Los Angeles Romance Authors

Promoting Excellence in Romantic Fiction

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Welcome Romance Writers!

 

We look forward to meeting you!

LARA RWA meetings are held via Zoom until we are cleared by the State of California for group gatherings. All info here.

Visitors and Guests: your first meeting is free!

LARA Mission Statement


The purpose of LARA is to promote excellence in romantic fiction, to help our writers enhance their knowledge and establish career goals, and to provide continuing support and encouragement for our members through all levels of their careers.

Upcoming Meetings

March 16, 2025

Pre-Meeting: LARA Board Meeting

Speaker: Dr. Christina E. Stephens

Topic: Empowering Authors Today

Unlock success through words and creativity in a competitive marketplace.

Biography:

Dr. Christina E. Stephens has been a leader in the strategic growth of companies for over 20 years. Her experience working for international organizations such as Darden Restaurants, Walt Disney World Resort, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Marriott International laid the foundations of a skillset which has equipped her to help businesses of all sizes and from all industries around the world. Dr. Stephens has earned her dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Management of Information Systems and Business Management with a specialty in Hospitality. She also has a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication and recently completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Digital and Strategic Communication with a focus on Organizational Communication. Christina is also a published author of a children’s book titled “Up the Forest Stream – Achievement-Based Conversations.” Her key industry skills are Team and Talent Development, Leadership, Finance and Budgeting, International Hospitality Operations, and Brand Strategy.

Find out more about Dr. Stephens:

 

April 20, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Quick Win Workshop

Speaker: Gail Chianese

Topic: Selling Direct

Workshop Description TBD

 

May 18, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Quick Win Workshop

Speaker: Martha Alderson

Topic: Revising with a Plot Planner

Workshop Description TBD

 

June 8, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Quick Win Workshop

Speaker: Judi Fennell

Topic: The Deep End of the Swimming Pool: Sinking or Swimming with POV

Workshop Description TBD

 

July 20, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Live from RWA Nationals

Speaker: TBD

Topic: Monsters Romance

Workshop Description TBD

 

August 17, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Quick Win Workshop

Speaker: Beth Atwater

Topic: Romance in Libraries. What now?

Workshop Description TBD

Fee (Members): $40 In Person and $20 Virtual

Fee (Non-Members): $60 In Person and $30 Virtual

 

BOTH options include our "famous" Virtual Goody Bag valued at over $300! "In Person" fee includes parking, hospitality throughout the day, access to high-speed WiFi, and access to ALL virtual presentations.

 

CLICK to sign-up for our 2024 September Mini-Con!

 

CURRENT Schedule* (all times are Pacific Daylight Time)

Time On Site (Santa Clarita) Virtual (Zoom)
8:30 Morning Hospitality
Continental Breakfast		 :45 Zoom Opens
9:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 -
Session 1		 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD		 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD
10:45 MORNING BREAK
 MORNING BREAK
11:00 - Session 2 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD		 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD
12:30 LUNCH BREAK
 LUNCH BREAK
1:30 - Session 3 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD		 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD
2:45 AFTERNOON BREAK AFTERNOON BREAK
3:15 - Session 4 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD		 Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD
4:45 End of On-Site Track END OF VIRTUAL TRACK
  Clean-Up & Close Up  

 

*Subject to change.

 

Registration for our 2025 September Mini-Con opens March 1, 2025!

October 19, 2025

Pre-Meeting: PAC Meet Up

Speaker: Brenda Chin

Topic: TBD

Workshop Description TBD

 

 

 

November 16, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Quick Win Workshop

Speaker: Anne Rachelle

Topic: Bootstrapping a Book Tour

Workshop Description TBD

December 15, 2025

Debut Author Panel & End of Year Party

RSVP goes LIVE November 1, 2025!

 

 

January 19, 2025

LARA Member Check-In

February 16, 2025

Pre-Meeting: Meet & Greet, Board Meeting

Speaker: Sheila Redling and Tobi Doyle

Topic: Corralling your Characters

Are your side characters running amok? Have they taken over the storyline like a bunch of sugared-up second graders? Is your main character frozen in place, refusing to do your bidding? Or worse, have they become boring? Sheila and Tobi will help you regain control of your narrative and get your characters back into place by figuring out roles, motivations, and goals. Mary Sues must die!

Find out more about IGW here: StoryMagicCards.com and AskIGW.com

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