Stylish Blogger Award

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I received the Stylish Blogger Award from my friend Dru.

The rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

I don't think anyone has ever called anything I've been associated with stylish before. Thanks so much, Dru!

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

1 - I love cats. Big surprise, huh? But I'm proud to be a Crazy Cat Lady and visit icanhascheezburger.com every morning.

2 - I hate being the center of attention. I much prefer to hang back and observe.

3 - Though I love all the books I write, the stories set in Hood Hamlet hold a special place in my heart.

4 - To go with #3, I really want to climb Mount Hood even though I'm scared of heights. Just need to heal some more from last year's accident and get back in shape!

5 - I want a puppy. A Norwegian Elkhound puppy. Trying to convince hubby this is a good idea and I haven't totally lost my mind.

6 - If I could live anywhere, I'd moved to Bend, Oregon. Mount Bachelor for skiing and Smith Rock for climbing, need I say more?

7 - I have the greatest family a writer could ever ask for. I'm so blessed and extremely lucky to have them!

3. Pass the award on.

Everyone I would award this too has already won it!

BIG NEWS!

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No, we haven't found Yoda's missing laser light. But I did receive a call this morning.

Christmas Magic on the Mountain is a RITA finalist in the Series Category!!!!

I'm so excited. I was a two-time Golden Heart finalist before I sold my first manuscript, but I've never been a RITA finalist before. I was so stunned when she told me. I was actually shaking. Still sort of am!

For those who might not know, the RITA recognizes the best in romance novels each year. There are different categories for each of the types of books published. The winner is announced at the RWA national conference. This year it's in New York, and I'd already registered. Perfect since I don't go each year!

Anyway, I'm thrilled and need to make a few phone calls now! Hope you're Friday is as good as mine has started out!

Yoda and more

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Adding Yoda to our family has been interesting. The older cats really don't seem to like him, yet they've started venturing out of our bedroom and downstairs with the family. Even though they seem annoyed when he chases them, I think they kind of like it. They are moving more and wanting to play with us! A very nice thing. They just don't like it when Yoda tries to eat their food!

We've had the tree up now a few days with no ornaments. I've decided to skip putting all my expensive Radko's on, but we'll put the others up and just be very careful what goes on the lower branches. My biggest fear was Yoda wanting to climb the tree, but so far that hasn't happened.

I am thinking of skipping putting up my Dept. 56 New England Village. They go along the window sills in our kitchen eating area, great room and study. Yoda loves to run along the sill, sleep there, play. All the houses I have are retired and many have little details I imagine would be very attractive to a curious kitty. I think it just might be safer to to wait a year before bringing them out. With my other cats, they went on the fireplace mantle or on top of my computer armoire so they were completely out of reach.

Finally, thanks for all the congrats on the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nomination. My agent, Annelise, sent me a list of the Harlequin Romance finalists. I've been in continuities with two of the authors, Fiona Harper (Blinddatebrides.com) and Myna Mackenzie (Wedding Planners and the upcoming Girls' Weekend in Vegas.)

If you like reading the Harlequin Romance line or are curious what the line I write for is about, you can't go wrong with any of these authors so check them out:

• CINDERELLA’S WEDDING WISH by Jessica Hart (Mar.)
• INVITATION TO THE BOSS’S BALL by Fiona Harper (Sep.)
• A TRIP WITH THE TYCOON by Nicola Marsh (Sep.)
• THE FRENCHMAN’S PLAIN-JANE PROJECT by Myrna Mackenzie (Oct.)
• MEMO: THE BILLIONAIRE’S PROPOSAL by Melissa McClone (Sep.)

Play Time

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Watching Yoda play has been so much fun! Now that I have some free time on my hands, I've been playing, too! The kidlets and I have been having lots of fun together. I'm still doing some writing, but the focus right now is family and Christmas! Fun times! (I'm just going to pretend my Wednesday schedule isn't as insane as usual!)

I heard this morning from Wedding Planners author, Susan Meier. She told me one of my books was nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance. I'm pretty psyched! It's my second time being nominated. The last time was back in 2002 with my Silhouette Romance, In Deep Waters, which won that year. No doubt a little celebration will be in order!

Hope you have a great day. I'll be running around even more today than usual, but that's okay. Now that I'm feeling better I don't think it'll be so bad! Take care!