I’m terrible at contests. I think I may have mentioned this before. I really do horribly at contest. Case in point, I entered the Romance Junkies writing contest under an assumed name, and I got all of 3 comments on it. Obviously, I didn’t overwhelm anyone with my brilliant writing skills. Apparently, I’m also a jinx because none of my friends won Ritas this year either. It’s very depressing to me when my friends don’t win awards. Not to take anything away from the people who did win, but I know my friend’s books ROCK and I want them to win, hahahaha.

I don’t know if my writing doesn’t translate well in only one chapter or if it doesn’t compare well to others, all I know is I’m not going to base my writing career on  a potential Rita win.

Congratulations to all the Rita winners and kudos to everyone who had the guts to enter!

I freely admit I’m clueless about what is going on outside of my chaotic little world most of the time. World news and events, celebrity marriages and divorces, and who’s the latest “It” girl pretty much pass me by without the least bit of attention on my part. But recently I heard about the death of one of romance’s greats and I think it’s worth taking time out of my crazy life to mention her on my blog.

 Kathleen E. Woodewiss was the first romance author I ever read. Before I had ever heard of “auto buy” authors, she was one for me. I remember being home sick with Strep in high school and reading SHANA and being completely swept away. A ROSE IN WINTER, THE WOLF AND THE DOVE, and THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER are still some of my favorite “comfort” reads. I actually read ASHES IN THE WIND so many times the pages are held together with rubber bands because the binding fell apart.

In school I never thought about being a romance author, although I devoured romance novels like chocolate during PMS. I was in awe of these fabulously talented women who could take me to worlds I’d never heard of and sink me so deeply into lives of characters who only lived between the covers of a very tattered book. I remember telling my Brit. Lit class about the Battle of Hastings and William the Bastard because I remember reading about it in a KEW book.

Although Mrs. Woodewiss and her family have no idea who I am, and will probably never know about this blog, I am keeping them in my thoughts and prayers. The hole left in the romance world by her passing can only be surpassed by the loss her family feels. I’m sure she’s in a much better place now, but we’ll miss her and her way with words down here.

Rest in Peace