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Long
Island
Romance
Writers
Past Workshops
Thinking of joining LIRW or speaking at one of our workshops? Check out our past workshops to see what we offer our members!
June 2025
Jamie K. Schmidt: Marketing Your Book: What Comes Next?
"Congratulations—you’ve published your book! Now what? Whether you’re traditionally published or going the indie route, getting your book into readers' hands takes strategy, persistence, and the right marketing approach. Join USA Today Bestselling Author Jamie K. Schmidt for an insightful workshop on self-marketing and post-publication next steps.
In this session, Jamie will share practical, actionable strategies for promoting your book, growing your audience, and sustaining long-term sales. Topics will include:
Building an author platform (social media, newsletters, and websites)
Effective book launch strategies (ARC teams, promos, and reviews)
Marketing on a budget (ads, newsletter swaps, and organic reach)
Sustaining book sales beyond launch day (backlist marketing and audience engagement)
Whether you're a first-time author or looking to level up your marketing game, this workshop will provide real-world insights and tangible steps to help you build your readership and sell more books. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an experienced, multi-genre author who has successfully marketed across different publishing platforms."
USA Today bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt is known for her erotically charged romances, Jamie’s books have been called, “hot and sexy, with just the right amount of emotional punch,” and “turbo-paced, gritty, highly sexual thrill rides.” As a #1 Amazon best seller, Jamie writes daily, drinks lots of tea, and sneaks away to play video games whenever she makes her deadlines. Along with her husband and her seventeen-year-old son, Jamie lives in Connecticut with her rescue pup Romeo and two cats, who are cool with her writing schedule as long as they can be cuddled up in a blanket next to her. You can find Jamie on Instagram at @jamiekswriter and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JamieKSchmidtBooks/book
May 2025
Ruth Vincent: How to Throw a Book Party: event planning and public speaking for authors
"Do you want to have a launch party for your debut novel or newest release? Are you scared that only two people will show up? Do you feel comfortable reading aloud at a mic? Would you like to learn how to read aloud better? Author Ruth Vincent draws on over a decade of day job experience in event planning and theatrical production to give authors insider tips and tricks on how to have a successful--not stressful--live event, including:
- the #1 secret of RSVPs that event planning professionals know but that shocks and derails first-time party-planners
-classy catering on a budget; thinking outside the wine-and-cheese box
-read-aloud tips to engage your audience, learned from a professional audiobook narrator
-how to correctly speak into a microphone (it's not what you think!)
Ruth's husband, Matthew Schechtman, is an Emmy award-winning AV professional who has worked on Broadway, TV, and many live entertainment productions, and he will (schedule permitting!) be co-teaching with Ruth.
This interactive workshop will include several hand-held microphones (typical of what would be found in a bookstore or event space) for participants to practice their mic technique.
Participants will also receive a detailed handout with real-life examples of throwing a party on various budgets.
Ruth Vincent is a writer and game designer. She is the author of the Changeling P.I. fantasy series with HarperCollins, beginning with her debut novel Elixir. She is also the creator of the interactive romance novel, Changeling Charade (like a choose-your-own-adventure story, but for adults!) available with Heart's Choice Games. Ruth lives on Long Island with her husband and son, and a cockatoo who thinks he's a dog. Learn more at www.ruthvincent.com
April 2025
Damon Suede Presents: THE GENRE PLOT: form vs. formula
A plotting class even pantsers love… Even when a happy ending is certain, a great plot keeps your writing fresh while anchoring your audience and amplifying your voice. Learn how to craft a sure-fire structure that will keep you on the path to success. In this 3 hour workshop, we’ll go beyond the bullet points, soundbites, and blather to dig into the wisdom in all plot theory with ample examples. Rather than hammering on one “true” blueprint, we’ll break down the major story models from Aristotle to Netflix, identify their seven shared points, and help you develop your own narrative strategy.
Bestselling author Damon Suede has been a full-time writer for print, stage, comics, and screen for three decades. He has won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.
March 2025
Meara Platt: Chemistry between main characters and how secondary characters affect the romance
So you have your hero and heroine, now what do they do? And how do you get your readers to care what they do? Meara Platt, USA Today bestselling author of over 70 historical romances, dives into the elements that create the world within which your main characters (hero/heroine) interact. What motivates them? How do they interact with others? How do setting and secondary characters set the tone for your story? How do you inject yourself into the story to develop your author brand?
Meara Platt is an award winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifty historical romances and one completely left brain, award winning gothic/fantasy series filled with Dragon Lords, Fae warriors, and a mysterious stone containing an ancient Fae prophecy that is about to unfold. Learn more about Meara’s lighthearted and humorous Regency romances in her Farthingale series and Book of Love series, or her warmhearted Regency romances in her Moonstone Landing series, or meet her dark Fae in her Dark Gardens series by visiting her website at www.mearaplatt.com
March 2025
Linnea Sinclair: World Weaving
Characters and their stories require the construction of “worlds,” from the character’s physical location (known or invented), to the character’s occupation, to the character’s social, political, and economic structure...and more. For many writers, this means compiling pages of detailed and fascinating facts that often get dumped into the storyline—and onto the reader—like a load of soggy laundry and with about the same effect: Readers get bored and the story flops to a halt. But wait! Instead of the dump, do the weave.
In this World-Weaving workshop, award-winning author Linnea Sinclair will show you how to seamlessly integrate your beloved research into your story and make it feel real, immediate and exciting.
Winner of the prestigious national book award, the RITA®, science fiction romance author Linnea Sinclair is a name synonymous with high-action, emotionally intense, character-driven novels. Her books have claimed spots in the Locus Top Ten and received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly. Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine consistently gives Sinclair’s books 4-1/2 stars (their highest rating). Starlog magazine calls Sinclair “one of the reigning queens of science fiction romance.”
Her previous careers include news reporting and private investigation. Since 2000, she’s taught seminars in the craft of writing for all levels of writers via on-line writing sites and at writing conventions nationwide.
Sinclair resides in Pensacola, Florida with her husband, Robert Bernadino, and their thoroughly spoiled cats. Readers can find her perched on the third barstool from the left in her Intergalactic Bar and Grille at www.linneasinclair.com
Website: www.linneasinclair.com
Email: linnea@linneasinclair.com
Represented by: The Nelson Literary Agency
January 2025
Jeannie Lin Presents Action Scenes & Love Scenes
You’ve been looking forward to this moment. It’s the scene you’ve been dying to put on the page, but when it’s time to get it down, the writing just doesn’t deliver the excitement that’s in your heart and in your head.
Whether it be that exciting rooftop duel or the long-awaited moment your characters finally kiss, action scenes and love scenes share many of the same mechanics and pitfalls. This workshop looks at both together to dive into and dissect the craft of making physical love scenes and action scenes more heart-pounding and heart-wrenching on the page.
Jeannie Lin started writing in 2005 while she was teaching high school. After a long journey through rejections and contests and revisions, her manuscript, Butterfly Swords, won the 2009 Golden Heart® award for historical romance. Her first two books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and her second novel, The Dragon and the Pearl, was listed as one of Library Journal’s Best Romances of 2011.
Her stories are inspired by her love of adventure, history, and fantasy in both western and Asian traditions. From an early age she was fascinated by legends of King Arthur and the fantasy of Lord of the Rings as well as the Chinese wuxia (martial arts) fiction. As a result, she writes heroic characters in epic situations while interweaving a strong romance to make larger than life characters human.
November 2024
LIRWs 3rd Annual Rom Con
Lawrence Sprung - Write Your Financial Future
Caridad Pineiro - Creating a Presence on the Internet
Damon Suede - POWER COUPLES: Making Lovers
Penny C. Sansevieri - Secrets of a Bestselling Amazon Book Page
October 2024
Connecting Authors with Instagrammers with Ali and Kim of The Book Sisters
Promoting your book on social media can be a great way to spread the word and create buzz around an upcoming release. Join us as we dive into the world of social media promotion. We’re thrilled to share our insights on connecting authors with bookstagrammers to maximize visibility and build lasting relationships. Discover effective techniques for approaching influencers and explore resources that can help indie authors get their books into the right hands.
We’re Ali and Kim, a sister duo connected by our love for books! Though we live in different states—Kim in Georgia as a military spouse, and Ali in New York with her family—we share a passion for reading that transcends the miles.
Kim is a devoted animal lover with a master’s degree in social work focused on early childhood development. She lives with her husband, their 5-year-old daughter, and a menagerie of rescue pets. Her reading preferences lean towards romance and fantasy, and she’s always on the lookout for meaningful children’s books to share with her daughter.
Ali, a graphic designer with a degree in art and design, lives in New York with her husband, and two daughters. She finds joy in exploring her creativity and indulging in adult fantasy and romance books. A true bookworm, Ali reads every single day, and could not live without her kindle. In January 2022, we launched our bookstagram to connect with fellow book lovers and authors, and it’s been an exciting journey ever since. Our growing community inspired us to take the next step and open our bookish shop, The Book Sisters, in 2023. Here, we design reading planners, journals, and more for those who share our passion for reading.
September 2024
Terri Brisbin presents: After “THE END” – Writing the Rest of Your Work!
Most writers think that when they type the wondrous words – THE END – their work is done. In reality, it is just beginning! One decision is about whether to include an epilogue in your fiction. But, two of the most important parts of your work – the Query Letter and the Synopsis—still need to be created if you expect to market and/or publish your work. Both are critical tools that will grab the attention of a prospective editor or agent and help them sell your work to publishers or for your own use in your own marketing and planning and writing.
Terri, a multi-published, bestselling, award-winning author who has sold her work based on synopses, will discuss the final steps of fiction writing – whether to and how to craft an epilogue, writing a query letter and composing various lengths of synopses – and give tips and share suggestions from leading editors and agents about those crucial final steps of novel writing.
Award-winning, USA Today best-selling author Terri Brisbin is a mom, a wife, grammy! and a dental hygienist. More than 3.5 million copies of her 50+ historical, paranormal and fantasy romance novels and novellas have sold in more than 20 languages in more than 25 countries around the world. Her current and upcoming historical and paranormal/fantasy romances will be published by Harlequin Historicals, Oliver Heber Books and independently, too.
Visit www.terribrisbin.com for more info about Terri, her works and upcoming events.
Connect with her on FB at www.facebook.com/terribrisbinauthor or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/terribrisbin
June 2024
Alyson Caraway: Maintaining Your Brand & Building an Engaged Audience on Social Media for Authors
Maintaining a consistent presence on social media and building an engaged audience can be hard, especially if you dedicate time and effort into platforms and few things seem to stick. Fantasy romance writer and digital marketing expert Alyson Caraway will show you how to identify your brand and make sure it's consistent throughout your content to help build an engaged and dedicated audience on any social media platform. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out on social, you'll learn fresh strategies to infuse your online identity with vitality and excitement that's authentic, fun, and engaging for you and your audience. You'll leave equipped with the tools and tactics you need to stand out in the crowded social media landscape and take your content to the next level.
Alyson Caraway is the fantasy romance author of The Demon Knights Series by moonlight, and the senior director of digital strategy for a university by daylight. When she's not writing or working, she's maintaining her brand as a foodie, gamer, and all-around nerd. She lives in Smithtown with her husband, two kids, and maltipoo. Visit her at alycaraway.com or on social @alycaraway.
May 2024
Strengths for Writers Masterclass with Becca Syme
Have you ever taken a workshop (marketing, plotting, productivity) and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t make the outcomes happen that the workshop promised? Ever wondered why that happens? If you join us for this masterclass in success alignment, you’ll not only learn *why* this happens, but how to maximize your capacity for better success in the future. Anyone can tell you what worked for them, and they can say “it might not work for you,” but they can’t tell you why. I can tell you why. Join me for a day of success alignment, specifically designed for writers, that will unlock many of the answers to “why is this not working” and “how could I do this better” that you’ve been seeking. Workshop taught by Becca Syme (MATL), Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, who has coached nearly 6000 individual authors to success alignment and better career satisfaction.
Becca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for over fifteen years. She’s coached over 5,000 individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is the host of QuitCast for Writers and a mystery author. Connect with Becca at betterfasteracademy.com.
April 2024
Keeping Your Writing Fresh with Meara Platt & Jeannie Moon
Is your writing falling flat? Is your world feeling stale, and are your characters stuck in a rut? If so, this is the workshop for you! Join bestselling, award-winning authors Meara Platt and Jeannie Moon as they discuss ways to inject fresh energy and excitement into your fiction. The instructors will delve into techniques to revitalize your characters, breathe life into your settings, and discover innovative ways to approach plot and theme. From exploring unexpected facets of your characters to breaking down tropes to finding inspiration in unconventional settings, you'll leave with a toolbox full of strategies to keep your writing vibrant and engaging for both you and your readers. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this workshop will equip you with the tools to ensure your stories stay fresh and captivating.
Meara Platt is an award winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifty historical romances and one completely left brain, award winning gothic/fantasy series filled with Dragon Lords, Fae warriors, and a mysterious stone containing an ancient Fae prophecy that is about to unfold. Learn more about Meara’s lighthearted and humorous Regency romances in her Farthingale series and Book of Love series, or her warmhearted Regency romances in her Moonstone Landing series, or meet her dark Fae in her Dark Gardens series by visiting her website at www.mearaplatt.com.
Award winning, USA Today bestselling author Jeannie Moon, has always been a romantic. The author of nineteen contemporary romances, Jeannie is married to her high school sweetheart, has three kids, and two grandchildren, and is a lifelong resident of Long Island, NY. A retired teacher and librarian, Jeannie is also an editor and author coach with a growing freelance practice.
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