"As a writer, what discoveries are you seeking? A more thorough understanding of romance and its readers? A peek at the publishing business, and how an agent can be your bridge into it? Specific writing guidance? If so, your search is over." "You've found a collection of instructive articles by those who live by affairs of the heart: the Romance Writers of America. The 25 essays in this guide each highlight a specific - and vital - area of writing or publishing your romance fiction."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes index.

1. Who Needs an Agent, Anyway? / Richard Curtis 2. The Life and Times of a Manuscript / Kate Duffy 3. Between Publisher and Bookstore / Sandy Jaffe 4. How to Handle Publicity / Joan Schulhafer 5. The Importance of Networking / Janis Reams Hudson 6. What are Romance Novels and Who Reads Them? / Rita Clay Estrada 7. The Role of the Romance Novel / Deborah Camp 8. Romance - A Woman's Intricate Journey / Helen Mittermeyer 9. Writing with Passion / Debbie Macomber 10. Writing with a Partner / Dan Trent and Lynda Trent 11. How Selling a Book Changes Your Life / Christina Dodd 12. Researching Historical Facts / Roberta Gellis 13. Point of View - His? Hers? How Many? / Glenda Sanders

14. Aiming for the Goal / Karen Robards 15. The Art of Keeping the Reader Reading / Linda Barlow 16. Secrets for Creating a Best-Selling Romance / Jude Deveraux 17. Writing the Short Contemporary Romance / Helen R. Myers 18. The Regency Romance / Jo Beverley 19. Paranormal Romance: Time Travel, Vampires, and Everything Beyond / Diana Gabaldon 20. Elements of Romantic Suspense / Eileen Dreyer 21. The Medieval Maiden / Susan Wiggs 22. Writing the Historical - Then and Now / Jennifer Blake 23. Writing the Young Adult Romance / Sherry Garland 24. Long Contemporary - Indians Without Cowboys / Kathleen Eagle 25. Mainstream: It's Not Just a Longer Category / Janet Dailey Afterword / Rita Gallagher.