CP Shenanigans: Pam Mantovani in the House!

I would not be where I am today as a writer if it weren't for my incredible relationship with Pam Mantovani. She's more than a critique partner, she's a friend dear to my heart. I've got other amazing writing friends and readers, but Pam is my primary partner in writing crime.

We met through the Georgia Romance Writers of America Moonlight & Magnolias Maggie Contest, which she chaired in 2009. I called to ask for help with their first ever online form and the rest is history. One Maggie final and five years later and we're sharing an incredible writing partnership.

Pam arrives today for one of our super charged critique partner weekends. We'll write, brainstorm, muddle our way through understanding technology together, and do it all over again. Three days to work together and encourage each other is a gift of time that I cherish. I only wish we could meet more often.

The key to a great critique partnership isn't just ability or talent, it's TRUST. I trust Pam Mantovani with my stories, the heart that I pour into them, and with ME. All of my vulnerabilities, highs and lows as a writer are entrusted to her.

This is where being a writer has been such a blessing to me. The friendships I've made with other like-minded souls. And Pam is one in a million.

Best of all, we get to share the "we sold" dream together. Pam Mantovani's debut novel COWBOY ON HER DOORSTEP releases from Belle Books in July 2014. If you love cowboys and romance, you'll love her story. Trust me. I've read it.

Are you in a critique partnership? If you're not a writer, who would you consider your best partner in fun and crime?

:)

Atlanta & All Things Writerly

I am in Atlanta--well technically I am in Alabama writing this blog but by the time it posts, I'll be in Atlanta. Any rate, I will be doing all things writerly with my two CPs. One of them is a Linda Howard finalist with me this year, a Linda Howard 2010 winner, and a four time Maggie finalist and one time Maggie winner. The other is a Golden Heart finalist and a Maggie finalist and winner!! I am in very good company!

We'll be brainstorming new book ideas, talking about craft, listening to a Harlequin podcast (if you are writing category romances this is a great resource and it's free!!), eating, drinking, digesting information. My contribution mentally is my ideas and my knowledge of social media. Although I'm not a techno geek, I am further along the Internet Highway than they are. They are contributing ideas, knowledge, experience. We're all storytellers with different approaches to wrangling our WIPS. That's Works In Progress for my non-writer readers :-)

Which brings me to this question. If you are a reader, a genuine romance fan, and you like category series books like Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Riva, Harlequin Desire, and Harlequin American what kind of stories are you looking for and what are you missing? What kind of heroine and hero are you interested in meeting? Is there a story of your heart that you wish a writer would write so YOU could feel even more connected to the story?

In other words, what do YOU want to see on the bookshelves when you shop for a good Romance Novel?