KATHRYN R. BIEL: AUTHOR

I just got back from RWA 2017. For those of you not in my writing world, RWA is the Romance Writers of America, and this was their national conference, held in Orlando, FL. But to me, RWA stands for Really Wicked Awesome. Why was this week so great? So. Many. Reasons. First of all, I got to go and hang with my posse. My inner circle. My writing peeps who I talk with every day online, who are with me every step of the way, and I with them. It's extra special being able to actually see them, hang out with them, brainstorm with them, and laugh until you cry with them. These are my friends  and seeing them for four days a year isn't nearly enough. Melissa Baldwin , Becky Monson , and me at the RITA Awards Taking the boat to Disney Springs. It's the only Disney experience I had the whole time because I was too busy learning. Last day, so sad. :-( Next, I got to meet in person people in my outer writing circle. People I've "known" online for y...

I've written before about how I have a hard time letting go. And I do. If I let myself, I would always live in the past. But living in the past doesn't let you be present or anticipate the future. I can't say it's been a conscious effort, and I still love my 90s music, but I find myself more and more in the present. I started writing my first book about 6 1/2 years ago. I finished it 6 years ago this week, and titled it Good Intentions . Some of you may be familiar with it. At that time, I'd been married for almost ten years had two young kids (ages 7 and almost 4). I was slowly climbing out of the haze and daze of those yearly years of infancy, toddlerhood, bottles, diapers, potty training, pre-school, home ownership, home renovation, going back to school, raising a special needs child, and being a working wife and mother. I struggled to hold onto me . As with most of my life, I was in between friends. I've always done that. Been good friends with a group, th...

Yup, it's true. I've become a polygamist. A book polygamist that is. I've always been a one-book at a time woman. I don't know what is up with me right now, but I've got three going, and want to be with a fourth. I'm reading the Throne of Glass  series by Sarah J. Maas. I've read the first 3 books in the past 2 weeks and am waiting for #4 from the library. I really need it to come in quickly because, well, it's getting good. To whatever end . Sigh. Then there's the pool book I started. I kept it in the beach bag. It's a traditional romance, Everywhere and Every Way  by Jennifer Probst. Well written and sexy. I feel the black moment coming. I hate the black moment. Then, I'm beta reading the upcoming Whitney Dineen chick lit book. It was not what I expected, but it's super cute, and I can't wait to see what happens. Then, I'm listening to Friends Without Benefits  by Penny Reid. But I can't stop thinking about Nic...

It only took a minute. Certainly not two. That rise of emotion. That burst of hope. Staring at the information I'd copied down from the voice mail message, my brain whirring in a hundred different directions. I knew it was too good to be true. But what if it wasn't? What if this was really it? My big break. We hardly ever check our home voice mail. Today, my husband went through and listened. Our insurance agent, trying to get us to refinance our car. A car dealership. And then, a message for me. Someone seeking me out, looking to represent one of my books at an international book event. I made my husband replay the message and wrote everything down. I hadn't been listening the first time, and this time I did. Quickly, I posted in a Facebook group for authors. Then a Google search. I had my answer. No need to return the phone call. A scam. And that hope, which had only swelled for mere moments was dashed, anger flooding in to replace it. How dare they? I work ha...