Words To Live By #Inspiration @DonnaFaz #Quote #Wisdom

I collect quotes like some people collect coins or stamps or shoes. LOL I love positive affirmations and words of wisdom. Here’s a short list of some of the quotes that have lifted me up recently. I hope these ideas lift you up too.

Never let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.

Most people merely exist; to truly LIVE is an extraordinary thing.

If you want to fly, you have to unload the stuff that weighs you down.

Mountains are moved by the carrying away of small stones.

Clear your mind of CAN’T.

In yourself, you can find your worst enemy or your best friend.

Live each day as if your life has just begun.

Don’t worry about failing; worry about the chances you miss when you don’t try.

We become what we think about.

Ask yourself what is important and have the courage to build your life around your answer.


Do you have a favorite quote or phrase that you live by? Please share it in the comment section. 

Adopting A Dog by @DonnaFaz #DogRescue

Jake
I'm the “mom” of two wonderful dogs and both of them were rescues. Jake was a lovable black and white border collie. He was part of our family for over 15 years before he passed. Roo is our Australian cattle dog mix. Always rambunctious, she kept us on our toes. But at 11 years old she is slowing down now. She’s got arthritis in her left shoulder and her right hip; however, that doesn’t keep her from lovin’ the stuffin’ out of everyone she meets. She LOVES people and seeing her working so hard to get their attention is comical. She wags and whines and pulls on her leash to get a pet from everyone she meets.

Roo

Jake and Roo have enriched my life more than I can express. Dogs are loyal companions and always seem to know when you need some extra love. Many of you are considering whether to make a dog part of your family this holiday. If you do, please think about visiting your local shelter rather than buying from a pet store or breeder. So many dogs are put down due to the lack of good homes.

The internet is full of great information. You can find tips for caring for your dog at Wags And Walks. Pet Smart offers Everyday Adoption Centers, and the ASPCA can help you find Adoptable Dogs in Your Area.


Please note, more black dogs are euthanized that any other color dog. It’s called Black Dog Syndrome. Please consider saving a black dog.

Do you have a dog? Or did you have a dog when you were a kid? Tell me how your dog changed your life. 

Just for fun...




Harvest Cookies #Recipe ~ The Flavors of Autumn @DonnaFaz

I came up with this recipe because I had some canned pumpkin left over from making Thanksgiving dinner. My husband loves molasses, so I decided to add a dash of that. And who doesn’t love the taste of pumpkin pie spice? It’s warm, aromatic, and makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a hug. The results of this recipe were outstanding.

Soft and sumptuous, these dark cookies are moist and cake-like. They’re rich with the flavors of autumn and absolutely delicious paired with hot tea or coffee. Try them, you will love them!

Harvest Cookies

2 1/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup molasses
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg

1. Pre-heat oven to 350° F and line 2 baking sheets with Exopat or parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

3. In a second bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until well incorporated. Add the molasses, pumpkin, and egg. Stir until all the ingredients are mixed well.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl containing the dry ingredients, scraping the bowl to get every last bit of deliciousness! Stir everything together just until all the flour is incorporated. Do not over-mix. You will have a very soft dough.

5. Using two teaspoons, scoop small balls of dough onto the baking sheets (see picture), about twelve to a sheet. Do not crowd. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the top feels set to the touch. Remove baking sheets from the oven. Let the cookies cool a couple of minutes on the sheets before transferring them to a cooling rack. Makes about 2 1/2 cookies.

6. Make a cup of your favorite tea and enjoy!

What dessert shouts AUTUMN to you?


Wishing YOU a great Thanksgiving Holiday! From @DonnaFaz

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I spent the day with my family and friends. Today, after doing a bit of holiday shopping on-line, I'm back to writing. Have a great weekend!


HER FAKE ROMANCE by @DonnaFaz 99¢ for #Kindle @iBooks #Nook @Kobo

Save $3.00 for a limited time!
Please let your romance-reading friends know 
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"The author's style was pure delight, fun and funky. Modern and very entertaining. I never would have thought a fake romance could be so funny and emotional at the same time. HJ Top Pick!"  ~HarlequinJunkie.com ♥♥♥♥♥

"Mom, get a life!"

Her teenage daughter's words are daunting. True, struggling single mom Julia Jones hasn't had a date in over a decade, but she could still catch a man--if she needed to! So Julia, who claims not to want a husband, finds herself entangled in a fake romance.

Ryan Shane is tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. And he just so happens to need a no-strings date himself. Their plan is perfectly thought out. Until a conveniently staged good-night kiss turns into very inconvenient passion...

This book contains bonus material that includes several delicious recipes!

Find this Bargain eBook: 

US Kindle        UK Kindle        CA Kindle



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Available at regular price in paperback

Also available at regular price in audio from Amazon and iTunes


Authors! Need a Word to Describe that Scent? Help is Here!

As writers, we strive to use all five senses to create a full experience for our readers. The human sense of smell pales in comparison to that of other animals, yet an aroma has the powerful ability to churn up strong feelings in us. A certain smell can bring back a memory like nothing else can.

I am always looking for a unique, just-perfect word to describe scents. I happened upon a wonderful website that offers an A-to-Z listing of common fragrance descriptions. This list has been helpful to me, so I thought I would share with you.

Many thanks to Bois de Jasmin, The World Through Our Senses for building this comprehensive list and making my job a little easier. Victoria, the owner of the site, shares her love of perfume, food, and other sensory pleasures. Enjoy!



Choosy Bookworm and #eNovAaW Holiday Extravaganza #Giveaway!




Choosy Bookworm has partnered with eNovel Authors at Work to bring you a month long celebration with great books, great book deals, and let's not forget the great giveaways! 

Check out today's featured authors and books, then head on over to the event page and enter to win one of two $250 Amazon Gift Cards or Paypal Cash!

Be sure to check out the featured books and the awesome author sponsored giveaway below!





Million Dollar Que$tion
by Ellie Campbell
Genre Chick Lit


Just as a huge financial scandal throws New Yorker, Olivia Wheeler, from wealth and success to bankruptcy and shame, struggling impoverished single-mother Rosie Dixon wins an unexpected million pounds. Good luck? Bad luck? Who can tell? Both women have more in common than they realize. While Olivia struggles to survive her humiliations, fleeing broke and homeless to London, shy unassuming Rosie discovers sudden riches arrive with their own mega-load of problems.



Two strangers who’ve never met. Yet neither realizes how each is affecting the other’s destiny or the places their paths touch and fates entwine.





Meet Ellie Campbell



Ellie Campbell is a pseudonym for sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell who collaborate across the mighty Atlantic, finding writing together the perfect excuse for endless phone conversations. Although Pam lives near London, England, while Lorraine is on a Colorado ranch– they both believe in enjoying life to the fullest.





An Almost Perfect Christmas
by Donna Fasano
Genre: Contemporary Romance


Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper teams up with single dad Aaron Chase to give one special little girl AN ALMOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS.





Meet Donna Fasano



Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author whose award-winning books have been translated into nearly two dozen languages and have sold 4 million copies.





Always a Bridesmaid
by Melinda Curtis
Genre: Bridesmaids, #2




Nicole Edwards has walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid thirteen times! Thirteen times! In an effort to change her luck, this master baker plans to give up waiting for Jake – who doesn’t know she’s alive – sell her business in New York City, buy a food truck in Los Angeles, and find her own happily ever after.



Chef Sean O’Malley could use Nicole’s dessert skills at his restaurant in New York City. In fact, he’s banking on a joint venture with Nicole, although he hasn’t yet approached her about it. When he learns during a pre-wedding event they’re both working that she’s moving to L.A. because she’s giving up on Jake, he decides to give her a crash course on how to be noticed. Sean has, after all, three younger sisters. He knows how a woman’s mind works. But he doesn’t factor in how his heart works or how easily it could be broken.





Meet Melinda Curtis



Melinda Curtis is an award-winning USA Today bestseller writing sweet and traditional romance, as well as romantic comedy.



Head on over to the

Choosy Bookworm

Holiday Extravaganza

event page to learn more and enter to win one of two $250 Amazon Gift Cards or Paypal Cash!










Lemon Squares #Recipe ~ Yum!

I don’t think I have shared this recipe on my blog before, but even if I have, that's okay because this is one of my favorites so I’m sharing it. (Maybe, again! LOL) I hope you enjoy!

After The Lovin' Lemon Bars

Ingredients

·        1 cup flour
·        1/2 cup butter, softened
·        1/3 cup powdered sugar
·        2 eggs
·        1 cup granulated sugar
·        1/2 teaspoon baking powder
·        1/4 teaspoon salt
·        2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
·        3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
·        Powdered (confectioners) sugar for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together the flour, butter, and powdered sugar. Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased square 8" X 8" pan, building up 1/2-inch edges (to hold in the filling). Bake the crust for 20 minutes.


3. Beat the remaining ingredients until light and fluffy. Pour lemon filling over hot crust and bake approximately 25 minutes, or until no indentation remains when lightly touched in the center. Cool and cut into squares. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar. Enjoy these lusciously sweet lemon bars after the lovin'! 

Make Your Own Christmas Gifts ~ #DIY Holidays ~ #Crafters

I can’t believe I’m saying this… but Christmas is just 7 and a half weeks away. I can hear you groaning! You’re talking about Christmas before Thanksgiving? Yes, I am. And there’s a good reason.

Homemade gifts are the absolute best. Giving family and friends an item that you took the time to make yourself offers a profound message about what they mean to you. And in order to find time to make DIY presents, an early start is necessary. Here are some cute and easy ideas I found on-line.
 
1. Bath Bombs – Every woman in my life loves the luxury of a long, hot soak. These fizzy bath bombs would add a spa-like feel to any bath. They look very easy to make. Find the instructions at Something Turquoise




2. Family Photo Collage Letters – These wooden letters are available in any craft store, and so is Mod Podge. All you need are some family photos and a pair of scissors, and you’re all set to craft a fun gift that any of your friends would love to hang on their wall. Find full instructions at House on the Way.





3. Body Butter – Three ingredients, all natural, I might add, are all you need to make this luscious body-softening cream that can also be used as lip balm. This is a gift that will help alleviate the dry skin problems brought on by the cold winter months. Find out how to make this gift at She Wears Many Hats.


Do you give DIY Christmas gifts? What are some of the best DIY gifts you have given and received?
~  ~  ~

Now available for pre-order! 

A TOUCH OF PASSION
12-Book Romance Bundle
Including NY Times & USA Today bestselling authors.

Coming soon to…
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Nook



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Kobo Customers can save 50% off of ALL titles using the promo codes below—so please take advantage of this incredible opportunity to stock up on eBooks while you can!
(Please note the dates for each country.) 
Canada
October 28th – October 31st
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October 27th – October 30th
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October 30th – November 2nd
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Don't miss your chance to save on Donna Fasano romances as well as ALL OTHER Kobo eBooks! Happy Shopping!

Italian Sausage and Kale Soup #Recipe @DonnaFaz

Please don’t let the kale put you off! This green leafy vegetable is nearly flavorless, but it’s packed with nutrition. What you will taste is everything else: Italian sausage, chicken broth, carrots, celery, onions, beans, fennel seeds, basil, and creamy potatoes. Mmmmm! A bowl of this hot soup and a slice of bread slathered with butter will cure whatever ails you. You have to try this recipe! Your family will love it. Mine does.

Italian Sausage and Kale Soup

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 carrots, halved length-wise, chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 bunches of kale, chopped, large stems removed
1 15-ounce can of cannelloni beans, rinsed, drained
32 ounces chicken broth (I use organic)
2-4 cups water
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Salt and pepper to taste
6 medium-sized red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed, cubed

1.     Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a large soup pot and turn heat to medium. Add the sausage and fry until brown, using spatula to break up the meat. Once there is no pink left, pour the sausage into a sieve to drain and set aside.
2.     Place the pot back on the burner. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and the onions, carrots, and celery. Sweat the vegetables for 5-7 minutes until the onions are slightly translucent.
3.     Add the sausage back into the pot. Then add the kale, beans, chicken broth and enough water to cover the ingredients. Stir in the garlic, basil, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then turn down the heat to medium low and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally and adding more water as necessary to keep ingredients covered with liquid.
4.     Add the potatoes and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.

Serve with biscuits or hearty bread and butter.


Zen 101: Mindfulness by @DonnaFaz

Mindfulness is active, open attention to the present. It’s the state of observing your thoughts and feelings from a distance without labeling them as good or bad. Living mindfully means to be in the moment and awake to each experience. Practicing mindfulness brings calm where there was chaos, peace where there was turmoil. Here are some suggestions that will help you live with more intention and less judgment.

Your only true reality is this moment, right now. If you’re not in the here and now, you’re either judging the past or anticipating the future—the first can’t be changed and the second is completely unpredictable. Focusing on This Moment—the people you’re with, the situation you’re in—is what is most important for your well-being.

There is a wilderness that can only be walked alone. Even when you are surrounded by people, no one can walk in your footsteps but you. Allow yourself the opportunity to get to know who you really are, what you really think and believe, how you really feel about your experiences.

Everything is created twice; once in the mind and then again in your life. Keep good moral standards at the forefront of your mind. If you do, then nothing you say or do will harm another.

Negative thoughts are harmless…unless you believe them. Don’t attach yourself to negativity in any form: thoughts, actions, or emotions. If bad thoughts invade your mind, simply let them go. There’s no need to reprimand yourself for the thoughts. Just let them go.

You will not be punished for your anger. You’ll be punished BY your anger. Annoyance, enmity, jealousy, resentment, they’re all normal human feelings. Dwelling on these gloomy emotions, however, will result in a pessimistic outlook. Life is too short to be anything except the best, most positive you.

Inner peace is knowing and loving yourself. The validation of others isn’t necessary for you to live a good and happy life.

To strongly believe in something and not live it is dishonest. Follow your intense passions mindfully. Live your beliefs and you’ll never be fooled by the words or desires of others.

The right path and the easy path are rarely one and the same. Every struggling step you succeed in taking toward your goal makes the reaching of the goal all the more satisfying.

If you truly desire the benefits, you must accept the costs. Every want (dream/goal) comes with some sort of sacrifice. You must welcome the suffering in order to achieve the dream.

The burden of too much responsibility inhibits a peaceful, mindful life. Every moment doesn’t have to be filled with something to do. Give yourself space to breathe, to appreciate, to be.

Embrace spontaneity. Work is necessary, yes, but some of life’s best experiences arrive at unplanned moments. Be flexible and open.

Make rejuvenation part of your daily schedule. If all we do is pour out of our buckets and never refill them, we’d all walk around carrying empty buckets. Take time to refill yourself—seek quiet solitude and focus your attention inwardly on a regular basis.

How has mindfulness, or the lack of it, affected your life? In what area of your life could you benefit from being more mindful? Do you have a suggestion for how others can live a more mindful life?

~  ~  ~



A note from the author: In a world filled with mass shootings, starving refugees, and myriad other tragedies, how do we keep our sanity? My book, PRAYER OF QUIET, describes a simple yet powerful spiritual practice I have used to help me escape the chaos of the world. I wrote the book so others might also benefit from this calming daily devotion.  


Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake #recipe by @DonnaFaz

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Autumn has arrived! When the air turns a little chilly, I can’t help but turn on my oven and bake up something delicious. Last week I made a wonderful sunflower seed yeast bread. It was so good! Here’s a great fall recipe. I hope you’ll try it.

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake

Gingersnap crust –

2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 32 cookies)
1/4 cup ground walnuts
5 Tablespoons butter, melted

Cheesecake –

4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1.      Pre-heat oven to 300º F. Grease a 9-inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Wrap foil around the outside of the pan to catch any leaks.
2.    Prepare crust: Mix together cookie crumbs, walnuts, and butter. Press mixture into the bottom of the pan, going up the side 1 inch. Bake 8 – 10 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes.
3.    In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, and then add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until well incorporated. Measure out 3 cups of the cheese mixture and spread evenly over the crust.
4.    Add pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the remaining cream cheese mixture in the mixing bowl. Mix with a wire whisk until blended. Carefully spoon pumpkin mixture over the cream cheese mixture in the pan.
5.     Bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until sides look set and the center jiggles just a little when moved.
6.    Turn off the oven, open the oven door about 4 inches, and leave cheesecake in the over for 30 more minutes. Remove from oven, set on cooling rack. While cheesecake is still warm, run a knife around the outside edge of the crust. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Cover loosely with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
7.     When ready to serve, run a knife around the outside edge again. Carefully remove the spring form. Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.


From One Word-Slinger To Another @DonnaFaz

Today’s post is for authors and/or anyone interested in word-slinging.

An online colleague and friend directed me to this article on How to Overcome Writer’s Block. In the post, BD Schmitt of The Authors’ Nook offers some practical advice on beating the dreaded block. We’re told to re-read the pages we’ve written (this will familiarize us with plot, scene, characters, etc), spend some time with our characters, begin with a prompt (Schmitt offers a great list of them!), as well as other helpful advice. This is a short, wonderful, power-packed post.

Thanks for The Passive Voice for pointing me to this eye-opening article on book sales from National Public Radio. The article quotes Washington Post critic Ron Charles who reviews books that are nominated for prestigious literary awards such as the Man Booker and National Book Awards, as well as other industry professionals about publishing sales figures. I have to say I’m shocked to learn of the atrociously low sell-through numbers of some of these wonderful, award-winning books. You can read the full article by clicking here.

The news of Jackie Collins death made me pause today. I enjoyed her novels over the years. According to USA Today, the actress-turned-author lost her battle with breast cancer. She penned 32 books in her life-time. She was 77. This much-loved author will be missed. 




  

9 Ways to Let Go and Be Free ~ #Inspiration ~ @DonnaFaz

Letting go can be scary. But being free (of doubt, fear, guilt, negativity, etc) can’t be achieved without a willingness to let go of those things that keep you trapped. Freedom is a choice that can be life-changing. Here are some ways to achieve a better, lighter state of being.

1. Stop judging yourself – Release your expectations of who, how, where, and what you should be. Sometimes it’s in the letting go of judgments and ideals, even if only for a while, that allows you to move forward.

2. De-clutter – Clear off countertops and tabletops. File away those important papers where they belong. Sort through, give away, or simply get rid of any clothing you haven’t worn or those household items that you haven’t used in the past year. There’s probably someone out there who needs the very things you’re not using. Removing these unused items from your life will open your life to new things and give you more space to breathe.

3. Plan activities to look forward to – Whether it’s seeing a movie with friends, visiting an art exhibit, or a weekend away in a quaint B&B, give yourself something to feel excited about. Living in a state of anticipation is better than living with a woe-is-me or life-if-boring mentality.

4. Sit in silence – The key element in meditation is to focus on the here and now. Simply be present in this moment. When regrets from the past or fears about the future encroach on your thoughts, gently refocus your attention on the present. Start slow—five minutes is better than none—and gradually increase your meditation time until you reach the perfect duration for you.

5. Make someone’s day – When you find yourself feeling angry about the past or anxious and worried about the future, find a way to help someone else. Make lunch for a friend in need, offer a stranger a smile. Contributing to the well-being of others will make you feel more positive about yourself.

6. Spend time outside – It doesn’t matter where you go: the beach, a park, the mountains, a forest. Spending time outside will quiet your mind and lift your spirits.

7. Unplug from social media – We waste countless hours scrolling through timelines and post feeds. For what purpose? As long as you’re connecting with family and friends, a little bit is okay. But for the most part, social media sites put us on autopilot. Making a conscious effort to strictly limit yourself will leave you more time for real life experiences.

8. Starve your pain – Bad memories are fed by the remembering of them. You can choose not to feed your pain simply by being aware. When a bad memory floats into your thoughts, gently but firmly push it away by replacing it with another happier memory or thought. Let go of the bad thoughts; be free of the past. Not dwelling on the pain of the past is the best way to starve it.

9. Keep a gratitude journal – A gratitude journal doesn’t have to be elaborate. Every day (or night), write down 5 things for which you are grateful. There’s no pressure here. If 5 is too many, shoot for 3. Soon you’ll be looking for things in your day that you can enter into your journal. Living with an attitude of gratitude is much more positive than always complaining about or criticizing yourself, your life, or your situation.

Now it’s your turn. Do something. You can read dozens of articles on improving your life, but if you don’t implement the suggestions then nothing will ever change.


What suggestions would you add to this list? Leave a comment and help others let go and be free. 
~  ~  ~

If you've visited my website before, you know that I write romance and women's fiction novels. But here's something you might not know: four of my novels are now sold exclusively in the Kindle Store and are available for members of Kindle Unlimited Program. So if you're a Kindle Unlimited member, I would love it if you borrowed a Donna Fasano novel. And tell all your romance-loving friends about my books. Thanks!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread #Recipe by @DonnaFaz

Chocolate Zucchini Bread sitting on a
flour sack tea towel that belonged to my mother
It’s that time of the year again. Harvest season. Zucchini is in abundance which means it costs very little at the grocery store or local farmer’s market. Here’s a new-to-me recipe. I hope you like it.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups zucchini, grated
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350° F.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the zucchini, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Pour batter into a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan that has been coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake the chocolate zucchini bread for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before slicing. Yield: 1 loaf.

Enjoy!


Kindle Book Awards Top 5 Finalist! @KindlBookReview

I am extremely excited to announce that my book, 
AN ALMOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS, 
has been named a Top 5 Finalist in the 
sponsored by 
I'm a finalist in the romance category.
To see all the titles/all the categories, click here
Here's my lovely finalist badge. I am so honored!