Bio
THE EARLY YEARS
In case anyone out there is wondering how old I am, let's just say I can remember when KFC was called GINOS. I grew up in small-town USA and I've been writing off and on most of my life, starting with some very bad poetry I penned as a girl. You know the angst-ridden drivel teens churn out? Yeah, that was me. I invented the stuff.
Aaannnyway, I wrote my first romance novel at the tender age of 13---a book that will never see the light of day, thank God. It was titled PARKSIDE AFFAIR and you're not going to believe this, but it was even worse than my poetry.
HOME LIFE
I'm married with three children. My husband is one of my greatest supporters and my children are spoiled rotten. :-)
My hobbies include reading, writing, painting, home-improvement projects and watching movies. All kinds. My viewing habits are very eclectic. From horror, to romance, to dark comedy, to historical, to action adventure. The sky is the limit. I just love a good story.
GOALS
I've got many, but for brevity's sake, I'll just name one, and that is to find a publisher who believes in my work.
MY PHILOSOPHY ON WRITING
1. While writing is a lonely process, it should never be a solitary one. Writers need to be confident in their creation and their voice, but not so confident that they turn a blind eye to common sense and truth. Know your story well enough to recognize great constructive criticism when it's given. You're not perfect and neither is your prose. Everything can always be improved.
2. IMHO, fiction writers have a lot in common with actors. We all have to empty ourselves if we want to make it look real. Bad thespians are so obvious. Just looking at them is painful. You can tell they're acting.
In short, bad actors ... ACT, but good actors BECOME. It's the same with fiction writing. You can't just write about characters, you have to live and breathe them, otherwise they'll lack dimension.
PET PEEVES
1. People who drink out of milk cartons when they live with others. 2. Bugs---all kinds. I just hate them. Butterflies are okay though. 3. The phrases, "every fiber of her being," and "rained kisses." I dunno, I just don't like them. :-) 4. Shoppers with twenty items in their cart who crowd into the "TEN ITEMS OR LESS" lane. 5. People who cough in elevators. Yeah, I know, I'm weird. :-) 6. Mothers who let their small children terrorize them (and others) in public places---namely at the supermarket. 7. People who don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom. That's just gross.
WRITING AWARDS
OVERALL WINNER, Best of the Best, 2008 The Emily, West Houston RWA
1st Place, Paranormal, 2008, The Emily, West Houston RWA
1st Place, Young Adult, 2007, Duel on the Delta Contest, River City Romance Writers
1st Place, Paranormal, 2007 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, Indiana Romance Writers
1st Place, Paranormal, 2007 Golden Pen Contest, The Golden Network
1st Place, General Paranormal, 2005 On The Far Side Contest, Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal (FF&P) Special Interest Chapter
1st Place, Paranormal, 2005 Magic Moment Contest, Heart and Scroll RWA
1st Place, Paranormal, 2005 Spring Into Romance Contest, San Diego RWA
1st Place, Contemporary, 2005 Barclay Sterling Contest, Lake Country Romance Writers
FINALIST, Single-Title, 2005 Golden Heart, Romance Writers of America
1st Place, Romance Category, 2005 Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest, Pikes Peak Writers
1st Place, Single-Title, 2004 Romancing the Tome Contest, Coeur de Louisiane RWA
1st Place, Single-Title, 2004 First Kiss Contest, New England Chapter RWA
1st Place, Single-Title, 2003 Maggie Award of Excellence, Georgia Romance Writers
OVERALL WINNER, 2003 Touch of Magic Contest, Sandi Haddad Award, Central Florida RWA
1st Place, Single-Title, 2003 Central Florida RWA's Touch of Magic Contest
1st Place, Single-Title, 2003 Four Seasons Award, Windy City RWA
1st Place, Single-Title, 2003 Enchanted Quill Contest, Ohio Valley RWA
1st Place, Long Contemporary, 2003 Winning Beginnings Contest, Valley Forge Romance Writers
1st Place, Romantic Suspense, 1999 Lone Star Contest, the MICA Award, NW Houston RWA
1st Place, Paranormal, 1999 Award of Excellence, Outreach International RWA
2nd Place, Paranormal, 2006, West Houston RWA, The Emily
2nd Place, Paranormal, 2005, Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest
2nd Place, Paranormal, 2005 San Diego RWA, Spring Into Romance Contest
2nd Place, Single-Title, 2005, West Houston RWA, The Emily
2nd Place, Single-Title, 2003 Washington Romance Writer's Marlene Awards
2nd Place, Single-Title, 2003 San Antonio Romance Author's Emma Merritt Contest
2nd Place, Contemporary, 2003 River City Romance Writer's Duel On The Delta
2nd Place, Contemporary, 2002 NOLA's Suzannah Contest
2nd Place, Contemporary, 1999 Northeast Ohio RWA Romancing The Novel Contest
2nd Place, Paranormal, 1999 Chicago North Romance Writer's Fire & Ice Contest
2nd Place, Paranormal, 1999 Music City Romance Writer's Melody of Love Contest
FINALIST, Young Adult, Launching A Star Contest, Spacecoast Authors of Romance
3rd Place, Young Adult, 2007 Golden Pen Contest, The Golden Network
3rd Place, Paranormal, 2005, Silicon Valley RWA, Gotcha Contest
3rd Place, Single-Title, 2005, Red River Romance Writers, Ticket To Write Contest
3rd Place, Paranormal, Coeur de Louisiane Romance Writers, Romancing the Tome Contest
3rd Place, Romantic Suspense, 2003 Jasmine Contest
3rd Place, Paranormal, 1999 Windy City Romance Writer's Four Seasons Awards
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead."
Charles Bukowski, BARFLY