Heart of Dixie Romance Writers

Romance Writers of America offers a PRO program in recognition of pre-published members who have completed at least one manuscript and submitted it for consideration to an RWA-recognized publishing company. In addition to acknowledging this first achievement on the journey to publication, the PRO program offers many tools to encourage those writers seriously pursuing publication, from email loops to a PRO retreat at National Conference.

The growing number of PRO members in HOD speaks to our desire to help writers become published and the quality of our chapter. For more information on PRO, please email our PRO Liasion.

Betty Bolte joined RWA in 2004 and became a PRO member in May 2006 after completing and submitting for ultimate rejection her third romance novel, Degrees of Freedom. She has written several nonfiction books for publication as well as many nonfiction articles. She currently works full-time with SAIC in support of the Ares crew launch vehicle project at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. When not doing technical editing and writing, she enjoys spinning tales in paranormal and historical fiction.

Katherine Bone joined RWA in 2004. She became a member of Heart of Dixie a year later, then Southern Magic and Hearts Through History chapters. Acquiring PRO status in July 2005, she became Heart of Dixie's first PRO Liaison and created a PRO booklet to better help new members understand the PRO program. (These booklets are provided in every new HOD member's welcome bag.) Since 2007, she's had the pleasure of graduating two HOD PRO members into PAN. Katherine spends her time writing historical romance with paranormal elements and true historical romance with a passion for the American west and pirates.

True to form, Christine Glover has worked backwards to achieve her writing credentials. Unaware of word counts or any other writing rules, she wrote her first novel, Love Builds a Chance (don’t laugh), in 2004. Silhouette Desire requested and rejected this novel before she joined RWA in April 2005. Christine found critique group two years later, joined Virginia Romance Writers of America with them, and, after moving to Alabama, she joined Southern Magic and Heart of Dixie in 2008. After settling into her new home, Christine dusted off her many rejections for the first three novels she completed and achieved PRO status. Christine loves to write very spicy Contemporary Romances and has just completed her 4th first draft as she continues to work toward her publishing dream.

Jean Hovey is a former librarian, who joined RWA in July, 2007 and Heart of Dixie a month later. She achieved her Pro status in January, 2008. After completing her first manuscript in 1978 on a Smith Corona typewriter, she wisely put it in a closet where it is best left. She hopes her skills have improved, along with the technology. With her writing partner, Stephanie Jones, she writes fantasy romance. They have completed two manuscripts and are working on a third.

Stephanie Jones joined RWA the summer of 2007 with her writing partner, Jean Hovey. They became members of the Heart of Dixie chapter then, as well. They attained PRO membership in December and were pinned in the January 2008 meeting. Stephanie worked in the accounting field for many years before changing careers to become an elementary school teacher. She is currently focused on finding an agent to market their work; therefore, she finds the advice given and insights shared at each meeting to be very valuable.

Andrea has been devouring books since she learned to read at age three. An old portable typewriter got her started writing in her room at eight and she's been at itever since. Her practical nature led her to pursue a master's degree and a career that would pay the bills, but the writing bug continued to bite. She started working ferociously in her spare time to become a published author and became an active member of HOD in 2004. With seven completed manuscripts under her belt and another on her flash drive itching to be completed, she's well on her way to the million words that can unlock the door to her publishing dreams.

Winning the 2009 Golden Heart® for Contemporary Series has been Kim’s writing highlight to date, but she knows much more is to come. From an early age, she dreamed of some day being a writer, and started with stories such as “The Gigantic Talking Raisin” and “The Jumping Socks.” Unfortunately, it was not yet her time to shine. Skip ahead a few years and she tried her hand at poetry, but since this was done only when bored at school, and usually to the detriment of a substitute teacher, it wasn’t quite her forte either. But she had discovered her mother’s romances, and she knew she’d found what she would one day write! Skip ahead a few more years, a son, college, a technology career, and it’s safe to say the writing career got put on hold, but never forgotten. In 2005 she began seriously studying the craft with the intention of putting to end her dreams and making them her reality. Winning the Golden Heart validated all she’d worked for and has given her a giant step in the right direction. Now it’s only a matter of time before she hits upon the right story and the right editor!

Crystal Lee has been writing since the sixth grade, but it was not until the completion of her first manuscript, Celestial Blood, that the painstaking process of weaving tales became a full-blown passion. She joined Heart of Dixie/RWA in November 2006 and achieved PRO status in late January 2007. Driven by an imagination infused with the belief in impossible possibilities, she writes paranormal stories that celebrate the extraordinary elements of life. She lives with her beloved husband in seclusion—as much as possible.

Marilyn Puett joined RWA and HOD within weeks of each other in 2004. Shortly thereafter she was strong-armed into taking over the secretary’s position, and later willingly served two more terms. Currently, she serves as Member-at-Large and is the Membership chair. At the national level, she is a moderator on an RWA loop and a member of the Communications Committee. She achieved PRO status with the completion of her first manuscript, Direct Deposit, which received a request from Silhouette Special Edition the same day her PRO membership was approved. Marilyn has sold twenty-nine short stories to the confessions and romance magazines and lives in her empty nest in Huntsville, Alabama.

Patricia Robertson wrote her first short story in the sixth grade and she's been writing ever since. She dabbles in all kinds of writing. Her publication credits include non-fiction articles and a newspaper column, short stories and writing for a book packager. Her novella, The Chosen Woman, won the contest sponsored by Harlequin's World's Greatest Romances. She has also made the finals in several contests sponsored by RWA chapters as well as other writing organizations. She is currently writing contemporary romance and hopes to find the time to study screenplay writing. She also loves movies, eating out with friends, photography and blogging.

After joining HOD in July of 2006, Cathy's writing journey was only beginning. Being unable to add a twenty-fifth hour to her day, Cathy tries to keep sane as her husband, two children (thankfully nearly grown and able to feed themselves when necessary), three dogs, her job and numerous other interests compete for her time, reminding her to get away from her computer on sunny days.

Carla Swafford has been rejected by the best, but keeps writing away. She joined RWA in 1992, and then HOD in 1993, went missing for a few years, returning in 2003. Presently, she writes hot paranormals and sassy contemporaries, and has completed five novels.

In addition to being a mom and running her resume-writing business, Danniele Worsham works hard to improve her craft as a writer and achieve her goal of the ever elusive book contract. For now, she has published nonfiction articles online and several of her short stories have appeared in True Romance, True Experience, and True Confessions magazines. She’s an active member of her local Romance Writers of America chapter, and is thrilled by her recent contest successes. She placed second in the 2008 Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie contest, and is a finalist in the 2009 RWA Golden Heart® contest for unpublished authors.

PRO Authors