WisRWA Calendar
Meeting Times
2017
11:30 - 3:00; 1951 West Restaurant,1951 Bond St, Green Bay
Covers and Conference Review, by Lily Silver: A book cover is the first thing your reader sees. It makes them either pick up your book to read more or pass it by for another. Lily will share design insights on what works and what doesn’t work on book covers. Challenge for those attending: bring an example of a book cover you absolutely hate!
2017
10:00-12:30; 29 Pines at Sleep Inn & Suites, Eau Claire
The Cure for Writers' Block: It’s something we all suffer with from time to time. Writer’s block! And we all have our own way of overcoming it, or maybe some of us don’t yet. So join us on the 10th and share your method for beating that bully, or learn a new one from someone else!
2017
9:00 - 12:00; Terrace Room at the Jefferson Street Inn, 201 Jefferson Street, Wausau
Exploring the Creative Process. Guest speaker Roxanne Rustand will share her routine of creating a story in an interactive program that will give each author a chance to explore and perhaps expand and enrich their own Creative Process.
2017
9:00-11:30 am at Mayfair Mall (Garden Suites Community Room, Lower Level)
Book Launch Parties and Other Marketing Roll Out Tips: Barbara Britton and Mia Jo Celeste have both launched books this year. They will share what they have learned about events both virtual and actual.
2017
11:30 - 3:00; 1951 West Restaurant,1951 Bond St, Green Bay
Stacey Joy Netzel will walk members through creating a rough outline for a book before starting the first draft using the craft book Romancing the Beat, Story Structure for Romance Novels, by Gwen Hayes. She will use one of her recent books as an example, and give members time to create an outline for their own book.
2017
10:00-12:30; 29 Pines at Sleep Inn & Suites, Eau Claire
Brainstorming: Have you ever sat at your computer and stared at the blank screen (or blank paper, if you’re old school), your head empty of any kind of idea of what to write next? Of course you have, we all have! Come join us as we brainstorm how best to brainstorm.
2017
10:00-12:30; Please contact area contact, Jane Yunker (jane.yunker@gmail.com) for the location
Join the Chippewa Falls WisRWA group for our annual potluck meeting when we plan our 2017-2018 schedule and celebrate all-around fun. Let us know if you plan on joining us so we can get a head-count on food. Bring a dish to pass, ideas for the coming year, and a desire to have a good time.
WisRWA Newsletter
Categories
Contests
WisRWA’s 2017 Contest Winners Announced!
Wisconsin Romance Writers of America is delighted to announce the final rankings of both of our contests. We would also like to offer our congratulations to the winners. Winners were announced May 20, 2017 at the Awards Luncheon during the Write Touch Conference.
***denotes WisRWA member
WisRWA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Fab Five Contest:
*** denotes WisRWA member
Contemporary
First Place
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons
Second Place
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Known
Third Place
Belinda Brooks – Home Again
Fourth Place
Kate Courtright – Time and Again
Honorable Mention
Kate Courtright – You are Love
Historical
First Place
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Tower
Second Place
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange
Third Place
Carol Potenza – Second Choice
Fourth Place
Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts
Honorable Mention
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith
Inspirational
First Place
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies
Second Place
Pattie Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory
Third Place
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel
Fourth Place
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow
Honorable Mention
Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter
Paranormal
First Place
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil
Second Place
Chris Westwater – Wolfling
Third Place
Anne Reed – Dark Matter
Fourth Place
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking
Honorable Mention
Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)
Romantic Suspense
First Place
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits
Second Place
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise
Third Place
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise
Fourth Place
Lori Matthews- Hit & Run
Honorable Mention
Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart
Women’s Fiction
First Place
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time
Second Place
Debbie Archer – Pocket Change
Third Place
Wendi Dass – Liebling
Fourth Place
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston
Honorable Mention
Vicki Volden – Both
Young Adult/New Adult
First Place
Riley Darkes – Serving Time
Second Place
Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows
Third Place
Laura Cumbie – From Here to There
Fourth Place
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park
Honorable Mention
Monica Headley – Off the Rails
Contemporary – Long
First Place
Melynda Price – Fighting For Control
Second Place
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope
Third Place
Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls
Contemporary – Midlength
First Place
Sara Dahmen*** – Wine and Children
Second Place
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl
Third Place
Valerie Clairizio*** – Family Forever
Contemporary – Short
First Place
Stacey Joy Netzel*** – Spring Dreams
Second Place
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right
Third Place
Brenna Ash – Second Chances
Erotic Romance
First Place
Jade Chandler – Enough
Second Place
LaQuette – Lies You Tell
Third Place
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got The Jack
Historical
First Place
Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander
Second Place
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken
Third Place
Amy Sandas*** – Luck is no Lady
Inspirational
First Place
Laura Scott*** – Shielding His Christmas Witness
Second Place
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love
Third Place
Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme
First Place
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets
Second Place
Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions
Third Place
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot
Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy
First Place
Marissa Doyle- Skin Deep
Second Place
Marie Johnson – Birthright
Third Place
Marie Johnson – Ancient Ties
Romantic Suspense
First Place
Abbie Roads -Hunt the Dawn
Second Place
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk
Third Place
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense
Young Adult
First Place
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten
Second Place
Katherine Fleet – The Secret of Letting Go
Third Place
j. leigh bailey – Guyliner
Speak up:
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Contests, Fab Five, Romance Writing, WisRWA, write touchWisRWA’s 2017 Contest Finalists Announced!
WisRWA is pleased to announce the finalists of both our contests: the Fabulous Five Contest and the Write Touch Readers Award. Congratulations to all!
Winners will be announced on May 20th at the WisRWA Write Touch Conference Awards Luncheon.
*** = WisRWA member
2017 FABULOUS FIVE FINALISTS
Contemporary
Belinda Brooks – Home Again
Kate Courtright – Time and Again
Kate Courtright – You are Love
Monique Headley – Hard Lessons
Christina Hovland – Things I Wish I’d Done
Historical
Avery Cove – Fragile Hearts
Elizabeth Everett – The Rescue of Lord Grange
Elizabeth Everett – The Seduction of Mrs. Smith
Carol Potenza – Second Choice
Abigail Wilson – The Secrets Within the Towers
Inspirational
Angela E. Arndt – The Beekeeper’s Daughter
Kathryn Barker – Catch a Falling Angel
Izzy James – The Shopkeeper’s Widow
Patti Stockdale – The Measure of a Memory
Sharee Stover – Believable Lies
Paranormal
Chel Chavez – The Heir of Erois (Book 1)
Paige Helton – Witch’s Veil
Anne Reed – Dark Matter
Kat Turner – Magical Thinking
Chris Westwater – Wolfling
Romantic Suspense
Kelly Duff*** – Tame My Racing Heart
Jeanine Englert – Lovely Digits
Barbara Forlenza – Beyond Paradise
Barbara Forlenza – Forbidden Paradise
Lori Matthews – Hit & Run
Women’s Fiction
Debbie Archer – Pocket Change
Wendi Dass – Liebling
Kristi Rhodes – The Tropical Transformation of Joanie Weston
Linda J. Truesdell – The Mending Time
Vicki Volden – Both
Young Adult/New Adult
Rachel Berens-VanHeest – A Gift of Crows
Laura Cumbie – From There to Here
Riley Darkes – Serving Time
Christine Gunderson – Covenant Park
Monica Headley – Off the Rails
2017 WRITE TOUCH READERS AWARD FINALISTS
Contemporary – Long
Babette de Jongh – Angel Falls
Melynda Price*** – Fighting for Control
Dawn Tomasko – Tides of Hope, A Nantucket Romance Novel
Contemporary – Mid-length
Valerie J. Clarizio *** – Family Forever
Sara Dahmen *** – Wine and Children
Sierra Hill – Sweet Girl
Contemporary – Short
Brenna Ash – Second Chances
Joanne Dannon – Wanting Mr. Right
Stacey Joy Netzel *** – Spring Dreams
Historical
Margaret Mallory – Claimed by a Highlander (The Douglas Legacy)
Amy Sandas *** – Luck is no Lady
Vonda Sinclair – Highlander Unbroken
Inspirational
Mary Bentley-Lloyd – Pirate’s Treasure
Laura Scott *** – Shielding His Christmas Witness
Aubrey Wynne – Paper Love
Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy
Marissa Doyle – Skin Deep
Marie Johnston – Ancient Ties
Marie Johnston – Birthright
Erotic Romance
Jade Chandler – Enough
Suzanne Eglington – She’s Got the Jack: The Kate and Robert Chronicles
LaQuette – Lies You Tell
Romantic Suspense
Abbie Roads –Hunt the Dawn
Vicki Tharp – In Her Defense
Tara Wyatt – Necessary Risk
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance Theme
Kate Forest – Interior Design and Other Emotions
Robin Perini – Forgotten Secrets
Bev Pettersen – Millionaire’s Shot
Young Adult
j. leigh bailey –Guyliner
Tricia Cerrone – Glisten
Katherine Fleet – The Secret To Letting Go
Speak up:
comment| TAGS:
Contests, Fab Five, Finalists, WisRWA, write touch, Writing2016 Write Touch Readers Award Contest Winners Announced!
The 2016 WisRWA Write Touch Readers Award Winners are announced! This contest is for books published in 2015. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the contest was not completed in its usual time frame. We are delighted, however, to finally have the winners for this contest.
Without further ado, congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Write Touch Readers Award contest!
*** = WisRWA member
Contemporary, Long 84,000 words or more (includes series and single title)
A Winter Wedding
by: Brenda Novak
Contemporary, Mid-length 56,000-84,00 words (includes series and single title)
Power Privilege & Pleasure: Queens of Kings: Book 4
by: LaQuette
Fiction With Romantic Elements
Backstretch Baby
by: Bev Pettersen
Historical
The Gunslinger and the Heiress
by: Kathryn Albright ***
Paranormal
Spirit Bound
by: Tessa McFionn ***
Romantic Suspense
Saving Andi
by: Barb Raffin ***
Speak up:
4 comments| TAGS:
Contests, winners, write touchFab Five 2017 Final Round Judges Announced
WisRWA’s Fabulous Five Contest will be opening for entries in a few short months. As such, we are pleased to announce our final round judges for the 2017 contest.
Contemporary
Editor: Meghan Ferrell – Tule Publishing
Agent: Rachel Burkot – Holloway Literary Agency
Historical
Lexi Smail – Grand Central Publishing
Lisa Rodgers – JABberwocky Literary Agency
Inspirational
Shana Asaro – Harlequin Love Inspired
Jessica Kirkland – Blythe Daniels Agency
Paranormal
Theresa Cole – Entangled Publishing
Tricia Skinner – Fuse Literary Agency
Romantic Suspense
Tara Gavin – Kensington Publishing Corp
Jennifer March Soloway – Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Women’s Fiction
Caitlin Dareff – St. Martin’s Press
Sarah Phair – Trident Media Group
Young Adult/New Adult
Mekisha Telfer – Simon and Schuster
Shannon Powers – McIntosh and Otis
Coming in to its 26th year, this contest is open to unpublished and self-published writers so long as the entry has never been published before. Focusing on the first 2,500 words of a manuscript, first round judges evaluate the entry on the Opening, Characterization, Plot, Dialogue, Setting, and Style. All judges are encouraged to leave comments on both the scoresheet and in the entry itself. Our contest is known for giving good, thorough critiques no matter what level of the writing journey you are at. The top five finalists in each category move onto the final round where their work is ranked by one editor and one agent. Final rankings are averaged and the winner of each category receives a beautiful Silver Quill Award.
The contest opens on January 1, 2017 and will accept entries through March 1, 2017 at 11:59 PM CST. Categories need a minimum of 10 entries to continue and are capped 35 entries.
Information will be on the WisRWA website under the Contests tab by the end of November. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Contest Coordinator, Molly Maka, at fabfivecontest@gmail.com.