May was a big month at First Coast Romance Writers, and June is shaping up to be even bigger. Here is everything you need to know.
May Workshop: Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville Reminded Us Why We Write
If you missed our May workshop, here is the short version: award-winning author and educator Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville held the room for two hours and left everyone in it wanting to open a document and start typing.
Dr. Ruth is the author of Hoodless Klan and Finding Humor in Grief, president of the Central Florida Writers and Publishers Guild, and a professional ghostwriter who has helped 91 authors bring their books to life. She also turned 79 in June. She is not slowing down.
Her central message was simple and a little inconvenient: the book is already in you. Your job is to carry the notepad, write the two words when the thought arrives, and trust the stack.
She also delivered one of the most quotable lines of the year about the epilogue:
“The story is over. It came to a beautiful close, tied up in a bow. But I want the reader to know what comes next. And you can even use your epilogue as a teaser for your next book.”
Other highlights from the session:
- The legal and ethical landscape of writing about real people, including when to change names, when to get written permission, and how to use “fiction based on truth” as a packaging tool.
- Why an outline is not a cage but a map that tells you when to stop and which rabbit holes to skip.
- Why publishers market publishers, not authors, and what that means for your book launch strategy.
- The statistic that should light a fire under every writer in the room: 81 percent of people say they want to write a book. Only 3 percent finish.
We captured a short clip from the session. Watch it below and share it with any writer in your circle who needs a nudge.
NERFA 2026 Finalists: Congratulations to All!
The Northeast Florida Romance Authors writing contest finalists for 2026 have been announced, and we could not be more proud of this group of talented writers. Each one represents the best of what this community produces.
2026 NERFA FINALISTS
Contemporary Romance
Just the Way You Are by Nika Rhone
Perfect Match by Peggy Jaeger
The Magical Tea Shop by Aimee O’BrianHistorical Romance
Crimes, Conspiracies, and Courtship by Aubrey Wynne
Reluctantly in Love with a Viscount by Teresa Sweeney
The Lyon Returns by Kimberly KeyesMainstream Romance
After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico
Tanked by Kelly Fae Wilson
Woe is Wednesday by Maggie FitzRoyRomantic Novella
Imperfectly Perfect by Dania Voss
Love Lost and Found by Vanessa Victoria Kilmer
Our Complication by Alexandra CaluenRomantic Suspense
Guarding Bristol by Kaylea Cross
Perfect Vengeance by Tee O’Fallon
Two Seconds Too Late by Dani PettreySpeculative Romance
The Magical Bed & Breakfast by Aimee O’Brian
The Magical Christmas Cottage by Aimee O’Brian
Thrice Bound by Nicole E KelleherFirst Book
Ghosted by Lori Matsourani
This Kind of Love by Ashley Detweiler
Tanked by Kelly Fae Wilson
Winner announcements are coming in mid-July 2026. Stay tuned to this blog and our social channels.
Pick Up the Rainy Day Romance Anthology
Looking for something to read right now? The Rainy Day Romance anthology features stories from FCRW authors and is available on Amazon. It is the perfect companion for an afternoon that calls for something warm and romantic. Grab your copy here.
June Workshop: Ginny Myers Sain Is Coming to FCRW
Our June workshop brings New York Times bestselling author Ginny Myers Sain to FCRW in person.
Ginny is the author of Dark and Shallow Lies (a New York Times bestseller, Indie Bookstore Bestseller, Barnes & Noble YA Pick of the Month, Amazon Editor’s Pick, and 2022 Crystal Kite Award winner), Secrets So Deep, One Last Breath, When the Bones Sing, and the forthcoming These Twisted Hearts, all from Penguin Random House/Penguin Teen. Her books are available in ten countries.
Ginny’s first love is the theatre. She has a degree in theatre and has spent most of her career teaching acting and directing plays and musicals. She currently lives in St. Cloud, Florida, with her college-age son and a goldendoodle named Magnolia. When she is not writing or working in theatre, you will find her listening to true crime podcasts, photographing alligators, eating tacos, visiting spooky places, or at Walt Disney World.
What She Is Teaching
Finding Your Voice: What Makes Your Pages Stand Out from Everyone Else’s?
Author voice is one of the most-cited factors in agent and editor decisions, on both sides. Ginny will guide writers through how to discover and nurture a voice that is unmistakably their own.
How to Plot the Perfect Murder (Mystery): Mysteries Are Complicated!
Keeping readers on their toes means planting the right clues and the right red herrings. Ginny will share tips and techniques for building a mysterious adventure that holds together all the way to the final page.
How to Attend
Members attend FREE in person or on Zoom – BECOME A MEMBER
Non-Members can attend in person FREE Twice a year and only $10 person on Zoom
Register here: https://firstcoastromancewriters.com/fcrw-workshop-sign-up-form/
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