Libby Waterford is the author of over two dozen contemporary romance novels and novellas under two pen names, including the Never a Bride and Sawyer’s Cove: The Reboot series. The former President of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America®, Libby teaches classes on genre fiction, romance writing, and self-publishing.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Like a lot of writers, I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I came up with my first pen name around age nine–Luanna Claypoole, which would have made a pretty great historical romance author name, I always thought. But I didn’t seriously decide to write fiction that other people might eventually read until I graduated college and realized that of all the jobs in the world, writer was both the most difficult and most appealing.
What do you love most about the writing process?
I love the magical alchemy of sitting down at a computer and typing sentences that have somehow formed between the thoughts and images swirling around in my head and my fingers touching a keyboard. Writing is a mental exercise that has a physical component. Sometimes I feel like my body only exists as a conduit between my brain and the page.
What do you love most about teaching writing?
Everyone is on their own creative journey, but it’s nice to know that though we may be on individual paths, we’re not alone. I think writers can go a bit crazy if we don’t have other writers to talk to, gain encouragement from, and commiserate with. It’s wonderful when a small comment can unlock a major shift in someone’s craft or process.
What are you reading right now?
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilson–a witty sapphic age-gap romance, and Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey–a frothy sports-adjacent romance.
What’s your favorite writing quote?
“Your own reasons to create are reason enough.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
Madelin Parsley grew up in the panhandle of Nebraska. She holds an M.F.A. in fiction from Vanderbilt University, and her short stories have appeared in Ploughshares and Narrative Magazine. She’s currently working on a novel about five siblings, two small towns, and a family dynamic that is shaped and reshaped
Instructor Michael Belanger is an author and high school history teacher. His debut novel, The History of Jane Doe, was a finalist for the Connecticut Book Award and received a Kirkus starred review. More recently, his writing has appeared in Flash Fiction Magazine, Pigeon Review, Bright Flash Literary Review, and the 2025 Connecticut Literary Anthology.
