Romance Writers of America
Contents
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 Unlike many writers' organizations, the RWA is open to both published and unpublished authors.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
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
- Gulf Coast Chapter
- Heart of Dixie
- Southern Magic
Alaska
- Alaska Chapter of RWA
Arizona
- Desert Rose Chapter
- Northern Arizona Romance Writers of America
- Tucson RWA Chapter #58
- Valley of the Sun Romance Writers of America
Arkansas
- Diamond State Romance Authors
California
- Black Diamond Romance Writers
- Inland Valley Romance Writers
- Los Angeles Romance Authors
- Monterey Bay Chapter
- Orange County Chapter
- Sacramento Valley Rose
- San Diego RWA
- San Francisco Area
- Silicon Valley Chapter
Colorado
- Colorado Romance Writers
- Heart of Denver
- Pikes Peak Romance Writers
Connecticut
- Charter Oak Romance Writers
- Connecticut RWA
- Romance Writers of Southern CT and Lower NY (COLONY)
Delaware
Florida
- Ancient City Romance Authors
- Central Florida Romance Writers
- First Coast Romance Writers
- Florida Romance Writers
- Southwest Florida Romance Writers
- Space CoasT Authors of Romance
- Tampa Area Romance Authors (TARA)
- Volusia County Romance Writers
Georgia
- Georgia Romance Writers
- Heartland of Georgia Romance Writers
Hawaii
- Aloha Chapter
Idaho
- Coeur du Bois Chapter (Boise, ID)
- Southern Idaho Romance Writers
Illinois
- Chicago-North RWA
- Heart & Scroll RWA
- Love Designers
- Prairie Hearts
- Quad Cities Romance Writers
- Windy City RWA
Indiana
- Indiana Romance Writers
- Northwest Indiana Romance Writers
Iowa
- Heart of Iowa Fiction Authors
- Iowa Romance Novelists
Kansas
- Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)
- Midwest Romance Writers
- Wichita Area Romance Authors
Kentucky
- Kentucky Romance Writers
- KYOWA
- Louisville Romance Writers
Louisiana
- Coeur de Louisiane
- Heart of Louisiana
- North Louisiana Storytellers and Authors of Romance (NOLA STARs)
- SOLA (Southern Louisiana)
Maine
Maryland
- Maryland Romance Writers
Massachusetts
- New England Chapter
Michigan
- Grand Rapids Region RWA
- Greater Detroit RWA
- Mid-Michigan RWA
Minnesota
- Northern Lights Writers
- Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW) MFW website
Mississippi
- Magnolia State Romance Writers
Missouri
- Heartland Romance Authors (NW Missouri)HeRA website
- Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)
- Missouri RWA MORWA website
Montana
Nebraska
- C.A.M.E.O. Inc.
- Nebraska Romance Writers
- Prairieland Romance Writers
- Heartland Writers Group
Nevada
- Cactus Rose
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Romance Writers of America
New Jersey
New Mexico
- Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA)
New York
- The Capital Region Chapter
- Central New York Romance Writers
- Hudson Valley RWA
- Lake Country Romance Writers
- Long Island Romance Writers
- Romance Writers of Southern CT and Lower NY (COLONY)
- RWA New York City
- Saratoga Romance Writers
- Southern Tier Authors of Romance
- Western New York Romance Writers
North Carolina
- Carolina Romance Writers
- Heart of Carolina Romance Writers
North Dakota
Ohio
- Central Ohio Fiction Writers
- KYOWA
- Maumee Valley RWA
- Northeast Ohio RWA (NEORWA)
- Ohio Valley Chapter
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Romance Writers Of America (OK-RWA)
- Romance Writers Ink
Oregon
- Mid-Willamette Valley
- Rose City Romance Writers
Pennsylvania
- Bucks County Romance Writers
- Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers
- Pocono/Lehigh Romance Writers
- Valley Forge Romance Writers
- Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers
Rhode Island
South Carolina
- Lowcountry RWA
South Dakota
Tennessee
- Music City Romance Writers (Nashville)
- River City Romance Writers
- Smoky Mountain Romance Writers
Texas
- Austin RWA Chapter
- Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA)
- East Texas RWA
- Heart of Texas
- Houston Bay Area
- North Texas Romance Writers of America
- Northwest Houston RWA
- Red River Romance Writers
- San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA)
- West Houston RWA
- Yellow Rose Romance Writers
Utah
- Utah/Salt Lake RWA
Vermont
Virginia
- Chesapeake Romance Writers
- Virginia Romance Writers
Washington
- Eastside RWA (Washington)
- Greater Seattle RWA
- Inland Empire Chapter RWA-Spokane, WA
- Olympia RWA
- Peninsula Chapter (Washington)
Washington, D.C.
- Washington DC Romance Writers
West Virginia
- KYOWA
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)
- Greater Vancouver Chapter