The woman in this photo can lay claim to being the best female singer in the world. Her name is Carola Smit and I had the great pleasure of meeting her in her dressing room after a concert in 1993. Her band, BZN (Band Zonder Naam), Holland's equivalent of ABBA and every bit as good, were signing autographs backstage for fans and I was waiting patiently as possible for my turn (I was 13 and patience is thin at that age lol). Soon the band went back to their dressing room and my turn didn't come. Not yet. My auntie approached the band's manager, told him I was visiting from overseas and asked if I could meet Carola because I was a huge fan of her work and would soon be returning home. He went back to the dressing room and returned a few moments later, calling for the young girl from overseas. My auntie jumped up and down excitedly and pointed in my direction. He waved me over and I went with my auntie to him and he led us down a short corridor to a closed door. He opened the door inward and I looked into the room. It was like when Willy Wonka opened the door to the Chocolate Room except this wasn't Willy Wonka's Chocolate Room. It was BZN's dressing room. All my Christmases had come at once. We entered the room and I looked around. The male members of the band were doing their own thing and then I turned to Carola and she was smiling the most beautiful smile I had ever seen and she was aiming it right at me. She introduced herself to me and asked my name. "Rebecca." The word almost didn't make it out but it did and it was the only one such was my feeling of awe for this beautiful and highly talented woman. I don't remember much more about that night but it did have a lasting effect on me, one that has driven me forward in my quest to be everything I can be. Once I knew for sure I was a writer I fell into the habit of writing to loud music. Much of it was on CD but then one day I had the good fortune of upgrading my internet plan to unlimited. Bang. I no longer needed CDs because I had everything I needed on YouTube, including many of the wonderful songs by BZN. I now listen to Carola's stunning voice while I write my stories and I smile at what was twenty years ago. I smile even more at what is now. 

Listen here to one of my favorite BZN songs with Carola out front.

Thank you and much love to each and every one of you <3 <3 <3 <3

Hello everyone. My name is Rebecca and I am the author of the 69 INCHES trilogy. The idea originated when I came across a review of Fifty Shades of Grey and thought, "I CAN do better." In that moment, the angels blessed me with an idea. 69 INCHES OF MAN. That was the original title. Not bad, but not great. It needed something else. Something...strong. Something...seductive. It needed Jonathon Steel. It soon got it and it went from 69 INCHES OF MAN to 69 INCHES OF STEEL and a whole series was born. 69 INCHES OF STEEL was released in late July and 69 INCHES AND RISING is coming on the first day of September. 69 INCHES OF LIGHT is due out in late October. The feedback for the first story has been generally positive and for that I am extremely grateful. Indeed, I am grateful for the idea in the first place for a series of books that I believe are good in their own right and better with the help of several good and close friends who have added their own touch of magic along the way. Please enjoy the stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Love and blessings to each and every one of you <3 <3 <3