Thank you for dropping by…Interested in joining DARA? (Dallas Chapter of RWA – Romance Writers of America) We’d love to have you. We’re committed to inclusion. We want EVERYONE to feel welcome. You are welcome to be a visitor twice to our monthly meetings. On your third visit we ask you to join. Dues for DARA are $45 annually. You must be a member of the mothership (RWA) to be a member of DARA. You can find information to join DARA here on the myRWA website. If you are already a member of RWA you can join our chapter directly –click here!

Upcoming Meetings & Workshops 2019 

We typically meet the 4th Saturday of each month.

Romance 101 begins at 8:40am

Regular meeting begins at 9:30am

Collin College Courtyard Campus

4800 Preston Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75093 (Room 214)

April 27, 2019 Jenn LeBlanc: How to get a Great Cover & Not Get Arrested in the Process: 

Includes all things cover art. Bring your questions about rights, design, Amazon rules, stock searches, custom photography, & legal rights.

Author of illustrated Victorian queer and erotic romance & Queen of Studio Smexy, a custom & stock photography studio in Los Angeles. www.jennleblanc.com

May 25, 2019 Michael Petersen, MBA: Promotion of Your Books & Brand: Business of Being an Author: 

Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, you’re expected to market your books. Mr. Petersen will focus on the business

perspective of publishing, approach to marketing, and building the right author platform for success.

Retired from Microsoft at 35, currently manages business strategy for his wife, ten time USA Today Best Seller Jess Michaels. www.authorjessmicheals.com

June 22, 2019 Melissa Blue: Making Consent Sexy:

Includes breaking down both what is sexual tension, and how romance authors can use consent in these moments and in sex scenes without giving that after-school special feel. Steamy excerpts will be used as examples, and we will delve into a bit of the science of attraction. Get ready to make consent sexy.

Melissa Blue’s writing career started on a typewriter one month after her son was born. This would have been an idyllic situation for a writer if it had been 1985, not 2004. She penned that first contemporary romance, upgraded to a computer and hasn’t looked back since.

August 24, 2019 Addison Fox: Anatomy of a Sale: 

A detailed discussion of what to expect from this author’s substantial experience as a traditionally published author.

A romantic suspense & contemporary romance author, Addison has worked with St. Martins, Harlequin, Penguin/NAL and Entangled and is currently hard at work on two series, one with Harlequin’s Romantic Suspense line and a contemporary trilogy for St. Martins. www.addisonfox.com

September 28, 2019 Tracy Brogan: Small Moments, Big Ideas: 

Discover how to piece together small moments to build your own book. Ms. Brogan explains her method of building a larger story from scenes—that rise up early in the creative drive of having a story within that needs completion revealing.

Tracy is a Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author of romantic comedies including the award winning Bell Harbor and Trillium Bay series. www.tracybrogan.com

October 12, 2019 Tami Cowden: Fallen Heroes: Sixteen Master Villian Archetypes:

 A workshop based on Ms. Cowden’s latest book. Sixteen literary villain archetypes are identified and their motivations examined. Reveals and shows what happens when heroes and heroines turn to the dark side.

(Workshop has a fee & attendees must be a member of RWA.)

tamicowden.com/villians or/archetypes

October 26, 2019 Piper Huguley: Making New Inroads: 

Crafting History: Finding New Narratives to Explore

Named in 2015 as top 10 Historical Romance Novelist in Publisher’s Weekly, Piper Huguley writes Historical Fiction featuring African American Christian characters. www.piperhuguley.com

December 7, 2019 Join us for DARA’s Holiday Brunch @ Richardson Civic Center

November (no meeting)* December 1st (Holiday Breakfast)

Program Director – Sue Haas

Secretary – Vicki Batman

Treasurer – Linda Steinberg

President – Elizabeth Essex

President Elect-Cat Summers