WRW Board Members:
Lavinia Howe Klein, President
J. Keely Thrall, Vice President
Mary Lenaburg, Secretary
Helen Hester-Ossa, Treasurer
Kathryn Anderson, Past President
Mary Blayney
Merry Banerji
Deborah Barnhart
Marjanna Bogan
Jackie Graf
Diana Peterfreund
Yvonne Pinney
Committee Chairs:
Co-Programs Chair, Michelle Butler
Co-Programs Chair, Mary Lenaburg
Hospitality Chair, Karen Corkran
Appeals Chair, TBA pending General Meeting
Newsletter, Debra Newhouse
Website, Nicky Penttila
Wufoo Database, Julie Halperson
Elections Chair, Kathy Altman
Publicity Chair, Binnie Syril Braunstein
Membership Chair, Catherine Kent
Marlene Chairs, J. Keely Thrall & Beth Balberchak
Retreat Chair, Kathryn Anderson
Published Author Liaisons, Merry Banerji & Glenda Garland
Unpublished Author Liaison, Deborah Barnhart
Library/Archives, Julie Stewart
Critique Group Coordinator, Lee Duncan
Online Workshops Chair, Kathy Schindler
WRW Board Members:
Lavinia Howe Klein, President
Diana Peterfreund, Vice President
Jackie Graf, Secretary
Helen Hester-Ossa, Treasurer
Kathryn Anderson, Past President
Merry Banerji
Deborah Barnhart
Marjanna Bogan
Susan Donovan
Yvonne Pinney
Alix Rickloff
Mary Blayney
Committee Chairs:
Co-Programs Chair, Michelle Butler
Co-Programs Chair, Mary Lenaburg
Hospitality Chair, Karen Corkran
Appeals Chair, Susan Donovan
Newsletter, Debra Newhouse
Website, Nicky Penttila
Wufoo Database, Julie Halperson
Elections Chair, Kathy Altman
Publicity Chair, Binnie Syril Braunstein
Membership Chair, Catherine Kent
Marlene Chairs, J. Keely Thrall & Beth Balberchak
Retreat Chair, Jeanne Adams
Retreat Site Committee, Kathryn Anderson
Published Author Liaisons, Merry Banerji & Glenda Garland
Unpublished Author Liaison, Deborah Barnhart
Library/Archives, Julie Stewart
Critique Group Coordinator, Lee Duncan
Online Workshops Chair, Kathy Schindler
WRW Board Members:
Julia Canchola, President
Kathryn Anderson, Vice President
Marjanna Bogan, Secretary
Julie Halperson, Treasurer
Lisa Dyson, Past President
Michelle Monkou
Julie Moffett Czechowski
Anne Marie Rodgers
Elizabeth Holcombe
Yvonne Pinney
Committee Chairs:
Appeals Chair, Donna Sralla
Publicity Chair, Binnie Syril Braunstein
Membership Chair, Kim Feldmiller
Newsletter, Judi Fadeley
Website, Yvonne Pinney
Elections Chair, Kathy Altman
Retreat Chair, Michelle Monkou
Published Author Liaison, Elizabeth Holcombe
Programs Chair, Robin Allen
Library/Archives, Julie Stewart
Marlene Coordinator, Kathryn Anderson
Founded in 1982, Washington Romance Writers (WRW), has become one of the leading women’s fiction organizations, as well as one of the most prolific groups of romance writers, in the United States. It is also one of the largest and most active affiliates of Romance Writers of America, a national non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting excellence in romantic fiction.
With current membership at over 240, WRW includes writers at all stages of development, from beginners to best-selling authors who, individually, have published over one hundred novels. WRW’s published authors comprise approximately one third of the membership and have a collective bibliography of over 1,000 titles in book-length, hard and soft cover fiction.
“WRW helps guide aspiring authors through every stage of the writing process, from outline to draft to publication. Once published, the author receives another range of services suited to her needs and designed to help promote the sales of her books. But for all members, the single most important thing the group provides is support. The value of having a local network of professional colleagues can’t be measured.”
—Michelle Monkou-Samuels, author of Making Promises, BET, October 2004
Topics covered at WRW’s regular monthly meetings range from writing a dynamite first chapter to handling rejection letters, and from historical accuracy in costumes to forensic investigation of a murder scene. In addition, WRW hosts at least one or two thematic workshops a year, as well as an annual weekend retreat. For this renowned event, leading authors, editors, and agents are invited to join members for a relaxed weekend filled with workshops, panels, and discussion groups.
For more information and a membership application please click here.
For a list of our officers & committee chairs, please click here.
Membership Renewals Members of WRW must renew their membership every year between May 15 and July 31. The renewal fee is $35. After Aug. 1, the fee for renewal is $45.
To join WRW as a New Member, or if your membership has lapsed, please use one of these forms:
Membership form, paying via PayPal
Membership form, paying via check. The fee for new members and for members who renew after August 1 is $45.
WRW is an organization for both published and unpublished writers, as well as editors, agents, booksellers, and others interested in women’s fiction. The membership includes writers of all levels of accomplishment, from those working on their first manuscript to award-winning authors of over one hundred books.
WRW’s goals are to advance its members’ professional interests, to provide them with opportunities to hone their craft, and to act as a clearing house for information about the women’s fiction market and the publishing industry. In addition, WRW supports the mission of Romance Writers of America to promote excellence in romantic fiction and help writers establish careers in their writing fields.
Toward these goals, WRW has created an extensive resource network with benefits designed to meet members’ needs. Among other things, WRW provides members with a monthly newsletter; regular meetings covering all aspects of writing; critique group coordination; day-long workshops; an annual weekend retreat; a quarterly promotional publication for booksellers; mailing lists of local booksellers; and, perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to form supportive professional relationships with other writers.
WRW also acts as liaison to help members find existing critique groups to join or to put them in touch with other members interested in forming a new group.
WRW has two categories of membership, as follows:
Full Member: Anyone who is a general member of RWA. This includes anyone seriously pursuing a writing career in romance writing. A Full Member enjoys all membership privileges, including the rights to vote and hold office.
Associate Member: Anyone who is an associate member of RWA, including agents, booksellers, editors, other industry professionals, and writers of other genres. An Associate Member enjoys all membership privileges, except the rights to vote and hold office. If you would like to join WRW as an Associate Member, please contact our Membership Chair at with your request.
To be a member of WRW, you must also be a member of RWA.
WRW chapter dues:
New Members: $45.00
Annual Renewal: $35.00
Late Renewal: $45.00
Please Note: Dues are not prorated, but are payable when joining and then each year between May 15—July 31. After August 1, a $10.00 late renewal fee applies. Your membership cannot be processed until we receive your dues.
You must be a WRW member in good standing by August 30th in order to be eligible to apply for the Spring Retreat at member rates.
Please see the box at the top of this page for links to the appropriate form.
Click here for a copy of the WRW Bylaws in document format (.doc).
After you join RWA, join a Critique Group!
Please complete the Critique Group Sign Up Sheet and send it to the WRW Critique Group Coordinator, Denise McInerney.
WRW Board Members:
Kathryn Anderson, President
Lavinia Howe Klein, Vice President
Jackie Graf, Secretary
Julie Halperson, Treasurer
Merry Banerji
Deborah Barnhart
Marjanna Bogan
Susan Donovan
Yvonne Pinney
Alix Rickloff
Anne Marie Rodgers
Committee Chairs:
Co-Programs Chair, Michelle Butler
Co-Programs Chair, Mary Lenaburg
Hospitality Chair, Position Open, Apply Here!
Appeals Chair, To be assigned at first meeting.
Newsletter, Meredith Hurt
Website, Yvonne Pinney & Nicky Penttila
Elections Chair, Kathy Altman
Publicity Chair, Binnie Syril Braunstein
Membership Chair, Catherine Kent
Marlene Chairs, J. Keely Thrall & Beth Balberchak
Retreat Chair, Jeanne Adams
Published Author Liaisons, Merry Banerji & Glenda Garland
Unpublished Author Liaison, Alix Rickloff
Library/Archives, Julie Stewart
No details to change this year? Try our new, short forms for 2008 renewals! Choose pay via PayPal or pay by check
