June is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months on the FCRW calendar. Two big moments are converging this month: the long-awaited announcement of the NERFA 2026 finalists, and a June 13 workshop with New York Times bestselling author Ginny Myers Sain that romance writers at every level will not want to miss.
NERFA 2026: Finalists Announcing around June 1
The judges have scored. The results are in. NERFA 2026 finalists will be announced on June 1, 2026, at nerfa.firstcoastromancewriters.com.
This year’s contest drew entries across six categories: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Historical/Regency Romance, Speculative Romance, Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance, and the Romance Novella (All Sub-Genres) category. Reader judges evaluated each entry across multiple criteria, including opening hook, story flow, character development, dialogue, and overall readability. The scores are in, and the finalists are about to step into the spotlight.
If you entered NERFA 2026, now is the time to make sure you are following FCRW on Facebook and have notifications turned on for the NERFA website. That is where finalist names will be posted first.
Check the NERFA website for finalist announcements: nerfa.firstcoastromancewriters.com
Important Dates Still Ahead
Did not enter this year but curious about NERFA? Bookmark the site now. Entry information for NERFA 2027 will be posted there when the new cycle opens. Entering early gives your work the best opportunity to be seen.
June 13 Workshop: Finding Your Voice with Ginny Myers Sain
What makes one manuscript stand out from the rest of the query pile? Most of the time, it comes down to voice.
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, New York Times bestselling author Ginny Myers Sain joins FCRW in person at West Branch Regional Library in Jacksonville to lead two back-to-back sessions on craft and plotting. This is an in-person and Zoom event, and it is one you will want to put on your calendar right now.
Session 1: Finding Your Voice
What makes your pages stand out from everyone else’s? Most often, the answer is voice. Author voice is one of the most commonly cited elements in both rejections and acceptances from agents and editors. In this session, Ginny will share how to discover and nurture your own unique voice, the quality that makes a reader say “yes, this is the one.”
Session 2: How to Plot the Perfect Murder (Mystery)
Mysteries are complicated. If you want to keep readers guessing, you have to plant the right clues and the right red herrings at exactly the right moments. In this session, Ginny walks through tips and techniques for planning a mysterious adventure that holds together from page one to the final reveal.
About Ginny Myers Sain
Ginny Myers Sain is the author of Dark and Shallow Lies (2021), Secrets So Deep (2022), One Last Breath (2024), When the Bones Sing (2025), and the forthcoming These Twisted Hearts, all from Penguin Random House/Penguin Teen. Her debut novel, Dark and Shallow Lies, is a New York Times bestseller, a Barnes & Noble YA Pick of the Month, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and a 2022 Crystal Kite Award winner from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books are available in ten countries.
Although she comes from a long line of writers, Ginny’s first love has always been the theatre. She holds a degree in theatre and has spent most of her career teaching acting and directing plays and musicals. When she is not writing, you might find her listening to true crime podcasts, taking pictures of alligators, or hanging out at Walt Disney World. Visit her website for more information – CLICK HERE
Registration
FCRW members attend free, both in person and on Zoom. Non-members on Zoom may attend for $10. Register at: firstcoastromancewriters.com/fcrw-workshop-sign-up-form/
Brand New Romance Anthology Now on KU
FRCW members have created another fun-themed romance anthology filled with various romance short-stories and novellas for you to purchase, enjoy and hopefully review. From now until the end of August the stories will be available on Kindle Unlimited Then we will add it to our online store.
Authors: Leah Miles, Madeline Fortier, Vanessa Victoria Kilmer, Elizabeth Edgar, L.J. Green, and Neri Lopez.
Live now, free in Kindle Unlimited for 90 days.
Buy or borrow the anthology: https://amzn.to/4wTXsHu
Stay Connected
First Coast Romance Writers hosts monthly meetings and workshops throughout the year, with programming designed for both published authors and writers working toward their first sale. Membership is open to writers at every level.
Visit more pages in the website to explore membership, check the event calendar, and learn more about NERFA. We hope to see you on June 13th. Don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Newsletter: https://firstcoastromancewriters.com/newsletter/