Monica Jackson

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For Immediate Release from Romance Writers of America

Three Murder-Suicides in Romance Fiction Industry Outrage Writers

(HOUSTON) -- News of the weekend murder of Washington D.C. romance author Nancy Richards-Akers brought devastation as well as a sad familiarity to other authors in the romance industry this week. Richards-Akers, who was shot in the head by her husband Jeremy Akers on June 5, is the third romance author to be murdered by her husband in three years.

Pamela Macaluso, a California romance author, was killed by her husband in March of 1997; and Ann Wassall, also of California, was shot and killed by her husband in December of 1996. Richards-Akers and the two previous victims were all members of Romance Writers of America (RWA), the national nonprofit writers' association for the authors who write romantic fiction. In the case of all three murders, the husbands committed suicide after taking the lives of their wives.

After three such murders in just three years, discussion, concern and outrage over domestic violence has become priority-one among the some 8,000 members of RWA. "The crushing irony of these tragedies is that the stories that these women were writing -- that all romance authors are writing -- send a message that all women deserve a relationship based on mutual respect and enduring love," said RWA Vice President Debra Dixon. "Nancy's, Pam's and Ann's job -- day in and day out -- was to portray men and women who weren't perfect, but found ways to cope and overcome flaws, and who celebrated the strength of unconditional love.

"RWA already donates as much as $35,000 a year to the cause of teaching illiterate adult women to read --because we believe that an educated woman is a stronger, safer woman. But in the wake of this third murder, RWA members are already asking their association to look at ways to become actively involved in the cause of spousal abuse," Dixon said.

As many as 2,000 authors will meet in Chicago next month for the 19th Annual Romance Writers of America National Conference. Discussions and action plans have been scheduled to allow the association to mobilize itself and join the fight against spousal abuse.

"It is a tragic, unconscionable loss," said Dixon. "The romance fiction industry is such a tight-knit community. Every single member of this organization feels outrage and pain over the loss of Nancy, Pam and Ann. And our membership is calling upon RWA to give shape and voice to that outrage -- to roll up our sleeves and work to prevent domestic violence. We will do that."

Members of Romance Writers of America write the love stories that made up 53% of mass-market paperback fiction sales in 1998. Their books are enjoyed by 45 million readers in North America and millions more around the world.

For more information about RWA, spousal abuse, or to interview a romance author, please contact Charis McEachern in the RWA Office at (281) 440-6885, ext. 27.

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