PRO Authors

Romance Writers of America offers a PRO program in recognition of pre-published members who have completed at least one manuscript and submitted it for consideration to an RWA-recognized publishing company. In addition to acknowledging this first achievement on the journey to publication, the PRO program offers many tools to encourage those writers seriously pursuing publication, from email loops to a PRO retreat at National Conference.

The growing number of PRO members in HOD speaks to our desire to help writers become published and the quality of our chapter. For more information on PRO, please email our PRO Liasion.

Come meet these special members…

Betty Bolte

Betty Bolte joined RWA in 2004 and became a PRO member in May 2006 after completing and submitt=ng for ultimate rejection her third romance novel, Degrees of Freedom. She has written several nonfiction books for publication as well as many nonfiction articles. She currently is a full-time graduate student at UAH and works full-time with SAIC in support of the Ares crew launch vehicle project at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. Her goal is to graduate from UAH and turn her off-hours attention to writing historical fiction.

Kathy Bone

Katherine Bone joined RWA in 2004.  A year later, she became a member of Heart of Dixie, Southern Magic and Hearts Through History.  Acquiring PRO status in July, 2005, she has since become Heart of Dixie's first Pro Liaison and HOD's newsletter assistant.  Writing monthly articles entitled, Hidden Treasure-Historical Truth, for HOD's newsletter, The Heart Monitor, she also takes various online writing courses while writing historical romance novels with paranormal elements.

Jean Hovey

Jean Hovey is a former librarian, who joined RWA in July, 2007 and Heart of Dixie a month later. She achieved her Pro status in January, 2008. After completing her first manuscript in 1978 on a Smith Corona typewriter, she wisely put it in a closet where it is best left. She hopes her skills have improved, along with the technology. With her writing partner, Stephanie Jones, she writes fantasy romance. They have completed two manuscripts and are working on a third.

Stephanie Jones

Stephanie Jones joined RWA this summer (2007) with her writing partner, Jean Hovey. They became members of the Heart of Dixie chapter then, as well. They attained PRO membership in December and were pinned in the January 2008 meeting. Stephanie worked in the accounting field for many years before changing careers to become an elementary school teacher. She is currently focused on finding an agent to market their work; therefore, she finds the advice given and insights shared at each meeting to be very valuable.

Andrea Laurence

Andrea Laurence achieved PRO status in early 2005 with the completion of her first manuscript, The Antique Carousel. She joined RWA and the Heart of Dixie Chapter in September of 2004 and has enjoyed the support and education she receives each month as a member. Her manuscripts have placed in contests and been requrested by editors and agents and she hopes to join the PAN ranks soon.

Crystal Lee

Crystal Lee has been writing since the sixth grade, but it was not until the completion of her first manuscript, Celestial Blood, that the painstaking process of weaving tales became a full-blown passion. She joined Heart of Dixie/RWA in November 2006 and achieved PRO status in late January 2007. Driven by an imagination infused with the belief in impossible possibilities, she writes paranormal stories that celebrate the extraordinary elements of life. She lives with her beloved husband in seclusion—as much as possible.

Patricia Robertson

Patricia Robertson wrote her first short story in the sixth grade and she's been writing ever since.  She dabbles in all kinds of writing. Her publication credits include non-fiction articles and a newspaper column, short stories and writing for a book packager. Her novella, The Chosen Woman, won the contest sponsored by Harlequin's World's Greatest Romances. She has also made the finals in several contests sponsored by RWA chapters as well as other writing organizations.  She is currently writing contemporary romance and hopes to find the time to study screenplay writing.  She also loves movies, eating out with friends, photography and blogging. 

Cathy Stewart

Carla Swafford

Carla Swafford has been rejected by the best, but keeps writing away. She joined RWA in 1992, and then HOD in 1993, went missing for a few years, returning in 2003.  Presently, she writes hot paranormals and sassy contemporaries, and has completed five novels.

Pat Trainum

JoAnn Weatherly

JoAnn Weatherly lives in Birmingham and writes contemporary romance.

Danniele Worsham

In addition to being a mom and running her resume writing business-Business Advantage Writing Services, Danniele Worsham works hard to improve her craft as a writer. She’s currently submitting her second contemporary romance manuscript and writing her third. Calling Huntsville, AL, home, she has published nonfiction articles online for Long Ridge Writers Group. Several of her short stories have appeared in True Romance and True Experience magazines.