|
|
|
|
|
American Title writing competition voting is now over. The winner will be announced during the Awards
Luncheon on Friday, April 18, 2008, at the RT Booklovers Convention in
Pittsburgh, PA, and in the June 08 issue of RT BOOKreviews.
On Monday, April 21,
2008, the winner's name will be posted online at www.romantictimes.com.
Sign up for our free monthly e-mail newsletter and American Title
IV winner's name will be e-mailed to you once it is announced.
MEET THE CONTESTANTS
|
| Round Four Elimination |
 |
Holli Bertram -- Ann Arbor, MI
CURSES! (Paranormal)
Bio: My interest in the paranormal began with Bewitched and endless hours in
front of the mirror trying to perfect a nose twitch that would make my bed.
Witches, ghosts and even angels populated some of my earliest writings. It
wasn't until my sons became teenagers, however, that I began adding demons
to my stories. I live in a usually messy (still can't do the nose thing),
never boring home in Michigan with my college sweetheart, three sons, two
cats and a golden retriever. Like the heroine of my story, I work in social
research at a large university. |
Round One Elimination |
 |
P.E. Cunningham -- Ephrata, PA
A TOUCH OF HEAVEN (Paranormal)
Bio: Born in New Jersey, spent most of my life in Pennsylvania. Currently living
in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Raised on a diet of Star Trek,
Anne McCaffrey and Marvel comics. Graduated with a degree in English and a
desire to write.
Jobs held so far: clerical worker, newspaper writer/editor, typesetter,
proofreader. Through it all, I write. As P.E. Cunningham, I've published
stories in Fantasy and Science Fiction and the Sword and Sorceress
anthologies. |
Round Three Elimination |
 |
Mel Hiers -- Smyrna, TN
VOICE OF THE BARD (Contemporary Fantasy)
Bio: I am a big geek. I played in the marching band, competed in Academic Super
Bowl, and spent my spare time volunteering at the local library where I
indulged my passion for stories and wordplay. I followed the library path
through college, where I met a man named Morgan and fell in love with him
over months of letter writing and as many visits as we could wrangle. We
live in Tennessee now, and when I'm not writing, reading, beading or
gaming, I get to talk books with my patrons at the Linebaugh Library
System. (www.melhiers.com) |
Round One Elimination |
 |
Savanna Kougar -- Kingsville, MO
MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS (Futuristic Mystery Romance)
Bio: I'm just a retired (due to health), 50s-plus, unmarried, my doggies are my
children, fat ol' baby boomer who has always loved reading, since before
kindergarten. I got bitten by the writing bug at age 13 when I wrote little
love scenes with the Beatles, passing them around to my devoted readers --
only girls, of course. That ended when the math teacher got hold of one:
talk about a red burning face and wishing the floor would swallow me up.
And here I am, writing exactly what I enjoy reading most, with the hope
others will enjoy it also. |
Round Three Elimination |
 |
Anitra Lynn McLeod -- Salt Lake City, UT
THIEF (Futuristic Western)
Bio: When I was 12, I started writing by rewriting Archie comic books because I
couldn't stand what a doormat Betty was. In my stories, Betty dumped Archie
and found a guy who was as fascinated with her as she was with him. Around
about 14, I realized I could make up my own characters and I never looked
back! Many years later, I've completed over 20 manuscripts, won several
RWA-sponsored contests and now have the honor of competing in American
Title. (www.anitramcleod.com) |
|
 |
Trish Milburn -- Hermitage, TN
OUT OF SIGHT (Paranormal)
Bio: I began writing romance during college to escape thrilling classes like
Mass Media Theory. I continued after graduation, dreaming about making
scads of money with my romance novels because the millions I was making as
a weekly newspaper reporter just weren't enough. I started submitting in
1996 when I joined Romance Writers of America.
I've left the oh-so-lucrative world of journalism and am a full-time writer
and freelance copy editor. I edit the Wet Noodle Posse e-zine, blog with
the Romance Bandits, and serve on the RWA board of directors. (www.trishmilburn.com) |
Round Two Elimination |
 |
Lexie O'Neill -- Goose Creek, SC
BACKWOODS INVADER (Paranormal Romance)
Bio: In fifth grade, I wrote tales of the monstrous goop emerging from the
dishwater and eating unsuspecting parents. I followed with tales of
household cleansers torturing Mrs. Salt. After those attempts, I wrote
poetry.
My entry, "Backwoods Invader," began in high school when I dreamed of a
field I'd never been to -- and the next day I searched and found the field
exactly as I dreamed. Alas, no spaceships came to take me away!
I am now a psychology professor and live in South Carolina with one
husband, two kids, a dog, a cat and a turtle. (www.lexieoneill.com) |
|
 |
Helen Scott Taylor -- Plymouth, Devon, UK
THE MAGIC KNOT (Paranormal)
Bio: As a child, when I didn't pay attention my teachers accused me of being
away with the fairies. Things haven't changed much! Only now, the fairies
are tall and sexy and they live in my stories rather than just in my head.
I reside in South Western England near Plymouth with the rocky cliffs of
the Atlantic to the south and the windswept expanse of Dartmoor to the
west. I love wild places as long as I can go home to my creature comforts.
I'm fascinated by abstract art, cats and the search for enlightenment. I
believe deep within everyone there's a little magic. (www.helenscotttaylor.com) |
Round Four Elimination |
 |
Mai Christy Thao -- Chester, SC
PRINCE OF DARKNESS (Paranormal)
Bio: I knew I was destined to be a writer in seventh grade when I turned in a
38-page, bound literary piece about a young Frenchman's service in the
trenches during WWI for a short-story assignment while my classmates turned
in only four to six pages. I can still recall the look in my teacher's eyes
as she asked if she could keep the story.
I've incorporated my love of history with strong, endearing characters,
steamy romance, breathtaking edge-of-your-seat plots and a twist of the
paranormal. Just like in my writing, where anything is possible, I believe
that with perseverance, knowledge and the ability to dream, anything is
attainable in life - even the stars. (www.maichristythao.com) |
Round Two Elimination |
 |
Evonne Wareham -- Barry, South Wales, UK
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND (Paranormal Romantic Suspense)
Bio: I hail from Barry, on the South Wales coast, where I live in a 100-year old
cottage, five minutes from the ocean. Walking on the beach, usually in the
rain, is a great way to plot romance. Like Madison, the heroine of my book,
I'm into all the girly stuff - shoes, diamonds and sexy, mysterious men. I
also like the theatre and love to travel - I've yet to meet a cruise ship I
didn't like. I've written stories since I was a child. Making the final in
American Title IV really is a dream come true. |
|
|
Site Map
