LARA CONFIDENTIAL the Newsletter of the Los Angeles Romance Authors Chapter of RWA®

LARA CONFIDENTIAL The Newsletter of the Los Angeles Romance Authors Chapter of RWA®

Presidential Prattle 1 "Promoting Excellence in Romantic Fiction Through Education and Community Service" Editor’s Talk... 3 Hot Off the Keyboard 4 RESIDENTIAL RATTLE Say Hello to LARA P P Member...Gina Roland 6 Willingness Is Sterling PRO Mentor of the Year Award 7 January Meeting Notes: "Sex ast year was strange for me. I had major surgery, my & Death: What Makes Murder husband’s best friend’s lung collapsed, my only living So Romantic?" 8 L grandparent died on my 47th birthday, I helped revise the December Meeting Notes: "Believe in Yourself" 9 bylaws for Los Angeles Romance Authors, my time for my chat September Meeting Notes: community took a nose-dive (and so did the attendance for "What RWA® Can Do for said chat community), my best friend acquired a stepdaughter You" 12 who has become like a little sister, and, if you can believe it, I Shorts for Any Size was elected president of LARA for 2007. Authors 13 Living Historical Research 14 However, when New Year’s Day rolled around and it The Secrets of Successful was time to set goals, something else altogether took up my Bloggers... 16 mind. His name was Sterling, and he was a Norwegian Forest Body Language Basics 19 cat. He looked rather like Sylvester from the cartoons. I first met him at a friend’s house. Always a curmudgeon, he said hello by biting the back of my hand. To this day I still have the scars. Nineteen years older, irascible as ever, he had complaints that would keep me down for the count: arthritis fusing his spine, cataracts, hearing problems, an untreatable skin condition that made eating difficult, failing kidneys, and the inability to SSUE clean his fur.

I Yet he did what he wanted to do. He couldn’t climb the fence to visit our neighbors any longer, but he roamed the house, going from one rectangular patch of sunlight on the floor to the next, as was his custom. He begged for food—table HIS scraps as well as cat food—and ate and drank on his own. He wouldn’t accept help from us. Until his last day of life, Sterling 1 knew what he wanted, what he was willing to do T for it, and what he was unwilling to do. No Nov / Dec 2006/Volume 7

N pussyfooting around for this feline. cont. on pg 3 I

Los Angeles Romance Authors Chapter #25 January/February 2006 1 1 For inquiries regarding article President: Sandra Kleinschmitt submissions, or to request reprint Executive Vice President: permission, please contact: Jax Crane

Brenda Scott Royce Vice President in Charge of Programming: Irena Rafa-Petrovich Editor, LARA Confidential P.O. Box 1184 Vice President In Charge of Membership: Covina, CA 91722 Sandra Robinson Vice President of Ways and Means: The editor can also be reached by Melissa Jarvis-Prieto e-mail at the following address: Vice President in Charge of Public [email protected] Relations: Christine London

Treasurer: Maria Seager If you wish to receive the LARA Confidential in hard copy instead Newsletter Editor: Brenda Scott Royce of accessing it online, please send Secretary: Nicole Coady your name and mailing address to: [email protected] PAN Liaison and Advisor to the President: Linda O. Johnston

PRO Liaison: Jodi Gottlieb Next meeting: Sunday, February 18th Website and Listserv Diva: (3rd Sunday) Sandra Kleinschmitt Join us for a panel discussion with four LARA PAN members. Eden Los Angeles Romance Authors c/o Sandra Kleinschmitt Bradley, Linda O. Johnston, Lynne 9920 Dolan Avenue Marshall, and Mollie Molay will Downey, CA 90240 answer your questions on a wide range of topics. Assistant Editor: Tai Shan Jackson

LARA Confidential is published bimonthly by Los Angeles Romance Authors, Chapter 25 of RWA®. LARA Confidential welcomes input from all LARA members for requests, original or reprinted articles, ideas, suggestions, and comments. All contributors retain copyright to their original works. This is your newsletter, and it should meet your needs. Please send comments, suggestions, and article ideas to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected]. All views and opinions expressed in the LARA Confidential2 do not necessarily reflect the acceptance or endorsement of those views and opinions by the LARA membership, the LARA Board, or RWA® at large, and it is further assumed that authors have obtained all requisite copyright and/or reprint permissions. Los Angeles Romance Authors 2 January/February 2007 (continued from page 1) Editor’s with me for several hours on Talk... two separate occasions, As a chapter, we’ve transferring files and software gotten older as well, Transitions to my computer, trouble- experiencing growth and by Brenda Scott Royce shooting glitches in my changes along the way. While system, answering numerous we want to keep our friendly, Twenty years ago, I started a e-mail queries, teaching me small chapter feel, we new job as office manager for a layout basics and shortcuts— recognize that our needs have petroleum company. The even volunteering to continue evolved along with our previous manager had left in tracking the usage of our membership. haste after a protracted period members’ articles by other In order to assess our of workplace tension. She went RWA chapters—a very time- chapter’s goals, the new board to lunch one day and never consuming task! In addition is developing a poll. During came back. I inherited a mess— to her generous assistance, I late February and early March files were in disarray, bills were also became the benefactor of we will be phoning you and unpaid, nothing was where it a big white binder of asking specific questions ought to be. procedural notes assembled by about your experience as a I had to learn new another former editor, Thieme LARA member. We’d not software, straighten out the Jackson Bittick. only like your opinions, we files, and search for important Since joining LARA, need them to create goals that documents amid piles of take- I’ve been consistently im- make sense for you, the out menus, past-due bills, and pressed by the quality of LARA members. So start thinking: Is junk mail. With no guidance, Confidential. I hope to there one thing you think it took a few months to get the continue the tradition of would improve our chapter as office organized and running excellence established by my a whole? What do you want smoothly again. (And another predecessors, while also from and for LARA? What are few months to figure out what incorporating a few of my you willing to do to make that the heck I was doing in a own ideas. happen? And what are you petroleum company in the first Most importantly, I not willing to do? place!) want to hear from all of you. As I begin my term as Feel free to send me your I look eagerly forward editor of LARA Confidential, I’m submissions, comments, and to hearing from all of you. reminded of that experience suggestions at any time. No Don’t stop writing, only because of its stark contrast matter what career stage we’re in, each of us has something Sandra to the transition between outgoing editor Tai Shan to share that would benefit the rest of the group. Sandra Kleinschmitt Jackson and myself. Tai Shan is president of Los went well above and beyond So, what’s your story? Angeles Romance the call of duty3 in ensuring a Authors. smooth transition—meeting Los Angeles Romance Authors 3 January/February 2007 Hot Off the Keyboard Look for Kate Willoughby’s YEAH, BUT DID I WIN? story “Sixteen Again!” in the (CONTEST NEWS) (Last minute news from February 22, 2007, issue of the grapevine) Woman's World. Kate Willoughby’s novella Losing It is an EPPIE Award T.J. Bennett’s call story has finalist in the Erotica been posted to Kelley St. John’s Contemporary/Suspense/ popular “The Call” listing on Mystery Category. The EPPIEs her website: http://www. recognize outstanding achieve- kelleystjohn.com/TheCall.cfm. ment in e-publishing.

GOOD NEWS Kaitlin O’Riley’s first Jennifer Haymore’s novel historical romance, Secrets of a Revenge finaled in West Join us in congratulating Duchess, a Zebra paperback, Houston RWA’s “Emily the following LARA members was released on February 6! Contest” in the historical who received good news! category. Eden Bradley sold her second two-book deal to Robena Grant’s Gone Bantam. Her novels, The Tropical came in third in the Principles of Lust and Exotica: Romantic Suspense category of Seven Days of Kama Sutra & Romance Writers Ink’s “Where Nine Days of Arabian Nights, the Magic Begins” contest. will follow her June and October 2007 Bantam Nicole Coady finaled in the releases. Mystery Category of the "Heart of the West" contest, sponsored Lynne Marshall’s Her L.A. Jennifer Haymore sold her by the Utah Chapter of RWA, Knight is on sale now in short story, “Honeymoon with Moonlight on Diamonds. hardcover from Amazon UK. Castaways,” to Samhain This book will be available Publishing for their Mid- from the Harlequin Reader’s summer Night’s Steam MILESTONES anthology. It will be out in service in the U.S. in April, and summer 2007 as an e-book, then from the U.S. Harlequin Caro Kinkead finished the and at a later date as part of a website in May. novel she started for print anthology. NaNoWriMo (National Novel Brenda Scott Royce Writing Month), writing Jax Crane, w/a Jax Cassidy, finished her romantic comedy 87,643 words in 39 sold her novella Three Days of Monkey Star (sequel to Monkey days. That averages Sexy to Amber Heat for 2007. Love) on January4 3, 2007. It is about 2,250 words cont. on pg 5 This is her fist solo sale. due out from NAL in August. per day! Los Angeles Romance Authors 4 January/February 2007 (continued from page 4) Lynne Marshall received the Got any "Hot Off the Exemplary Service pin from Keyboard" news to share? Be Gina Roland w/a Genella RWA after a nomination. sure to send it along to the de Grey received a rejection editor before the next HOTK from Elaine P. English. She For actions that go above and submission deadline, March also finished her second beyond the spirit of giving, the 30, 2007. historical romance. Spirit of LARA award was presented to former LARA MORE GOOD NEWS president Kim Winklhofer at the December meeting. Kim Articles from past issues of will also receive a commend- LARA Confidential have been ation from the mayor, according reprinted far and wide. Our to Melissa Jarvis-Prieto, V.P. of members’ articles from the Ways and Means. January 2005 to April 2006 newsletters were reprinted more LARA NEWS than 350 times, not just nationally, but internationally. The new bylaws were passed Jodi Gottlieb’s “Three Act at the December meeting. No Compiled by LARA member Kaitlin Story” appeared in Hearts Talk, one opposed, the new motion O’Riley, author of Secrets of a carried, the bylaws are now Duchess, a 2007 Zebra historical the official journal of Romance release. Her next book will be Writers of Australia Inc. ratified and in effect. released in the spring of 2008.

The new Board of Directors was voted in at the December meeting. Left to right: Kim Winklhofer (Hospitality), Christine London (V.P., Publicity), Brenda Scott Royce (Newsletter Editor), Robena Grant (Past President),5 Sandra Kleinschmitt (President), Irena Rafa-Petrovich (V.P., Programming), Jodi Gottlieb (PRO Liason), Jax Crane (Executive V.P.), Maria Seager (Treasurer), Linda O. Johnston (PAN Liason), Melissa Jarvis-Prieto (V.P., Ways and Means), Nicole Coady (Secretary), and Sandra Robinson (V.P., Membership)

Los Angeles Romance Authors 5 January/February 2007 Say Hello to LARA Member...Gina Roland

What type of books do you read? Monthly meetings Typically, I read historical romance, but I also enjoy time-travel/paranormal, Meetings of the Los and fantasy romances. What do you write? Angeles Romance Authors I write historical romance; however, thrown into the mix are a time-travel romance, are held at the Barnes and a Victorian paranormal ro-mance, which has cross-over characters to a Victorian with para-normal elements. What they say is true: you write what you know. Noble in Encino, usually on How (when) did you get into the third Sunday of the writing? In November 1995, I read month. Guests are welcome Jude Deveruaux’s Remem- to attend one meeting for brance. The heroine, who was a romance writer, revealed that free. Coffee and chat begin she’d always had stories running through her head, at 10 a.m. General meeting which is why she became a writer. Relating at a very deep starts at 10:30 a.m. level to this heroine, I decided to try my hand. Who are your favorite authors PRO Liason Jodi Gottlieb presents Gina Address: (romance or otherwise) and Roland (right) with her PRO pin at the why? January meeting. Barnes & Noble Booksellers Off the top of my head, a few of my favorite historical romance authors are Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Julie 16461 Ventura Blvd. Garwood, and Heather Graham. (Yes, I know—they don’t write all historicals, but those are the ones I read.) For paranormal and fantasy romance I turn to Sherrilyn Encino, CA 91436 Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor and Maggie Shayne. Very recently, I found Lisa Kleypas, (818) 380-1636 who immediately captured my heart. She writes the way I do; among other elements, the chemistry between the hero and heroine is wonderfully intense. Cross-street: Hayvenhurst Have you published anything? A few years back, I was published on the Internet via a retail makeup website, under the name of “Minnie Chisel Fluff.” I wrote short articles about health and beauty practices and products, with the "voice" suggested by the owner of the company. What do you do in your non-writing life? My non-writing life consists of working at Sony Pictures Entertainment in Business Development—my “nine to five.” I have what readers call a “RLH” which is a real- life hero, and together we have a two-and-a-half-year-old boy. We go to Renaissance Faires, Victorian Old West events, and any other historical costume-type festivals we can get our hands on. (I am, literally, a closet costume enthusiast; I have to have a separate closet in which I house my costumes.) In addition, we travel every chance we get. I also have6 two cont. on teenagers who live with their father: my son is in college and pg 7 my daughter is in her senior year of high school. My RLH is Los Angeles Romance Authors 6 January/February 2007 (continued from page 6) Wanted: Nominations richly deserves. Yes, you’re busy, and sending in a nomination takes a little an independent filmmaker (comedic for the Fourth Annual time out of your schedule, but think shorts, documentaries, etc.), and I am PRO Mentor of the about how much time the mentors in the makeup artist on his projects. your life have given freely and gladly. What one thing about yourself would Year Award people be surprised to know? To nominate an author, send your nominating essays to Nicki Salcedo at The PRO Mentor of the Year Before I began writing, I took a shot at [email protected] with the Award recognizes those published being an actor—but here in Southern subject heading “Nomination for authors who, despite their own writing California, that doesn’t seem to be out of PRO Mentor Award” by February 28, the ordinary. My biggest role was in deadlines, devote part of their time to 2007. In 250 words or less, explain Wayne’s World II. I played a waitress in answering the questions of the what your mentor has done for you the club, “Comrades.” I am also a makeup unpublished. From POV and and for others. artist. grammar to agents and editorial What is something you know a lot about? guidelines, the questions run the The PRO Advocacy Team will gamut. And these authors who have choose finalists based on the mentoring I know more “made it” remember what it was like contributions of the nominees. The than the ave- before they landed that first sale and rage person PRO Liaison, PRO Assistant Chair, knows about want to help other writers along the and Advocacy Team Leader will select Historical road to getting published. These a winner from the finalists. Nominees costumes; authors run list-serves, answer lots of must be members of PAN for at least Medieval, e-mails, present workshops, judge one year prior to receiving the award, Tudor, Italian contests, give one-on-one critiques— and nominations will be accepted from Renaissance, basically anything that will allow them any current PRO member. Elizabethan, to share their hard-won wisdom with The PRO Mentor of the Year Award the golden others in the hopes of easing another will be presented at the beginning of the age, regency, writer’s journey. Civil War, and PRO Retreat on Thursday, July 12, 2007, up through If you and your writing have been during the RWA National Conference the evolution touched by such a published author, in Dallas. Previous winners include: of the Vic- now is the time to nominate that Vicki Hinze (2004), Jennifer Crusie torian bustle. I would also have to add person for the recognition he or she so (2005), and JoAnn Ross (2006). that I know a lot about makeup and skincare. BIAW What is something you wish you knew more about? Schmoozing. [Wink] LARA’s next Book-in-a-Week writing challenge is coming What is your birth date? soon. From March 19 to 25, join other LARA members online for moral support, encouragement, advice, and commisera- My birthday is April 30. tion. Set your own goal—a chapter, a synopsis, a short story, a Is there anything else you’d like to share? thousand words—or try for an entire book in a week (good Last summer, I went to Chicago to meet luck!). Moderator Cara King is looking for a few volunteers with Judith McNaught. I will be visiting to help cheer BIAW participants to victory. If you have a few with her again while in Dallas for Nationals this year. hours to spare, contact Cara at [email protected]. 7

Los Angeles Romance Authors 7 January/February 2007 t January Meeting Like many authors, Kozak didn’t set wore,” she says, “I was judged only 83-21-B0-A8-2F-EE-A2-C8D8 out to be a writer. Growing up, she by the words on the page.” Notes: "Sex & Death: aspired to be an actress—a goal she Years of studying, writing, realized when she left the cornfields of What Makes Murder researching, and revising led to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the bright lights Dating Dead Men, released in 2004 So Romantic?" of New York City. She studied at the by Doubleday. The riotous plot School of the Arts, waited tables, and involves stolen diamonds, the mob, © 2007, Brenda Scott Royce ultimately became a soap opera star, with and a woman’s quest to date 40 men lead roles on Texas, Guiding Light, and There’s a natural relationship Santa Barbara. between romance and mystery, guest speaker Harley Jane Kozak pointed While acting occupied a out at January’s meeting of the Los lot of Kozak’s time, it didn’t Angeles Romance Authors. The same completely fulfill her neurotransmitters activated by creative energies. She danger and thrill-seeking behavior are channeled her excess energy also triggered by the infatuation into playwriting. But she phase of love. This should come as soon learned that writing no surprise to anyone who has plays wasn’t the best mode experienced the stomach-churning of expression for her, as anxiety of new love—a state that can she’d been squandering her easily make you feel as though you’re best lines on the stage in a high speed car chase or free- directions! falling from an exploding skyscraper. By her mid-thirties, Kozak artfully blends danger and Kozak was working steadily romance in her novels, Dating Dead in films, including Men and Dating Is Murder. (The memorable roles in third book in the series, Dead Ex, is Arachnophobia, When Harry Love can be murder, says January's guest due out in August 2007). She had Met Sally, and The Favor. But speaker, Harley Jane Kozak. flirted with literary fiction before as the parts she was offered heeding the advice to write what she began shifting from leading enjoys reading. A fan of murder lady to mother or sideline spouse, she in 60 days. The speed-dating mysteries, she found her voice when found it difficult to invest herself fully scenario is loosely based on real life. she combined spine-tingling in her work. “Less was being asked of Prior to meeting her husband, suspense with side-splitting romantic me, just as I felt I had more to offer,” Kozak dated men as though she comedy. she laments. were conducting auditions. With a policy of never saying no to a fix- With an ever-growing pool of up, she endured many horrendous actresses competing for a diminishing dates … some of which provided number of roles, Kozak wisely decided fodder for her fiction. to pursue other avenues of artistic fulfillment. She en-rolled in writing While she draws from her own experiences, Kozak finds the popular classes at Santa Monica Community advice to “write what College, and later, UCLA Extension. you know” too Soon she was hooked on writing, an limiting. She recom- art form she found liberating. “Nobody 8 mends that authors cared what I looked like or what I cont. on pg 9

Los Angeles Romance Authors 8 January/February 2007 (continued from page 8) December Meeting “write what you know ... or are willing "Write what you Notes: "Believe in to learn about.” In Dating Dead Men, know ... or are the heroine’s brother suffers from Yourself " paranoid schizophrenia. Kozak willing to learn undertook a tremendous amount of © 2007, Tai Shan Jackson research in order to accurately depict about." the disease. December meetings are always reserved for LARA members with A perennial problem for romance romance-related “first sales.” Five writers is keeping the hero and good whodunit can sustain romantic members spoke enthusiastically heroine apart for 300 pages when it’s tension and suspense, precluding the about their path to publication. obvious (to the reader, if not the couple from riding off into the The overriding theme? Believe in characters) that they are destined to sunset until after the mystery is yourself. be together. solved. Kozak describes herself as a “non- plotter, non-outliner.” Using Dayle A. Dermatis w/a Sophie improvisational instincts she honed Mouette sold Cat Scratch Fever as an actor, she writes as though she (co-authored by Teresa Noelle is living the story. “Until I write it, I Roberts) to Black Lace Books. It don’t know what will happen,” she was a March 2006 release in the explains. The result is often a big, U.K. and an August 2006 release sloppy first draft, which then in the U.S. Also w/a Sarah Dale, A becomes a “de facto outline” or Little Night Music (co-authored by blueprint for the final draft. Sarah Husch) sold to Cheek Books, with release scheduled for Sex and death are here to stay, June 2007. notes Kozak. Mysteries are ever- present on the New York Times Dayle said that she always felt like bestsellers list, and most of those she had the door propped open, with blockbusters have strong romantic a foot in it, elements. She urges authors not to trying to get in. worry about trends or marketability, A friend told but to write from the heart. Kozak finds that romance is easier her, “One day, to write when the characters are Consider adding a dash of danger you will realize involved in another enterprise—such to your romance—or a sexy twist to that you are on as solving a crime or evading bad your mystery. You just may find that the other side guys. the combination is to die for. of the door.” Crime fiction provides Brenda Scott Royce She wrote countless opportunities to force is Editor of LARA one book with a characters into proximity while Confidential. Her friend, then they decided to try erotica. putting natural stumbling blocks romantic comedies They wrote a sports-related book for Monkey Love and in their way. The hero and heroine Black Lace, who had a Monkey Star con- hole in their release could be on opposite sides of the tain plenty of cont. on 9 schedule. Unfortunately, law. Perhaps he’s the prime suspect mayhem, but no pg 10 of a crime she’s investigating. A murder. the contract included a

Los Angeles Romance Authors 9 January/February 2007 ’ (continued from page 9) the agent had any advice. The agent conference tape library, receiving many turned the tables and asked for the full. great ideas on writing erotica. She wrote clause the authors didn’t agree with, so Kaitlin polished it and sent it off. A few the story in three months while she was they decided to cancel the deal. weeks later, the agent called and said that in England; the book was coincidentally However, the editor said that they she wanted to represent her. set in England. She finished the book in would change the clause, because the the summer of 2006 and submitted it. After she signed on the dotted line, book was already at the proofs stage. It was quickly accepted by Phaze. the book was sent to many New York Unfortunately, then the editor changed. Christine is now starting to write her publishers last year and received many After that, they wrote Cat Scratch Fever fourth book and is ready to submit her rejections. They were told there wasn’t in two months. second book. enough sex in it. Even though Kaitlin was tired of the book by this time, she Kaitlin O’Riley signed a two-book Jax Crane w/a Cassidy Kent with co- contract with Kensington. The first, wrote her sex scenes. Kensington then offered her a two-book deal. As Kaitlin author Amanda Kelly: Sunset Key and Secrets of a Duchess, is a Zebra said, “Not bad, from spiral notebook to the Raleigh in Rio were 2006 releases to paperback release for February cover” of her book (which she proudly Phaze. Also 2007. She is currently writing the displayed to the group). Her final released in 2006 second book. comment? She will be sending a copy of were Santa’s the book to her former writing professor! Helper and What Kaitlin's Lies in Winter to first manu- Amber Heat, an script had Christine London sold Sunninghill erotic imprint of a long Snow to Phaze, an e-publication for Amber Quill. route to release in August 2007 with a print Dolce and Diana getting release due a few months after. and Miranda published. Writes are 2007 At 12 she Christine, who has been with LARA releases for Phaze, as is Dear John for knew she since April 2006, started writing about Amber Heat. In print for 2007, Tropical was going 17 months ago. She had seen a film and Heat will be re-leased as a single to be a author anthology and Fortune’s Fool, writer after she read her first a multiple author anthology, both for romance. Her teachers were very Phaze. One Wicked Winter is a single supportive in high school, but during author anthology for Amber Heat. Jax her college years, she was also writes by herself as Jax Cassidy. discouraged when told that she had She recently sold her novella Three no talent. She switched to history Days of Sexy to Amber Quill. instead of writing. One day in 1994, she sat down Ever since she can remember, Jax has with a spiral notebook and wrote an loved writing. She began writing scripts, outline for a novel, but life got in the but stopped when she found out that way. About five years later, she went wrote a fan letter to an actor in the film. one of her scripts was being made into a back to it and, inspired, wrote 20 pages She thought that it might make an movie, without her consent. Eventually, in a weekend. She finished her 400- interesting story if the actor wrote back. she grew tired of screen-writing, and a page manuscript in 2004, but didn’t That was the inspiration for her first friend recommended that she switch to know what to do with it. On the manuscript. That novel has not yet sold. romance writing. In a encouragement of afriend, she sent a Meanwhile, she found out that Phaze 10 timed competition with paragraph describing the book to the was looking for submissions, so she began her friend, she wrote cont. on friend’s agent in New York, asking if borrowing tapes from LARA’s Ghosthunter in two pg 11 Los Angeles Romance Authors 10 January/February 2007 (continued from page 10) had written Nefertiti about five years she found that she had to pile on more ago, but her agent didn’t handle the coal to help push her over that weeks. She has had several requests for youth market. She sent out queries, mountain. People believed in her when the full manuscript. and got back a lot of rejections. she didn’t believe in herself, but she had However, she kept sending it out, reached a point where she decided to Jax developed a writing partnership thinking, “Someday, it won’t come quit: in the space of a year and a half, when her neighbor, Amanda Kelly, back” (rejected). her husband lost his job, she had to overheard that she wrote books. They leave her be-loved Los Angeles to decided to collaborate and finished their When she saw that a new move to his new job in Texas, and first project, Sunset Key, in two weeks. publisher (Brown Barn Books) was her mother passed away. One night at 11 pm., Jax checked her e- looking for manuscripts, she sent an mail and discovered that Phaze wanted electronic query. Happily, the editor After their book. She called Amanda, then was interested in seeing the first three receiving ran over and knocked on her door. The chapters and a synopsis. Betty got a round and pair probably woke the neighbors with response quickly. Two weeks later, round of rejec- their screams of joy. she received a call that they wanted tions on her to publish it. The book was released third book, a Jax has found that it was good in September 2006. Golden Heart writing with a co-author, especially finalist, after since their voices complement one Betty had an idea for a crochet hearing agent after agent say no, and another. However, she realized she mystery series, which she discussed after reading yet another “good” wasn’t developing herself as a writer, with her agent, who excitedly rejection letter from yet another so in 2007 she will spend more time announced, “I can sell it!” The editor, she had decided enough was developing her individual voice. Jax Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Berkley enough. Besides, after losing her recommends that we believe in made an offer and on Wednesday, St. mother, she wanted to know why she ourselves as writers; she didn’t think her Martins Press also expressed interest. was continuing; it all seemed so work would be worth anything but Lo and behold, Berkley made a inconsequential. So, she decided to she sold seven things in one year. As counter offer. The first book in the quit. she says, if she can do it, anyone can. series is titled Hooked on Murder. It will include recipes and directions on That was on a Sunday, and on how to make a crochet piece. Monday morning, she got “The Call.” Betty Jacobson Hechtman sold It’s appropriate that the book of her Blue Schwartz & Nefertiti’s heart is the one that sold first; the only Necklace to Brown Barn Books, Thieme Jackson Bittick w/a T.J. one her mother had the chance to read. and she just signed a multi-book Bennett sold The Legacy to deal with Berkley for her crochet Medallion Press, which will be an As T.J. said, “When you have a mystery series. April 2008 release. dream, one that fills your soul and expands your mind, God will not let you Betty says T.J. had wanted to be a writer since walk away from it. He put it there. It that it took a she was eight years old. That desire belongs to you, and the only choice you long time for finally overcame her and she wrote her have is to live it or not.” everything to first novel, The Legacy. T.J. says she come together made all her “mistakes on that first Tai Shan Jackson for her, but damn book,” so she read books on the was the 2006 LARA when it did, it craft, and when that wasn’t enough, Confidential editor, all happened joined LARA and RWA. Eventually, and has been a very quickly. A she, and her story, became like the old member of RWA and year ago, she was unpublished except children’s tale of 11the “little engine that LARA since 2005. for magazines and newspapers. She could.” Four books and six years later,

Los Angeles Romance Authors 11 January/February 2007 September Meeting degree or higher. There is over $1 national election. Jill strongly billion per year in romance revenue. recommends exercising this right. You Notes: "What RWA® That is a lot of readership. can vote for all the region representatives (not just your local Can Do for You" There is strength in numbers. The region). Every RWA board member press often contacts RWA’s staff represents every member. Access the publicist for special occasions such as © 2007, Tai Shan Jackson RWA website to find out more about Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, to each candidate, including phone Jill Limber, the current president request interviews with RWA authors. numbers and e-mail addresses. of RWA, spoke to our chapter in RWA maintains a list of honor roll September 2006. Her topic was What members—authors who have made One of the biggest member benefits RWA Can Do for You. Jill was a Golden one of the major bestseller lists. These is being able to attend the RWA Heart finalist in 1992 and sold her first are the authors RWA recommends first National conference. The conference book in 1994. Her eighth book, The when providing contacts to the press. offers workshops and networking Sheriff Wins a Wife, was released in opportunities with professionals. 2005. Several authors offer conference Jill opened her presentation by scholarships—watch the Romance thanking all volunteers. She Writers Report for information. One acknowledged that it is not easy to run of Jill’s favorite conference activities is an organization staffed completely by the literacy signing. Publishers send volunteers—and noted that volunteers, books at no charge to RWA, which by giving their time and energy, are the allows all of the money raised to go to backbone of our chapters. the literacy fund. Over a half million dollars has been contributed to literacy RWA has 144 chapters (as of her over the past decade. last count), some land-based and some special interest or online chapters. It has In addition to the Golden Heart close to 10,000 members, primarily in and RITA awards, which are presented the United States and Canada, at Nationals, RWA also awards other although there are some members from honors, including the Service Award, far-flung areas such as Australia and the Bookseller of the Year award, the Indonesia. The Internet makes Librarian of the Year award, and the Vivian Stephens Industry award. To connecting members easier and has RWA President Jill Limber helped RWA grow immensely over the nominate someone, contact the years. About 2,000 members are national office. United, romance writers are a published in book length (with RWA Are you stuck on a research powerful community. In the recognized publishers). Almost every question? Want PAN or PRO publishing world, RWA is starting to published author who is writing information? Check out the “Internet have a “seat at the table.” For example, romance is with RWA. PAN Networking & Listserves” menu in the at the Atlanta conference, Publishers members, on average, release one Members section of the RWA website. Weekly approached RWA for their romance per year. Interested in industry news? Have you input on a weekly online romance opted into RWA E-notes, which is Romance readers are as diverse as newsletter PW is developing. the authors. Sixty-four and one-half delivered every two weeks? Looking million people have read at least one RWA is here for the members—if for a committee or volunteer position romance novel per year. Seventy-eight you have questions or comments, don’t with RWA? View and/or opt-in to percent of romance readers are women; forget to contact the group (contact these items by signing onto the information is available on the website “Members Only” section of the which means, of course, that twenty- 12 two percent are men. Forty-two at www.rwanational.org). One of our RWA website. percent of readers have a bachelors rights as members is to vote in the Los Angeles Romance Authors 12 January/February 2007 Shorts for Any Size Authors

Are you a Shorts-type person? As it turns out, I am—even at my age and moderately expanded the RWA National Conference last “Kendra’s Squirreliest Client” is listed slacks size! Amazon Shorts, that is. July in Atlanta. That is also where I as being a December 2006 release, My very first Amazon Shorts learned about the Amazon Connect but it wasn’t actually available until story, “Kendra’s Squirreliest Client,” program. What’s that? It’s a forum on about a month later. is now available at Amazon.com. Amazon where authors can blog as Am I now getting rich with sales What is it, and why did I decide to often as they’d like, and each new blog of my Short? At around twenty participate? is submitted, when posted, to readers cents a pop, I think not, although at who have bought their books from Amazon Shorts is a program for the time of writing this I haven’t yet Amazon. The blogs also appear when published authors to help publicize gotten an accounting. a potential reader brings up a web page their books (and encourage people describing one of the author’s books. Am I glad I bothered? Absolutely! to buy them from Amazon, too!). First, I enjoyed writing the story. Plus, If you have one or more books Also, a reader can sign up for a it’s another ave-nue for getting my available on Amazon, you’re eligible “plog”—a personalized web log that name out there on Amazon, which to submit a short piece to them comes up when the reader visits certainly can’t hurt. (2,000 to 10,000 words, either Amazon and shows information fiction or nonfiction) for especially pertinent to that reader, My advice? If you’ve got a book consideration. There’s an editorial including blogs of those authors whose or more on Amazon, get involved process involved, just as with nearly books the reader has purchased. in its programs. Connect, and write any submission. If your story is a Short. They’ll only cost you time. I left the Amazon presentation at accepted, it’s then made available via And who can resist a promotional RWA with my mind reeling— Amazon for the grand price of $0.49 opportunity that pays YOU to Connect, blogs, plogs, and Shorts. I for each purchase. It’s delivered participate, like Shorts? Not I! How wanted to take advantage of them all. electronically to readers, and the about you? author shares the proceeds with I signed up for Connect right away, Amazon. (Unsurprisingly, Amazon with no problem. My blogs appear gets the larger portion). instantly. My only regret is that I don’t Linda O. Johnston, a long-time LARA blog often enough. member, is the When someone brings up the author of the Kendra web page with your Short on it, your I also wrote a short story for Shorts Ballantyne Pet-Sitter backlist of books is also displayed, fairly soon. Did you notice I said that mystery series. The so a potential reader can grab one or I saw the presentation last July—and fourth, Meow Is for more of them, too, at regular here we are in February? That is the Murder, is now avail- Amazon pricing. biggest drawback I’ve found with the able. So is Linda’s Shorts program. After I submitted my Amazon Short, “Kendra’s Squirreliest I first learned of the Amazon Client.” Guess who that squirrelly client story, it took a while to hear back that Shorts program at a presentation by 13 is... Visit Linda at her website: they wanted it (yay!) and an equally Amazon folks to PAN members at www.LindaOJohnston.com. long time before it was made available. Los Angeles Romance Authors 13 January/February 2007 Living Historical though, have another great avenue to the past. Instead of Research just trying to imagine a grand assembly during the time of © 2007, Cara King Fielding or Austen or Alcott, you might very well be able to attend one—or something Nothing compares to hands-on surprisingly near. research. If your heroine is an Irish cello player who saves stray cats, then Having just attended my ideally you too are a cat-hair-covered fourth Jane Austen Ball (put cellist from Ireland. If you can’t on by the Lively Arts History manage that, then it helps if you’ve Association every year in at least once visited Ireland, picked Southern California), I can up a cello, or lived with a cat. unreservedly say that the understanding one gets from But what is the poor, deprived such an event is only equaled writer of historicals to do? We can’t by the inspiration one comes teleport to the medieval France to away with. sample the food (well, I can’t, anyway) or phone up Jane Austen for LARA member Ava tips on sharpening a quill. Wrightsman agrees. “I knew intellectually what a chore it Luckily, there are more ways to must have been to get ready take a virtual trip into history than LARA members Ava Wrightsman and for a ball like that in those Cara King at the 2007 Jane Austen Ball you might think. You can find books days,” she says. “But until that translate period recipes for the you take board-straight hair like mine, people went through to get ready. modern kitchen, and actually try out and spend two and a half hours twisting Not that they had sponge curlers. some historical dishes your characters it up into highly comfortable (not!) Can you imagine trying to curl your might have eaten. (Examples include sponge curlers, then sleep on it, etc., hair with curling papers? Just the Cooking Apicius: Roman Recipes for you really can’t appreciate the work thought sends me into a fit of Today by Sally Grainger, and The Jane hysterics. There’s no way!” Austen Cookbook by Maggie Black and Deirdre Le Faye.) Indeed, my own experiences along that line reminded me that women You can listen to modern who put their hair up in intricate styles recordings of music from many might have been running off every different eras played on period dance or two to check their hair, and instruments, or visit a museum that pin back up whatever stray bit had has art from the proper time and come down this time. One also real- place. (And if no museum is izes that strong or rapid head move- convenient, try the art books at your ments are likely to ruin one’s hair— local library.) And keep your eye out yet another reason for daintiness and for historical reenactments of battles decorum! And another reason why a and such—seeing first-hand how a session out on that bal- flintlock was actually loaded is hard cony with you-know- to beat. 14 who is likely to make cont. on Those who write romances set your heroine look no- pg 15 during the 18th and 19th centuries, ticeably disheveled. Los Angeles Romance Authors 14 January/February 2007 But how would an ordinary man look in breeches? Or a range of women in empire gowns?) When wearing a period gown, one has physical sensation of difference ... different parts of the body are exposed, and hidden, and emphasized. Plus, clothes dictate our movements to a great degree. Wear a medieval dress with a tight bodice and flowing sleeves, and you’ll find yourself rarely moving your shoulders, but making elegant arm movements allow your sleeves to speak for you. Indeed, wearing a period costume, or just watching those who do, is amazingly educational. One of the most beautiful parts As for historical clothes—it’s one of a ball is, of course, the dancing. thing to see a picture of a costume, Cara King is the author of the award- From the English Restoration or even see Colin Firth in his gor- winning My Lady Gamester, a Signet through the Regency, English geous Regency clothes in “Pride and Regency Romance. Country Dances were popular, and Prejudice,” but it’s another thing en- usually involved long lines of men tirely to wear period clothes, or even and women performing intricate see them on real people. (After all, steps. It’s great fun to do, and it’s portraits and fashion plates are often lovely to watch, as the patterns idealized or distorted, and Colin merge and separate, twirl and tease Firth would look good in anything. on the floor. For Regency authors Diane Gaston and Amanda McCabe, seeing Regency dance in a historic Recommended Resources site brought more than just by Cara King inspiration. As RITA-winner Gaston explains, “When Amanda and I were on the Novel If you’re convinced that you want to live out your Jane Austen (or Ivanhoe) Explorations Regency England fantasies, you might start by checking out these links: Tour in 2003, we danced with the Jane Austen Dancers in the Bath LIVELY ARTS HISTORY ASSOCIATION: http://lahacal.org/ Assembly Rooms where Jane COUNTRY DANCE AND SONG SOCIETY (US): http://www.cdss.org/ Austen danced. One point the ENGLISH FOLK DANCE AND SONG SOCIETY (UK): http://www.efdss.org/ reenactors stressed was how the dances reflected the Georgian love NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: http://www.neffa.org/ of pattern and symmetry, sort of a SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM: http://www.sca.org/ 15 Robert Adam’s ceiling come to life.” Los Angeles Romance Authors 15 January/February 2007 The Secrets of the goal of providing an easy-to-use portant. Rule One, sure it’s absolutely publishing platform to writers critical, but the others make or break Successful Bloggers... (though, in the latter case, we’re using your blog. Movable Type, not the easiest tool in or, Why Blogs Are an Ready? I thought so. the blogging software box). Author's Best Publicity Tool 1. BICHOK – Those of you Bottom line is I’ve figured out the who have been around the online tricks of the blogging trade. As I’ve said romance community (and some © 2007, Kassia Krozser before (and will surely say again), who haven’t) recognize the acronym. it’s all about tools, not rules. You Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard. don’t have to have a blog. There Successful bloggers produce regular is absolutely no requirement content. Daily, weekly, monthly. that every published and Personally, I don’t care how often you aspiring author in the world update as long as you commit to a moonlight as a blogger. In schedule. fact, I’m kind of discouraging rampant blog creation. You, Blogs are websites. Blogs also dear writers, are not utilize technology, such as RSS lemmings. You don’t have (Really Simple Syndication) that to blog just because push content to readers. RSS can be everyone else is doing it. added to any website, but that’s a technical thing; it comes built in to That being said, for many most blogging systems. That’s reasons, blogs are a far better publicity neither here nor there. The tool than standard websites. This is important thing is that readers can because, I’m sorry to say, most author You know it’s a subscribe to your content. RSS rules. websites are really bad. Awful design, Seriously. sad state of events confusing navigation, and…stale content. The way most author sites are Until my recent redesign, I fell when you say to someone, “What? created means that updates are difficult. well below the minimal level of You don’t have a blog? My mother I don’t know about you, but if I have publicity for Booksquare (I only did has a blog.” Even though the mother to FTP something to a server, I lose maximum publicity for the redesign part isn’t really true, at least in my interest real fast. If I had to pay because I love the illustrations). Sure, case. My mother is still in the someone to update my site, well, I’d planning stages of her blog. be waiting until I had enough content Apparently getting a group of to make it worth the money. elementary school librarians together “You, dear writers, for a blog project requires a lot of Of course, once I had enough con- “lunches.” tent, the chances of most if not all of are not lemmings. it being out-of-date is pretty high. I have a lot more blogs than I’ll Static websites have their place, sure, You don’t have to admit to in polite company. Each but not as publicity tools for authors. serves a different purpose. Sometimes, as in the case of I digress. The keys to successful blog just because Booksquare and Medialoper, they’re blogging are beyond simple. You’ll read my main writing forums. Other them and think, “I can do that.” All I everyone else is times, like Romancing the Blog and ask is that you have a second thought. Paperback Reader, it’s about using Read Rules Two16 and Three again. I’m doing it.” the blogging software to accomplish serious. Rules Two and Three are im-

Los Angeles Romance Authors 16 January/February 2007 every now and then I pointed to a specific post on my site when it made sense, but mostly I let the readers find me. And they have found me. I have a large readership among the audience I decided I’d target…despite the fact that, as you’ll see in Rule Three, I’ve insulted most of them. Including Nora Roberts, or, rather, J.D. Robb, or, rather, the lousy editing of one of the books in the “Born In” series. Nora was really cool about my ranting and raving, by the way. You gotta love an author who can take it on the chin with such dignity and grace! I attribute most of my success to ing, too. There is nothing about my progress in her goal to cook her way regular writing. Maybe not every life, when examined on a day-to-day through Mastering the Art of French single day, but I would say there’s basis, that could possibly interest any- Cooking by Julia Child in a year, has rarely a day that I don’t publish one other than my cats. Half the time, a story to tell. The Julie/Julia Project something, somewhere. I cannot my husband only pretends to pay at- did, as you might guess, culminate overstress the importance of regular tention. Come to think of it, my cats in a book deal and lots of publicity. content. tend to fall asleep when I’m talking… So you’re a romance writer, who I read a lot of blogs in the course of cares?, what else can you do? What 2. Originality – Why are you my work, and the one thing that grabs can you write about—regularly— blogging? This is a serious question. me every time is an original voice with with authority and verve and What are you trying to accomplish? an original perspective. Most of these originality? Blog about that. The I’ve long believed that writers have bloggers have also done something I readers will come, I promise. the inside track when it comes to suc- consider essential: they’ve found a beat. cessful blogging, but I dunno, I 3. Fearlessness – I have, by mean, why do most of them do it? I’m a reformed wannabe journalist my conservative estimation, made What do you have to say? (once I figured out that facts are not fun of every major New York my thing, I switched career paths). publisher, many small presses, quite While many reporters are capable of a few agents, several bookstores, most writing on any topic, true success fiction genres, and more than a few comes when you have a beat, you authors. Most people would consider know your subject, and you can ap- my approach to be career suicide, but proach it from a variety of angles. You I have good reason for my actions. become a subject matter expert. Part of this is because I’m naturally obnoxious. The other part is that I Blogs work the same way. I don’t have strong opinions, really care about how many pages most of which are someone writes in a day, I’m not in- I’m going to say something, and reasonably well- terested in trips to grocery stores or cont. on I hope you take it in the spirit that 17 considered. I decided food eaten. Unless the author, like the pg 18 it’s meant: you’re boring. I’m bor- that I’d rather be woman who blogged about her Los Angeles Romance Authors 17 January/February 2007 controversial and true to myself rather Do not be afraid. Good writers get Make your blog the best than toeing an invisible, ever-changing published. It’s pretty clear that representation of you as a writer that line. publishers are looking at blog you can. You have voice, vision, and readership when they consider a writer’s point-of-view. Use these tools. One thing that I’ve noticed about platform. It’s assumed that strong romance writers, especially, is a fear of That’s it. How to blog successfully. readership will translate into future making waves. We don’t disagree with Pretty easy, huh? book sales (do not believe editors who each other publicly (or sometimes say they don’t troll the Internet; Kassia Krozser runs privately) and we don’t discuss the publishers are looking hard at Booksquare.com and genre with anything approaching readership numbers). RomanceWiki.com. frankness. While I’m all for a positive She reviews for outlook (and try to be optimistic at You are not going to develop a PaperbackReader.net, least once a week), I believe that good regular audience by pulling punches. is a columnist at bloggers exhibit the ability to engage Be as fearless in your blogging as you RomancingTheBlog.com, a member in critical analysis. This means ruffling are in your fiction—you’re selling of the LitBlog Co-Op, and a found- ing partner of Medialoper.com. She feathers, saying it like it is, and, yes, yourself, a writer, to a wide range of is a master juggler who starts her abandoning the need to be a romance people: agents, editors, readers, cheerleader. day with a rousing hour of fiction- reviewers, journalists, and everyone else writing. in the world.

Blog Glossary

Baffled by blogs? Bewildered by the blogosphere? Here are a few basic terms you may have heard: blog: short for weblog; an online journal listing your periodic thoughts on a specific topic, usually displayed in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to post comments. blogger: one who blogs blogging: the act of posting on blogs blogosphere: the blogging community blogroll: a list of links in your sidebar to other blogs you recommend blogware: blogging software. You can install a blog on your existing website using software such as WordPress or Movable Type, or stake a piece of (often free) virtual real estate on services such as Blogger (www.blogger.com) or LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com). MySpace: a teen-dominated social networking site that allows members to post blogs on their pages permalink: a link to a specific article plog: a personalized blog. Amazon.com allows authors to create plogs on their pages. spam: unsolicited advertising, usually for online gambling or “male enhancement.” Spam isn't restricted to e-mail; blogs are being increasingly targeted by spammers. tags: keywords used to categorize blog posts trackback: a tool that notifies a blogger when someone else links to one of their documents vlog: a video blog 18 . weblog: see blog —Brenda Scott Royce

Los Angeles Romance Authors 18 January/February 2007 This article first appeared in the Five other types of December 2006 issue of Writer's Saddle, the newsletter of the Calgary smiles RWA. It is used with permission. Tight-lipped smile The lips are stretched out to form a straight line and Body Language the teeth are hidden. This Basics smile can say, “I have a secret,” “That’s just silly” or “I’m tolerating you only because I Eyebrows can also speak by Julie Rowe have to,” depending on how tight volumes about what we’re thinking. In any story, half of the the mouth is. information given to the reader is We flash our eyebrows at people we wish to attract (a rapid raise and never spoken out loud. It’s body Twisted smile language, and body language can lowering of the brow). When only one side of the tell your reader what your character Lowered eyebrows indicate mouth is turned up and no wrinkles is doing and how they feel about aggression or concern. We tend to appear near the eyes, this smile is say- it. take people with low eyebrows more ing, “Sarcasm.” Smiling, for example. There are seriously. JKF had low-set eyebrows. many kinds of smiles, and each one Drop-jaw smile Raised eyebrows are a gesture of tells something different about surprise or submissiveness. Lowering what the character is thinking, feel- The jaw is dropped to give the the eyelids while raising the ing or doing. impression the person is laughing or eyebrows, looking up and slightly playful, but isn’t really feeling either A natural smile produces parting the lips indicates sexual of those things. No wrinkles near the submissiveness. Marilyn Monroe had wrinkles around the eyes, while an eyes, means not a happy smile. insincere smile only makes your this look down pat. mouth move. Nodding and positioning of the Sideways-looking up smile head can reveal several very primal The head is turned down and away feelings. while looking up and smiling. This A slow head nod indicates inter- smile tells people you are juvenile, est in what’s being said. fun, secretive and coy. It produces protective feelings in men, and Fast nodding tells the speaker women want to be like her. Princess you’ve heard enough. Diana was an expert at this smile. Head nodding in general encour- The eyes can give away what ages cooperation and agreement. we’re really thinking if you know Tilting the head signals submis- what to look for. A person’s pupils sion because it exposes the throat and will contract when they’re angry, un- neck. happy or repulsed. They will dilate when a person is happy, excited, at- Head down signals negative feel- tracted or solving a problem. If you ings or aggression. look at a person with dilated pupils 19 Body position signals how we you will feel welcomed and respond really feel about the other people in kind. The reverse is also true. around us. Facing someone with an Los Angeles Romance Authors 19 January/February 2007 and if you like, trust or are attracted to this person, it’s easy to hug them back. But if you don’t like or trust, or aren’t attracted to this person, hugging them is very difficult and uncomfortable. You will hold your body as far away from that person as you can, stiffly, and will try to end the hug as fast as possible. Want to present an interest and readiness in another person and/or what they’re saying? Lean forward in an open body position. When we like someone or agree with what they’re saying we will mirror their body position. It’s a commonly held belief that As we get older, we get better at open stance, legs straight or apart, a liar can’t look a person in the eyes, suppressing our reactions, but it’s arms at your sides, palms facing but that’s not always true. If you really hard to not do one of the six forward is a “Trust me” signal. We want to spot a liar, watch their common lying gestures: also use it when we want to hands, not their eyes. A liar’s engender a positive response from subconscious will tell their hands • The hand or fingers cover, the other person. to try to cover or stop the lie from touch or go in the mouth. Open legs are a signal of coming out. As a child if you said • The nose touch acceptance and confidence. something that wasn’t true you’d • The eye rub probably slap both hands over your • The ear grab Crossed legs or arms signal a mouth. • The neck scratch nervous, submissive, negative or • The collar pull defensive attitude. Body language can enrich any Women are more likely to fold story, because it relates the their arms across their chest around innermost thoughts and feelings of aggressive or unattractive men and our characters, even while they’re hold them open around men they saying words to the opposite. It’s a find attractive. great way to enhance description Holding hands behind the back and give depth to your dialogue, is a gesture signaling superiority or conflict and romance. confidence. A Golden Heart double finalist in 2006, Julie Rowe has been writing Hands on the hips makes us for nine years and has completed appear larger and is a sign of fifteen manuscripts. Her freelance assertion. work has appeared in numerous magazines and newsletters. Think about what a person’s 20 body position is when they attempt to hug you. If it’s completely open, Los Angeles Romance Authors 20 January/February 2007