Month: March 2011

While celebrating my Golden Heart® finalist status in one of many phone calls over the weekend, my friend Pat said something that made me tear up a little. She said my mother would be proud. That’s true. My mom, an English teacher before I came along, always encouraged me...

Yeah, I’m saying there has to be something higher than Cloud Nine, and I’m on it. I am a 2011 Golden Heart finalist. I’ve been fielding congratulatory calls, tweets and e-mails all day — and I’m glad to get them. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought...

My phone woke me up — and this time, it was THE call … well, the call that I’m a Golden Heart finalist, at least. “Beauty and the Ballplayer” finaled in the contemporary series category. More later, since I’m sure this is the beginning of a long, wild ride!...

I’m sure I’m not the only one counting down the days hours until Golden Heart finalist calls go out. To keep my nerves at bay, I’ve been checking in with the gals at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. They’ve been on GH countdown all week, and will have a big...

If your mother was anything like mine, she dispensed tons of advice: Sit up straight … Don’t go outside with a wet head or you’ll catch a cold … and NEVER stop at a rest area after dark. Well, I slouch all the time, frequently go out with wet...

The English language is constantly growing and evolving. What’s that? You already knew that? Well, so did I. But for some reason, this not-so-surprising thought whapped me upside the head the other day. A writer friend and I were at Starbucks (where else?) when she asked if I thought...

Today just might go down as the highlight of my writing career to-date. It could be the start of something big. Today, I was one of the lucky 125 entrants selected to submit to the Knight Agency’s Author Speed Date contest. You should have heard the excited whoop I...

No, not IT it. But I just found out I’ve been taking the wrong approach to query writing. A friend and I recently exchanged query letters. Keep in mind that I’ve written my share of queries — and have read more than my fair share of advice on how...

Ever wonder if your wellspring of ideas will dry up? I do. The thought hit me tonight: When I finish the first draft of my WIP, what’s next? Of course there will be finding volunteers to read my newly finished baby, editing, and, eventually, writing a query and shopping...

Someone could — maybe even should — write a dissertation on what heroes’ cars say about them. The idea came to me over the weekend, while the Boyfriend and I were gabbing (where else?) in the car. We spend a lot of time driving somewhere. I can’t remember how...