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The following NJRW authors are available to present workshops or
to speak at meetings, libraries, and other venues. To arrange for an
author to speak to your group, contact the author directly by clicking on their
email link. If you encounter problems, contact the webmaster.
All NJRW authors are encouraged to add their listings to this
page here.
C.H. Admirand
Email: chauthor@optonline.net
Award-winning author C.H. Admirand has been writing and receiving rejections for over a decade. Perseverance and the support of three amazing writer's organizations, RWA, NJRW, and PASIC, kept her from giving up on her dream of publication. Her first book, THE MARSHAL'S DESTINY, was published by Avalon in 2001, winning The Lories 2002 Award for Best New Historical Author. Her next book, THE RANCHER'S HEART, published by Thomson/Gale's Five Star Expressions Line, will be released on February 14, 2007. She lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and their three "adult" children.
Rejection
Self-Promotion
How to Write a Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Proposal
Beginning Research-Building Your Library
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Judi aka Reece brett
Email: reece@reecebrett.com
Reece Brett aka Judi Brett has taught creative writing for twenty-five years and has been a guest speaker for colleges and writing and reading groups. She is a staff writer for Down Jersey and Serendipity magazines. She has published three chidren's books in the series
Black Lyon Publishing LLC will release Stranger to Love in September, 2008
PASSION Passion drives our lives; be that passion for one’s lover, job or hobby. Utilizing one’s passion can be a driving force and contributes to a fulfilling life. “Live with passion. Passion for life, for work, for one’s love. A life with passion bursts forth each morning blooming with colors and alive with fragrances and joy. Life without passion is uninspiring and mundane.” RB
DON’T TELL MY ENGLISH TEACHER, I CAN’T REMEMBER THE RULE which word? Affect/ effect? A semi-colon where? What colon? What use would I have for a descriptionary? This is a fun and humorous refresher of rules you can now use on the job, at home, in business writing and in creative endeavors.
ROMANCING YOUR LOVE. be that love a person or your book. Romance is more than remembering one’s anniversary, or dinner by candlelight. Romance enriches our lives, brightens our days and creates that special smile. Romance can spark a new relationship and revitalize the feelings in an old one. Romantic gestures, words or rituals reflect a character’s personality or heighten the sensual tension between two lovers. How has romance affected you day today?
CREATING CHARISMATIC CHARACTERS Readers identify with characters in a story and quickly become involved in their goals, problems and needs. Writers are people watchers and creating a realistic character is challenging and fun. What believable character lurks within your vision? Choosing specific details to create a unique character are described.
HE SAID, SHE SAID How does dialogue reveal character, provide background, and create tension in a story? The few words between quotation marks empower your story. Learn how to effective dialogue to highlight character and develop plot. Excerpts from other authors provide supportive examples
STORYTELLING IN OUR LIVES. Parents, teachers use anecdotes to support points and kids listen. Storytelling has passed won a country’s history or a family’s history. Storytelling attracts us to novels we read. What stores attract you? How does storytelling still influence today’s world?
FINDING YOUR MUSE A blank page or a blank screen is a writer’s enemy. Ancient Greeks thought muses inspired writing, sculpture, art. How to find your muse to have a steady flow of ideas or to get past the writer’s block that interrupted your story is the focus. Whether you are a beginner or professional writer, the empty page can be unnerving. This invigorating workshop offers clues and ideas for all writers.
JOURNAL WRITING For a writer, writing in a journal is like warm-up routine for an athlete. It enhances one’s performance and strengths one’s talents. Journals inspire ideas, create a personal style and alleviate stress. Journals are also great vehicles to record personal histories, work through problems, and celebrate one’s life. How to use a journal to enhance your writing and how journals add to life’s moments will be part of the workshop. This is not the diary of an adolescent or even Bridget Jones; this is journaling to celebrate life and to expand writing skills.
The Writers workshops are interactive workshops for beginning or professional writers. The activities and discussion help aspiring writers to fulfill their dream of creating a viable story or novel. Workshops provide exercises and the motivation to work on a story or complete one they have started. Workshop descriptions are under appearances.
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Terri Brisbin
Email: terri@terribrisbin.com
The author of fourteen historical and time-travel romances, Terri Brisbin is also the wife of one, mom of three boys and dental hygienist to hundreds in the southern NJ area. A two-time RWA RITA finalist, Terri is currently serving on the RWA Board of Directors.
Terri is at work on her next Harlequin Historical book and hopes you'll visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com for more info about her, her books and upcoming events and releases!
Hooks and How to Use Them - From First to Last Word!
Real History - When to Use it and When to Ignore it!
Motivation for Writers - Getting in Gear for Writing!
Pretzels at 2am - Dealing with Life as a Glamorous Romance Author
Getting the Call and Hitting the Ground Running!
If This is Tuesday, It Must a be Time Travel
Who is Robert and Why Do We Care About His Rules?
A Guide to Effective Meetings for the Eager, the Innocent and the Doomed
Visit www.terribrisbin.com for more info about these informative workshops!
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Kathy Cottrell
Email: kdcottrell@frontiernet.net
The author of two contemporary romantic suspense novels [Captain Marvelous
and Try Just Once More] under the name Kate Henry Doran, Kathy uses her
professional background as a nurse and advocate for survivors of sexual
violence as the foundation for her popular workshops.
When she's not traveling the length of Upstate New York, investigating
allegations of medical malpractice and personal injury, Kathy enjoys being
an author, wife of 1, mother of 3, grandmother of 1 1/2, and editor for The
Wild Rose Press.
Paper Not Plastic:
It Ain't Like TV
The Wit and Wisdom of Victim Advocates
They Ain't All Named Bundy, Dahmer and Gacey: Sexual Predators.
For more information on her workshops, go to www.Kathenry.com.
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Mary Kennedy
Email: localcat@msn.com
Mary Kennedy is a licensed clinical psychologist and the author of 37 Middle Grade and Young Adult novels for Scolastic, NAL and Berkley. She has made several best-seller lists, including Publisher's Weekly, BookScan and Barnes and Noble. She won an award from the National Endowment for the Arts for her work in literature and psychology. Please visit www.marykennedy.net to learn more!
WRITE SMART: 25 THINGS YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW TO SELL YOUR BOOK.
For the beginning novelist or the multi-published---covers the basics on queries, pitches, synopses and proposals along with an inside look at agents, editors, markets and genres. We'll also discuss conferences, agent/editor appointments, networking, e-mail loops and time management. It's everything I've learned after selling 37 novels to New York publishers!
WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS: IDEA TO PUBLICATION
Writing for teens is one of the hottest areas in publishing today! This workshop covers everything you need to write successfully in this challenging, lucrative market. Mary Kennedy, author of 37 young adult novels, will give you an overview of the market, along with a discussion of publishers, a description of trends, and examples from current titles. Where do you fit in this market? Do you like to write "light and funny," or do you tend to favor "problem or issue" novels? Do you prefer a paranormal twist, or do have a trendy contemporary style? You will learn to find your own niche in the market and will discover which common themes are the most popular, both with publishers and teen readers. This fun, interactive workshop includes quizzes, games and prizes.
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MK (Kat) Mancos
Email: mystickat1965@hotmail.com
MK Mancos writes paranormal, sci-fi and fantasy for Triskelion and Samhain and erotic romance under the name Kathleen Scott for Red Sage.
She lives in Budd Lake, NJ with her husband, a comic book creator and enthusiest and a cat with an attitude. She has been in health care for over 15 years and works primarily in a neonatal intensive care unit. Though she doesn't use a hospital for the backdrop of her books, she feels it has given her great insight into people, characters and life.
"Embracing Your Inner Poet" Or "How To Find Your Unique Voice In Details Only You Can Provide"
Let's face it, each author has a story only they can tell. Our unique experiences and view of the world help to shape the characters and plots we set to paper. This workshop is designed to illustrate how the poet uses those personal details to create vivid and precise images. It will show the novelist how to transfer those same techniques to create vivid imagery in prose.
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Sandra Marton
Email: sandra@sandramarton.com
Lead author, Harlequin Presents
FOUR time RITA finalist (twice for Short Contemp, once for Rom Suspense, once for Long Contemp)
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Series Storyteller of the Year, Romantic Times Magazine
SEVEN time winner, BEST Harlequin Presents of the Year, Romantic Times Magazine
Multiple appearances on national and international Romance Best Sellers Lists
Making a Career in Category
He Said, She Said (Dialog and narrative)
Three in a Bed: Your Hero, Your Heroine and You
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Penelope Marzec
Email: penelope@skyweb.net
Penelope Marzec started reading romances as a teenager and fell in love with happy endings. A genuine New Jerseyan, she is a member of the New Jersey Romance Writers, FHL, and EPIC. Twice an EPPIE winner for inspirational fiction, her paranormal, Irons In The Fire, was a nominee for Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award.
E-Books--Facts, Fiction, Gadgets, and Formats.
A short history about the rise of paperless books, the authors who write them, and the small independent publishers who are competing with the big conglomerates in a global market.
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Irene Peterson
Email: irenepeterson@verizon.net
Irene hails from Central Jersey. She's been a WAC, a high school teacher, Girl Scout leader, truck driver and salad maker. Writing is as much a part of her as breathing.
Written Scrapbooking--Irene shows you how to collect your memories using the written word. Good for seniors, library groups, anyone interested in learning how to focus on events of their lives they wish to pass on to their next of kin.
Elements of Storytelling--examining the story you wish to write, how to construct plot, stages of the hero's journey and applying that to your story, tricks of the trade and how to avoid common mistakes in writing.
Dialogue People Might Really Speak--have your characters say what's really on their minds.
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Caridad Pineiro
Email: cpsromance@att.net
Caridad Pineiro is a multi-published and award-winning author. Caridad's love of writing began in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project -- to write a book to be placed in a class lending library. Caridad has been writing ever since. An eclectic writer, Caridad enjoys creating works in various genres, including paranormals, romantic suspense and women's fiction. Her twelfth novel, SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS, marks her debut in women's fiction, while her December 2006 release, DEATH CALLS, continues her successful THE CALLING vampire series. DEATH CALLS is a launch book for Silhouette Nocturne. For more information on Caridad, you may visit www.caridad.com.
Brainy, Butt-kicking and Beautiful: Creating Empowered Heroines using the Diana Archetype
Using the Hero's Journey to Create a Compelling Plot
He, Said, She Said and Other Elements of Effective Dialogue
Write for Fright: How to write a paranormal and discussion of current trends in the paranormal genre
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Lois Winston
Email: lois@loiswinston.com
Award-winning author Lois Winton writes humorous, cross-genre, contemporary novels and romantic suspense. She often draws upon her extensive experience as a crafts designer for much of her source material. Her first book, TALK GERTIE TO ME, a combination chick lit/hen lit/romantic comedy with a touch of the paranormal, was a 2006 release from Dorchester Publishing. LOVE, LIES AND A DOUBLE SHOT OF DECEPTION, a mom-lit romantic suspense, followed in 2007 release from Dorchester. Lois also contributed short stories to DREAMS & DESIRES, Volumes 1 and 2, romance anthologies with net proceeds benefiting shelters for battered women, and HOUSE UNAUTHORIZED.
When not writing or designing, you can find Lois trudging through stacks of manuscripts as she hunts for diamonds in the slush piles for the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency. Visit Lois at www.loiswinston.com.
TOP 10 REASONS A MANUSCRIPT IS REJECTED
Length of workshop: This is a 1 week long, online workshop that can be tailored to fit a 1 or 2 hour presentation.
Most manuscripts get rejected by agents and editors for one or more of 10 basic reasons. Writers have control over some of these reasons but not all of them. Award-winning author and agency associate Lois Winston will discuss these 10 reasons and how writers can control more of their destiny by not falling prey to them.
THE CONTEST DIVA'S GUIDE TO THE INS AND OUTS AND UPS AND DOWNS OF WRITING CONTESTS
Length of workshop: This is a 1 week long, online workshop that can be tailored to fit a 1 or 2 hour presentation.
Drawing from her experiences as a multi-contest winner, contest judge, contest coordinator, and someone who sold as a result of a contest, award-winning author Lois will cover the pros and cons of entering contests, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages for the beginning writer, the intermediate writer, and those writers on the verge of publication. Lois will discuss the various types of writing contests and how to determine which contests are best to enter, based on the writer's goals and expectations. She will cover everything from the financial to the emotional. From the need for a dynamic opening sentence to the chapter ending hook. From scores and feedback (or lack of it) to staying organized. From contest complaints to contest etiquette.
PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT FOR THE EDITOR OR AGENT OF YOUR DREAMS
Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hr. presentation
Even though there are people who will tell you there are no "rules" to writing romance, the truth is, there are rules. Not the kind of rules that say a hero and heroine must meet by a certain page but rules to good writing. In this workshop award-winning author Lois Winston will cover these rules, touching on all the basics. The workshop gives a broad overview of everything from how to format a manuscript to self-editing tips. From understanding passive voice vs. passive verbs to showing vs. telling. From hooks to synopsis. From point of view to common grammar and punctuation errors. Knowing, understanding, and using these rules can work to a writer's advantage.
HELP! I'VE LOST MY MUSE!
Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hr. presentation
What do you do when your muse takes off for parts unknown and leaves you staring at a blank computer screen? In this hands-on workshop award-winning author Lois Winston offers some unorthodox tips for recapturing that AWOL muse, banishing writer’s block and stimulating creativity.
JUDGE TRAINING FOR CHAPTER CONTESTS
Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hours live workshop or online for 2 weeks if
lectures are given every day, one month if given every other day with
alternate days open for Q and A Some optional homework
Award-winning author Lois Winston, a multi-contest winner and former contest
coordinator, has presented judge training workshops to both local and online
chapters who run writing contests. The Judge Training is designed to:
- Help identify and understand personal biases
- Help identify strengths and weaknesses
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- Teach the difference between "judging" and "critiquing"
- Give a better understanding of the romance "rules," whether or not
- they really do exist, and how they apply to the contest submission
- Give a working knowledge of the "nuts and bolts" of writing
- Help determine whether an individual can be an effective judge
WHAT EVERY WRITER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT QUERY LETTERS
Length of workshop: 1 or two hours (with hands-on participation)
A query letter is your foot in the editor's or agent's door. A good query
letter will open that door wide for you. A bad query letter will slam that
door in your face. Learn what to include in a query letter as well as what
not to include to optimize your chances of getting your manuscript
requested.
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Romance Writers of New Jersey, Inc.
D.B.A. New Jersey Romance Writers
P.O. Box 644 * South Plainfield, NJ
07080-0644
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