You know when you’re almost done writing a story and you have all the scenes planned out and you just have to write them and the end is in sight and you’re so excited to be almost finished and you just can’t stand it????

Well, I’m there!! *happy dancing*

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve just been named a finalist in the 2005 Amber Heat Wave Contest. Because of this, I’ve won a two-year contract with them. (No news on the other contract offer yet. I’ll keep you posted.)

The story is called Catching Caroline. It was originally written for and purchased by Arabella Magazine, who went under before it ever saw print. I’ve very excited to have sold the story again, because it’s 5300 words, which limited my options. Catching Caroline is a historical paranormal erotica and will be released in June.

Congratulations go out to Sasha who also won a contract. Her story, Meandros, is a HUGE favorite of mine. We were instant messenging at the time we both received the news!!!

Well, my taxes are done. Tomorrow I intend to finish the two remaining contest entries I have left to judge and get them in the mail. I also want to wrap up Story #3, which is on page 107 so I don’t have much more to go. Yay!!! I’m ready for a breather.

Again I apologize for the boring blog lately, but eventually I’ll get it together. The good thing is, blogs all over the blogosphere have been really thoughtful lately (also a TON of them are cropping up all over the place!). Personally, I think it has a lot to do with Romancing the Blog. Writers are starting to see the power behind blogs, which has to be a good thing.

I am endlessly grateful to my hubby who didn’t freak out when we added up my expenses for 2004. I freaked out more than he did. LOL

I hung out with a non-writing friend last night and it was fabulous!! It was so nice to chat about stuff that had nothing to do with careers or writing. People think working from home is like a great vacation, but I’ve found it to be far more work. You never get away from it, never get any time off. I feel recharged just for having talked to someone about their new bathroom fixtures and the new recipe they just tried.

We also watched Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Alien vs. Predator. Mindless entertainment. Just what I needed.

I hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Hubby and I are going to the tax man today. We added up my business expenses for writing in 2004.

$5000.00

Pass the smelling salts please…

I was very excited to discover my blog is being read in Japanese. Want to see what they’re seeing?

I just judged a nearly perfect entry. It was fabulous. Great characters, fun premise, totally hot hero. I’m dying to read the rest.

That entry made the whole judging thing worthwhile.

I wrote a long post about my new Kensington bookclub shipment and then I lost it. I’m so about that!

I got some great books in this shipment, one is an anthology titled How to Marry a Duke. I’ve been on a self-imposed reading ban because I have so much work to do, but hey! I should be able to squeeze in a novella, right?

Also inside was Hidden Fires by Betina Krahn (whom I’ve loved since I read The Last Bachelor), To Tempt a Texan, and The Wedding Runaway.

Betina’s Hidden Fires is in its third release and was originally printed in 1987, so I’m interested to see how it reads.

If you haven’t read Mrs. Giggles’ latest soapbox, you should. LOL My favorite:

“Too much sex or bad language doesn’t bother me. Unless they get in the way of plot, of course, but even so, if the sex scenes are well-written and erotic, chances are I’d be having a good time.”

A reader after my own heart.