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Author mentors and friends . . .

I am very fortunate to have met many amazing authors and made some good friends in this business. One of the smartest things I did when I decided to write novels was to join Romance Writers of America (RWA). They were recommended to me by a science fiction author who said RWA was the best writers group in the business. RWA provides training, mentorship, and lots of advocacy for their writers. It also provides chapters around the country where one can meet and get to know both writers who are starting their careers and NY Times bestsellers in the same meetings.

Many of the authors below have been mentors for me. Some of them are critique partners with me, and a few are mentors, crit partners and good friends who keep me sane when I'm not sure I can write another word or edit another line. All of them are wonderful writers and I feel blessed to know them.

Gemma Halliday - Chick-lit and mystery combined. I must admit, I'm not much of a chick-lit fan, but her quirky characters combined with the mystery element is a definite must read. Now I hear that USA today is piloting a series based on her books. Go Gemma! A critique partner, mentor, and a writer who has stuck through thick and thin is going strong. If you are looking for fun and mystery, I highly recommend her books.

Kristen Painter - Paranormal, Fantasy, or YA. She writes them all. Her stories are imaginative and her characters pull at your heartstrings. A two time Golden Heart finalist, I predict Kristen will be publishing regularly for years to come. She's published with Samhain and with her own company. The first book in her gothic urban fantasy trilogy is due out from Orbit in October 2011. A critique partner for over five years, I just feel fortunate I get to see some advance chapters from time to time.

Roxanne St. Claire - Known for her NYT bestselling romantic suspense novels. I'm pretty sure I've read every book she's written. My two favorite series are: The Bullet Catchers and her most recent, The Guardian Angelinos. Rocki is now branching out to Young Adult novels as well, with her first YA novel due out in 2012. It's already been optioned for a movie. Even though she is well-known and highly respected, Rocki is still a sweet, down-to-earth person. I was fortunate to meet her while visiting a critique partner in Florida. We hit it off and she has served as a mentor and been supportive of my efforts since then.

Sela Carson - Sela writes across several sub-genres of romance, including paranormal, contemporary, historical and fantasy – even the occasional fairy tale. Her work includes short stories, novellas, and a novel. She has a wry sense of humor and her characters reflect that, as do the plots which tend to have an expected twist.

Gina Welborn - Gina is an Inspirational writer in historical romance. Another Golden Heart finalist, she has recently sold her debut novel and has several more ready to be contracted. Her novels contain descriptions to die for, characters who are realistic and you can easily identify with their situations, and a great imagination for plot and relationships. How do I know? Because we've been crit partners a long time. It was Gina who taught me the importance of descriptiona nd setting. I can hardly wait to start buying her books.

Terri Reed - Terri writes inspirational romantic suspense for Love Inspired. I love her books, her plots, and her message. I can always count on her to deliver. You'll always see me blogging on each of her books as they come out because I ALWAYS pick them up and know I will be reading about someone who I can understand and root for all the way to the end. On top of that,Terri is a sweetheart of a person.

Jenna Bayley-Burke - Jenna writes contemporary romances that are fun, sexy, and always make me laugh while completely identifying with the heroines unfortunate mistakes. I don't often read straight contemporary romances because they are usually too young or too hip for me. But Jenna has the ability to keep it young and hip while still meeting the needs of us baby boomers. I'm in awe. She does e-books, traditionals, and every thing in between. We often joke we are actually sisters separated at birth. With a lot in common, yet totally opposite in how our lives have turned out, I count her as a good friend-sister and one day I hope to write as well as she does.

Delilah Marvelle - History based in scandal is Delilah's calling card. A woman with energy and heart that knows no bounds, Delilah is one of those rare writers who will willingly walk to the edge of a cliff and then find a way to balance with one foot in the air and one foot on the ground. I don't know how she does it but I love her for it, and her historical novels are reflective of that same edginess.

Babe King - Medical, contemporary, chick-lit, and traditional romance with an Australian slant. Her words leave you breathless. Her descriptions are to die for, and her quirky sense of humor will carry you through even the difficult challenges of life. Her manuscripts have finaled in many contests, and she has placed first in several. She's currently publishing in e-books, but I predict she will be a bestseller as soon as someone recognizes her genius and gets her books in print. She really is THAT good.

Minette Meador - I've only recently started reading Minette's work. She's been writing historical and paranormal romance, as well as straight science fiction. I can certainly identify with someone who is a cross-genre thinker. She's been publishing with small presses so far, but I think you will fall into her stories and appreciate her imagination once you give it a try. A woman with lots of experience and a big heart, I count her as a friend.

Kristine Kathyrn Rusch - She is an award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy writer. She has written many novels under various names, including Kristine Grayson for romance, and Kris Nelscott for mystery. Her novels have made the bestseller lists—even in London—and have been published in 14 countries and 13 different languages. I have looked up to Kris since we met in the mid 1980's when I was publishing SF short stories. She and her husband, Dean Wesley Smith, have gone out of their way to help professional writers learn the business and keep on top of the changing state of publishing. An amazing writer and a great mentor.

Cathryn Cade - You would never think Cathryn was a librarian when you read her red hot science fiction romances with plenty of adventure and a lick of humor. She is published with Samhain and just completed her 4th and final book of the Orion series. Cathryn is one of those people who are quietly competent, behind the scenes supportive, and always there to lend an ear or a laugh as needed. I loved her Orion series and I can't wait to see what she comes up with for her next series.

Kristin Hannah - I swear she has been secretly watching my life. She has a way of describing relationships with siblings, parents, friends, and lovers that sings of truth. Kristin was the first person to be able to describe the contemporaries I write as "romantic women's fiction." It made all the difference in the world and helped free me from the strictures I placed on myself to make those novels fit a different romance sub-genre. Someone who is willing to give of her time and expertise, I've had the pleasure of getting to know her through chapter meetings and presentations. It's not at all surprising she is a consistent NYT best-selling writer. Her themes, her style, her voice are uniquely hers and I feel fortunate to have her stories as part of my life.