Welcome to the Romance Writers of America LGBT special interest chapter

A very productive meeting with the membership this past weekend. In support of the Rainbow Romance Writers goal of raising visibility for the genre, four committees were formed to oversee specific projects coordinated to promote LGBT romance to new audiences and media outlets: Events, Financial, Outreach/Education, Research/Retail.

A HUGE round of applause to the members who have stepped up to help the Rainbow Romance Writers get serious about its presence in the industry. This is the way change happens!

Events Committee:

This committee coordinates opportunities for RRW visibility and advocacy at gatherings within the romance and LGBT communities, making our presence felt and fun. Events board members plan on attending in 2012: Romantic Times, CARAS Conference, Gay Rom Lit, RWA Nationals, Authors After Dark, RomCon, and Rainbow Book Fair.

Interim Chair: Heidi Cullinan    (Board Liaisons: Damon & Heidi)

Members

• Kimberly Gardner
• Lisa Reuter
• Ellis Carrington
• Kari Gregg

Financial Committee:

This committee will build the RRW budget alongside the RRW programs, to oversee scholarships for potential members in need, and to expand fundraising alongside increased RRW projects while keeping us within our non-profit margins.

Chair: J.M. Cartwright    (Board Liaisons: Lara & Amberly)

Members

• Kari Gregg
• Stephani Hecht
• L.D. Madison
• Tarra Thomas
• Alison Diem

Outreach/Education Committee:

This committee handles education inside and outside the chapter: curating workshops, articles, and cooperative promotion with LGBT charities, romance genre organizations, and literacy groups through information and bridge-building.

Chair: Lisa Reuter     (Board Liaisons: Damon & Amberly)

Members

• Adriana Kraft
• Ellis Carrington
• Lloyd Meeker
• Stephani Hecht

Research/Retail Committee:

This committee will be gathering genre data from publishers, retailers, and authors to get a clear picture of our evolution, connecting with brick-n-mortar stores to encourage local RRW events and generate shelf space for the genre, and campaigning with retailers to improve categorization and availability of LGBT romance titles.

Chair: Kate McMurray     (Board Liaisons: Damon & Heidi)

Members

• Zahra Owens
• Ava March
• Ally Blue
• B. Snow
• A.C. Katt

Our chapter is only as strong as we make it. We know that many members weren’t available during the discussion this past weekend, but if anyone is interested in having a direct impact on the perception and success of LGBT romance, please consider joining up with one of these groovy groups.

Many hands make light work!

Big changes are coming for our chapter this winter. LGBT romance has evolved radically in the past few years, and the Rainbow Romance Writers aims to help all its members achieve their goals within the industry. Focusing on outreach, networking, and advocacy for our members, the RRW board has charted a new course for 2012 that will reflect the possibilities we see in the LGBT romantic fiction market.

Our genre has exploded and we have exciting stuff in store here at the RRW. Over the next two months, this website will be under heavy construction as we make it more of a dynamic resource for the plans we’re putting into action. Please keep your eye on this space for news and updates.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact one of the current board members:

President: Heidi Cullinan

Vice-President: Damon Suede

Treasurer: Lara Brukz

Secretary: Amberly Smith

Over at the M/M Romance group at Goodreads, the members have singled out an amazing list of titles by both new and familiar authors, including many RRW members and others within the genre.

On January 7th, the popular goodreads group hosted a chat to celebrate reaching 5000+ members and and to announce the 2011 M/M Romance Group Choice Award live! They awarded badges to the top three winners in each category. 123 Awards in all!

Many congratulations to all the folks recognized for their titles in 2011!
Best book of the year
*1 – Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - Come Unto These Yellow Sands

Anthology (book)
*1 - Don’t Read in the Closet: Volume One (with a story by RRW member J.P. Barnaby)
*2 - His For The Holidays
*3 - Don’t Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition (with stories by RRW members J.P. Barnaby, Rachel Haimowitz, Damon Suede, Bryl Tyne, Missy Welsh)

Best Debut Book
*1 – Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - Life Lessons

Contemporary (genre)
*1 – Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - Come Unto These Yellow Sands

Mystery/Whodunit (genre)
*1 - Come Unto These Yellow Sands
*2 - All She Wrote
*3 - Breaking Cover

Paranormal (genre)
*1 - GhosTV
*2 - Honored Vow
*3 - Dance in the Dark

SciFi/Futuristic/Post Apocalyptic (genre)
*1 - A Solid Core of Alpha
*2 - 18% Gray
*3 - Grown Men by RRW member Damon Suede
*3 - Kidnapped
*3 - Out of the Woods

Long 250 pages or 100K words (book)
*1 - Divide & Conquer
*2 - Between Sinners and Saints by RRW member Marie Sexton
*3 - A Solid Core of Alpha

Nomination – Short Story 25 pages or 15K words or less (book)
*1 - Like the Taste of Summer
*2 - Delivery With A Smile
*3 - I Am the Highway

Best Story that Should/Must have a Sequel
*1 - Something Like Summer
*2 - Clear Water
*3 - The Locker Room

Best Free Story
*1 - Zero Hour
*2 - A Little Bit Country
*3 - Wanting

Best Cover
*1 -  Artwork by Anne Cain for Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 -
*3 -

Best First Time
*1 - The Locker Room
*2 - Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
*3 - Wanting

Best Sex Scene
*1 - Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Clear Water
*3 - Bayou Dreams by RRW member Lynn Lorenz

Best Tearjerking scene
*1 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*2 - The Locker Room
*3 - Bloodlines

Funniest Quotes/Best Lines
*1 - GhosTV
*2 - Whitetail Rock
*3 - Divide & Conquer

BDSM (sex content)
*1 - Nowhere Ranch by RRW member Heidi Cullinan
*2 – I, Omega by RRW member Kari Gregg
*3 - Spin Out

Hottest M/M/M
*1 - Out Of Focus
*2 - Ghost from the Past
*3 - Room at the Top

Slave/Dub Con/Kidnapped (sex content/theme)
*1 -  I, Omega by RRW member Kari Gregg  
*2 - Counterpunch
*3 - His Client by RRW member Ava March

Best Tear Jerker (theme)
*1 - The Locker Room
*2 - Between Sinners and Saints
*3 - Living Promises

Coming Out (theme)
*1 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*2 - The Locker Room
*3 - Breaking Cover

Enemies to Lovers  (theme)
*1 - The Heart of Texas
*1 - Bad Company
*2 - A Thread of Deepest Black
*3 - Bridges

Gay/Out For You (theme)
*1 - Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - The Locker Room

Humorous (theme)
*1 - Divide & Conquer
*2 - Mummy Dearest
*3 - Clear Water

Friends to Lovers (theme)
*1 - Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - The Locker Room

Hurt/Comfort (theme)
*1 - Divide & Conquer
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - Between Sinners and Saints by RRW member Marie Sexton

Young Adult Characters (theme)
*1 - Talker’s Redemption
*2 - Something Like Summer
*3 - Bridges

Law Enforcement/PI/Firemen/Military (profession)
*1 - Hot Head by RRW member Damon Suede
*2 - Divide & Conquer
*3 - GhosTV

Cowboys (profession)
*1 - Nowhere Ranch by RRW member Heidi Cullinan
*2 - The Heart of Texas
*3 - After the Sunset

Musicians/Rockstars (profession)
*1 - American Love Songs
*2 - Reverb by RRW member Jet Mykles
*3 - Moonlight Becomes You

*3 - Out of the Woods

Best Title
*1 - Come Unto These Yellow Sands
*2 - How to Keep the Love of Your Life
*2 - I Love You, Asshole!
*2 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*3 - Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela

Most Surprising/Unique Plot Device
*1 - A Solid Core of Alpha
*2 - Static
*3 - Hell’s Pawn

Best World Created
*1 - A Solid Core of Alpha
*2 - Dance in the Dark
*3 - 18% Gray
*3 - Hell’s Pawn

Best Couple/MC’s
*1 - Divide & Conquer
*2 - GhosTV
*3 - Honored Vow

Hottest Vampire Character
*1 - Marcus – With a Kiss
*2 - Titus Antonius Calidus – Natural Instincts
*3 - Liam – A Chip in His Shoulder

Hottest Shifter Character
*1 - Logan Church – Honored Vow
*2 - Shane – Shane’s Fury by RRW member Stephani Hecht
*3 - Killian Frost – A Thread of Deepest Black

Best Side/Supporting Character
*1 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid
*2 - Clear Water
*3 - Honored Vow

Favorite All Time M/M Romance Book
*1 - Keeping Promise Rock
*2 - Zero at the Bone
*3 - Bareback

Favorite All Time M/M Series
*1 - Fatal Shadows – Adrien English Mystery Series
*2 - Cut & Run – Cut & Run
*3 - Promises – Coda Books by RRW member Marie Sexton
*3 - Keeping Promise Rock – Promises
Favorite All Time M/M Author
*1 - Josh Lanyon
*2 - Amy Lane
*3 - Mary Calmes

Favorite All Time M/M Character(s)
*1 - Cut & Run
*2 - Fatal Shadows
*3 - Among the Living