The Heart of Carolina Romance Writers (HCRW), a local chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA), announces award nominations and contest wins for 12 of its members. These authors, living in and around Central North Carolina, have garnered attention from across the country with their writing.

In the Romantic Times 2007 Reviewer's Choice Awards, nominations for historical and paranormal novels reign. New York Times bestseller Liz Carlyle's novel, "Never Deceive a Duke," has been nominated for Historical Romance of the Year. "Beware a Scot's Revenge," a novel in "The School for Heiresses" series, placed Sabrina Jeffries in the Best Scotland-Set Historical Romance category and on The New York Times bestseller list.

Jenna Black received two nominations -- for "Shadows on the Soul" in Vampire Romance and "The Devil Inside" in Urban Fantasy. "The Devil Inside" also received a nomination for Best All Around Book 2007 from Loves Romance Cafe Yahoo Group.

Samantha Kane's "Brothers in Arms" series had a banner year. "The Courage to Love" and "Love's Strategy" both received nominations for Best Historical Erotic Romance in the Romance Studio's 2007 Cupid and Psyche Awards. Kane's "Love's Strategy" also received the Reviewer's Choice Award for May 2007 and a nomination for Best Historical Erotic Romance of the Year from Ecataromance Sensual.

Eileen Myers took first place in the 2007 Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest, sponsored by RWA's New York City chapter. Myers' humorous scene from "Flirting with Disaster" tickled Avon Romance editor May Chen's funny-bone.

HQN editor Tara Parsons awarded first place in the Saskatchewan Romance Writers 2007 "We Dare You!" Contest to Katie Dubois for an excerpt from the Regency-set historical "Lion Eyes." Dubois writes as Katharine Wilde.

"Brompton Manor" by Susan Ralph has been named Cataromance's 2007 Best Book of the Year in the Avalon Historical Romance category.

Teresa D'Amario's debut e-novel "SheWolf" has been named Best Paranormal Romance Ebook of 2007 by Ecataromance.

Making it to the semi-finals isn't easy, but Mai Christy Thao has done it twice. Her short story, "Prince of Darkness," is still going strong in the American Title IV, contest and "The Prophecy" continues to be a contender in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest.

Covers are almost as important to writers as the words they write. A good cover can bring new readers, and a bad one could leave a book languishing on the shelves. "Nicholas, The Lords of Satyr" by Elizabeth Amber won first place in the Single Title/Mainstream category of the Judge a Book by Its Cover contest sponsored by the Houston Bay Area chapter of RWA.

Teresa D'Amario's "SheWolf" has been nominated for best Print/Electronic Romance Novel Published in 2007 and the best Book/e-book Cover Artwork published in 2007 from the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll.

HCRW members have also garnered award nominations with works in anthologies. "The Phaze in Verse" anthology, including an entry by Sarah Winn, has been nominated for Poetry in the 2008 Eppie Awards.

A special anthology, "Coming Together: Under Fire," has been nominated for Best Anthology Published in 2007 from the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll. Mari Freeman and the other authors have donated the proceeds from the anthology to help ease the loss associated with the 2007 Southern California wildfires.

HCRW has more than 120 members who meet monthly in the Triangle area and participate in an active online community.

The organization promotes the romance genre and provides support for its published and aspiring authors through educational and networking opportunities. Critique groups, workshops, nationally recognized guest speakers and a monthly writing challenge called "Book in a Week" are a few of the benefits offered to chapter members.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.heartofcarolina.org.