D I A M O N D S ~ D O W N U N D E R

Tessa Radley

Tessa considers herself a reader at heart and discovered books at an early age. Her childhood career dreams veered wildly from the less interesting choices that teachers proposed, until she ended up with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later, a Bachelor of Laws degree. After many years as an attorney, Tessa took a six month break travelling through Australia with her family, refuelling her imagination and reading tons of books, again firing up the compulsion to write. After spending almost six years honing her craft, Tessa sold to Silhouette Desire in 2006 with Black Widow Bride.

Bronwyn Jameson

Bronwyn Jameson spent most of her childhood with her head buried in a book. It seemed only fitting that she turn her love of romantic fiction into a career, creating the kind of stories she’s always loved to read. In 2001 she became the first Australian author to publish with Silhouette Desire. Since then, her books have won many accolades including the Aspen Gold, the Write Touch Readers Award, the Anne Bonney Readers Choice, and in 2006 she was a triple-RITA finalist and nominated as Romantic Times’ Series Storyteller of the Year.

Bronwyn shares an idyllic piece of the Australian farming heartland with her husband, three sons, three dogs, a few thousand sheep, several horses, and assorted wildlife. When not writing, you will probably find her with her head buried in a book. You will not find her doing housework.

Bronwyn's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Vows & A Vengeful Groom (Book 1, Jan 08), is her 13th book for Silhouette Desire.

The pink flower on the home page is © Photographer: Brent Hathaway | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The solitaire pink diamond is © Photographer: Infomages | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Maxine Sullivan

Maxine blames her mother for her love of romance novels, so in retaliation she became a romance writer. Of course Maxine never thought it would take her 20 years to have her dream of publication become a reality, and finds it very fitting that she sold her first manuscript (The Millionaire's Seductive Revenge) on Australia Day - January 26th 2006.

Maxine has travelled to New Zealand, the UK, and USA, and spent many years in Darwin in the tropical north, where some of her books are set. She currently lives in Melbourne Australia with her husband and two sons.

Jan Colley

Jan lives in the South Island of New Zealand with her real-life hero and two lovely cats. After years traveling the globe and Jan's eight-year stint as a customs officer, the pair set up a backpacker hostel called Vagabond. Running her own business, she discovered the meaning of the word "busy" and began reading romance to relax. In 2002, they sold the hostel and Jan decided to take two months and write a book. Two months turned into a year. She did a Kara writing course with Daphne Clair and Robyn Donald, and finaled in the Clendon Award, garnering the Readers Choice. That book, Vagabond Eyes, was ultimately rejected. Two completed manuscripts later, she heard the words she had heard in her head a hundred times: "Jan? It's Melissa Jeglinski here. We'd like to buy your book."

Trophy Wives was released in December 2005 and Jan now works part-time and dedicates the rest to writing and neglecting her family and friends, although she does find time to watch rugby whenever there is a game on.

Paula Roe

British-born and Aussie bred, Paula has been an avid romance reader since the age of eleven, growing up reading authors such as Johanna Lindsey, Kathleen Woodiwiss and Shirlee Busbee.

In her former paid life, she has worked as an assistant/secretary/PA, office manager, software trainer, theme park hostess and aerobics instructor. She's also spent close to ten years as a Romance Writers of Australia volunteer, judging contests and editing Hearts Talk, their monthly magazine.

Eighty-six contest entries and four rejections later, Paula was accepted for publication by Silhouette Desire in 2006 with Forgotten Marriage and is also a double-nominee for the Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards 2007. She's proud to be the third of only four Australian authors for the line.

Yvonne Lindsay

Always an avid reader, Yvonne was introduced to the joy of reading romance at the age of 13 by an elderly neighbour. At the age of 15 and totally inspired, she tried her hand at her first romance novel - an abysmal attempt that remains well hidden.

Many scribblings, many years, a slew of secretarial and sales repping jobs, marriage and two kids later she heard the wonderful Harlequin Mills & Boon author, Susan Napier, mention Romance Writers of New Zealand at a local writer's group. Yvonne joined RWNZ a year later and spent nine years working on their committee.

On her path to publication, she won a few awards along the way including Romance Writers of Australia's 1999 Emma Darcy Award and Romance Writers of New Zealand's 2004 Clendon Award. In 2005 she sold to Silhouette Desire with The Boss's Christmas Seduction - a novel which was short listed for Romance Writers of Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award for 2007.

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Yvonne's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition (Book 6 - June 08), is her sixth book for Silhouette Desire.

Paula's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Boardrooms & A Billionaire Heir (Book 5 - May 08), is her second book for Silhouette Desire.

Jan's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Satin & A Scandalous Affair (Book 4 - April 08), is her fourth book for Silhouette Desire.

Maxine's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Mistress & A Million Dollars (Book 3 - March 08), is her fourth book for Silhouette Desire.

Tessa's contribution to Diamonds Down Under, Pride & A Pregnancy Secret (Book 2 - Feb 2008), is her sixth book for Silhouette Desire.

~ visit Bronwyn on the web ~

~ visit Tessa on the web ~

~ visit Maxine on the web ~

~ visit Jan on the web ~

~ visit Paula on the web ~

~ visit Yvonne on the web ~