This is the way we go back to school…

Well, my Year of Living Writerly is over, and it is time to go back to school. Before I do, I would like to preempt Thanksgiving with a few people and things that I am thankful for:

The New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America (NECRWA), especially the talented group of writers on the 2017 Conference Committee, who pulled off the best conference I’ve ever been to. (You can accuse me of bias. I don’t care! Come to the 2018 NECRWA Let Your Imagination Take Flight and see for yourself.) These folks are not only my chapter-mates, but my best friends, as well. The fun doesn’t stop, either. We recently had a reading in Exeter, New Hampshire! Please check out these authors and their amazing books:

These are only a few of the full-length novels produced by this talented group. I recommend them all: Kristen Strassel, Jen Doyle, Stephanie Kay, Tamsen Parker, Teresa Noelle Roberts, and Alexa Rowan.

The Weare Area Writers Group who has been a think-tank of beta-readers for the upcoming Sugar Moon (along with Teresa Noelle Roberts, who read the earliest draft, less her heart). I stumbled upon WAWG last summer at the beginning of my sabbatical. I had lived in Weare for five years at that point, but because my day job is in Massachusetts, I had not met many folks. WAWG has provided both wonderful feedback from talented writers, as well as strong friendships in my new hometown. I cannot thank them enough for both. The day I started WAWG, I was joined by another newbie, Connie Evans, who had a few chapters of her Pine Tree Riot novella drafted. A year later, before I left, she sold out (!) at our table at Weare Old Home Day!

Check out all the published authors of WAWG: me (you’re here!), Marjorie Burke, Ellen H. Reed, and Connie Evans. And a huge thank you to the group’s founder and generous leader, Sharon Czarnecki! (She is tough to pin down online—smart woman—but she writes the biweekly reports found on the group’s Facebook page.)

Though farthest away from me geographically, the #romanceclass group in the Philippines is conveniently located right in my heart. Founded by Mina V. Esguerra (author of Iris After the Incident), this tight-knit group of authors: publishes books to well-deserved worldwide acclaim, organizes educational workshops for authors, puts on reading events with professional actors, started their own stock photo sales with Filipino models, produces a podcast, and even sponsors scholarships to local universities! Check it all out at their instagram account @romanceclassbooks! And they are so nice! They were amazing hosts during my jaunt to Manila. I was so thankful to have such a wonderful reception at my History Ever After talk at the Ayala Museum, where I released Tempting Hymn . I especially loved the swoons at my “inspiration” photos for hero Jonas Vanderburg and future hero Padre Andrés! In addition, I was able to be a part of the Romance Writers of the Philippines Steamy Panel at my old stomping grounds, Ayala Alabang Mall, and Ana Valenzuela wrote about my series in the Manila Bulletin! That shows you the reach of this group of authors—and how they support each other and their friends. I am so, so lucky that they let me tag along.

Just a few of the steamy romance reads offered by #romanceclass books. Do yourself a favor: check them out. They are some of the most emotionally-satisfying, feels-laden, creative contemporary romance around!

I am sure I will be updating this post with others to thank, but the day job calls. (This is going to happen a lot now.)

Just because I am going back to school, do not fear that I will not be writing or blogging. I have lots of good post ideas coming up, and Sugar Moon is fully underway in edits! But I have to head off to football preseason practice right now. See y’all later!