If you have pictures from any of these events which you would like to share, please email them to romy@romancewriters.co.za.

Western Cape Retreat 2017

In February 2017, ROSA hosted its first Retreat in the Western Cape, at the scenic Lalapanzi Lodge in Sir Lowry's Pass near Somerset West. We were delighted to host literary agent Louise Fury, of The Bent Agency in New York, as our guest speaker. A day full of talks and writing sessions concluded with a sit-down dinner which stretched late into the night as we talked books and publishing to our hearts' content.

2016 Imbali Award

In 2016, ROSA ran its first contest for the Imbali Award for Excellence in Romance Writing. In its inaugural year, this contest was open to only 15 entries from around Southern Africa, in English only. The entries were judged by a panel of independent book bloggers and reviewers.

The winner and runner-up were announced at the gala dinner at ROSA's third annual conference, held at Melose Place in Johannesburg on Saturday 24th September. The award was presented by the conference's keynote speaker, international author Mary Jo Putney.

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The first runner-up was Joanne Macgregor, with her YA novel Scarred. The winner of ROSA's first ever Imbali Award was announced as Suzanne Jefferies, with her novel The Joy of Comfort Eating.

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Read our interview with the winner, Suzanne Jefferies, here.

ROSACon2016 - Johannesburg

The third annual conference took place on 24-25 September 2016 at Melrose Place, Johannesburg. The event featured keynote speaker Mary Jo Putney, the multi-award winning US author of historical romances, a focus on self-publishing options for South African authors, as well as a gala dinner and screening of the documentary Love Between the Covers.

ROSACon2015 - Stellenbosch

The Devon Valley Hotel, set in the gorgeous winelands of Stellenbosch, was the setting of ROSA's second conference for romance writers. This conference featured a wide range of Afrikaans and Engliah guest speakers, including a motivational session by Phoenix Kelly, and a talk entitled The Woman Writer and the Sea by Karina Szczurek, wife of the late André Brink.

ROSACon2014 - Johannesburg

ROSA's first ever conference took place at the intimate Melrose Place conference venue in Johannesburg in October 2014. Attended by twenty five romance writers from around South Africa, this conference featured a day and a half of guest speakers, and a gala dinner at La Vie en Rose restaurant in Illovo.

If you have pictures from any of these events which you would like to share, please email them to romy@romancewriters.co.za.