President’s Letter
From the writing desk of Nicole R. Locker
Dear CRW Members,
We’re excited to extend a warm welcome to our newest members to CRW: Claire Teter, Lacy Williams, Stacy Claflin, Sara Biren, Leanne Fifield, Samantha Orlando, Ginny Messier, Sera Cassell, Jennifer Dodds, Maggie Sims, Danika Bloom, Jeanine Manji, Robin Dunn, Michelle Libby, Kristina Hutchinson, Sara Burr, Kerri Canyas, Theresa Stillwagon, Julie Hammerle, Krysten Hager, Katharine Dunn, Tina Radcliffe, Helen Jones, Jessica Buchanan, Amber Roberts, Valerie Kies, Jennifer Trinh, Crystal Nikish, Alexandra Kaslovsky, Gail Chianese, Natalie Tindall, and Susanne Fritzsche. Welcome, everyone!
Announcements
In-Person Writing Retreats
Register or learn more about the Eastern US Writing Retreat. (September 16-19, 2022, in Nashville, TN)
Register or learn more about the Western US Writing Retreat. (October 21-23, 2022, in San Diego, CA)
Virtual Writing Conference
Register or learn more about the Virtual Writing Conference. (July 9-10, 2022) Use Discount Code MEMBER2022 for free general admission and a discounted ticket to the Jane Friedman Masterclass on Friday, July 8, 2022.
We need your help!! Donate a Door Prize and/or Moderate a Conference Session.
Have a side-business and want to become a Sponsor? Sign up here.

MEMBER FORUMS: If you haven’t already, join the CRW Member Forum on Slack so that you do not miss questions, opportunities, and helpful resources shared by other members.
We created a short tutorial to get you started if you are new to Slack. Watch the getting started tutorial here.
Industry News
submitted by Pamela Ferguson
Disclaimer: CRW does not endorse any of the websites, businesses, or news sources mentioned. Articles are provided for information purposes only. Articles are free or are hosted on websites that provide limited free article access each month. Complete urls are included so readers know what they are clicking on.
News Highlights
“Google Play Expands AI Audiobook Narration,” publishersweekly.com, April 26, 2022, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/audio-books/article/89151-google-play-books-expands-ai-audiobook-narration.html
“INDIE BOOKSHOPS AND INDIE AUTHORS: YOU CAN BE FRIENDS, I PROMISE!” bookriot.com, May 18, 2022, https://bookriot.com/indie-authors-and-booksellers/
“‘It’s like somebody’s whispering in your ear’: Inside the expansive, intimate world of audiobooks,” theglobeandmail.com, May 6, 2022, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/arts/books/article-audiobooks-memoir-recording-publishing/
“Netflix’s Bridgerton and Heartstopper Show the Benefits of Investing in Romance,” cbr.com, May 22, 2022, https://www.cbr.com/bridgerton-heartstopper-benefits-romance/
“Tracing the Romance Genre’s Radical Roots, from Derided ‘Sex Novels’ to Bridgerton,” lithub.com, May 16, 2022, https://lithub.com/tracing-the-romance-genres-radical-roots-from-derided-sex-novels-to-bridgerton/
Upcoming Pitch Opportunities
Ready to put your manuscript in front of agents and editors? Here are some upcoming pitch opportunities. Some are free. Some require registering for an online conference. New pitch events are announced all the time, so check publisher, agent, and conference social media sites for more information. Also be sure to search #MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) on Twitter from time to time. You never know what editors will post!
July 2022
#PassOrPages Query Contest – July 4-8, 2022 – https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/p/passorpages.html
Pitch Slam – Part of Writer’s Digest Annual Conference – New York City, July 28-31, 2022
https://writersdigestconference.com/pitch-slam/
Other Upcoming Events
CampNaNoWriMo – July 1-30, 2022
https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-camp-nanowrimo
Bookstore Romance Day – August 20, 2022
Please send industry news topics you’d like included in the CRW newsletter to Pamela Ferguson on the CRW Slack channel or via a Facebook DM.
Upcoming CRW Events
Writing Sprints
Every Tuesday: 12pm ET | 11am CT | 10am MT | 9am PT
Sprints with Tanya on Zoom
Every Thursday: 10:30pm ET | 9:30pm CT | 8:30pm MT | 7:30pm PT
Sprints with Nicky on Zoom
Every Saturday: 12pm ET | 11am CT | 10am MT | 9am PT
Sprints with Michelle on Zoom
Want to run sprints at a different day/time? Let us know!
Member New Releases

Pamela Ferguson
Release Date: May 5, 2022

Danika Bloom
Release Date: May 23, 2022

Stephanie Scott
Release Date: May 24, 2022

Lynda Rees
Release Date: June 1, 2022