Edition 46 - April 15, 2026

In This Edition:

NERFA - Big Thanks to our Reader Judges

FCRW's Anthology Projects - Spring Anthology stories due April 21st.

Reader's Corner - Celebrating Independent Bookstore Day April 25th

Upcoming Event - Literary Indulgence Book Festival

FCRW's Super Saturday Writer's Retreat - Super Saturday Recap 

FCRW Hosted Workshop - Featuring Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville

It’s spring and there’s excitement in the air for more than just the lovely weather and the return of flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables and all the wonderful growing things. Romance authors have submitted their stories and books to the First Coast Romance Writers (FCRW) annual contest, the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award (NERFA).

Our dedicated romance readers have their assigned readings and are using the next few weeks to assess and rate what they are reading. Many of these readers come back year after year to judge a new group of romance stories. They will review based on fifteen key points, such as whether the opening hooked them, an appealing author’s voice, or if the conflict is believable.

The last day of the first round of judging ends on May 17, 2026, and we will announce the three finalists for each category on June 1st, 2026. They will then go to our final round of industry professional judges in June.

While registration for both reader/judges and story submissions is closed for 2026, put FCRW and the NERFA contest on your calendar at the beginning of 2027 as a reminder to consider taking part. Check out the FCRW website for more details on NERFA.

We thank our readers for their time and dedication each year to this event and wish them happy reading.

Good luck to all the authors who have entered the contest. It’s a major accomplishment to finish stories and put them out into the world, and it takes a great deal of courage to open your heart and soul to the vagaries of others’ opinions.

Planning for FCRW’s 2026 Anthologies

Participating in one of FCRW’s anthologies is a great way to write a reader-magnet short-story for your author’s newsletter, get your work published for the first time or enjoy reading short stories from a variety of authors. Writers: click the links below to learn more.

Spring 2026 – Rainy Day Romances

Thank you to Lia Davis of Glowing Moon Designs for creating the cover of Rainy Day Romances our spring 2026 anthology.  Here’s a partial cover reveal. Get your preorders starting May 5, 2026 and mark your calendars for release day.

• Theme: Rainy Days
• Word count: 8k – 15k
• Story due date: 4/21/26
• Preorder date: 5/5/26
• Publication date: 5/19/26

Entry period for the 2026 Spring Anthology has ended.

Winter 2026 – Winter Wishes

• Theme: Snow
• Word count: 8k – 15k
• Commitment date: 8/4/2026
• Story due date: 10/27/2026
• Preorder date: 11/3/2026
• Publication date: 11/17/2026

Sign up for the Winter 2026 Anthology HERE.

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*Proceeds from our anthology projects benefit the First Coast Romance Writers, an independent non-profit organization, which helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.*

Celebrating Indy Bookstore Day

The First Coast Romance Writers, FCRW, are please to support the local independent books stores located in the USA. The 13th annual Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 25, 2026, celebrates local, independent bookstores nationwide with exclusive books, literary items, author appearances, and special events.

Here is a list of FCRW members who have a relationship with their local bookstore that includes selling their published works. Some authors have many books available in indy bookstores but for this article we are only highlighting one.

Vedic Moons in Palm Coast, FL - Light Weaver by Lusine Torossian

The BookMark in Neptune Beach, FL - Never on Monday by Maggie FitzRoy

Sun Rose Books (Three Little Birds) in Ocean City, NJ - Tuesday Means Trouble by Maggie FitzRoy

Midnight Moon Books and Boutique in St. Augustine, FL - Path Series by Neri Lopez and The Coven Eternal: Book of Rowan by E.A. Dicer

Serendipity Market, Palm Coast, FL - The CovenEternal: Book of Rowan by E.A. Dicer

Poppy's True Market, Bunnell, FL - The Coven Eternal:Book of Rowan by E.A. Dicer

The Family Book Shop in DeLand, FL - Her Mentor's Revenge by Vickey Wollan

Celebrating the Written Word: The 3rd Annual Literary Indulgence Book Festival

The literary heart of Jacksonville is beating faster as we approach a milestone event for our local creative community. On July 18, 2026, the Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) Kent Campus will transform into a vibrant hub for the 3rd Annual Literary Indulgence Book Festival. This year’s gathering promises to be our most ambitious yet, anchored by our featured author, Nikesha Elise Williams, who will join us to discuss her powerful newly released book, The Seven Daughters of Dupree, alongside a diverse showcase of 40 multi-genre authors from across the region.

Our theme, "The New Faces of Education: Where Learning and Literature Converge," explores the profound impact educators have on the literary landscape. The festival will feature moderated panel discussions including educators who dwell in the various facets of the literary world, alongside a special session with the Amelia Island Writers who will demystify the independent, tradition, and hybrid publishing options. These conversations, combined with professional workshops and "Voices from the Classroom" author readings, offer a deep dive into the craft and the magic of working together within our writing community.

We are equally committed to inspiring the next generation through the Literary Youth Pavilion. This dedicated space for younger readers and writers will feature a Super Writer’s Workshop with Brianna Ellis and a captivating Storytelling session with Rekia Beverly. In the spirit of community support, we are proud to partner with the Green Sims Williams Family Foundation for a bookbag and school supplies giveaway, ensuring our students are prepared for their own creative and academic journeys as the new school term begins.

The day is packed with soul-stirring poetry sessions and the Refreshingly Southern Sip & Speak Author Meet & Greet, providing an intimate chance to network with select festival authors. We are also honored to highlight a special collaboration with Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville as they close out the "Spaces and Places" anthology art exhibit right there at the FSCJ Kent Campus Art Gallery. Whether you are coming for the high-level craft discussions or the family-friendly festivities, this celebration proves that literature is a living, breathing force in Jacksonville.

To learn more about the festival details and to register for your free festival tickets, please visit www.literaryindulgence.com. Mark your calendars for July 18th and prepare for a day of inspiration, education, and community. We look forward to seeing you there for a day of true literary indulgence!

A huge thank you to Margie Lawson for being FCRW's Super Saturday Writer's Retreat instructor. Margie is an internationally know writing instructor. For more information about her go to: https://www.margielawson.com/

A special thank you to Vanessa Victoria Kilmer for setting up this glorious day of learning.

Thank you, Ann Walker, for the venue. Beautiful facility, super convenient with all of the amenities anyone could need. Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to Keller Williams Atlantic Partners for their generosity.

A monumental thank you to all of our members who donated Gift Baskets for the raffle:

Melody Bradley, Lia Davis, Nery DiDeo, Gloria Ferguson, Maggie Fitzroy, Vanessa Kilmer, Leah Miles, Ambria Page, Lusine Torossian, Sara Walker, Amanda Ward, and Vickey Wollan.

Thank you to those who purchased raffle tickets. FCRW collected over $300 from the raffle for our ongoing non-profit expenses.

Thank you, Glo Ferguson, for selling the raffle tickets.

Thank you, Vickey Wollan, for bringing all of the drinks.

Thank you, Abby Sharpe, for being our MC, organizing outside dinners, and the beautiful tribute to Charlee Allden.

Thank you, Leah Davis, for organizing and executing the lunches.

Thank you, Erika Freidly, for helping out Vanessa Victoria Kilmer.

The inspired students all gathered for this picture after the day-long class.

Bottom row, left to right: Lusine Torossian, E.A. Dicer, Ann Wright, Tammy Evans, Tricia Lynn, Nery DiDeo, and Amanda Ward.

Center row, left to right: Glo Ferguson, Lia Davis, Melody Johnson, Instructor Margie Lawson, Maggie FitzRoy, LaTisha Redding, Marie Williams, and Letha Sweat.

Back row, left to right: Sara J. Walker, Leah Miles, Cat BiBeau, Abigail Sharpe, Rashelle Tidwell, JD Allen, Vanessa Victoria Kilmer, Vickey Wollan and Erika Freidly. 

FCRW holds monthly meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month at the West Regional Branch of the Duval County Library, and online, unless otherwise posted. Part of these monthly meetings include an Author Workshop where we host a guest speaker to teach a specific area of the writing, publishing, and  promoting process. You may attend all the upcoming 2026 workshops by joining the First Coast Romance Writers for the annual dues of $50, or you may attend individual workshops online as a visitor for $10 each. You may also attend in person, as a guest, three times for free, before becoming a member.

Visit https://firstcoastromancewriters.com/ for more information. If you're a non-member, and would like to attend, here's the link to sign up: https://firstcoastromancewriters.com/fcrw-workshop-sign-up-form/

Please check each meeting description to see if the meeting is ZOOM-ONLY or IN-PERSON & ZOOM. If you need the Zoom link to attend, email the chapter president: president@firstcoastromancewriters.com You will be provided with a link to log onto the meeting. You can log in virtually for social time at 10am, and our business meeting will begin promptly at 10:15am.

Our next workshop, on May 9, 2026, will feature Author Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville

Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville

Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Urban Intelligence Institute, President of the Central Florida Writers & Publishers Guild, and President/CEO of Waverly’s Way, providing academic assistance for struggling students from kindergarten to a doctorate and currently serving learners in seven states. She is also a donor with Our Legacy Organ & Tissue Donation.

Besides being an award-winning, published author of Hoodless Klan, Finding Humor in Grief, and Beauty for Ashes: Mourning to Morning, she’s an inspirational speaker, editor, and ghostwriter for 88 published authors and working now with five aspiring authors.

In her fifty-six years in education, she has been teacher, principal of seven K-12 schools, including a charter and a Christian school, and directors of Personnel/Human Resources and Curriculum/Staff Development. She is known for turning failing schools around by changing the climate and utilizing community resources to actively support their local schools.

Dr. Ruth is a widow of thirteen years, having lost her husband of 45 years, Waverly Baskerville. She has one daughter and four grandchildren, three in Masters’ programs and one a college sophomore. She travels with her BFFFFs of sixty years (Best friends forever from Fredonia – University) and savors her relationships with family and dear friends.

Visit her website: https://www.ruthbaskerville.com/

WRITERS WORKSHOP ON ZOOM

How to Birth Out That Book Inside of You!

• questions about what writers feel about beginning to write their stories
• steps to move from inside an author's head to the printed page 
• creating a theme and deciding upon the intended audience
• building chapters "from the ground up"
• character descriptions and development
• dialogue
• scenery
• verb tense
• when to stop writing.

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