Sara Portman – Featured Beau Monde Author

Sara Portman – Featured Beau Monde Author

Today’s featured Beau Monde author is Sara Portman!

Photo of author Sara Portman.Sara Portman is an award-winning author of historical romance. Her debut novel, THE REUNION, was named the 2015 winner in the Historical Category of the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® contest.
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Julia Justiss – Featured Beau Monde Author

Today’s featured Beau Monde author is Julia Justiss!

Photo of author Julia Justiss.Award-winning historical romance author Julia Justiss has written more than twenty-five novels and novellas set in the English Regency. Her awards include the Golden Heart for Regency from Romance Writers of America, The Golden Quill, and finals in Romantic Times Magazine’s Best First Historical, the National Readers Choice, the Daphne du Maurier and All About Romance’s Favorite Book of the Year.

A voracious reader who began jotting down plot ideas for Nancy Drew novels in her third grade spiral, Julia has published poetry and worked as a business journalist. An avid fan of Georgette Heyer, while unable to work a regular job when her husband was posted at the U.S Embassy in Tunisia, she decided to write her own Regency novel. And never looked back.
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The 2016 Mini-Conference & Soirée

Each year on the day before National conference begins, many members of the Beau Monde chapter of RWA® gather for a day filled with Regency workshops and after the Literacy Signing they reconvene for our annual Soirée. This year’s gathering included breakfast and time to mingle and check-in for the conference, followed by the Annual General Meeting with the usual various committee reports and the changing over of the board. Thank you to the 2015-2016 Board and Committee members for all your hard work but especially our conference chair Janna MacGregor, catering wrangler Sharon Sobel, and workshop coordinator Isobel Carr for doing such a fantastic jobs in organizing the event for us!

The Morning Sessions

A photo of the Jo Bevereley tribute at the 2016 Beau Monde mini-conference. The screen reads, "Remembering Jo Beverley (1947-2016)."
Remembering Jo Beverley (1947-2016)

We had a very special tribute to former Beau Monde member, Jo Beverley who lost her bout with cancer at the end of May this year.

Photo of Diana Belchase paying tribute to Jo Beverley.
Diana Belchase shared what is thought to be the last video interview with former Beau Monde member Jo Beverley.

Member Diana Belchase, had filmed an interview with the author for her TV show BookSmart and was gracious enough to share the unaired footage with the chapter members present. Jo’s wit, grace and perspective, not to mention her love of historical romance, shone through during the interview and are just a small part of why she and her wonderful books will be long remembered.

We spent the rest of the morning learning about Spies and Codes with Patricia Coleman, Regency Era Titles with Ella Quinn and The Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the Regency Era with Georgie Lee.

Our Keynote Address

After lunch, Jade Lee gave our keynote speech. If you know Jade, she’s funny and always cracking jokes. She did that. But she was also fiercely serious about how writing is also an ART, not just a craft and business.

Keynote Speaker, Jade Lee
Keynote Speaker, Jade Lee

Jade pointed out that the RWA National Workshop list included around 54 Craft/Research sessions, 65 Career Track topics and another 16 on Writer’s Life/Block/Depression. She told us she was going to talk about the one thing that never gets discussed– the ART of writing. Commercial Fiction — not literary. Every book has a core message in it. Not just the basics of genre or tropes, every book has a deeper more personal message. At its core, your book has a message that YOU need to hear.

“Art has us look at issues we are dealing with in our real life and look at them in a new way.” But digging in your soul is hard to do. Theme is one way as writers and even readers we do this. Look closer at your books and see what you keep coming back to again and again. Think about the last book you read that touched your heart and why?

She recently read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. Did you know Hitler wanted to be an artist but resistance beat him? It was easier for him to start World War II than to face a blank canvas. “Don’t start WW3, face that dark and awful blank page instead!” She urged us to tell that story that your soul is crying out for. Someone else out there needs to hear it too. Please, she begged us, go forth and write those stories. Because we are all artists in the truest, most beautiful sense of the word.

The Afternoon Sessions

The rest of the afternoon was spent in more workshops where Louisa Cornell helped us navigate the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Regency World both in terms of what was known/thought of mental illness at the time and various places where and ways in which people were ‘treated’ for their madness. Then, we charted a course in The Age of Sail with Alice Eakes and learned all about ships, different types of sails, and other nautical terms to use in our stories.

A special treat was the extended Q&A session on The State of the Regency Romance with Sarah Wendell – SBTB, Leah HultenschmidtGrand Central Publishing, Theresa Romain – Author, and Kevan Lyon – Marsal Lyon Literary Agency on the panel. The afternoon concluded with a look at The Grand Tour with Cheryl Bolen before we took a break for dinner and the Literacy Signing.

Photo of Kevan Lyon and Theresa Romain
Kevan Lyon and Theresa Romain
Photo of Leah Hultenschmidt and Sarah Wendell
Leah Hultenschmidt and Sarah Wendell

All sessions were recorded and they will soon be made available for purchase by members.

Our Annual Soirée

That evening, the soirée was quite an elegant affair. Cara King was our dance mistress for the evening and taught a variety of country dances including a Scottish Reel. Not all of the attendees dressed in their Regency Era finery, but the many who did looked absolutely wonderful, and a fabulous time was had by all.

Photo of 8 people in Regency costume at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
You might recognize these Beau Monde members from the Regency Era report with Sarah MacLean during the Rita/GH ceremony on Saturday night.
Photo of Sir Reginald Scott, Lady Elena Greene and Lady Cara King at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
Sir Reginald Scott, Lady Elena Greene and Lady Cara King at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
Photo of Alanna Lucas, Alina K. Field and Ann Cleeland, dressed as a highwayman.
This dashing highwayman made an appearance at the Soiree! Perhaps Sir Reginald had some competition?
Photo of Erica Ridley (left) an Emma Locke (Right) in their Regency finery.
Erica Ridley (left) an Emma Locke (Right) in their Regency finery.
Photo of Regency Dancing at the Soirée.
Learning a Country Dance
Photo of the Beau Monde Soirée as the dancers learn a Scottish Reel.
Learning a Scottish Reel

Awards and Congratulations to Beau Monde Members

Photo of President Karen Dobbins presenting Cheryl Bolen with the 2016 Lady of the Realm award.
Cheryl Bolen received the distinction as our 2016 Lady of the Realm. Thank you for all that you do for the chapter, Cheryl!
Photo of Elizabeth King winning the Grand Prize for the Royal Ascot writing contest with her manuscript TAMING THE EARL.
Elizabeth King won the Grand Prize in the 2016 Royal Ascot with her manuscript, TAMING THE EARL.
Rita Inspirational Romance Winner:
A Noble MasqueradePhoto of Kristi Ann Hunter A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House
Raela Schoenherr, editor
Golden Heart Historical Winner:
Photo of Elizabeth King “The Earl and the Pussycat” by Elizabeth King

Prescription for Sagging Middles   by Cheryl Bolen

Award-winning Regency romance author, Cheryl Bolen, whose romance novel, A Lady By Chance, is part of the Scandalous Brides boxed set, offers some valuable writing tips. In today’s article, Cheryl shares some secrets from a prolific author on how to avoid those sagging middle sections which can bog down a great story.

Perhaps some of these tips will be just the thing you need to help you liven up the middle part of your book when your enthusiasm for the story begins to flag.

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Standing out from the Slush Pile   by Cheryl Bolen

Some years ago, Cheryl Bolen spent some time talking to three authors and their editor who shared their suggestions on how to distinguish your work from all the other submissions which flood into every publisher. Though this article was originally published five years ago, much of the advice it contains is still relevant today, and the four ladies with whom Bolen spoke all offered encouragement to persevere despite rejection, by defining what a rejection actually means in the publisher’s terms.

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Spotlight on Barbara Dawson Smith   By Cheryl Bolen

Over the past few years, Cheryl Bolen has been publishing a Spotlight series of biographical sketches of a number of romance writers at her web site. She has graciously allowed us to re-post those biographical sketches here at the Beau Monde blog.

Today, we begin with a biographical sketch of award-winning romance author, Barbara Dawson Smith …

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Grace Kone (Blair Bancroft) – Featured Beau Monde Author

Grace Kone (Blair Bancroft) is today’s Featured Beau Monde Author

Grace Kone’s Biography –

I began writing (as Blair Bancroft) later than most because my mother was the successful author of children’s books, and it never occurred to me we could have two writers in the same family.

When I did make the attempt, the Regency was closest to my heart. But since I truly believe variety is the spice of life, I also write Romantic Suspense, Thrillers, Mystery, Futuristic, and Steampunk.

My Tarleton’s Wife won a Golden Heart and The Indifferent Earl, a RITA finalist, was chosen Best Regency by Romantic Times.

In 2011 I went “indie” with my backlist and am thoroughly enjoying the renaissance of my traditional Regencies.

A new Regency novella, Mistletoe Moment, was published by Ellora’s Cave (Blush) for the holidays.

Grace Kone Orange blossoms & Mayhem
Grace Kone Orange blossoms & Mayhem

And in January 2012 I uploaded my first indie-published new work, the thriller, Orange Blossoms & Mayhem.

Website: www.blairbancroft.com

Blog: http://mosaicmoments.blogspot.com

Facebook: Grace Kone

Linkedin: Grace Kone

Twitter: @blairbancroft

 

Deb Marlowe – Featured Beau Monde Author

Today’s Featured Beau Monde Author is Deb Marlowe.

Deb Marlowe - Beau Monde headshot
Deb Marlowe

Deb Marlowe adores history, England and Men in Boots.

Clearly she was destined to write Regency Historical Romance.  A member of RWA, the Heart of Carolina RWA and the Beau Monde for nearly 15 years, she’s won the Royal Ascot and the Golden Heart and has been nominated for a Rita.

She sold her first book to Harlequin Historicals in 2006 and her newest, Tall, Dark and Disreputable releases in March 2012.  She is a director of the Raleigh/Durham satellite of Lady Jane’s Salon.

She lives in North Carolina where she spends her days with the people in her head and her evenings with her wonderful husband, her two charming, active and hungry boys and one spoiled cat.

blogging at The Lady Scribes http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/

Cheryl Bolen Reveals The Power? of the Golden Heart Award

With the entry period for Beau Monde’s Royal Ascot Contest now underway, many of us are polishing our manuscripts and daydreaming about what effect a win might have on our budding writing careers. In today’s article, Cheryl Bolen, award-winning published author of several historical romance novels, records her conversations with a group of Golden Heart award finalists. They share their thoughts on the impact which Golden Heart recognition had on their careers and their success in publishing their books.

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Christine Wells – Featured Beau Monde Author

CHRISTINE WELLS

Christine Wells, today’s Featured Beau Monde Author, was a corporate   lawyer before resigning to write romance novels.

She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and two small but very noisy boys and is a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Australia.

A 2009 RITA nominee for THE DANGEROUS DUKE, Christine was also the first Australian to win the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

Find her at – Web

Valerie Bowman – Featured Beau Monde Author

Valerie Bowman

Valerie, today’s Featured Beau Monde Author, is a PRO member of RWA and a former Vice President of the First Coast Romance Writers chapter in Jacksonville, FL.

She has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in History from Smith College and has been writing and editing professionally for nearly 15 years as a technical writer and editor at a computer software company.

She is a 2011 finalist in the Regency category of the prestigious Golden Heart® Awards and is professionally represented by literary agent Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Find her at – Web  and Twitter

Diane Gaston – Featured Beau Monde Author

Diane Gaston.

Diane’s dream came true in 2003 with an unexpected phone call from England.                      The Harlequin Mills & Boon editor who judged her Regency Historical manuscript in the Golden Heart wanted to buy it—and it also won!

Diane’s Regencies have gone on to win RWA’s most prestigious RITA award, the National Readers Choice Award, The Orange Rose (now Bookseller’s Best), the Golden Quill and Holt Medallion.

She continues to write for Harlequin Historical. A member of Beau Monde for at least a decade, Diane enjoys being among like-minded people who love the Regency as much as she does.

She blogs at Risky Regencies on Mondays, Diane’s Blog on Thursdays, and eHarlequin the third Wednesday of the month. You can also find her on Facebook and on Twitter as DianeGaston.

 

Susan Gee Heino – Featured Beau Monde Author

Susan Gee Heino

Susan began her writing career as a Theatre student, where she discovered writing plays for others to perform was much easier than memorizing lines and showing up to rehearsal every day. After several years working in forsaken little theatres, she settled into her current role as preacher’s wife and child herder.

To preserve her sanity, she took her love of Historical Romance and turned her focus back onto writing. In 2008, she won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart ® Award in the Regency Historical category.

MISTRESS BY MISTAKE was released in 2009 by Berkley Publishing. DAMSEL IN DISGUISE, came out in 2010 and TEMPTRESS IN TRAINING will hit shelves in July of 2011. She is currently working on the fourth book in this series.

Miranda Liasson talks about Golden Heart Week

It’s Golden Heart Week

It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for! Doesn’t last November, when we cautiously and optimistically FedEx’d our bulging packages full of manuscript copies and binder clips goodbye on the crisp autumn breeze, seem SO long ago? On Friday, the calls go out from RWA to the winners of the Golden Heart Contest for unpublished writers. I’m very excited because this year, I know so many more people who are “going for the gold” thanks to Cyndi D’Alba setting up a loop for a bunch of us who entered. Plus, I have friends who are anxiously (or not so anxiously) holding their breath.

About Me

My Photo
I am a writer of Regency historical romance currently working on my third manuscript. Please join me as I blog about research, craft, community, and the road to publication. I am co-vice president of my local RWA chapter and a reviewer for The Season website and blog.

I’ll be following the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood all week. They are posting GH-related topics all week. Today’s was “T-minus Four and Counting to Golden Heart Day.” http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/

It was a great hoot to follow their blog last year where they celebrated with everyone’s announcements as they happened, and the winners often stopped in to say hi and give their reactions.

To the friends I know who entered, GOOD LUCK!!!

See you all on Friday–I am going to stock up on my secret chocolate stash for fortitude!

Posted with permission of the author.