MMRWA
Member Milestones

CYNTHIA ARENDS:

• A MOST UNLIKELY MATCH
  • Finalist in Hot Prospects contest, Historical category
  • Finalist in the "all author" historical category in From the Heart Romance Writers' The Wallflower Contest
• UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SEX DEMON:
• • Finalist in Hot Prospects contest, Historical category
  • 2nd place in the Gateway to the Best contest.
• WINGS OF DESIRE:
  • Finalist in the unpublished love scene category, From the Heart Romance Writers' The Wallflower Contest
  • Finalist in the 2008 FFandP On the Far Side contest
• The manuscript formerly known as Lord Andrew's Match finalist in the OKRWA Finally a Bride contest!
• 1st Place Stroke of Midnight Contest, Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Category, 2008
• Finalist PASIC, Erotica Category, 2008.
• WINGS OF DESIRE finalist in the 2008 Grand Beginnings contest.
• WINGS OF DESIRE finalist in NTRWA's 2007 Great Expectations Contest.
• Finaled twice in the 2007 Hot Prospect Contest:
  • LORD ANDREW'S MATCH, Historical category, 2nd place
  • WINGS OF DESIRE, Erotic Romance category, 1st place!

TEREASA BELLEW

• RWA^® Pro.
• Published an interview with regency author Nicola Cornick.
• Sold "Nightbird," a short story, to Hint of Seduction magazine.

HOLLI BERTRAM

• DANCING IN THE DARK - 2005 Golden Heart WINNER - Romantic Suspense!
• DATE WITH DANGER - 2004 Golden Heart Finalist - Romantic Suspense.
• DANCING IN THE DARK - 2004 WisRWA FabFive Contest - 2nd place, Romantic Suspense.
• RWA^® Pro.

ROSANNE BITTNER

• WHERE HEAVEN BEGINS, one the top three finalists for the prestigious 2005 WILLA Award, given annually by Women Writing the West for outstanding literature featuring women's stories set in the West.
• MYSTIC VISIONS - Affaire De Coeur Finalist, Best American Historical, 2000. Finalist, Affaire De Coeur's Favorite Author Award 2000, voted on by readers.
• MYSTIC DREAMERS - Romantic Times Best Historical Novel nominee for 1999. Affaire De Coeur's Hall of Fame, 1999.
• LOVE ME TOMORROW - Finalist, 1999 Heart O'Denver RWA Aspen Gold Award; Finalist, 1999 Phoenix Desert Rose RWA Golden Quill Award; Finalist Plaque, 1999 Oklahoma RWA Reader's Choice Award; Finalist, long Historical category, 1998 National Reader's Choice Awards sponsored by Oklahoma RWA. Romantic Times Career Achievement Award nominee for 1998.
• TAME THE WILD WIND- 1st place Wisconsin RWA "Write Touch: Readers' Awards Contest", Historical Category, 1997. Romantic Times "Historical Storyteller of the Year" nominee for 1997.
• CHASE THE SUN - 2nd Place, Wisconsin RWA "Write Touch: Readers' Awards Contest," Historical Category, 1996. Affaire De Coeur's Reviewer's Choice Award, 1995.
• WILDEST DREAMS - 1995 Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers, Historical Romance
• UNTIL TOMORROW, Romantic Times, Reviewers' Choice Award for best Western Historical Romance 1994-95.
• TENDER BETRAYAL, 1st place, Puget Sound (WA) Romance Readers Choice Award "Favorite Civil War Romance," 1994; Reviewers' Choice Award for best North American Historical Romance, Romantic Times, 1992-93.
• UNFORGETTABLE - Romantic Times, Reviewers' Choice Award for best Western Historical Romance, 1993-94
• SONG OF THE WOLF - RWA^® RITA Finalist 1993; Romantic Times, Reviewers' Choice Award for best Indian Romance, 1991-92; 3rd Place, Oklahoma RWA "Reader's Choice Award," 1993. Affaire De Coeur's 1992 Golden Pen Award, Favorite Historical Author.
• EMBERS OF THE HEART - Romantic Times, Best Post-Civil War Romance, 1991.
• IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAINS - Romantic Times, Reviewers' Choice Award for best Western Historical Saga, 1990-91
• Certificate of Excellence in Career Achievement for Western Historical Romance - Romantic Times,1990-91
• THIS TIME FOREVER - Romantic Times, Best Fictionalized Biography, 1990. 3rd place, "Bookstores That Care" Award for Outstanding Historical Romance Author, 1990.
• TENNESSEE BRIDE, HEART'S SURRENDER, THIS TIME FOREVER , Affaire De Coeur's Golden Certificate, 1990 & 1989. Affaire De Coeur's Silver Pen Award for Excellence, 1989 & 1987.
• SAVAGE DESTINY - Romantic Times, Best Western Series, 1986.
• RIVER OF LOVE - Romantic Times, Best Indian Romance, 1986.
• "Distinguished Woman Award" presented by the City of Coloma, MI.

JACKIE BRAUN

• Nominated for Series Storyteller of the Year for 2008 by Romantic Times.
• EXPECTING A MIRACLE finalist in 2009 National Readers Choice Awards.
• WOMAN WORTH LOVING, 2007 RITA finalist, traditional category.
• IN THE SHELTER OF HIS ARMS - Romantic Times reviewer's choice award winner in the Best Harlequin Romance category, 2005
• IN THE SHELTER OF HIS ARMS - second place, Traditional/Inspirational Category, Romance Writers Ink’s 2006 More Than Magic contest
• THE GAME SHOW BRIDE - 2005 RITA Finalist - Traditional Romance, 2004 National Readers Choice Award Finalist - Traditional Category
• HER STAND-IN GROOM -2004 National Readers Choice Award Finalist - Traditional Category
• "The Best Man," January 2004 issue of the now defunct Arabella Romances magazine.
• TRUE LOVE, INC., Silhouette Romance, 2002 - Rita finalist; National Reader's Choice Awards finalist.
• ONE FIANCÉE TO GO, PLEASE, Silhouette Romance (first book) - 2001 Rising Star Award Winner in Traditional Romance.
• Writes features for eight weekly newspapers in Genesee County and a Sunday column for The Flushing Observer.

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LISA CARDLE

• RWA^® Pro.

MICHELLE CELMER

• HOUSE CALLS finaled in the short contemporary category of The Readers’ Choice Contest.
• OUT OF SIGHT, Winner of the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award Contest: Long Contemporary
• PLAYING BY THE BABY RULES - first book; sold to Silhouette Desire in March, 2003. Within a year she sold six more.
• Her first two Desires, PLAYING BY THE BABY RULES and THE SEDUCTION REQUEST ranked in the top ten of the Waldenbooks best seller list.

SUE CHARNLEY

• HANNAH'S HEART, finalist in the Paranormal category, Valley Forge Romance Writers 2006 SHEILA contest
• HANNAH'S HEART, first place, Show Me the Spark contest

LISA CHILDS

• FINALLY A BRIDE
  • Write Touch Readers’ Award finalist
  • Beacon Finalist
  • Galye Wilson's Award of Excellence.
• ONCE A LAWMAN, Romantic Times Top Pick.
• SECRET SANTA, 1st place in the 2008 Lories
• DAMNED, 2nd in the 2008 Lories paranormal category.
• LEARNING TO HULA
  • Finalist in the National Reader’s Choice Awards
  • Third place in the Lories mainstream category.
  • Finalist in WisRWA’s 2007 Write Touch Reader’s Choice.
  • Finalist, 2007 More Than Magic.
  • Nominated for Reviewer Choice Awards from CataRomance in the single title category.
• HAUNTED
  • Finalist, Golden Quill paranormal category.
  • Finalist, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, paranormal category
  • Nominated for Reviewer Choice Awards from CataRomance in the series category.
• TAKING BACK MARY ELLEN BLACK
  • Romance Writers Ink’s 2006 More Than Magic Contest: First in Long Contemporary category and Grand Prize!
  • Romantic Times reviewer's choice award finalist, 2005
• THE SUBSTITUTE SISTER, finalist in the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award Contest: Romantic Suspense
• SARAH'S SECRETS - Finalist, National Reader's Choice Romantic Suspense 2004
• RETURN OF THE LAWMAN - 1st place 2003 Blue Boa Award for Excellence for Romantic Suspense; 2nd place 2003 Wisconsin Write Touch Reader's Choice Award for Romantic Suspense; 2nd place Romantic Suspense 2003 Laurel Wreath Award; 3rd place for Best First Book 2003
• MORE THAN MAGIC- 2003 Barclay Gold - Top Ten finalist (contemporary category); 2003 Dorothy Parker nominee for Best First Book.
• 2002 Lories Best New Author - Romantic Suspense
• 2002 Lories Best New Author Overall

DANA CORBIT

• A HICKORY RIDGE CHRISTMAS,
  • winner, Holt Medallion competition, short inspirational category. 10th
  • finalist in the 2007 Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence
• Sold seven books - six to Steeple Hill Love Inspired, one to Guideposts Books.
• A BLESSED LIFE - finalist, 2003 Holt Medallion Contest, short inspirational category.
• First place, Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors competition, non-deadline news reporting, 1990.
• National award, first place, Education Writers Association, breaking news, 1988.

SUSAN CROUSE

• PUT HIM OUT OF MY MISERY finaled in 2007 Kiss of Death's Daphne contest, Single Title division.
• RWA^® Pro.

FLAVIA CROWNER

• In 2004, six devotionals accepted for PRAYERS & PROMISES analogy for the armed forces by Barbour Publications.
• Devotional accepted for PENNED FROM THE HEART analogy, Son-Rise Publications for 2005 daily devotional book.
• Interviewed in October, 2004, for the Allegan County paper about PIE PANTRY and her goals as a writer.
• "The Gift" - article in the Christmas Edition News Letter for the American Christian Fiction Writer ( an online organization.), 2004.
• Book interview with Ability-Culture in 2004 about PIE PANTRY and caregivers.
• Guest speaker, Young Authors Week, at Fennville Library in 2004.

LYNETTE M. CURTIS

• Second Place in 2009 Romance Slam Jam Aspiring Author Contest.
• Finalist in 2009 River City Romance Author's Duel on the Delta Contest.

KATIE DUBOIS:

• First place in the 2007 Saskatchewan Romance Writers "We Dare You" contest for Regency-era historical LION EYES.

WIL EMERSON

• Short story 'Temporarily Detained' has been nominated for a 2007 Derringer Award.

ROHN FEDERBUSH

• Short story "Cat and Mouse" took Second Place in Detroit Writers' Guild Contest
• RWA^® Pro.

NANCY GIDEON

• WARRIOR'S SECOND CHANCE, CataRomance Reviewer's Choice Award nomination, 2006.
• Romantic Times nomination for Career Achievement for Historical New Reality
• MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION- Booklovers Bestselling Paranormal Award
• MIDNIGHT SURRENDER - Romantic Timesnomination for Best Historical Fantasy
• MIDNIGHT ENCHANTMENT - Amazon.com Horror Bestseller for 2000; aol.com Bestselling Books List, Booksellers Best finalist for Best Paranormal
• MIDNIGHT GAMBLE - Romantic Times nomination for Best Vampire Romance, Amazon.com Top Ten Horror Bestseller, Prism Award finalist for Best Dark Paranormal
• MIDNIGHT REDEEMER- RIO (Reviewers International Organization) finalist for Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence in Paranormal; Prism Award finalist for Best Dark Paranormal
• MIDNIGHT SHADOWS - Romantic Times nomination for Best Vampire Romance, FF&P finalist for Daphne du Maurier Award for Romantic Suspense
• MIDNIGHT CRUSADER - Booksellers Best Finalist For Best Paranormal
• INTO THE WOODS - Simegen winner of Best Horror Paperback Book
• FOR MERCY'S SAKE - Waldenbooks Top Ten Series Bestseller
• LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART - Laurel Wreath finalist for Best Romantic Suspense

Writing as DANA RANSOM:

• Romantic Times Career Achievement for Historical Adventure winner
• Romantic Times Career Achievement for Western Romance nominee
• TEXAS RENEGADE - Romantic Times K.I.S.S. award winner
• SWEET TEXAS DREAMS - WisRWA finalist for Readers Award for Historical Romance

Writing as ROSALYN WEST:

• A WOMAN'S HEART - Romantic Times nomination for Best North American Historical
• MEN OF PRIDE COUNTRY: THE OUTCAST- HOLT Medallion winner, Ingram's Buyer's Choice, Barnes & Noble Top Romance Pick
• MEN OF PRIDE COUNTRY: THE OUTSIDER - Romantic Timesnomination for Best Historical Book in a Series

RENEE HAND

• SEDUCTION OF THE LONELY HEART, National Literary Award for Best Fantasy Romance Book of 2007.
• MAGIC HEARTS, her first novel, Best 2006 Fantasy Romance

ALISON HART /JENNIFER GREENE

• Winner, Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009!
• "Born in My Heart," in LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER anthology, 2008 RWA^® RITA Winner, Best Romance Novella.
• BLAME IT ON CUPID, 2008 RWA^® RITA finalist in the Contemporary Single Title Romance category.
• RWA^® Hall of Fame l998
• NOBODY'S PRINCESS - RWA^®; RITA l998
• SINGLE DAD - RWA^®RITA l996
• QUICKSAND - RWA^® RITA finalist l994
• Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Series Romantic Adventure l99l-92
• PINK TOPAZ - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice in series romantic suspense l99l-92
• BROKEN BLOSSOM - RWA^® RITA finalist l99l
• DEVIL'S NIGHT - RWA^® Golden Medallion Finalist l990
• NIGHT OF THE HUNTER - RWA^® RITA l989; Affaire de Coeur Silver Certificate l989
• Romantic Times Best Series Romance Author l989
• SECRETS - RWA^® Golden Medallion Finalist l989
• Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award l988-89
• NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Affaire de Coeur Silver Certificate l987
• AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'- RWA^® Golden Medallion Finalist l986
• Romantic Times Best Sensual Series Author l985
• SILVER AND SPICE - RWA^® Silver Medallion l984

MARGO HOORNSTRA

• "Oh, So Right" nominated for Best Book of 2008 by the Long and Short of It Reviews
• HONORABLE INTENTIONS, placed 3rd in 2007 Winter Rose Contest in series contemporary category.

TAMMY KEARLY

• RWA^® Pro.

ANNE MARIE KING-KUBIAK

• RWA^® Pro.

LUCY KUBASH

• CHANCE'S RETURNWINNER - CAPA (Cupid and Psyche Award) from The Romance Studio (theromancestudio.com)!
• CHANCE'S RETURN, September 2006, from Triskelion Publishing. FIRST BOOK!

LAURIE CAROLE KUNA, Writing as LAURIE CARROLL

• Mid-Michigan RWA 2008 MMRWA ANGEL AWARD FOR SERVICE! For details, please see the May 2009 edition of the Mid-Michigan Mirror!
• A WAR OF HEARTS, ImaJinn Books, June 2002; a 1994 Golden Heart finalist under its former title A SOLDIER'S HEART.

Writing as LAURIE KUNA

• SOME PRACTICAL MAGIC, ImaJinn Books June 2004, 4 1/2 star rating from Romantic Times, finalist in the Romantic Times Book Club "Best Book" of 2004 Contest in Best Small Publisher Paranormal/Fantasy category. The sequel, THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC, also from ImaJinn, is scheduled for release in summer, 2005.
• MMRWA past president.

LORALEE LILLIBRIDGE

• RAMSEY'S RETURN - 2004, Sold to Silhouette Special Edition, release date TBA; 1st Place - Long Contemporary - Romancing the Novel contest 2003.
• ALL THAT MATTERS - 2nd Place - Single Title - Melody of Love contest 2003.
• RWA^® Pro - 2002.
• MMRWA past president.

 GAIL GAYMER MARTIN

• Voted 2008 Author of the Year by Heartsong Presents.
• WITH CHRISTMAS IN HIS HEART, finaled for 2007 Award of Excellence, Holt Medallion, and National Readers Choice Award.
• WITH CHRISTMAS IN HIS HEART, Colorado RWA Award of Excellence, 2007
• FINDING CHRISTMAS, Winner of the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award Contest: Inspirational
• THE CHRISTMAS KITE - 2004 Holt Medallion finalist; optioned by Greystoke Entertainment for a Hallmark TV movie.
• LOVING WAYS - 2004 Golden Quill finalist; 2004 Booksellers Best Award finalist
• LOVING HEARTS - 2004 Inspirational Readers Choice Finalist
• LOVING TREASURES - 2003 Holt Medallion Award for short inspirational; Third place, Blue Boa Award -March 2003
• A LOVE FOR SAFEKEEPING - First place, 2003 Winter Rose for short inspirational; Romantic Times Best Love Inspired of 2002; 2002 Book of the Year Award for short inspirational American Christian Romance Writers Conference
• HER SECRET LONGING - Second place, 2002 National Booksellers Best Award for traditional romance
• UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR - 2001 Holt Medallion Award for short inspirational; 2001 Finalist National Readers™ Choice Award
• "The Mahogany Rocking Chair" - First place American Christian Writers, 1997
• DREAMING OF CASTLES - Fifth place - "Touched By Love Contest" 1997; Third place, A Dark and Stormy Knight Contest 1997
• 1996 Writer of the Year - Detroit Conference of The American Christian Writers

CATHERINE MC CLAIN

• The Mechanic's Dream, a finalist in the Emerald City Opener Contest Series Romance category
• The Finndian, Honorable mention in the Romantic Suspense category, Wisconsin Fab Five contest 2006
• RWA^® Pro.
• The Heart of Alys - 3rd place, 2005 Reveal Your Inner Vixen Contest, Category length.

JULIE LYNN MC MULLEN

• THE KEY TO MY HEART finaled in the future/fantasy & paranormal category of the Celtic Hearts Golden Claddaugh contest.
• Ties That Bind placed first in MMRWA’s 2007 HEA Contest Paranormal Category
• RWA^® Pro.

LANA MIERSEN, writing as J.L. Miersen

• MMRWA Angel Award, 2007!
• FALCON'S WAY -- 1st Place, Paranormal Division, First Impressions 2002; 1st Place, Paranormal Division, The 2002 Suzannah Award for Excellence; 1st Place, Paranormal Division (unpublished), Daphne du Maurier Contest 2004.
• 2003 RWA^® Pro.
• MMRWA past president.

KATHLEEN NANCE

• PHOENIX UNRISEN—Beacon finalist in the romantic suspense category.
• Two-time Golden Heart finalist; Golden Heart winner in Romantic Suspense.
• JIGSAW– Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nominee for Romantic Intrigue 2006. Romantic Times Top Pick 2005
• DAY OF FIRE – finalist in the PRISM contest, futuristic category 2005. Romantic Times Top Pick 2004
• SPELLBOUND – Winner of the Colorado Award of Excellence 2004. Winner of the PRISM, fantasy category 2004, 2004 Finalist in the National Reader’s Choice Award, Daphne Contest, and More Than Magic Contest.
• ENCHANTMENT – Finalist in the 2003 PRISM contest, fantasy category
• THE WARRIOR – National Reader’s Choice award winner 2002, Finalist in the Daphne contest and Windy City Choice Award for 2002
• MORE THAN MAGIC – 2000 Rita Finalist. Winner in the 2000 PRISM contest, light paranormal category. Winner, 2000 SARA Rising Star Award – won both the paranormal category and the overall grand prize. Winner in the 2000 Holt Medallion contest, Finalist in the 2000 Booksellers Best Award contest and the Colorado Award of Excellence.
• WISHES COME TRUE– Finalist in the 1999 PRISM contest, the Colorado Award of Excellence, and the SARA Rising Star contest. Finalist in 1999 Romantic Times Bookstores That Care Award.

AMY OLLE

• CHASING STARLIGHT took 2nd place in the Alaska RWA^® Break-Up Contest.

CINDY SPENCER PAPE. also writing as CIAN FEY

• Three nominations for Romance Studio 2008 CAPA awards:
  • ALL THE WAY BACK, Contemporary Romance
  • THREE FOR ALL, Paranormal Erotic
  • DRAGON IN THE SYSTEM, Psyche Award
• CURSES finalist in the EPPIES, the major award for e-published books.
• CURSES is nominated for the CAPA in Best Erotic Paranorma

TRACY ROPER

• TOTALLY DODY earned first place in the Connecticut RWA FictionFest Write Stuff Contest for single title, contemporary

CONNIE SMITH

• BITEMARKS - 1st place Romantic Suspense, 2004 Valley of the Sun "Hot Prospect" Contest

MARIS SOULE

• THE CROWS nominated for a 2008 Great Lakes Book Award.
• A PARTY TO MURDER - 2nd place Lone Star contest 2003 - Single Title Mystery/Suspense
• CNW/FFWA Writing Competition: 3rd place SHOWTIME, 2002; Honorable Mention THE CROWS, 2001
• Two-time RITA finalist: A WINNING COMBINATION, 1988 and CHASE THE DREAM, 1999
• Two-time Kiss of Death (now the DAPHNE) finalist: 2nd place 1998 - SHELTER FROM THE STORM & 3rd place 1999 - CHASE THE DREAM
• Two-time Write Touch: Readers Awards: 1st place Short Contemporary Category 1996 - THE THRILL OF THE CHASE; 1st place Traditional Category 1997 - SUBSTITUTE MOM
• RWA^® Silver Rose Award for service
• MMRWA Angel Award
• FIRST IMPRESSIONS - Giveaway book to introduce Harlequin Temptation line in 1983
• 25 published romances - Harlequin, Silhouette & Bantam

SANDRA STONE

• RWA^® Pro.

AMI WEAVER:

• AN ACCIDENTAL FAMILY placed second in East Texas RWA's Southern Heat Contest, in the series category.
• THE NANNY'S SECRET First Place, NTRWA's 2007 Great Expectations Contest in the Contemporary Series category.
• THE WRONG MR. RIGHT finaled in the Short Contemporary category of the 2007 Hot Prospect Contest.

ALICE WEIDNER

• RWA^® Pro.

        If you'd like to know more about the published members of our group, please see our Meet our Authors page. For the best in romantic fiction, check back periodically to find out what new releases are in the bookstores from our members!