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Keli Gwyn with the YRW gals!
How lucky are we? Keli Gwyn – rising romance novelist extraordinaire – was our guest speaker at the Saturday, July 18 meeting and not only was she delightful to listen to and very informative, but she brought chocolate! LOTS of chocolate!! Does this lady know us or what?
Now, chocolate plopped onto the table would probably have made us happy enough. Keli, however, went the extra mile and talked about revisions with great enthusiasm and knowledge. And it was her first speech! Amazing!! The chocolate became superfluous. Well, almost. Chocolate is never completely superfluous.
It was a fabulous meeting all the way around. Hopefully Keli will return and dazzle us again. This image is Keli with the fortunate YRWers who hung out with her for dinner the night before at Takumi in Fresno.
Keli wrote about us on her blog!
Presenting a Writing Workshop: Lessons Learned
Thanks for hanging out with us Keli and be sure to come back again!
Sarah Simas takes the prize!
Let’s give a huge round of applause to Sarah Simas for placing 2nd overall in the Historical category of the San Diego RWA Chapter’s Spring Into Romance Contest. WhooHoo!! Way to go Sarah!
Sarah’s WIP – IN PURSUIT OF LOVE – is what dazzled the judges. Next stop: dazzling the Golden Heart judges!
Central Coast Writers’ Conference
Thank you to Joanne Lucas for passing along this interesting information.
Dear SLO NightWriters Members & Friends,
Judy Salamacha, Director of this year’s Central Coast Writers’ Conference, and Program Director for SLO NightWriters, just informed me that registration for CCWC is NOW OPEN!
I just now took advantage of Earlybird Discount Registration Fees. That’s right, I’m all signed up and psyched up to attend the Central Coast Writers’ Conference (CCWC) this coming September 16th and 17th, 2011 (Friday & Saturday).
If you weren’t ahead of me in line, then you can be the next fortunate writer to register. I’ve attended many CCWCs at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA, and each one seems more rich than the one before it.
Judy has lined up an amazing group of speakers and workshop leaders for this year’s event. But you don’t need me to provide those details. Instead, visit the SLO NightWriters website (slonightwriters.org). Once there, click on the CCWC Logo (right side of our Home Page), read the CCWC summary description, and follow the link to register!
As well, be sure to attend SLO NightWriters General Meeting on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011, 7:00 – 9:00 pm (link to that event description from our website, as well). Our writing contest winners will be announced that evening, and Judy Salamacha and friends will offer us a preview of this year’s CCWC!
I hope to see all of you there! And there!
Anthony V. Toscano
Membership Director
Webmaster
SLO NightWriters
Diane Story our speaker this month!!
We love all our speakers FOR SURE! But, it is always fun to welcome one of our own in a speaking capacity. Diane Story is our friend, cohort, and vice president. She is also an accomplished author with several published novels and another – Crystal Dreams – due in January 2012. Thus there can be no doubt that her talk will be filled with worthy information. Then you add to that the topic’s title and how can one resist coming to this meeting?
Did Adam and Eve go to Heaven or Hell? Creating the Protagonist!
Whoa! Juicy stuff!
Here is the flier for Diane’s talk to share with everyone you know: Diane Story June 18 YRW
The Smooch 2012 announced
The official rules and information for the Yosemite Romance Writers sponsored writing contest – The Smooch – has been announced and uploaded to the website. Rush on over to check it out–
This year the theme is “first kiss” and the deadline isn’t until December, but don’t delay! Start thinking now!!
Borders Bookstore “open mic” night
Thanks to Roh Morgan for this cool info: The Borders bookstore located in the Riverpark shopping center in Fresno is now hosting an open microphone night for those who wish to read snippets of poetry, stories, music lyrics, or anything of that type that you have written. This is a chance to recite your words for a captive audience! Nothing like instant feedback.
The event is on the second Saturday of each month from 6 – 9 PM at the Borders coffee shop area. According to Roh it is simply show up and wait for your turn. Remember to keep it clean for the family atmosphere.
For more info contact Roh at roh@rohmorgan.com
Joanne Lucas wins again!
We are VERY proud of member Joanne Lucas who has been honored with the Central Valley Writers Workshop Conference short story award. Wa-Hoo for Joanne!
Her short story titled Don’t Be Cruel takes place in 1957 Fresno and is about the murder of a waitress. Hmmm… sounds very interesting! Joanne won the Coveted Dead Bird award from the Sisters in Crime last year for this same story. It must be a great read!
Congratulations Joanne. We are very proud of you.
Deb Salonen wins Romantic Times award
Congratulations to Deb Salonen for winning the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Superromance of 2010 for her book Until He Met Rachel. Fabulous news! Deb received her award live at the Romantic Times Convention in Los Angeles on April. Isn’t it gorgeous?
And doesn’t Deb look thrilled in this photo of her and fellow YRW member Donna O’Brien? Indeed! 
Diane sells Crystal Dreams
We are very excited to announce Diane Story’s wonderful news: She has signed a contract with Whiskey Creek Press for her manuscript Crystal Dreams. Absolutely fabulous!! Crystal Dreams is paranormal romance with a Sci-fi Fantasy twist built around the upcoming prophecy of 2012. Intriguing! Diane does not yet have a firm publishing date but hopes to see it available on January 1, 2012. That would be fitting, right? Best of luck, Diane.
Sharon Lathan celebrates a release!
Yosemite Romance Writers is proud to announce the release of member Sharon Lathan’s fifth novel. Congratulations Sharon! The Trouble With Mr. Darcy – the fifth novel in her Darcy Saga sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice – is scheduled for an April 1 release but has been filtering out sooner. Look for it!
Kings River Life article on YRW
Kings River Life is an online magazine that focuses on the communities surrounding the Kings River in California and this week the Yosemite Romance Writers were featured in an article written by Sheri Humphreys. It is a wonderful synopsis of who we are and what we do.
Follow this link to read the entire article: Yosemite Romance Writers in Kings River Life
Be sure to read the WHOLE article because it also contains a lovely review of our VP’s latest novel! Desperate Hearts by Diane Story. Author and reviewer Marilyn Meredith gives a terrific synopsis and heaps glowing praise on Diane’s book. Here is a tiny snippet–
Diane Story has written a quick moving and sensual romance with plenty of thrills and adventure to keep the reader turning pages. Highly recommended for readers of romance.
By-Laws and Policies passed
The 2011 Restatement of Bylaws and the 2011 Budget have passed. Thank you everyone for your time, attention and vote. Next in line was the Policy & Procedure Manual, our reference guidelines for how we operate meetings, the Yahoo loop, the website, etc. Together these were the final items needed for compliance with RWA standards. Now we are set!
A BIG thank you to our President Sheri Humphreys for her tireless efforts to get our governance documents in order. Well done!
The new By-Laws and Policy & Procedure Manual can be downloaded from the YRW Yahoo loop by members. Any non-members interested in viewing the documents can contact Sheri for additional information at yrwpres@yahoo.com
Scott Eagan Speaks Out…
On February 12, 2011 we were honored and excited to welcome Literary Agent Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary Agency in Puget Sound, WA as our monthly guest speaker.
It was amazing!
Several members met with Scott for dinner on Friday night, enjoying delicious Mexican food and light conversation over drinks and chips. Great fun! Then on Saturday Scott spoke to our members and a host of guests about finding your voice as a writer, discovering where you fit within the publishing houses, and how to research that agent just right for you. He gave terrific advice on what is happening in the business and how to approach an agent. Then he took story pitches from several members. Great practice for all of us! It was a fascinating, educational, entertaining day. Plus, he’s a handsome fellow and romance novelist always appreciate that, right?
Winners of The Smooch
The Yosemite Romance Writers first contest winners were announced at the February 12 meeting.
First place went to Christina Gulke for her story entitled, “Every Bit of You” which featured a very sexy British chef. Ooh, la la!! But Christina didn’t stop there! She also won second place for her submission “Eternal Embrace.” WOW! Awesome job Christina!
Carrie Spencer, one of our long-distance members (she lives in Iowa) won third place for her story, “Stolen Kisses” about a roguish modern day Robin Hood whose talent at kissing lifted the spirits of a certain Maid Marian. Whew! Is it hot in here?
Thank you to all who entered The Smooch. The judges had a wonderful time reading these delightful stories and we can’t wait to do it again! Be on the look out for the next round later this year.
Congratulations Deb!
Let’s give a big whoop and holler to Deb Salonen for having her novel UNTIL HE MET RACHEL named the ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK REVIEWS Reviewers Choice Best Superromance of 2010. Awesome, Deb! We are SO proud of you! Until He Met Rachel was released in May of 2010 and can be ordered from all online retailers as print or eBook.
Sheri Wins!!
It is with deep pride and a rousing hand of applause that we congratulate Sheri Humphreys for winning the Coveted Dead Bird Award for 2010 by the San Joaquin Sisters in Crime for her short story “A Most Delicious Day.”
Way to go Sheri!! We are SO proud of you and can’t wait to read it!
That is two years in a row that a YRW member has won the Coveted Dead Bird Award, Joanne Lucas honored last year. Who will be next?
Congratulations Pat & Sarah Simas!
A writer’s job is to create something beautiful. Typically that is through the written word and storytelling. Our dear Sarah Simas, however, has created beauty in a commonplace way that is far more miraculous.
♥ Join me in welcoming to the world Lauren Hazel Simas! ♥
Sweet baby Lauren did not care about being the first New Year baby (nor did Sarah want to wait) and arrived on December 31. She didn’t give her mommy too much trouble with her birth, weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and measured 19 inches long. Sarah says she has loads of dark hair and chubby cheeks.
All is well at the Simas household. Papa Pat is doting on everyone, and siblings Elizabeth and Patrick have fallen in love. Sarah reports that Lauren eats and sleeps well, so far behaving herself with a happy temperament. We shall all pray that this remains the way of it!
CONGRATULATIONS PAT AND SARAH!
2011 Officers Elected
Our new 2011 YRW Officers have been elected! Congratulations to Sheri, Diane, June, and Ginny! A special thanks to Christina and Michele for volunteering to manage Facebook and our Membership! YRW ROCKS!!