Meet our current board members!
Pronouns She/her
Email: president@contemporaryromance.org
Monica Jorgensen (writing as Kathleen Samuels) is a hybrid author writing contemporary romance. She has previously served on the CRW Board of Directors as well as the RWA Board of Directors.
Connect
IG: Instagram
FB: https://www.facebook.com/kathleensamuelsauthor
Email: vp@contemporaryromance.org
Melissa Naatz is an award-winning contemporary romance author who writes emotionally driven stories about resilience, healing, and second chances. As Vice President of Contemporary Romance Writers, she oversees workshops, conference programming, and the organization’s social media presence, creating opportunities for authors to learn, connect, and grow.
Connect:
Pronouns: she/her
Email: treasurer@contemporaryromance.org
Emily is an adult romance writer based in Houston, Texas. She is currently writing her Houston Hurricanes sports romance series. When she’s not writing you can find her reading monster romance, walking her dog, or playing Elden Ring.
Connect:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/authoremilyrex/
Website:
https://www.authoremilyrex.com
Pronouns: they/them
communications@contemporaryromance.org
Dayna M. Reidenouer is an inclusion-focused line/copy editor, proofreader, and book coach specializing in romance, cozy mysteries, and children’s books, with a preference for LGBTQ+, fat/Superfat, and disabled characters. Dayna chaired the 2024 and 2025 CRW virtual writing conferences and completed two terms as an elected member of the Editorial Freelancers Association board of directors. They have also served as judge for the Stiletto, Passionate Plume, and Independent Publishers of New England book awards.
Connect:
Website:
https://www.YourPublishingBFF.com
FB:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/trueloveeditorial
Email: secretary@contemporaryromance.org
Michelle Lumpkin, who writes under the pen name Mimi DeLeón, is a Puerto Rican romance author whose stories blend forbidden desire, second chances, and the beauty of multicultural love.
After retiring from a career as a Probation Officer, she embraced her lifelong dream of storytelling—crafting emotionally charged narratives where love defies expectations and redemption is earned through fire.
Through her writing, Michelle celebrates resilience, passion, and the courage to choose love, no matter the odds.
Connect:
Website: www.authormimideleon.com
IG:
https://www.instagram.com/author_mimi_deleon?igsh=MTU5MnpodmZ0engz&utm_source=qr
If you have any questions or would like to help with a committee or volunteer position, you may contact us at communications@contemporaryromance.org.
*Vacant positions or positions still in need of additional volunteers.
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| Accountability Group Coordinator | Vacant |
| Critique Group Coordinator | Vacant |
| Mentor Matching Coordinator | Vacant |
| NaNoWriMo Team Leaders | Vacant |
| Writing Challenges Coordinator | Vacant |
| Writing Sprints Coordinator | Vacant |
| Writing Sprints | Tanya Agler, Shannon Scott |
| Diversity Committee | Vacant |
| Election Coordinator* | Vacant |
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| Pitch Event Coordinator | Vacant |
| Stiletto Contest Committee | Vacant |
| Virtual Conference Committee* | Vacant |
| Writing Retreats Committee | Vacant |
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| Month-Long Workshop Coordinator* | Vacant |
| Webinar Coordinator | Vacant |
| Workshop Moderators* | Vacant |
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| Blog Coordinator | Vacant |
| FB/Community Post Coordinator | Vacant |
| Industry News* | Vacant |
| Newsletter Editor | Vacant |
| Social Media Coordinator | Denise Alicea |
| Webmaster | Denise Alicea |
| Clubhouse Coordinator | Vacant |
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| Audit Committee* | Vacant |
| Position | Volunteer(s) |
|---|---|
| New Member Welcome Coordinator | Vacant |
