Kristi's interest in writing began in high school when she wrote a womens' issues column for her school newsletter entitled "Ad Lib." But her desire to write fiction arrived with the 1992 presidential campaign, sparking a concept that developed into her first mainstream romance. Since that time, she's completed seven (or is it eight? --The Webperson strikes again) manuscripts, single title and category contemporaries, and recently earned the reward for her hard work. She became a member of RWA and the Heart of Texas chapter in 1995 where she served as president in 1997, and presently serves as newsletter editor.

A TIME TO HEAL
ISBN: 1-929034-51-2

Kristi's new book coming in August '99 from Starlight Writer Publications.

One grieving doctor on the brink of leaving medicine in search of peace. One desperate aunt waging a war against the terminal illness claiming her beloved niece’s life. Together Judd Craig and Meredith O’Donnell face a tenuous future as they struggle to let go of their painful pasts.

Although they find solace in each other’s arms, at times happiness seems only an illusion. Yet when least expected, love blooms--even in the face of death. But will their love prove strong enough to save a shattered soul and mend a broken heart? And will there ever come a time to heal?

Visit Kristi's web page and read an excerpt.

Awards:

1999 - Finalist with LINGER, Four Seasons Contest, Windy City Chapter, RWA*

1999 - 2nd place with LINGER, Between the Sheets, Greater Detroit RWA

1999 - Winner with BEDFELLOWS, Grand Beginnings Contest, Northwest Indiana RWA

1998 - 3rd place with ROPE THE MOON, Heart of the Story, Midwest Fiction Writers

1998 - 2nd place with A TIME TO HEAL, Heart of the Story, Midwest Fiction Writers

1997 - Grand Prize Winner with A TIME TO HEAL, Hot Prospects Contest, Valley of the Sun RWA.

1997 - 3rd place with HEATHER'S MOST WANTED, In the Beginning...Contest, Midwest Fiction Writers.

1996 - Winner with A TIME TO HEAL, Betty Henrichs Memorial Award for Excellence in Publishable Romance.

1996 - 1st place with A TIME TO HEAL, Craft of Writing Contest, Greater Dallas Writers' Assoc.

1996 - Golden Heart Finalist, Long Contemporary - ROAD TO PARADISE and Single Title - A TIME TO HEAL.

1995 - 2nd place with ROAD TO PARADISE, Craft of Writing Contest, Greater Dallas Writers' Assoc.

1994 - Honorable Mention with POWER OF LOVE, Craft of Writing Contest, Greater Dallas Writers' Assoc.

*Final Results still pending...

Stay tuned. See what more the Contest Queen can pull out of her hat.

Work In Progress: ROPE THE MOON, Short Contemporary

Dana Landry loves her hearing impaired daughter, Callie, more than life itself. She's determined to learn to communicate better with her child even though, as a single parent, it's difficult to find the time to take sign language classes. Now divorced from Callie's father, Dana has come to realize a child with special needs and men don't mix--until she meets an enigmatic cowboy with a world of wisdom in his eyes and the ability to sign to Callie with a waltz of words.

Will Baker has chosen a career as a horse trainer, a free and easy lifestyle that excludes any ties. Born to hearing-impaired parents whom he dearly loves, he's never quite found acceptance in either the hearing or non-hearing worlds. Then he meets Dana and is reluctantly drawn into her life through her daughter.

Dana soon realizes that Will Baker, the one man she could give her heart to, must learn to accept a painful legacy that has kept him from commitment. Together they take a journey that proves love is the constant during times of strife, perfection is in the eye of the beholder, and they could just as easily rope the moon as walk away from each other.

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Connie has been an RWA member since 1988. She is a co-founder/charter member of the Heart of Texas Chapter. She has served as the chapter's President, Vice President and Pan Liaison. She is also a member of PASIC (Published Authors Special Interest Chapter). She has been a judge for the past three years in the RITA contest and a speaker at the local Junior College. She wrote a monthly column for the Chapter newsletter for two years. Although her college degrees were in accounting and real estate and she had a successful career in both fields, her love has always been reading and writing.

Her career as a published author began in the fourth grade when one of her short stories was published in The Weekly Reader. She has penned articles for school activities, company related articles and newsletters for various national companies. She currently writes for Dorchester Publishing. Connie lives in Texas, with her very supportive husband James and his infamous red "editing" pen, and her too-smart-for-her-own-good Yorkshire Terrier Maxie, whose vocabulary is so big they have to spell words in front of her. Connie is an avid reader, a master needlecrafter, enjoys fishing and, most of all, adores her two grandsons, Cody and Blake, who live only two miles down the road.

Former teacher and newspaper reporter, Evelyn Rogers is the author of twenty historical romances and five novellas. She's presently serving as the PAN Liaison for the Heart of Texas chapter. A resident of San Antonio, she lists family, books, and travel as her passions. CROWN OF GLORY (July 1998) begins a series of western historicals called Texas Empires. Three novels and one novella appeared in 1997: FOREVER BRIDE (Feb), BETRAYAL (June), "The Gold Digger" in INDULGENCE (August anthology), and HOT TEMPER (December).

Her first paranormal book, WICKED (March '96) won a 1997 Prism Award given by the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA.

Gail Shelton has spent her life somewhere else. Just ask her mom, or her kids. Whenever they wanted her to do something, she might have been physically present, but she was really "somewhere else," daydreaming. Pretending. Imagining "what if..." So naturally, she became a writer.

Recently, she was thrilled to sell three books within the first six months of 1999. GROOM ON THE LAM, a humorous contemporary romance, will be an August '99 release from Starlight Writer Publications. Sometime in late 2000, Starlight Writer Publications will be publishing ABOVE THE CROWD, a contemporary romance with a hint of the paranormal about it.

In her alter-ego, writing as Claire Shannon, she has sold a sensuous Victorian romance, ALL MINE to Twilight Times Books. ALL MINE will be released in September '99.

Gail is a charter member of Heart of Texas Chapter, and currently serves as vice president for the chapter.

GROOM ON THE LAM
ISBN: 1-929034-28-8

GROOM ON THE LAM is an up-coming release from Starlight Writer Publications in August '99, and will be one of the launch books for Starlight's contemporary line. Visit Gail's website and read an excerpt.

Houston police detective Andi Ramirez is undercover on a stake-out when her candy-apple red 1987 Lincoln "pimpmobile" smacks into sexy-as-heck runaway groom Rob Sulak. He's on the lam from the very crooks she's staking out--his reluctant bride's older brothers--so of course she hides him.

Rob figures one good rescue deserves another, and resolves to save the unlikely hooker from herself. But he doesn't reckon on the car chase. Or the attack cat. Or the handcuffs...

Rob and Andi risk life and limb on a wild adventure through Houston's crowded streets, but will they dare to risk their hearts on the chance of a love as big as Texas?

ALL MINE by Claire Shannon
Coming in September from Twilight Times Books.
ISBN: 1-929034-48-2

A chance encounter on a dusty Oxfordshire lane introduces Irish horseman Declan O'Donnell to Marian Upchurch, an orphaned vicar's daughter on her way to new employment with the invalid Lady Hockham. But the lady is long dead and Marian in mortal danger. Declan rescues her, but Lord Hockham's fury at losing his prize sends them on a slow, roundabout trip back to Ireland.

The journey is a time of sensual exploration and emotional discovery, emotions too tender and fragile to share. And Hockham still lurks.

Through passion and heartbreak, Declan and Marian struggle to reach the bright future promised in their dreams, in All Mine.

Awards:

1999 - Finalist, Romantic Suspense - IN OVER HER HEAD (previously titled DROWNING), Good Things Come in Threes, Kiss of Death Romantic Suspense Chapter.

1999 - 2nd Place, Fantasy Romance - FIREHEART, Heart of the Rockies Contest, Colorado Romance Writers.

1998 - 2nd Place, Fantasy Romance - HEART OF STONE, Heart of the Rockies Contest, Colorado Romance Writers.

1997 - Honorable Mention, Contemporary Romance - ABOVE THE CROWD, Heart of the Rockies Contest, Colorado Romance Writers.

1996 - 4th Place, Historical Romance - ALL MINE, First Meeting Contest, San Francisco RWA.

1996 - 3rd Place, Historical Romance - ALL MINE, Heart of the Rockies Contest, Colorado Romance Writers.

1994 - 3rd Place, Romantic Suspense - DROWNING, Heart of the Rockies Contest, Colorado Romance Writers.

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