Francis Ray made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists with her 2009 contemporary romance, Nobody But You, Cameron’s story from her Grayson Friends series. That release also earned the Border’s Best-selling Multicultural Book.

And Mistress Makes Three, part of her Invincible Women Series, is available now. One Night With You, Duncan’s story from Francis’s Grayson Friends series, will be available November 2009. Let’s take a moment to mark our calendars.

Even with her incredibly busy schedule, in 2001, Francis found the time to launch The Turning Point Legal Defense Fund, which assists battered women with their legal expenses.

Francis, thank you very much for stopping by the Novel Hearts blog. We appreciate your time. Could you tell us a bit about the Turning Point Legal Defense Fund and what motivated you to start the nonprofit organization?

I started The Turning Point Legal Fund after doing research for The Turning Point, my first mainstream book about a battered woman. I had no idea that, at the time, three out of 10 women were abused or knew someone who was. Now that figure is seven out of 10 women. Divorces are expensive and abusive men control the money. My fund provides legal assistance. Any woman can apply though The Family Place, a women’s shelter in Dallas, or any other agency.

Do you have a ballpark estimate of how many people the fund has helped?

Approximately 10 to 15 women are helped each year. I also try to drop off school supplies in August and toys at Christmas.

How can people learn more about The Turning Point Legal Fund?

They can visit my Web site, www.FrancisRay.com, and search under News.

How can people make donations to the fund?

The Turning Point Legal Defense Fund

c/o The Family Place

P.O. Box 7999

Dallas, Texas 75209

One last question, Francis. How can readers get in touch with you?

www.FrancisRay.com. Thank you.

Thank you, Francis, for everything you do to help victims of domestic abuse. Very best wishes for continued writing success.

Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, we’ll chat with one or two authors about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials.

If there’s an author you’d like to see featured on the blog, please send me the author’s e-mail address and the name of the nonprofit organization he or she supports. You can reach me at BooksByPatricia@Yahoo.com.

Thank you!

Beverly Jenkins began her publishing career writing historical romances. Avon released her debut novel, Night Song, in 1994. This year, Night Song celebrates its 25^th anniversary. Why don’t you pick up a copy and join the celebration? I can assure you it’s a great read.

Since Beverly’s debut, she’s branched into other genres - young adult, romance suspense and women’s fiction.

Her next highly anticipated release, Captured, is a historical romance scheduled to hit the shelves October 2009. Let’s mark the date.

Between deadlines and other responsibilities, Beverly was kind enough to grant Novel Hearts an interview about one of the nonprofit organizations she supports.

Beverly, thank you very much for joining us this week on Novel Hearts blog. We appreciate your time. Could you please tell us how you learned about Doctors Without Borders?

I first learned about them through a CNN report many years ago.

I’ve heard great things about Doctors Without Borders. For those of us who may not be as familiar with the organization, could you tell us a bit about them?

They are a worldwide organization of doctors. They began as a group that went into war zones and treated people in need on both sides of the conflict. They do a lot in Africa and with Africa’s children.

What motivated you to get involved with Doctors Without Borders?

This is not an organization I have ever volunteered with but that I support monetarily as much and as often as I can because of the great work that they do.

Thanks again for your time, Ms. Bev.

For readers who’d like to learn even more about Doctors Without Borders, please visit the organization’s Web site, www.DoctorsWithoutBorders.org.

Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, we’ll chat with one or two authors about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials.

If there’s an author you’d like to see featured on the blog, please send me the author’s e-mail address and the name of the nonprofit organization he or she supports. You can reach me at BooksByPatricia@Yahoo.com.

Thank you!

I don’t know when Dyanne Davis finds the time to sleep.

Dyanne’s been writing full-time for about 11 years. She’s an award-winning author published in a multitude of genres and subgenres: contemporary romance, paranormal romance, mainstream women’s fiction, literary fiction and short stories.

Whew! That’s a lot.

But there’s more.

Make a note: Dyanne’s novella, “The Good Side of Evil,” written as F.D. Davis, will be released in the August 2009 anthology, Carnivale Diabolique.

I first met Dyanne at the 2008 Romance Slam Jam in Chicago. She’s smart, sweet and a lot of fun. And she’s great at karaoke.

Dyanne, thank you from stepping away from your keyboard and your karaoke mic to chat with us at Novel Hearts. Could you tell us about one of the charities you support?

There are many nonprofit organizations that I support, but the one I’ve been financially supporting consistently is the Bolingbrook Police Department. The department provides protective gear to the officers and aid to their families when their need’s not covered by the department, their insurance or the union.

Dyanne, what a wonderful cause to support. What motivated you to assist the Bolingbrook Police Department?

At the time, I was donating money to several police organizations. One year, I told the contact person - who has been the same person every year - that I needed money myself and that I didn’t have money to give. He asked me what I needed and said that, since I’d been helping the organization, they would help me. I couldn’t believe it. I doubled my amount and have continued with that.

We had a long talk and I told him about all the other police organizations I was giving money to. It was then he told me where the money was going for each and that the money for Bolingbrook only went to help the officers who live in and work for Bolingbrook. I live in Bolingbrook.

How do you support the department?

I’ve been supporting them now for 10 years financially. They have not asked for anything else but I would be willing to help in any manner that they needed. The drive for funds is held once a year.

Are there other nonprofit organizations you support?

Yes, I support organizations for victims of abuse, heart, cancer and diabetes. As a nurse, I’ve had many patients that I referred to these organizations. Now, with family members falling into each of the disease categories, it’s also a personal thing.

My most recent organization that I support is the Romance Slam Jam. It’s a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy and supports African America romance authors. Each year, the Romance Slam Jam has a conference that brings readers and writers together. There is a Web site that features articles and blogs to keep the readers informed on what their favorite African American authors are doing. It’s family. I’m very proud to be a part of it. I’m the secretary.

I know first-hand what a wonderful, dynamic organization the Romance Slam Jam is.

How can readers find out more about the Bolingbrook Police Department and the Romance Slam Jam?

They can find the Romance Slam Jam at http://www.RomanceSlamJam.org.

The Bolingbrook Police Department can be found at http://www.Bolingbrook.com.

Thanks, Dyanne. And how can readers contact you?

Readers can reach me at DavisDyanne@aol.com. They can visit my Web site where I have excerpts of most of my books at www.DyanneDavis.com or, for information on my vampire Adam Omega series, they can go to www.AdamOmega.com.

Dyanne, thank you so much for chatting with us on Novel Hearts, and for everything you do to support our community. Very best wishes for continued writing success!

Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, we’ll chat with one or two authors about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials.

If there’s an author you’d like to see featured on the blog, please send me the author’s e-mail address and the name of the nonprofit organization he or she supports. You can reach me at BooksByPatricia@Yahoo.com. Thank you!

Next year – 2010 – Donna Hill will celebrate 20 years in publishing. She’s had at least one book on the shelf every year since her first book, Rooms of the Heart, debuted in 1990. What an absolutely spectacular accomplishment.

Donna writes primarily romantic suspense, but her stories often have a women’s fiction edge to them. Her most recent releases include books in her Ladies Cartel Series – Sex and Lies, Seduction and Lies, and Temptation and Lies.

Look for her next original title, Prize of a Lifetime, Sept. 29, 2009. In addition, Harlequin will reissue two of Donna’s favorite books – A Private Affair (June 29, 2009) and Pieces of Dreams (September 2009). Later in 2009, the third book of that trilogy will hit the shelves.

A very busy lady, indeed. That makes me doubly grateful that Donna made time to chat with us about one of the nonprofit organizations she supports, Poets & Writers Inc.

Donna, welcome to Novel Hearts. We’re thrilled to have you here. Could you tell us please how you learned about the Poets & Writers Inc. memoir writing workshops for seniors?

I was invited to be the instructor for Shalom Presbyterian Church through Dr. Brenda Greene, Director of the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College.

What motivated you to teach these workshops and how long have you done so?

This will be my second year. My class is working on producing their book. I was intrigued by the idea of working with seniors and hearing their stories. It has taught me so much and made me realize how much we all have in common.

I’m certain it’s been a wonderful experience. What does Poets & Writers do and why do you think its work is important?

Poets & Writers Inc. is the primary source of information, support and guidance for creative writers.

Founded in 1970, it is the nation’s largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers. Our national office is located in New York City. Our California branch office is based in Los Angeles. They provide grants, resources, funding programs, etc. It also produces a monthly magazine, Poets & Writers Magazine.

Poets & Writers is so important to writers everywhere, both established and aspiring as a major resource of information on what is available to writers from numerous disciplines.

It sounds like a very valuable organization. Thank you for telling us about it. How can readers learn more about Poets & Writers?

They can visit Poets & Writers’ Web site, http://pw.org.

Thank you, Donna. By the way, in addition to Poets & Writers, are there other nonprofit organizations you support? 

I recently joined Organize for America, and I’m in the process of working toward setting up a literary mentoring program for young adults. Keeping my fingers crossed.

You’re doing wonderful work, Donna. Good luck with the mentoring program. In the meantime, how can readers get in touch with you?

Readers can find me all over the Web, DonnaHill.com, DHFanClub.ning.com. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.

Donna, thank you very much for taking the time to chat with us about Poets & Writers. Best wishes for continued success with all of your endeavors.

Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, we’ll chat with one or two authors about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials.

If there’s an author you’d like to see featured on the blog, please send me the author’s e-mail address and the name of the nonprofit organization she or he supports. You can reach me at BooksByPatricia@Yahoo.com. Thank you!