Thank You Everyone - Here's Looking at 2010!

On behalf of the 2009 Conference Committee, I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful conference this past weekend. It was an honor to serve the NEC Chapter as the Conference Committee and we truly enjoyed every moment of our journey together. It was wonderful to see so many friendly and happy faces this weekend. We sincerely hope everyone had an inspiring, rejuvenating and awesome weekend!

Congratulations again to our Bean Pot Finalists, Bean Pot Winners, First Kiss Finalists and First Kiss Winner as well as our Goldrick Award Winner Jessica Smith.

Special thanks to are amazing speakers, Jennifer Greene, Jessica Andersen, and Lisa Gardner; all our fabulous workshop presenters; our gracious agents and editors, Brenda Chin, Raelene Gorlinsky, Marlene Castricato, Holly Schmidt, Leah Hultenschmidt, Jessica Faust, Meg Ruley, and Becca Stumpf; our numerous and phenomenal volunteer crew; the Staff at the Sheraton and; of course, our friends at Fleetwood Media. Also, extra special thanks to our NEC President Cindy Gregory and the entire NEC Board. The Conference Committee so appreciates everything you did to help us along the way.

Best wishes to Mary Reiber, our 2010 Conference Chair, as she begins her journey towards next year's conference. I'm sure she will do a fabulous job!

If you would like to send us some feedback on this year's conference, send us an email at conference@necrwa.org. We would be happy to hear from you!

See you next year at the Sheraton Framingham on March 26-27, 2010.

Thank you again.

All the best... and happy writing! :)

Tara Holt, Katie Garvey, Meghan Gehan, Janet Halpin, and Mary Reiber
The 2009 NEC Conference Committee

Pre-Order 2009 NEC Conference MP3 CD from Fleetwood Media


We are so looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. Remember -- there is still time to register. Go to http://www.necrwa.org/Forms/conference.html

Fleetwood Media, who records our workshop sessions, is offering the complete 2009 NEC Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference MP3 CD for a discounted, pre-conference price of $79 (plus shipping/handling) until the day of conference.

Price at conference will be $99 for the complete 2009 NEC MP3 CD. Individual workshop CDs will be on sale for $12 at conference, $15 after conference.

Go to www.fleetwoodonsite.com/romance2009 for more information.

Thanks!
The Conference Committee

Updated Conference Schedule

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA®

2009 LET YOUR IMAGINATION TAKE FLIGHT CONFERENCE

 

FRIDAY, March 27, 2009

Time

COMMONS 1

COMMONS 2

3:30 PM 5:30 PM

 

EXTRA! Workshop

Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis

LISA GARDNER

STELLA PRICE

Promotions for the Frugal Author

3:30 – 4:20 PM

RAELENE GORLINKSY

Act it Out

4:30 – 5:30 PM

5:40 PM

6:40 PM

 

Surviving the Editor/Agent Appointment

JESSICA ANDERSEN

 

JESSICA FAUST

 

Hooking Them In

 

7:00 PM 9:00 PM

DINNER IN THE BALLROOM

GRAND NORTH/CENTER BALLROOM

 

9:00 PM 11:00 PM

DANCING AND DESSERT

GRAND NORTH/CENTER BALLROOM

SATURDAY, March 28, 2009


7:30 AM

BREAKFAST WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER JENNIFER GREENE
in GRAND NORTH BALLROOM

 

MAYNARD

 

 

 

ASHLAND

SUDBURY NORTH

SUDBURY SOUTH

BOARDROOM

9:15 AM 10:05 AM

PAT GRASSO

Marrying Plot and Emotion

 

KRISTAN HIGGINS

12-Step Program for Revisions

TONI ANDREWS

Confessions of a
Contest Judge

 

ROSEMARY LAUREY

Banting with Multiple Personalities

LINDA CARDILLO/GERI KROTOW

Resistance and Resilience:
Career and Creativity

10:15 AM 11:05 AM

JANET MULLANY
Busting the Servant Myths

KATHRYN SMITH

The Three Act Structure: Plotting for Everyone

CHAT WITH

JENNIFER GREENE

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN

What I wish someone had told me…the scoop on your first novel

JODY BRIGHTMAN

The Mythic Muse:
Archetypes Create Your Goals

 

11:15 AM 12:05 PM

KATHY COTTRELL

They Ain't All Named Bundy

KATHRYN SMITH

The Three Act Structure: Plotting for Everyone

EMILY BRYAN

Joy of Writing Sex

 

MARGARET MOORE

What Lies Beneath: Adding Layers to Characters/Conflict

LEEANN LESSARD

The Good, the Bad and the Small Press

12:15 PM  1:45 PM

LUNCHEON WITH JESSICA ANDERSEN in GRAND NORTH BALLROOM

 

MAYNARD

ASHLAND

SUDBURY NORTH

SUDBURY SOUTH

BOARDROOM

2:00 PM

2:50 PM

SALLY MACKENZIE
ANNA DESTEFANO

LEAH HULTENSCHMIDT

JESSICA FAUST

Reaching Promo Zen

ANNETTE BLAIR

Painting Colorful Characters

BRENDA CHIN

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Harlequin, But Were Afraid to Ask

RENEE COOPER
The Emotional Journey

 

ROBIN MATHESON

Crisis, Climax, Resolution:
Writing to the End

3:00 PM

3:50 PM

JAN COFFEY

I Am Suspense
(And so can you!)

JENNA KERNAN

Boot Camp for Writers: Getting Your
Manuscript in Shape

 

AGENT/EDITOR PANEL

3:00 – 3:25 Editors

3:30 – 3:55 Agents
* Panel discussions will not be taped.

 

ROBIN MATHESON

Crisis, Climax, Resolution:
Writing to the End

4:00 PM

6:00 PM

BOOK FAIR FOR LITERACY

COMMONS 1 AND 2

 


Member News - Carly Phillips

Carly Phillips is counting down until the release of the second book  
in her LUCKY series! LUCKY STREAK, in stores in June followed by LUCKY  
BREAK in October.
Visit www.carlyphillips.com for contests, a book video, and an excerpt  
all coming soon!
 

NEC Conference Update

Believe it or not the 2009 New England Chapter Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference is just a few weeks away. There is still time to register; in fact, registration will be open until Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

The cost to attend this year is $189 for NEC members and $199 for Non-NEC Members. To take advantage of discount room rates ($109 per night) at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, be sure to register for conference and the hotel by March 6, 2009.

For a direct link to the registration form, go to: http://www.necrwa.org/Forms/conference.html

Registration check-in will start at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

Workshop Schedule
Refer to the post below for a full listing of our workshops for Friday and Saturday. Please note the workshop schedule is subject to change at any time.

Agent/Editor Appointment Pitching Tips

We hope as many NEC members who can attend the conference will do so, and that everyone who has been laboring so hard on their current work in progress over the past weeks, months, or perhaps years, will be ready to pitch to the agent or editor of their choice.

Everyone who requested an appointment will receive at least one meeting with either an editor or agent, as noted as either the first or second choice on your completed registration forms. For those people whose preferences could not be met, our Editor/Agents Chair, Meghan Gehan will be in touch with you to try to find you a suitable appointment.

The entire conference committee wishes great success with your appointments.


Friday Night Dinner and Saturday Book Fair
During dinner on Friday night, we will announce the winners of the NEC Bean Pot and the First Kiss contests. A DJ will also provide extra entertainment this year. Come as you are, kick off your heels and have a good time!

Also, the Book Fair starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday. We have a number of wonderful authors signing this year and hope you will join in the fun and help support fellow NEC members and local authors from a number of our sister RWA Chapters.

Authors signing at the book fair this year are: Jennifer Greene, Jessica Andersen, Lisa Gardner, Judith Arnold, Angelique Armae, Anna DeStefano, Annette Blair, Annie Stillwater Gray, Ashlyn Chase, Brenda Gayle, Caroline Linden, Christyne Butler, Dalton Diaz, Denise Eagan, Donna Russo Morin, Eileen Charbonneau, Emily Bryan, Evelyn Richardson, Georgia Evans/Rosemary Laurey, Geri Krotow, Hannah Howell, Jan Coffey, Janet Mullany, Jennifer Linforth, Judi Phillips, K.A. Mitchell, Kathryn Smith, Kathy Cottrell, Kristan Higgins, Linda Bleser, Linda Cardillo, Lindsay Downs, Loretta Chase, Margaret Moore, Marie Force, Marissa Doyle, Miranda Neville, Pam Champagne, Patricia Grasso, Robie Madison, Rosemary Laurey, Sally MacKenzie, Sarah Atwell, Shirley Ann Howard, Stella Price, Susan Colebank, Susan Vaughn, Terri Brisbin, Toni Andrews, and Virginia Reede.

See you on March 27!

The NEC Conference Committee

2009 New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award



2009 New England Reader's Choice Bean Pot Award
Announcing Finalists
 

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order.

***NEC Member

 

Short Contemporary Finalists

The Ride of Her Life - Natasha Moore

The Catcher and The Lie - Rita Oberlies

A Christmas Wedding – Tracy Wolff

 

Long Contemporary Finalists

Blame It On Paris – Jennifer Greene

Just One of the Guys – Kristan Higgins***

Just Breathe – Susan Wiggs

 

Historical Finalists

Enticing the Prince – Patricia Grasso***

Frontier Courtship – Valerie Hansen

A Knight Well Spent – Jackie Ivie

 

Romantic Suspense Finalists

Bed of Lies – Pam Champagne***

Under Fire – Beth Cornelison

Pitch Black – Susan Crandall

 

Erotica Finalists

Prince's Fire – Cara Carnes

Immortal Kiss – J.K. Coi

Forbidden: The Revolution – Samantha Sommersby

 

Future/Fantasy/Time Travel/Paranormal Finalists

Red Fire: A Gods of Midnight Novel – Deidre Knight

Prey – Melina Morel

King of Sword and Sky – C.L. Wilson

 

Winners and the second and third place entries will be announced and awards presented at our 2009 Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference on March 27-28, 2009. So be sure to join us at the conference to congratulate the winners.

 

Valerie Harris

Bean Pot Contest Coordinator



Conference Schedule

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA®

2009 LET YOUR IMAGINATION TAKE FLIGHT CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, March 27, 2008

~~ subject to change ~~

Time

COMMONS

COMMONS 2

3:30 PM 5:30 PM

EXTRA! Workshop

Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis

LISA GARDNER

STELLA PRICE

Promotions for the Frugal Author

RAELENE GORLINKSY

Act it Out

5:40 PM

6:40 PM

Surviving the Editor/Agent Appointment

JESSICA ANDERSEN

JESSICA FAUST

Hooking Them In

7:00 PM 9:00 PM

DINNER IN THE BALLROOM

GRAND NORTH BALLROOM

9:00 PM 11:00 PM

DANCING AND DESSERT

GRAND NORTH BALLROOM


7:30 AM

BREAKFAST WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER JENNIFER GREENE

GRAND NORTH BALLROOM

MARLBOROUGH

ASHLAND

SUDBURY NORTH

SUDBURY SOUTH

BOARDROOM

9:15 AM 10:05 AM

PAT GRASSO

Marrying Plot and Emotion

KRISTAN HIGGINS

12-Step Program for Revisions

TONI ANDREWS

Confessions of a
Contest Judge

ROSEMARY LAUREY

Banting with Multiple Personalities

LINDA CARDILLO/GERI KROTOW

Resistance and Resilience: Career and Creativity

10:15 AM 11:05 AM

JANET MULLANY
Busting the Servant Myths

KATHRYN SMITH

The Three Act Structure: Plotting for Everyone

Part 1

CHAT WITH

JENNIFER GREENE

HANK PHILLIPI RYAN

What I wish someone had told me…the scoop on your first novel

JODY BRIGHTMAN

The Mythic Muse: Archetypes Create Your Goals

11:15 AM 12:05 PM

KATHY COTTRELL

They Ain't All Named Bundy, Dahmer and Gacey

KATHRYN SMITH

The Three Act Structure: Plotting for Everyone

Part 2

EMILY BRYAN

Joy of Writing Sex

MARGARET MOORE

What Lies Beneath: Adding Layers to Characters/Conflict

LEEANN LESSARD

The Good, the Bad and the Small Press

12:15 PM 1:45 PM

LUNCH WITH JESSICA ANDERSEN

GRAND NORTH BALLROOM

MARLBOROUGH

ASHLAND

SUDBURY NORTH

SUDBURY SOUTH

BOARDROOM

2:00 PM

2:50 PM

SALLY MACKENZIE/ANNA DESTEFANO/LEAH HULTENSCHMIDT/JESSICA FAUST

Reaching Promo Zen

ANNETTE BLAIR

Painting Colorful Characters

CHAT WITH

BRENDA CHIN

RENEE COOPER/DI HALL

The Emotional Journey

ROBIN MATHESON

Crisis, Climax, Resolution: Writing to the End

Part 1

3:00 PM

3:50 PM

JAN COFFEY

I Am Suspense
(And so can you!)

JENNA KERNAN

Boot Camp for Writers: Getting Your Manuscript in Shape

AGENT/EDITOR PANEL

3:00 – 3:25 Editors

3:30 – 3:55 Agents

ROBIN MATHESON

Crisis, Climax, Resolution: Writing to the End

Part 2

4:00 PM

6:00 PM

BOOK FAIR FOR LITERACY

COMMONS