Posted by Gwynlyn MacKenzie Feb 14 2012, 12:01 am in author interview, coupon, debut, free books, giveaway, humor, Operation Homecoming, prize drawing, romance, Ruby Release, tribute, Vietnam era
Once upon a time . . .
Oh, wait. This isn’t a fairy tale. This is a true story. Here’s how it goes:
One day, the husband of a woman in limbo drags her to a sales promotion. The young salesman is personable, and they get to talking. Somehow, the talk turns to the fact the woman in limbo has just helped another author get published. The topic sets the young man off on a rant about his mom, her Golden Heart®, and the fact she still can’t find a publisher.
The woman in limbo (who has a son about the same age) is touched by the young man’s outrage on his mom’s behalf and offers her services. And that’s how a critique partnership and abiding friendship came to be.
I was the woman in limbo Events had trashed my faith in myself; my writing moldered while I helped others grab the brass ring.
Laurie Kellogg is that lovely young man’s mother.
In the beginning, I doubt either of us had any idea the impact her son’s unassailable belief in her talent would have on our lives. But serendipity is what it is, so it’s with a full heart I announce the release of the book that earned Laurie her second Golden Heart,
The Memory of You
She can’t forget him
He can’t remember her
Together, they must discover the
healing power of unforgettable love
 Second Lieutenant Matthew Foster was captured in Vietnam and mistakenly declared dead. Six years later, he’s finally released with the other POWs during Operation Homecoming. Unfortunately, his memory has been erased by the torture and emotional trauma he endured. Due to prior facial injuries and the beard concealing his gauntness, he looks nothing like the boyish photo in his military file.
When the Army informs Matt he has a wife, he’s sure Abby must have made a new life for herself. And he doubts the bitter man he’s become can salvage enough of the boy she once cared for. To be fair to her, he decides to simply write a note to wish her well and leave. But before he does, he can’t resist going to Redemption, PA, to catch a glimpse of the woman he’d loved enough to marry.
The irony of the small town’s name is totally eclipsed by Matt’s dread that he’ll discover he’s lost something truly worth remembering. That fear becomes reality when he learns Abby is engaged, and he’s a daddy! Luckily, his wife doesn’t recognize him, so Matt could still walk away from the beautiful stranger who’s been starring in his X-rated dreams. However, he could never, ever abandon his sons.
The clock is ticking. Any day, the military will inform Abby he’s alive, and her wedding is in only six weeks. It doesn’t give Matt much time to discover if he can reclaim the love the war stole from him.
Posted by Vivi Andrews Jan 23 2012, 12:01 am in author interview, debut, historical romance, Regency, Ruby Release, Sara Ramsey
 Today I’m thrilled and privileged to host our very own Sara Ramsey as we discuss her inaugural release, the fun and fabulous regency romance Heiress Without a Cause.
After winning the Golden Heart in 2009 and being named a finalist again in 2011 (with the first two books she wrote, but lets all pretend we aren’t green with envy over that), Sara is launching her delightful Muses of Mayfair series with those Golden Heart recognized novels, featuring artistic, rebellious highborn ladies and the rakish lords who love them.
Sara grew up in a small town in Iowa, and confesses to an obsession with fashion, shoes (of course), and all things British. She graduated from Stanford University in 2003 with a degree in Symbolic Systems (also known as cognitive science) and a minor in history. After graduation, she worked at Google for seven years in a variety of sales, management, and communications roles. She left Google in 2010 to pursue her writing career full time.
And now she can add “published author” to her impressive CV.
Heiress Without a Cause
One title to change his life…
A disgraced son with a dark reputation, William “Ferguson” Avenel is content to live in exile – until his father dies in the scandal of the Season. With rumors of insanity swirling around them, his sisters desperately need a chaperone. Ferguson thinks he’s found the most proper woman in England – and he won’t ruin her, even if he desperately wants the passionate woman trapped beneath a spinster’s cap.
One chance to break the rules…
Lady Madeleine Vaillant can’t face her blighted future without making one glorious memory for herself. In disguise, on a London stage, she finds all the adoration she never felt from the ton. But when she’s nearly recognized, she will do anything to hide her identity – even setting up her actress persona as Ferguson’s mistress. She’ll take the pleasure he offers, but Madeleine won’t lose her heart in the bargain.
One season to fall in love…
Every stolen kiss could lead to discovery, and Ferguson’s old enemies are determined to ruin them both. But as their dangerous passion ignites their hearts and threatens their futures, how can an heiress who dreams of freedom deny the duke who demands her love?
Posted by C.J. Chase Aug 5 2011, 12:01 am in author interview, Ruby Release
 One of the most exciting days for a debut author—after the CALL and the first check—is the day the book goes up on the online bookstore websites for pre-order. Now some of the Rubies and Ruby readers are old hands at this book publishing stuff, but Redeeming the Rogue is my first book, so I was thrilled when I finally saw the title on Amazon with that quirky little “no image available” icon. And then, to my utter shock, I noticed my name was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Let me back up a minute. Before I sold, I included my ethnic maiden name (Eernisse) as part of my name. Through six Golden Heart finals and one win, I made the poor RWA awards ceremony MC’s stumble through an anglicized version of the Dutch pronunciation of a French name (my ancestors moved around Europe) because I wanted something a bit more memorable than C.J. Chase when I was submitting. But once I sold, my editor and agent told me to nix the funky name. Too difficult to spell. Too confusing for readers.
So how in the world could Amazon mess up a name as simple as C.J. Chase? I checked the title again. Yep, Redeeming the Rogue. I checked the release date again. Yep, August 2, 2011. But the author name—Donna MacMeans—why, it wasn’t even close! And then I noticed the publisher information said Berkley where it should have said Love Inspired.
It seemed two different marketing departments decided to release books with the same title on same day. What are the odds?
Posted by Jamie Michele Jun 15 2011, 12:01 am in author interview, new releases
Today we celebrate Autumn Jordon’s third release, IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL, a thrilling romantic suspense in which the Russian mafia infiltrates the heart of a small Pennsylvania town and forces an independent young banker to accept the help of the strong-willed rogue she loved — and lost — as a teen.
 In handcuffs for a murder and nowhere to turn, Gina Rizzo’s only hope to stay out of jail is to accept the help of the man who years ago broke her heart, and who still makes her tremble with desire.
Staring death down is easier for Marine Cole Hanson than facing the woman who stole his soul and then betrayed him. However, when Cole returns home for the holidays and sees Gina in handcuffs, old feelings flare and even though he doesn’t trust her with his heart, he willingly steps up as her alibi.
When Gina’s life is threatened, Cole vows to protect her. However, staying alive becomes an undertaking for the two while they track a murder. Their only hope is to trust each other again, but if they do, will their rekindled love lead to their demise?
Autumn Jordon recently sat down with me to answer my burning questions about her newest thriller.
Posted by Joan Swan May 18 2011, 3:00 am in author interview, craft, digital press, ebook, golden heart, golden heart finalists, inspiration, motivation, new releases, perseverance, Ruby Release, writer's journey, writer's life, writing contests, writing romance, writing tips
“Rowan is definitely an author to watch!”
~ Alyssa Day, New York Times bestselling author.
 Cate Rowan is a successful Indie author whose latest fantasy romance novel, THE SOURCE OF MAGIC, releases today. Cate has generously agreed to share her knowledge of the much-discussed, little-understood world of Indie publishing and her accomplishments in that arena.
In addition to a Ph.D. in the biological sciences, Cate has washed laundry in a crocodile-infested African lake, parasailed over Cabo, had monkeys poop in her hair, and swum with dolphins, but she says her best adventures occur in the worlds she creates in her lush fantasy romances. Her novels about magic, danger and passion in faraway realms have won more than thirty awards, including the esteemed Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® contest—twice!
I was eager to discover just what magic Cate had discovered in this new realm of Indie publishing and she was generously eager to share.
WIN: Comment to enter the drawing to win 1 electronic copy of The Source of Magic or 1 3-day coupon for Smashwords discounting The Source of Magic on that site.
Joan: Cate has won enough awards to make me dizzy! Between 5 manuscripts, she’s placed or won in more than 35 contests, including a double RWA Golden Heart finalist with her previous release, Kismet’s Kiss.
Cate, what experience have you gained from your successes with contests? What advice would you give other authors in consideration of entering or not?
Cate: I’m a very practical gal, so after the first few times I entered, contests became a means to an end for me. I entered them to try to get my work in front of particular editors, so I choose contests based on the final round judges. Even though feedback and suggestions weren’t my main focus, they were a terrific bonus.
I never entered contests judged by agents because I wanted to enter ones in which the final judge could actually buy the book. Query letters were my solution for agents, and over the years I received six agent offers and hired three. I also sent queries to editors and didn’t rely solely on the contest circuit. Those queries got me two small press contract offers, though in the end I decided to self-publish.
(Joan: I also have to add a note from Cate’s website that states “…when NYT and USA Today bestseller Alyssa Day read the opening of Kismet’s Kiss in a contest, she loved it so much she offered a cover blurb for it.” Definitely a fringe benefit of contests, IMHO.)
Joan: I have to admit, I know very little about “Indie” publishing. Not for lack of interest, but for lack of time to investigate. Can you give us the nuts and bolts of it? What it is exactly? How does it differ from self-publishing, small-publisher publishing and/or e-publishing?
Cate: I’m an indie author, which means I’ve chosen to self-publish my books. Some people feel that the word “indie” should be reserved for “indie publishers”–that is, small publishers outside NY–but, well, that battle over semantics seems lost already.
Joan: I have heard very positive results from authors who have gone the indie or self-publishing routes. What benefits do you feel you’ve experienced by going the indie route over traditional publishing?
Cate:
(1) Control. For example, I get to choose the title and have total say over the cover. Of course, having full control also means full responsibility! If something goes wrong, it’s up to me to fix it.
(2) Flexibility. I actually can fix it! If I decide to tweak a wording or I spot a typo, I get to change it. I don’t have to worry about whether there will be another print run so it can be corrected. I simply do it, and the update will be available within a day at most of the e-stores.
(3) Information. I know my sales figures at the major stores to the minute and can see if a marketing strategy is working and would be worth pursuing again.
(4) Money. At Amazon, for example, I get between 35 and 70% of the purchase price for every copy sold. For books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, Amazon pays 70% for every US, UK or German sale, and 35% for sales to other countries. (Rumor has it that Canada will be added to the 70% list soon.)
I don’t have tens of thousands of books available on physical bookstore shelves, but I do make a larger chunk of money per sale and need far fewer sales to make X amount of money. Many romance readers have fallen in love with their e-readers now prefer digital books, so it works out well. Although I have a print copy of my first book available, I sell about 100 digital copies for every print sale. That kind of ratio is pretty common for indies.
(5) Focus. I don’t need to spend time seeking agents or editors now. The time I invest in my writing pays off directly in sales.
Joan: Who would you say indie authordom is suited for?
Cate: Do-it-yourselfers like me love indie–but I think every author should keep an eye on the benefits of modern self-publishing. Cover art and formatting can be done through freelancers if you don’t have the DIY gene. Established authors can make great money with their backlists and other books NY doesn’t think it can market, and newer authors (with polished and edited manuscripts, ahem!) can now reach readers directly.
For me, that’s the very best benefit for authors–readers gaining access to the work we’ve loved and slaved over. After more than a decade of writing alone, my first fan letter sent me into joyful sobs for a good fifteen minutes. Talk about validation! And I didn’t need an agent or a publisher to get it.
Because of the proliferation of self-publishing, I see many genres shifting and blossoming and marketing boundaries breaking down. Readers can now find a much wider variety of storylines than there used to be, and I think that change will continue.
But I beg of all the potential indie authors out there: please don’t put your book up for sale until it’s ready! Get some professional editing, or at the very least a really thorough critique group that pushes you about things to correct and improve long before you consider going indie. Yes, you can fix things later if you must, but you don’t want to ruin your reputation with readers before you have that chance.
Joan: If you’re willing, Cate, would you give us more information on your sales figures for other authors considering the indie route?
Cate: I’ve had an interesting time with sales. (In a good way, not in a “may you live in interesting times” kind of way.) It took me a little over five months to sell 557 copies of Kismet’s Kiss and earn my first $1000. Sales were accelerating, and it took me only a month and a half to earn the next $500.And then something even more fantastic happened. I needed surgery and was going to be away from home for a few weeks, so I worked hard to get The Source of Magic up before I left. I wasn’t planning to do any marketing for it, or really even to tell anyone until today during the official release; I mainly put it up in case readers wanted it as soon as they finished Kiss. I uploaded it on April 17 and basically left it alone. It sold a few copies, probably based on the excerpt in the back of Kiss–and then somehow the B&N sales fairy blessed it. Suddenly I was selling 70 copies a day there. With no marketing at all, and no reviews up. I still don’t know what happened, but I’m grateful!
The surge didn’t last forever, but now I’m selling four times as many copies each day as I did with just Kismet’s Kiss alone, even though I only have two books available. Put up a second book and get four times as many sales? I like that math.
More math: As of yesterday, I’ve sold 2181 copies of my books (1330 of Kismet’s Kiss and 851 of The Source of Magic) and made close to $4000. The vast majority of those copies have been ebooks sold at $2.99, though I’ve toyed briefly with $.99 and $3.99 for Kiss. That’s fantastic to me, but if you want to see more numbers, check out those of my friend Theresa Ragan. Prepare to have your socks blown to the stratosphere!
So even though this is the official release day of The Source of Magic, I guess it’s an early bloomer. Or a late one–see below!
Joan: What is it about the genre of fantasy romance draws you?
Cate: I’ve always loved the idea of magic in alternate worlds, not to mention the idea of how inborn magic could change the interpersonal dynamics between a heroine and hero. Plus, with fantasy romance I get to make s…, um, stuff up. It’s pretty freeing. (grin)
Joan: What heat level would you rate The Source of Magic?
Cate: On a scale of 1-5, it’s a 3 or 3.5. It’s definitely not chaste, yet the main focus is on the love story outside the bedroom. That being said, the particular inborn magic of this hero and heroine, um…adds to the flavor of the love scenes. 
Joan: How long did it take you to write The Source of Magic?
Cate: Gosh…great question. I might need an outside verdict on that.
It took me a week or two to write the opening chapters, which I then entered in the Winning Beginnings contest (now known as The Sheila). That was my first contest, and I was gobsmacked that Source became a finalist, and then placed second and got a request.
I like having outside deadlines, and suddenly I had one! I got my butt into the writing chair and finished the book in about three months. I stocked up on microwave dinners and literally didn’t leave my house for a month, except to walk downstairs to the first floor of my apartment building to get my mail. When I was finally done, driving to the post office to send the manuscript to the editor was a freaky experience. Suddenly I was reminded that other people existed in the world!
Of course, that was in 2001, and I’ve made plenty of revisions to it since then. So to answer your question, the writing time could either be a few months or more than a ten years. 
Joan: Are Kismet’s Kiss and The Source of Magic linked? How?
Cate: The Source of Magic is a prequel to Kismet’s Kiss, though both stand alone. They take place a couple of decades apart and in different settings on the same fantasy world–in a medieval “Europeanesque” realm for The Source of Magic and a medieval “Middle Easternesque” realm for Kismet’s Kiss. Because the people on this world live long lives (hundreds of years), I was able to share some characters in the two books.
Joan: Would you say The Source of Magic is the book of your heart? Why?
Cate: Hmm, I’d probably have to give that mantle to Kismet’s Kiss, just because it’s such an unusual romance in terms of setting and storyline. But The Source of Magic was my first book, so it’s definitely my baby. Heck, if it hadn’t been for Source, I’d never have dreamed of this particular fantasy world, and now I could easily write twelve or thirteen books in it!
I’d like to thank Cate for her insight into indie publishing and her candid information regarding sales figures–valuable information to authors which is notoriously difficult to come by–but most of all, congratulate Cate on her new release: The Source of Magic.
Enter to win a copy by leaving a comment. Cate will be popping in and out to respond to questions and comments.
Posted by Sara Ramsey Mar 31 2011, 12:01 am in author interview, new releases, Ruby Release
I’m so thrilled to host today’s release party for Cynthia Justlin’s first release, HER OWN BEST ENEMY! Cynthia decided to take the plunge and publish her book independently, and she has more titles on the way (which is very good news for lovers of romantic suspense and really hot action heroes Cynthia graciously agreed to answer my questions about heroes, heroines, the sometimes-controversial inclusion of children in romance novels, and a variety of other topics. Check out her responses below – and one lucky commenter will win a copy of the book!
Posted by Gwynlyn MacKenzie Feb 22 2011, 12:01 am in author interview, debut, Hope Ramsey, Ruby Release, Welcome to Last Chance
You’re tooling down the interstate at dawn, the needle of the gas gauge hovers over E, you need a restroom, and you see a sign that says Last Chance. What would you do?
Me, too.
By the time I found a town, the car was sputtering and my eyeballs needed water wings. Unfortunately, it looked like a place where the sidewalk unrolled only during business hours. Seeing an older woman with a wealth of curls wreathing her face, I coasted to the curb, jumped out, and asked (okay, so maybe I begged) if she could point me to the nearest restroom.
She must have a literal bent because she unlocked the Cut ‘n Curl Salon and pointed toward the back. All but sobbing my gratitude, I ran.
Upon emerging, I asked, “Who would put a sign on the interstate that says Last Chance when there’s nothing for miles?”
“That sign wasn’t for gas or food or restrooms,” my hostess informed me, amusement twinkling in her eyes, “although we do have all three here in Last Chance, South Carolina.”
And that’s how I met Ruby Rhodes, owner of the Cut ‘n Curl and matriarch of the Rhodes family. Of course, Miz Ruby has a business to run, so she agreed to be interviewed while she worked. As a result, I encountered some of the most quirky, unique, and enchanting folks this side of—well, it could be either heaven or the loony bin. That’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Posted by Elise Hayes Jan 11 2011, 12:01 am in author interview, Ruby Release
Ruby Release Spotlight: Liz Talley and A Little Texas
Ruby Sister Liz Talley has been insanely busy at the keyboard this past year, pouring her time and energy into not one, not two, but three Harlequin Superromances focused on the small town of Oak Stand, TX and its inhabitants. And she has two more still to come!
Today is the release day for the third book, A Little Texas, so to celebrate I wanted to interview Liz. Okay, I confess I wanted to interview Bubba, but Rita already scooped that interview back in December (see http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/ruby-release-spotlight-liz-talley-and-the-way-to-texas-2/) Sigh. Hey, I grew up in Texas. I love big guys with legs like tree trunks. What can I say? But I did have a number of questions for Liz–about her, about her books, and about what drives her writing–so read on!
You’ve lived in North Louisiana most of your life and you set this series in Texas. What is it about the South that you want to capture in your writing?
I live extremely close to the Texas state line (about 30 minutes, if that) so I’m very familiar with East Texas. I don’t think I was so much concerned with making my books Southern-focused as I was small town-focused. But that being said, it is set in the rural South so there is definite world building. Anyone who has visited a honkytonk or local bar on a Texas highway knows that it’s much different than swilling martinis in a Manhattan bar. Waaaaay different. So my story has Bubbas, loudmouths with big hair, Southern belles who will smile at you and then cheerfully stab you in the back, and Texas-sized personality.
You’ve built a whole world–or rather, a whole town–in your series. Can you talk about your process in building that world? Did you draw up a map of the town? How do you keep track of all the characters, shops, and town history?
I have pictures in my head. I know where most things are. Much of it comes from my childhood – a sort of combination of my hometown of Minden and a smaller town near there, Homer. I purposely used brick streets, a town square and businesses that one would still find in my hometown today.
As you were exploring your Texas series, did you have any surprising finds that ended up in the book? Any unexpected twists?
I’m an organic writer so often things occur to me as I get to them. And by organic, I mean lazy. LOL. I plot a story and use it as a guide, but I also feel free to change what I need. I have to say that Bubba surprised me with his depth of emotion. It surprised me that Kate had a father who dissed her. I didn’t know that Carly Patterson (who was a mean girl in the opening of Vegas Two-Step) would pop back up again. I also didn’t know that Brent Hamilton would end up a hero. Yeah, I’m a nut. My characters talk to me, and I say, “Oh, reeeally?” and then I toss that in there. That’s how Oak Stand gets torn up in my May 2011 book A Taste of Texas. April in the South means…tornadoes.
Tell us about Kate, the heroine of A Little Texas.
She’s awesome. Tough, smart-mouthed and beautiful. Edgy and totally into herself, but a good friend to have. But it’s her story that grips me. She was hurt by someone when she was but a child. And it molded her into what she is. This story is her story. Sure, Rick is yummy and has had his own hard knocks in life, but he’s more her guide, her solid rock, her protector. This story is about Kate learning to forgive. She has to pull all the hurt, anger and hate from her heart so she can blossom and learn how to love. To me, it’s a beautiful story. I re-read it when I got my copies, and I still feel the same way. This book is the kind of book I always want to write – a raw, poignant story of discovery.
A number of us who have read your stories are now Bubba fans. Can you give us a hint of what’s in store for him in this book?
Well, unfortunately, this book was packed with such emotion that he only appears in one scene. I hated that he wasn’t an integral part, but there wasn’t much room. Kate has to go through tremendous growth, coming to terms with her father, stepmother and dead brother, not to mention a town that she hates…or thinks she hates. But Bubba appears in every book and will get a love interest in A Taste of Texas in my heroine’s slightly Goth, highly organized assistant, Meg. Meg gets a little miffed when he slaps her on the butt, but warms up to him enough to go fishing with him.
Whoo-hoo! It sounds like Meg is going to be a great match for Bubba. I can’t wait! And what’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the fifth and final Oak Stand book. It doesn’t have a title yet, but involves Rayne’s (heroine in my fourth book) younger sister who happens to be an actress on a vampire soap opera. Summer is highly dramatic and thinks she’s still in love with an older man who dumped her. Sparks fly when she gets arrested by the sexy new police chief for handcuffing herself to a flagpole during a protest in front of the Howard County library, and Summer starts to doubt how sincere her love is for her former lover, especially with the way Adam Bent makes her feel. Every day they surprise me with something new…today I learned that Adam is hiding the videotape that shows him kissing Summer while she’s in lockdown…and the tape is about to go missing!
After I get this one in to my editor, I’ll start research for a new series I’m planning about a Louisiana family who eventually discovers the sister they thought dead is very much alive. Should be fun!
Ok, one last question…and this one is about you. We all know that settings can reveal important details about our characters, but they can also reveal a great deal about us. So…in which of the following drinking establishments would you most prefer to spend some time this week–and why?
___A mom-and-pop diner with slightly sticky counters and great coffee
___Afternoon tea (with scones and clotted cream) at a local “Anglophile”
antique shop
___The coffee shop nestled in your nearest bookstore
___Your own home: snuggling into your favorite chair with a great book
and …[name your go-to beverage]
___The neighborhood pub or brewery
_X_A swank bar where you would be wearing your highest heels and
drinking [name your beverage of choice here]
___A wine-tasting bar that serves hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate
___[Fill in with a place/beverage that I’ve missed]
Probably some place swanky wearing a kickass pair of shoes and drinking a lemon drop martini. And that’s because I don’t get that much. I spend a good deal of time with my squabbling kids at football games and baseball fields. I love the opportunity to get gussied up and go out someplace fancy. A true luxury.
Liz will be available today to answer questions about writing about small-town life, her writing process, and A Little Texas–or Bubba–throughout the day. Please join us!
You can learn more about Liz’s Oak Stand, Texas books at her website: http://www.liztalleybooks.com/index.php
Posted by Tamara Hogan Dec 6 2010, 12:01 am in author interview, Ruby Release
 Today, I’m pleased to shine the spotlight on one of our most prolific published Rubies, Vivi Andrews!!
Just back from a fabulous trip to the South Pacific, Vivi has had an unbelievably busy couple of months. Tell us about your new releases! Yep, it’s certainly been a hectic time. November 2nd was the print release of The Ghost Exterminator (Karmic Consultants #2 and my first solo print release); November 16th saw the e-book release of The Naked Detective (KC #4); and today is the e-book release of No Angel– which can be consumed by itself or in the yummy e-book collection “Winter Wishes” (out now!) with paranormal holiday novellas by epublishing dynamos Vivian Arend (Tangled Tinsel) and Moira Rogers (Freeze Line).
Posted by Gwynlyn MacKenzie Nov 29 2010, 12:01 am in author interview, Cate Rowan, e-publishing, Kismet's Kiss, new publishing avenues, romance, Ruby Release, writer's journey
Sometimes, something about a person briefly met sticks in your mind.
I first met Cate Rowan in 2007, but we were both GH finalists and, amid all the hubbub, had little time to do more than wave and smile. The sunshine in Cate’s smile is what I remembered most vividly.
In 2009, we were finalist together again, and I got to know the multi-faceted lady behind that wonderful smile; I also discovered her sweet nature didn’t preclude a keen mind or a titanium backbone.
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