Meetings
Want to check us out?
You don't have to be a member to attend our meetings, but since we're meeting through Zoom right now, you do have to contact us in advance for the meeting invitation. You're welcome to attend two meetings before we ask you to become a member.
If you don't belong to the group yet, email dana@danadelamar.com for an invitation to our Zoom meeting. We're looking forward to meeting you!
2021 Speaker Schedule
SPECIAL EVENT: Write In the New Year!
December 31, 2020 - January 1, 2021
10 PM - 1 AM
Zoom
Your Pacific Northwest romance writers groups would like to invite you to a virtual New Year's Eve party where you can work on your next story and network with other romance writers. You are welcome to drop by or stay for the entire time. Each chapter will rotate hosting a segment of time to lead a variety of activities, including:
- Writing Sprints
- Networking
- Games
- Recipes for Signature Drinks (Alcohol, Non-Alcohol, and Non-Citrus Options)
Come celebrate the end of 2020 by writing into the New Year!
Hosted by:
- Eastside Romance Writers (https://eastsiderw.com/)
- Evergreen Romance Writers (https://evergreenchapterrwa.org/)
- Greater Seattle RWA (https://gsrwa.org/)
- Olympia Romance Writers (https://olympiarwa.wordpress.com/)
- Rose City Romance Writers (https://eastsiderw.com/)
CANCELLED
January 12, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Surviving Publishing with Monica Murphy
February 9, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy has been published for fifteen years under two pen names and has seen plenty of changes during her time in the industry. From working with small digital presses to getting picked up at auction by one of the big five (four now? She can't keep track) publishers to now self-publishing her own titles, Monica has a lot of experience. She'll share her story, take questions and reveal her one key secret for surviving publishing.
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance. She’s also known as USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson. Learn more at monicamurphyauthor.com.
Create Covers and Professional Marketing Images with Book Brush!
March 9, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Join Kathleen Sweeney from Book Brush for a fun live walk-through of the Book Brush tools. Get ready to embrace the marketing side of writing & see why authors say Book Brush saves them both time and money!
Learn how easy it is to use Book Brush to create your own eye-catching marketing images for all things social media, plus design your own book covers and more! Kathleen will share handy marketing tips & tricks along the way and have time for Q & A, too.
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Kathleen is the Manager of Marketing and Customer Service at Book Brush. She has over 19 years of client service and business assurance experience. She thoroughly enjoys working with authors and helping them create eye-catching images. She lives in central Illinois with her husband and three busy boys. Her hobbies include reading and turning socks right side out.
PNW Quarterly Writing Sprint
March 27, 2021
1-3 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Come join your local Pacific Northwest writing groups for camaraderie and encouragement as we put fingers to keyboards and pens to paper and WRITE!
Q&A with Amazon KDP Rep Greg Brisendine
April 13, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Greg Brisendine is a self-publishing author of non-fiction business books, plays, and poetry. He is also a senior leader of the KDP Customer Service team and a strong advocate for authors, writing, and diverse perspectives. In Greg’s free time, he enjoys attending author events to share his self-publishing journey and help answer questions about KDP. On April 13th at 7 p.m. PST, Greg will be joining the Eastside Romance Writers meeting to discuss his personal self-publishing journey and share general guidance regarding promotion and marketing, book formatting, and audiobooks.
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
I write non-fiction business books, plays, and poetry. I've given up trying to figure out how those are all related to each other, but I know that they are.
I've always loved reading and sometime in my 40's began to think of myself as writer, too. In 1999, before they were called 'blogs' I started a website to provide relationship advice online as the Bitter Single Guy. I wrote the Bitter Single Guy for 15 years, online in print. Somewhere in the middle of that time I was introduced to a Poetry Slam and started writing and performing poems for a decade or so. Then about 5 years ago, I got a little bite from the theater bug and began writing plays.
These days, besides work and sleep, most of my time is spent writing plays (or producing them). I still occasionally write and perform poems and as a reflection of my job, my newest book is called "Measuring Success: A Practical Guide to KPIs" which is just super nerdy.
I grew up in Miami, Florida, lived in Asheville, North Carolina and for about the past 25 years, have lived happily in Seattle, Washington.
Self-Publish Like a Pro - Dana Delamar
May 11, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Dana Delamar will share her experiences with self-publishing, both in e-book and print on demand (POD) format. She'll provide tips to save money and get your books up easily and will share what she's learned about promotion and marketing. This is a nuts-and-bolts, how-to presentation appropriate for beginners to intermediate self-publishers. Bring your questions!
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Dana Delamar is the author of erotic romance, LGBT romance, and the "Blood and Honor" Mafia romance series, which is set in Italy among the Calabrian Mafia. Her first book, REVENGE, received 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, was a Top Pick at The Romance Reviews, and was a double-finalist for Best First Book and Best Romantic Suspense in the 2013 Booksellers Best Awards. Her second book, RETRIBUTION, received 4 stars from RT Book Reviews and was a semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Review's 2013 Best Indie Book Awards. Her book MALAVITA was a quarter-finalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, and her book REDEMPTION was a finalist in the 2014 Maggie Awards and a semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Review’s 2014 Best Kindle Book Awards. HER TWO MEN IN LONDON (co-authored with Kristine Cayne) was a Top 5 Finalist in the Romance category of the 2019 Kindle Book Review Awards.
Delightful Tension - Maisey Yates
June 8, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
We all know that romance novels are going to end up happily. So what is it that keeps a reader turning pages even when they know the inevitable end?
Tension is the thing. Tension is not fighting, or only about sex, tension should be the thread pulling readers through your books, keeping their emotions engaged. In this workshop Maisey will give examples of types of tension and explain how she uses it in her books, and how you can use it to create a more compelling read!
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.
PNW Quarterly Writing Sprint
June 26, 2021
1-3 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Come join your local Pacific Northwest writing groups for camaraderie and encouragement as we put fingers to keyboards and pens to paper and WRITE!
Social dinner/virtual happy hour
July 13, 2021
6:30 PM (note different time)
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Depending on pandemic conditions, this might be an in-person event or it might be held on Zoom. We'll make a decision as we get closer.
Social dinner/virtual happy hour
August 10, 2021
6:30 PM (note different time)
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
Depending on pandemic conditions, this might be an in-person event or it might be held on Zoom. We'll make a decision as we get closer.
Tarot for the Writer’s Toolbox - LJ Schuessler
September 14, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
In this class, you'll learn how to add tarot to your toolbox. With its universal symbolism, tarot can help jump start your creativity and spark your imagination. We’ll cover the basic structure of a tarot deck and how to use the cards to add depth to characters and excitement to plots.
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
I’ve always loved stories and learning things but I never thought I had enough words to write a book. I took a class in 2009 for reluctant writers and discovered National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In November 2009, I wrote 50,000 words and I was hooked.
Growing up in Texas, living on a ranch in Montana and a sail boat in the Pacific NW has given me plenty of story ideas. That first NaNoWriMo project became my first published novel in 2016—Waltz with a Cowboy.
I’m still writing although most of my writing recently has been marketing copy for clients and tarot readings.
I started studying tarot about 3 years and it’s a fascinating, multi-layered subject. I’m excited to offer the Eastside Romance Writers this workshop. I’ll begin with a brief introduction to the tarot and then I’ll share some tips and tricks for using tarot develop characters, storylines and plots.
TBD
October 12, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
TBD
November 9, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
DESCRIPTION:
INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Non-denominational winter fun party!
December 14, 2021
7 PM
Zoom
Note: If we're still meeting virtually, we'll forgo the gift exchange and boas this year.
The white elephant gift exchange is always a blast! Please limit the cost of your gift to $20-$25. We also hand out boas at the winter party!
You earned a boa this year if:
- You sold a book to a publisher
- You released/published a book
- You won or were a finalist for an award
Meeting location
Since April of 2020, we've been meeting virtually, but when we can go back to meeting in person, here's where we'll be:
Starting June 2010, Eastside has a permanent meeting spot! We meet at Angelo's Restaurant in Bellevue in the banquet room. The meetings start at 7:00, but you can join us for dinner starting at 5:00 (if you wish to order dinner, please arrive no later than 6:30 so that we don't disturb our speaker).
1830 130th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue, 98005
425.883.2777
Occasionally, we may have to meet at another location. Here are the most common ones we'll use:
1820 130th Avenue Northeast,
Bellevue, WA
425.497.8686
(same parking lot as Angelo's)
Lake Hills Public Library
Location Address: 15590 Lake Hills Blvd, Bellevue, WA 98007
Location Phone Number: (425) 747-3350
Location: View Map
Newport Way Public Library
Location Address: 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, 98006
Location Phone Number: 425-747-2390
Location: View Map
Redmond Public Library
Location Address: 15990 N.E. 85th, Redmond, 98052
Location Phone Number: 425-885-1861
Location: View Map
North Bellevue Community Center
Location Address: 4063 148th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98009
Location Phone Number: 425-452-7681
Location: View Map