Greetings,

I attended the first Romance Slam Jam in Emma Rodgers’ bookstore in the summer of 1995, a month before my first book, SEALED WITH A KISS, was published. There were about ten authors, I passed out fliers and book marks, but I didn’t yet have my book. Mrs. Rodgers and her staff served us pizza and soft drinks. I confess that I was overwhelmed with happiness at the start of my fiction writing career. I was so happy to be in the company op Francis Ray, Angela Benson and the other writers. The following year, we met in Mrs. Rodgers store again, this time with sixteen authors and a crowd of readers. In 1988 and 1989, Mrs. Rodgers had the Romance Slam Jam on a cruise, and that was great. On the 1989 cruise, I had the distinction of being the only author, an experience that proved to be very special indeed.

I’ve missed three Romance Slam Jam conferences, the first in 2001, because of my husband’s illness. I missed the Slam in Shreveport, because I refuse to ride those tiny planes that frighten me to death, and in 2007 because Jet blue bumped me due to bad weather (It didn’t look bad to me), and I missed the appointed time of my workshop. In fact none of the participants from the northeast were able to travel that day. Donna Hill and I organized the 2004 Romance Slam Jam here in New York City, and I’m proud to say that people who attended are still singing its praises.

The Romance Slam Jam is a wonderful movement, one that belongs to us for we created it and maintain it. It is a “home” to which I always joyfully return, knowing that I will learn something that is valuable; that I will renew old friendships and make new ones; and that I will celebrate the African American fiction writer in the company of my peers. I long to see the day when the RSJ is as influential with publishers and readers as is the RWA. Let’s work to that end.

Meet me at my workshop on the importance of research for fiction writing and how to go about it. And I’ll be signing my latest mainstream and romance novels at the book signing events. You’ll be able to pick up copies of GETTING SOME OF HER OWN and DRIVE ME WILD.

Gwynne Forster

http://www.gwynneforster.com