Dunes & Dreams RWA » Celebrations http://dunesanddreams.org/blog Where Romance is a Shore Thing...One word at a time! Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:07:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Happy Birthday, Maggie Van Well! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/26/happy-birthday-maggie-van-well/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/26/happy-birthday-maggie-van-well/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:25:33 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=318 Yes, another Dunes & Dreamer is celebrating a birthday in August. Today, it’s the lovely and talented Maggie Van Well. This year’s natal day celebration should be especially fun for Maggie since she’s also celebrating her first sale! The Chase Is On will be released by The Wild Rose Press. And since I was treated to a sneak peek, let me assure you it’s full of fun, romance, and heart. I’ve already made Maggie promise to reserve a copy for me on Release Day.

The lovely Maggie Van Well is a terrific asset to Dunes & Dreams with her warm smile, amazing talent, and genuine caring for her chaptermates. We are so happy to call her “friend.”

Happy birthday, dear heart. May the world be your oyster, and your publishing dreams a perfect pearl! 

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/26/happy-birthday-maggie-van-well/feed/ 9 A Happy Birthday Wish http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/20/a-happy-birthday-wish/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/20/a-happy-birthday-wish/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:16 +0000 Debora http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=304 Happy Birthday to the Dunes & Dreams RWA President, Gina Ardito!

 

Over the past 18 months, she’s worked tirelessly for the good of our chapter. From behind the scenes hitting the pavement and the online resources to get our name out there – to being the face of the group at library talks, booksignings and any other promotional event Dunes & Dreams is a part of, we are proud to call her Madame President!

 

But she’s more than a President, she’s a friend. I know she’ll always be there for me at the other end of an email, of the phone or willing to meet me at Starbucks for a cup of whatever I need at the moment!

 

For all she does, all she dreams of doing and everything in between, please join my in wishing her happy birthday, a wonderful year and everything that would make her dreams come true.

 

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/08/20/a-happy-birthday-wish/feed/ 6 Fathers in Romance: Minor but Pivotal http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/06/20/fathers-in-romance-minor-but-pivotal/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/06/20/fathers-in-romance-minor-but-pivotal/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:25:18 +0000 Laura http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=257 Today is Father’s Day.   I realized in romance writing, the sexy, alpha hero is not usually a father.  Oh, he may become one by the end of the book, but he doesn’t start out that way.   Yet fathers figure prominently in many romance novels as minor but pivotal characters.

In historicals, for  instance,  fathers are passing their titles and estates to their sons or arranging marriages for their daughters.  In contemporaries, fathers usually show up to interfere, provide comic relief, or the backstory to a hero or heroine.   But they are there — quiet, strong, lurking in the background, much as real life fathers do.

How do fathers figure in your writing?   And how does that special dad figure in your life?

Happy Father’s Day!    

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/06/20/fathers-in-romance-minor-but-pivotal/feed/ 1 Happy Birthday, Jeannie Moon! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/04/24/happy-birthday-jeannie-moon/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/04/24/happy-birthday-jeannie-moon/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:59:06 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=221 Today, one of our newer members, Jeannie Moon, celebrates her big day. And what better way to celebrate than with a chapter meeting with Dunes & Dreams? Jeannie also shared her exciting BIG NEWS with us and we’re wishing her the very best possible outcome.

Happy birthday, Jeannie! We see big things in your future and we’re so glad you’ve decided to join us. All the best for the coming year. Look out NYTimes bestseller list! Jeannie’s on her way!

 

 


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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/04/24/happy-birthday-jeannie-moon/feed/ 1 Happy Birthday, Debora! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/21/happy-birthday-debora/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/21/happy-birthday-debora/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:16:23 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=151 She’s our web diva, tech expert, forum leader, President-Elect, workshop coordinator, newsletter editor…is it any wonder we’d be lost without her? I’m constantly amazed at how much she can juggle–and how well!

Debora Dennis is an outstanding chaptermate, a good friend, and a super-talented writer. She’s quick with a smile and always up for any challenge tossed her way.

She’s one of the best assets of Dunes & Dreams RWA and today, she celebrates her birthday. I wish you joy, dear friend. I wish you laughter because you always bring me so much of it. I wish you love. And I wish you a well-deserved multi-book contract in the coming year.

 

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2010/01/21/happy-birthday-debora/feed/ 6 A Holiday Wish List http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/22/a-holiday-wish-list/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/22/a-holiday-wish-list/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:41:54 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=136 With the tragic events in my personal life over the last few months (and a major blizzard last weekend) I’m still playing catch-up when it comes to gifts, baking, and decorating in December. But at least, online, I can look prepared for this month’s festivities. So,here are my wishes for all the ladies of Dunes & Dreams RWA for 2010:

Dynamite ideas

Oodles of writing time

Great workshops

Fascinating speakers

Completed manuscripts

Lucrative contracts

Bestseller lists

The best darn RWA chapter around (Oh, wait! We already have that!)

No matter how and what you celebrate, may you be surrounded by love! Nothing else in this world matters.


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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/22/a-holiday-wish-list/feed/ 2 Happy Birthday, Bertrice Small! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/09/happy-birthday-bertrice-small/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/09/happy-birthday-bertrice-small/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:11:13 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=129 She’s our very own Goddess on the Mountain. The one, the only, the gracious, the sassy, the sunny Bertrice Small celebrates her birthday today. If you’re lucky enough to know Bertrice the way we do, you know a lady whose generosity is only surpassed by her talent.

Her books are known all over the world in dozens of different languages. Her characters have resonated with readers for three decades. Butt-kicking heroines who take control of their own destiny, dashing heroes who may (or may not!) live happily ever after, rich history, passionate love scenes: Bertrice Small’s stories rock the romance genre!

We’re thrilled to know this lady, to share her little corner of paradise in Eastern Long Island, and most of all…to call her, “friend.”

Happy birthday, Bertrice. We’re wishing you another year of joy, love, and success!

 


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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/12/09/happy-birthday-bertrice-small/feed/ 7 Write-offs and Writing Celebrations http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/11/30/write-offs-and-writing-celebrations/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/11/30/write-offs-and-writing-celebrations/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:48:06 +0000 Debora http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=124 Last week our members were treated to tax presentation that was full of surprises! First, you might think giving a tax specialist the floor at a meeting of romance writers might either be odd or perhaps a little boring – let me assure you, this meeting was anything but.

Patrick McDonald of Physical Solutions, Inc. arrived armed with information to the questions some of our authors had asked prior to the meeting. Everyone from aspiring to published authors learned the ins and outs from a “schedule C” to how long we should keep those cancelled checks (I was informed my 27 year collection of cancelled checks could be reduced by at LEAST 20 years…my husband is thrilled. Now to get this packrat to comply :) ) Our Tax Specialist was well informed and came prepared with handouts too. But please don’t think we didn’t charm him right back, before he left he asked when the next romance would be out featuring “the tax man” and we assured him we’d get right on it. ;)

Got a tax question? Patrick McDonald can be reached at pat.mcdonald@natplan.com and tell him the romance writers sent you!

While our year is winding down and we’ve got those pesky taxes on our minds, it’s time to enjoy the season and give thanks for the new friends we’ve made this year. To celebrate, Dunes & Dreams RWA will hold their first annual holiday brunch on December 6th at the Cooperage Inn! From first drafts and first sales to the groups first successful year of programs, leadership and writing support – this brunch will be an event to remember!

Hope to see you there!

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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/11/30/write-offs-and-writing-celebrations/feed/ 3 Happy Birthday, Trisha! http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/10/17/happy-birthday-trisha/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/10/17/happy-birthday-trisha/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:07:54 +0000 Gina Ardito http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=108 One of our valuable members, Trisha Keifer, is celebrating her birthday today. Trisha is a charter member of Dunes & Dreams and there are times I wonder how we’d get along without her.  Her humor, willingness to get involved, and personality make her a special asset to our chapter.

Happy birthday, Trisha! May this be the year your dreams come true!


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]]> http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/10/17/happy-birthday-trisha/feed/ 5 The RWA Mission is alive in Eastern Long Island http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/10/16/the-rwa-mission-is-alive-in-eastern-long-island/ http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/2009/10/16/the-rwa-mission-is-alive-in-eastern-long-island/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:05:24 +0000 Debora http://dunesanddreams.org/blog/?p=103 Last night the three founding members of Dunes & Dreams RWA, chapter 215 representing Eastern Long Island, had their first official library talk at the John Jermain Library in Sag Harbor. Being that our fledgling chapter has only been in existence 10 months and incorporated half of that – to say we were honored would be an understatement.

In the true spirit of the RWA mission, which is to educate writers on the craft of writing and show support and respect for others on the same road to publication, Dunes & Dreams donated their time last night to kick-off the “Thursday Night Writes: Celebrating One Hundred Years of Writers and Writing at John Jermain.”

Gina Ardito, Candace Gold and Debora Dennis anchored a roundtable discussion first talking about our own journey to publication in the romance fiction genre and then opening the floor to questions from the audience. Although the unseasonably frigid weather accompanied by winds and steady rain kept the attendance to a small group, those that braved the weather came with questions!

Our ninety minutes was quickly gone and our mission accomplished - a gentleman writing a memoir, a woman questioning the steps to approaching a publishing house, a woman looking to just get started – were just a few of the people who left with answers and hand-outs with links to taking whatever project they are working on to the next level.

The “Thursday Night Writes” program will run through May and Dunes and Dreams was honored to a part of this wonderful program because we believe that no matter where you are on the publishing road, from the aspiring writer to the NY Times bestseller, there’s nothing like sharing your knowledge and giving back.

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