Chapter History
The Romance Writers of America®/New York City Chapter celebrated its 20th
Anniversary in 2006.
The New York City Chapter was the brainchild of Nora Siri Bock, who gathered
her author friends together Regency author Theresa Grazia, glitz author Sarah
Gallick and childrens author Kathryn Hayes -- and with the advice and financial
support of the Hudson Valley Chapter, formed a chapter.
In the beginning, the chapter met at the NBC building in the Upper West Side in
the cafeteria. As the chapter membership grew, the meeting location changed
several times to meet chapter needs. Today, RWA®/NYC meets at TRS on 32nd
Street.
Being in the Heart of the Romance Industry, RWA®/NYC has been fortunate
enough to get front-line editors, publishers, agents and industry professionals to
come speak at chapter meetings, a tradition begun by our founding mothers.
RWA®/NYC is also proud to host the annual Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter
Contest and the Golden Apple Awards. For a few years, the chapter even had its
own From Dream to Reality conference, and we experimented with one-day
writing workshops and Published Author Networking Dinners.
In the past 20 years, chapter members have been Golden Heart finalists and
winners, RITA finalists and winners, National Regional Service winners, and our
own Shirley Hailstock was even RWA President. Today, RWA®/NYC has almost
100 members published, pre-published and aspiring authors.
We invite you to join us at a monthly meeting, as we gear up for our next 20
years.
-- Maria Ferrer, Past RWA/NYC Chapter President
The Romance Writers of America®/New York City Chapter celebrated its 20th
Anniversary in 2006.
The New York City Chapter was the brainchild of Nora Siri Bock, who gathered
her author friends together Regency author Theresa Grazia, glitz author Sarah
Gallick and childrens author Kathryn Hayes -- and with the advice and financial
support of the Hudson Valley Chapter, formed a chapter.
In the beginning, the chapter met at the NBC building in the Upper West Side in
the cafeteria. As the chapter membership grew, the meeting location changed
several times to meet chapter needs. Today, RWA®/NYC meets at TRS on 32nd
Street.
Being in the Heart of the Romance Industry, RWA®/NYC has been fortunate
enough to get front-line editors, publishers, agents and industry professionals to
come speak at chapter meetings, a tradition begun by our founding mothers.
RWA®/NYC is also proud to host the annual Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter
Contest and the Golden Apple Awards. For a few years, the chapter even had its
own From Dream to Reality conference, and we experimented with one-day
writing workshops and Published Author Networking Dinners.
In the past 20 years, chapter members have been Golden Heart finalists and
winners, RITA finalists and winners, National Regional Service winners, and our
own Shirley Hailstock was even RWA President. Today, RWA®/NYC has almost
100 members published, pre-published and aspiring authors.
We invite you to join us at a monthly meeting, as we gear up for our next 20
years.
-- Maria Ferrer, Past RWA/NYC Chapter President
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| Romance Writers of America New York City Chapter |
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ABOUT OUR CHAPTER
2010 WELCOME LETTER
Writing is magical. It lets you be your own person and create characters beyond
your wildest imagination. RWA NYC is the place to share your dreams with the
encouragement of other members. We represent and write all genres of
romance including contemporary, mainstream fiction, historical, regencies,
paranormal, true confessions and short story fiction.
In the upcoming year we are planning not only to host guest speakers but have
workshops that will help everyone regardless of their genre.
The past year we’ve had outstanding guest speakers, Authors Isabo Kelly,
Megan Frampton, Hope Tarr, Barbara Chernow, Ed Rand and Anna Godbersen.
Internet bloggers from GallyCat and Smart Bitches and this year we are hoping
to incorporate workshops for aspiring authors and promotional workshops for
our published authors.
Our goal is to unite together and work with up and coming writers and published
authors in a way that will benefit both. We have published authors in all the
genres who are ready and willing to help members to perfect their manuscripts.
RWA/NYC is located in the heart of New York City, and we utilize all the
resources available to us, including interaction with officers of both the police and
fire departments, agents and editor and booksellers. With everyone being aware
of going green, e-publishing is becoming popular and our e-published authors will
help guide you through the process.
Bottom line, we are here to help all members regardless of their experience or
expertise. Our mission is to guide all our members through the various programs
we have implemented through the years. It’s our hope that you will not only find
people to support you, but will make lifelong friends.
Sincerely,
Karen Cino
President RWA/NYC
2010 WELCOME LETTER
Writing is magical. It lets you be your own person and create characters beyond
your wildest imagination. RWA NYC is the place to share your dreams with the
encouragement of other members. We represent and write all genres of
romance including contemporary, mainstream fiction, historical, regencies,
paranormal, true confessions and short story fiction.
In the upcoming year we are planning not only to host guest speakers but have
workshops that will help everyone regardless of their genre.
The past year we’ve had outstanding guest speakers, Authors Isabo Kelly,
Megan Frampton, Hope Tarr, Barbara Chernow, Ed Rand and Anna Godbersen.
Internet bloggers from GallyCat and Smart Bitches and this year we are hoping
to incorporate workshops for aspiring authors and promotional workshops for
our published authors.
Our goal is to unite together and work with up and coming writers and published
authors in a way that will benefit both. We have published authors in all the
genres who are ready and willing to help members to perfect their manuscripts.
RWA/NYC is located in the heart of New York City, and we utilize all the
resources available to us, including interaction with officers of both the police and
fire departments, agents and editor and booksellers. With everyone being aware
of going green, e-publishing is becoming popular and our e-published authors will
help guide you through the process.
Bottom line, we are here to help all members regardless of their experience or
expertise. Our mission is to guide all our members through the various programs
we have implemented through the years. It’s our hope that you will not only find
people to support you, but will make lifelong friends.
Sincerely,
Karen Cino
President RWA/NYC
President: Karen Cino
Karen is an author, poet and former journalist. For the past
year, she’s held the position of Chapter President, and served as
Vice President before that. While VP, Karen redesigned the website
and was chairperson of the Kathryn Hayes Love & Laughter
Contest. She made the contest electronic helping the chapter
become green. Additionally, she worked with the Board on the
required Bylaws revisions.
As President, Karen has implemented the Book in a Week
Loop and Author of the Month Program. This coming year, she
plans on expanding the chapter website and forming a committee
to prepare for the 2011 RWA National Conference in NYC.
Karen is a single mom living in Staten Island with her two
children, Michael 20 and Nicole 17, along with three cats. She is
currently shopping for representation for her romance
novel ROSES and mainstream suspense with new age and
romantic elements, MYSTICAL WONDERS. Karen is also
revising her romance novel THE BOARDWALK, a romantic
suspense set in Staten Island.
Karen is a member of RWA/NYC, Liberty States, a
charter member of RWA-Women’s Fiction online chapter and
Scriptscene.
Vice President: Christina Britton Conroy
Christina’s first novel, ONE MAN’S MUSIC, is in a second printing.
Her second novel, HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, is under consideration
by several publishers. She is writing the screenplay adaption of a
Chinese autobiography, FROM THE SHADOW OF MY LIFE, about a
young girl growing up in Bejing during the cultural revolution.
A once morose opera singer, turned somber actress, turned
blissfully happy music psychotherapist, Christina grew up in New
York City, the daughter of actress Barbara Britton. She studied music at
Juilliard Pre-College, Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp, and
earned a Music Bachelors from the U. of Toronto. She studied
screen-writing at NYU, and acting at the School of Film and
Television. She runs her own nonprofit group of elderly
performers, the SHOW STOPPERS, average age 83. Info on them can be
found at: www.MusicGivesLife.com.
Christina lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, actor/media-coach Larry
Conroy.
Christina’s first novel, ONE MAN’S MUSIC, is in a second printing.
Her second novel, HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, is under consideration
by several publishers. She is writing the screenplay adaption of a
Chinese autobiography, FROM THE SHADOW OF MY LIFE, about a
young girl growing up in Bejing during the cultural revolution.
A once morose opera singer, turned somber actress, turned
blissfully happy music psychotherapist, Christina grew up in New
York City, the daughter of actress Barbara Britton. She studied music at
Juilliard Pre-College, Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp, and
earned a Music Bachelors from the U. of Toronto. She studied
screen-writing at NYU, and acting at the School of Film and
Television. She runs her own nonprofit group of elderly
performers, the SHOW STOPPERS, average age 83. Info on them can be
found at: www.MusicGivesLife.com.
Christina lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, actor/media-coach Larry
Conroy.
Board Liaison: Polly Guerin
Polly Guerin, author, poet, lecturer, has been the writer of
Keynotes "Member Profiles" for the past two years and a
member of RWA/NY for six years. As a newly appointed VP
on the 2009 Board Polly looks forward to implementing the
board's goals and particularly she will spearhead the Golden
Apple Award Event with a team of member volunteers. While
she is new to the romantic writing genre works in progress
include The Dollhouse Murder, Shattered Loves which she wrote
for the NaNoWriMo competition and a historical novel The Hewitt Sisters. Counted
among her published works are 5 textbooks, 2 videos produced as professor at the
Fashion Institute of Technology. Her weekly PollyTalk column appears on the Big
Apple News Network on the Internet at www.ibcsolutions.net/pollytalk.
Polly Guerin, author, poet, lecturer, has been the writer of
Keynotes "Member Profiles" for the past two years and a
member of RWA/NY for six years. As a newly appointed VP
on the 2009 Board Polly looks forward to implementing the
board's goals and particularly she will spearhead the Golden
Apple Award Event with a team of member volunteers. While
she is new to the romantic writing genre works in progress
include The Dollhouse Murder, Shattered Loves which she wrote
for the NaNoWriMo competition and a historical novel The Hewitt Sisters. Counted
among her published works are 5 textbooks, 2 videos produced as professor at the
Fashion Institute of Technology. Her weekly PollyTalk column appears on the Big
Apple News Network on the Internet at www.ibcsolutions.net/pollytalk.
Treasurer: Katrina Tipton
Katrina Tipton, writing as Isabo Kelly, has been a
member of RWA since 2005 and a member of the
New York City chapter since 2006. She's
a multi-published, award-winning author of
science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romances,
has a Ph.D. in Zoology (so has worked with numbers
before), and has just become a mother. For more about
Katrina/Isabo and her books, visit her website: www.isabokelly.com
Katrina Tipton, writing as Isabo Kelly, has been a
member of RWA since 2005 and a member of the
New York City chapter since 2006. She's
a multi-published, award-winning author of
science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romances,
has a Ph.D. in Zoology (so has worked with numbers
before), and has just become a mother. For more about
Katrina/Isabo and her books, visit her website: www.isabokelly.com
Keynotes Editor: Maria Ferrer
Maria Ferrer is the editor of RWA/NYC's chapter newsletter, KEYNOTES. She is a
past Chapter President, and served on the RWA National Board of Directors for four
years. Maria was honored with an RWA National Service Award, and was named
RWA/NYC's Member of the Year in 2008.
Maria Ferrer is the editor of RWA/NYC's chapter newsletter, KEYNOTES. She is a
past Chapter President, and served on the RWA National Board of Directors for four
years. Maria was honored with an RWA National Service Award, and was named
RWA/NYC's Member of the Year in 2008.
Past President: Elizabeth Mahon
Elizabeth K. Mahon is that rare bird, a Native New Yorker. A
professional actress, she has worked in some of the finest basement
theaters in the city. She is also the author of the blog Scandalous
Women which was named one of the 100 Most Awesome Blogs for
History Junkies. "As President of RWA NYC for the past four years has
been a blast. The membership has grown in numbers and enthusiasm.
I've enjoyed representing the chapter at National and at other
chapter conferences. I pass the torch on to the next board with love."
She is at work on her next project.
Elizabeth K. Mahon is that rare bird, a Native New Yorker. A
professional actress, she has worked in some of the finest basement
theaters in the city. She is also the author of the blog Scandalous
Women which was named one of the 100 Most Awesome Blogs for
History Junkies. "As President of RWA NYC for the past four years has
been a blast. The membership has grown in numbers and enthusiasm.
I've enjoyed representing the chapter at National and at other
chapter conferences. I pass the torch on to the next board with love."
She is at work on her next project.
Meet the Board
Board Liaison: Leanna Renee Hieber
Award winning and bestselling author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in
rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University
and a focus in the Victorian Era.
She hit the fantasy fiction scene with her novella Dark Nest which won the 2009
Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Her
critically acclaimed debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
is the first in her Strangely Beautiful series of ghostly, Gothic Victorian Fantasy
novels published by Dorchester Publishing and landed on Barnes & Noble's mass
market and overall Bestseller List. The book was named one of the Top Ten Books
of 2009 in Beyond Her Book Publishers Weekly Readers Choice and as a favourite
book of 2009 in many book review blogs.
Leanna is represented by Nicholas Roman Lewis and is a member of the Romance Writers of
America (RWA) the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the Horror Writers
Association (HWA) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). She is very proud to be co-founder
of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York with authors Hope Tarr, Maya Rodale and Ron
Hogan of Beatrice.com. The Salon showcases talent in the many sub-genres of romance and
women's fiction and partners with charity supporting women in need.
A member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Leanna works often in television. When not
writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club, singing soprano in choir and adventuring about her
adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and her beloved
rescued lab rabbit Persebunny.
Award winning and bestselling author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in
rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University
and a focus in the Victorian Era.
She hit the fantasy fiction scene with her novella Dark Nest which won the 2009
Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Her
critically acclaimed debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
is the first in her Strangely Beautiful series of ghostly, Gothic Victorian Fantasy
novels published by Dorchester Publishing and landed on Barnes & Noble's mass
market and overall Bestseller List. The book was named one of the Top Ten Books
of 2009 in Beyond Her Book Publishers Weekly Readers Choice and as a favourite
book of 2009 in many book review blogs.
Leanna is represented by Nicholas Roman Lewis and is a member of the Romance Writers of
America (RWA) the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the Horror Writers
Association (HWA) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). She is very proud to be co-founder
of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York with authors Hope Tarr, Maya Rodale and Ron
Hogan of Beatrice.com. The Salon showcases talent in the many sub-genres of romance and
women's fiction and partners with charity supporting women in need.
A member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Leanna works often in television. When not
writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club, singing soprano in choir and adventuring about her
adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and her beloved
rescued lab rabbit Persebunny.
Vice President: Cathy Greenfeder
Born in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, Cathy grew up on Staten
Island before she moved with her husband to Nutley, New Jersey.
Along with being a wife and the mother of a young adult son, she
is a teacher of language arts.
Cathy is the author of five completed novels and a novella.
Her paranormal romance novel, ANGELS AMONG US, was
released in 2006 by Wings ePress. WILDFLOWERS, her
historical western romance, was published as an e-book in
June 2007 by the same publisher.
A charter member of the RWA/NYC since 1989, Cathy has
served as a board liaison, editor of the newsletter, co-chair of the
Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest, contest judge, and on
various committees.
“I have gained so much over the years as a member of the RWA/NYC chapter.
From workshops, meetings, and the various friendships that I have made I learned
so much about the craft and business of writing. My hope is to bring my valuable
experience into a leadership role and to work with the rest of the board in making
2010 one of the best years for our chapter.”
Born in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, Cathy grew up on Staten
Island before she moved with her husband to Nutley, New Jersey.
Along with being a wife and the mother of a young adult son, she
is a teacher of language arts.
Cathy is the author of five completed novels and a novella.
Her paranormal romance novel, ANGELS AMONG US, was
released in 2006 by Wings ePress. WILDFLOWERS, her
historical western romance, was published as an e-book in
June 2007 by the same publisher.
A charter member of the RWA/NYC since 1989, Cathy has
served as a board liaison, editor of the newsletter, co-chair of the
Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest, contest judge, and on
various committees.
“I have gained so much over the years as a member of the RWA/NYC chapter.
From workshops, meetings, and the various friendships that I have made I learned
so much about the craft and business of writing. My hope is to bring my valuable
experience into a leadership role and to work with the rest of the board in making
2010 one of the best years for our chapter.”
Secretary: Tanya Goodwin
Tanya joined RWA in December 2007 and has been a chapter
member since January 2008. Although on the road a lot as
a traveling obstetrician and gynecologist, as the newly elected
Secretary of NYC Chapter, Tanya has made a commitment to
the chapter. She looks forward to working with the other board
members, as well as listening to the needs and suggestions
of her chapter-mates.
Tanya lives in Carmel, NY, with her husband, 16 year-old
daughter, Tamara, her Papillion dog, Nicholas, and Callie, her
Calico cat. She enjoys writing romantic suspense and medical
thrillers with romantic elements. Tanya is still knocking on editors’ and agents’
doors, hoping to find a home for her favorite, quirky characters.
Meanwhile, the former dancer and dance studio owner continues to practice
obstetrics and gynecology. Please visit her website:
http://web.mac.com/tanyagoodwin
Tanya joined RWA in December 2007 and has been a chapter
member since January 2008. Although on the road a lot as
a traveling obstetrician and gynecologist, as the newly elected
Secretary of NYC Chapter, Tanya has made a commitment to
the chapter. She looks forward to working with the other board
members, as well as listening to the needs and suggestions
of her chapter-mates.
Tanya lives in Carmel, NY, with her husband, 16 year-old
daughter, Tamara, her Papillion dog, Nicholas, and Callie, her
Calico cat. She enjoys writing romantic suspense and medical
thrillers with romantic elements. Tanya is still knocking on editors’ and agents’
doors, hoping to find a home for her favorite, quirky characters.
Meanwhile, the former dancer and dance studio owner continues to practice
obstetrics and gynecology. Please visit her website:
http://web.mac.com/tanyagoodwin
