Heartland Romance Authors

Thanks for stopping by!

If you live in the Kansas City, Missouri area and have ever written or considered writing a romance novel, you've found the right place. HeRA is a great group of men and women who all share the love of writing. We offer each other support and encouragement as well as great opportunities to meet industry professionals and learn more about the craft of writing. If that sounds good to you, you may be just the type of person we're looking for to help make our group even better.

Want to see what we're all about? We'd love to have you come visit one of our meetings. We're always happy to welcome visitors and we promise you'll be greeted with the warm hospitality the Midwest is so well known for. Check our calendar of EVENTS for the next meeting time and location. And if you'd like to talk to one of our MEMBERS, EMAIL us and we'll be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Even if you live too far away to come to our meetings, we still have something just for you. Our "Show Me The Spark!" CONTEST is open to both RWA and non-RWA members. We also offer writing tips and advice. Check out our RESOURCES section for all kinds of great articles.

Show Me The Spark!

All New! The focus of this year’s contest is the “Spark of Interest” your first chapter needs to catch an editor’s eye. The 2008 Final Judges for Show Me The Spark! are: May Chen, Avon Patience Smith, Silhouette
Rhonda Penders, The Wild Rose Press. We’re also making available an online entry option designed to save you time and money. Check out our contest page for all the information you’ll need plus you can see what some of last year’s entrants including new author Patty Henderson had to say about Show Me The Spark!

For more information or questions please contact Contest Coordinator Cindy Tady at spark_coordinator@yahoo.com or cmtady@yahoo.com

We are proud to announce the creation of a scholarship program to help deserving unpublished romance authors become members of the group. The scholarship will pay for one year's membership in Romance Writers of America (RWA), the national professional organization of which HeRA is a local chapter. Membership in RWA is required in order to join HeRA. One scholarship will be awarded each calendar year.

Here are the minimum guidelines for those interested in applying for the scholarship:

The applicant should be able to attend at least eight of the twelve HeRA meetings during the year of the scholarship.

The applicant should be able to serve on one active committee during the scholarship year. A list of active committees will be furnished to the awardee and they will be asked to choose one in which to participate.

The applicant should be actively pursuing a career in romance writing. HeRA encourages all interested writers to become part of the group; the specific focus of this scholarship, however, is to aid unpublished romance authors for whom RWA membership may be a financial burden.

The applicant should have a work-in-progress at the time of the application. As a professional organization, with published authors among our membership, we are interested in helping to develop the skills of committed authors. A work-in-progress demonstrates the seriousness of the applicant's commitment.

HeRA will accept completed applications (submitted via email to heartland51@hotmail.com) from unpublished romance authors from November 1 through the end of December preceding the year in which the scholarship is awarded. The application can be downloaded by clicking HERE.

We'd love to hear from you!
Email us or send us snail mail to the address below.

Heartland Romance Authors
PO BOX 286
Buckner, MO 64016