To all my friends and readers on the east cost being effected by Hurricane Sandy, you are in my thoughts this week. Please check in and let me you know you’re doing okay when you can.

This weekend at my local RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter’s meeting, we celebrated our twentieth anniversary in a  private, yet powerful, way. (A public celebration to come in a few months.) It was so enlightening to hear the stories of how our group was formed, the struggles they faced, and they foundation they laid for the chapter I later joined and is so dear to my heart.

We went around the room and each took a few minutes to talk about what brought us to RWA and MVRWA and what’s kept us there.

No surprise to those of you who read these pages regularly, because I’ve said it often here about myself, but there was a common thread that the group is not only a wealth of information  but an amazing source of support. Over and again our members said when they were looking for information on what an aspiring writer should do, they were directed to find a writer’s group that they felt connected to.

It is the same advice I give when I’m asked.

As anyone can attest to, when facing a difficult task, it’s helpful to know that you have a connection to people who have traveled the rough road before you, who can draw you a map and give you some direction. Those same people will help you back on your feet when you fall, and cheer loudly when you succeed.

So, I raise my glass to MVRW. Though I’ve only been around for a slim slice of that time, the knowledge and support I’ve gained has been unmeasurable. Here’s to many, many more anniversaries.