I'm editing a couple of manuscripts and came across these handy tips for removing filler words...I'm happy to say I've improved on leaving most of these out.
Source: ​https://www.grammarcheck.net/filler-words/

Yay! I'm a finalist in Romance Writers of Australia 2019 First Kiss Competition! Winner to be announced after a final round of judging by Rachel Donovan from Harlequin Aus.

My entry came from my work in progress - Wildfire, a rural romance about a reclusive, grumpy wine making farmer with a dubious and troubled past and an independent tree-changing Doctor looking for refuge and a new beginning and a homestead that they both want for very different reasons.

Good luck to all the other wonderful finalists.

I'm very excited to attend this year's RWA Conference. Last year in Sydney was my first RWA Conference and what a mind blowing experience it was!. 
​I’m an introvert.
I have never been comfortable making small talk. The thought of going to a conference and socialising with a few hundred people who I didn’t know was terrifying but being finalist in the Ripping Start Contest and the enthusiasm of a friend who attended her first conference the year before helped me to gather the courage to register.
I even registered to pitch to a publisher and an agent!
Then decided to volunteer for the Committee, but that's a story for another time!
Having a friend who I knew well outside of RWA did help but I didn’t want to be the needy friend hanging off her arm all day, she had made new friends the year before (who also welcomed me).
I was still the person wandering around smiling, fan-girling (quietly off to the side), saying hello, starting conversations and then being unable to finish them (I promise to try better this year!) but every single person I met or sat next to was friendly and many were clearly in the same boat as me.
The “newbie” attendees were supported by a group of wonderful, lovely and generous members (big shout out to Lisa Ireland, Clare Connelly, Nina Campbell and many others). The pre-conference Facebook chats were invaluable in easing my need to know what I was doing before I attended.
RWA members are a lovely, talented bunch of people and I’ll talk more about my experiences in the lead up to the Melbourne Conference.

My current work in progress is a rural romance with a twist of suspense - working title Wildfire. For the first time I decided to put together a collection of images for inspiration. What do you think?