Alayne Adams writes romantic comedy with warmth and wit. Currently she is pursuing her Master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University in Western Pennsylvania. In 2004, she won the MIRA scholarship at SHU and finaled in the San Francisco RWA chapter's "Heart to Heart" competition. Her thesis novel "In Perfect Harmony" presently is under exclusive consideration at Avalon Books. www.AlayneAdams.com

Judy Kay Albright was born in Coatesville and grew up in Thorndale, Pennsylvania. She has one daughter and now three grandchildren. She has two poems published with "La Pierna Tierna", one short story with Fayrdaw, and one short story on Coca-Cola's web page about one of their Nascar drivers - Tony Stewart. She also has eight novels finished, but need a little "TLC" before they get published.

L. A. Banks (a/k/a Leslie Esdaile and Leslie Esdaile Banks) is a native of Philadelphia and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton undergraduate program, as well as holds a Masters in Fine Arts from Temple University's School of Film and Media Arts. After a stellar ten-year career as a corporate marketing executive for several Fortune 100 high-tech firms, Banks changed careers in 1991 to pursue a private consulting career -- which ultimately led to fiction and film writing. Banks incorporates her marketing experience and creative writing talent to advocate for literacy and community development, inspiring her speaking audiences with her raw humor. Now with over 22 novels and 10 novellas in an extraordinary breadth of genres, and many awards to her credit, Banks writes full-time and resides with her husband and children in Philadelphia. www.vampirehuntress.com or www.leslieesdailebanks.com

Jen Blackwell-Yale When it comes to the English language, Jen is a jill-of-all-trades. She reads, she writes, she edits, she proofreads, she slices and dices… After working in the newspaper industry for the better part of ten years, she switched gears and moved into magazine and book publishing. She’s been a freelance copy editor and proofreader for almost ten years, working for various publishing companies on all sorts of books from gardening to travel to erotic romance to how to be a professional wrestler (don’t ask). And in 2008, she’ll be publishing Runes To Go, a how-to manual on rune interpretations, with The Lotus Circle, an imprint of Ellora’s Cave. She lives in Robesonia, PA (halfway between Reading and Lebanon) with her husband, two daughters, one barf-a-licious cat, and a puppy that’s constantly riding the ragged edge of disaster. Contact her at jmblackwellyale@verizon.net.

Laura Graham Booth is a recovering mathematician. She always wanted to be a writer but was sidetracked by a career in software development instead. When motherhood called, she left the computer realm behind (though she currently serves as VFRW's erstwhile webmistress) and embarked on a new career as a writer. Her novels fall where contemporary romance meets women's fiction, and have twice earned her a trip to the Golden Heart finals. She lives near the Chesapeake Bay, where she spends too much time time staring at sailboats and daydreaming. Visit her website at http://www.lauragrahambooth.com.

Terri Brisbin Wife of one, mom of three and dental hygienist to hundreds, Terri has been writing romance fiction since 1995. Published first in 1998 by Berkley/Jove, she is now at work on her twelfth book which will be released in January 2006 by Harlequin Historicals.
Terri is a member of the Romance Writers of America and its local New Jersey and Valley Forge chapters as well as the Beau Monde and Celtic Hearts special interest chapters. Along with historical romance author Tina St. John, Terri is the founder of the ToBeez aka Rising Stars of Romance, a network of new authors.
Visit Terri's website at www.terribrisbin.com for more information on her current and upcoming releases and website contests!

Joan Broge joined RWA and VFRW in 1995 and served on the board in several capacities until 2001. Joan has three works in progress. Her work at the Chester County Historical Society provides lots of opportunities to research for a historical featuring a "lady artist". She has completed "Ridgerunner," a single title contemporary romance. She is now hard at work on a new contemporary women's fiction featuring a selfish mother with a daughter who has Down's Syndrome. Joan can be reached at jbroge@comcast.net

Sharyn Cerniglia has been an active member of VFRW since its inception. She has served on VFRW's Nominating Committee, is a judge and past coordinator in the chapter's annual "The Sheila" contest. She served two-plus terms as Treasurer of the chapter, before moving to south Florida, where she happily entertains visiting VFRW members at VFRW South. Sharyn hosted VFRW's annual Writers' Workshop Open House and inaugurated the chapter's annual Booksellers' Tea. She instituted the "List," a database of all books (both backlist, current and upcoming) published by VFRW members. Sharyn is a proud recipient of the Susan Wiggs Award, VFRW's annual service award, and the second Lois Winston Award, VFRW's special service award. Sharyn has been published in non-fiction in a number of trade journals, magazines, and newsletters, and is a frequent contributor to VFRW's "Romantic Penn's" newsletter. You can contact Sharyn at sharyn@bigplanet.com.

Barbie Dickens has a very vivid imagination. As a child she was always making up stories entertaining as many people as possible, and has finally found an outlet for her creativity. Writing romance! She has been writing for two years with plenty of giggles and sighs along the way as she has a tendency to get swept away into her creations.

Adele Dubois is a former newspaper and magazine columnist, features writer, and foreign correspondent published in the Caribbean, UK, and USA. When not on the beach by the ocean, or walking along the quiet shores of a Delaware bay, she and her family enjoy their rural eastern Pennsylvania home where she is working on her next novel. Her new releases in 2008 include DREAM TRAVELER and INTIMATE ART from Ellora's Cave. Please visit her website at www.adeledubois.com.

Elizabeth English is the author of the Borderland Trilogy (The Border Bride, Laird of the Mist, and The Linnet). Set on the English-Scottish border in the 14th century, this series has garnered critical praise and awards, including RWA's RITA award and the Reviewer's International Award of Excellence. Ms. English is also published in fantasy romance under the name Elizabeth Minogue. You can write to her at P.O. Box 539, Kimberton, PA 19442.

Carla Faker, writing as Carla Kempert, has been writing since the age of ten when she drafted an instruction manual on child-raising. (It was intended to be non-fiction but too many people thought it was funny.) She wrote in high school to impress the English teacher on whom she had a huge crush. Now happily married--not to the English teacher--with two pre-teen boys (ask me about autism or Pokemon), Carla writes because she can't not write. She has eight finished manuscripts under her belt but a fried hard drive ate three of them. (She is not a computer geek either.) Carla writes single title/women's fiction, and her passion for baseball has a tendency to bleed onto the page as well. She is not published yet, but she's doggedly working on it. You can contact her at cfaker17@yahoo.com.

Risha Parker Gordon is an aspiring chick lit writer. She can be reached at jerishap@yahoo.com

Debra Lew Harder writes women's fiction and has finalled in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart award in both 2003 and 2004, and won the Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category in 2004. With doctorates in both medicine and piano performance, she finds that writing fiction combines her passion for the artistic with her fascination for the intellectual. She has been proud to serve as VFRW's membership chair and elected member-at-large, and now serves as The Sheila contest's coordinator of Romantic Suspense. E-mail her with any related contest questions at debralewharder@comcast.net.

Sandra Johnson teaches English at Community College of Philadelphia and has 20+ years at Philadelphia Museum of Art as docent and former PMA Guideposts editor. Her experience includes such titles as magazine copy editor, Coordinating Producer of "The Trial of William Penn," and government seminar leader/writer. She has been a member of RWA since 1994 and resides in center city Philadelphia, e-mail is SandraJohnsonXX@aol.com.

Robin Kaye was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge next door to her Sicilian grandparents. Living with an extended family that’s a cross between Gilligan’s Island and The Sopranos, minus the desert isle and illegal activities, explains both her comedic timing and the cast of quirky characters in her books. She’s lived in half a dozen states from Idaho to Florida, but the romance of Brooklyn has never left her heart. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband, three children, two dogs, and a three-legged cat with attitude. Robin's first book, Romeo, Romeo a 2007 Golden Heart Winner, will be a September 2008 release from Sourcebooks.

Jacki King is a feisty Nashville native who relocated to Central PA for Cupid, and who writes sexy, sassy stories, otherwise known as "chick lit gone wild." She is an Amber Quill Press Top Ten bestseller, and if you don't laugh out loud at least once during a Jacki King story, check your pulse! From the tale of a smart, business-savvy saleswoman of "adult" novelties (She Who Laughs Last) , to a fiery gypsy trying to outsmart the Devil (The Gypsy Chick), Jacki King takes you on a journey that always entertains. www.JackiKing.com

Leslie Anne Lighton is the VFRW Elected Member-At-Large, responsible for Publicity. She enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, including contemporary romantic suspense novels and screenplays. Her history book UPPER PROVIDENCE BICENTENNIAL, published in 2005, benefits the Royersford Free Public Library and she is currently preparing to publish an updated biography of a key Revolutionary War era figure. In 2007, one of her series contemporary manuscripts won fourth-place in the RWA Coeur de Louisiane's "Romancing the Tome" contest. By profession, Leslie is a compliance auditor for a global pharmaceutical company. In the past she worked as a photojournalist, computer programmer/validation analyst, and training class developer/instructor. Contact her at leslielighton@yahoo.com.

Susan Macatee has been writing toward publication for 14 years. Her interests range from science fiction to history, particularly the American Civil War era. She has one published young adult novel set during the Civil War that has just gone out of print and two Civil War romances in the works, one a time travel contracted by The Wild Rose Press. Her interest in the time period stems from her husband getting involved with a Civil War reenactment group and pulling her right in. She and her husband are members of the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment reenacting group. Her other love is the paranormal and sci-fi, which she’s incorporated into her most recent WIP. She lives with her husband of 27 years and three grown sons, as well as the family dog, a female Boxer named Kelly. She spends her free time watching her local baseball team, the Philadephia Phillies, and inhaling books. Visit her author website: www.susanmacatee.com.

Cara Marsi (aka Carolyn Matkowsky) is a Delaware native who managed to escape the state for several years to live in Canada and Pennsylvania. She's a corporate drone and cubicle dweller with a romantic soul. Writing romance feeds her creative cravings. Carolyn has been writing stories in her head since she was a child and always dreamed of being a writer. After a lifetime in the corporate world, she decided to pursue her dream and put her stories to paper. She joined Romance Writers of America and absorbed all she could about writing romance. After ten long years of hard work and rejections, she sold her first book to Avalon, A CATERED AFFAIR, written under the name Carolyn Matkowsky. Her latest book, written under her new name Cara Marsi, is LOGAN'S REDEMPTION, a contemporary romance with suspense elements, from The Wild Rose Press, www.thewildrosepress.com. Currently she has gone to the dark side and is writing a werewolf paranormal. Carolyn is a member of RWA, NJRW and VFRW and lives in Delaware with her husband, her son and a fat black cat named Killer. Visit Carolyn at www.caramarsi.com.

Dana Marton is the award-winning author of numerous romantic suspense novels that feature fast-paced, gripping action set at unusual locations. International intrigue and unstoppable passion meet in her stories to create books that are impossible to put down and are sure to become reader favorites. Dana has come to writing after a business career and never looked back since. She shares her home with her family, an extremely loud and messy parakeet, a very stubborn beagle and about a gazillion books that are threatening to collapse the shelves. When not writing, she can be found either reading or gardening — two of her other ruling passions in life. To find out more about her and her latest releases, please visit her web site: www.danamarton.com.

Donna Michaels is an author of Romaginative Fiction who lives in North Eastern PA with her husband, four children, and three rescued cats. A multi-published author of several genres in both E-book and soon to be Print, Donna has fourteen contracts and writes short stories, novellas and novels—the first of which—MEET YOUR MATE, a Romantic Comedy Suspense, will be Print released this March through The Wild Rose Press. Two other novels: FATED HEARTS, a heartwarming contemporary, and LEGEND OF THE FOURTH MOON/THE MARK OF GOREN, a Sci-Fi romance, will both be in print 2008/2009. Donna's short story, TEN THINGS I'D DO FOR A COWBOY was nominated Best E-Book Short Romance 2007 by LASR. To learn more about Donna, her books, and contests, visit her website www.donnamichaelsauthor.com. A member of VFRW since 2005, she also belongs to the Scriptscene RWA and a local writing group.

Elizabeth Minogue is the author of THE PRINCE, a fantasy romance from Berkley Sensations. She also writes historical romance under the name Elizabeth English. You can write to her at P.O. Box 539, Kimberton, PA 19442.

Stephanie Mowery has discovered that no, she's not crazy, she just has a split personality. As Stephanie Julian, she writes erotic paranormal romance for Ellora's Cave, starting with SEDUCED BY MAGIC and continuing with SEDUCED IN SHADOW and SEDUCED AND ENSNARED. To learn more about her world of Etruscan magic, visit www.StephanieJulian.com. Writing as Stephanie Scott, she published two sweet romances, RISKING HIS HEART and DESIGNS ON HIM, with Avalon Books. A professional feature writer, Stephanie spends lots of time in the summer writing about other people's gardens and dreaming about one day working on her own. She lives in a house filled with guys - her wonderful husband and two fast-growing sons - and likes when they call her Queen. When she's not reading or writing, she likes to run (or walk, damn knees), eat Junior Mints and watch real men play hockey. You can contact her at stephaniejulian@msn.com

Joy Nash is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves to write her dreams—and sometimes, her nightmares! Both regularly appear in the novels she pens for Dorchester Publishing. Joy's historical fantasy, The Grail King, was a 2007 recipient of Romantic Times Bookreviews' Reviewers' Choice Award, and her urban fantasy adventure Immortals: The Awakening hit several national bestsellers lists, including the USA Today 150. Her 2008 releases include Deep Magic (Jan 08), and Immortals: The Crossing (Oct 08). Joy lives in eastern Pennsylvania with the hero who swept her off her feet when she was just eighteen. Their family now includes a young princess, two heroes-in-training, and a faithful hound. When not reading or writing, Joy's hobbies include brain-numbing movie binges, staring into space, and wishing her house was clean. Or you can find her watching YouTube videos with her kids. For more info on Joy's books, please visit www.joynash.com.

Miriam Newman is a published poet and now aspiring fantasy romance writer residing in rural Elverson, PA with numerous rescue animals and her faithful laptop. Her fantasy historical with romantic elements is out to publishers and a light paranormal contemporary romance is being considered by an agent. She brings a strong background in psychiatric social services to the creation of her characters along with a poetic writing style she hopes you will soon be seeing in print!

Cathryn Pritchard was born in England and came to the United States with her family when she was sixteen. Her single title romantic comedy, STEPPING STONES, is a 2004 Golden Heart finalist. Other awards include first place in the Colorado Romance Writers 2003 “Heart of the Rockies” Contest in the Single Title category and first place in the Outreach International Romance Writers Award of Excellence Contest. Cathy worked as a talent agent for several years before opening a casting company with a partner in Philadelphia, where she was the casting director for numerous television and radio commercials and handled extras casting for several feature films that shot in the Philadelphia area including “Twelve Monkeys” and “Up Close and Personal. She can be reached at cathypritchard@aol.com.

Ann LaBar Russek has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has published poetry and nonfiction in many national and regional publications. She has been a guest artist for colleges such as Lebanon Valley College, Lafayette College, DeSales University, Muhlenberg College, and Reading Area Community College. In addition to poetry and non-fiction, she is at work on several children's books, a new chapbook of poems, and a historical romance novel. She currently resides in Chester County.

Kate Welsh often lost herself as a child in creating make believe worlds and happily-ever-after tales. Many years later she turned back to creating happy endings when her husband challenged her to write down the stories in her head. A lover of all things romantic, Kate has been writing romance for over twenty years now. Her first published novels hit the stands in 1998 and she´s written over twenty published novels since for Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense and Silhouette Special Edition. Kate is a three time finalist and two time winner of Romance Writers of America's coveted Golden Heart. She was also a Rita finalist in 2000 for her second novel, Never Lie to an Angel. Substitute Daddy, her first Silhouette Special Edition and her second SSE, The Doctor´s Secret Child, were both WaldonBooks Series Best Sellers for multiple weeks. Kate was Valley Forge Romance Writers first President and in the past held the position of newsletter editor, member at large and chapter PAN Liaison. She is currently VFRW´s vice-president. She lives her own happily-ever-after in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband of over 30 years, her daughter, their one hundred bound Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Ecko and Kali, the family cat. Kali didn't want a playmate when the puppy moved in seven years ago and she´s still trying to coax him into moving out which makes for a happening household.

Lois Winston writes romantic comedy, romantic suspense, chick lit, hen lit, and cozy mysteries and has been known to cross pollinate genres. TALK GERTIE TO ME (formerly RESURRECTING GERTIE), her combination chick lit/hen lit/romantic comedy with a dash of the paranormal, will be an April 2006 release from Dorchester Publishing. Under its former title, TALK GERTIE TO ME was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist and the first runner-up in the debut year of the American Title competition. In addition, Lois is a 3-time Golden Heart finalist, a St. Martin's Malice Domestic finalist, and has won a dozen other writing contests. Lois is a former Vice President of VFRW and served three years as the co-coordinator for VFRW's Winning Beginnings Writing Contest (now The Sheila). She was a 2001 recipient of the Susan Wiggs Award and a 2002 recipient of the Winston Award, a chapter service award named for her. She joined VFRW in 1996 and in addition, is a member of four other RWA chapters. Lois is also widely published in non-fiction in a variety of consumer magazines. Visit her at www.loiswinston.com.

Alice Wootson, was born and grew up in Rankin, PA, a borough outside of Pittsburgh. She came to this area to attend Cheyney University and stayed to take a teaching position in the Philadelphia School District. She retired from teaching ten years ago and began her second career, writing romance novels. Ike, her husband of more than forty years, is very supportive and says his new career is Driving Miss Alice. Alice is also a poet. (Her first novel, Snowbound with Love, was rejected by an agent as too poetic to have any commercial value. Two days later she got THE CALL from Karen Thomas, of Arabesque, offering a contract for the same book.) Alice is a member of RWA, NJRW and our own VFRW. To satisfy the poetic part of her soul, she is a member of the Mad Poets' Society. She has been featured in many poetry venues in the area. Not to neglect her prose side, she is a member of the Philadelphia Writers' Conference. Her published novels are as follows: To Love Again, Trust in Me, (which was nominated for an Emma Award by Romance Slam Jam), Home for Christmas, Dream Wedding and Snowbound with Love. A sixth novel, Escape to Love, will be released in June of this year. For more information, please visit her web site: www.alicewootson.net.

Daria C. Yanez is a physician, a potter, and now a writer. Wife, and mother of two daughters, she found herself at loose ends when both girls left for college. She decided to indulge in a lifelong dream to write. She's currently revising her first attempt at a Regency romance, and in the middle of her second effort, with outlines in the works for a third and fourth.

Ruth Zavitsanos has had the desire to write since the age of twelve. After earning her journalism degree she worked as a feature writer for a daily newspaper in the Boston area. Since moving to Downingtown, PA, with her husband and two daughters eight years ago,Ruth has been writing for newsletters and school banners. This past year she has turned out guests for her own office. Ruth's historical earned her the PRO pin and is being considered by an editor. Currently, she is completing her contemporary hen-lit. Ruth can be reached at wtrworld@hotmail.com.