Me with my romance writing muse, Hugo Montmorency. (Some of you met him at RWA National in 2009).

After a year in the writing cave, I’m back in the game again. I’ve got two stories on submission – a 15K contemporary romance novella called “Let it Snow” and my wolfish paranormal romance, THE GODDESS OF MICHIGAN AVENUE.

The latter has gone through so many revisions from the original idea I had back in 2008, it’s barely recognizable. Hopefully, it’s much better now. An earlier draft received an Honorable Mention in the Ozark Romance Writers 2011 Weta Nichols Writing Contest. Other news:

*I received a very nice rejection for my short novella, “Let It Snow”, with a request for me to revise and rewrite it, expanding it into a larger story. That’s moved to top of my list now!

*I’ll be at two events in the near future, MALICE DOMESTIC at the end of April (I’m going with the fabulous DUFFY BROWN), and LORI FOSTER’S READER AUTHOR GET TOGETHER in early June. Hope to meet some of you in person!

*I spent Easter Sunday brainstorming with the lovely GABRIELLA EDWARDS and MONICA BURNS. Nothing like hanging out with writing friends to recharge the muse-ish batteries! Here’s a picture of Monica with Mr. Romance 2009, Charles Paz:

*And in personal news, I’M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA! Baby Adaline is due at the beginning of August. I’m happy dancing all over the place!

My grandbaby-to-be, Adaline.

*Are you on Pinterest? I like to play there – join me!

*Thanks to Katie Weiland for inviting me to guest blog at Wordplay. My topic? What Would Agatha [Christie] Say

*Stop by Romance University sometime, if you get the chance. Some of the guests I’ve invited (we rotate weeks there) are ED GAFFNEY, ATHENA GRAYSON, ADAM FIRESTONE and SHANNON MCKENNA.

*Read about my journey as a writer at Romance University: “Turning Points are More Fun in Fiction.”

*Check out my short-short story, DEUS EX MACHINA, which is featured in NPR’s Three Minute Fiction contest, Round Three. Jonathan Railey/Iowa Writers’ Workshop called it “voice-driven, fun and meta-fictive,” adding, “It’s the literary equivalent of a basket of late night fried mozzarella cheese sticks.”

*Mystery author Janet Bolin interviewed me (under my real name) at Sisters in Crime.

*Night Visions is a finalist in the Launching a Star contest, romantic suspense category! Check out my contest and news page for a complete list of my contest finals.

*Jennifer Tanner and Carrie Spencer from Romance University invited me to play a 3-sentence writing game, and it got a little out of hand. You can read the results of our “Sanity Break” here.

*Michelle Buonfiglio liked my Christmas short story, SILVER AND GOLD, so much she featured it at Romance: B(u)y the Book on Friday, December 18, 2009. The following week my story was performed as a radio play on a Detroit radio station fundraiser.

*A friend dubbed this picture (below) The Beckinator – it was taken at OVRWA‘s weapons workshop with Adam Firestone in April 2012.

Becke with a US M-4 Carbine (Holding it wrong...)