Romance Writers of America

About

Romance Writers of America (RWA) was founded in Houston, Texas, in 1980 by 37 charter members. The purpose of the organization was to organize writing conferences and to create a network to provide information and support for romance writers and other professionals. RWA now has over 9,500-member members worldwide; with 1,600 members published in book-length romance fiction. It is the largest fiction writing group devoted to a single genre. Unlike many writers' organizations, the RWA is open to both published and unpublished authors. RWA has more than 140 chapters throughout the world, with chapters in almost every state in the U.S. Some individual cities have multiple chapters--such as the three chapters in Houston, Texas.

The RWA Annual Conference is held during the summer. It is an important meeting for the romance industry, including a literary book signing and the giving of the various awards and contest winners. Among the committees that promote the goals of the RWA is the RWA Published Authors Network (PAN) which serves the needs of the group's published authors by providing supported and specialized conference programming. The RWA also offers an annual Academic Research Grant.

• Romance Writers of America Presidents - Members who have served as President of the RWA
• RWA Controversy - A look at the various controversies and scandals that have rocked the Romance Writers of America over the years.

On The Web

The Romance Writers of America

Awards

• The RWA Hall Of Fame honors a select group of top authors.
• The Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the RWA Annual Conference honors an author's entire body of work.
• The PRISM award winners for Science Fiction and Fantasy romance novels published in the previous year are announced prior to the Romance Writers of America national conference
• Emma Merritt Service Award
• RWA Service Award
• Vivian Stephens Industry Award
• Steffie Walker Bookseller Of The Year Award
• Librarian Of The Year Award, and the RWA Veritas Award.

In addition to these major annual awards, RWA also honors members who have published 100 or more books with a Centennial Award.

Contests

• Golden Heart
• RITA

Chapters

Special Interest Chapters

• Celtic Hearts Romance Writers
• Chick Lit Writers of the World
• Electronic and Small Press Authors Network (ESPAN) - An on-line chapter for electronic and small press authors
• Elements of RWA - Chapter #211, authors with a special interest in non-traditional romance fiction.
• Faith, Hope, & Love for writers of inspirational romances
• From the Heart Romance Writers - an online chapter
• Futuristic, Fantasy And Paranormal RWA - Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal RWA
• Golden Network Chapter - winners of the Golden Heart competition
• Gothic Romance Writers
• Hearts Through History Romance Writers for writers of historical romances
• Kiss of Death Chapter for writers of mystery/suspense romances
• Outreach International Romance Writers - an online chapter available no matter where the member lives
• Passionate Ink - Passionate Ink for writers of erotic romance
• Published Authors Special Interest Chapter/PASIC
• RWA Heartbeat - Medical Romance subgenre
• RWA Online - Chapter #136, the first online chapter
• Scriptscene - for authors who want to write screenplays
• The Beau Monde, which aims to 'to promote excellence in romantic fiction, set primarily in the Regency period (1811-1820)'

Local Chapters

US Chapters

Alabama

• Southern Magic
  

Alaska

• Alaska Chapter of RWA
  

Arizona

• Saguaro Romance Writers (RWA - Tuscon)
• Valley of the Sun Romance Writers of America
  

Arkansas

• Diamond State Romance Authors
  

California

• Los Angeles Romance Authors
  
• Orange County Chapter
  

Colorado

Connecticut

• Connecticut Romance Writers
  

Delaware

Florida

• Central Florida Romance Writers
  
• First Coast Romance Writers
  
• Florida Romance Writers
  
• Southwest Florida Romance Writers
  

Georgia

• Georgia Romance Writers
  

Hawaii

Idaho

• Coeur du Bois Chapter (Boise, ID)
  

Illinois

• Heart & Scroll RWA
  
• Windy City RWA
  

Indiana

• Indiana Romance Writers
  

Iowa

Kansas

• Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)
  

Kentucky

Louisiana

• SOLA (Southern Louisiana)
  

Maine

Maryland

• Maryland Romance Writers
  

Massachusetts

Michigan

• Mid-Michigan RWA
  

Minnesota

• Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW) MFW website
  
• Northern Lights Writers
  

Mississippi

Missouri

• Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)
  
• Missouri RWA MORWA website
  

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Romance Writers of America
  

New Jersey

New Mexico

• Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA)
  

New York

• Central New York Romance Writers
  
• Hudson Valley RWA
  
• Long Island Romance Writers
  
• RWA New York City
  
• Saratoga Romance Writers
  
• Southern Tier Authors of Romance
  
• Western New York Romance Writers
  

North Carolina

• Heart of Carolina Romance Writers
  

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

• Rose City Romance Writers
  

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Romance Writers
  
• Three Rivers Romance Writers
  
• Valley Forge Romance Writers
  

Rhode Island

South Carolina

• Lowcountry RWA
  

South Dakota

Tennessee

• Music City Romance Writers (Nashville)
  

Texas

• Austin RWA Chapter
  
• Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA)
  
• Heart of Texas
  
• Houston Bay Area
  
• North Texas RWA
  
• San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA)
  

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

• Chesapeake Romance Writers
  
• Virginia Romance Writers
  

Washington

• Evergreen RWA
  

Washington, D.C.

• Washington DC Romance Writers
  

West Virginia

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin RWA
  

Wyoming

Canada Chapters

• Calgary Association of the Romance Writers of America
  
  • Greater Vancouver Chapter
    
  • Marshlands Romance Writers (Moncton, New Brunswick)
    
  • Ottawa Romance Writers Association
    
  • Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
    
  • Toronto Romance Writers
    
  • Vancouver Island Chapter (Victoria, British Columbia)