CLASSES

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents How to Write Emotion with Laurie Saunders.

In this workshop we will look at the many ways we can infuse our romance novels with emotional tension and the numerous ways to describe the emotions our characters experience so that the reader can experience the emotions of the characters along with them.

WHEN: July 5, 2010 through August 1, 2010

WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.

WHO: Laurie Sanders is the Founder, CEO, and Editor at Black Velvet Seductions. She writes and lectures frequently on topics related to writing romance and erotica. In her “spare” time she writes as Alyssa Aaron. Her book His Perfect Submissive is available at Black Velvet Seductions, Amazon, Fictionwise, and AllRomanceEbooks.com

HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $25.00 for non-FFnP members.

REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=113

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA presents The Ultimate Packaging for Your Product – Logline, Premise, Query Letter and Synopsis with Elle James and Delilah Devlin. 

This workshop focuses on key elements for packaging your product to make it shine above the rest of the slush pile. Instructors will provide weekly instruction, assignments to reinforce lessons learned and feedback on assignments. Participants will develop loglines, premises, query
letters and a synopsis with the opportunity to receive feedback on all.

Week 1 – Logline and Premise
Week 2 – Query Letters that Pop
Week 3 – Synopses that Shine

The instructor will lead off the topic and discussions for the day, and then members work together to apply these elements to their own WIPs. This is an interactive workshop, where participation by everyone is encouraged.

Note: This interactive, lesson-oriented workshop is limited to only 40 participants, first come/first serve. Sign up ASAP to reserve your spot in this incredible workshop!

WHEN: July 5, 2010 through July 26, 2010. Sign up now and get ready for nationals.

WHO: Delilah Devlin is an award-winning author of erotic romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. Ms. Devlin has published over 50 erotic romances in multiple sub-genres and lengths for various publishing houses including Avon, Kensington, Cleis, Black Lace, Elloras Cave and Samhain.

Best-Selling author and Golden Heart Winner Elle James made a new-year’s resolution in January of 2000 to become a published author. In 2005, her dream came true when Dorchester published her first novel, the 2004 Golden Heart Winner for Best Paranormal. She’s since sold 15
Romantic Suspense novels to Harlequin Intrigue, 1 each paranormals to Dorchester & Silhouette Nocturne and 17 sexy romances to Ellora’s Cave, Avon Red and Kensington Aphrodisia under her pen name Myla Jackson.

WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.

HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $25.00 for non-FFnP members. If you are a member of FFnP be sure you are logged into the website before you register to get the member price. Payment is due at time of registration.

REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=154

Elements of RWA Online Workshops Presents

Creating a Web Presence for the Techno-Challenged By Anne Marie Novark
Get the down and dirty regarding domain names and hosting services. Learn about blogging, Facebook, MySpace and more.  A self-confessed techno-klutz and tightwad, Anne Marie Novark will explain how to create do-it-yourself websites for free or on the cheap. The class will consist of five lessons every other day over the space of two weeks with handouts loaded with resources and information. “Believe me, if I can set up an eye-catching, cost-effective web presence, then so can you!”

Bio: Anne Marie Novark is a Texas girl who writes spicy Contemporary Western novels, as well as Regency historicals. Anne Marie is published with The Wild Rose Press.

Date: August 16 – 27, 2010
REGISTRATION ENDS AUGUST 12
Elements Member $9, Non-member $15

To register for this workshop click <http://www.elementsofrwa.com/wkshp_reg2.htm> here.

OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL is pleased to announce our CAMPUS online workshop/class for the month of July:  Writing a Page-Turner with Instructor: Liz Lounsbury
DATES: July 12th – August 8th, 2010
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 11th, 2010
FMI: http://www.oirw.net/campus/currentcourselist.htm

The Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA Presents
Lessons from the Old Storytellers: Building your Worlds Presented by Masha Holl
First came storytelling: that is the oldest profession in the universe… Weaving tales of far-away, imaginary lands, greater-than-life heroes, and beautiful-as-the-dawn heroines was once a
craft passed from parent to child, from master to apprentice. What can we, the modern storytellers, learn from the old masters? What does telling a tale have to do with writing a novel? Lessons from the Old Storytellers: Building your Worlds reveals some of their secrets and teaches how a modern writer can learn from the ancient craftsmen.

June 28, 2010 – July 25, 2010

Cost: $15 for Passionate Ink Members, $20 for non-members

Masha Holl writes romantic science fiction and fantasy—that’s spaceships, alien universes, and very close encounters—to the sounds of Metal Rock. Her novella The Brightest Heaven, and her short story The Joining, are available from The Wild Rose Press.

To Pay Online: Using PayPal (PayPal), send payment to workshops@passionateink.org <mailto:workshops@passionateink.org> with “WORKSHOP – Worldbuilding” as the
subject. In the “message” section, include Your Name and Email Address.

To pay by check, print this page and send with a check to
Passionate Ink Workshops
c/o Robin L. Rotham
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68701

BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR CHECK.
CHECKS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE START DATE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE WORKSHOP

Hearts Through History Presents an Online Class: How to Write Realistic Native Americans Past and Present with Instructor: Regina Paul
Do you want to write about Native American characters? Stumped by how to make your Native American characters as realistic as possible? Then you’ve come to the right place! Bestselling Native American romance author Regina Paul will teach you how to make your Native American characters stand out.

Dates: July 5-July 11, 2010
Registration Deadline: June 30, 2010
Fee: $10/HHRW members, $20/others

Regina Paul is a full-time freelance writer and author with over 800 articles and 10 books published to her credit.

To register for this class: http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/classreg.htm
FMI: HHRW Campus Coordinator: classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

Orange County Chapter of RWA presents “Break Free From the Slush Pile ” with CJ Lyons
July 12 – July 24, 2010
Join award-winning medical suspense author CJ Lyons as she explains the secrets to successful pitching, tips to engage an editor or agent through your query letter, and reveals the creation of a high concept.

CJ has received requests for manuscripts every time she pitched. She’ll help you feel more comfortable during your pitch session and more confident with your pitch. This workshop will help you polish your query letter, create a pitch, and prepare you for meeting an agent or editor.
Enrollment Information at _http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJuly10.html_
(http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJuly10.html)
This is only a 2-week class.
COST: $10 for OCC members, $15 for non-members

About the Instructor:  In addition to being an award-winning medical suspense author, CJ Lyons is a nationally known presenter and keynote speaker. CJ’s award-winning, critically acclaimed Angels of Mercy series (LIFELINES, WARNING SIGNS, and URGENT CARE) is available in stores now with the fourth, CRITICAL CONDITION, due out December, 2010. Her newest project is as co-author of a new suspense series with Erin Brockovich.

Enrollment Information at _http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJuly10.html_
(http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJuly10.html)
COST: $15 for OCC members, $20 for non-members

Coming in August 2010 from Orange County RWA “Understanding Men” with Dr. Debra Holland

Do you wish you had a better understanding of men? Now is your chance to improve your real-life relationships with men and enhance your male characters all through taking the same course. This will be a five-week session with new material that this award-wining romance writer, who also is a noted psychotherapist and consultant, has developed on how male sexuality affects
responses, attitudes and behaviors.

http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html._ (http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html.) Check out our full list of workshops.

CONTESTS

Indiana Romance Writers of America presents The 20th Anniversary of INDIANA‘S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY 2010

Our detailed score sheet and considerate feedback can help you fine-tune your manuscript.

**Trained first-round judges, including published authors
**Acquiring editors and agents as second- and third-round judges
**$50 for first place in each category
**The Best-of-the-Best winner is chosen from among the first-place winners in each category and will receive $100.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by June 27, 2010. For your convenience, IGO accepts only electronic entries.

ENTRY FEE: $25. Can use PayPal or mail a check.

ELIGIBILITY: Unpublished in novel-length fiction by a non-vanity publisher in the last five years (See www.indianarwa.com/ for detailed eligibility guidelines.)

ENTRY: Beginning chapters (prologue included) and synopsis. Pages and synopsis combined not to exceed 35 double-spaced pages.

FIRST-ROUND JUDGES: Either trained judges or published authors.
SECOND-ROUND JUDGES:
Historical/Regency: Jesse Feldman, NAL
Mainstream with Strong Romantic Elements: Maureen Walters, Curtis Brown, LTD
Paranormal: Alicia Condon, Kensington
Romantic Suspense: Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Single Title: Latoya Smith, Grand Central Publishing
Young Adult*: Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency

BEST-OF-THE-BEST JUDGE: Meredith Giordan, Berkley
*Young Adult does not need to be a romance.

PRIZES:
The top entry in each category will receive $50 in cash and a certificate
The entry judged best overall will receive $100 in cash and a certificate.

Further information and contest rules are available through our IRWA Web site: www.indianarwa.com/.

FTHRW’s 2010 GOLDEN GATEWAY UNPUBLISHED Contest

The Golden Gateway is open to authors unpublished and uncontracted in romantic
fiction in both print and electronic format within five years of the contest deadline.

The entry receipt deadline is July 12th2010.
Fee: $20 FTHRW Members, $25 other RWA members, $30 all others
Enter in electronic format up to 55 pages (manuscript and synopsis) of your unpublished novel. The manuscript and synopsis MUST be in one file with the synopsis AFTER the manuscript.

All heat levels will be judged under their primary category. Ex: If you have an erotic romantic suspense, it goes to RS. An inspirational historical goes to historical.

Categories and Final Round Judges:
Single Title– Katherine Pelz, Editor Asst. – Berkley
Historical – Deb Werksman, Editor – Sourcebooks
Mainstream w/Rom. Elements – TBA
Series Contemporary – Shana Smith, Editor, Silhouette
Romantic Suspense – TBA
Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Time Travel – Latoya Smith, Grand Central

For further details, entry forms and rules visit: http://www.fthrw.com/contest/goldengateway/

RWA San Diego is proud to announce the winners in our 2010 Spring Into Romance contest.

SINGLE TITLE
1st Place: SPOTLIGHT by Kim Law
2nd Place: COURAGE AND AZALEAS by Claudia Shelton
3rd Place: FIGHT LIKE A BLONDE by Melissa Cutler
Honorable Mention: SAVING CAPTAIN MARSH by Caroline Phipps

CONTEMPORARY
1st Place: A NIGHT AT THE ROSEMONT by Mary Oldham
2nd Place: A MAN OF HONOR by Jackie Allen
3rd Place: HOW TO LOVE A BILLIONAIRE by Kelly Rucker
Honorable Mention: STRANGERS IN A BED by Kelly Rucker

NOVEL with STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
1st Place: DIE RUN HIDE by Patrice Kavanaugh
2nd Place: A SOLDIER’S SERENADE by Ellen S. Lindseth
3rd Place: OUT OF FOCUS by Nancy Naigle
Honorable Mention: THE MISER WHO BOUGHT THE FARM by Kendel Flaum

PARANORMAL
1st Place: Love? Please! A Tale of the Holy Warriors by Marne Ann Kirstatter (req.for full)
2nd Place: Blind Sight by Pamela Schiebe
3rd Place: Hunter’s Moon by Lisa Kessler
Honorable Mention: Love Chosen: The Fae Dragon Chronicles by Marne Ann Kirstatter

HISTORICAL
1st Place: THE BARGAIN – by Gina Conkle
2nd Place: SWEET ENEMY by Heather Snow
3rd Place: LESSONS FROM A SCOUNDREL by Crista McHugh
Honorable Mention: MORE THAN A STRANGER by Erin Kelly

CONFERENCE

New Jersey Romance Writer’s Put Your Heart in a Book (PYHIAB) Conference

Date: Friday and Saturday, October 22-23

Location: Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin

Not only is there a great lineup of speakers giving dozens of fabulous workshops, but almost two dozen editors and agents are already scheduled to take appointments, with more on the way.

If you’ve signed up, great! We’ll be thrilled to see you in October. But if you haven’t yet, there are many reasons why you should. Like hearing our Big Three, Sharon Sala, Robyn Carr, and Leanne Banks speak. Plus…the opportunity to attend a special pre-conference workshop given by Bob Mayer.

Need another great reason why you absolutely cannot afford to miss the NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference?

Peter Miller, literary agent extraordinaire, will be giving a workshop, “Metamorphosis: Best Selling Novel to Hollywood,” at the Conference. Miller, known as the literary lion, has been an active literary and film manager for more than thirty years. He is President of PMA Literary and Film Management, Inc. and Millennium Lion, Inc; he and his company have successfully managed more than 1,000 books worldwide, as well as dozens of motion picture and television properties. These works include eleven New York Times Bestsellers, and fourteen produced films that Miller has managed or executive produced. Miller has a number of film and television projects currently in active development, with some nearing production, in association with Warner Bros. Features, Warner Bros. Television, Paramount/DreamWorks, HBO, and many other producers and production companies.

If you’ve got questions, please go to our website, www.njromancewriters.org