Our Committee
Coordinators
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Treasurer Michelle Somers
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Secretary Destiny Davin
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Welcome to our website and now you're here, spend a moment or two to learn about the
wonderful women who make up The Melbourne Romance Writers Guild.
Supporting Romance Writers to Publication and Beyond
Some Of Our Current Members
CASSANDRA O'LEARY is a romance and women’s fiction writer, communications specialist, avid reader, film and TV fangirl and admirer of pretty, shiny things. Her debut contemporary romance/romantic comedy novel, Girl on a Plane, released in July 2016.
Cassandra is a mother of two gorgeous, high-energy mini ninjas and wife to a spunky superhero. Living in Melbourne, Australia, she’s also travelled the world. If you want to send her to Italy or Spain on any food or wine tasting ‘research’ trips, that would be splendiferous. cassandraolearyauthor.com
Cassandra is a mother of two gorgeous, high-energy mini ninjas and wife to a spunky superhero. Living in Melbourne, Australia, she’s also travelled the world. If you want to send her to Italy or Spain on any food or wine tasting ‘research’ trips, that would be splendiferous. cassandraolearyauthor.com
MICHELLE SOMERS is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she’s a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she’ll put them through one hell of a journey to get there. Her current release, 'Murder Most Unusual' is now available.
Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. She loves hearing from her readers and having visitors to her website.
Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. She loves hearing from her readers and having visitors to her website.
SANDRA CARMEL is an own-voices, bestselling Australian author of racy, flirty and downright-dirty romance novels, novellas, short stories and poetry, who enjoys stimulating herself and others with words. An obsession with Jane Eyre, and her infatuation with Mr Rochester, were key motivators in commencing her romance writing journey. So far, she has taken the scenic route from steamy paranormal to sci-fi to contemporary, creating provocative stories that delve beneath the surface of desire. She reads and writes a lot, frequently disrupted by her ever-attentive, cheeky cats, and sinfully amorous array of book boyfriends.
MELANIE COLES always loved stories. While most kids at school spent their lunch times climbing tyre walls or playing kiss-chasey, she was in the library with her nose in a book, a pen in her hand or her head in the clouds.
She misplaced her writing mojo sometime after high school but thankfully rediscovered it in some twenty years later! She now juggles writing with family life and her job as a Mortgage Broker Assistant. A hopeless romantic, she’s addicted to chocolate and happy-ever-afters*may* have an obsession with Jane Austen as evidenced by her first novel, Evan and Darcy – a modern, gender-swapped retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the Australian outback. It was published by Escape Publishing in 2016. Coordinator of the MRWG since late 2020, she loves to see our members engage, learn, grow and thrive as they journey together through writing. Melanie lives in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne with her two sports-crazed sons and a tabby cat Milo.
She misplaced her writing mojo sometime after high school but thankfully rediscovered it in some twenty years later! She now juggles writing with family life and her job as a Mortgage Broker Assistant. A hopeless romantic, she’s addicted to chocolate and happy-ever-afters*may* have an obsession with Jane Austen as evidenced by her first novel, Evan and Darcy – a modern, gender-swapped retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the Australian outback. It was published by Escape Publishing in 2016. Coordinator of the MRWG since late 2020, she loves to see our members engage, learn, grow and thrive as they journey together through writing. Melanie lives in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne with her two sports-crazed sons and a tabby cat Milo.
PJ VYE has spent a number of years in music education and finds the world’s obsession with fame and celebrity intriguing. There is nothing she enjoys more than exploring this fascination in her novels.
In her spare time she creates musical things and jams with good friends. She loves drinking wine but hates writing biographies. Sometimes she needs to drink wine in order to write biographies.
In her spare time she creates musical things and jams with good friends. She loves drinking wine but hates writing biographies. Sometimes she needs to drink wine in order to write biographies.
JEN KATEMI is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary and paranormal romance. She also writes sweet & clean historical romance under the pen name Ava Rose, and dark mafia romance under the name, Zoe Delaney. Previously published with Evernight and Red Sage, Jen has forged a successful indie career with Flourish Books.
When she's not writing, Jen runs an editing and proofreading business, and pampers various cats.
When she's not writing, Jen runs an editing and proofreading business, and pampers various cats.
M.L. TOMPSETT has been creating worlds to escape to since she was a little girl. Years later she is still enjoying her writing in her imaginative make-believe worlds with interesting characters and steamy scenes. Finally moving forward to the big wide scary world of publishing in print and the new world of digital eBook publishing.
With her first series out on the digital shelves and in print (softcover) in paranormal fantasy, she has also released books in urban fantasy, and now dipping her toes in contemporary romance. She is excited to see something she has been working on for far too long become a reality.
With her first series out on the digital shelves and in print (softcover) in paranormal fantasy, she has also released books in urban fantasy, and now dipping her toes in contemporary romance. She is excited to see something she has been working on for far too long become a reality.
SAVANNAH BLAIZE finds joy in books and in the tales she tells. Her readers often comment on how easily they can slip into the story, visualise the world she creates. Her book 'Devil In The Details' was a finalist in the 2021 ARRA awards. Savannah was born in Scotland but Melbourne has been her home for many years, where she enjoys the wonderful food, exceptional theatre and numerous laneways boasting fabulous coffee. With several seasons in one day, Melbourne provides the cold blustery weather of the British Isles, the vista of multi toned autumn leaves scattered around the Paris end of Collins Street, the smack of the salty sea air in Williamstown, the expanse of caramel coloured sand lapped by gently frothing waves in Portsea. All ideal writing fodder for her active imagination.
ANDRA ASHE is a sensualist and a romantic who loves creating sinfully sexy heroes for heroines who often veer from the mainstream in their desires. When not arm-wrestling her Muse over plot lines, or who gets to wear the stilettos, Andra can be found working on her latest slow stitching embroidery project. She sees this as a lot like writing - you start with something that's only a rough idea and watch it grow until, hopefully, it's something fabulous.
Andra lives in Melbourne with her awesome new husband and hopes her adult children aren't too traumatized by having a mother who writes smutty stories. Check out her books on her Amazon Author Page.
Andra lives in Melbourne with her awesome new husband and hopes her adult children aren't too traumatized by having a mother who writes smutty stories. Check out her books on her Amazon Author Page.
DESTINY DAVIN gave up her 'day job' in corporate life and now her days are filled with creating steamy stories about love and lust, the two components of a strong relationship. When she can tear herself away from the keyboard and her latest sexy couple, Destiny loves going to the gym then bingeing a good drama series or the latest reality show on Netflix. Her current books are sexy contemporary romances, but after watching Bridgerton, she's working on a sexy Regency series. Watch this space!
JOSIE CAPORETTO started writing at 14after reading the 19th century Italian classic 'The Betrothed' by Alessandro Manzoni. While she now enjoys penning her own historical love stories Josie has been known to delve into time-travel, contemporary and fantasy romance. Josie is also passionate about her heritage and culture. Italy is often the setting for her stories and she also has written cookbooks celebrating the tastes of Calabria. When not in a cafe drinking espresso and reading, she can be found relaxing at beautiful Phillip Island.
FLEUR BLUM is a Melbourne based writer, performer and musician. She writes mainly fiction, with romantic elements. She is a strongly feminist, sex-positive writer. Her work sometimes touches on the darker side of life, including abusive relationships. She also regularly uses her humour to break up the darkness. You can read examples of her work in her blog. Fleur has published six novels, and three short collections of poetry.
ELVINA PAYET balances her life between selling staircases during the day and creating weird and wonderful characters at night. At present, she is fixated on the paranormal genre which lets her crazy imagination run wild.
Elvina has produced full length manuscripts, novellas and short stories in various genres. She has had success in several writing competitions and has had her short stories published in anthologies and in the USA Arabella magazine.
Elvina has produced full length manuscripts, novellas and short stories in various genres. She has had success in several writing competitions and has had her short stories published in anthologies and in the USA Arabella magazine.
Former members
Multi-published previous members include :
Samara Parish
Stefanie London
Ebony McKenna
Keri Arthur
Cheryl Wright
Margaret Tanner
Nicola Marsh
Fiona Lowe
Joan Kilby
Samara Parish
Stefanie London
Ebony McKenna
Keri Arthur
Cheryl Wright
Margaret Tanner
Nicola Marsh
Fiona Lowe
Joan Kilby
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Joan Hunt
Our dear friend, and a founding member of Melbourne Romance Writers Guild, Joan Hunt passed suddenly in December 2007.
We have an annual Joan Hunt Award to honour her memory.
