My work has appeared in magazines such as Woman's World, The Star, Endless Vacation and The Washington Post. I'm the author of four acclaimed novels published by Tor/Forge Books. My latest novel, LILY OF THE SPRINGS, was inspired by the life of my mother who passed away in 1998. I really enjoyed bringing to life a book set in the 50's & 60's. I'm thrilled with the 5-star reviews LILY is generating, and I hope my fans will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
My first novel, "Border Crossings", a hardcover published by Forge Books in May of 1999, was a 2000 RITA Award nominee for Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book, a nominee for the 2000 Virginia Literary Award in Fiction. It was also a 2000 finalist in the Golden Quill award and in the Aspen Gold Award and won 1st Place in the Volusia County 2000 Laurel Wreath Award. My work has appeared in various anthologies such as Kay Allenbaugh's Chocolate for a Woman's Heart, Chocolate for a Couples' Heart and Chicken Soup for Couples.
I grew up in Pittsboro, Indiana, and graduated from high school in 1971 at Pittsboro High. Although I had dreams of becoming a novelist, I joined the United States Air Force to see the world and became a medical technician, serving assignments at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois and in Crete, Greece. It was in Crete that I met my Italian-American husband, Frank Bellacera, and my article about that meeting, 'Streaking for Love,' appeared in CHICKEN SOUP FOR COUPLES and CHOCOLATE FOR A WOMAN'S HEART. In 1985, after a chance meeting with Princess Di and Prince Charles at Andrews Air Force Base, I rediscovered my love affair with the written word. My first published story, "The Day Princess Di Spoke to Me," appeared in the military magazine, Family. From that time on, I never looked back. It took eleven years, but finally, with BORDER CROSSINGS, I realized my dream of becoming a published novelist.
Now a resident of Northern Virginia, I've been married to Frank, a retired Air Force man, for thirty-seven years, and I'm the proud mother of two grown children, and grandmother to two gorgeous boys, Luke, 2, and Zealand, 17 months. As a military wife, I've had had the privilege of living in some wonderful places, including Hawaii, Greece, Colorado and North Carolina. In addition to my writing career, I've worked as a medical technician, a librarian, an executive secretary and a receptionist for a member of Congress on Capitol Hill. When I'm not writing, my most favorite thing to do in the world is spend time with my grandsons. If I can't do that--because they live 9 hours away--I like to make jewelry every afternoon while watching Dr. Phil, which I sell at Etsy.com and craft shows. If you want to check out my designs, you can do so at BeautifulEveningBead.etsy.com.
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