Executive Officers
	President G. Aliceson Edwards	A long time fan of reading and the romance industry, I believe in supporting authors.  I have been featured on a best selling author’s webpage showing my support at a book signing dressed in a purple sequined tank top, leopard print mini skirt, and a hot pink punk wig.  Fortunately for the world at large, a few years ago I decided to limit my author “stalking” to see what it would take to get my own work published.  HeRA has proved to be an invaluable resource for me as I work on my Young Adult and humorous Suspense novels.  I have learned much in the areas of developing writing craft skills, publishing in today’s market, and balancing the demands of a full time teaching job, husband, children, and while retaining my title as the “Best Grandma Ever”.  And I also learned…If you are bossy, you become President. Aliceson is also HeRA's 2010 Bylaws Committee Head.
	Vice President Erica Easley
	Treasurer Dennis Barr	Dennis Barr is a writer who's better known for his pithy letters to various editors than his stirring fiction. That hasn't kept him from diving into his first novel, and the beginnings of a second. He keeps his secret identity as a romance writer safe while working at a day job as an IT manager for a Kansas City engineering firm. He's recapturing the fun of fiction writing, after a decades-long break from earlier efforts writing science fiction in his college years. He's a loving husband and father, a doting grandfather, and sometimes masquerades as a curmudgeon. A word of warning--don't get him involved in a political discussion; it's not a pretty sight. Dennis is also HeRA's 2010 Membership Committee Head
	Secretary Melissa Lattin	Melissa is a wife and mother who likes to escape the ordinary by writing paranormal romance, where all things are possible and happily ever after is just a chapter away.

Members
	Claire Ashgrove	Claire began writing in her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to pursue it as a professional endeavor.  When she's not sitting at the computer ticking out plotlines, she raises and trains Oldenburg and Arabian horses.  She is also married with two small boys and claims she owes her family a great deal for their constant support, patience and encouragement.    Feel Free to contact Claire via her website: www.claireashgrove.com  Claire is HeRA's 2010 Program Coordinator and Website Coordinator.
	Dyann Love Barr	With the maiden name of Love, how could she not write romance? Dyann lives in western Missouri with her husband and their cat, Spook, who thinks he actually owns the house.  They're just the servants who came with the property. Dyann is a former chef, and her hobbies include sewing, belly dancing, acting, and playing video games with a vengeance. Dyann is also HeRA's 2010 Librarian and Contest Coordinator
	Paris Brandon	A versatile author, writing American Historicals, Erotica, Paranormal and Romantic Suspense.  In her words, "I will write anywhere, standing in line at the grocery store, at dental appointments or walking the dog.  Although when walking my Labrador, I usually just keep repeating what I want to write until she stops dragging me through the neighborhood and I can get to my computer!" Feel free to contact Paris via her website: www.parisbrandon.com. Paris  is also HeRA's 2010 PRO Contact and Parliamentarian.
Portrait Gallery  by Karen	Shannon Butcher	After spending too many years as an Industrial Engineer, Shannon learned to write from her husband, bestselling author Jim Butcher.  She learned writing craft in order to help him with his stories, but found the idea of writing her own too compelling to resist.  She lives in Missouri with her husband and son, where conversations at the dinner table are more often about things someone made up than about anything that’s actually happened.   Feel free to contact Shannon via her website: www.shannonkbutcher.com. Shannon Butcher is also HeRA's 2010 PAN Contact
	Amanda Buxton
	Kathleen Collins
	Alicia Dean	Author Alicia Dean has been an obsessive reader since she was a small child.  That obsession morphed into a desire to write, and she was thrilled when she finally realized her dream of publication.  There is nothing she enjoys more than creating stories to share with others.  Her favorite genres are suspense, paranormal, horror and contemporary romance.  She has been inspired by such authors as Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, Lisa Gardner, Jordan Dane, Tess Gerritsen, Sharon Sala, Merline Lovelace, Mel Odom, and Stephen King, to name a few.  She belongs to Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, whose members have been a true blessing and inspiration.  She resided in Kansas City for three years, where she became a member of Heartland Romance Authors, and was fortunate to meet a whole new group of warm and talented writer friends.  Although she's now back home in Oklahoma City, she considers Kansas City her second home.   Alicia has three beautiful, grown children and a multitude of amazingly wonderful and supportive friends and family. Feel free to contact Alicia via her website: www.aliciadean.com.
	Alta Durrant
	Sherry Foley
	Rose Gorham
	Barbara Herrin
	Gretchen Jones	Gretchen Jones was born and raised in Kansas City Missouri. Gifted with an unruly and vivid imagination her earliest memories include being rescued by the television repairman when her head got stuck in an angel food cake pan.     A 2007 NaNoWriMo winner, she is currently completing a romantic suspense manuscript.  As president of Mid-America Romance Authors, and secretary for Outreach International Romance Authors for the third year, she keeps busy with chapter business when not writing.  Professionally, Gretchen works by day at a career in information technology that for nearly 25 years has honed her dry wit.   A photography hobbyist you can find images from her world travel on her website at  www.gretchenjones.com and follow her on twitter @GretchenJones.
	Linda Joyce	Linda Joyce Clements, an award-winning writer, serves as newsletter editor for Heartland Romance Authors. She is also the newsletter editor for the Missouri Writer’s Guild and a member of Kansas City Writers Group. Linda is published in nonfiction and poetry. Last fall, her poem, True American Music, was featured with the Smithsonian’s New Harmonies exhibit. In addition, she is the vice president of Whispering Prairie Press and Creative Director for Kansas City Voices 2010 edition. Writing as Linda Joyce, currently she’s working on several contemporary novels. This summer, she will speak at two RWA workshops in Nashville - Dress for Historical Success and Creative Block-Busters! Please visit her at:  www.linda-joyce.com Linda is also HeRA's 2010 Newsletter Editor.
	Janette Kenny	Janette Kenny grew up on her family's farm in Kansas, dreaming up plots and characters for the stories she yearned to write.  She's ridden the same trails as her western heroes and heroines, slept in authentic log cabins listening to the lonesome howl of a coyote, and came frighteningly close to crossing paths with a grizzly bear high in the Rocky Mountains.  Currently, the fourth-generation Kansas native is busy working on her next historical romance for Kensington, and is taking notes on another contemporary romance for Harlequin. Feel free to contact Janette via her website: www.jankenny.com
	Heather L.
	Linda Miller
	Janice McClain
Accent Photography  by Terra	Tessa McDermid	Feel free to contact Tessa via her website: www.tessamcdermid.com.
	Patricia Pace
	Cheryl Rabin
	Judy Ridgley	While raising a wonderful family, Judy gained a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education-English and taught eighth grade for eight years. Judy is a member of Romance Writer's of America-PRO, of the Historical Novel Society, as well as Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA), Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers and Heartland Romance Authors. She is also a citizen of Nova Roma as Iulla Galeria Casca. With all of the  above to keep her busy, she also loves anything to do with horses and dogs, gardening and landscaping, sewing and crocheting...but most of all her family, friends, and  always reading a good  book.
	Ruth Scofield	A Missouri native, Ruth grew up in Kansas City before TV and learned early on that "let's pretend" was a wonderful game. She learned the work ethic early, too, holding a variety of jobs during high school: carrying cafeteria trays at 14, clerking in a dime store, drug store fountain waitress and office work.  After graduation, Ruth married the love of her life, Charles, had two children, Karen and Charlie, and moved around the country with her IBM husband. While living in New York, Ruth worked as a multi-task person for a weekly newspaper and had her first byline as a feature writer.  An avid Bible student, Ruth worked for 30 years with teens within her church and hosted both a weekly woman's prayer group and young adult study group while living near Washington, D. C., where she attended her first RWA National Conference. She joined the local RWA chapter and a heavy-duty critique group where she honed her skills.
	Denise Swank	Single mother to a bushel of children, some through birth, others through adoption- all firmly wedged in my heart. My crazy life provides a multitude of ideas for stories, from paranormal thrillers  to Middle Grade adventure/fantasy.
	Cheri Thomas-Lightner	I was born and raised a Buckeye, moving to Kansas in 1998.  Now that my daughter is on her own, I keep busy with my job, part-time school, a part-time interior design business I recently started, reading, writing, redecorating my house, and taking Speed Vacations.  I think the best movies are Classic screwball comedies.  My favorite way to relax is to hop in the car with no plan and just drive, drive, drive, not knowing where I'll end up.  (This is completely different from Speed Vacationing but just as much fun!)