<![CDATA[Jennifer St George author of sexy international romance - Blog]]>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:09:59 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Celebrating Two Years of "How to Write Love": A Journey of Passion, Craft and Creativity]]>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 04:44:23 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/celebrating-two-years-of-how-to-write-love-a-journey-of-passion-craft-and-creativityTwo years ago, we launched the How to Write Love course with one goal in mind: to help writers unlock the magic of romance writing. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re so proud of how far it’s come. Developed by a team of experienced and passionate authors—myself, Jennifer St George, along with Amy Andrews, Ally Blake, and Clare Connelly—this course was designed to guide writers through the art of crafting love stories that resonate, captivate, and endure. 

What Makes How to Write Love Stand Out? 
The course wasn’t just about teaching the technical aspects of romance writing—it was about creating a space for writers to dive deep into what makes love stories so powerful. Love is universal, but the way it’s expressed in writing is uniquely personal. In the How to Write Love course, we blend our collective experience as bestselling authors to share insights into character development, emotional arcs, dialogue, and more, all while helping students find their own voice in romance writing. 
 
Each of us brings something different to the table. Together, we’ve crafted a course that doesn’t just teach technique but inspires writers to pour their hearts into their stories. We know romance writing is more than just tropes and happy endings—it’s about creating characters that feel real, conflicts that matter, and love that feels genuine. Through a combination of lessons, exercises and our interactive Facebook group, we help writers master these elements and develop their own signature style. 

Looking Back and Ahead 
Two years ago, we set out to give writers the tools to create love stories. And looking back, we’re proud of everything we've accomplished together. But this is just the beginning.  
If you’re ready to explore the world of romance writing, join us in the How to Write Love course. Whether you’re looking to refine your craft or dive into the world of romance writing for the first time, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

Here’s to another year of love, creativity, and unforgettable stories! ​]]><![CDATA[Reading Dark]]>Sun, 08 Sep 2019 09:39:27 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/reading-darkI love reading romance. I’m currently reading The Million Pound Marriage Deal by Michelle Douglas and love it. 
 
Crime is another of my favourite genres. Michael Connelly and Michael Robotham are two of my go to authors. I devour everything written by Jane Harper. 
 
But, there are some books I just can’t bring myself to read. I love Stephen King’s book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I’ve read it three times, but I can’t bring myself to read one of his fiction books. I’m too scared.
 
At the recent Byron Writers Festival, I listened to Ginger Gorman discuss the world of online trolls and her incredible journey researching this phenomenon. I immediately purchased Troll Hunting and had Ginger sign it. I’ve picked it up a number of times to read, but just wonder if I can face learning about the inside world of online hate. I teach Social Media Tactics at university, so feel it is a book I should read, but do I really want to know about this world?
 
What about you? Are there genres of books you can’t read or don’t want to read?

​I’m heading back to Will and Sophie’s story and will leave the trolls for now.
]]><![CDATA[What a Happy Mother's Day]]>Fri, 17 May 2019 02:29:51 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/what-a-happy-mothers-dayHappy Mother’s Day
 
To all the mothers out there, I hope you had a lovely day last Sunday (Happy's Day in Australia).
 
I slept in…bliss.  With my daughter and puppy in tow (husband was off surfing), I walked to our local café along country lanes in the autumn sunshine. My husband met up with us for breakfast. After brekkie, I treated myself to a mother’s day special – a little chocolate cupcake. No calories on Mother’s Day!
 
The café has a lovely vegetable and herb garden, which inspired us. So my daughter and I walked home and planted a herb garden. I then her gave encouragement while she made a papier mâché mushroom for her school art project. We then snuggled up on the couch, with the fire burning and watched rom coms while my husband went to band practice.
 
Later, my daughter cooked us an amazing dinner (flavoured with the newly planted herbs) and we all watched Jane the Virgin in our PJs on Netflix while the rain pattered on our tin roof. A low-key day. A lovely day. A perfect day.
 
How about you? Did you have a great day yesterday?
]]><![CDATA[Closing the Book]]>Thu, 16 Aug 2018 05:52:03 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/closing-the-bookIt’s the end of an era for me. I’ve been involved with Byron Writers Festival for eight years. Four of them as a volunteer Board member of which two of those were as the Chair of the organisation. At the conclusion of the 22nd Byron Writers Festival on 5 August, I stepped down as Chair.
 
It was an honour and a privilege to help lead the organisation for the past two years. I’ve worked with, and met, amazing people. One of my favourite encounters this year was with a luminary Australian novelist and playwright last Saturday night. I drove him back to his hotel and before we got in the car, he wanted to check that I’d completed my HSC! I think he was checking I was old enough to drive. Oh yes, over thirty years ago. I loved him for that question.
 
The role of Chair has been a wonderful but a very busy one.  There were some weeks when I was working over 20 hours a week. So, with a new full time job, it was simply unsustainable. Also, I think with a change of leadership, comes a change of focus, which I think is good for a community not-for-profit organisation.
 
This year’s Festival was extra special as we had a good representation from romance and women’s fiction including Rachael Johns, Christine Wells and Victoria Purman. They were wonderful and the hilarious Mandy Nolan brought out the best in the panel they were all on together.
 
Next year I’ll be able to walk around the gorgeous Festival site and enjoy it from a patron’s perspective. I can’t wait. Hope to see you there.
]]><![CDATA[Byron Writers Festival is Coming...]]>Sun, 10 Jun 2018 11:16:33 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/byron-writers-festival-is-comingAs many of you know, I’m the Chair of the Byron Writers Festival. A few weeks ago, we launched our Early Bird tickets and revealed the following first line-up of guests. These include: Manal al-Sharif, Anne Aly, Jessie Cole, Michelle de Kretser, Robert Drewe, Eskil Engdal, Jane Harper, Tom Keneally, Miriam Lancewood, Hyeonseo Lee, Tracey Moffatt, Oliver Phommavanh, Tanya Plibersek, David Ritter, Tim Rogers, Kjetil Saeter, Lemn Sissay, Gregory Smith and Sarah Wilson. The rest of the program is still under wraps.
 
Have you read Jane Harper? I’m a huge fan. Her first book The Dry kept me up reading late into the night. The Dry is an international bestseller and has been optioned by the production company behind the film Gone Girl.  More sleepless nights followed with her second story, A Force of Nature.
 
This week, the full festival program goes on sale and then I can tell you everything. And, maybe, just maybe there might be something romantic in the air.  
 
So, Byron is the place to be from 3-5 August where you will enjoy the wisdom and musings of the 140 writers, thinkers and commentators. 
 
]]><![CDATA[Cinema or Netflix?]]>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 22:35:45 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/cinema-or-netflixDo you go to the movie theatre anymore? With Netflix available why go to the cinema anymore when you can snuggle up on your own comfy couch with a glass of wine and binge watch so much good stuff.

My daughter insisted we go to the movies last night for a girl’s night out. For us it isn’t a five-minute trip to a Gold Class. Our closest cinema is 25 minutes down the freeway. But, off we went.

We went to see Love, Simon. It was just wonderful. A great movie. I cried twice. My daughter three times (I must be heartless). We then went to dinner by the seaside and it was lovely eating spaghetti marinara breathing in the salt air. Made that comfy couch seem the lesser, lazier option.
​
So which is better? Well I’ve decided both are good. After a hard week of work, that couch and I are soul mates. But, heading out for dinner and a movie, hasn’t really lost its sparkle.​

]]><![CDATA[Growth Mindset]]>Wed, 13 Sep 2017 05:07:33 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/growth-mindsetI’m celebrating. I’ve handed in my last assignment on my Graduate Diploma in Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring.  It has been a hard road. Trying to fit in study around Chairing the Byron Writers Festival, teaching at Griffith University, writing books, learning piano, keeping fit and I think I have a family around here somewhere, has been really tough.

But I’ve always loved learning new things. I’m a big believer in the concept that you should never stop learning. One of the interesting concepts I learned about is a Growth Mindset.  

The concept of a growth mindset was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck According to Dweck, “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.” 

Alternatively, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” 

There’s a great animated YouTube clip which explains this very simply.

I certainly had to use my growth mindset to become a published writer. I went to as many romance writing workshops I could find travelling to Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane to do so. I went to every Romance Writers of Australia conference and read lots and lots of ‘how to books’. Of course I also read voraciously in the genre. I knew when I set off on this journey it would be hard, hard work and that only dedication and resilience (I had four books rejected before I was published!) would see me through.

But, I got there in the end. 

What do you think of the concept of a growth mindset?]]><![CDATA[Byron Writers Festival – oh what a Festival]]>Mon, 05 Sep 2016 06:00:57 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/byron-writers-festival-oh-what-a-festivalPicture
Byron Writers Festival, of which I am now the Chair, wrapped up in August (yes, this post is a little late). The Wednesday night (before opening on Friday) the equivalent of a cyclone hit Byron. We arrived early on the site on Thursday morning to find one marquee collapsed, another marquee ripped, lots of the signage blown away and a large proportion of the site flooded. Many people thought we wouldn't open the next day, but we were determined.

Our team worked around the clock (with pumps, gravel, hay and crusher dust) and we opened the gates as scheduled at 8am the next morning. We told everyone to bring their gumboots. And what a Festival...the whole event was magic.

I drove Annabel Crabb to the Literary Dinner and she is a delight. I sat next to Leigh Sales at dinner. She is easiest person to talk to in the world. Just like talking to a friend. I thought I’d be intimidated and searching for intelligent things to say to such an extraordinary media icon, but she is so down to earth and friendly. Meeting P.J. O’Rourke was also a bit of a highlight. And, there were so many more.

I chaired two sessions. Contemporary rural romance author Charlotte Nash was wonderful to interview. I so loved her book, The Horseman. And, Lucy Clark had almost the whole marquee in tears as we discussed the content of her book, Beautiful Failures. I was a little intimidated when Kerry O’Brien sat down to listen!

All in all, we pulled off a miracle.
]]><![CDATA[Romance the Byron Writers Festival]]>Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:50:47 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/romance-the-byron-writers-festivalPicture
I'm chairing the Romance session at the Byron Writers Festival. Following are all the details:
​
Romancing the Festival
 
Byron Writers Festival 2016 will reveal the realities of writing romance with multi-published author Charlotte Nash.
 
Facilitated by Festival Vice-Chair Jennifer St George, the Romance session will explore this popular genre and discuss the realities of being or becoming a contemporary romance author. The incredible popularity of rural romance in the Australian market will also be examined.
 
Nash, the author of four rural romances including the best-selling The Walker-Bell series, came to romance writing after completing degrees in mechanical engineering and medicine and a working series of eclectic jobs including building rockets, traversing Pilbara mines and scrambling over Newcastle ship-loaders.
 
Nash used these diverse work experiences to build her romance novels. ‘It's a natural pairing – romance is part of everyday life. I started writing in science fiction because of my technical background, but I found romance stories just as fertile a place to migrate my existing knowledge.
 
Nash’s latest release is The Horseman. Set in the high country, this is a passionate love story of a young doctor and a legendary horseman whose lives become inextricably linked.
 
Nash grew up obsessed with horses. ‘I had the fortune to spend a great deal of time riding and simply being within that culture. Those abiding childhood memories and iconic images of the horse in Australian culture - The Man From Snowy River, Phar Lap, The Lighthorsemen, The Silver Brumby series underpin my these passions.’
 
‘My horseman, Craig Munroe, and his world emanates from these life threads. Peta, my doctor heroine, comes from my adult post-horse life, a more rigid and somehow colder place. The story is symbolic of the two worlds meeting and making mutual sense.’
 
St George says many people are unaware of the enormous popularity of the genre. ‘Romance fiction generated over $1 billion in sales in the US alone and represents 13% of the adult American fiction market. An annual survey by Romance Writers of America also shows that 16% of those buying romance books are men.’
 
Nash’s four novels, Ryders Ridge, Iron Junction, Crystal Creek and The Horseman, are published by Hachette Australia.
 
Romance writing isn’t Nash’s only writing passion. She has been nominated for Ditmar and Aurealis awards for her speculative fiction.
 
The Romance session is on Festival Sunday. The Festival is being held at Elements of Byron from 5-7 August with Workshops commencing on 1 August. Visit byronwritersfestival.com for more information and tickets.
 
]]><![CDATA[Wild For You - A Taste]]>Wed, 18 May 2016 23:19:33 GMThttp://www.jenniferstgeorge.com/blog/wild-for-you-a-tasteWild For You is now out in the world. I thought you might enjoy a excerpt:

So who have we got?’ Daniel moved the conversation firmly back into the work-related sphere. ‘Who’s Mr Limo?’

‘Ms Limo.’

Daniel looked over at the assembled group. Ms Limo stood out like a diamond in a field of coal. Flares of heat flashed over his skin. Bloody hell! Gorgeous didn’t come close to describing the petite blonde. What was a woman like that doing here? Especially dressed like that. Black skinny jeans, some sort of designer jacket and high-heeled black boots. Long, loose blonde hair cascading halfway down her back. Where did she think they were going? A shopping trip down the Champs-Elysees? Helicopter extraction looked like an inevitability.

‘Great,’ he said, under his breath. ‘I take it you haven’t completed the gear check yet.’

‘Just about to start.’ Jade glanced back at the group. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll sort her out.’

‘No. I’ll do it. You do the family. I’m the one who’s going to have to tell her she can’t come. There’s no way she’s walking dressed like that.’ He shook his head. This would be the first time he’d have to turn a client away for not being properly prepared. He was very, very clear in the instructions for the trip. No proper gear? No trekking. Full refund. ‘What’s her name?’

‘Madison.’

‘Okay, let’s get this done and get going.’

He strode over to the woman. God, she was beautiful. Then she hit him with her gaze. The air didn’t stir, but it felt as if he’d been hit by the force of a tropical cyclone. Green eyes. Bright green like emerald moss sparkling with morning dew. He blew out a long, slow breath. Probably best to remove her from the trip. Physical attraction to clients was a no-go zone.

‘Hi.’ He extended his hand. ‘I’m Daniel Black.’

She took his hand and shook it with surprising firmness.

‘Madison Mills. Pleased to meet you. I—’

‘Sorry Maddie, but you aren’t appropriately dressed for this trip.’ He employed his best commander voice. The one he’d always used with new recruits to make sure the question of who was in charge never needed to be asked.

‘As you can appreciate, we have strict stipulations about the appropriate gear and this . . .’ He indicated to her outfit. ‘It is . . . well . . .’ He wanted to say ‘ridiculous’. ‘It’s not suitable for this rugged terrain.’

That should do it. Bye bye Ms Millionaire.

But she didn’t flinch. She didn’t move. Instead she gave him a sweet, sweet smile that made his guts flip.

‘First.’ She held up her index finger. ‘It’s Madison, not Maddie. Second.’ Another delicate finger. ‘My assistant booked this trip and, knowing her as I do, I’m sure that backpack over there has everything I need. Her American accent possessed a New York edge with a touch of Southern belle. It enveloped him like the light, refreshing spray from a waterfall. He took a step away from her intoxicating mist.

‘And third, if you could outline exactly what I need to do to meet your criteria, I’ll be ready in five minutes.’

He narrowed his eyes. Okay, that was unexpected. He had been sure she’d capitulate. She didn’t belong here. And ready in five minutes? Yeah right. They’d be halfway to the plateau before she’d be ready to leave.

‘Well, let’s start with your gear check. Your pack should weigh no more than seven kilos. You’ll have to be changed in five minutes; that’s when we’re leaving. Unfortunately, Madison, if you’re not ready, I’ll have to arrange transport to take you back to Launceston. I’m sure you understand we can’t delay the trip for one person.’

‘Oh, don’t worry,’ she said, flipping her lush blonde hair over her shoulder. A hint of spicy perfume teased his nostrils. ‘I’ll be ready.’]]>