Florida Romance Writers (FRW)
The Southeast Florida chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA), (covering Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting excellence in romance writing, to helping writers become published and establish careers, and to providing continuing support, information, and resources to all writers. Our membership includes well-known authors of many fiction genres--Contemporary, Historical and Paranormal Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Mainstream--as well as non-fiction authors.

BOARD MEMBERS:

Traci Hall: President
Lisa Manuel: Vice-President
Jan Washburn: Secretary
Lyn Armstrong: Treasurer
Susan Peek: Member-at-Large


COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

2007 Conference Chairs: Sue Peek and Toni Lea Andrews
Critique Group Coordinator: Susan Peek
Historian:  Traci Hall
Membership: Ona Bustos
Mentoring Program: Lisa Manuel
Tape Librarian & Super Saturday:  Debra Andrews
Webmaster: Melanie Heywood

Our History
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Florida Romance Writers. It all began with a note and a phone call. When aspiring romance writer Sally Schoeneweiss (aka Sally Fairchild) moved to Miami in the early 1980's, she learned a newly published romance author also lived there--Heather Graham Pozzessere. Sally's note to Heather resulted in a call, and before long the two writers met for lunch.

One lunch led to regular meetings at a local restaurant as the two women discussed their new careers. And each time they met, a new writer seemed to discover them. The luncheon group expanded to include Vi Graham Sherman, Joan Johnston, Rita Nicole, Sharon Lee, Sandra Dewar, Tuni Coolidge, Sherry Woods, Diane Plasencia, Beverly Sommers and Maureen Reynolds.  The group soon began laying the foundation for a chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Florida Romance Writers, Inc. (FRW) came  into official existence on September 4, 1986, and published a newsletter by May 1987.

At the time of FRW's formation, most members couldn't afford to travel to the National conference to meet other writers, editors and agents. This small group of penny-conscious writers--with seventy-five dollars in the treasury--planned the first FRW conference. The idea was daring.  Instead of Mohammed going to the mountain, FRW's concept was to bring the mountain to Mohammed: to stage an intimate conference with networking as its centerpiece. The primary goals were to nurture talent and help women to achieve a new identity. Thus, the first FRW conference was launched with a great deal of hope and hard work. Through word of mouth, the "Fun In The Sun" Conference has grown to become one of the premier chapter conferences in the country.

Likewise, the chapter membership has grown and now encompasses a three-county area. Its ranks have seen many contest winners, first book sales and the development of New York Times Bestsellers. The chapter is dedicated to RWA's principles: to promote excellence in romance writing, to help writers become published and establish careers in their writing field, and to provide continuing support for writers within the romance publishing industry.