Special Events
OCTOBER 2: ARWA To Welcome Sue Grimshaw, Romance Buyer for Borders Book
Please join us on Saturday, October 2 as we welcome Sue Grimshaw, Romance Buyer for Borders Books, to Austin. This special event will be held at 10:30 am at Laura’s Library, part of the Westbank Community Library District (9411 Bee Cave Road, Austin). Sue will be sharing her unique perspective on the industry, including recent trends, book promotions, covers and more. This interactive session will include a presentation and Q&A and will be followed by an opportunity for attendees to network with each other in the library’s beautiful courtyard. Refreshments will be provided. While all romance writers will find her presentation interesting, the information should be of particular interest to published authors and to those on the brink of selling.
We encourage you to register in advance. If you register by September 15, the cost to attend is $10 for ARWA members and $15 for guests/non-members. After September 15, the cost will be $15 for ARWA members and $20 for guests/non-members. Doors open at 10 am and the program will begin promptly at 10:30. To register, please sign up at the monthly meeting or email your name and preferred payment method (cash/check/paypal) to special-projects@austinrwa.org. You can pay via PayPal below.
ARWA members ($10 until 9/15)
Guests/Non-Members ($15 until 9/15)
About Sue Grimshaw: Sue Grimshaw is a voracious reader of romance, devouring four or more books every week! She has been the romance book buyer for Borders and Waldenbooks stores for the past ten years, and in 2008 she received the prestigious Vivian Stephens Industry Award from the Romance Writers of America. Other honors include the 2006 Ellora’s Cave Award, the 2005 Colorado Romance Writers of America bookseller of the year award, and the 2005 Romance Times Book Club appreciation award. This year Sue received ROMCON’s Champion award & Romantic Times Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother award. Sue is one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry and truly enjoys sharing her knowledge of the romance genre. She is frequently consulted by publishers, and over the years has been honored to speak to thousands of romance writers and readers at conferences and workshops. She hosts Border’s True Romance where she interviews high-profile authors, shares her favorite books and more
2010 Fall Retreat – Reserve Your Spot Now!
Austin RWA’s Annual Fall Retreat will take place on November 6-7 at McKinney Roughs Nature Park. This has become a tradition deeply beloved by our members, both for the fantastic writing-time, critiquing and learning, and also for the opportunity to get to know each other better. New members, members who’ve been part of RWA for years and prospective members all enjoy the inspiring lovely Hill Country views and peace of the spectacular location and the expansive dining hall where we all gather to write.
All events throughout the weekend are optional. The retreat is primarily a time for you to get away from your “regular” life and write in peace, among others who share that desire. There will be two events on Saturday – a workshop led by one of our fantastic published authors and a group critique session where you’ll have the opportunity to critique other’s work and learn from the collective wisdom of the group.
You may choose to attend the entire retreat or to just attend on Saturday. We will be accepting payment via check at the monthly meeting or you may pay online via PayPal (see below). If you have any questions, please email authorlexiconnor@yahoo.com.
Where: McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 W Highway 71, Cedar Creek, TX 78612 (Map)
(512) 303-5073
When: Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7
What: Writing, Workshop, Critiquing! Meet wonderful writers, make new friends.
Cost: $80 for both days or $35 for Saturday only (both rates will increase by $15 after
September 15, so sign up today!)
Saturday & Sunday – $80
Includes:
- Workshop (optional)
- Group Critique (optional)
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday and Sunday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice; sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
- Overnight Stay
- Sunday Breakfast
- Sunday Lunch
Saturday Only – $35
Includes:
- Workshop (optional)
- Group Critique (optional)
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice; sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
Some Raves from Previous Retreat Attendees
“If you can swing it at all, I highly recommend coming. Honestly, it was the best money
I spent on my writing career last year. It’s such a great chance to connect with the group
and get to know one another. Plus the creative energy in the group is just phenomenal. It’ll
recharge your batteries and spur your creativity. And at a mere $80, it’s a real bargain.”
“I didn’t really feel ‘part’ of ARWA until I went to the first Fall Retreat and got to spend
non-meeting time chatting with people. Now you couldn’t pry me loose.”
“I am SO happy I was able to go on this retreat! What a blast! And a wonderful time to get
in some writing.”
“My first retreat was a GREAT experience for me. I really got to know a lot of people and
it made me feel so much more a part of the ‘family’. If you’re new and are nervous about
coming out for this, I’d really like to encourage you to take the plunge. You’ll get a ton of
writing time, plus make some new friends.”
2009 Fall Retreat – Reserve Your Spot Now!
Austin RWA’s Annual Fall Retreat has become a tradition deeply beloved by our members, both for the fantastic writing-time, critiquing and learning, and also for the opportunity to get to know each other better. New members, members who’ve been part of RWA for years and potential-members-to-be all enjoy the inspiring lovely Hill Country views and peace of the McKinney Roughs Nature Park and the expansive dining hall where we all gather to write.
All events throughout the weekend are optional. The retreat is primarily a time for you to get away from your “regular” lives and write in peace, among others who share that desire. More details to come on the Jane Myer Perrine’s “In The Beginning – Start Your Story With a BIG BANG!” Workshop, as well on the Pain-free Critiquing sessions where you’ll have a chance to read fellow retreater’s work as well as hear their thoughts on your own.
This year, we are offering two options for those with busy schedules. If you would prefer to pay with something other than PayPal, or have any questions, please email Michelle at special-projects@austinrwa.org.
Where: McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 W Highway 71, Cedar Creek, TX 78612 (Map)
(512) 303-5073
When: Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th, 2009
What: Writing, Workshop, Critiquing! Meet wonderful writers, make new friends.
Cost: Please see below.
This is the Austin RWA event of the year. (Check out some raves from members who have previously attended!)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Saturday and Sunday – $95
Includes:
- Brilliant Beginnings Workshop
- Pain-free Critiquing
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice, sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
- Overnight Stay
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Sunday
- Sunday Breakfast
- Sunday Lunch
Saturday Only – $50
Includes:
- Brilliant Beginnings Workshop
- Pain-free Critiquing
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice, sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
Some Raves from Previous Retreat Attendees
If you can swing it at all, I highly recommend coming. Honestly, it was the best money I spent on my writing career last year. It’s such a great chance to connect with the group and get to know one another. Plus the creative energy in the group is just. phenomenal. It’ll recharge your batteries and spur your creativity. And at a mere $80, it’s a real bargain.
Emily
I didn’t really feel “part” of ARWA until I went to the first Fall Retreat and got to spend non-meeting time chatting with people. Now you couldn’t pry me loose.
Michelle
I am SO happy I was able to go on this retreat! What a blast! And a wonderful time to get in some writing.
Lori
I joined ARWA in January 06 and this retreat last fall was a GREAT experience for me. I really got to know a lot of people and it made me feel so much more a part of the “family”. If you’re new and are nervous about coming out for this, I’d really like to encourage you to take the plunge. You’ll get a ton of writing time, plus make some new friends.
Emma
Workshop and Critique Day – August 29
Join us on Saturday, August 29 for a writing workshop led by Sherry Thomas called
Hot and Memorable: A quick and non-dirty guide to writing great love scenes.
About the Workshop:
Sex sells. But sex isn’t easy to write. Even in this age of the erotic boom there are plenty of writers, both published and unpublished, who cringe at the thought of the love scene.
But from a writer’s point of view, a sex scene isn’t about sex any more than a lightning bug is about lightning. It is all about the story. In this hands-on, audience-participation workshop, Sherry Thomas demonstrates exactly that—using context, conflict, and complexity rather than anatomical descriptions of sex to arrive at a love scene that is both searing and suspenseful.
About the Critiquing:
After the workshop, those who have submitted material in advance will be splitting into groups for critique sessions (see below for details). If you don’t choose to participate in the critique, we encourage you to stick around and write!
Where: Milwood Branch of the Austin Public Library
12500 Amherst Dr. Austin, Texas 78727
(512) 974-9880
When: 10:15am – 4:30pm, Saturday August 29th
To Bring: Please bring a sack lunch and printouts of any material you’re critiquing
Suggested Donation: $10
Critique Information:
If you’d like to participate in the critique portion of the August 29th writing day, you need to send in your pages by Monday, August 17th WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19th. Send them to: special-projects@austinrwa.org.
You should send in one scene, up to 10 pages. Please make sure the scene breaks at a natural point—don’t cut or extend mid-scene to get exactly 10 pages. If you need to go over by one or two pages, that’s fine, and it’s also fine if you only want to send in 2 or 3 pages total.
The scene can be from anywhere in your manuscript or short story. If it’s any scene other than the opening scene, please include a brief set-up paragraph explaining where we are in the story. Optionally, you can include specific questions or aspects of the writing you’d like critiqued. (”I’m looking for general feedback on the character of Mary – do you find her motivation in this scene believable” for instance.)
Please use standard submission-style formatting, which is how you’d send your work to an editor or agent. Standard submission format is double-spaced, in a readable font like Times New Roman our Courier. Remember to put page numbers, your name and the working title of the work in the header or footer.
Unofficial July meeting
While the lucky RWA National Conference attendees are in DC, we will be meeting (or is it un-meeting?) on July 14th @ 7 PM at Marie Callender’s.
Workshop and Critique Day – May 30
Join us on May 30 for a writing workshop led by Jan Hudson, covering Scene and Sequel. Many published authors say that scene & sequel was the last thing they learned before they sold!
After the workshop, those who have submitted material in advance will be splitting into groups for critique sessions (see below for details). If you don’t choose to participate in the critique, you’re welcome to stick around and write!
Where: Twin Oaks Branch of the Austin Public Library
Please contact special-projects at austinrwa dot org for the new location.
When: 10:15am – 4:30pm, Saturday May 30th
To Bring: Please bring a sack lunch and printouts of any material you’re critiquing
Cost: $10
Please pay now to confirm your space:
If you’d like to participate in the critique portion of the May 30th writing day, you need to send in your pages by May 18th – that’s this coming Monday. Send them to: special-projects@austinrwa.org.
You should send in one scene, up to 10 pages. Please make sure the scene breaks at a natural point – don’t cut or extend mid-scene to get exactly 10 pages. If you need to go over by one or two pages, that’s fine, and it’s also fine if you only want to send in 2 or 3 pages total.
The scene can be from anywhere in your manuscript or short story. If it’s any scene other than the opening scene, please include a brief set-up paragraph explaining where we are in the story. Optionally, you can include specific questions or aspects of the writing you’d like critiqued. (“I’m looking for general feedback on the character of Mary – do you find her motivation in this scene believable” for instance.)
Note that this time we’re asking for standard submission-style formatting. Standard submission format is double-spaced, in a readable font like Times New Roman our Courier. Remember to put page numbers, your name and the working title of the work in the header or footer. By using standard formatting rules, we ensure that everyone gets to read and critique roughly the same amount of material. Plus, material’s a lot easier to read this way!
PRO Pitch Session – June 13
We will have a special practice pitch session for our PRO members who have editor/agent appointments at National Conference in Washington, DC. Stay tuned for more details or contact pro-liaison@austinrwa.org.
Fall Writing Retreat – November 7-8
SAVE THE DATE! Join us for dedicated writing time at the peaceful McKinney Roughs Park. Full details, including price and agenda, will be posted here.
Tracy Wolff Booksigning – March 28
Join Austin RWA author Tracy Wolff for a booksigning at Barnes and Noble at La Frontera in Round Rock from 1- 3 PM.
New Member Tea – March 28
The ARWA New Member tea is Saturday, March 28 from 2-4 PM at the home of Jane Sevier. The tea is open to all members who have joined since the tea last year, as well as those members who have not been to a tea before. Contact membership@austinrwa.org for more details.