Edition 49 - July 15, 2026

In This Edition:

NERFA - And the 2026 Winners are...

Book Signing Events - Meet Our FCRW Authors in Person

FCRW's Anthology Projects - Winter Anthology signup period ends soon

Upcoming Event - Literary Indulgence Book Festival July 18th

FCRW Hosted Workshop - Featuring Author JD Allen

And the Winners are…

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE - The Magical Tea Shop by Aimee O’Brian

HISTORICAL ROMANCE - The Lyon Returns by Kimberly Keyes

MAINSTREAM ROMANCE - After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico

ROMANCE NOVELLA - Love Lost and Found by Vanessa Victoria Kilmer

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - Perfect Vengeance by Tee O’Fallon

SPECULATIVE ROMANCE - The Magical Bed & Breakfast by Aimee O’Brian

BEST FIRST BOOK - This Kind of Love by Ashley Detweiler

Congratulations to all the winners! The Reader and Author Gazette will continue to highlight their books in future editions. Thank you to all the romance authors who entered the 2026 NERFA contest. You are all winners in our book. Publishing a novel is an exceptional accomplishment.  

FCRW would like to thank our reader judges and second rounded judges consisting of bloggers, booksellers, and librarians. 

NERFA 2027 will open for entries on March 1, 2027. We hope to see this year’s participating published romance authors, readers, and industry experts again and again.

Please check out our website for more information. 

https://nerfa.firstcoastromancewriters.com

Space Coast Book Lovers 2026: Ten Years of Reading & Romance 

By: Melody Johnson

Celebrating ten years is quite an accomplishment. In a marriage, reaching one decade marks the traditional tin or aluminum anniversary. In a professional career, spending ten years with the same company speaks volumes about loyalty, adaptability, and expertise. For Space Coast Book Lovers, celebrating ten years of romance and reading with the theme "To the Moon and Back" felt like more than just a milestone.

It felt like a homecoming.

I've had the absolute pleasure of attending seven of those ten years, and what stands out most about this conference is the sense of found family. In addition to the meet-and-greets, lunches with authors, and panels typical of most reader conventions, Space Coast Book Lovers also creates opportunities for authors and readers to connect on a much more personal level through sessions called Bookniques, each designed and hosted by an author.

Over the years, I've hosted an alien abduction choose-your-own-adventure game, a Taboo Tournament, and, most recently, an icebreaker while readers colored characters from my books during a Booknique titled Color-tastic Conversations. Getting to know readers, sharing a little about myself, and talking about my books in a setting that feels genuine rather than sales-driven is incredibly rare. Through these Bookniques, I've met new readers and reunited with longtime fans. One reader I first met during my very first Space Coast returned this year and was thrilled to introduce me to her daughter and granddaughter, turning the trip into a multi-generational family tradition.

Another annual highlight is Tropes & Sips, a series of author panels organized by trope rather than by featured author. The authors in each room remain a surprise, so readers choose which panel to attend based solely on the trope that interests them most. It's an ingenious concept that introduces readers to authors they might never have discovered otherwise—and because they're already invested in the topic, often inspires them to pick up a new book.

Authors also enjoy participating in Author Feud, a Family Feud-style competition featuring romance-themed questions; the BookStravaganza Launch, during which participating authors release brand-new books at the convention; the Nexus Newcomers Mixer; and, for the first time this year, a Hawaiian luau complete with a roasted pig and hula dancers.

After so many meaningful interactions throughout the weekend, it's no surprise that the penultimate event of the conference—the Read-A-Palooza signing—is such a success. For the third year in a row, I enjoyed my highest book sales of the year at the Space Coast Book Lovers signing. The readers' enthusiasm and voracious appetite for our stories are unmatched. They encourage one another to visit favorite authors, recommend beloved comfort reads, and gush over unforgettable characters. Beyond the book sales, their excitement is deeply motivating, replenishing my creative well and reminding me why I write.

"To the Moon and Back" is often used to describe a love that knows no bounds, making it the perfect theme for Space Coast Book Lovers' tenth anniversary. Readers and authors alike share a lifelong love of stories that simply can't be measured. We can count the books we've read and the words we've written, but numbers alone can never capture the joy, comfort, and connection found within their pages.

For one unforgettable weekend, though, the story wasn't the escape.

The people who read and write those stories were, and together, we found home in one another.

Release Date - May 19, 2026

Sometimes love needs a little rain to bloom and grow. Between these pages, couples find themselves stranded — together — by the kind of storms that feel like fate. Rainy Day Romance gathers tales of connection forged in downpours, proof that the best romances always begin when skies and hearts open up.

Here’s what’s inside:

Nothing But The Rain by Leah Miles

Dr. Ruthie Goodlander survived eight months in a Guatemalan village only to end up in insurgents’ hands. Now she's stranded, injured, and dependent on the one man she never thought she'd see again.

Spring Rain in Aspen Ridge by Madeline Fortier

After a storm floods her long-awaited festival, florist Wren Callahan must partner with guarded rancher Cole Bennett to save it—discovering resilience, community, and unexpected love in small-town Aspen Ridge, Montana.

Rain Go Away by Vanessa Victoria Kilmer

Mahala Goings returns home to sell her inheritance and leave her painful past behind—until she reconnects with Hayden Sinclair, the boy she never forgot, the man she can’t resist.

Rainy Days and Mondays by Elizabeth Edgar

Rivals Ashanti and Trey share only one thing: hatred for their director. Forced into an all-nighter, their tension shifts unexpectedly — but is he her perfect match or a career-ending mistake?

Rain Ignited by L. J. Green

When naïve Chicago stenographer Daisy Flynn falls for a charming spy's seduction in 1910, she must choose between protecting herself and exposing the man who used her heart to steal government secrets.

Rain and Redemption by Neri Lopez

On a high-stakes gambling ship, a guarded ex-SEAL and a sharp-witted dealer collide with obsession, violence, and desire—proving some storms don’t destroy, they claim and heal.

Thank you to Lia Davis of Glowing Moon Designs https://glowingmoondesigns.com/ for creating the cover of Rainy Day Romances our spring 2026 anthology.

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If you haven’t already, sign up now to participate in Winter Wishes our winter 2026 anthology.

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 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!

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 August 8, 2026, will feature Author JD Allen.

Julie writes mysteries as JD Allen and romance as Mari Freeman.

JD Allen, is the author of the Shamus Award–nominated Sin City Investigations series. She holds a degree in forensic anthropology with a minor in creative writing from OSU. JD has led the Florida MWA chapter, the North Carolina SinC chapter, and served as chair of both the Bouchercon National Board and co-chair of SleuthFest 2025.

Under her Mari Freeman pen name, Julie writes paranormal romance featuring demons, vampires, werewolves, and fae—stories where supernatural politics collide with scorching chemistry and hard-won happily-ever-afters. Her paranormal romance includes the Birthright and the Hot, Hard series, with multiple new releases planned for 2026.

With experience in both traditional and indie publishing across two genres, Julie brings a unique perspective to craft discussions. Whether writing murder mysteries or fated mates, she believes that strong voice and authentic dialogue are what make readers connect with characters and keep turning pages long past bedtime.

JD's Workshops:

Sparks Flying: Crafting Dialogue That Sizzles

Learn to write dialogue that crackles with tension and reveals character in every exchange. From first-meeting banter to bedroom confessions, discover techniques for crafting authentic conversations that pulse with emotion and subtext.

Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Deep POV & Show-Don't-Tell for Romance Authors

How’s this: Deep POV and show-don't-tell can be the difference between readers just breezing through your story and living inside it. In this workshop, we’ll strip out filter words, show emotion through body and behavior rather than naming it. We’ll use Deep POV to make every charged silence and almost-kiss feel unbearable, leaving your reader kicking their heels.

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