Join HeRA for a special program presented by the Blue Springs SWAT Team.
Candice Green has been contracted to write the lore for Mufu Games' newest fantasy board game.
Published Author Alicia Dean releases her newest romantic suspense, Death Offerings.
Published Author Denise Grover Swank will present a program on Self-Publishing at Mid-America Romance Authors.
Published Author Denise Grover Swank announced she signed with literary agent, Amanda Luedeke.
Our Published Authors
HeRA celebrates our published authors successes, whether they are traditionally published, published through a small press, or have chosen self-publishing.
50% of our membership is published. These authors contribute to the chapter regularly and are also happy to hear from fans and aspiring authors as well. HeRA is proud to recognize their efforts and lucky to have such active voices in the industry willing to share their expertise, insight, and time.
For more information on each author, including titles available, please select the member's author page.
Claire Ashgrove / Tori St. Claire
Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction’s Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed contemporaries, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars, debuted with Tor in January 2012.
As Tori St. Claire, she is a National Bestselling Author of erotic romantic suspense. Her Black Opal series debuted in January 2012 and is published through Berkley Heat.
Published Genres: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romantic Suspense
Dyann Love Barr
With the maiden name of Love, how could she not write romance?
Dyann is a former chef, and her hobbies include sewing, belly dancing, acting, and playing video games with a vengeance. She 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. Her first book, A Perfect Bride for Christmas, debuted with The Wild Rose Press in 2011.
Published Genres: Contemporary Romance
Alicia Dean
Alicia Dean writes paranormal and romantic suspense. She is published through Dorchester and The Wild Rose Press and recently self-published a suspense with romantic elements. She lived in Kansas City for three years, but moved back to her home town of Moore, Oklahoma in 2009 and is now a long distance member of HERA. She is also a member of OKRWA, RWA’s Oklahoma City chapter. Other than crafting stories, her favorite thing about being a writer is the encouragement and camaraderie she’s found in the writing community. She is represented by agent Jewelann Cone of the Cascade Literary Agency. She has three grown children, two daughters and a son, and is a legal assistant for a family law firm in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Published Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance
Tenaya Jayne
Tenaya Jayne has been writing fiction since the age of seven. She specializes in paranormal romance and fantasy. She loves writing poetry, flash fiction, and demented fairy tales. Her first novel, Blue Aspen, was published in 2009 and has become a cult favorite.
Published Genres: Paranormal Romance
J.F. Ridgley
J.F. is a Roman lover. All things Roman or Celtic or Ancient. Her first book is coming out this year Vows of Revenge set in 295BCin where else…ancient Rome. J.F. is a PRO member of Romance Writer’s of America, a member of the Historical Novel Society, as well as Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA), Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and Heartland Romance Authors HERA. 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.
Published Genres: Historical Romantic Fiction
Marilyn Shank
If you enjoy stories about brides and grooms not ready to commit, identical twins who trade places, cowboys, and pretend marriages, you’ll enjoy Marilyn Shank’s contemporary romances. Marilyn’s first four novels were published by Avalon Books. Avalon’s quality hard-back books were distributed only to libraries and Avalon’s internal book club. But when Amazon purchased Avalon in June, 2012, everything changed. Marilyn is pleased to now be published by Montlake Amazon’s romance line.
Other passions for Marilyn are hosting family gatherings – especially over the holidays; traveling with husband John; and haunting libraries and bookstores. She is an active member of Heartland Romance Authors, Mid-America Romance Authors, and also belongs to Romance Writers of America.
Published Genres: Contemporary Romance
Denise Grover Swank
Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.
Published Genres: Young Adult Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Dane Zeller
Dane Zeller is the author of the detective novel "Smart Shield" and the romantic anthology "Drive-By Romances." Zeller's writing has appeared in Tuck Magazine, Hobo Pancakes, Blog on the Bog, and the Kansas City Star. Zeller is a member of HeRa, the Wednesday/Thursday/Friday writer's group, the Kansas City Writer's Group, and Write Brain Trust, an e-publishing group. In his spare time, he is a professor of management and marketing at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Zeller and his wife live in Westwood, Kansas.
Published Genres: Mystery, Contemporary Romance
Benefits of Membership
Critique Constructive Critique is one of the most valuable assets an author can have and HeRA facilitates these efforts.
Writer's Bootcamp As a member of HeRA all our Writer's Bootcamp classes are free of charge.
Annual Retreat Our Annual Fall Retreat allows members time to concentrate on writing, be that in workshop settings or simply time away to write.
Workshops Members enhance their Bootcamp Basics and further their craft with our monthly programs, guest speakers, and workshops.