Meet Our Authors:

The Mid-Michigan Chapter of Romance Writers of America is pleased to count over two dozen published authors--our webmaster has lost count--and one cover artist among our membership! Among them, they've sold enough books to stock a small library, mostly category and historical romances, but also mysteries, young adult books, short stories, articles, and screen plays. We have broken them out into three pages. You can look for a particular favorite, or browse through page by page! (Several of our authors have multiple pen names, so we've listed them alphabetically under their actual identities.)

       ROSANNE BITTNER has been writing since 1979, with over 50 novels published to date. All of her books involve fictitious characters involved in real American history, especially about the Old West of the 1800's. She has won many awards and is a member of Western Writers of America, Romance Writers of America^®, Women Writing the West, Oregon-California Trails Association, Mid-Michigan RWA and several historical societies. She travels often for research and to conduct writing workshops and speak for libraries. She and her husband live in southwest Michigan and have two grown sons, three grandsons and four step-grandchildren.

        Rosanne's first inspirational, WHERE HEAVEN BEGINS, was awarded second place for the prestigious WILLA literary award presented by Women Writing the West!

       Rosanne has also started a professional manuscript editing and critiquing service especially for unpublished authors. She is offering two services: critiquing the first 5 chapters and synopsis and advising on manusript completion (or helping with a synopsis if necessary) and critiquing and editing a completed manuscript. She will also conduct writers' workshops. Her fees are much lower than those of most free-lance editors, and the clients who have taken advantage of her services are very satisfied! Please see: The Writer in YOU for details.

       Visit Rosanne's extensive web site at http://www.rosannebittner.com for more photos, background, an entire list of her books, and covers and info about her upcoming releases--as well as a few surprises! There is also a form there so that you can email her.

       You are also invited to visit Rosanne on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and stop by her Blog: http://www.rosannebittner.blogspot.com/!

       JACKIE BRAUN , a.k.a JACKIE BRAUN FRIDLINE: received our most coveted Christmas gift in 1999, her first sale! ONE FIANCEE TO GO, PLEASE was published by Silhouette Romance in October, 2000, under her maiden name, Jackie Braun. It was a sewinner in the Sooner Area Romance Author's Rising Star Contest in the traditional category!

       Jackie's second Silhouette Romance, TRUE LOVE, INC., was a finalist for both a Rita Award and a National Readers' Choice Award, traditional category, in 2003. She switched to Harlequin Romance with her third book, HER STAND-IN GROOM, a July 2004 release.

       Jackie has always enjoyed making up stories, and from elementary school on, she dreamed of getting paid to do it. That didn't stop her, however, from following her father's sage advice to get a "real" job in the interim. She earned a journalism degree from Central Michigan University in 1987, and has worked at such publications as Good Housekeeping magazine, The Grand Rapids Press, The Niagara Gazette and The Flint Journal. Jackie is proud to have won several awards for her editorial writing, but she has never forgotten her first love: fiction.

       In January of 2004, Jackie quit her day job at The Flint Journal, where she had worked as a copy editor and award-winning editorial writer for 15 years, to follow her dream and write fiction full time. She has been happily married to her husband Mark since 1993 and is the mother of a son, Daniel.

       Read a "Between the Covers" interview with Jackie and her article, "To Persevere...Is To Publish!" on our Newsletter Articles page!

     For more information about Jackie and her books, please visit her website at: www.jackiebraun.com. She would also love to hear from you, and invites you to email her at: writejbraun@aol.com

       DIANE BURTON combines a love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She met her own hero on a blind date and it was love at first sight—for her. It took a little longer to convince him. They have two children and two grandchildren. After following her husband's job from Detroit to Missouri, Detroit again, SW Michigan, and Chicagoland, Diane and her husband currently live near Lansing, Michigan.

       Diane's love of romantic comedy and "Star Trek" led to the writing of her futuristic romance, SWITCHED. SWITCHED, is now available as an e-book at Amazon.com for Kindle and Smashwords.com for all e-readers. For more information, please visit Diane’s website at www.dianeburton.com

       Diane blogs at: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/.

       SUE CHARNLEY, a.k.a. RUE ALLYN (and formerly ERICA ARTHUR) loves her work. Seriously, what could be more fun than sharing love and adventure with all your friends? That's what writing and publishing are all about for this mother of two handsome intelligent sons.

       Author of historical, contemporary and erotic romances, Sue is a past winner of the HeRA writing competition and a frequent speaker on authorship and writing related topics. Insatiably curious, she has traveled the world and is especially fond of real life stories from readers and other authors. She lives in southeast Michigan with her husband of thirty plus years, and two very superior cats. (Are there any cats who aren’t superior?). Sue is grateful that she had the opportunity to serve her country and salutes the sacrifice of all veterans.

       Please Sue at her websites, http://www.susancharnley.com or http://rueallyn.com, for more on Sue and her books. Sue also invites you to drop by her blogsite, She also invites you to drop by her blog, Flights of Fancy, where you’ll find everything from “What if…” articles to the occasional contest.

       Read Sue's article, "What's A Meta-Phor, Anyway?" on our Newsletter Articles page.

       LISA CHILDS, award-winning author of romantic suspense and women's fiction, has been writing since she could first form sentences. Her Halloween birthday predestined a life of writing intrigue: at eleven, she won her first writing award with a story revolving around a kidnapping. Lisa still enjoys writing suspense and now mixes it with romance.

       Lisa lives in west Michigan with her husband, two daughters and an odd menagerie of pets. She judges as many contests and volunteers to do as many critiques as she can fit into her busy schedule of writing, day job in the insurance industry and raising two young daughters.

       Read more about Lisa and her books on her website, www.lisachilds.com. You can either contact her through her website or with her snail mail address, PO Box 139, Marne, MI 49435.

       LEILA DAVIS now resides in her native Seattle, WA, but credits her years of substitute teaching in the Comstock, Michigan, school system for the necessary research behind her Avon Flare Young Adult novel, LOVER BOY. She is also multi-published in short story form and is an avid fan of the mystery genre. She is a former president of MMRWA.

       WIL A. EMERSON, 2005 president of MMRWA, is a Mid-Michigan resident who lives in beautiful Canadian Lakes. The setting provides peaceful inspiration but often her characters are drawn from extensive travel throughout the U.S. and Europe.

       After twenty years in the health care profession, Wil decided to pursue a long held dream to write novels for publication. She focuses on mysteries but her first success came in women's fiction--TAKING ROSIE'S ARM. She frequently contributes to Smashwords.com where you can find suspense, humor and good old fashion romance with happy endings.

       Wil's creative outlet has a few arms. Never one to shy away from multitasking, she is the Emerson chef, Bar-B-Que meister and campfire tender. During some relaxed moments, she's takes up a brush for painting acrylic scenes, still-life and whimsical flowers.

       Because of her interest in nursing and the medical field, Wil serves as director of a prescription assistance service. Along with several volunteers, she obtains prescribed medications for individuals without prescription insurance or have fallen into the 'low income' bracket. The work is her most satisfying endeavor.

       Of course, the writer prevails, and there is always a work-in-progress!

       You can read more about Wil and her books on her website, http://www.wilemerson.com/, or either of her blogs, http://wilaemerson.blogspot.com/ and http://wilaemerson.wordpress.com/!

If you're a MMRWA member who is not included on this page and want to be, or if you've had changes or updates you'd like added, please email them to info@midmichiganrwa.org and put "Member Bio Updates" in the Subject line!