CarolAnn, Thank you so very much! My female leads are always kick-ass because I can't stand a weepy, weak female lead. Having grown up fighting (Hey, I'm Irish, redheaded and have a temper! lol).
I LOVE Showalter, Kenyan and Feejan! Along with Jayne Ann Krentz, their my favorites. You including me in that category of writer's is an awesome compliment!
I know what you are going through with your arthritis and here's a couple tips: 1- Look in the animal care section (farm animals) of Walmart, get some "Veterinary Liniment Gel" I prefer Absorbine cause it smells like mint, rub that into your hands or 2-Take Chilli powder, Basil,fresh garlic and mix into a thick paste. Rub it on a small area to check for allergic reaction, if no reaction within 20 minutes then apply a thick layer to your hands. Let sit for 30 minutes then wash off. Both work for me & I'm writing this on an Android with an on-screen keyboard. Also, check out VRS- Voice Recognition Software, it's free at the Google Play store. You speak and it translates into text. I use that as well. Good luck and, again, thank you! Best Wishes, Kelly