West Houston RWA

A Presentation by Diane O’Brien Kelly, Attorney at Law/CPA

Intimidated by the IRS? Frustrated with the ever-changing tax laws? Confused as to whether you’re taking advantage of every opportunity to save a few bucks on your taxes? Here’s your chance to learn all the ins and outs–from an expert!

Diane O’Brien Kelly is a licensed attorney, a certified public accountant AND an award-winning writer, and she’s offering to visit your group (or chapter) to present a fabulous 2-hour workshop that delivers tons of information on taxes as they relate to writers.

Every writer needs at least a basic understanding of the tax rules relevant to their writing business. This workshop focuses on tax reporting and tax issues specific to a writing business, and will take the mystery and intimidation out of taxes. Even seasoned writers with many years of tax reporting under their belts are likely to learn a new thing or two in this informative presentation. As always, Diane adds a touch of humor to the presentation to keep the audience engaged.

The workshop covers:

1. How to distinguish between a hobby and a business and the tax rules relevant to each;
2. Deductible expenses, the options available, and the pros and cons of each option;
3. How to compute and pay self-employment taxes and estimated taxes;
4. How to establish a retirement plan for a writing business;
5. Record-keeping requirements;
6. Red flags to avoid;
7. Tips for hiring a tax professional and minimizing fees; and
8. Where to find forms and tax information.

Diane O’Brien Kelly is both a licensed attorney and a certified public accountant. Diane graduated with honors from the University of Texas accounting program, then proceeded to attend the University of Texas School of Law. Diane has worked as a tax specialist in both the Houston, Texas and San Diego, California offices of “Big Four” accounting firm KPMG Peat Marwick, as well as serving a stint in the Finance Division of the State of Texas Attorney General’s Office. Diane currently works at a law firm as a tax and business advisor. Diane serves as a tax columnist for the organization Novelists, Inc. Her tax articles have also appeared in Writer’s Digest Yearbook, Fort Worth Business Press, Romance Writers Report, and various RWA chapter newsletters.

Diane is also an award-winning humor writer. Her humor and fiction pieces have appeared in Byline Magazine, True Love Magazine, Northwest Family News, and various other publications. Diane publishes a fresh humor piece each month on the “Blarney” page of her website, www.dianeobrienkelly.com. She also publishes tax tips on her “Tax Tidbits” page. Diane’s seminar “Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Taxes” is very popular with writing organizations, and is offered in both a live and online format.

Diane is a member of Romance Writers of America, Dallas Area Romance Authors, Texas Library Association, various PTAs, and the Friends of the Mansfield Public Library. She is also a proud graduate of her local Citizens Police Academy.

Diane lives in Texas with her husband, two rambunctious kids, and enough cats and dogs to violate several city ordinances

It’s the month of love, romance, Emily awards and fabulous news. Let’s get started with the good news, which this month is in no particular order.

Gerry Bartlett’s second book in her Glory St. Clair series, REAL VAMPIRES LIVE LARGE, will be translated and released in Germany in April. Along with that, the German magazine “The Love Letter” asked her to write her own love story. How she met her husband on a blind date more than thirty years ago will be in the April issue of the magazine with her original wedding picture.

Sharie Kohler (aka Sophie Jordan) is happy to report the foreign sale of her historical romance, ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, to Japan.

Colleen Thompson just learned that BENEATH BONE LAKE has been named a finalist for Best Paperback Original in the 2010 Thriller Award of the International Thriller Writers. She’s really excited since so many of what she likeS to think of as the rock stars of the thriller genre have finalled in or won one of these awards.

After six years, Judythe Hixson writing as Judythe Morgan has finaled in the Emily again. Her entry, CLAIMING ANNIE’S HEART, was a revised, edited and tweaked manuscript based on previous Emily contest judges’ suggestion and comments from Pat Kay’s wonderful novel writing classes.

Lynn Lorenz reports that in January, BAYMORE’S HEIR, the third book in The Company of Men series, came out from Loose Id, and will be followed by the February 14th release of her novella Breakfast At Tiffany’s, from Amber Quill Press. The Silent Lodge, a menage novella in The Company of Men series, was accepted by Loose Id and is scheduled to be published this April. And Lynn made the 2009 Liquid Silver Books Top 20 Books in sales with Second Moon, a werewolf novella, published in 2008. She’s also made the top sales lists at Loose Id, with Best Vacation That Never Was, and top sales at Amber Allure, with My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.

Lara Chapman’s FLAWLESS, a modern retelling of the Cyrano story in which a seniorclass salutatorian with a notable nose agrees to help her perfectly gorgeous best friend catch the eye of the new hottie at school, only to discover he’s actually the perfect guy for her, sold to Caroline Abbey at Bloomsbury Children’s, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (world).

Jessica Trapp is excited to announce that she started a newsletter, which is available at www.jessicatrapp.com

And last but not least, Joanna Wayne reports that BRAVO, TANGO, COWBOY was nominated by RT as Best Intrigue of 2009.