Thursday Thirteen - 198 - 13 Ways the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada Got Connected at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, Nova Scotia

1 - The week before Valentine's Day was a perfect time for my writers' group to get together at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax for an evening of networking with the Halifax business community.











Photo by Stamos Sotiropoulis

2 - A joint event sponsored by Bconnected, Charlie Mac Productions, Rich Graphics and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, the evening was an opportunity to get out of the house on a crisp winter's night, meet new people, check out some really stunning artwork while indulging in a little wine, cheese and fruit.

You can see my husband Brad and myself hobnobbing at right.











Photo by Stamos Sotiropoulis

3 - Then it was paparazzi time.











Photo by Stamos Sotiropoulis

4 - From L to R: RWAC president Annette Gallant, Donna Alward, moi, Julianne MacLean, Deborah Hale, Jennie Marsland, Lilly Cain, Kelly Boyce, Taylor Keating and Renee Field













5 - The business crowd was delighted to discover that nestled here on the rocky coast of eastern Canada are writers who - instead of publishing only locally-set Atlantic Canadian stories with Canadian publishers - publish North American commercial romantic fiction through New York publishers.












6 - Renee Field was the first writer to speak to the gathering.



Her latest release, Beastly Passion, is published by Ellora's Cave.




















7 - Paula, one half of the writing team known as Taylor Keating,


spoke about her debut novel, Game Over, published by Tor.





















8 - Debut author Kelly Boyce


talked about her upcoming April release The Outlaw Bride from Carina Press.


















9 - Deborah Hale


gave us a look at her current release, Married: The Virgin Widow as well as a preview of her upcoming Gentlemen of Fortune series from Harlequin Historicals - which includes her 25th release in a career spanning thirteen years.
















10 - Next we heard from Donna Alward,


who told us about her 16th Harlequin release, Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle.




















11 - Lilly Cain


explained the print-on-demand aspect of publishing, including her third release Building Magic.






















12 - My cousin Julianne MacLean


introduced her new St. Martin's Press series which begins with Captured by the Highlander, releasing March 1st - her 16th release since 2000.




















13 - Wrapping up the author's segment of the evening, Jennie Marsland


shared her second release, McShannon's Heart, from Bluewood Publishing.