RWA Conference in Atlanta

I’m back from a fun-filled week in Atlanta with about 2000 other writers. It was fabulous. The hotel accommodations were the best I’ve ever stayed in. The staff was very helpful, check-in and check-out was painless and the food was to die for. How in the world can they feed that many and not have rubbery chicken? The chicken was tender and juicy as was the steak. And I think that’s the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted. And I love cheesecake.

I truly enjoyed getting to know some people I’d only met on-line. Critique groups are invaluable and I’ve belonged to a group for about five years now and until this past week, I’d only met two of the ten in person. I had the pleasure of meeting two more. And I hope to meet two or three more next year in Dallas for RWA or Houston for RT. I also had the pleasure of meeting Karen and her husband from Coffeetime. She’s an absolute doll and her husband is a true gem.

But, the best part was that I came back rejuvinated and ready to write. I attended some of the best workshops. You’re never too old to learn and even if you know the information, revisiting it from time to time helps you embrace those craft issues you take for granted.

And I must say, Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips were hoots. They gave the best speeches that kept us all in stitches. The Lifetime Achievement award couldn’t have gone to a better person. I truly admire both of these writers and all they’ve done to help other aspiring authors. Well done, ladies.

New Release & New Review

I’m excited to announce that my historical western – HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO in now available in paperback (can be ordered at bookstores) and as ebook. My publisher, Champagne Books, has plans of turning this story into audio, too.

The Wild West has bandits, rattlers, and cactus galore…Texas has Jesse and Summer, the town’s newest and most hard-headed heroes.

Summer Bennett is determined to capture the Buchanan Gang the Texas Rangers can’t seem to find. Gotta get money…fast, for her father’s operation. The reward money’s the only way. Complications arise when Jesse Slade, her sister’s fiance, rescues her from dangerous situations. Instead of using his head for a slingshot target, she dreams of piercing his heart.

For thirteen years, little Summer was the burr under the Texas Ranger’s saddle. Now Jesse feels a different irritation. She’s on his mind even while searching for outlaws. She and her proper sister are as different as sweet lemonade and corn liquor. Yet he feels like kissing Summer, anyway. Funny, because he’d always wanted to tie her to the outhouse before.

to purchase – http://www.champagnebooks.com/HOFAH.htm

Now to tell you about my review…
Coffee Time Romance just gave me an excellent review for TEN WAYS TO MELT A MAN’S HEART.
“This book is an absolute, hands down delight. With a brilliant balance of comical and sensual, two characters have been created to make you laugh at times, cringe at others, and sigh through the rest. Charming, sexy, witty, and at times downright smoking hot, this is one I definitely recommend getting.”
CharissaReviewer for Coffee Time Romance

to purchase – http://www.champagnebooks.com/Ten.htm

~Phyllis Campbell~
www.phyllismariecampbell.com
Best Selling, Award Winning, Multi-Published, Romance Novelist

My Poor Baby

So my kids have been looking forward to a sleepover at their aunt’s house down in Salem, about 50 miles away from where we live. They’ve been bouncing off the walls, because today is the day my sister is coming to pick them up.

But last night, Miriam, my second oldest girl, began puking. I don’t know what it is with my kids and puking lately, but it was pretty gnarly. One of those episodes where I was thankful I have two washers and dryers, if you know what I mean. And ever since then, she’s been puking up nothing, the poor dear.

So, I had to call my sister and tell her that Miriam couldn’t come. Miriam is disappointed, but she’s at that point that she’d rather be in bed than not be in bed. You know the feeling, you’re so sick you don’t want to move.

But I’ve talked with my sis, and she says she’ll still come to get Hannah for the sleepover, and maybe sometime in the future, perhaps August, she’ll have a sleepover just for Miriam. I really hope so, because poor Miriam already has the middle child syndrome. Even though she’s second born out of four, she’s the middle girl, and she has it bad. She sees Hannah get to do things first, and Monie gets by on her cuteness alone. LOL Miriam is a beautiful girl, but she gets melancholy some times. So I want to do something special for her today.

I had planned on taking my two younger kids out to ice cream and a movie to make them feel better that they weren’t going to the sleepover, but I don’t think I can do that now with one of the kids pukey. Therefore, we’re resigned to watch movies all day. And for my kids, I think that will be a pretty great day.

And I hope Miriam won’t feel left out, although, I’m not sure how much Mommy can actually influence her on this. I have a feeling she’s going to be my moody teen, and she’s only 6. **sigh**

~~Becka

New Review for IN YOUR ARMS!

I just found this at The Romance Studio!

“In Your Arms is a page-turner. From the moment I started reading about Melissa, I was captivated. I immediately fell in love with the character of Melissa. I could feel the ache in her heart every time she expressed the concerns in her life about falling in love, while having to deal with her sister. I cheered when Marcus urged her to take a stand with Shirley. Ms. Goings has styled a most tenderhearted romance that truly inspires and pricks the heart. She instills believability with her characters and allows the reader to visualize the setting. In Your Arms has true grit and merit that completely satisfies. It has all the elements that make it an exceptional winner.”

~~5 Hearts!
Read the Full Review!

Thank you so much, Linda L., for the beautiful review! **sniffles**

http://www.champagnebooks.com/IYA.htm

~~Becka

I Can Hear The Angels Singing From On High

Well since I’ve lost about 30 pounds, and my pants (which were once pretty tight on me) were getting loose, I decided to dig deeper into the recesses of my closet. Along with the Epic Cob Webs, Giant Moths, and The Swirling Vortex to Hell, I found a pair of pants I haven’t been able to fit into for about three years. I decided “What the heck?”

So I put them on, and amazingly, they fit! And I didn’t have to lay down on the bed before I zipped them up!!

This has made my day, as I’m sure you well imagine. Losing the weight, I’m pretty sure I went down two pants sizes. Being my fattest, I refused to buy a bigger sized pair of pants, so I was always stuffing myself into the ones I had. LOL But as I lost the weight, the pants started to fit again, until the point they were actually loose.

I haven’t tried any of my other pants in the deep, dark recesses of the closet, mainly because I’m scared I might not fit into those other ones. That, and I’m terrified I’ll find Beelzebub himself holding the pants on a hanger, while eating a luscious, German chocolate cake (the whole cake). LOL

But I’ve noticed that food isn’t that important to me anymore. I used to think about it a lot, about what yummy thing I was going to eat, and now… **shrugs** it just doesn’t matter. If I eat, I eat. If I don’t, I don’t. No big. I actually don’t get ravenously hungry like I used to. Maybe my metabolizm is changing.

Here’s hopin’.

~~Becka

Does Anyone Actually Read This Thing?

Raise your hand if you’re a reader of Becka’s Babble. Post a comment to let me know. I have no idea if people actually come here and read my ramblings. I’m just curious.

Oh, and I’ve lost 30 lbs. since the end of March on Weight Watchers. Woohoo! My pants fit again! Hallelujah!

~~Becka

Becka’s Truck Facts 101

Is it me, or are all big trucks driven by good-looking men? What’s the deal? Little trucks don’t count. The small Nissan pick-up doesn’t factor here. I’m talking the GMC, the Ford, the Dodge, the Chevy. And I’m not talking the older rust-buckets. I’m talking newer trucks.

All nice-looking BIG trucks are driven by good-looking men. And I’m not just talking about “OK” men or “yeah, he’s all right”, I mean, hot guys. Even the older men who drive the bigger pick-ups are good-looking.

What’s the deal here?

I want you to look around your hometown at all the men who drive the big trucks and see for yourself. I’ve noticed this phenomenon, but only just now realized it.

Is it Freud? Bigger trucks mean bigger “ahem” you-know-whats-its? Bigger trucks attract the attention of females? Alpha men just do it bigger? LOL

I really don’t know what’s going on here, but I challenge you to find a newer, bigger truck, deisel or otherwise, and find an ugly man at the wheel.

In fact, if there happens to be a woman driving the big, newer truck is usually good-looking herself.

There is truth in this. Mark my words and see for yourself.

It’s really odd.

~~Becka

TWO New Videos!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I thought I would show off my newest creations, videos for both ON EAGLE’S WINGS and HEARTS ETERNAL. OEW is now available at Champagne Books for advance purchase in PAPERBACK!! It will be available on July 31st, however, you can buy your advanced copy for the special price of $8.95 (normally $9.95). HEARTS ETERNAL will be released with Samhain Publishing in November.

Enjoy!

ON EAGLE’S WINGS Video

HEARTS ETERNAL Video

~~Becka

Finally Something to BLOG About! PICTURES!! :D

OK, remember the school-room remodel I told you about? The room with the nasty-ass checkerboard flooring? Well, here are the before and after shots. Hot dang, this room is smokin’ now!!

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/14972210/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493387/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/14972108/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493517/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/14972227/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493609/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/14972216/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493753/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/16945959/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493879/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

BEFORE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/16945961/in/set-361573/

AFTER:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimgoings/194493961/in/set-72157594206330803/

~*~

See how awesome that turned out?? Holy moly, the room is TRANSFORMED. We LOVE spending time in there, and no longer does it look like a dungeon. The last thing we have to do is paint the checkerboard behind the staircase. But that’s easy peasy. Oh, and some touch-up on the white trim around the room.

But don’t we RAWK?? We should totally be on Trading Spaces. LOL

~~Becka

My Dad

My Dad is coming to my house to spend the weekend with us. He lives 50 miles away in Salem and we see him all the time, but the poor guy lives by himself and doesn’t have decent meals, so I thought it would be great to invite him up to spend some time with us. We’re going to have a lot of fun!

Some random Becka info… My father’s name is Gilbert Keith Goodwin, born in 1935. Yup, he’s a fogey. LOL His father, George Edward Goodwin, wanted his son to have the initials “GKG”, just like HIS father before him. My great-grandfather’s name was George Kitteridge Goodwin. You may recognize the name “Kitteridge”, as I’ve loved it ever since I was a girl, and I gave one of my heroes this last name; Jeremy Kitteridge in UNDERNEATH THE MISTLETOE, a novella in Champagne Books’s MISTLETOE MAGIC.

My grandmother didn’t want to name her baby “George”, so they looked for another “G” name. We even found the list of names they considered in an old photo album. Our favorite was Geoffrey. Perhaps they didn’t pick it because of it’s spelling. But that’s the name of my hero in THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE. They decided on “Gilbert”, and no one knows why. No one even liked that name.

My grandparents called him “Keith”. And Keith he remains. He only uses his first name on “official” correspondence.

This is all probably boring you to tears, but once again, I have nothing to blog about. Aside from the fact that I think I have pushed through my muse-apation, what happens to writers when they are stuck for long periods of time without writing. However, the irony of this is; my dad is coming up for the weekend.

So I can’t write.

Somewhere, fate is laughing at me.

~~Becka