On the Board: Directors Volume 3
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!
Kelley Armstrong
Hanna Rhys Barnes
Jamie Beck
Catherine Bybee
Kelley Armstrong
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
For me, board service started as an opportunity to delve deeper into the cooperative aspects of career writing. I’m a huge believer in writerly cooperation—we’re all in this together—and that’s at the core of RWA, authors coming together to help one another. As a member, I knew how much work and thought must go into each change, but I really wanted to see it in action to fully understand the process. Since joining the board, I’ve often used the analogy of RWA as a giant ship with a destination in mind. It can’t make a sharp turn to reach that destination, or members would be thrown overboard. Instead, it needs to turn with great care and precision, and the board is there to ensure that happens, smoothing the water and calculating the optimal route and sometimes just paddling alongside everyone else to keep it moving in the right direction.
How do you reward yourself when you've met a writing goal?
Video games. I’m a former coder, and I grew up gaming. My faves are RPGs and first-person shooters. I’m currently replaying
Fallout 4.
What's the best place you've traveled?
I have a fondness for the north. Alaska, Skye, Newfoundland. Those are the wild landscapes that call to me. My favorite, though, is the Yukon. I set a series there, and we’re building a summer place outside Whitehorse. If the zombie apocalypse comes, I’m all set.
What's the most unusual food you've eaten?
When I travel, I always try the local delicacies. I’m not sure what’s the most unusual, but in Newfoundland this summer, I ate cod cheeks (deep fried and sautéed), moose, and seal flipper pie. My advice? Skip the seal flipper pie.
Hanna Rhys Barnes
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
To me, RWA Board Service means that everyone in our community has an ear and a voice. It's a chance to give back to the community that took me in and taught me what it meant to be an author and gave me a chance to do something I love doing.
What's the best place you've traveled?
Cardigan in the west of Wales. I went there to research my second historical romance,
A Knight's Kiss. The castle in my book is about 3 miles from there. At the time they were celebrating the town's 800th anniversary. I got to meet the mayor.
What's your hidden talent?
I'm as good at Math & Science as I am at Wordsmithing. I was always good at fantasizing and storytelling, but in my sophomore year of high school, it dawned on me that mathematics is the language of the universe (if you want to know how I discovered that, catch me for a face to face chat sometime). After that, I couldn't take enough math classes and even ended up teaching high school and college math for a while.
If you could have one of your characters' professions, which would it be?
Matron of a wealthy family, like Penny Rustin in my paranormal series,
Wolf's Bane. She's kind of like my mother and though I swore when I was a young adult that I'd never turn into my mother, I've come to realize what a power player she was. People swore she must have been 5'10" even though she stood a sterling 5'2" in stocking feet.
Jamie Beck
What Does RWA Board service mean to you?
Since joining RWA in 2012, so many wonderful authors have taken me under their wing and taught me what I needed to know in order to reach my personal publishing goals. Serving on the board has been my chance to give something back to this dynamic organization, so I sincerely thank everyone who voted for me. Serving has also given me a greater appreciation for all of the moving pieces, the differing member needs, the budget, and how much thought goes into each policy and decision made. It’s also given me profound respect for all of the work that the amazing RWA staff does behind the scenes.
As a member of the board, I’m constantly inspired by my fellow board mates, who are thoughtful and work hard for the greater good. It’s been rewarding to be part of a group that is transitioning this organization to the new age of publishing and pushing for equality for all of its members. It has not been without bumps, but ultimately I feel confident that we are moving in the right direction.
What trope do you adore?
My favorite love stories usually involve unrequited love that is finally returned. I think I have a soft spot for these because I spent much of my teens pining for boys that did not return my feelings. It is so satisfying to see someone get that elusive HEA in a book when it is done well (I’m looking at you, Sherry Thomas, and Ravishing The Heiress)!
If you could have one of your characters' professions, which would it be?
I wish I could build beautiful handmade furniture like Hank Mitchell (
Worth the Trouble). There is a man in my town (Tom Throop/Black Creek Designs) who I interviewed as part of my research for that book. It was incredible to learn about the process of going from design concept to finished product, and to see the beautiful furniture that he creates from large, rough slabs of wood. I promised myself a new writing desk if I hit a certain milestone, so it made me happy to hire him when that day came…and I love my special desk.
What is your favorite love declaration in a movie?
“I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”~
When Harry Met Sally
Catherine Bybee
What does RWA Board service mean to you?
My service on the board of RWA is really about making sure the voice of hybrid authors, successful authors and decade old veterans in the genre have a voice. It’s about fresh set of eyes and ideas that shake up change where it’s needed and standing strong together when something needs to solider on. So many rapid changes have happened in our industry over the past decade we often don’t catch the shift until it’s past. I want to be a part of RWA while it works hard to keep up with those changes.
What's the best place you've traveled?
I love Italy! I have only been traveling internationally for a few years and so far I’ve visited Italy three times. I adore it. And will be returning in September with a few of my writer friends. I love the people, the food… the wine. The shopping! Oh, yes, one cannot forget all that retail therapy.
What's the most unusual food you've eaten?
Bone Marrow. I know, sounds gross but it’s really very yummy on bread. When I was on a research trip to Tulum last May my cousins and I went to this hippy dippy place that served some rather unusual culinary delights. Bone Marrow was my favorite. We even ordered a second helping.
If you were auditioning for a play/movie, what famous monologue would you read?
There is a scene in
The Big Chill where the woman who wants to have a baby is describing ‘dating’ and men in general. Well, I’m single these days… and this lil’ monologue has ran through my head a lot in my life. So if you ever see me at a conference and want me to recite it for you… just ask.
Read our previous On the Board posts!
On the Board 2019: Officers
On the Board 2019: Directors Volume 1
On the Board 2019: Directors Volume 2