Congratulations to the 2015 Weta Nichols Writing Contest WINNERS!
Congratulations to the 2015 Weta Nichols Writing Contest WINNERS!
Historical Category
- 1st Place: Pam Bazemore, "A Choice Between"
Pam Bazemore. (Birchwood, 20 minutes NE of Chattanooga, TN) She’s attempted a number of things to find her primary role in life: secretary, cashier, piece worker, fork-lift driver and even tank driver in the TN Army Nat’l Guard. Writing short fiction and personal journals is something she’s done off and on since high school. ‘A Choice Between’ is her first novel. She has a completed second, a raw third, and eight chapters (so far) of a fourth. When not writing, she makes the claim of ‘glorified gopher’ for her husband’s business, devoted mom to their brilliant 23 year old son, and chief feeder and caretaker to six dogs she didn’t really intend to have but couldn’t give them up even if she wanted to.
- 2nd Place: Veda Boyd Jones, "Will Jolie's Excellent Vietnam Adventure"
Veda Boyd Jones (Joplin, MO) has written romance novels and children’s fiction and nonfiction books and is trying her hand at a mainstream historical novel. She reread letters she received from her husband during his army years (previous to their marriage), and using them as a catalyst, she decided to fictionalize the turmoil and angst of the Vietnam era on a young man and the young woman he loved. New ebooks: The Governor’s Daughter, That Sunday Afternoon
- 3rd Place: Lindsey Edwards, "Awaiting the Viscount's Kiss
Contemporary Category
- 1st Place: Jessie Gussman, "When Silence Speaks"
- 2nd Place: Lindy Dierks, "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Lindy Dierks, an avid reader her entire life, began writing a few years ago. She squeezes in writing contemporary romances in the early morning hours, between a full time job, three kids, and the mountains of laundry.
- 3rd Place: Lori Younker, "Without Borders"
Lori Younker has enjoyed the world of words with her international friends for over 30 years. Whether she is learning a new language or teaching English, she appreciates the power of words to capture issues that inspire others. She has had several short stories published in anthologies some of which placed first and second in contests. Lori and her husband raised three kids in warm and woodsy Missouri. Currently, she is president of the COMO Writers’ Guild and donates her energies to recent immigrants and to her writing.
Paranormal/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- 1st Place: Rosalie Stanton, "Hellion"
Rosalie Stanton is a multi-published erotic romance author, with emphasis in paranormal and contemporary. A lifelong enthusiast of larger than life characters, Rosalie enjoys building worlds filled with strong heroes and heroines of all backgrounds.
- 2nd Place: Allison Merritt, "Lawless"
A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal, contemporary, and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. It's not unusual to find her lurking in graveyards, wandering historical sites, or listening to ghost stories.
- 3rd Place: Anne Belen, "Past Mistakes"
Young Adult/Middle Grade
- 1st Place: Mary Holm, "The Fatal Crown"
Mary Holm started writing her first novel after her twins were born as a way to stay sane between feedings and diaper changes. Since then, she’s written two novels and is working on a third. After graduating from Southern Illinois University with a BA in Television, she worked in production, did documentary research, and currently works as a script researcher for TV programs and movies.
She lives in Burbank, CA with her wonderful husband of 32 years. Her boy and girl twins are now grown and have recently made her a grandmother to two beautiful grandsons, three months apart. On the rare occasions when she has spare time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, watching TV and tweeting.
- 2nd Place: Charles Robertson, "Ghost Tree"
- 3rd Place: S.D. Keeling, "Songs Never Sung, Words Never Spoken"
S. D. Keeling is the pen name of Sharon Keeling Davis, an award-winning photographer, aspiring author and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She is often drawn to historical and time travel fiction--not surprising since she spent five years as a grad student in ancient and medieval history.
ORACon 2015 – September 18-19, 2015
Ozarks Romance Authors' Annual Conference (ORACON) is almost here!
You are invited to Ozarks Romance Authors’ Annual Fiction Writers’ Conference! This event is NOT just for romance writers. The fundamentals of good writing are universal, and you will learn vital information about the publishing industry, no matter the genre you write. Check out our lineup of fantastic speakers and register here. We will also announce the winners for the 2015 Weta Nichols Fiction Writing Contest, named in honor of the woman who founded our group in 1987, the late novelist Weta Nichols.
The conference itself will be held Saturday, September 19, 2015 at University Plaza in Springfield, MO. Check out the agenda to see the pre-conference activities on Friday, September 18th and plan to join in the fun!
Monthly Meeting – Saturday, September 5, 2015 - Holly Atkinson will present Pitching to Editors and Agents
Monthly Meeting – Saturday, September 5, 2015 - Holly Atkinson will present Pitching to Editors and Agents
Holly Atkinson was fortunate to receive her first taste in editing when she was thirteen and wrote copy for a local realtor show. In 2008, Holly graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s in English, emphasizing in Creative Writing. Her first real job in the literary world came in the role of line editor for Lyrical Press. In 2011, she was recruited by Mundania Press as a content editor, where she met one of her future Samhain coworkers. In 2012, Holly joined the amazing team at Samhain Publishing.
Holly lives in Missouri with her husband, loves travel, musicals, and goes a little nutty around the holidays. In her spare time, she writes erotic romances and serves as a copywriter for a local marketing firm.
Please note that in September, ORA will be meeting at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St., Springfield, MO. The speaker begins at 1:00.
Join our critique group from 10 a.m. to Noon. Want your work reviewed by talented writers and published authors? Bring twenty copies of up to five pages of your work to share for critique or just listen and offer advice.
Meet The Authors of ORAcon Friday, Sept. 19 at Barnes & Noble 4-6 p.m.
Come mix and mingle with a lot of published authors, including:
* Leigh Michaels | author of how-to-write books, highly sought-after writing instructor, and author romance fiction -- http://www.leighmichaels.com/
* Angie Fox | New York Times Bestselling author of urban fantasy -- http://www.angiefox.com/
* Mia Marlowe | bestselling author of historical romance fiction -- http://www.miamarlowe.com/
* Rosalie Stanton | author of paranormal erotic romance -- http://rosalie-stanton.net/
The event is free to attend and will be at Barnes & Noble Booksellers 3055 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield, Missouri 65804 (Map). We'll be toward the back of the store. Grab some coffee or tea at Starbucks and then follow the noise to find us.
These fabulous authors have traveled to Springfield to speak at a fiction writers conference the next day.
If you are a writer (or hope to become a writer), please stop by to visit, and think about coming to the all-day conference on Saturday, September 20, at University Plaza Hotel. Cost to attend this fabulous, jam-packed event is just $75. Details are available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/551199241559207/
Topics that our guest speakers will cover at the conference are vital for writers of all fiction genres, not just romance.
Fiction Writers Conference Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Southwest Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, MO – Whether aspiring or multi-published, authors will gather in southwest Missouri to learn from industry professionals Saturday, September 20, 2014, in Springfield. ORAcon2014, which is open to authors and readers of all genres, is sponsored by Ozarks Romance Authors, and will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. In addition, Barnes & Noble in Springfield is hosting a Meet The Authors event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2014.
Workshops and presentations scheduled for Saturday include traditional and self-publishing, how to capture the attention of editors and readers, plotting, what makes a manuscript appealing to an acquiring agent or editor, and manuscript editing. Speakers include:
- Leigh Michaels, Award-winning Author of Nearly 100 Books; Editor; Teacher
- Mia Marlowe, Award-winning Author
- Angie Fox, New York Times Bestselling Author
- Liz Pelletier, Publisher and co-founder of Entangled Publishing and Savvy Media Services
- Nicole Resciniti, Literary Agent with The Seymour Agency
- Tish Beaty, Literary Agent with the L. Perkins Agency
- Holly Atkinson, Author and Editor with Samhain Publishing
“ORAcon 2014 will be my third year in attendance,” said Lisa Medley, multi-published author with Harlequin. “ORAcon provided me with networking contacts, motivation and great workshops that not only educated me but inspired me. The atmosphere of this workshop is nurturing and friendly. No one, author, editor or agent, is unapproachable."
Published and aspiring authors will have the opportunity to pitch their manuscripts to industry professionals who have traveled to our area to discover new talent. The agents and editors who are accepting pitches are:
- Liz Pelletier (Entangled Publishing)
- Nicole Resciniti (Seymour Agency)
- Tish Beaty (L. Perkins Agency)
- Holly Atkinson (Samhain Publishing)
“ORAcon offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about the craft and business of fiction writing from bestselling authors, editors and agents,” said Sharon Davis, President of Ozarks Romance Authors. “With a variety of programs and opportunities to pitch your finished novel, we have something for writers of all genres, from beginner to pro.”
Attendees will receive goody bags and have the chance to win prizes. Authors, local and nonlocal alike, will be signing and selling books. In attendance will be authors Mary Caelsto Lenker, Dawna Kreis, Elizabeth Obrey, Barbara Bettis, Lynda Frazier, Ellen Harger, Terri Lee, Heather Snow, Cecily White, Kathleen Garnsey, Sharon Kizziah-Holmes, T. Sue VerSteeg, Lisa Medley, V. J. Schultz, Judy Nickles, William A. Spradley, Willy Robbins, Shirley McCann, Brandy Nacole, Tierney James, Beth Carter, Susan Keene, and Rosalie Stanton.
The conference agenda is available online here: http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014-ORAcon-Agenda.pdf
To register for ORAcon 2014, visit http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/conference-2014/oracon-2014.
REGISTER PRIOR TO SEPT. 20, 2014: Members of Ozarks Romance Authors - $60.00 Non-members of Ozarks Romance Authors - $75.00 Join ORA now + conference registration - $85.00
PAY AT THE DOOR THE MORNING OF THE CONFERENCE: $80.00
For more information about the event, contact 417-827-7800 or email ozarksromanceauthors@gmail.com.
Ozarks Romance Authors, founded in 1987, is a registered nonprofit group in the state of Missouri, and a member of Springfield Regional Arts Council.
ORAcon 2013
ORAcon 2013 Saturday, September 21, 2013.
You are invited to Ozarks Romance Authors' Annual Fiction Writers' Conference!This event is not just for romance writers. The fundamentals of good writing are universal, and you will learn vital information about the publishing industry, no matter the genre you write.Stay tuned for more details as plans are confirmed. We will also announce the deadline for the 2013 Weta Nichols Fiction Writing Contest, named in honor of the woman who founded our group in 1987, the late novelist Weta Nichols.
Once again, 1-on-1 pitch sessions will be available with agents/editors, we'll have a Meet The Authors/Booksigning event the night before the conference, workshops, panels, headshots, Q&A, networking, and prizes.
ORACON 2013 - Save The Date
Save The Date
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Ozarks Romance Authors Annual Conference
Springfield, MO
Workshops - Pitch Sessions - Speakers - Headshots - Networking - Fun
We're putting together a fantastic lineup of speakers. Stay tuned for more details!
2012 Weta Nichols Writing Contest Winners Announced!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest this year and the judges who offered their expertise in judging! We hope everyone will consider entering again next year.
Contemporary
1st place - Tracy Garrett Laurie, MO "In The Line of Fire"
2nd place - Nena Clements Vilonia, AR "Maggie's Find"
3rd place - Sherry Hedden Springfield, MO "Student of Desire"
Historical
1st place - Louisa Cornell Wetumpka, AL "His Charming Seductress"
2nd place - Joanne L'Estrange Dublin, Ireland "The Dark Defender"
2rd place - Woodrow P. Snow Springfield, MO "Ejaja"
Young Adult
1st place - Elena Dillon Santa Clarita, CA "Breathe"
2nd place - Cecily White Springfield, MO "The (Almost) Perfect Revenge"
3rd place - Amy DeLuca Barrington, RI "Hidden Deep"
Honorable mention - Fran Young Springfield, MO "Bomber Babe"
Honorable mention - Tif Johnson Springfield, VA "Girl Player"
Paranormal/Sci-fi
1st place - Christine Canada Edwardsville, IL "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
2nd place - Jeanmarie Anaya Neponsit, NY "Magnetic"
3rd place - Ginny Lynn Fayetteville, GA "Animal Management"
2012 ORAcon Speakers
2012 25th Anniversary Ozarks Romance Authors Conference
Saturday, June 23, 2012 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Howard Johnson 3333 S. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65804
TICKET INFORMATION:
As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ozarks Literacy Council to help their mission of promoting literacy in our region.
Members (before May 15) - $50.00 Members (after May 15) - $55.00 Non-members (before May 1) - $60.00 Non-members (afterMay 15) - $65.00 Student discount (up to age 15) - $30.00 Booths for selling books are free for members and an additional $20.00 for non-members.
AGENDA:
8am: Breakfast and Raffles
8:45am: Introductions and Opening
9-12pm: Pitch Sessions with Cori Deyoe and Lucienne Diver
9-12pm: Critique Sessions with Rob Thurman
9-10am: Leigh Michaels – Workshop: Self-Publishing – Tips, Tricks, and Tripwires
10-11am: Jennifer Brown – Craft Workshop TBA
11-12pm: Steven Law – Workshop: Publishing and Publicity
12-1pm: Lunch and Raffles
1-3pm: Pitch Sessions with Goldminds Publishing
1-2pm: J. Brown, C. Deyoe, R. Thurman and L. Diver – Panel: Negotiating the Agent/Author Relationship
2-3pm: Leigh Michaels – Craft Workshop: Plotting Without a Net
3-4pm: C. Deyoe, L. Diver – Query Letter Gong Show
4-5pm- All Speakers – Q & A Panel
5-5:30pm Raffle Drawings and Presentation of Awards.
About The Speakers:
- Cori Deyoe
Cori Deyoe (Three Seas Literary Agency) - Cori Deyoe has over 20 years of experience in the writing industry. She is a published author at Silhouette (national and international). She has also been published in various non-fiction projects. As an employee of 3 Seas Literary Agency since June, 2006, she traded in her "author's" hat for a brand new one -- "literary agent" and concentrates on her clients' writing only.
Backed by the success of Michelle Grajkowski and 3 Seas Literary Agency, Cori handles her job and clients with the same commitment and values Michelle believes in.
Cori's clients appreciate her experience in the publishing world, and she has a special talent for editing.
On a personal note, Cori loves reading, traveling, photography, dogs, cats, horses and all animals.
- Lucienne Diver
Lucienne Diver (The Knight Agency) - Lucienne Diver joined TKA in 2008, after spending fifteen years at New York City’s prestigious Spectrum Literary Agency. With her sharp eye and gift for spotting original new voices, Lucienne is one of the most well-respected agents in the industry. A lifelong book addict, she graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Potsdam with dual majors in English/writing and anthropology. She thus came well-equipped for her work as an agent. Over the course of her dynamic career she has sold over seven hundred titles to every major publisher, and has built a client list of more than forty authors spanning the commercial fiction genres, primarily in the areas of fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, suspense and erotica. Her authors have been honored with the RITA, National Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Heart, and the Romantic Times Reader’s Choice, and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. A publishing veteran, Lucienne has superb industry knowledge, numerous editor relationships, and a keen understanding of the foreign rights market. She is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives, RWA, MWA and SFWA.
- Jennifer Brown
Jennifer Brown - Two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), Jennifer's weekly humor column appeared in The Kansas City Star for over four years, until she gave it up to be a full-time young adult novelist.
Jennifer's debut novel, HATE LIST (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009) received three starred reviews and was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA "Perfect Ten," and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. HATE LIST also won the Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up! Award, was an honorable mention for the 2011 Arkansas Teen Book Award, is a YALSA 2012 Popular Paperback, received spots on the Texas Library Association's Taysha's high school reading list as well as the Missouri Library Association's Missouri Gateway Awards list, and has been nominated for the Oklahoma Sequoyah Award. Jennifer's second novel, BITTER END, (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011) received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and VOYA and is listed on the YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults list and is a 2012 Taysha's high school reading list pick as well.
Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.
- Rob Thurman
Rob Thurman - Rob Thurman is currently writing three series for Penguin Putnam’s imprint ROC FANTASY: The CAL LEANDROS Novels, The TRICKSTER Novels, and The CHIMERA Novels. Her first book, NIGHTLIFE, was released in 2006. She has written eight books to date and is releasing two more in 2011. She has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE.
Although she does not write Young Adult, her first Urban Fantasy book in The CAL LEANDROS Series—NIGHTLIFE—has received a 2011 Eliot Rosewater Award Nomination for Excellence in High School Libraries—rather to her bemusement as she’d be the first to say her books are not for younger teens. Apparently, the librarians and teens disagree!
Rob’s work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade—and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS, THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in her Urban Fantasy novels.
Rob’s main protagonists are almost exclusively written in a male perspective; in fact, she was “in the closet” as a female writer until her third book, when she posted her bio on her website. Some fans took note and some did not as she received one comment saying, “Thank God! A man is finally writing a male point-of-view. Women simply can’t do it.” Whether this was a compliment or insult is still uncertain, but Rob shrugged and went on.
When asked why she uses a male pen name, she responds that with her books frequently being written in a male “voice,” it might momentarily confuse or cause a disconnect in the buyers’ minds to see a female name on the cover before they begin scanning the book. Besides, family and friends have called her Rob her entire life.
A member of the SFWA, Rob Thurman lives in rural Indiana—land of endless fields, infinite cows and where dial-up is still the only soul-crushing option.
- Leigh Michaels
Leigh Michaels - Leigh Michaels is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 contemporary novels, three historical romance novels, and more than a dozen non-fiction books. More than 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published. Six of her books have been finalists for Best Traditional Romance novel in the RITA contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. She has received two Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times.
Her work has been translated and published in 120 countries in more than 25 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Africaans, Arabic, Indonesian, and Chinese.
She is the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award presented by the Iowa Library Association to an Iowa author for outstanding contributions to literature.
She is the author of On Writing Romance, published by Writers Digest Books.
She is the author of non-fiction books such as WRITING THE ROMANCE NOVEL, a step-by-step workbook, and CREATING ROMANTIC CHARACTERS. She is also the author of DEAR LEIGH MICHAELS: A Novelist Answers the Most-Asked Questions about Getting Published, and a cookbook, A TASTE OF LOVE. She has produced audio programs and written magazine articles on subjects of interest to writers in general.
She teaches romance writing on the Internet at Gotham Writers= Workshop, www.writingclasses.com. Men and women from around the world have participated in her workshops, and a number of them have gone on to publish their own romance novels with commercial publishers. She is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Communications at the University of Iowa.
She wrote her first romance novel when she was a teenager and burned it, then wrote and burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. Her first submission was accepted and published by Harlequin Books, the first publisher to look at it.
- Steven Law
Steven Law - Steven is the publisher of Goldminds Publishing. He has written and published four novels. His latest, “Yuma Gold,” is scheduled for release by Penguin Group in New York in November 2011. For 12 years, he has worked as a literary publicist for as many as 30 best-selling authors, including New York Times best-seller Stephen Harrigan, Pulitzer Prize finalist S. C. Gwynne, and the late Elmer Kelton.
As a publicist, he has worked with numerous publishing houses, including Alfred Knopf, Tor/Forge Books, St. Martin’s Press, Little Brown, and others. Steven is founder of the ReadWest Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the awareness and diversity of Western literature.
The speakers for our annual conference July 23, 2011, are getting excited!
Eliza Lloyd is one of the authors coming to speak at our annual writers' conference, and she just gave a little sneak peek on her blog HERE. In fact, this is the second time she has mentioned our writers' conference, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2011, in Springfield, Missouri. We mentioned the other occurrence HERE, along with links to Eliza's books.
If you like a sexy, steamy read, click on her titles below.
Follow Eliza Lloyd on Twitter! Her Twitter name is @elloydwriting .
Writers' conferences and conventions of this quality in the midwest are not easy to find. This year's conference is full of presentations and workshops by award-winning authors, plus our attendees can schedule pitch sessions with a literary agent and publishing house editor from New York City. Opportunities like this do not happen often in the Ozarks! If you would like more details about who will be speaking (and who will be taking pitch sessions) at our conference, click HERE.
Ozarks Romance Authors, a non-profit group for Missouri writers of all genres, was founded in 1987. The regional writers’ group holds its meetings the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, in Springfield, Missouri.
Visitors are welcome. Your first three visits are free. For details about upcoming meetings, please click HERE.
Our annual conference will be held July 23, 2011, at The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. To learn more about the amazing lineup of speakers and workshops, click HERE to visit our conference page.
If you have questions about the group, please email us at OzarksRomanceAuthors@gmail.com or call (417) 597-4716.
http://elizalloyd.blogspot.com/2011/06/ozark-writers-conferencejust-around.html
Will we live-tweet from our annual conference in Springfield, MO, on July 23, 2011?
Several folks have emailed and called Ozarks Romance Authors to ask if we will be live-tweeting from our annual conference, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2011, at The Clarion Hotel Conference Center in Springfield, Missouri.
It seems that a few folks were hoping that they could just check in on Twitter to stay up-to-date with everything the award-winning novelists say during their workshops and presentations.
So, the big question is -- Will Ozarks Romance Authors live-tweet from our annual conference?
The answer is, "Sort of."
Here's the deal.
We will tweet to let our followers know what's going on behind closed doors to a certain extent. We'll let you know who is speaking and, toward the end of the day, we'll announce the winners of the 2011 Weta Nichols Fiction Writing Contest.
However, we will NOT tweet excerpts of the presentations and workshops.
You may be wondering, "Why not?"
There are several reasons.
1. The presentations and workshops contain material that falls under the copyright of the individual speakers. Out of respect for them, we won't put their information out there on Twitter.
2. Our attendees are paying a fee to attend the conference. Out of respect for them, we will not divulge the contents of the workshops and presentations on Tw. We hope that doesn't seem harsh. But, think about it. If you had paid anywhere from $50 to $65 to attend an all-day conference, would you be happy if you knew there were folks out there who were reading the same material that you just heard -- for free? Didn't think so.
There is still time to reserve your seat! If you still have not registered for our annual fiction writers' conference, click HERE to read all of the details and register at the bottom of the page.
Ozarks Romance Authors is a multi-genre writers' group, founded in 1987. We are a registered non-profit in the state of Missouri, and more than half of our members have been published.
Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station on North Kansas Expressway in Springfield, Missouri.
Visitors are welcome! Your first three visits are free. Join us for our critique group at 10:00 a.m., lunch at noon, and a guest speaker with a message relevant to the publishing industry at 1:00 p.m.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/OzarksRomance and "Like" us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OzarksRomanceAuthors.
If you have questions about visiting our group, feel free to email us at OzarksRomanceAuthors@gmail.com or call (417) 597-4716.
2011 Conference Spotlight: Leigh Michaels
Best-selling author Leigh Michaels is scheduled to be one of our speakers as Ozarks Romance Authors presents its annual conference July 23, 2011, at The Clarion Hotel in Springfield, Missouri.
Leigh's topics for this event include:
* "Things that Stump the Best of Us (Pacing, Backstory, and Transitions)"
* "Playing Fair: When Characters Keep Secrets" Leigh will also participate in panel discussions during the day with the other presenters.
Who is Leigh Michaels?
Leigh Michaels is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 contemporary novels, three historical romance novels, and more than a dozen non-fiction books. More than 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published. Six of her books have been finalists for Best Traditional Romance novel in the RITA contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. She has received two Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times.
Her work has been translated and published in 120 countries in more than 25 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Africaans, Arabic, Indonesian, and Chinese.
She is the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award presented by the Iowa Library Association to an Iowa author for outstanding contributions to literature.
She is the author of "On Writing Romance," published by Writers Digest Books.
She is the author of non-fiction books such as WRITING THE ROMANCE NOVEL, a step-by-step workbook, and CREATING ROMANTIC CHARACTERS. She is also the author of DEAR LEIGH MICHAELS: A Novelist Answers the Most-Asked Questions about Getting Published, and a cookbook, A TASTE OF LOVE. She has produced audio programs and written magazine articles on subjects of interest to writers in general.
She teaches romance writing on the Internet at Gotham Writers Workshop, www.writingclasses.com. Men and women from around the world have participated in her workshops, and a number of them have gone on to publish their own romance novels with commercial publishers. She is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Communications at the University of Iowa.
She wrote her first romance novel when she was a teenager and burned it, then wrote and burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. Her first submission was accepted and published by Harlequin Books, the first publisher to look at it.
To learn more about Leigh Michaels, visit her online at http://www.LeighMichaels.com
Ozarks Romance Authors, a multi-genre writers' group, has been a registered non-profit corporation in the state of Missouri since 1987. Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month, and the group's annual conference is scheduled for July 23, 2011, in Springfield, Missouri.
For a list of guest speakers and their topics, click here: http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/2011-annual-conference/
Pitch Information for ORA Conference Attendees
Attention ORA conference attendees: Scheduling for pitch appointments with Avalon editor Lia Brown and L.Perkins Literary agent Louise Fury will officially open at 9am, SATURDAY JUNE, 11th.
Lia Brown is looking for: Single Title, Category, Contemporary, and Historical.
Louise Fury is looking for: Single Title, Category, Historical, Paranormal, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Books.
We ask that authors signing up for pitch appointments have your manuscript completed at the time of the pitch (although Louise says she will happily offer query or submission advice to those who do not have completed manuscripts, so long as they tell her up front the manuscript is unfinished.) Appointments will run in ten-minute increments between the hours of 9am and 12:20 pm on the day of the conference, so spots are limited.
In your email, tell me who you'd like to meet with (first and second choice, if applicable). If you have a preference for time, you are welcome to mention it at the time of sign-up, but we cannot guarantees those requests. Scheduling will be done on a first come first served basis.
Contact conference chairperson Cecily Cornelius-White at professorcecily@yahoo.com for pitch appointment sign up beginning JUNE 11th at 9am (CDT), when scheduling opens.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!
2011 Annual Conference
Make plans to attend the Ozarks Romance Authors Annual Conference Saturday, July 23, 2011 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The Clarion Hotel Conference Center, 3333 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, Missouri
*** Conference site is just a few minutes' drive from the original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store and Grizzly Tools, so make it a family weekend trip. Your hubby and kids will have plenty to do while you are at the conference. ***
TICKET INFORMATION:
Pre-registration through July 1, 2011 = $60.00 Pre-registration after July 1, 2011 (or at the door) = $65.00
Members of Ozarks Romance Authors (ORA) receive discounted tickets: ORA member pre-registration through July 1, 2011 = $50.00 ORA member registration after July 1, 2011 (or at the door) = $55.00
Once again, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ozarks Literacy Council to help their mission of promoting literacy in our region.
PITCH SESSIONS WITH EDITOR / AGENT
Attendees who would like to schedule a 10-minute pitch session with either Literary Agent Louise Fury or Avalon Editor Lia Brown must register for the conference (below) and then contact the conference chairwoman, Cecily Cornelius-White, in advance via email to schedule your pitch session. professorcecily@yahoo.com
AGENDA:
-- Registration and Breakfast
-- Opening remarks and intros
-- Shannon Vannatter - Cut the Fluff: The Art of Revision and Self-editing
-- Shannon Butcher and Eliza Lloyd - Suspense Plotting and Making it Hot
-- Leigh Michaels - Things that Stump the Best of Us (Pacing, Backstory, and Transitions)
-– Lunch (catered lunch provided on-site)
-- Discussion with Publishing Panel - Making a Good First Impression.
-- Break for small group discussions
– Break-out Session #1
- Shannon Vannatter - Crafting Effective (and Gender Appropriate) Dialogue - Publishing Panel - Future Directions in Publishing - Small Group Discussion with Agent and Editor Panel
– Break-out Session #2
- Shannon Butcher & Eliza Lloyd - Crafting Heroes to Die For - Leigh Michaels - Playing Fair: When Characters Keep Secrets
– Break
-- Full Panel Q &A
Awards -- Presented for Weta Nichols Writing Contest
Closing remarks and Adjourn
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Shannon Vannatter
C
entral Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/writer. She recently signed a three-book contract for her contemporary inspirational romance series set in Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas.
Heartsong titles ship to a 10,000 member book club before releasing in stores. Vannatter*s titles: White Roses, White Doves, and White Pearls will be available through the book club and preorder in May 2010, October 2010, and January 2011 respectively and in stores six months later for each title.
It took Vannatter nine years to get published in the traditional market. Like Janette Oke, she views her work as a ministry and her books as paper missionaries. Vannatter hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all, Jesus does.
Her short stories appeared in Mature Living and The Writers’ Journal, in 2009. Her first novel was Print On Demand published in 2001. She’s received several awards including 2nd place in RWA’s 2007 Touched By Love and 2008 Where the Magic Begins Contests, and a Honorable Mention in The 2007 Writer’s Journal Romance Contest. Her works have been displayed at Springfest’s Annual Artist & Author Exhibit.
Vannatter has taught fiction workshops for several writers’ groups including: Arkansas Inspirational Writers, Cleburne County Writers’ Guild, Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas, and White County Creative Writers. She’s contracted to teach workshops in 2010 at the Life Press Christian Writers’ Conference in Memphis, TN and the Ozark Creative Writers’ Conference in Eureka Springs, AR.
Vannatter is available for writers’ groups, workshops, conferences, schools, colleges, churches, book clubs, media appearances, print interviews, speaking engagements, and book signings.
Since launching her career in 2007, award-winning author Shannon K. Butcher has penned more than eighteen titles, including the paranormal romance series, the Sentinel Wars; the action-romance series, the Edge; and a handful of romantic suspense novels and works of short fiction. Being a former engineer and current nerd, she frequently uses charts, graphs and tables to aid her in the mechanics of story design and to keep track of all those pesky characters and magical powers. An avid beader and glass artist, she spends her free time playing with colored glass and beads. You can find her online at http://shannonkbutcher.com/.
Leigh Michaels
Leigh Michaels is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 
contemporary novels, three historical romance novels, and more than a dozen non-fiction books. More than 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published. Six of her books have been finalists for Best Traditional Romance novel in the RITA contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. She has received two Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times.
Her work has been translated and published in 120 countries in more than 25 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Africaans, Arabic, Indonesian, and Chinese.
She is the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award presented by the Iowa Library Association to an Iowa author for outstanding contributions to literature.
She is the author of On Writing Romance, published by Writers Digest Books.
She is the author of non-fiction books such as WRITING THE ROMANCE NOVEL, a step-by-step workbook, and CREATING ROMANTIC CHARACTERS. She is also the author of DEAR LEIGH MICHAELS: A Novelist Answers the Most-Asked Questions about Getting Published, and a cookbook, A TASTE OF LOVE. She has produced audio programs and written magazine articles on subjects of interest to writers in general.
She teaches romance writing on the Internet at Gotham Writers' Workshop. Men and women from around the world have participated in her workshops, and a number of them have gone on to publish their own romance novels with commercial publishers. She is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Communications at the University of Iowa.
She wrote her first romance novel when she was a teenager and burned it, then wrote and burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. Her first submission was accepted and published by Harlequin Books, the first publisher to look at it.
Eliza Lloyd Eliza Lloyd currently has three novels published with Ellora’s Cave in their 19th Century/Legend line of historicals. Eliza thinks romance writing is nearly as good as the real thing. Given her choice of professions, she would have preferred to be a 19th century archeologist, but she is perfectly happy living in the 21st century and comfortably writing about such romantic but inconceivably inconvenient times instead. She also writes contemporaries, romantic suspense and the occasional sci-fi when plotting and characterization don’t matter and invisibility does.
Eliza wrote her first romance novel after years of yearning. She finally woke up one day and asked, “Why the heck am I not writing?”
She enjoys traveling, movies, everyone else’s novels and a good meal out with friends on Saturday night. Her greatest flaw is that she believes there is such a thing as true love. Don’t tell her otherwise, please.
Louise Fury
I am a Literary Agent, Marketing advocate and general lover of books. I work at the L. Perkins Agency and always on the lookout for fun pop culture books. I organize massive book groups for MG and YA Readers where kids can Meet, Greet and Eat with talented authors. I am also passionate about connecting with South African Authors. The rest of the time I network while navigating the slush pile.
Lia Brown
editor at Avalon Books, started her career in publishing at Starlog magazine as a high school intern, fell in love with editing and the creative process, and hasn’t wanted to do anything else since. During the last twenty years she has worked on a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction topics and genres at several publishing houses including, Marvel Comics, HarperCollins, St. Martin’s Press, Oxford University Press, and Random House Children’s Books.
At Avalon she acquires family-friendly contemporary and historical romances.
Pitch your book in person to a literary agent or big publishing house's editor at Missouri writers' group's annual conference
SPRINGFIELD, MO -- A conference for fiction writers is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. July 23, 2011. The annual event will feature agent and editor pitch sessions, workshops, panel discussions, break-out sessions, and networking, and will be held at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center, 3333 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, Missouri.
Tickets are $60 prior to July 1, or $65 after July 1 or at the door, payable online via secure server by visiting http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/2011-annual-conference or via check.
The conference, open to all who write fiction, is sponsored by Ozarks Romance Authors, a multi-genre non-profit group founded in 1987.
Attendees can pre-schedule one-on-one meetings to pitch their completed manuscripts with Louise Fury, literary agent with the L. Perkins Agency, or Lia Brown, editor with Avalon Books.
Featured guests and speakers will be novelists Leigh Michaels, Shannon Vannatter, Eliza Lloyd, and Shannon Butcher.
Topics include revision and self-editing, plotting, pacing, backstory, transitions, dialogue, character development, and the publishing industry.
Winners of the annual Weta Nichols Fiction Contest, named in honor of the group’s late founder, will be announced to conclude the day.
A discount on sleeping rooms at The Clarion is available.
Ozarks Romance Authors is a non-profit organization for writers in the southwest Missouri region. Monthly speakers help writers of all genres hone their skills and explore writing opportunities.
Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station in Springfield. Visitors are welcome, and more information is available by calling (417) 597-4716 or by visiting www.Ozarks-Romance-Authors.com.
Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OzarksRomanceAuthors and follow the group on Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/OzarksRomance.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
LOUISE FURY
http://lperkinsagency.com
http://louisefury.blogspot.com
Louise Fury, literary agent with the L. Perkins Agency, will be taking pitch sessions from authors at the conference.
Louise believes in the power of marketing and is constantly on the lookout for authors who know how to promote themselves.
She is seeking well written, teen sci-fi and young adult horror. She is also on the hunt for fun, imaginative and engaging middle grade fiction--think humor, adventure and mystery. The characters must be authentic and original. Louise is a huge adult horrror fan, but also loves romance (especially Regency and Victorian) and is looking for paranormal and steampunk romance novels with series potential. (No memoirs or erotica.)
LIA BROWN
http://avalonauthors.blogspot.com/2010/04/introducing-new-editor-lia-brown.html
Lia Brown, editor at Avalon Books in New York City, will be taking author/editor appointments at the conference. She is currently looking for single title, category, contemporary, and historical.
Brown started her career in publishing at Starlog magazine as a high school intern, fell in love with editing and the creative process, and hasn’t wanted to do anything else since. During the last twenty years she has worked on a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction topics and genres at several publishing houses including, Marvel Comics, HarperCollins, St. Martin’s Press, Oxford University Press, and Random House Children’s Books.
LEIGH MICHAELS
http://www.leighmichaels.com
Leigh Michaels is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 contemporary novels, three historical romance novels, and more than a dozen non-fiction books. More than 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published. Six of her books have been finalists for Best Traditional Romance novel in the RITA contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. She has received two Reviewer’s Choice awards from Romantic Times.
Her work has been translated and published in 120 countries in more than 25 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Africaans, Arabic, Indonesian, and Chinese.
She is the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award presented by the Iowa Library Association to an Iowa author for outstanding contributions to literature.
She teaches romance writing on the Internet at Gotham Writers’ Workshop. Men and women from around the world have participated in her workshops, and a number of them have gone on to publish their own romance novels with commercial publishers. She is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Communications at the University of Iowa.
She wrote her first romance novel when she was a teenager and burned it, then wrote and burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. Her first submission was accepted and published by Harlequin Books, the first publisher to look at it.
SHANNON VANNATTER
http://www.ShannonVannatter.com
Central Arkansas author Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife who writes inspirational romance fiction. She recently signed a three-book contract for her contemporary inspirational romance series set in Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas.
It took Vannatter nine years to get published in the traditional market. Like Janette Oke, she views her work as a ministry and her books as paper missionaries. Vannatter hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all; Jesus does.
Her short stories appeared in Mature Living and The Writers’ Journal in 2009. Her first novel was published in 2001. She’s received several awards including second place in the Romance Writers of America 2007 Touched By Love and 2008 Where the Magic Begins Contests, and an Honorable Mention in The 2007 Writer’s Journal Romance Contest.
SHANNON BUTCHER
http://www.shannonkbutcher.com
'
Shannon Butcher is the wife of fantasy and sci-fi author Jim Butcher. She learned to write in an effort to help him improve his own work and as soon as she discovered that writing was more a learned skill than a natural talent, she knew she had to give it a try. She couldn’t resist the challenge of taking the pieces of a story apart and putting them back together again.
She thought she would write the same kind of thing Jim did, but then she picked up her first romance novel in 1998 and was hooked. Somehow, stories about how two people come to love each other made everything else seem shallow in comparison, she said.
ELIZA LLOYD
http://www.elizalloyd.blogspot.com
Eliza Lloyd currently has three novels published with Ellora’s Cave in their 19th Century/Legend line of historicals.
Eliza thinks romance writing is nearly as good as the real thing. Given her choice of professions, she would have preferred to be a 19th century archeologist, but she is perfectly happy living in the 21st century and comfortably writing about such romantic but inconceivably inconvenient times instead.
She also writes contemporaries, romantic suspense and the occasional sci-fi.
# # #
Video highlights from our 2010 conference!
This 30-second video features highlights from Ozarks Romance Authors' 2010 conference, "Romancing The Ozarks: Dancing With Words."
The conference was held July 10, 2010, at The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., in Springfield, Missouri.
Conference speakers were:
• Kensington author Kimberly Killion (www.kimberlykillion.com) and Harlequin author Megan Kelly (www.megankellybooks.com) presented "The Road so Far: The First Year After the Call."
• Ginger Kolbaba, editor of Marriage Partnership magazine (www.christianitytoday.com/mp), a publication of Christianity Today International, presented "Writing for the 21st Century Woman."
• Mary-Lane Kamberg (http://kansascitywriters.com) presented "What's So Funny?" She has more than twenty years of writing experience and is the author of seven books. Her articles have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Marriage and Family Living, Christian Science Monitor, Healthy Kids and many others.
“Each year, our conferences are so inspiring for new and seasoned writers alike, but this year’s lineup of speakers will bring some really talented authors to town,” said Kathy Mullens, 2009-2010 president of Ozarks Romance Authors, said in the press release that was issued prior to the conference. “We look forward to sharing their expertise with the local writing community, and we’re excited to present this scholarship to Ozarks Literacy Council.”
A portion of the proceeds from the writers' conference was donated to Ozarks Literacy Council, based in Springfield, Missouri.
Ozarks Literacy Council conducts programs including one-on-one tutoring, and outreach events and partnerships with other nonprofits, such as sending free books home with children who are part of Ozarks Food Harvest's backpack programs. According to Nicole Thom-Arens, Ozarks Literacy Council's program director, Ozarks Literacy Council served 97 adults and 8,600 children in 2009. For more information, visit www.OzarksLiteracy.org.
The afternoon of July 9, 2010, a booksigning event was held for the conference speakers at Border Books & Music, 3300 S. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield's Primrose Marketplace shopping center.
Borders also provided staff members and a mini-bookstore during the conference to allow attendees to purchase books written by the authors who spoke.
Published members of Ozarks Romance Authors also sold and signed books throughout the day, including Jennifer Jakes, Beth Carter, Cindy Sigler Dagnan, Lisa Wells, Brenda Brinkley, and Shirley McCann.
ORA's 2009-2010 President Kathy Mullens was interviewed by the local CBS affiliate, KOLR-10, and appeared on the news that evening. That news story (including the video) is available online here: http://ozarksfirst.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=293565
Ozarks Romance Authors is a non-profit organization for writers of all genres in the southwest Missouri region. Monthly speakers help writers of all genres hone their skills and explore writing opportunities.
Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, in Springfield (Greene County), Missouri. Visitors are welcome! The first three visits are free. More information is available by calling (417) 597-4716 or by visiting www.Ozarks-Romance-Authors.com.
Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OzarksRomanceAuthors or follow the group on Twitter @OzarksRomance.
Our 2010 Writers' Conference Made the Local CBS News!
After months of planning and preparation, our annual writers' conference was held yesterday at The Library Center in Springfield, Missouri. Did you see us on the KOLR-10 evening news?
While our members and attendees were soaking up the knowledge provided by the fabulous speakers who traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to present relevant topics on writing and the publishing industry, our local CBS affiliate showed up to speak with ORA's 2009-2010 president, Kathy Mullens.
The news story is titled "Writers Gather to Hone Their Skills in Springfield, MO" and the video is available by clicking here: http://ozarksfirst.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=293565
Novelist Weta Nichols, founder of Ozarks Romance Authors
Weta Nichols launched Ozarks Romance Authors in 1987 in Springfield, Missouri, with the goal of encouraging writers in southwest Missouri who were interested in the art of writing for the romance fiction industry.
As the popularity of the industry grew, the membership and its outreach grew. Members achieved various levels of success in the publishing industry, and the organization gave back to the community by donating to scholarship funds with the Writers Hall of Fame, with its headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
Weta (pronounced "WEE-ta") was devoted to the group and its members until her death in the spring of 2008 at age 84.
Weta was a Texan by birth, but lived in many different places. Her husband's work took them to many states, plus Peru, South America. She soon felt that writing letters and journaling wasn't enough. She wanted to include the many places she had been in stories, and she began learning the basics of writing. She attended a Romance Writers of America conference in Dallas, Texas, and was then inspired to form Ozarks Romance Authors.
She called the Missouri Ozarks her home for the last 18 years of her life. Her family included 1 son, 2 grandsons, and 1 great-granddaughter at the time of her passing. According to one of her publishers, Whiskey Creek Press, Weta was "described as a person with determination, grit and perseverance."
She published many articles for both magazines and newsletters. Her repetoire included short stories and novellas, and several novels, including the Whiskey Creek Press Number One Bestseller, "Cutter's Woman."
Her books are still available in many places, including Whiskey Creek Press and Amazon.com. Several of her books are also available in print and Nook editions at Barnes & Noble.
Members of Ozarks Romance Authors continue the tradition of holding an annual fiction writing contest, which was renamed The Weta Nichols Writing Contest in her honor, as a way to acknowledge talented authors and the industry that meant so much to her. Winners are announced each summer at the writers' group's annual conference in Springfield, Missouri.
What did reviewers say about Weta's work?
Review For BELINDA'S LOVE by Weta Nichols
“Lawlessness, prejudice, and love permeate the pages of BELINDA’S LOVE. This novel takes the reader to Pioche, Nevada in 1875 where “bad guys” abound as the lure of the Nevada silver mines brings in a motley assortment of people. Both the newcomers and the old-timers are less than admirable in their dealings with their fellowman. Belinda’s low self-esteem, due to the way people treat her because of her ethnicity, is a strong thread in the makeup of the story. At times, I read with a sense of urgency as I looked for her to become aware of her own self-worth. Prejudice, as it was at that time, comes through loud and clear.
Both men and women are culpable and inflect much underserved cruelty on Belinda and her family.
The parade of adversaries that both Belinda and Rich have to deal with kept me turning pages. If you enjoy a story of the early days of settling the West and of how love blooms among a multiplicity of thorny problems, BELINDA’S LOVE is it.”
– Camellia, The Long And Short Of It Reviews
Reviews For CUTTER'S WOMAN by Weta Nichols
"Cutter's Woman is a romantic story that carries the reader into the lives of two lonely characters who have lost so much in their years. They’re just trying to find happiness with each other. The setting and landscape are so brilliantly detailed, as are all the secondary characters, that the reader can’t help but feel a part of this rare read. The ending almost makes you swoon; such a perfectly packaged romance that feels good all over. I loved that Maggie never regretted going to Wyoming and marrying a man like Cutter. Weta Nichols composes a delightful story that reaches out and pulls at the heart. She weaves in characters that jump right from the pages. It was so in-depth, the way Cutter claimed her for his woman. This book is a rare find and a keeper." Reviewed by: Linda L 5 Angels Fallen Angel Reviews
"This is an excellent historical romance. Ms. Nichols described the country and the era vividly. The characters are exceptionally written with plenty of history and emotions. Secondary characters pull up from the back to enhance this tale with plenty of excitement of a ranch life of this time of history. Sensual romance scenes ties all of this up, making is a wonderful read."
Wateena 4 cups Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Review For HONEY'S LOVE by Weta Nichols
Ms. Nichols’ story is one of hardship, love and acceptance, The author’s attention to detail lets the reader picture the scene so well that they can almost smell the flowers, feel the rain falling and sweat from the heat of the hot sun. Ms. Nichols gives the readers some historical events along with the story that only make it more believable and help it to flow smoothly from one scene into the next without a hitch.
Reviewed by: Donna - 5 Angels