December News

Terry Spear's short story, MOTHER TROUBLE will be published by True Romance in Spring, 2006; her article VARIOUS FORMS OF MARTIAL ARTS will appear in Listen Magazine in March, 2006; and her short story GODDESS IN TRAINING will appear in Jewell's Midnight Showcase Mile High Anthology in April, 2006.

Mona Risk's Medical Romance, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, finalled in the Short Contemporary categories of Launching a Star contest and in The Suzannah contest. Mona's Mona Risk's Long Contemporary, TO LOVE A HERO, finalled in the FTHRW Wallflower contest.

Terry McLaughlin is delighted to announce her second sale to Harlequin: a three-book Superromance series. The "Wide Open Spaces" trilogy will be released in 2007.

Leanne Karella has sold a contemporary paranormal to New Concepts Publishing. WITCH HUNT will be released mid-March, 2006. Also, w/a Anna Leigh Keaton, Leanne has sold PHANTOM LOVER to Venus Press. The release date is TBD.

Anna Sugden's GAY BY DAY finalled in the Suzannah contest and is off to Linda Sawicki at Dorchester and Mary Sue Seymour of the Seymour Agency for final round judging.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE finaled in the young adult category of the Hot Prospects contest sponsored by Valley of the Sun Romance Writers.

Mai Thao's PRINCE OF DARKNESS, a 100,000 completed fantasy romance has finaled in FTH's very own Wallflower Contest and Couer de Louisiane's Romancing the Tome contest. Mai also received her PRO Pin after three completed mss and several rejection/acceptance letters.

November News

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE finaled in the paranormal category of the CONNections contest sponsored by CTRWA.

Barb Webb (w/a Anne Leland) is the winner of the 2005 Scarlet Boa Competition for the best Romantic Suspense Scene with her entry from UNDER THE GUN. The competition is sponsored each year by author, Stella Cameron. This is the second year in a row that a FTHRW member won this award--last year, Patrice Michelle took the honor.

Leslie Dicken's MARK OF THE MONSTER won its first contest--FTHRW's Golden Gateway. The full was requested by Tova Sacks of Berkley.

Anna Sugden's LOVE BY REQUEST won the Long Contemporary category of The Molly. Susan Litman, who has the full manuscript, was the final round judge.

Tawny Weber's UNDERCOVER SEDUCTION took First Place in the Harlequin Blaze contest.

Mona Risk's medical romance, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, won second place in the FTHRW 2005 Golden Gateway Contest in Short Contemporary

October News

Terri Garey is thrilled to announce her first sale in a two-book deal to Erika Tsang at Avon HarperCollins. DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY will be a Fall 2006 release, and the sequel, WHERE THE GHOULS ARE, will follow in Summer 2007.

Mai Thao's THE PROPHECY has finaled in Indiana's Golden Opportunity and FF&P's On the Far Side contest. Currently, requested partials and fulls are sitting on agents' desks.

Vonda Ogle's historical manuscript, MY FIERCE HIGHLANDER, won first place in MRW's Reveal Your Inner Vixen Contest.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE received First Place in the paranormal category of the Touch of Magic contest, sponsored by Central Florida RWA. The full manuscript has been requested by final judge Helen Rosburg of Medallion Press.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's antebellum historical WAYFARER'S PROMISE has finaled in the Southern Theme category of the Jasmine contest. The manuscript will be sent to Deb Dixon of BelleBooks for final judging.

Terry Spear has sold VAMPIRIC CALLING to Chippewa Publishing, LLC for their VAMPEROTICA anthology, which will be released in late 2005.

September News

Kathleen Long's GET BUNNY LOVE is a finalist for Best Single Title and Best First Book in NJRW's Golden Leaf contest, and Kathleen has signed a new three-book contract with Harlequin Intrigue. The first title is scheduled for a September 2006 release.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE finaled in the time travel category of the On The Far Side contest, sponsored by the FF&P RWA chapter.

Anna Sugden's LOVE BY REQUEST has made it to the final three of the Molly contest and is on its way to Susan Litman at Silhouette for judging.

Renee Luke has sold MAKING HIM WANT IT to Kensington Books. She has also just signed with Pamela Harty at the Knight Agency.

Barb Webb (w/a Anne Leland) has sold three short stories to be included in upcoming Midnight Showcase Digests from Twin Souls Publications:"Turbulence" for the Mile High Club Digest (4/06); "Affinity" for the Into Tomorrow Digest (1/07); and "Seven Courses of Sin" for the Sweet Wishes/Hot Dishes Digest (5/06).

Terry Spear has sold her vampire romantic suspense HUNTRESS FOR HIRE to ImaJinn Books.

Mona Risk's short contemporary medical romance BABIES IN THE BARGAIN finalled FTHRW's Golden Gateway contest.

Catherine Chant's short suspense story DRIVER'S ED will appear in the September 2005 issue of Apollo's Lyre and her short fantasy/sci-fi story JAKE'S BAR will appear in the Halloween 2005 issue of Twilight Times eZine.

Judy Soifer's time travel romance THE SECRET OF THE SAPPHIRE finaled in the alternative category of MRW's Reveal Your Inner Vixen contest. Editor Chris Keesler is the final judge.

Vonda Ogle's Scottish historical romance MY FIERCE HIGHLANDER finaled in FTHRW's Golden Gateway and MRW's Reveal Your Inner Vixen contests, and has been requested by 3 agents. Vonda has also had 9 more requests from both editors and agents for her other manuscripts.

Katherine Bryan received her PRO PIN for her romantic suspense manuscripts SWORN VENGEANCE, INTO THE LIGHT and IN SAFE HANDS, which have received several agent requests.

August News

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's THE CHIEFTAIN was just awarded first place in the Historical category of the Tampa Area Romance Writer's TARA contest. The first book in the saga centered around the Scottish MacLachlan family, DESTINY'S PROMISE, earned a second place finish in the same contest. Partials of both books were requested by Michele Grajkowski from Three Seas Literary Agency.

Barb Webb (w/a Anne Leland)'s SEVENTH CURSE OF ALDER won 4th place in the Suspense catagory of the Utah RWA Great Beginnings Contest. Barb has also been invited to be the monthly Suite Sensations columnist for Suite Magazine www.suitemag.com. Her first article, "Pillow Talk 101" will appear in the September Isssue.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's DESTINY PROMISE won First Place in the Sheila contest, sponsored by Valley Forge Romance Writers. Sheila won the Sheila!

Terry McLaughlin is celebrating a FIRST SALE. LEARNING CURVE, a 2005 Golden Heart finalist, has sold to Harlequin Superromance. The release date is June 2006.

Leslie Dicken 's MARK OF THE MONSTER has finalled in the Maggie Award of Excellence and FTHRW's Golden Gateway. It was also requested by HQN, Kensington and agent Deirdre Knight.

Jodi Lynn Copeland announces a 2 single-author anthology contract with Kensington's new erotic romance line. The first of the anthologies, AFTER HOURS, will be released in April, 2006.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's THE CHEIFTAIN finaled in Central Florida Romance Writers' Touch of Magic Contest and will be judged by Hillary Sares at Kensington.

Kelley St. John was interviewed by Serena Altschul of the CBS Early Show in Reno during the National Conference. The segment is scheduled to air in August and should be available for viewing on Kelley's website, www.kelleystjohn.com, shortly thereafter.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE finaled in the paranormal category of the Touch of Magic contest, sponsored by the Central Florida Romance Writers.

Cai Stephan (writing team of Cai Smith & Stephanie Arwen Lynch) won First Place in the Paranormal Category of the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest sponsored by SOLA.

July News

Jennifer Stimson (w/a Jennifer Echols) is celebrating her first sale! QUEEN GEEK will be published by Simon & Schuster's YA line, Simon Pulse, in Summer 2006.

Anna Sugden's LOVE BY REQUEST has made it to the second round of the Molly contest in the Long Contemporary category by scoring in the top 30% of entries.

Elizabeth Batten-Carew has sold DARKEST NYTE to New Concepts Publishing. This urban fantasy romance was released as an eBook in February 2005 and will be going to print in September 2005. It will be available in Waldenbooks. This is Elizabeth's first book in print. Elizabeth also received a request for a full of MAGICAL DAWN, a contemporary fantasy romance, after she submitted the first chapter to an on-line contest.

Norah Conors received her PRO PIN for BABES IN TOYLAND after the full manuscript was requested by Harlequin NEXT.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's DESTINY'S PROMISE, a medieval historical set in Scotland finaled in the Sheila and TARA contests. THE CHIEFTAIN, the next installment in the MacLachlan family saga, also finaled in the TARA contest.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE received First Place in the Short Manuscript category of the Foot in the Door contest, sponsored by the Los Angeles Romance Authors (LARA).

Shelley Munro's THE SECOND SEDUCTION (Medallion Press) received a 5 star review from Affaire de Coeur. The review will appear in the July issue.

Betty Hanawa has sold MALACHITE MEMORIES, the followup to TURQUOISE DREAMS, to Triskelsion Publishing (Releaste date: August 2005). Her FALLING STAR WISH has received Four Stars from Affaire de Coeur.

June News

Lori Borrill earned her Pro Pin for ONE LAST CHANCE. This same manuscript took 1st place in the 2005 SFA RWA Sharp Synopsis contest.

Michele Palter (w/a Michele Lang) is celebrating her first sale! FAINNE NAOFA, a time travel paranormal, will be an October 2005 release from Triskelion Publishing.

Jane Forgey (w/a Beverly Rae) has sold PARADISE ISLAND to Triskelion Publishing. It will be released as part of the Paranormal Island Fantasies along with Triskelion authors Kara Griffin, Anne Leland and Terry Spear. Her book LOVE TIMES SEVEN (also from Triskelion Publishing) received 4 Stars from JERR and 4 Cups from Coffee Time Romance Reviews.

Barb Webb)'s SEVENTH CURSE OF ALDER is a finalist in the Great Beginnings Contest sponsored by the Utah/Salt Lake RWA chapter.

Barb Webb (w/a Anne Leland) is happy to announce the sale of DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLE to appear in PARANORMAL ISLAND FANTASIES, an anthology to be released in August by Triskelion Publishing. And her short story WITCHES, WARLOCKS, AND WALNUTS will be appearing in SINFUL SUNDAES, an anthology to be released by Jewel Adam's MIDNIGHT SHOWCASE in October 2005. Barb has also just accepted an editor position with Chippewa Publishing, LLC.

Deborrah Girard has sold another book to Triskelion Publishing. MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMBORGHINI is an erotic comedy where Hollywood Hills meets Hazzard County. Her book THE V WHISPERER is available this month from Triskelion.

Betty Hanawa's FALLING STAR WISH received 4 Stars from Romantic Times Book Club magazine. The full review will be in the July 2005 issue.

Mili Daugherty received her PRO Pin.

Terri Garey's quirky paranormal chick-lit, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, is a finalist in the Sheila contest. The manuscript will be sent to Jenny Bent at Trident Media for final judging.

Terri Stovall received her PRO Pin for her southern long contemporary, GUMBO QUEEN (aka FAMILY TRADITIONS).

Leslie Dicken's MARK OF THE MONSTER has finalled in the GothRom chapter's contest, Haunted Hearts. The final judging will be done by Pocket.

May News

Carolyn Hughey received her PRO Pin for CUPID'S WEB and Avalon Books requested to see the full manuscript after viewing a query letter with synyosis and partial.

Terry McLaughlin's romantic comedy, PERFECT PITCH, was awarded First Place in the Single Title category of the Marlene.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's DESTINY'S PROMISE, a medieval historical set in Scotland, has been awarded 2nd Place in the Heart of the Rockies contest, 3rd Place in the Winter Rose contest and was named a finalist in the Barclay Sterling and Magnolia State First chapter contests.

Catherine Chant's YA time travel romance WISH YOU WERE HERE finaled in the short manuscript category of the Foot in the Door query/synopsis contest sponsored by the Los Angeles Romance authors (LARA).

Susan E. Falk received her PRO Pin for the historical manuscript AMANDA'S SONG.

Tina St. John's 2004 medieval release, HEART OF THE HUNTER, is an RWA RITA Finalist in the Paranormal category. HEART OF THE HUNTER also won the Romantic Times BOOKclub Reviwers Choice Award for "Best Historical Romantic Adventure" of 2004!

Barb Webb is happy to announce another short story sale to Dorchester Publications, True Romance Magazine. "The Rainbow Connection" will appear in the August 2005 edition.

Terri Garey's quirky paranormal chick-lit, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, has just won 2nd Place in the Winter Rose contest! This manuscript is also a finalist in the Rebecca and has been sent to Susan McCarty at Berkley for judging.

Kathleen Long proudly announces the sale of her second Harlequin Intrigue. WHEN A STRANGER CALLS will be an April 2006 release.

Dana George has sold her second book, WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW, to Dorchester. Her first book, WISHES ON WATER, was released September 2004. Her new book will be released September 2005.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's DESTINY'S PROMISE, a medieval historical set in Scotland, has won first place in the Ohio Valley Enchanted Words contest and second place in the Smokey Mountain Laurie contest.

Mona Risk's short contemporary, UNDER A CHATEAU, won first place in Ohio Valley RWA's Enchanted Words contest.

April News

Ann Yost's EYE OF THE TIGER LILY finaled in the long contemporary category of the Golden Heart contest.

Dawn Oliveri (w/a Shara Lanel) is pleased to announce two sales to HeatWave Romance for her stories, The Lion's Den, releasing April 17th, and Fantasy on a Bus: Number One, available May 27, 2005. Dawn has also sold "Directing Claire" to Liquid Silver Books as part of their Zodiac series, and her first novel, ENLIGHTENED LOVE, is now available in trade paperback.

Terry McLaughlin is delighted to announce another win in the single title category of the Merritt contest for the second year in a row. This year's First Place entry is PERFECT PITCH.

Anna Sugden's LOVE BY REQUEST finaled in The Winter Rose contest. Also, the full of LOVE BY REQUEST has been requested by Julie Barrett of Silhouette.

Stacey Lynn Riemer's BREAKING THE ICE won First Place in Duel on the Delta. ARIZONA SKY also won Thrid Place.

Sheila-Rae Z. Mohs's DESTINY'S PROMISE, a medieval historical set in Scotland, won first place in Ohio Valley RWA's Enchanted Words contest and finaled in the Winter Rose contest.

Terri Garey's quirky paranormal chick lit, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, has placed 2nd in the 2005 Great Expectations contest! DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY is also a paranormal finalist in the Rebecca.

March News

From the Heart Romance Writers proudly congratulates our 2005 Rita and Golden Heart Finalists: Tina St. John (Rita finalist), Ardath L. Albee, Tanya T. Holmes, Sandra D. Hyde, Tammy M. Johnson, Terry McLaughlin, Stacey Lynn Riemer, Tawny Weber, Ann Emmons Yost, and Kelley Bowers Zeringue (double finalist).

Kristina Cook reports that her agent just sold the Russian translation rights for her debut book from Zebra, UNLACED, so a Russian-language version is in the works. UNLACED is also going back to press for a second U.S. print run!

Debbie Gauthier is celebrating a FIRST SALE and her PRO PIN for THE V. WHISPERER, which sold to Triskelion Publishing. Debbie is also celebrating the sale of her first young readers manuscript, writing as Debsy Girard. GIRLS GONE GUARDIAN sold to Chippewa Publishing.

Leslie Dicken received a full manuscript request from the Peter Rubie Literary Agency and Kensington for her Victorian historical A TARNISHED HEART, and the first five chapters of THE PRICE OF DISCOVERY were requested by Imajinn books after she submitted a query letter and synopsis.

Sheila-Rae Mohs's DESTINY'S PROMISE finaled in the historical category of the Heart of the Rockies contest and is on the way to Elaine English for the final judging.

Mona Risk's UNDER A CHATEAU finaled in the short contemporary category of the Ohio Valley Enchanted Quill contest.

Jane Forgey (w/a Beverly Rae) is celebrating a FIRST SALE! LOVE TIMES SEVEN will be published by Triskelion Publishing in July 2005.

Barb Webb sold her short story "Summer Nights" to True Romance Magazine. It will appear in the June Issue. Her short story "Wedding Bait" has finaled in the selection for SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW - a new Rocking Chair Reader Anthology published by Adams Media. Expected publication date is March 2006.

Catherine Chant's rock 'n' roll romantic suspense SAINTS AND SINNERS finaled in the single title category of the Merritt Contest, sponsored by the San Antonio Romance Authors.

Terri Garey's paranormal historical, RUNES OF FIRE, has just won first place in the historical category of The Suzannah contest! The full manuscript has been requested by Michelle Grajkowski at 3 Seas Literary.

Terry Spear has received a request for a partial at the NOLA-Stars conference from Kensington for FORBIDDEN LOVE, a vampire romantic suspense and RELATIVE DANGER, an Agatha Christie-style romantic suspense. At the same conference, Berkley requested a full of DEIDRE'S SECRET, a partial of THE DARK FAE, and a partial of HEART OF DARKNESS, all young adult paranormal romantic suspense.

Karen Wiesner's WAITING FOR AN ECLIPSE, Book 2 of the Wounded Warriors Series, is an EPPIE finalist and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award Nominee (Best Small Press Romance). Books 1, 2 and 4 of her unpublished mainstream spy action/adventure series (the Incognito Series), NO ORDINARY LOVE, UNTIL DEATH DO US PART, and DEAD DROP finaled in the L-Edit Slip contest.

Karen Wiesner has sold THE AMETHYST ANGEL (Tales from the Treasure Trove, Jewels of the Quill Anthology, Volume I) (Sept 2005) and COUNTDOWN TO A CHRISTMAS WEDDING (Small Gifts, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology, Volume I) (October 2005) to Whiskey Creek Press, as well as FALCON'S BEND CASE FILES Anthology, Volume I to Quiet Storm Publishing (release date late 2005).

Kathy Weick (w/a Kara Griffin) is celebrating a FIRST SALE. WARRIOR'S PLEDGE will be released from Triskelion Publishing in July 2005. CLAIMED BY A CHARMER and LASS' VALOR will be released in fall 2005.

Kelley St. John's first release from Warner Forever has been retitled to GOOD GIRLS DON'T. Also, her release date has been moved up from Summer 2006 to DECEMBER 2005!

Tawny Weber's COFFEE, TEA or Me tied for First Place in the Gotcha Contest single title category. It's gone to Pocket for evaluation.

Stacey Lynn Riemer's PLAYING FOR KEEPS won Best Overall in Launching A STAR -- an actual star has been named Stacey Lynn Riemer through the International Star Registration! PLAYING FOR KEEPS also won 1st place in the Single Title category and BREAKING THE ICE won 2nd place. PLAYING FOR KEEPS has also finaled in the Laurie.

Barb Webb (w/a Anne Leland) is happy to announce her first full-length romance sale to Triskelion! DONEGAL, a paranormal/time-travel romance, will be released this summer. Her second sale to Triskelion, an erotic comedy novella entitled THREE'S COMPANY, is expected to be released in May 2005.

February News

Terry Spear's partial for THE DARK FAE, a modern day young adult faery tale, has been requested by the Harvey Klinger Agency. The partial for her vampire romantic suspense FORBIDDEN LOVE has been requested by Imajinn. And Triskelion has requested the full of her vampire romantic suspense HUNTRESS FOR HIRE.

Nancy Pirri's BAIT SHOP BLUES sold to Wings E Press and was a November 2004 release.

Sheila-Rae Mohs's manuscript DESTINY'S PROMISE has finaled in SMRW's unpublished Laurie's contest.

Anna Sugden is celebrating her first contest final! LOVE BY REQUEST finaled in the Long Contemporary category of the 2005 Great Expectations contest.

Terri Garey's quirky paranormal chick lit, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, has finaled in NTRWA's Great Expectations contest. The partial manuscript will be sent to Louisa Edwards at Berkley/Jove.

Sheila-Rae Mohs's manuscript DESTINY'S PROMISE has finaled in the historical category of Ohio Valley's Enchanted Words contest.

Kelley St. John is celebrating her FIRST SALE. She signed a two book deal with Warner! Her first release, MY ALIBI, will be available for sale during the summer of 2006.

January News

ToniMarie Leland is celebrating her FIRST SALE. WINNING WAYS is available from Equine Graphics Publishing Group/Parallel Press and was chosen as a featured selection by Equestrian's Edge Book Club, a division of Bookspan.

Catherine Chant's single title romance SAINTS AND SINNERS received First Place in the Single Title category of the 2004 Opening Gambit contest and Honorable Mention in the 2004 CONNections Awards contest.

Shelley Munro has sold a new book to Medallion Press. THE SHADOW is a contemporary about a female cat burglar and is set in England.

Jodi Lynn Copeland's SONS OF SOLARIS: ARIES is a finalist in the Hot/Steamy category of the Lauries Bookseller's Best Published Contest.

Barb Webb is happy to report another short story sale to True Romance Magazine. "Blowing Out Thirty Candles" will appear in the April 2005 edition.

Stacey Lynn Riemer is a TRIPLE finalist in Duel on the Delta. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is a finalist in the Mainstream catetgory. BREAKING THE ICE and ARIZONA SKY finaled in Long Contemporary.

Terri Garey's contemporary paranormal entitled UNINVITED has won First Place in the Spooky category of the SMRW's Sweet, Spicy & Spooky contest! The full manuscript has been requested by Anna Genoese at Tor/Forge.

Tina St. John's HEART OF THE HUNTER, a June 2004 medieval paranormal release from Ballantine, has been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award -- Best Historical Romantic Adventure! The next book in the series, HEART OF THE FLAME, goes on sale March 1, 2005.

Stacey Lynn Riemer's ARIZONA SKY won 1st place in the Single Title category of the CONNections contest. NIGHTINGALE won 1st place in the historical category, and took 2nd place in the overall competition for Best Connection between hero and heroine.

Barb Webb finished the year on a positive note with her first sale to True Story Magazine. The short story is entitled "Love and Easter Lilies." Earlier this year she sold three stories to True Romance.