle Atkins

By Narelle Atkins  @Narelle Atkins

I'm thrilled to introduce my tenth book - Solo Tu: Only You - Book 7 in A Tuscan Legacy - a contemporary Christian romance novella series spanning three continents.

I've always wanted to write a book for a continuity series that has shared characters and a connected story world.

A Tuscan Legacy is the brainchild of my author friends Marion Ueckermann and Autumn Macarthur. I was delighted to accept their offer when they asked me to join them in their journey to write an indie novella series based in Tuscany.

The series has an overarching family mystery plot that links all the books together. I've loved working with my authors friends in the group who live in England, South Africa and USA.

Here's the video trailer introducing A Tuscan Legacy:

We're excited that Book 1 - That's Amore by Marion Ueckermann - is releasing next week on Tuesday April 17!

Let me share Solo Tu with you and introduce you to my characters - Sienna Rossi and Dave Maxwell.

If you read A Tuscan Legacy series from start to finish, you'll meet Sienna in That's Amore (Book 1) and Ti Amo (Book 4) before journeying to Sydney, Australia for Book 7.

Home means everything to Sienna Rossi.

Four years ago, Sienna defied her father by moving to Australia to obtain her teaching qualifications. Her grand plan is shaken by her father’s unexpected death and a trip back to Tuscany for her grandmother’s eightieth birthday where she renews her close bond with her sister, Alessa.

Teacher Dave Maxwell likes the freedom of his nomadic lifestyle. He works contract-to-contract, moving to different high schools around Australia. He’s in Sydney for a season, caring for his grandma while his aunt is on an extended overseas vacation.

Back in Sydney, Sienna moves in with her Aussie cousins and starts her first teaching job, torn between her dream for a future in Australia and her longing for home. Sienna and Dave work at the same school, attend the same church, and quickly become friends. They are drawn together by circumstances and an undeniable attraction.

But their idyllic time together is temporary. Can the girl from Tuscany and the boy from Australia risk everything for love?

$15 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway 

I'm giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a reader who leaves a comment on this post.

You could choose to purchase the complete nine book series at the special pre-order price of 99 cents (USD) per ebook and have change left over from $15 to buy more ebooks!

I'll draw the winner on Sunday, April 15 (Aussie timezone) and announce the winner in a comment on this post. To claim your winning prize, please check the comments on this post on Monday, April  16. If you're the lucky winner, please leave your email address in a comment or contact me via social media. I will do one redraw on Friday, April 20 (Aussie timezone) if I'm unable to make contact with the original winner by April 20.

A Tuscan Legacy series - Amazon Kindle and coming in print

A Tuscan Legacy novellas are now available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle and will be available in Kindle Unlimited. The books will be releasing in ebook format first, and will later be available in print. Please check out A Tuscan Legacy series page on Amazon.com for more information.

Aussie readers can purchase the books on Amazon Australia and read the series on Kindle Unlimited via Amazon Australia. The Amazon Australia link for Solo Tu - amzn.to/2qpD40k

Here's the complete A Tuscan Legacy series list and the Amazon Kindle release dates. The ebooks are available now at the special pre-order price of 99 cents (USD).

THAT'S AMORE Book 1 by Marion Ueckermann - releasing APRIL 17
LUNA ROSA Book 2 by Elizabeth Maddrey - releasing APRIL 24
RAPSODIA Book 3 by Alexa Verde - releasing MAY 1
TI AMO Book 4 by Marion Ueckermann - releasing MAY 8
LA FIAMMA SACRA Book 5 by Clare Revell - releasing MAY 15
BELLA NOTTE Book 6 by Heather Gray - releasing MAY 22
SOLO TU Book 7 by Narelle Atkins - releasing MAY 29
DOLCE VITA Book 8 by Autumn Macarthur - releasing JUNE 5
LA RISPOSTA Book 9 by Autumn Macarthur - releasing JUNE 12

A Tuscan Legacy Reader Group on Facebook

A Tuscan Legacy has a Reader Group on Facebook. If you'd like to follow the series and keep up-to-date on the latest news, please join our Reader Group.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Print Book Giveaways for Australasian Readers | Narelle Atkins

By Narelle Atkins  @NarelleAtkins

Do you read the fine print before getting excited about print book giveaways? 

If you're an international reader who lives outside the USA, you'll know to check the giveaway rules to see if you're eligible to enter. You'll also know to check the sale prices on ebooks before buying due to potential territory limitations on ebook deals.

At Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) we don't do a lot of giveaways, but when we do a giveaway here we try to make sure there's an option for readers who don't live in Aust and/or NZ to at least win an ebook, if not a print book.

There is a reason why print book giveaways from US-based authors are often limited to US mailing addresses: postage costs. The same logic applies for Aussie authors limiting print giveaways to Aussie mailing addresses.

For US authors who are sent print books from their publisher to give away, it's only around $3 US to mail the books within the US. It's significantly more expensive to mail that same book to an international mailing address.

The Book Depository has traditionally been our go-to place at ACW to buy and send print books to winners of our giveaways who live overseas. They offer competitive prices and free worldwide shipping.

I also blog with Inspy Romance and we're celebrating our 4th birthday by offering 10 giveaway bundles - 4 print book bundles (US only) - 4 ebook bundles (international) - a Grand Prize (US only) - PLUS a print book bundle for an international reader to win.

Yes, Inspy Romance is offering a print book giveaway containing 6 books specifically for readers who live outside the US.

If you like reading contemporary Christian romance, stop by the Inspy Romance blog and enter the Birthday Bash giveaway.

Have you discovered many print book giveaways that are open to readers who live outside the US? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

      

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Romance Writers of Australia: Conference Highlights - Narelle Atkins

By Narelle Atkins

I love writing conferences. I've lost count of how many I've attended over the years but I have collected six badges from Romance Writers of Australia conferences. I met my dear friend, Mary Hawkins, in person for the first time at the Sydney conference in 2007.

Our Aussie conferences are special. In recent years the Romance Writers of Australia conference offerings have broadened beyond romance writing to include more workshops on the business of writing and publishing. This year in Brisbane I had the opportunity to attend workshops from Draft2Digital and Google. I was also blessed with an excellent fifteen minute appointment with Dan Wood, Director of Operations and Author Relations at Draft2Digital.

Draft2Digital are a global distributor of ebooks and audiobooks. They assist authors by distributing their works to digital storefronts including ibooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Tolino. 

Kris Austin, CEO and Founder, shared his vision for how Draft2Digital will continue to expand their author services to meet the needs of their author clients.They currently distribute to 195 countries. Australia is their second largest market (15%) behind the USA (53%).     

It's great that we don't need to travel to the US to see publishing industry professionals.The amazing Margie Lawson is travelling to Australia for our Omega Writers Conference in Sydney, 28-30 October 2017.

Rochelle Manners, Kat Kolmer, Andrea Grigg, Narelle Atkins

A conference highlight, as always, was the chance to catch up with old and new writing friends, including familiar faces from our ACW group. Unfortunately I wasn't able to arrange an ACW group photo but I have included everyone in photos in this post.

Andrea Grigg, Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Rochelle Manners did a wonderful job organising the conference book store. Brisbane locals and tourists can visit Rochelle's charming bookshop, The Mad Hatters Bookshop, in Manly, Queensland. 

Andrea Grigg, Rochelle Manners, Cindy Williams

Romance writers know how to party. The Harlequin Escape After Party that followed the Saturday Evening Awards Dinner was a lot of fun. 

I discovered the Gold Coast train to Brisbane and travelled to and from conference with my dear friend Andrea Grigg. Andrea and I enjoyed a relaxing post-conference Monday lunch by the beach before I flew home to Canberra via Sydney. 

Narelle Atkins & Andrea Grigg - Currumbin, Gold Coast

Conference weekends are busy and I did my best to squeeze in some writing time. I flew to the Gold Coast via Sydney and spent more time in airport lounges than in the air. I used the waiting time to brainstorm my latest story. 

Early on Friday morning I wrote and edited my upcoming Inspy Romance blog post in the airport lounge and during my first flight from Canberra to Sydney. A blog post completed by 7.30am was a great way to start my conference weekend.

Stop by Inspy Romance on Thursday (Aust/NZ time zone) to join in the conversation on ebook pricing. Strategies for ebook pricing was a hot topic of conversation at the conference. 

Do you share my love of writing conferences? Are you planning to attend the Omega Writers Conference in October? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor

Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Free, Bargain or Discount ebooks

Today we are sharing ebook deals from authors who contribute to our blog. Prices are listed in US Dollars. Please check the price before buying.

Young Adult Fantasy

Heart of the Mountain: A short novella by Jeanette O'Hagan

YA Fantasy Adventure in the lost realm deep under the mountain.

Twins Delvina and Retza’s greatest desire is to be accepted as prentices by their parents’ old crew when they stumble across a stranger. Trapped under the mountain, young Zadeki’s only thought is to escape home to his kin. Peril awaits all three youngsters. Will they pull apart or work together to save the underground realm?

Heart of the Mountain is available for 99 cents USD (usual price $1.50 USD) from Amazon Kindle and Books2Read.

Romantic Suspense

The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1) by Susan Page Davis

A missing man.

A mysterious computer program – 

Even the people constructing it don’t know what it will do.

On the worst night of Harvey Larson’s life, his partner is killed and his wife, Carrie, walks out on him. Ten years later, the Portland, Maine police detective has learned to cope with his grief and depression. When he and the Priority Unit investigate the disappearance of software designer Nick Dunham, he meets a young woman who will change his life. Jennifer Wainthrop was the last person to admit seeing Dunham alive.

Harvey and his partner, Eddie Thibodeau, stay a step ahead of a bomber and put together the clues that tell the truth: Dunham’s kidnapping and the bombings are one case, and Jennifer is caught in the middle. News that Carrie has committed suicide may plunge Harvey back into despair. Harvey turns to God for help untangling his complicated life. He finds strength in his faith as he attempts to save Jennifer from the same grim fate that claimed Nick. But Jennifer must depend on her own wits and God alone when the killer gets too close.

The Priority Unit will be offered FREE (ebook regular price $4.99 USD) on June 8 on Amazon Kindle.

Contemporary Romance

Cinderella's Boot by Darlene Franklin

Cynthia Ellen Cooper—known affectionately as “Cinderella”—left her wedding boot in the dust when she ran away from her wedding to work on a sheep station in Australia.

Four years later, she’s back home—and so is her ex-fiancé, now a DVM from Oklahoma State University. They reach a truce and work side by side in his father’s animal clinic.

Cyn soon discovers she wants more—but she has to battle bad history and a demanding pet owner for Keith’s attention.XXXXHow can Cinderella find a second chance at love?

Cinderella's Boot is available for $2.99 USD on Amazon Kindle.

His Perfect Catch (A Sapphire Bay Novella) by Narelle Atkins

Sydney girl Mia Radcliffe borrows her cousin's beach house in Sapphire Bay to escape the scandal surrounding her ex-fiancé. Her new neighbor is her secret crush from years ago… and she’s still captivated by the handsome builder who was a youth group leader at her church. 

Living next door to Mia wasn’t part of Pete McCall’s plan when he started renovating his beach house. The blonde beauty inspires thoughts of settling down, despite her high maintenance ways and big-city dreams. 

Love kindles during their time together and Mia’s heart is set on returning to Sydney with Pete. When new opportunities arise, Pete and Mia must decide if their love is for keeps.

His Perfect Catch is available for 99 cents USD on Amazon Kindle.

Billy Graham’s grandson bringing the Gospel to Alice Springs

By Leila Halawe

In 1959, America evangelist, Dr Billy Graham, came to Australia to hold many Crusades that would see thousands of people gather in the one place to hear about Jesus. During his Sydney visit, it is estimated that 150,000 people gathered to hear him speak. 

His purpose for the Crusade was to share the love of God with anyone that would listen, encouraging people to turn from their sin and give their hearts to Jesus. He was unapologetic about the Gospel, never wavering in his belief that salvation could only be found through the Saviour, and he shared it in a way that everyday people could understand. 

He left a legacy behind that has impacted thousands upon thousands of lives. 57 years later, his legacy is still going strong as his grandson, Will Graham, son of Franklin Graham, takes up the mantle and comes to Australia to share the Gospel.

An ordained minister and anointed evangelist, Will has been holding evangelistic outreaches around the world since 2006. Displaying the same unwavering faith as his grandfather and father before him, he will in May this year bring his outreach to the heart of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. 

The local churches of Alice Springs, in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Australia, will be hosting Will as he shares with all about the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is an event that has been months in the making and one that mobilised and united churches across Alice Springs. It is drawing crowds from near and far, with many travelling across Australia to attend, as well as coming from overseas.

Reality Alice Springs will be held at Blatherskite Park and run over three days, starting on the Friday evening and closing on the Sunday evening. Over the three days there will be a range of events including Youth and Kids events, Family events, testimonials, praise and worship, as well as participation by the local Indigenous artists. 

There will be a Combined Churches service on the Sunday morning, a call to the local church community to unite and worship together as one corporate Body, before Will brings the weekend to a close by taking the platform one final time on Sunday evening.

As excitement builds up for Will’s visit, many prayers are being lifted for thousands to attend and encounter Jesus in such a profound way that revival breaks out and spreads far and wide across Australia.

To find out more about Reality Alice Springs, go to http://blog.billygraham.org.au/reality-alice-springs/

LEILA HALAWE is a Sydney based coffee obsessed writer and blogger. She has published a short devotional, Love By Devotion and shares her life and random observations via her blog, Looking In. You can connect with Leila via her blog, www.misslays.com, Twitter @LHalawe or her Leila Halawe Author page on Facebook. 

Book Recommendation ~ Ehvah After by Rose Dee

Book Description: 

Ehvah Rowe’s life is in freefall. Her teen queen status is long forgotten, and with a childhood of tragic loss, no family save a diabolical aunt, and no career prospects, her L.A. celebrity world holds no future. It will take a murder, an escape to the Australian tropics, and the friendship of an Aussie bodyguard, for her to discover healing, faith, and a way forward.

David Blake knows how to be a soldier. His army training equipped him to fight and protect. But when it comes to helping a fear-filled celebrity navigate the same post-traumatic stress symptoms he has suffered, David discovers the challenge in forsaking his own strength for God’s plan.

Rose Dee weaves a story of mystery, drama and romance, in her trademark tropical North Queensland Australian style. 

Narelle's Thoughts: 

I really enjoyed reading Ehvah After and it's now my favourite Rose Dee book. The story opens with Ehvah living in her L.A. mansion with her aunt and uncle. She's an orphan of famous parents who lives off her trust fund and feels jaded with her shallow party lifestyle. Ehvah is frustrated by her bad press in the tabloids, her so-called friends who use her, and her inability to resurrect her Hollywood career. When she witnesses the late night murder of her uncle in her home, she flees to Australia with her aunt who is shooting a film in far north Queensland.

Ehvah has a complex relationship with her aunt that's revealed during the story. The murder investigation is underway when Ehvah arrives in Australia. David, an Aussie ex-military soldier, is assigned the day shift as Ehvah's bodyguard, and an unlikely romance unfolds. I like bodyguard romances, and I love how David and Ehvah's unique and painful past experiences become the common ground in their developing relationship that draws them closer. Her life is in danger, and David takes on the role of her protector and hero.

The murder of Ehvah's uncle provides a compelling mystery sub-plot that intertwines with the main romantic plot to add an exciting suspense element to the story. The serious issue of post traumatic stress is realistically addressed and handled with sensitivity. Rose's books tend to be edgy, although Ehvah After is less edgy than her Resolution series. Ehvah's lifestyle and experiences shape her thoughts and actions in the story, and she doesn't start out holding Christian morals and values. We see her character growth and faith journey during the story.

The story has a strong faith element, and the gospel message is an integral part of the story. The exotic tropical North Queensland setting is gorgeous, and the minor characters add to the Aussie flavour in the story. I highly recommend Ehvah After to readers who are looking for a fun and exciting Aussie contemporary Christian romance with drama and mystery story elements.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. 

Learn more about ACW author Rose Dee and her books by visiting her website.

What Next? (plus Seaside Proposal book giveaway)

By Narelle Atkins

This week I'm celebrating the release of Seaside Proposal, my sixth and final book with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Heartsong Presents line. It’s a bittersweet celebration in many ways because next month marks the end of an era in Christian Romance publishing. 

In November 2014 Harlequin announced they were closing the Heartsong Presents line. Harlequin had acquired the line from Barbour only a few years earlier. The last four Heartsong books are releasing in June 2015. 

Last year my agent, Steve Laube, wrote a post on Heartsong’s Publishing Legacy. Ellie Whyte has a list of the 1148 Heartsong Presents titles published between 1992 and 2015 on the Soul Inspirationz site. My mentor, Mary Hawkins, was published by Heartsong in the early years. Mary’s first Heartsong release with Barbour in 1993 was Search for Tomorrow, number 42 in the series. 

Back in March 2013 I signed a six book contract with Heartsong. I was fortunate that Seaside Proposal was scheduled for release prior to the line closing. Many of my Heartsong author friends had book contracts cancelled and my lovely editor lost her job in the restructure.

Publishing is a tough business. Heartsong published my contemporary Christian romances that are set outside of the USA. All six of my Heartsong books are set in Australia.

There’s no longer a market niche with a large traditional publisher for my Aussie stories. A few years ago this development may have stalled my publishing career. The rise of indie publishing has created wonderful opportunities for authors to publish books that don’t fit into the traditional publishing model.

Zach and Billie, my hero and heroine in Seaside Proposal, are living on as minor characters in a spin-off indie novella. His Perfect Catch, featuring Billie's cousin, will independently release in a contemporary Christian romance novella box set next month titled SPLASH! It’s exciting to work on a publishing project with an innovative group of Christian romance author friends. I’ll be sharing more information on my novella release very soon and here's a preview of the box set cover.

Today I'm giving away a print copy of Seaside Proposal (worldwide, wherever The Book Depository delivers) to a reader who leaves a comment on this post and enters the Rafflecopter giveaway.

BILLIE RADCLIFFE HAS A SECRET

And she isn’t sharing it with anyone, including Zach Montford. Even though she feels an instant connection with the good-looking banker and youth leader, she’s wary of rejection. Besides she’s only in the close-knit beach community until she meets the one man who can fill in the blanks about her history.

Zach hopes his temporary stint with the church will help him decide whether to go into full-time ministry. Though his career plans are uncertain, he’s sure about his growing feelings for Billie. When a shocking revelation throws everything into question, Zach and Billie have a chance to put the past to rest…and walk into the future together.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor
Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Introducing Pia Cruz and The Rock - Film

Narelle here. I'm delighted to welcome Pia Cruz to our blog today.

Hi Narelle! 

Tell us about your background: 

I was born in Sydney but when I was six months old, my parents moved overseas. We lived in several different countries through my childhood - Singapore, England, Wales, Indonesia and the United States. I finally returned to Australia - to Canberra, then Bega Valley (Sapphire coast, NSW), and am currently in Sydney's west. Bored on a family trip, my mother suggested I start writing a story. So I did. It was fun. Mum also bought me puppets and enrolled me in drama classes outside of school to help me overcome being shy and I just continued doing drama through high school and drama and film university along with extracurricular creative writing. 

So why film? 

I think I like film because it combines everything - it is technical and creative, revolving around storytelling. The film “Dead Man Walking” inspired me to think about how to incorporate Christianity in film. While I was at university, someone gave me Bible verses and a picture to describe my future - from a dream. He said it was a series of mountains and each mountain was a part of my life... and one of them was film-making... 

Where are you now?

Currently we are in the production phase of film-making for “The Rock” written by award-winning Christian playwright, Cleveland O. McLeish and because some animation is involved, it will take longer than a normal film – so my prediction is 2016 to finish whereas in the past I’d aim to complete a project by October!

What is the film about? Who is your target audience? 

The film script was inspired by Luke 19 when Jesus is coming into Jerusalem and the disciples are saying “Blessed is the king that comes in the name of the Lord.” After the Pharisees tell Jesus to rebuke them for saying this, Jesus says something to the effect of if they are silent even the stone would cry out. So, the film takes place in a world where people don’t talk much about Jesus and a rock starts speaking to a teenager, to try to get him to talk about Jesus. 

I gave this premise to Cleveland (the script writer) and he did the rest! It’s meant to be a family film/comedy for Christians with the most humorous exchanges occurring between the boy and the rock, ultimately with the aim to encourage evangelism! I said – make it funny because I don’t have a sense of humour and I want to try and make a comedy! (Does that sound crazy?!) I think the writer did a great job! 

http://heavenboundkingdomstudios.com/TheRock2016.html - general overview of the film with my first every crane camera shot YouTube clip and a possible sound track link. 

How can we get more information on the film or support the project? 

We have a Facebook Page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/theRockChristianFilm

Jayde Ashley, a girl from my church, has done the artwork for the poster which we think is wonderful. 

The Facebook Page contains fun little things you can share with your friends if you want to help us promote the film too such as a funny quick animation I made in January 2015 – an audition by a rock to play the main role. (I’m one of the judges, so is Cleveland, the author of the script... and gee that music is familiar...) For example: 

Anything else you want to say? 

Actors who have come on board are basically happy to volunteer unless we can make money from the film. I’d really like to help them out financially if possible. Imagine going to a job hoping one day you will get paid? It seems tragic to me. The scripture on my heart about that is "a labourer is worth his wages." So when we start crowd funding, I’d love to see that happen... Please like us on Facebook and keep in touch with this project.

Pia, thanks for visiting ACW today and sharing your exciting journey of filming "The Rock" with us.  

Christian Writers Conference

by Susan Barnes

*Quote from Shauna's blog is used with permission

I have read many blog posts and articles about the value of writers' conferences. In general the reasons for attending are: networking and up-skilling. Conferences are great places to meet other writers, swap ideas and encourage one another in what can be a lonely occupation. There is also the opportunity to attend workshops, learn new skills and become a more effective writer. If it is a Christian conference then there is the added bonus of receiving spiritual input and prayer. 

I have attended two writers' conferences in the last couple of years and found them so valuable that I was keen for there to be one this year. Consequently I have found myself on the organizing committee for the Christian Writers Conference being held in Bacchus Marsh (near Melbourne, Victoria) from 24-26 October. The committee is excited about the variety and quality of the expressions of interest we have received so far from presenters interested in running workshops. There will be workshops covering fiction, non-fiction, editing, publishing, reaching secular audiences, motivation, spiritual hindrances, to name just a few. So mark the date in your calendar and anticipate a valuable time. 

Expressions of interest forms are still available for those who would like to be considered as a presenter but you need to be quick as the closing date for submissions is 12th March 2014. Please email: conference4christianwriters (at) gmail (dot) com 

 A draft timetable and other details about the venue etc. are on our website: http://www.christianwritersconference.dx.am 
Bookmark the site as more details will be added in the following weeks. 

Thanks ACW for the opportunity to write about the Christian Writers Conference. Hope to see you there.

Susan Barnes likes to write inspirational articles, book reviews, and reflections on Bible passages and regularly blogs at abooklook.blogspot.com.au. She is also a librarian.

Traditional Christian Publishers in Australia

by Narelle Atkins

The Australian Christian publishing industry is smaller than the US market. I have compiled information from three traditional, royalty paying Australian publishers who sell books with Christian content in the Australian market. They will accept unagented submissions. Lucy Morgan-Jones wrote a post for our blog last month that discussed working with an agent in the US market. http://australasianchristianwriters.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/us-literary-agents-yea-or-nay-for.html 

ACORN PRESS LTD 

Acorn Press is a not-for-profit publishing company. Paul Arnott, Chair of Acorn Press, has kindly answered my questions regarding their manuscript submission requirements. 

Narelle: Is Acorn Press open to unsolicited submissions from new authors? 

Paul: Yes, we are. 

Narelle: Are there any specific projects, genres or categories of books that Acorn Press is looking to publish? 

Paul: We have a policy of only publishing non fiction, although later this year we plan to publish our first novel. However, it is unlikely that we will move into fiction. All our books are written from a Christian perspective, rather than just for Christians. Increasingly we are seeking to break into the general book market. Simon Carey Holt’s book Eating Heaven is a good example of this kind of book. 

Narelle: Does Acorn Press have any specific submission requirements or guidelines? 

Paul: They can be found on our website at: http://acornpress.net.au/new-authors/ 

Narelle: How long can a writer expect to wait if they email one of the Acorn Press editors? 

Paul: You will get a quick response to an email but it may take up to three months for our editorial panel to assess a manuscript, make recommendations to the board and compile a budget. 

Narelle: Paul, thank you for providing additional information on Acorn Press. If you’re interested in submitting to Acorn Press, please visit their website, study the submission guidelines and read a range of Acorn Press titles to learn more about the types of books they publish. Anne Hamilton wrote a review of Eating Heaven on our blog last year. 

YOUTHWORKS MEDIA (incorporating Aquila Press, Blue Bottle Books, Growing Faith, Christian Education Publications CEP, Anglican Press Australia APA, and Fervr imprints) 

Youthworks Media is a not-for-profit ministry organisation. Julie Firmstone, Assistant Director of Publishing, kindly provided the following information on the submission guidelines for their imprints. 

Youthworks Media is open to unsolicited manuscripts from new authors. Their key periods for contracting books are August-September (for the first half of the following year) and February-March (for the second half of the same year). Submissions are closed for 2014 and they are currently accepting submissions for 2015.

Youthworks Media accepts unsolicited manuscript submissions for any of the following categories: 

• Youth books (Non-fiction) 
• Youth Bible Studies 
• Youth ministry resources 
• Children’s books (0-4s, 5-8s) 
• Children’s ministry programs and resources (Sunday programs, After school and holiday clubs, evangelism, crafts and games) 
• Family books (for example, parenting and family issues) 
• Educational curriculum for High Schools 
• Tracts for youth, children and families 
• Bible Commentaries 
• Christian living 
• Leadership 
• Music CDs 

Youthworks Media are unlikely to be accept: 

• Inspirational books 
• Adult fiction (although we would consider fiction for children and youth) 
• Adult devotions or studies 
• Financial management 
• Poetry 
• Plays/scripts (unless it is a collection for use in youth or children’s ministry) 

Submission guidelines: 

• A full or partial manuscript (at least 2 chapters)** and/or a synopsis (of no more than 300 words) which includes the target readership, purpose/intent, biblical foundation and chapter titles. 
• Author’s CV including past writing experience (published and/or professional); relevant qualifications and experience (for example, educational or ministry); details of church attendance and ministry involvement if any. 

** Please note that only full manuscripts for children’s picture books and all tracts will be accepted. 

Email submissions can be sent to Julie.firmstone (at) youthworks (dot) net 

Hard copy submissions can be mailed to: 
Marshall Ballantine-Jones 
Executive Director of Media 
P.O Box A287 
Sydney South NSW 1235 

Electronic attachments may be in PDF or WORD format and should not be larger than 3MB. Hard copies will only be returned on request and a stamped self-addressed envelope should be included with your package. Once the submission has been received, an acknowledgement of receipt will be sent via email. Please supply an email address even if your submission is made via post. 

Narelle: Julie, thank you for providing submission information for your imprints. If you’re interested in submitting to one of the Youthworks Media imprints, please visit their website and read a range of books from the imprints they publish. Three Youthworks Media titles won the 2013 CALEB Award in their category, including Wonderfully Madison by Penny Reeve and Jemima Trappel (CEP) and Youth Ministry on the Front Foot by Zachary Veron (series editor, APA). Teen Sex by the Book by Dr Patricia Weerakoon (Fervr) won the non fiction category and the overall CALEB Award.

RHIZA PRESS 

Rhiza Press is a brand new family friendly imprint from Wombat Books. Please note that Even Before Publishing (EBP) is no longer open for submissions. Rochelle Manners, founder and director of Wombat Books, has kindly answered my questions regarding the submission process for Rhiza Press. 

Rochelle: First can I just clarify that I am not marketing Rhiza or Wombat as Christian publishers. Rhiza is marketed as family friendly, the same as Wombat Books. As a result, our submissions are slightly different but we will still release some books that explicitly share the Christian faith. 

Narelle: Is Rhiza Press open to unsolicited submissions from new authors? 

Rochelle: Starting from March 1, 2014, Rhiza Press is open for new submissions from new, emerging and established authors. Wombat Books is always open but specifically calls for certain lists at times. 

Narelle: Are there any specific projects, genres or categories of books that Rhiza Press are looking to publish? 

Rochelle: Rhiza Press is looking for books that are primarily as follows: 

• Biographies that are dramatised. We prefer biographies that read like fictional work, in that they show, don’t tell and engage the reader in the moment. Biographies on family issues. 
• Young adult fiction books that are “family-friendly”, real, integrated stories, natural stories teens will relate to. Stories with such strong and engaging plots that the story sells without having to have any issues such as swearing, or sex. In other words book that are so good that they don’t need to push steamy boundaries to engage, but the story engages all on its own. Faith messages that are naturally integrated are welcomed. 
• Adult fiction novels that are aimed at adults, adult themes, but still family friendly and with content that may push more boundaries than the style of Christian fiction, but allows real issues and real (but subtle) messages that people can relate to. 

Narelle: Does Rhiza Press have any specific submission requirements or guidelines? 

Rochelle: There are specific submission requirements and guidelines that we enforce and we won’t read manuscripts that don’t do this. You can find them all on our website http://www.rhizapress.com.au/submissions/all-submissions but here is a quick list:

• We don’t respond to query letters. Full submissions or at least four chapters submitted will be reviewed. 
• Initially we are more looking at stand-alone titles.
• We are not calling for non-fiction submissions at this stage, except biographies.
• YA and adult fiction is welcomed. Please read our early titles when they come out or if you are interested review some of our EBP titles such as recent releases The Celtic Stone, (Nick Hawkes) and Suzannah’s Gold (Carol Preston). Or review some of our YA Wombat titles such as Lynne Stringer’s Verindon trilogy or Lisa Taylor’s Motive Games. These Wombat examples would be books we would now start considering through Rhiza in the future.

Narelle: Does Rhiza Press publish Christian fiction titles? If yes, can the stories be overtly Christian or should they be more subtle Christian worldview in tone to fit the family friendly guidelines? Will any Christian fiction Rhiza Press titles be marketed as Christian books? 

Rochelle: Rhiza Press will publish books that include Christian content, but our focus will be on books that will sell based on their genre not on whether they are targeted at Christian audiences or not. Saying that though some of our novels will have clear Christian faith presented and as such will definitely be marketed to the Christian audience. Our initial releases have varying levels of Christian content, some more obviously Christian, but all written to be strong in their genre as well (YA historical/contemporary/suspense, romance and so on). 

Narelle: How can a writer submit a query to Rhiza Press? How long can a writer expect to wait if they submit a manuscript to Rhiza Press? 

Rochelle: Rhiza Press does not accept query letters. We consider submissions where at least four chapters are included to consider. We prefer email submissions: submissions (at) rhizapress (dot) com (dot) au but postal submissions are also considered. We may respond to a query letter, but it will always be that we don’t decide anything from a query letter so your best plan of action is to submit with a good cover letter and at least four chapters. It is normal to take 4-7 months to review manuscripts, but occasionally longer than this time. http://www.rhizapress.com.au/submissions/all-submissions 

Narelle: Rochelle, thank you for providing additional submission information for Rhiza Press. If you’re interested in submitting to Rhiza Press, please visit their website, study the submission guidelines and read a range of Rhiza Press, EBP and Wombat titles to learn more about the types of books they publish. ACW blog member Andrea Grigg’s contemporary romance, Too Pretty, will be an August 2014 release from Rhiza Press.