Meet Our Members

 Chapter President

Lori Ness writing as Christine Arness

Lori Ness wrote her first novel when she ran out of books that she liked to read. Rosemary for Remembrance, published by Harper Paperbacks under the pseudonym Christine Arness, was nominated for a Romantic Times Award for Best Contemporary Romantic Novel. Her second book, Wedding Chimes, Assorted Crimes, was a hardcover published by Five Star. Lori has also published numerous articles, short stories, newspaper articles, and essays.

Website: www.christinearness.com

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Chapter Treasurer

Stephanie Sorenson writing as Stephanie Schwartz

Midwife-turned-author, Stephanie Schwartz seems to swim seamlessly through cultures, religions, superstitions, raw fear and ecstasy to the first breath of a new baby. She knows how birth works and invites her readers to join her, taking us on a tour to the innermost workings of another world while giving us a rare, intimate glimpse into her daily life. She has five children scattered around the world, grandchildren, and over a thousand babies she calls her own. After writing three books on birth, and then retiring as a midwife, she realized she had most likely been in more Amish bedrooms—as a midwife—than most other authors of Amish romance novels and began researching the genre. Thanks to the Pandemic she was able to produce the novels in the Amish Nurse Series. Book one was released October 2022 by Melange/Satin Romance.

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Chapter Secretary

Donna Lovitz

Donna Lovitz grew up near Clear Lake, Minnesota, but considers tiny nearby Palmer her real hometown. Her parents owned and operated the only bar and restaurant there, so she spent her early years meeting and observing a variety of interesting people. She married the love of her life, Rick Lovitz, and lived in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, for 33 years before moving to Lake George, Minnesota, where they currently reside.

 Along with writing, Donna enjoys snowshoeing, ice fishing, and gardening and has also added wine-making to her list of interests. Though winters in the Northland can be long, Donna doesn’t mind. The calm beauty and serenity in the forest where she lives often kindle her creative spirit, and the nature around her home inspires her writing adventures.

Donna has had articles published in the St. Cloud Times and poetry published in the literary journal “St. Cloud Unabridged.” She is also a prolific creator of slogans and has won several contests for her creations. In late 2021, she completed her her Heartbeat Trilogy — Heartbeat of Desire, Revenge in a Heartbeat and recently — Only a Heartbeat Away. The books center around a wealthy family of sugar beet farmers in Central Minnesota.

Find Donna on her website at: https://www.donnalovitz.com

Or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/donnalovitz

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Denise Meinstad

Denise Meinstad writing as Denise Devine

Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses, and they often find their way into her books.

She has written twenty books, including books in the Beach Brides series, Moonshine Madness series, and West Loon Bay series. Her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors. If you'd like to know more about her you can visit her website at:

https://www.deniseannettedevine.com

or read the first chapters of her bestselling books at:

https://deniseannette.blogspot.com

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Nancy Schumacher

Nancy Schumacher writing as Nancy Pirri

Nancy Schumacher is the owner-publisher of Melange Books, LLC, writing under the pseudonym, Nancy Pirri. Nancy has been a member of Romance Writers of America and her local chapter, Midwest Fiction Writers, for twenty-four years. She is also one of the founders of Minnesota RWA chapter, Northern Lights Writers (NLW).

Website: www.nancypirri.com

January 1, 2011, Nancy opened her digital and print on demand house, Melange Books, LLC, www.melange-books.com.  In January, 2012, Melange’s new young adult imprint was created, Fire and Ice, for Young Adults and may be found at www.fireandiceya.com. Also open for submissions is her Satin Romance imprint at www.satinromance.com.

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Rose Marie Meuwissen

Rose Marie Meuwissen, a first-generation Norwegian American born and raised in Minnesota, always tries to incorporate her Norwegian heritage into her writing. After receiving a BA in Marketing from Concordia University, a Masters in Creative Writing from Hamline University soon followed. Minnesota is still where she calls home.

She has traveled around the world, including Scandinavia, but still has many places to see, enjoys attending Scandinavian events, writing conferences and is usually busy writing Minnesota Lakes Contemporary Romances, Viking Time Travel Romances or Norwegian Traditions Children’s Books.

Visit her at www.rosemariemeuwissen.com

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Patricia Gilkerson

Pat Gilkerson has been a writer since age 9 when she wrote a play about a red bird and her teacher let her stage it with friends. She was a teacher all her life and got serious about writing about 25 years ago, when she began writing adult short stories and children's books. She’s had success with children's books in the form of a series of horse stories at the Young Adult level, as well as a fantasy novel. She is happily anticipating her fantasy/romance novel for adults which was released in December 2023. Currently, she is working on a mystery/romance novel and enjoying the challenge of branching out into a new genre. When Pat isn’t writing, she loves reading, travel, and hanging out with family, friends, and critters.

Author of the YA Horse Rescuers Series: The Penny Pony, Nickel-Bred, and Turn on a Dime, available only as ebooks.

Now available as ebooks and in print: The Horse Rescuers, Volume 1( an anthology containing the first three Horse Rescuers books), The Quarter Horse, Half a Buck, Dollars to Doughnuts, and The Great Forest of Shee.

www.patriciagilkerson.com

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More member bios will be added soon!