RWA's Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 8 am. My volunteer assignment had me counting proxies for RWA’s AGM (Annual General Meeting). The actual meeting started at 10:30 am. RWA’s Board has met over the past few days and worked late to resolve several issues. Members are urged to log on to the member section of the RWA website to review the Hot Sheet for changes in contest rules.
NY Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich started the Conference with a rousing opening session at 9 am. Keynote Speaker Linda Howard had the whole room in stitches as she described her position in her family as the Keeper of the Nuts. And then came the first workshops.
Two Thursday Workshops of Note:
Brenda Hiatt gave her annual talk “Show Me the Money.” Throughout the year she surveys authors confidentially obtaining their advance figures then averages the numbers and presents the results at RWA National, and on her website. In her workshop, she also summarizes what happens financially after a writer gets the CALL.
In “Got High Concept?” Lori Wilde pulled us through the steps needed to create a high-concept story. Another Wow! presentation that included 25-word High Concept pitch examples. fyi – Lori’s workbook is available for sale on her website.
Thursday, 8 pm. The Kiss of Death/Mystery & Romantic Suspense Chapter held their annual DEATH BY CHOCOLATE Party & Awards Ceremony. Members were treated to tables of delicious chocolate and other desserts. The awards ceremony for the Daphne DuMaurier Awards ceremony followed, coordinated by Donnell Ann Bell.
2009 Unpublished 1st Place Winners in the KOD Daphne Awards
Category/Series – SEE JANE RUN – Angela Platt
Historical – THE DECEIT of DESIRE – Pamela Bolton-Holifield
Inspirational – ESCAPE to TERROR – Sandra van den Bogerd
Mainstream – MOONLIGHTING in VERMONT – Kate George
Paranormal, Time Travel, Fantasy – UNDERBELLY – Tammy Hoganson
Single Title – GUARDIAN’S GIFT – Sharon Wray
The overall winner was Sandra van den Bogerd for ESCAPE TO TERROR. Congratulations, Sandra, and to all the winners and finalists!
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2009 Published Winners in the Daphne Awards
Category/Series – TERMS OF SURRENDER- Kylie Brant – Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Historical – SEDUCED BY A SPY – Andrea Pickens – Grand Central
Inspirational – SUSPICIOUS MINDS – Christy Barritt – Kregel Publications
Mainstream – THE TENTH CASE – Joseph Teller – MIRA
Paranormal, Time Travel, Fantasy – APHRODIASIC – Allyson Roy-Berkley – Penguin
Single Title – VICTIM – Gayle Wilson – MIRA
The Overall Winner was Kylie Brant for TERMS OF SURRENDER – Silhouette Romantic Suspense. Congratulations, Kylie, and to all other winners and finalists!
Kylie Brant shows her gold award for Best Overall.
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Kiss of Death's Skull.
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Death by Chocolate.
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KOD (& NJRW) Member Carolyn J. Coles won one of 12 Raffle Bags.
More on Friday! ∞
Stringing Beads 
Oh, Deb. Thanks for all the great details. I’m off to check on the high concept workbook you mentioned.
I remember Atlanta and the Death by Chocolate feast then. I’m probably still wearing a few of those desserts abound my waistline. 🙂
All your posts are greatly appreciated. And tonight you get do really dress up, and hopefully, see Virginia walk across that stage!!!
Thanks for the nice post…