On the Board: Directors Volume 2
We'd like to help you get to know more about the members you've elected to guide our organization! Each week, we'll feature different board members answering some fun questions and talking about what service to the membership means for them. This week, learn about four of our Directors-at-Large!
Pintip Dunn
Avery Flynn
Shirley Jump
Adrienne Mishel
Pintip Dunn
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
RWA has a special place in my heart and my career. It was the first professional organization I joined as a newbie writer, when I didn’t even know that stories were supposed to have conflicts! Being a member elevated my craft, but more than that, RWA gave me a community. It gave me a home. Serving on the Board is both an honor and a privilege. The members of this organization have entrusted me with helping to make RWA welcoming, relevant, educational, and supportive—for all groups of writers. As a board member, I’m learning that many decisions are a delicate balancing act—and not as straightforward as I initially believed. I am excited to work alongside the extremely hard-working and intelligent members of the RWA Board and staff to make this organization a home for others, as it has been for me.
What is your favorite love declaration in a movie?
My favorite love declaration is in
Love Actually, when Colin Firth, as Jamie, proposes to Aurelia in grammatically incorrect Portuguese, and she accepts in equally incorrect English. This adorable scene is the culmination of their unlikely relationship, where neither speaks the other’s language. Nonetheless, their courtship manages to be both heartwarming and humorous. Plus, it involves Colin Firth! Need I say more?
What's the most unusual food you've eaten?
I’ve eaten a lot of “strange” foods, but this characterization is relative. For example, when an author-friend needed to have her hero prepare a meal to freak out his friends, she chose a whole fried fish, complete with eyeballs. As I told her, this is one of my father’s favorite dishes, and we eat it on a regular basis! I don’t consider it strange in the slightest. However, a Thai dish that I do consider unusual is noodle soup with congealed cubes of blood. My brother adores this dish, but I could never get around the fact that I was eating, you know, blood. *shudders*
Aside from writing-related posts, is your Instagram full of selfies, food pics, scenery, or something else?
Food pics! I can’t help it — I just adore food and all different cuisines. My brother, sister, and I (along with our spouses) even participate in a Top Chef Fantasy League. My favorite culinary experience, however, is probably the summer I lived in New York City. For six weeks, we went to a different restaurant every night, each one within a six-block radius from our apartment in Greenwich Village!
Avery Flynn
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
It means doing my best to make sure that RWA remains a strong advocate for all of its members and the romance genre.
What is your favorite love declaration in a movie?
Gotta go with Lloyd Dobbler and his BoomBox.
What trope do you adore?
Enemies to lovers is my crack!
Aside from writing-related posts, is your Instagram full of selfies, food pics, scenery, or something else?
It’s all about my dogs (Gravy, Pepper and Tater Tot).
Shirley Jump
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
I remember when I first started writing, and I went to a book signing for a romance author. I shyly told her I wanted to write a romance novel, and on the spot, she offered to carpool with me the next day to the local RWA meeting (the New England Chapter). That warm, giving, hand-out-to-help-those-behind-you attitude is why I am a part of RWA, and a major reason why I serve on the board. I’m continually in awe of the smart and talented people who serve with me, and how dedicated they are to the organization and to every single member. To me, the best part of life is giving back, and this is just one way I can do that, as a thank you to that sweet author who made me feel welcome before she even knew my name.
How do you reward yourself when you've met a writing goal?
Chocolate. And when I say writing goal, I mean I finished a page. A sentence. Heck, I’ll find any excuse to eat a Reese’s. Came up with a great synonym for “beautiful”? Grab a King-size pack! Managed to correctly insert a header? Two Snickers! As for a finished book—that takes it to the level of cake and ice cream. And this is why I’m constantly running--so my jeans will fit.
What's the best place you've traveled?
New Zealand. The romance writers chapter there brought me in to speak a few years ago, and that is an absolutely BREATHTAKING country. The people were so friendly, the food amazing (best fish and chips I’ve ever had!), and everywhere you turned in Wellington, there was art and poetry. It was lovely. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Aside from writing-related posts, is your Instagram full of selfies, food pics, scenery, or something else?
Food. I swear, my entire life revolves around food. I run, bike and swim, not because I love any of those things, but because I love to eat. I share recipes or great desserts, and (apology to my followers), I’ll be sharing lots of gushy posts in 2019 about my upcoming wedding! And yes, there will be pictures of wedding cake! (Oh, and my adorable fiancé, too!)
Adrienne Mishel
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
RWA Board service has allowed me the opportunity to give back to the organization that has been a pivotal resource for me over the years. I'm honored to be a part of a process that is helping so many other authors along their journey. The publishing industry is constantly changing and I have enjoyed working with a fantastic and dynamic group of authors to meet those challenges.
What trope do you adore?
My favorite trope is second chance love. Why? Because "it me!" I'm my own favorite trope. And before you ask, yes, I was the one who broke things off initially, when I dated my husband. We were separated for about a year before I came back to my senses and "fixed it."
Aside from writing-related posts, is your Instagram full of selfies, food pics, scenery, or something else?
My Instagram is full of planners. I use a paper planner to track my home and writing life. So you'll see a ton of photos of my planner layouts and the products that I buy to support my habit. You can find my posts under #DrenPlansToo.
What's your hidden talent?
I love to crochet. I learned how when I was about nine years old and I never stopped. At one point, I was selling my crochet goods on eBay-- specifically, crochet ponchos. These days I stick to making baby blankets and throw blankets for friends and family.
Read our previous On the Board posts!
On the Board 2019: Officers
On the Board 2019: Directors Volume 1