RWA Board of Directors

Contact the Board at board@rwa.org.

Officers

Clair Brett, President

Clair BrettTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

Independent author of 7 historical romance novels, Clair has been an RWA member since 2004 when she found her local chapter in a Google search and began driving 2 hours one way to attend meetings. Clair now writes full time when she isn’t giving back to the industry. If not for RWA in her life she may never have taken the leap to see her work in print. Clair believes the romance community is strong and thriving base, because of the genuine desire from other writers to give back and help the new generations of authors.



Jacki Renée, Secretary

Jacki ReneeTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

I am Jacki Renée, a storyteller. Many writers search for the right words to hook the reader. I write from the heart to connect with people.

Music is my muse, sparking my inspiration to write. Reading is my passion, and I am known to curl up with a good book for hours. Writing is my pleasure, and I write romance celebrating Black and Interracial Love with a host of diverse characters.

I have two adult daughters and two grand-dogs, and enjoy cooking, sewing, and DIY projects. I am committed to volunteering, writing, and mentoring new writers.

Brooke Wills, Treasurer

Brooke WillsTerm expiration: 08/31/2024

Brooke Wills was a controller, CFO and consultant, including working in Dublin, Ireland, for over three decades. Then she decided it was time to pursue her dreams of writing. After living most of her life in San Diego County, this SoCal girl left the corporate world, sold her house, packed up all her worldly goods and moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to live on an island in the middle of a forest.

A member of RWA since 1998, she has been treasurer for three online chapters as well as for other organizations. She enjoys writing contemporary romance and mysteries.


 

Directors-at-Large

Louisa Cornell, Director-at-Large

Louisa CornellTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

Louisa has been employed as everything from a veterinary technician to a bakery manager to the night manager at a funeral home. Her education background includes a B.S. in Music Education and a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Judson College, a Master of Musical Arts in Opera Performance and Music History from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Opera Performance and Music History from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a year’s fellowship at Salzburg’s Mozarteum.

Her hobbies include collecting Regency research books and playing doorman and maid to a herd of small, yappy dogs.


Marian H. Griffin, Director-at-Large

Marian H. GriffinTerm expiration: 08/31/2024

I have been writing in one medium or another most of my life. I got to focus that energy when I joined RWA in 1999. Since then, I have had eleven novellas published in multiple genres and am working on a couple of series for self-publishing.

I’ve worked in bars, restaurants, country clubs, a TV production studio, and a local TV station. I’ve enjoyed them all but was always ready to move on until I became Marian the Librarian for 32 years. I look forward to writing for many years to come.



Mary Karlik, Director-at-Large

Mary KarlikTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

Mary Karlik is a hybrid author with 7 published novels. She has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University, is a Registered Nurse, and is finishing a degree in Scottish Gaelic from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye Scotland.

Mary has been a member of RWA since 1996. Has served nationally on the Ethics committee and the Leadership Training Task Force. On the chapter level, she has served as the VP Programs for YARWA (Young Adult Romance Authors), President of YARWA, and is the President of DARA (Dallas Area Romance Authors).

Anita Learned, Director-at-Large

Anita LearnedTerm expiration: 08/31/2024

Anita grew up in a small town in Northeast Texas. She went to work for a major telecommunication company right after high school. After 41 plus years, she retired at age 39! (She has an active imagination.) Thirty-seven years of her career was spent as a union representative; 24 years of that 37 were spent as an elected official, representing multiple contracts. Currently mother to a 92-pound dog and 13-pound cat, she resides in Greenville, Texas, and is actively pursuing a writing career. She's been divorced once and is currently searching for her own real-life hero.



Ursula Renee, Director-at-Large

Ursula ReneeTerm expiration: 08/31/2024

Ursula Renée wrote her first book, The Day Will Come, when she was in the fourth grade. Though the story about a five-year-old did not become a bestseller, it sparked a love for writing that has lasted several decades.

Ursula has published three historical romances set in the early to mid-twentieth century, when people began to challenge society's conventions and express their individuality.

In her free time, Ursula enjoys stone carving, photography and drawing. She currently lives with her son and two cats.


Laina Turner, Director-at-Large

Laina TurnerTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

Laina has years of experience in leadership in the academic setting and has taught at the college level for the last two decades. She's been writing since she was a child and has been a published author for over ten years.

She resides in Indiana with her husband, three kids, three dogs, and a cat.


Advisors

Antonia Cyn, Chapter Advisor

Antonia CynTerm expiration: 08/31/2023

As a former travel agent, author Antonia Cyn enjoys taking readers on a journey in multiple genres.

When not traveling by air, sea or her own imagination, Antonia lives with her husband, two sons and three dogs.

Antonia believes living in the Pacific Northwest has its benefits. When it’s dreary outside, Antonia enjoys a mug of freshly brewed coffee or a glass of wine as she conjures story ideas.

PAN Advisor

Open position

Judith Bastin, PRO Advisor