Two online writing group/lists, The Short Mystery Fiction Society and the Flash Fiction Writing Workshop, have been instrumental in motivating and inspiring me to expand my writing and try new things!

2009 Eppie Award Finalist.
National Newspaper award winner.
Chicago Press Club Lisagor Award finalist.
Suburban IL Newspaper Assn. winner.
Award-winning short fiction.
Mystery Author, young adults, Quake/Echelon Press, www.echelonpress.com

New stories coming! See news or blog, http://candidcanine.blogspot.com Read author interviews at my Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e, http://www.mystericale.com.** Evil in winged form... read The Witch Tree from Echelon Press, available at Fictionwise! ** Kid's book: "Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery" - A nosy Dachshund digs up a family curse... is Sam's quest to find the missing miniature art, and save her longest friendship, doomed? Chapter 1 at website; see books.

Searching For A Starry Night
"Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery": A nosy Dachshund digs up a family curse... is Sam's quest to find the missing miniature art, and save her longest friendship, doomed? Quake/Echelon Press - http://www.quakeme.com

The Heat of the Moment Anthology - Echelon Press
The Heat of the Moment features stories by 21 authors on the theme of fire. Proceeds benefit the survivors of the 2007 Diego Wildfires. Includes Christine Verstraete's new Sam story, "Fire and Magic."

Verstraete Miniatures Gallery
Links to The Verstraete Miniatures Gallery, featuring some of my scale homes and miniatures. Also, links to the collection of Dutch miniaturist Kitty Balke from Holland. WRITING PAGE: Links to mystery author interviews, excerpts, fiction links and samples.

In Miniature Style
Link to IN MINIATURE STYLE - book on cd/download from Writers' Exchange Epublishing. Dollhouse/miniatures photos, how to's, profles and a fun 'Mini' Mystery!