Authors I Admire

This year was my third time to attend the Romance Writers of America National Conference. I knew there’d be great workshops, fun times at the special interest chapters’ evening parties, interesting conversations in the bar, and amazing moments of meeting favorite big-name authors. But nothing could have prepared me for how special it would be to attend the conference as a Golden Heart Finalist who just sold her first book. I felt like Cinderella at the ball and walked about two inches above the ground the entire event. (Well, maybe not after the author dinner when I decided to wear heels. …

It’s been a while since the last one, so it’s about time for another Free Book Day! I’m still on an adrenaline high after selling my first books to Sourcebooks. It’s such an incredible honor to work with a company who publishes some of my favorite writers. Among them is Shana Galen and to celebrate my new contract, I’m giving away a signed copy of her The Rogue Pirate’s Bride. Here’s the blurb from Ms. Galen’s website: The Marquis de Valère escaped certain death in the French Revolution and is now an infamous privateer. Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself …

One of the things that continuously amazes me about the romance writing community is the support and encouragement the writers give other writers. Meganame bestselling authors take the time to mentor wanna-be-newbies. Peers congratulate the competition when they receive an award or win a contest. This is not what I experience when I go to non-romance writing conferences. Sure, I see established writers encourage new writers there too, but the ego-less, unselfish, genuine support romance writers give each other is unique. I couldn’t write without the help I receive from friends and family. And it would be a drudgery, uphill, …

The Romance Writers of America sponsors two incredibly prestigious writing awards: the RITA® for published writers and the Golden Heart® for unpublished writers. This year I was one of the lucky finalists who got “the call,” letting me know that my VALHALLA’S KING manuscript was a finalist in the paranormal category of the Golden Heart. Around 1,200 romance manuscripts are entered in the Golden Heart each year. The project has to be completed and longer than 20 000 words. The preliminary judging is done by RWA members and those entries who earn a 90% or more advance to the final …

Last week, I was on Bark talking about how I had to learn to say no to others in order to say yes to myself, and to writing. My friend Sarah set me on the right path when she sent me Justine Musk‘s list of 25 Badass Ways to Say No. People have contributed wonderful comments, obviously I wasn’t the only creative person struggling with making time for my art without feeling guilty. The conversation is still going on. If you’d like to join us, head on over to Bark, or comment below and it will be like we’re talking …