Put Your Heart in a Book Conference
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Conference Basics
2. Registration
3. Hotel
4. Meals/Dining
5. Trade Expo
6. Miscellaneous
1. Conference Basics
Q. When does the conference begin/end?
A. Conference registration check-in opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2019.
Our Pre-Conference Workshop with Bob Mayer will begin at 9:00 a.m. (extra fee for this excellent 3 hour workshop).
This year we are offering a continental breakfast for you as you register and during the break in the morning workshop.
As is tradition, NJRW conference guru Christine Bush will hold a special program for first-time conference attendees at 1 p.m. Workshops will be held from 1:00-5:45 p.m., with a half-hour break from 3:00-3:30 p.m. at which snacks and drinks will be available.
Our Kickoff Party begins at 7:00 p.m. and this year includes dinner! And a cash bar! Our theme is a celebration of our 35th anniversary, with a coral and jade beach theme.
On Saturday, October 19, 2019, our day begins with breakfast at 8 a.m., with our Featured Keynote Speaker, Maya Rodale, and the Put Your Heart in a Book Awards.
The keynote breakfast is followed by two hours of workshops, as well as Editor/Agent Pitch Appointments.
Lunch, with our Luncheon Keynote Speaker, Priscilla Oliveras, begins at 12:15 p.m., and will include the Golden Leaf Awards, followed by an additional two hours of workshops and the Editor/Agent panels, and two NEW panels consisting of firefighters and police officers.
NJRW’s Book Fair runs from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Attendees are welcome to attend or participate, and the public will be invited!
Dinner on Saturday night is not included, but don't eat dessert, because our Movie Night at 7 p.m., an opportunity to learn and laugh while watching clips from our favorite romcoms, will be complete with hot cocoa, desserts and a cash bar.
But the fun doesn't end there! Join us in your comfy sweats on Sunday morning for a continental breakfast and a Writers Retreat, where we'll share what we learned over the weekend and participate in plotting parties and writing sprints!
Q. When is the pre-conference workshop?
A. Our Pre-Conference Workshop with Bob Mayer will begin at 9:00 a.m. Click here for more information.
Q. What is the cost for the conference? What types of payment are accepted?
A. Conference registration fees break down as follows:
Early Bird Registration (June 1 - June 24) is $275 for NJRW Members and $285 for Non-Members. The pre-conference workshop with Bob Mayer is $50. Our Meals Only option (for guests of registered attendees) is $150.
Regular Registration (June 25 - September 30) is $285 for NJRW Members and $295 for Non-Members.
We accept payment via check or PayPal (which includes credit card payments made using PayPal). If you opt to mail in a check, please be advised that your payment must be received within 14 days of your registration. If payment is not received within that time period, your conference registration will be subject to cancellation.
Q. This is my first conference – what can I expect?
A. NJRW’s Put Your Heart in a Book Conference will provide a wonderful opportunity for you to interact with editors, agents, published authors in all romance genres, and fellow authors at all stages of their careers. We love having new folks join us each year. If this is your first conference with us, we recommend you attend Christine Bush’s First-Timer's Workshop mentioned above. Spend an hour with Christine and you'll know what to expect, the dos and don'ts, and of course she'll have an amusing anecdote or two for you. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to meet and greet other first-time attendees!
A. Conference registration check-in opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2019.
Our Pre-Conference Workshop with Bob Mayer will begin at 9:00 a.m. (extra fee for this excellent 3 hour workshop).
This year we are offering a continental breakfast for you as you register and during the break in the morning workshop.
As is tradition, NJRW conference guru Christine Bush will hold a special program for first-time conference attendees at 1 p.m. Workshops will be held from 1:00-5:45 p.m., with a half-hour break from 3:00-3:30 p.m. at which snacks and drinks will be available.
Our Kickoff Party begins at 7:00 p.m. and this year includes dinner! And a cash bar! Our theme is a celebration of our 35th anniversary, with a coral and jade beach theme.
On Saturday, October 19, 2019, our day begins with breakfast at 8 a.m., with our Featured Keynote Speaker, Maya Rodale, and the Put Your Heart in a Book Awards.
The keynote breakfast is followed by two hours of workshops, as well as Editor/Agent Pitch Appointments.
Lunch, with our Luncheon Keynote Speaker, Priscilla Oliveras, begins at 12:15 p.m., and will include the Golden Leaf Awards, followed by an additional two hours of workshops and the Editor/Agent panels, and two NEW panels consisting of firefighters and police officers.
NJRW’s Book Fair runs from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Attendees are welcome to attend or participate, and the public will be invited!
Dinner on Saturday night is not included, but don't eat dessert, because our Movie Night at 7 p.m., an opportunity to learn and laugh while watching clips from our favorite romcoms, will be complete with hot cocoa, desserts and a cash bar.
But the fun doesn't end there! Join us in your comfy sweats on Sunday morning for a continental breakfast and a Writers Retreat, where we'll share what we learned over the weekend and participate in plotting parties and writing sprints!
Q. When is the pre-conference workshop?
A. Our Pre-Conference Workshop with Bob Mayer will begin at 9:00 a.m. Click here for more information.
Q. What is the cost for the conference? What types of payment are accepted?
A. Conference registration fees break down as follows:
Early Bird Registration (June 1 - June 24) is $275 for NJRW Members and $285 for Non-Members. The pre-conference workshop with Bob Mayer is $50. Our Meals Only option (for guests of registered attendees) is $150.
Regular Registration (June 25 - September 30) is $285 for NJRW Members and $295 for Non-Members.
We accept payment via check or PayPal (which includes credit card payments made using PayPal). If you opt to mail in a check, please be advised that your payment must be received within 14 days of your registration. If payment is not received within that time period, your conference registration will be subject to cancellation.
Q. This is my first conference – what can I expect?
A. NJRW’s Put Your Heart in a Book Conference will provide a wonderful opportunity for you to interact with editors, agents, published authors in all romance genres, and fellow authors at all stages of their careers. We love having new folks join us each year. If this is your first conference with us, we recommend you attend Christine Bush’s First-Timer's Workshop mentioned above. Spend an hour with Christine and you'll know what to expect, the dos and don'ts, and of course she'll have an amusing anecdote or two for you. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to meet and greet other first-time attendees!
2. Registration
Q. When does registration begin?
A. Registration for the conference will begin on June 1, 2019.
Q. Why should I register early?
A. Registration prices increase after June 24. Editor/agent appointments are also on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration will ensure you have a spot for this important part of the conference. If you have books to sell, you'll want to reserve your spot in the Book Fair. Finally, the normally high attendance at the event has often resulted in sell-outs for rooms at the conference hotel; act quickly to ensure you have a room!
Q. What is the final date for registration?
A. Registration closes on September 30, 2018.
Q. How do I register?
A. Click here to go the payment page on Paypal. When you have submitted your payment, click on the registration form link here. If you choose to pay by check, fill out the registration form and note that you are sending a check.
Q. Can I register on-site at the conference?
A. No, there is no on-site registration. You MUST pre-register.
Q. Do you have one-day rates?
A. No, there is only one rate for the conference. If your schedule prohibits you from attending one of the days, you are still welcome to attend; however, you would need to pay the full conference rate regardless.
Q. I registered online, but haven’t received my confirmation yet. What should I do?
A. The e-mail confirmation form is very important. It is your proof of registration and also contains your conference confirmation number. That number is vital, because without it you will not be able to register for editor/agent appointments. If you have registration questions, please contact Babette James, Conference Registrar, at [email protected].
Q. I’d like to bring my spouse/significant other or another family member, but he/she wouldn’t be attending the actual workshops. What do you offer?
A. There is a meals-only registration option in this circumstance. Please see the Meals/Dining section below for further details.
Q. What is the conference cancellation policy?
A. Refunds will be made, less a $75 processing fee, up to July 16, 2019. Refunds will be made, less a $100 processing fee, between July 17 and September 29, 2019. Refunds after September 29, 2018, only for documented, serious medical reasons (typically requires proof of hospitalization of registrant or immediate family member) or death (registrant or immediate family member), less a $50 processing fee. There is a $25 returned check fee. As of October 5, 2019, there will be no refunds.
Q. Whom do I need to notify and what is the procedure if I need to cancel my registration?
A. Please notify Stacey Wilk or Kimberley Ash, Co-Chairs, at [email protected] and/or Babette James, Conference Registrar, at [email protected].
A. Registration for the conference will begin on June 1, 2019.
Q. Why should I register early?
A. Registration prices increase after June 24. Editor/agent appointments are also on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration will ensure you have a spot for this important part of the conference. If you have books to sell, you'll want to reserve your spot in the Book Fair. Finally, the normally high attendance at the event has often resulted in sell-outs for rooms at the conference hotel; act quickly to ensure you have a room!
Q. What is the final date for registration?
A. Registration closes on September 30, 2018.
Q. How do I register?
A. Click here to go the payment page on Paypal. When you have submitted your payment, click on the registration form link here. If you choose to pay by check, fill out the registration form and note that you are sending a check.
Q. Can I register on-site at the conference?
A. No, there is no on-site registration. You MUST pre-register.
Q. Do you have one-day rates?
A. No, there is only one rate for the conference. If your schedule prohibits you from attending one of the days, you are still welcome to attend; however, you would need to pay the full conference rate regardless.
Q. I registered online, but haven’t received my confirmation yet. What should I do?
A. The e-mail confirmation form is very important. It is your proof of registration and also contains your conference confirmation number. That number is vital, because without it you will not be able to register for editor/agent appointments. If you have registration questions, please contact Babette James, Conference Registrar, at [email protected].
Q. I’d like to bring my spouse/significant other or another family member, but he/she wouldn’t be attending the actual workshops. What do you offer?
A. There is a meals-only registration option in this circumstance. Please see the Meals/Dining section below for further details.
Q. What is the conference cancellation policy?
A. Refunds will be made, less a $75 processing fee, up to July 16, 2019. Refunds will be made, less a $100 processing fee, between July 17 and September 29, 2019. Refunds after September 29, 2018, only for documented, serious medical reasons (typically requires proof of hospitalization of registrant or immediate family member) or death (registrant or immediate family member), less a $50 processing fee. There is a $25 returned check fee. As of October 5, 2019, there will be no refunds.
Q. Whom do I need to notify and what is the procedure if I need to cancel my registration?
A. Please notify Stacey Wilk or Kimberley Ash, Co-Chairs, at [email protected] and/or Babette James, Conference Registrar, at [email protected].
3. Hotel
Q. How do I reserve a room at the hotel?
A. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email from our registrar with your confirmation number and information about how to contact the conference hotel, the Renaissance Woodbridge. You will then need to contact them to secure a reservation with a credit card number. **NJRW is not responsible for room reservations that are cancelled due to the attendee’s failure to contact the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel with a credit card to secure said room.**
Q. What is the conference hotel rate and what is the deadline for getting that discount rate?
A. The Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel has agreed to offer a discounted rate of $149 per room, per night (single occupancy), plus applicable taxes and fees. The cut-off date for this discounted rate is September 12, 2019; if you do not book your hotel room by then, you will have to pay the regular hotel rate.
Q. How do I get to the hotel?
A. There are three ways to get to the hotel.
By Plane: Fly into Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
By Train: Take Amtrak or NJ Transit to the MetroPark train station in Iselin, which is just minutes from the conference hotel. The Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel offers a free shuttle from the train station to the hotel. Taxis also are available at MetroPark for the short ride to the hotel.
By Car: You will find the driving directions to the conference hotel here.
Q. What are the check-in/check-out times?
A. The hotel check-in time begins at 3 p.m. Check-out is by noon.
A. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email from our registrar with your confirmation number and information about how to contact the conference hotel, the Renaissance Woodbridge. You will then need to contact them to secure a reservation with a credit card number. **NJRW is not responsible for room reservations that are cancelled due to the attendee’s failure to contact the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel with a credit card to secure said room.**
Q. What is the conference hotel rate and what is the deadline for getting that discount rate?
A. The Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel has agreed to offer a discounted rate of $149 per room, per night (single occupancy), plus applicable taxes and fees. The cut-off date for this discounted rate is September 12, 2019; if you do not book your hotel room by then, you will have to pay the regular hotel rate.
Q. How do I get to the hotel?
A. There are three ways to get to the hotel.
By Plane: Fly into Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
By Train: Take Amtrak or NJ Transit to the MetroPark train station in Iselin, which is just minutes from the conference hotel. The Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel offers a free shuttle from the train station to the hotel. Taxis also are available at MetroPark for the short ride to the hotel.
By Car: You will find the driving directions to the conference hotel here.
Q. What are the check-in/check-out times?
A. The hotel check-in time begins at 3 p.m. Check-out is by noon.
4. Meals/Dining
Q. What meals are included in the conference registration fee?
A. That's an excellent question! We have many opportunities to keep you fueled all weekend, all included in your fee!
The conference registration fee includes breakfast on Friday, snacks and wine at the PUB retreat, snacks and drinks during the rest period in the afternoon, dinner at the Kick-Off Party on Friday night, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and snacks and munchies at the Movie Night on Saturday night.
Q. I am a vegetarian or have other special dietary requirements. What should I do?
A. The registration form includes a section that will allow you to include dietary requirements.
Q. What are the criteria for meals-only tickets? What is the cost?
A. A meals-only registration is available for $150. The meals included in the cost of this ticket are the Kick-Off Party dinner, the Saturday breakfast and luncheon, and the Saturday evening Movie Night. This registration is available ONLY to family members or significant others who are not members of NJRW or RWA—and who accompany a registered conference attendee. Pre-payment is required.
A. That's an excellent question! We have many opportunities to keep you fueled all weekend, all included in your fee!
The conference registration fee includes breakfast on Friday, snacks and wine at the PUB retreat, snacks and drinks during the rest period in the afternoon, dinner at the Kick-Off Party on Friday night, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and snacks and munchies at the Movie Night on Saturday night.
Q. I am a vegetarian or have other special dietary requirements. What should I do?
A. The registration form includes a section that will allow you to include dietary requirements.
Q. What are the criteria for meals-only tickets? What is the cost?
A. A meals-only registration is available for $150. The meals included in the cost of this ticket are the Kick-Off Party dinner, the Saturday breakfast and luncheon, and the Saturday evening Movie Night. This registration is available ONLY to family members or significant others who are not members of NJRW or RWA—and who accompany a registered conference attendee. Pre-payment is required.
5. Book Fair
Q. I have friends who are interested in attending the Book Fair; do you have to be an NJRW Conference attendee to go?
A. No! You have to be an attendee to reserve a table, but for 2019 the public will be invited to the book fair. Share the word far and wide!
Q. Who will be participating?
A. Our featured keynote speakers, as well as published attendees who register to participate.
A. No! You have to be an attendee to reserve a table, but for 2019 the public will be invited to the book fair. Share the word far and wide!
Q. Who will be participating?
A. Our featured keynote speakers, as well as published attendees who register to participate.
6. Miscellaneous
Q. What should I wear?
A. As a professional industry event, NJRW’s Put Your Heart in a Book Conference affords an excellent opportunity to learn and network with other industry professionals, editors and agents. As such, it is wisest to wear business or business casual attire (“dress to impress”). You also may want to bring a sweater or jacket. New Jersey temperatures can be unpredictable in October. Also, while the hotel does its best to find a comfortable temperature for all, there is no telling how you are going to feel in the meeting and banquet rooms, so you may want to consider dressing in layers. The Kick-Off party is themed, but you may feel free to come as you are!
A great way to get the latest news on the conference is to sign up for the conference newsletter for all of the updates leading up to the conference. You can sign up here!
Q. Is there anything I need to bring with me?
A. NJRW provides tote bags to carry your registration materials and any extra goodies, and a notepad for all that you'll be learning in our workshops, but you may want to bring along a pen. You also may find it beneficial to bring along some business cards—office supply stores have some great options you can print on your home computers—to share contact information with the new people you’ll meet.
Q. Should I have a copy of my full manuscript on hand, “just in case”?
A. If you’re planning to work on your manuscript during downtimes at the conference, feel free to bring along your WIP. However, you should not bring a copy for editor/agent appointments.
Q. I’d like to help out. Whom do I contact about volunteering?
A. We’d love to have you with us! If you’re interested in assisting at the conference, there are a variety of volunteer positions available. Contact conference co-chairs Stacey Wilk or Kimberley Ash at [email protected].
Q. How can I donate a book or something else for the gift baskets you give away during the conference?
A. To donate something for the gift baskets, or to donate a complete basket, please contact Hannah Rowan at hrowan1029 [at] aol [dot] com. This year our baskets will be given away during the book fair.
Q. How can I contribute items as giveaways in your “goody room”?
A. Roni Denholtz is coordinating all Goody Room donations. For more details, please contact her at rsusan51 [at] aol [dot] com.
Q. Who are the key conference contacts?
A. Your main contacts for questions concerning the conference are:
2019 NJRW Conference Co-Chairs – Stacey Wilk and Kimberley Ash, [email protected]
For Registration questions – Babette James, [email protected]
For Editor/Agent appointments – Miriam Allenson, [email protected]
For sponsorship information – Judy Kentrus, judykentrusauthor [at] gmail [dot] com
A. As a professional industry event, NJRW’s Put Your Heart in a Book Conference affords an excellent opportunity to learn and network with other industry professionals, editors and agents. As such, it is wisest to wear business or business casual attire (“dress to impress”). You also may want to bring a sweater or jacket. New Jersey temperatures can be unpredictable in October. Also, while the hotel does its best to find a comfortable temperature for all, there is no telling how you are going to feel in the meeting and banquet rooms, so you may want to consider dressing in layers. The Kick-Off party is themed, but you may feel free to come as you are!
A great way to get the latest news on the conference is to sign up for the conference newsletter for all of the updates leading up to the conference. You can sign up here!
Q. Is there anything I need to bring with me?
A. NJRW provides tote bags to carry your registration materials and any extra goodies, and a notepad for all that you'll be learning in our workshops, but you may want to bring along a pen. You also may find it beneficial to bring along some business cards—office supply stores have some great options you can print on your home computers—to share contact information with the new people you’ll meet.
Q. Should I have a copy of my full manuscript on hand, “just in case”?
A. If you’re planning to work on your manuscript during downtimes at the conference, feel free to bring along your WIP. However, you should not bring a copy for editor/agent appointments.
Q. I’d like to help out. Whom do I contact about volunteering?
A. We’d love to have you with us! If you’re interested in assisting at the conference, there are a variety of volunteer positions available. Contact conference co-chairs Stacey Wilk or Kimberley Ash at [email protected].
Q. How can I donate a book or something else for the gift baskets you give away during the conference?
A. To donate something for the gift baskets, or to donate a complete basket, please contact Hannah Rowan at hrowan1029 [at] aol [dot] com. This year our baskets will be given away during the book fair.
Q. How can I contribute items as giveaways in your “goody room”?
A. Roni Denholtz is coordinating all Goody Room donations. For more details, please contact her at rsusan51 [at] aol [dot] com.
Q. Who are the key conference contacts?
A. Your main contacts for questions concerning the conference are:
2019 NJRW Conference Co-Chairs – Stacey Wilk and Kimberley Ash, [email protected]
For Registration questions – Babette James, [email protected]
For Editor/Agent appointments – Miriam Allenson, [email protected]
For sponsorship information – Judy Kentrus, judykentrusauthor [at] gmail [dot] com