The Philadelphia Daily News

December 27, 2006

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/performing_arts/16325599.htm

ROMANCE AUTHOR HOPES TO WIN ONLINE CONTEST

By Jannine Templeman

For the Daily News

Before the next American Idol is anointed, Judi Fennell hopes to become the next American Title winner. 

Fennell, of Montgomery County's Worcester Township, is one of six finalists in the national writing competition.

By winning American Title, the stay-at-home mom of three would get her romance novel published by Dorchester Publishing. 

The winner will be announced in April at the annual convention of Romantic Times BOOKreviews, a magazine that reviews romance and other fiction.

Winning "would be a validation of my time, effort, and my hard work," Fennell said.

Fennell describes her stories as fairy tales with a twist. The one she entered in the American Title contest, "Beauty and The Best," won the 2005 Southern Heat RWA chapter contest in the paranormal category, and Fennell hopes it'll help her walk away with the American Title win.

"I grew up watching shows like 'Bewitched' and 'I Dream of Jeannie,' so they influenced the type of stories I write," she said.

Fennell has been writing since grade school. The Penn State graduate majored in Spanish and business, and worked as a meeting planner. After attending one romance writers' meeting, she was hooked.

Writing is her passion, and it keeps her busy creating stories, and attending conferences and workshops. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and is president-elect of Valley Forge Romance Writers.

"Life interferes with my writing," Fennell said.

Fennell is working on 13 stories, including three about women in their early 40s who find a new version of happily-ever-after.

Three times she has been a winner of the Methacton Community Writing Contest. Her story "Cinda Bella" was a finalist in several RWA contests in 2005.

The American Title contest is sponsored by Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine and Dorchester Publishing.

Unpublished writers post excerpts of their novels online and the public votes for their favorites in five rounds. Two authors are eliminated in each round.

Voting for this round closes on Sunday.

To read about the contest and learn about the writers still in the running, visit www.romantictimes.com/news_amtitle.php.

To read an excerpt of "Beauty and The Best," visit www.JudiFennell.com.