2022 Board
Joanne Machin (she/her)
President
Joanne Machin is an author of flirty, nerdy, feminist contemporary adult #ownvoices romance. She also runs her own business as a freelance editor and virtual assistant for other business owners. In her free time, she likes to find new coffee shops and restaurants, obsess over stationery and all things planner-related, read, practice hot yoga, and play video games. Joanne Machin resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Thomas, and their Welsh terrier, Oliver. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Washington.
Sonya Faugno (w/a Sonya Rhen)
Vice President of Programs
Sonya Rhen is the author of the Shredded Orphans series of humorous science fiction novels, as well as short stories and poetry. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. They share their home with an ancient cat and an anxious, but clever, dog. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Washington. She loves things that make her laugh and is always on the lookout for the perfect French Dip sandwich. When she’s not writing you might find her dancing.
Kelli Terpsma
Vice President of Communications
Kelli Terpsma loves love stories—the sillier and more ridiculous, the better. Give her a HEA/HFN with a strong yet hilarious protagonist and a splash of adventure, and she’ll spend the next ten-odd hours wrapped in a blanket on her couch racing toward the ending. While a perfect day for Kelli would consist of writing, tea, and a sporadic trip to her local bookstore, she also enjoys running, testing new recipes, and binge-watching K-dramas. Kelli resides in the PNW with her fiancé, Brian, and works part-time as a freelance editor. She received her BA in Creative Writing and her BS in Kinesiology from Western Washington University. You can find her online on Instagram, Twitter, or her website.
Kelly Vincent (w/a Kat Vinson)
Secretary
Kelly wrangles data weekdays and spends the rest of her time playing with words. She writes steamy, feminist contemporary romance as Kat Vinson and young adult contemporary as Kelly Vincent. She grew up in Oklahoma but has moved around quite a bit, with Glasgow, Scotland being her favorite stop. She now lives near Seattle with an assortment of cats who help her write her stories by strategically walking across the keyboard. She has an M.F.A. in creative writing from Oklahoma City University’s Red Earth program, plus four other degrees in her collection. Find her at kellyvincent.net, katvinson.com, and @kvbooks on Twitter and Instagram.
Tina Brake (w/a Christina Braver)
Treasurer
Christina Braver writes steamy, small town, contemporary romance set in the Pacific Northwest. Her stories are about real people and real love with the guaranteed HEA we all need. She’s been reading romance for decades and loves to escape into stories about strong heroes with softer sides and independent heroines with a bit of sass. She strives to support allyship in her writing and portray diversity in everyday life. She believes together, we will save the world. When she isn’t writing, Christina can be found reading in her favorite corner chair, sipping wine and laughing too loudly with friends, or cooking dinners that always take twice as long as the recipe suggests to prepare. She lives in Seattle with her husband who shares his bourbon, and two teenagers that keep them both on their toes.