RAMP 2021 Mentors

We're so excited to announce the mentors for the inaugural year of our Romance Author Mentorship Program!

Check back at a later date for information on RAMP 2022 mentors.

Susana Aikin

Susana Aikin is a writer and a filmmaker who has lived in New York City since 1982. Educated in both England and Spain she studied Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Her films have won her multiple awards, including an Emmy Award in 1997. She now writes fiction full time.

Kimberley Ash

Kimberley Ash is a British expat who has lived in and loved New Jersey for more than 25 years. She writes fish-out-of-water stories about people who find home where they least expect it.

Stephanie Bourbon

Stephanie is a writer, artist, creative consultant, and optimist who is published in multiple areas, including three novels, children's books, graphic novels, shorts, and has worked in TV & film as an actress, artist, writer, script reader & script doctor.

Stephanie's Wish List

Valerie Bowman

Valerie Bowman’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Moni Boyce

Moni Boyce is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance, a filmmaker and a poet. After working in the film industry for fifteen years, helping others bring their visions to life, she now creates characters and worlds of her own.

Belle Calhoune

Belle Calhoune is a Publisher’s Weekly Best-selling author and a member of the RWA Honor Roll. Belle writes for Harlequin and Grand Central Publishing while also self-publishing. She has published 43 books. One of her books, An Alaskan Christmas, was made into a television movie (Love, Alaska).

A.R. Case

A.R. Case believes the hero isn't always the good guy. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she is active in the writing community.

C. Chilove

C. Chilove is the current Secretary for RWA and past President of CIMRWA. She is a southern girl writing sexy, thought-provoking romance that explores the human condition while proving love transcends societal clichés. Her characters are strong, witty, and prove that diversity is beautiful.

Alexis D. Craig

I'm a former night shift police dispatcher whose sense of humor breaks toward the dark and sarcastic. I've been writing since I was a kid in high school, published since 2011. I'm a dog mom, a fun aunt, a pagan bisexual, multiracial woman of color and I love to read.

Laurel Cremant

Laurel Cremant is a multipublished author who enjoys writing steamy, diverse & seductive romance: contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy & erotic. She is a self-proclaimed, out of the closet nerd, & admits that she can’t seem to avoid adding a bit of “nerdology” or “geekdom” to all her stories.

Dylann Crush

USA Today bestselling author Dylann Crush writes contemporary romance with sizzle, sass, heart and humor. A true romantic, she loves her heroines spunky and her heroes super sexy. When she's not dreaming up steamy storylines, she might be found with a margarita in her hand and her nose in a book.

Jacie Floyd

I've been a member of RWA for over 20 years and have participated in critiquing and mentoring programs in the past. I was a 6 time Golden Heart Finalist in various contemporary categories and won the GH award twice.

Olivia Gaines

Olivia is a USA Today Best Selling and multiple award-winning author who loves a good laugh and writes contemporary romances filled with heart and humor.

Melanie Harlow

First (self) published in 2013, I am the USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty full-length romance novels, mostly small-town contemporary. My books have been published in more than ten languages and regularly hit Top 20 on Amazon. My most recent release, MAKE ME YOURS, hit #1 in the Kindle Store. I live outside Detroit, MI with my husband and two daughters. When I'm not writing, I love Orangetheory fitness classes, a great cocktail, and watching shows like Schitt's Creek with my family!

Christina Hovland

USA Today Bestselling Author Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale--an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night.

Rebecca Hunter

Award-winning author of sensual, emotional adventures of the heart, reader, traveler, former English teacher, chocolate lover, and keeper of a very messy desk. Her debut book won the 2016 NERFA, and her first book for the Harlequin Dare line won the 2019 NERFA and HOLT Medallion.

Paula Judith Johnson

Paula Judith Johnson is the author of esteemed romance novels, such as her historical Sweetbriar, A Love Triangle Romance (a 2020 Book Excellence Award Finalist). Her two contemporary romances are, Starting Over, A Second Chance Romance, Book 1, and Second Time Around, A Second Chance Romance, Book 2.

Barbara Denise Keaton

A Chicago native, Barbara Keaton is the author of 14 romances celebrating Black love! Her first novel was All I Ask, published in 2000. Her latest is Nights Over Egypt.

Lisa Kessler

Lisa Kessler is a paranormal romance author and two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award for Best Dark Paranormal.

LaQuette

LaQuette writes savvy, sensational, & sexy romance featuring unapologetically diverse & bold characters who celebrate their right to appear on the page. A native of Brooklyn, NY & current President-Elect of RWA, she crafts emotionally epic, fantastical tales deeply pigmented by reality's paintbrush.

Virginia E. Lee

Author of a futuristic romance novel and its prequel novella, Virginia first saw her words in print when she was 12 with a long-running column in the local weekly newspaper. Maintained columns for numerous trade publications, served as features and copy editor, ghostwriter, and newsletter editor.

Sheryl Lister

Sheryl Lister is a multi-award winning author and has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. She is a former pediatric occupational therapist with over twenty years of experience. A California native, Sheryl is a wife, mother of three and proud grandmother.

Tracey Livesay

Tracey Livesay is the 2020 Emma Award winner for Best Interracial Romance for Sweet Talkin’ Lover & her latest release, Like Lovers Do, was named one of the 100 Best Fiction Books of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. A former criminal defense attorney, Tracey lives in Virginia w/her husband & three children.

Barbara Longley

Ms. Longley's works of fiction have garnered many awards, including: A Maggie, the Holt medallion, 2 -ACR Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice awards, OKRWA’s National Readers’ Choice, and GDRWA’s Booksellers’ Best award.

Michelle Major

USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies.

Annika Martin

Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who sometimes writes as RITA®-award-winning Carolyn Crane. She writes romantic comedy, romantic suspense, dark romance and more.

Aly Mennuti

Aly Mennuti is the author of Real Fake a rom-com set in the publishing world and based loosely off her own relationship with her agent. She found her own voice in a writing family after the age of 40. She has just completed her second novel.

Rachael Miles

Rachael Miles writes richly textured (and award-winning) historical romance with strong heroines, witty dialogue, and engaging plots. A former university professor, she specializes in 19thC British literature and the book trade. She offers workshops and coaching in mindful writing and productivity.

Lindy Miller

Lindy Miller is an author of feel-good love stories that are full of sweet moments and happily ever afters. She has numerous titles in pre-production for film. Lindy is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management and supported by Smith Publicity. Member RWA and RNA.

Linda J. Parisi

Linda J. Parisi tries to mesh her love of science with her love of the written word. Winner of NJRW's Golden Leaf Award, she's served on many writing and organizational boards. She wants to give back. Without the people mentoring her, she wouldn't be published. She's currently agented and contracted,

Roan Parrish

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing.

Jacki Renée

Reading novels since high school, from timeless literary masterpieces to today’s mainstream fiction, I’ve found both passion and pleasure in the written world of books. My approach to writing is to paint an outline and allow the imagination of the reader to color it in.

Stephanie Scott

Stephanie Scott writes young adult and romance about characters who put their passions first. Her debut ALTERATIONS was a Romance Writers of America RITA® award finalist. She enjoys dance fitness, everything cats, and has a slight obsession with Instagram.

Roxanne Snopek

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR ROXANNE SNOPEK writes contemporary small-town romance, usually with a dog or two. Praised for strong, true-to-life, diverse characters, her award-winning stories reflect the best in life - with humor. She is currently studying to become a fiction editor.

Romy Sommer

Romy writes contemporary fairy tale romances and 1920s historical novellas. With her Hollywood romance, Not a Fairy Tale, she became the first South African to be nominated for the RWA's Rita Award in 2016. She works as a writing coach and developmental editor.

Eve Vaughn

NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Eve Vaughn has always enjoyed creating characters and stories from an early age. As a child she was always getting into mischief, so when she lost her television privileges (which was often), writing was her outlet. Her stories have since gotten a lot spicier.

Libby Waterford

Libby Waterford writes steamy contemporary romances where lust always leads to happily ever after. She's President of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America® and her latest book is Can't Make You Love Me. https://libbywaterford.com

Renee Wildes

Renee Wildes grew up reading fantasy authors Terry Brooks and Mercedes Lackey and is a huge Joseph Campbell fan, so the minute she discovered romance novels it became inevitable that she would combine it all and write fantasy romance. Renee is a history buff and research junkie.

Laurie Wood

Laurie Wood lives in Central Canada and writes inspirational romantic suspense with an edge of danger. She’s also a military wife who’s raised two wonderful special needs children to adulthood. They’ve lived all over Canada and are still on that journey.