Mar 2, 2015

Lemons into Lemonade (or Limoncello)


Next weekend some lucky, lovely LoveCats -- along with several hundred readers of romance -- will be attending the Australian Romance Readers Convention in Canberra. Sadly I am not one of them. 

Last year I cancelled my registrations to both RWA conferences, in San Antonio and Sydney, when my mum needed post-surgery care. I was okay with this because family=first. Plus details were already out for ARRC2015 at the QT Canberra, only a few hours drive away. I booked my hotel room straight away and anticipated a self-indulgent weekend talking books and romance.

I was, quite desperately, looking forward to catching up with some of my favourite people but family still comes first and a few weeks back I made the big, horrible decision. I can't go to ARRC2015. *insert sobbing* I wrote "Cancel Canberra Hotel" on my To Do List but dragged my feet (or hands) on picking up the phone.

And for once my procrastination was a good thing.

Turns out I was not the only author who'd had to cancel ARRC2015.  Wendy L Curtis chose to donate her registration to a reader who couldn't afford to attend and I jumped on board Operation Cinderella with hotel accommodation. This reader will now be attending her first ARRA convention and after an incredibly tough year she deserves a happy ending…or at least a romantic respite from real life.

She is soooo excited by the prospect of meeting her favourite authors including a LoveCat or two, and I am no longer despondent about missing out. Lemons into lemonade? You bet.

What is your favourite lemons into lemonade/limoncello moment?

 PS:  The ARRA Awards for favourite books of 2014 are voted by members and presented during ARRC15. Wishing LoveCats Annie West (3 finalists!!!) and Amy Andrews the best of luck for Favourite Short Contemporary Romance and for Favourite Australian Romance Author, and Stefanie London for Favourite New Romance Author.
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14 comments:

  1. Michelle DouglasMarch 2, 2015 at 9:41 AM

    It's such a shame you won't be at the conference, Bron, but you're right -- family always comes first.

    Also, it's official -- you're my hero! Donating your hotel accommodation to Operation Cinderella is a gorgeous and generous things to do! You rock. :-) x

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    1. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 2, 2015 at 11:56 AM

      Michelle, I rather fancy myself as yr hero. With a cape. And superpowers. (My imagination is running away with me here.) Doing this small thing has made me feel SO much better about cancelling and so it is totally win-win.

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  2. HelenMarch 2, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Hi Bronwyn

    I am sorry you won't be there either I will be and am really getting excited now But I have to say you and Wendy are just the best to give someone the chance to go that is so awesome of you both I was thrilled when I saw that on the loop. You will be missed but of course family always comes first :)
    I can't think of any lemons to lemonade stories at the moment but I am sure there are lots

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  3. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 2, 2015 at 11:58 AM

    I know you will have a wonderful time at ARRC2015, Helen. They are just the BEST weekends, and I know the winner of Operation Cinderella will enjoy every minute.

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  4. Sue MacKayMarch 2, 2015 at 1:13 PM

    Bronwyn, your story sounds similar to mine. I was so looking forward to catching up with my Aussie friends in Melbourne at the RWA conference, and then my step daughter told us she was having our second grandchild in August and wants me to be here for that. How could I not be? So catching up with have to wait another year, but the prize is a new baby to love and cuddle.

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    1. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 2, 2015 at 5:21 PM

      Oh, Sue, what a GORGEOUS prize that is! Congratulations to you all. And perhaps the LoveCats can toast the new addition in Melbourne (with Limoncello.)

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  5. LynMarch 2, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    Bronwyn... It's a shame that you needed to cancel your ARRA attendance. However I agree that family comes first.

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  6. Sharon ArcherMarch 2, 2015 at 5:13 PM

    Bron, Operation Cinderella is the loveliest thing! Hooray for you and Wendy Curtis being such wonderful fairy godmums!

    And Annie, Amy and Stefanie! Woohoo! I'm cheering for you awesome gals!

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    1. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 2, 2015 at 5:23 PM

      We will all be cheering on those super-talented LoveCats next Saturday night. They do us -- and romance -- proud.

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  7. Amy AndrewsMarch 2, 2015 at 8:57 PM

    Bron you humble us all with such generosity xx

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    1. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 3, 2015 at 11:34 AM

      Whereas you humble me with your writing productivity whilst still enjoying life. You are a rockstar!

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  8. UnknownMarch 3, 2015 at 2:03 AM

    You're so right, family always comes first. What you and Wendy did for that reader is so kind, I bet she'll never forget that generosity <3

    Thanks for the shout out, I'm so sad I won't be at ARRC this year either but I'll be cheering everyone on from here xx

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  9. Bronwyn JamesonMarch 3, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    We can do group cheers from either side of the Pacific!!!

    All the best, Stefanie. Your debut book rocked.

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