About RWA: Board of Directors

Diane Pershing, President
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Diane has published 20 romance novels and was a finalist in several contests (RITA finalist, 2004). She is a past winner of the Aspen Gold, Golden Quill, and Orange Rose contests.

A member of the Orange County Chapter of RWA since 1991, Diane served as Published Authors Liaison in 1998, Chapter Co-President 1999 and 2000 and Past Presidential Advisor, 2001.

On a national level, Diane has served as Chairperson of 2003-2004 PAN Steering Committee, conducted workshops at two national conventions, and recently served two terms as Region Six Director.

In addition to her work with RWA, Diane is an actor and singer, newspaper columnist and television writer, experienced speaker and teacher of on-line workshops, passionate reader and enthusiastic supporter of the written word and those who create them.

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Michelle Monkou, President-Elect
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Michelle Monkou has been a member for over 10 years. Over the years, she served at the chapter level in leadership positions, including president.

Michelle sold her first romance novel to BET Books in 2002, with her 10th title released in October 2008. She currently writes under Harlequin's Kimani Romance.

Michelle earned a B.A. in English and M.A. in International Business. Since 1987, she has worked in the legislative arena for a chemical manufacturing company, regional bank and insurance trade associations in Washington, D.C. She resides in Maryland.

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Kelley St. John, Secretary
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Kelley St. John is serving her second term as RWA Secretary.  Previously a senior writer at NASA, she now spends her time penning steamy romances and quirky women's fiction for Grand Central Publishing and Harlequin Blaze. Kelley frequently presents conference workshops and is a member of the Southern Magic, Heart of Dixie, FTH, TARA, PASIC and Golden Network RWA chapters.  (www.kelleystjohn.com)

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Stephanie Feagan, Treasurer
Term expiration: 10/31/10

Stephanie Feagan, a member since 1995, is a RITA-winning, multipublished author who credits her success to the support, education and networking afforded her by RWA. Currently serving on the RWA Board of Directors as Treasurer, Stephanie is a charter member of The Golden Network, has served as treasurer and conference tour coordinator for Kiss of Death, and is a member of DARA and PASIC. A practicing CPA with over 25 years of experience in auditing and tax planning and compliance, Stephanie is a sole practitioner in Midland, Texas. She and her husband have two daughters.

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Terri Brisbin, Region One Director
Term expiration: 10/31/10

Two-time RITA finalist and the author of 18 romance novels and novellas, Terri Brisbin is wife to one, mom to three boys, and dental hygienist to hundreds in southern New Jersey, where she lives. After serving as a board member and president of her local chapter and as workshop chairperson for the 2005 RWA conference, she is in her second term as RWA Region 1 Director. Currently under contract with Harlequin Historicals and Kensington Brava, Terri will have several new historical romances—novels, novellas and short e-stories—released in 2008 and 2009.

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Madeline Hunter, Region One Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

New York Times best-selling novelist Madeline Hunter is a two-time RITA winner and six-time RITA finalist. She has published sixteen historical romances, all of which were national bestsellers.

Madeline has been chair of both RWA’s Long Range Planning Committee and a Strategic Plan Subcommittee. She has also served on the Academic Grant Committee and on PAN’s advisory board. She organized the PAN workshops for the 2005 national conference in Reno. A current member of PASIC, she has also been a member of the New Jersey Romance Writers. She is a frequent keynote and workshop speaker at chapter meetings and conferences. She has supported PRO’s efforts through a boot camp on contracts as well as providing material for PRO’s educational booklets about the publishing industry.

In addition to her writing career, Madeline is a professor of Art History. She lives in Pennsylvania.

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Ruth Kaufman, Region Two Director
Term expiration: 10/31/10

Ruth Kaufman joined RWA in 1995. An active member of Chicago-North, Ruth has served as president and secretary, and as PRO liaison for Chick Lit Writers. Current Region 2 Director, she’s on RWA’s PRO Education Committee and has served on the Long Range Planning Committee. She was assistant board liaison to the 2008 Awards Show Committee, and belongs to Hearts through History and FF&P chapters. Five of her manuscripts have placed in a total of 19 contests, including runner up in Dorchester/RT BOOKreview’s national 2006 American Title II. She has written articles for the RWR and presents various workshops, including one at RWA’s National Conference in 2008 on promotion before you sell. An attorney with a master’s in Radio/TV, Ruth quit her sales/marketing day job to write and act full time. To learn more, visit www.ruthjkaufman.com.

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Cynthia Rutledge, Region Two Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Cynthia Rutledge/Cindy Kirk sold her first novel to Steeple Hill in 1999. After selling eleven books to Love Inspired and three books to Silhouette Romance, Cindy began writing for Avon and Silhouette Special Edition under her Cindy Kirk pseudonym.

Cindy is a co-founder and former President of Nebraska Romance Writers, two-term President of Romance Authors of the Heartland (now Heartland Writers Group). She has also coordinated numerous retreats for both chapters. In addition she has served at the national level as a member of a Rita/Golden Heart Review Committee and as a member of the Agent Relations subcommittee.

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Trish Milburn, Region Three Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Trish Milburn is an eight-time Golden Heart finalist and two-time winner. After 11 years of writing and submitting, she made her first sale to Razorbill, the young adult imprint of Penguin, in July.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer and copyeditor, Trish worked as a journalist, most recently as managing editor of The Tennessee Magazine. She’s currently the editor of the Wet Noodle Posse e-zine. She’s a charter member of Music City Romance Writers, which she’s served as president, secretary, treasurer and newsletter editor, and a long-distance member of Georgia Romance Writers. She served as RWA PRO Liaison in 2006-2007.

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Sara Reinke, Region Three Director

Sara Reinke joined Louisville Romance Writers (LRW) in 2005 and served as president-elect in 2007 and president in 2008. An award-winning journalist, Reinke has two novel-length romance fiction titles available from Kensington Publishing’s Zebra Books imprint, Dark Thirst and Dark Hunger. In 2008, Romantic Times hailed her as “definitely an author to watch.”

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Terri Reed, Region Four Director
Term expiration: 10/31/10

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Maggi Landry, Region Four Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

A 13-year member of Romance Writers of America, Maggi Landry helped found The Heart of Denver Romance Writers where she has served six board terms, four as president. She has helped coordinate The Molly contest for unpublished writers multiple times. She also belongs to The Kiss of Death chapter and has earned RWA PRO member status. Maggi has also frequently volunteered at the RWA national conference. A former bookstore owner and registered locksmith/security technician, Maggi has worked in business for thirty years and been a field manager for over seven years.

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Sharon Kay Sala, Region Five Director
Term expiration: 10/31/10

Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA. She has 76-plus books in print, written as Sharon Sala and Dinah McCall. First published in 1991, she’s a five-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, four-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, National Reader’s Choice Award, and Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence winners five times each. Her books are New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, WaldenBooks mass-market best sellers. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate.

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Lorraine Heath, Region Five Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

A RITA-winning, best-selling author of more than 20 published romantic fiction novels (Her current publisher is Avon Books), Lorraine Heath has been a member of RWA since 1993. An active member of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, she’s served two terms as president and coordinated three conferences, streamlining the workload so volunteers never sacrifice their writing time. In 2003 DARA honored her with the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award for her service to the Chapter. At the national level, she’s served as Chaplink Advisor and on the Chaplink Focus Group. She’s also served two terms on the Novelists, Inc. Board.

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Terry McLaughlin, Region Six Director
Term expiration: 10/31/10

Harlequin author Terry McLaughlin has enjoyed the benefits of membership in RWA for 10 years and appreciates the opportunity to serve at the national level. She is a member of The Golden Network, PASIC, From the Heart, and several West Coast chapters and has volunteered on the local level as Web mistress, contest coordinator, vice-president, and president. 

A 2003, 2004, and 2005 Golden Heart finalist and 2007 RITA finalist, Terry holds an MA in English and has taught writing at the university level. Lately she has combined her love of teaching and travel while presenting conference workshops across the country and in Australia and New Zealand.

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Julie Hurwitz, Region Six Director
Term expiration: 10/31/09

Since joining RWA and the Orange County Chapter in 1988, Julie Hurwitz has chaired various committees, served as co-president, and revised the OCC Bylaws and the P&PM. On the national level, she has served on many committees including Long Range Planning, Workshops and as the Editor/Agent Appointment Chair. She has also been a member of Passionate Ink since its inception.

An original ChapLink Advisor, Julie served continuously as Chaplink Advisor before becoming Chapter Liaison in 2005. She has coordinated several Chapter Presidents Retreats. With her degree from Indiana University, Julie has worked in the television industry for 20 years.

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Sharon Sobel, Chapter Liaison
Term expiration: 10/31/09

A member of RWA since 1994, I have attended 10 national conferences and have most recently served as President of The Beau Monde, Treasurer and founding member of the Connecticut and Lower New York Chapter (CoLoNY), and on the Academic Grant Committee of RWA. Since my Ph.D. studies focused on the Victorian novel, it’s not surprising that I’m drawn to historical romance, and have four published Regencies. My husband and I raised our three children in an 18th century farmhouse in Connecticut, quaint enough to provide inspiration, and large enough to give us all enough room to pursue our interests.

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Sherry Davis, PRO Liaison
Term expiration: 10/31/09

An RWA member since 1995, Sherry Davis received her PRO status in October of 2002. She is a member of North Texas RWA, Dallas Area RWA, FF&P and Elements RWA. She’s a former member of Passionate Ink and Kiss of Death. She has served her local chapter as a workshop presenter, Conference Chair and on numerous committees. She’s held local positions of PRO Liaison, Publicity Director, Programs Director and Vice President. In 2006, she served as President of NTRWA.
When not writing dark romantic comedies or urban fantasy, she enjoys mentoring new writers, crafting articles or working on her blogs.

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