TARA Contest Finalists!!

Thank you to all the writers who entered the 2009 TARA Contest. We had a wonderful turnout of amazing talent. It was challenging and exhilarating to judge and critique such high quality submissions.

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Single Title:

A Place at the Table -- Patricia O'Dea-Rosen
Dangerous Secrets -- Donna Meier
Forget the Past -- Rosemary Rothacker
The Second Wife -- Sharron Houdek

Series Contemporary:

Bottom Line -- Pamela Smith
In His Kiss -- Ruth Owen
The Perfect Match --Cindyann Jachrimo

Romantic Suspense:

A Little Death -- Tracy Falenwolfe
Alive at Five -- Linda Hurtado
Verdict -- Jean Mason

Paranormal:

Bloodsworn -- Kathy Lane
Fire of the Dragon -- Lori Dillon Stacey
Reading the Waters -- Jessica B. Hunt

Inspirational:

The Anchoring Ground -- Dorothy Canada
The Path -- Lee Rhuday Duncan
The Real Thing -- Morgan Taylor

Historical:

Her Heart's Desire -- Jeri Gutierrez
Her Wicked Ways -- Darcy Burke
Pride and Promises -- Karen Lingefelt
To Love a Viscount -- Kathleen Cherry

Women's Fiction:

Missing Clayton -- Bev Irwin
One Woman's Trash Another's Treasures -- Hattie Mae Ratliff
Tootsie Takes Wall Street -- Teresa Bolyard

Goals Revisited

In January, I posted about my writing goals and my plans to attain them. I also mentioned my pursuit of getting healthier and losing weight.

RECAP: One of my goals was to finish the revisions on my romantic suspense novel Island Moon by July 25th. Another objective was to finish the first full draft of Breath of Winter, another romantic suspense by December 1st. :) I came up with a schedule to work on both books simultaneously, with revisions on Island Moon four days a week, pushing through with Breath of Winter, three days a week.
Just getting in practice for when I have real deadlines!! Here's to positive thinking. :)

Mickey has been a great pal with helping me meet my writing goals!

UPDATE: Okay, not all good intentions work the same way in our heads as they do on paper. Writing two books at the same time worked for only a few weeks, due in part to life and new commitments which entered into the picture. (Have I mentioned I have a full-time job outside the home as well?)
My end objective remains the same: Finish IM by July 25th, and December 1st for BOW, only my plan to make that happen has changed. I'm working exclusively on IM until July 25th and when finished... on to the next. :)

My weight loss is progressing well, although very slowly. Since January, I have lost 10 pounds. I have reached a plateau for a few weeks, but am ready now to recommit to this goal and make it happen! I need to lose more.

Thanks to Mickey for pushing me to lose weight!

Look for another update in July.

Summer Sizzlers!

Only one week until our Tampa Area Romance Authors multi-author Borders book signing!

On Saturday, June 13th from 2:00pm-4:00pm

Come meet eleven fabulous romance authors:
New York Times Bestselling Authors
Virginia Henley, Joan Johnston, and Karen Rose

USA Today Bestselling Authors
Alyssa Day, Julie Leto, Roxanne St. Claire

Kathy Carmichael, Terri Garey, Debby Mayne, Diana Peterfreund,
and Elissa Wilds

BORDERS
909 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33609

June Books

We have several TARA members with new book releases this month!

Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto -- Paranormal Romance
Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne -- Inspirational Romance
Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day -- Paranormal Romance
Outlaws and Lawman by Loretta Rogers -- Anthology (Western)

Also the reissue of First You Run, Then You Hide, and Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire -- Romantic Suspense

And introducing first-time author Eliza March with her book Witch of Air and Fire -- erotic paranormal romance. This is an e-book available at Siren Book Strand. (For Adults Only)

Congratulations ladies!

The Mean Season

With the beginning of June, comes the dreaded hurricane season. It's a time of year where everyone must be aware and prepared -- especially living on the Florida coast. The heat kicks up to scalding and the summer breezes ride in on violent thunderstorms. Even so, the skies are some of the most spectacular I've ever seen.

Island Life

Scenes from my Florida island. :)
Beach party!

Searching for supper.

Clouds gathering.

Perfection!


Photos by Liz Smith

New This Week

Diana Peterfreund is the author of several books featuring college age protagonists. Her first, Secret Society Girl was published in 2006. Followed by Under the Rose and Rites of Spring (Break). The fourth in the secret society series Tap and Gown will be released this week.
Love the titles! :) Congratulations, Diana.

And in the fall her first YA novel, Rampant will be published.

Check out her website at http://www.dianapetefreund.com