I believe it was Robert Burns who coined the saying about the best-laid plans of mice and men often going awry. John Steinbeck borrowed part of it for his “Of Mice and Men.” Not that I’m trying to compare myself to these literary greats (yet), but I can definitely...

Too bad it’s not this easy to win the lottery. Wait a minute. Did I just say easy? I’d hardly call three shopping trips in search of the perfect awards ceremony dress easy. On two separate Friday mornings, I hit six stores in Flagstaff. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much...

You read that correctly: I’m proud to be the guest blogger at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood today. Once you’re done watching the romantic spectacle that is the Royal Wedding, visit me there to debate the qualities of a good hero....

I just read — and enjoyed — Christina Dodd’s blog post on her funniest mistakes. My personal favorite from her list: In INTO THE SHADOW, my heroine stumbles onto the hero sitting in the Japanese garden. He jumps to his feet and says, “Is this your private place? Should...

Now I remember why I’m so glad to be off the dating scene. Rejection hurts. A lot. I’m sure I’m not the only one to equate the search for an agent to the search for Mr. Right — but it’s an apt comparison. You try to make a good...

That’s right: Distraction is whupping my rear in a big way these days. If there’s a down side to being a Golden Heart® finalist, that would be it. Until recently, I had a routine: A little writing/blogging before and/or after work. Now, with all the new and ramped-up tasks...

This is an exciting time for me. My manuscript, Beauty and the Ballplayer, was just named a finalist in the 2011 RWA Golden Heart® contest. About Beauty and the Ballplayer: Spunky and independent to a fault, graphic designer Meg Malone isn’t exactly crushed when she finds herself pregnant soon...

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!...