I recently returned from an awesome research trip to Albany, Texas. Terri (my sister) and I had a wonderful time further exploring the area. Our great-great grandfather (Judge John Cornelius Lynch) settled here before it became the county seat and was ultimately named Albany :) Pictured above is the current day ranch that used to be the Lynch Ranch. Our father actually lived here when he was young.

Over the course of the next month, I'll post more of our photos from the trip. And soon, PUPPY PHOTOS!

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Vicki Hinze and I created a spiral-bound Success Journal that we're really excited about! Read all about it on Vicki's blog.

Both of us believe in to-do lists, but we wanted so much more and couldn't find it on the market. We sat down after a conference a couple of weeks ago and worked out what we needed. We brainstormed inspiring thoughts to keep us pointed toward success. And while our Success Journal is great for writers, it's also great for anyone else, too!

Here's a link to it at Amazon.

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I'm heading to the Fort Walton Beach area for the fabulous Emerald Coast Writers Conference!

Here's a link for more information about the conference.

Here's a clip from last year's conference.



And another clip.

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It's been a wild and crazy week! Ian came home from college for a few days and then Andrew came home yesterday. While here, he purchased his first new car!

I really enjoyed the joy ride with him this morning :)

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From Silken Sands Conference

The 2010 Silken Sands Conference was wonderful. Beautiful beach setting, wonderful workshops and great people! Pictured above are Karen Rose, Barbara Vey and Kathy Carmichael.

Here's the slideshow of a few photos :)

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I'll be signing copies of Diary of a Confessions Queen today at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble, 11802 Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL from 2:30 till 4:00, along with other TARA authors including:

Debut author Erica Ridley, Jeanie London, Virginia Henley, Joan Johnston, Susan Kearney, Betina Krahn, C.L. Wilson, Ann Jacobs and Roxanne St. Claire!

We'd love to see you there! -- KC

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I was really excited to learn that HOT FLASH is a finalist in the 2010 New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award! I'm visiting family in Texas right now and it was especially fun to share the news with them :)

Here's the complete list of finalists:

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order.
***NEC Member

Short Contemporary Finalists
Colorado Christmas – CC Coburn
Healing the Boss’s Heart – Valerie Hansen
Meant To Be – Donna Marie Rogers

Long Contemporary Finalists
Hope Street – Judith Arnold***
Hot Flash – Kathy Carmichael
Spinning Forward – Terri DuLong

Historical Finalists
If He’s Sinful – Hannah Howell***
Confederate Rose – Susan Macatee
Wickedly Ever After – Michelle Marcos

Romantic Suspense Finalists
Operation Sheba – Misty Evans
No Alibi – Valerie Hansen
More Than Great Riches – Jan Washburn

Erotica Finalists – (this category had a tie in one of placements – hence the four finalists)
Illegal Moves – Dalton Diaz***/Samantha Cayto***
Adored – Tina Donahue
Do You Trust Me – Desiree Holt
Past Lies – Shayla Kerstan

Future/Fantasy/Time Travel/Paranormal Finalists
A Highlander of Her Own – Melissa Mayhue
Desire Untamed – Pamela Palmer
Ghost of A Chance – Judi Phillips***

Winners and the second and third place entries will be announced and awards presented at our 2010 Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference on March 26-27,2010. So be sure to join us at the conference to congratulate the winners.
Valerie Harris
Bean Pot Contest Coordinator

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