If you are a published author with a subject you think would be of interest to our membership, please email us at [email protected]

CORW meets on the first Saturday of every month (except July and August) in the community room at the West Hartford Faxon Library, 1073 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut, easily accessible from I-84 and I-91. Click here for a map

The business meeting begins at 10:00 a.m., with the monthly program, which is open to the general public, starting at 11 a.m. Members who wish to network can arrive at 9 a.m. when the library opens. Beverages will be available during the meetings.

In case of inclement weather, members are asked to tune to the local radio stations for Library closing announcements.

AUGUST 2004:
Member picnic

SEPTEMBER 4, 2004:
Hands-On Critique Session to Jumpstart Your Creativity
Participants are asked to bring 4 copies of five pages in their latest work to use in a round-robin critique session.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2004
All -Day Workshop with Susan Meier and Sandra Marton

Susan Meier-In For the Long Haul--Building a Writing Career
     Susan Meier has published twenty-five romance novels with Harlequin and Silhouette and in December signed a six-book contract with Silhouette Romance. Susan was the author of the April 2001 and September 2003 serial stories on eHarlequin and is also a contributor to the 2003 edition of Writer's Digest Novel and Short Story Market, having written an article on category romance.
     Her February 2000 release, Bringing Up Babies, from the Brewster Baby Boom series published by Silhouette Romance was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.
     Susan is also a member of RWA and is a moderator on the cataromance.com Kiss and Tell bulletin board. She is a frequent conference speaker and has presented online workshop for cataromance.com, earthlycharms.com, and writersunlimited.com.
     One of eleven children, Susan was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania and continues to live in Pennsylvania.

Luncheon Speaker Sandra Marton
     Sandra Marton is a lead writer for Harlequin Presents, the world’s best-selling line of category romance. Sandra says 2004 has been an especially good year for her. She celebrated her 20th year as a published author with Presents, received her fourth RITA nomination and was given her sixth Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine for Best Harlequin Presents of the Year. In the past, RT also honored her with a Career Achievement Award as Series Storyteller of the Year.

     Sandra’s books are consistent best-sellers in the United States and around the world. They’re translated into more than 20 languages and are sold on every continent except Antarctica. Sandra has written novellas, short stories and single titles in addition to more than 60 Presents, but Presents, she says, is where her heart will always be. She loves the creative freedom the line gives her as well as it’s celebration of sexy, exciting Alpha heroes.

OCTOBER 2004
TBA

NOVEMBER 2004
Carla Neggers on Writing for Mainstream
     Bestselling author Carla Neggers is known for her unique blend of Sat-paced suspense and romance. Her award-winning fiction has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Waldenbooks and Amazon Bestseller Lists.
     Carla lives with her family in central Vermont, not far drom Quechee Gorge, wher she enjoys hiking, kyaking, and cross-country skiing and is hard at work on her next book. Visit www.CarlaNeggers.com

DECEMBER 4, 2004
The McGoldricks on the A-Zs of Rejection
     Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick are the authors of twenty-one novels and one work of nonfiction. Since the release of their first book in 1995, they have written romantic suspense, historical romance, and Young Adult fiction, as well as short fiction and poetry. These two-time RITA nominees have won numerous awards and have published their work under the pseudonyms Jan Coffey and May McGoldrick for Penguin Putnam, MIRA Books, HarperCollins/Avon, and Heinemann. Their current releases are FOURTH VICTIM, a Jan Coffey suspense thriller; and DREAMS OF DESTINY, a May McGoldrick historical romance set in 18th century Scotland.
     Nikoo McGoldrick, a mechanical engineer, and James McGoldrick, a professor of English with a Ph.D. in sixteenth-century British literature, collaborate in life as well as in literature. Writing under the name May McGoldrick, they produce historical novels for Penguin Putnam, and Young Adult Highland romance for HarperCollins/Avon. Under the name of Jan Coffey, they write contemporary suspense thrillers for MIRA. ("Jan" is an acronym for "Jim and Nikoo; "Coffey" is Nikoo's maiden name.) Under their own names, they are the authors of the nonfiction work, Marriage of Minds: Collaborative Fiction Writing (Heinemann, June 2000).
    The McGoldricks presently live in Litchfield County, CT, with their two sons and their golden retriever, Max.

Some of the McGoldricks Awards:

• 2004 Virginia RWA Holt Medallion Winner--Best Long HistoricalBorrowed Dreams.
• 2003 Kiss of Death Mystery/Suspense Chapter RWA Daphne du Maurier AwardWinner for Best Single Title Novel--Twice Burned.
• 2003 National Readers' Choice Award Finalist--Best Single Title--Twice Burned.
• 2003 Virginia RWA Holt Medallion Winner--Best Long Historical--The Rebel.
• 2003 RWA RITA AwardFinalist for Best Contemporary Single Title Novel—Twice Burned.
• 2003 RWA RITA AwardFinalist for Best Short Historical Novel—Tess and the Highlander.
• 2002 Dorothy Parker Award--Finalist for Best Romantic Suspense Novel--Twice Burned.
• 2002 Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Award--Finalist for Best Single Title Novel--Trust Me Once.
• 2002 Kiss of Death Mystery/Suspense Chapter RWA Daphne du Maurier AwardFinalist for Best Single Title Novel--Trust Me Once.
• 2002 Golden Quill Award--Finalist for Best Romantic Suspense Novel--Trust Me Once.
• 2001 National Readers' Choice Award Finalist—Best Historical--The Dreamer.
• 2001 Wisconsin RWA Write Touch Award Third Place (tie)—Best Historical--The Dreamer, The Enchantress.
• 2001 Wisconsin RWA Write Touch Award Second Place—Best Historical--The Firebrand.
• 2001 Virginia RWA Holt Medallion Winner--Best Short Historical--The Dreamer.
• 2001 Virginia RWA Holt Medallion Finalist--Best Long Historical--The Firebrand.
• 2001 Florida RWA Laurel Wreath Award--Winner for Best Historical Novel--The Dreamer.
• 2001 Francis Award--Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense Novel--Trust Me Once.
• 2000 Pennridge (Pennsylvania) Arts Award.
• 2000 Dorothy Parker Award for Best Historical Romance (Honorable Mention)--The Firebrand.
• 2000 Romantic Times Magazine "Reviewer's Choice" nominee for Best Scottish Historical--The Firebrand.
• 1999 Career Achievement nominee by Romantic Times.
• 1998 RWA Southern Heat Contest--Winner for Best Paranormal--...Made in Heaven.
• 1997 Colorado RWA Award of Excellence--Finalist for Best Historical Novel--Angel of Skye.
• 1997 Virginia RWA Holt Medallion Winner--Best Long Historical--Angel of Skye.
• 1996 New Jersey RWA Golden Leaf Award--Winner for Best Historical Novel--The Thistle and the Rose.
• 1996 New Jersey RWA Golden Leaf Award--Winner for Best First Book--The Thistle and the Rose.
• 1996 Florida RWA Laurel Wreath Award--Winner for Best Historical Novel--The Thistle and the Rose.
• 1995 Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical Novel-- The Thistle and the Rose.
• 1994 Spirit of Newport Writing Contest--Second Prize for Fiction--Excelsior (short story). 

The McGoldricks Book Titles include:

Nikoo and James A. McGoldrick Nonfiction:

• Marriage of Minds: Collaborative Fiction Writing (Heinemann, 2000)

Jan Coffey Fiction:

• Trust Me Once (MIRA, July 2001)
• Twice Burned (MIRA, July 2002)
• Triple Threat (MIRA, July 2003)
• Fourth Victim (MIRA, July 2004)
• Five in a Row (MIRA, July 2005)
• Tropical Kiss (HarperCollins YA, May 2005)

May McGoldrick Fiction:

• The Thistle and the Rose (Penguin USA, September 1995)
• Angel of Skye (Penguin USA, May 1996)
• Heart of Gold Penguin USA, November 1996)
• The Beauty of the Mist (Penguin USA, April 1997)
• The Intended (Penguin Putnam, March 1998)
• Flame Penguin Putnam, November 1998) Onyx, May 2000)
• The Enchantress (Onyx, August 2000)
• The Dreamer (Onyx, November 2000)
• The Promise (Signet, September 2001)
• The Rebel (Signet, July 2002)
• Tess and the Highlander (HarperCollins, November 2002)
• Borrowed Dreams (Signet, June 2003)
• Captured Dreams (Signet, December 2003)
• Dreams of Destiny (Signet, May 2004)

JANUARY 7, 2005
Jessica Anderson on Building Mystery in Your Romance
Though she's tried out professions ranging from cleaning out sea lion cages to cloning glaucoma genes, from patent law to training horses, Jessica is happiest when she's combining these interests with her first love--writing romances! These days she's delighted to be writing and editing scientific journal articles from a small farm in rural Connecticut that she shares with her animal family and her own personal hero, Brian. She hopes you'll visit her at www.JessicaAndersen.com for info on upcoming books, contest, and to say 'hi'!

Book List:

LTD Books:                 THE STABLE AFFAIR, 4/02

Avalon Books:               DOLPHIN FRIENDLY 2/03
                                       SEAL WITH A KISS 12/03

Harlequin Intrigue:       DR. BODYGUARD 10/03
                                       SECRET WITNESS 3/04 (RT Top Pick!)
                                       INTENSIVE CARE 8/04
                                      BODY SEARCH 12/04
                                       COVERT M.D. 3/05
                                       THE SHERIFF'S DAUGHTER 6/05

FEBRUARY 4, 2005
Joanna Novins on Creating a Signature Style
   Whether aspiring or published, writers should be aware that their first book could well become theirniche. In this workshop, Joanna discusses how to identify elements--setting, personal themes, communities of characters--that can be developed into a signature style that will keep both writer and readers interested for the long run. Visit Joanna’s website at http://www.joannanovins.com

MARCH 5, 2005
Jo Ann Ferguson on Building Believable Characters
The Wedding Caper Zebra 6/04
The Perfect Bride Zebra 10/04
NEW: A Knight Like No Other Ladies of St. Jude's Abbey/wa Jocelyn Kelley
"Lara Croft in the 12th Century" Signet Eclipse 3/05
www.joannferguson.com

APRIL 2, 2005
TBA.

MAY 6-7, 2005
Two Days of Worshops with Debra Dixon
Friday Evening: Climbing the Slippery Slope to the Black Moment
All-Day Saturday: Book In A Day
     The intensive workshop covers the three most important elements of popular fiction-goal, motivation and conflict (GMC), and how those elements work with the mythic structure of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey to help writers conceive and create strong plots and compelling characters. The Book-In-A-Day workshop provides the tools a writers needs to shape a story and create a road map to writing it.

JUNE 4, 2005
Tentative speaker- Sharon Sorbel