Newswire

I don't know if you know this, but over on My Tote Bag, Lovely Lee Hyat runs a special Newswire service to tell readers the latest author news, more about the inspiration for the latest books, and offer exclusive excerpts. They also offer special fun contests that are only open to ASR NewsWire subscribers.

I recently had a Newswire sent out for The Konstantos Marriage Demand and once the newsletter has gone out to all the subscribers, Lee then posts them on the My Tote Bag site so that everyone can read them.

The contest is now closed of course - but if you look here, you can catch up with all past Newswires from many different authors about a great variety of books. You might even decide to sign up for the Newswire service yourself - I have!

Cheating

I'm wrestling the Sicilian to - I hope - a finish. So I'm too busy to post much.

But there are two interesting articles to distract you/occupy you while I'm working

1. Yesterday in the Daily Mail, an article declared: Mills & Boon boom sparked by young fans in rush to download romances

I'm not sure it's embarrassment that means younger readers are downloading their books rather than buying them in print - more that the ebook readers appeal to them. But are you embarrassed to be seen reading your romances in public? Do you prefer them in print or on a 'reader'?

Enquiring minds would like to know. Of course, to illustrate the article they had to use the cover of a book that was first published in 1986 - 24 years ago! But why let reality get in the way of a good story?


2. Again in the Daily Mail - today Danuta Kean is talking about Heroes. After the announcement of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, she says that : The new men of modern romantic fiction are about as sexy as socks

I've not read the books she's talking about - but with other stories I have read in mind, I've half a mind to agree. If I had the time

So what about you? what do you think? Comments welcome

EBooks

I've just discovered that Harlequin are bringing out a couple of my backlist books as new ebook. Which is rather nice. And unexpected. I wouldn't have known anything about them if I hadn't needed to check something on Amazon.com and found the details there arranged by publication date.

The books in question are:

The Married Mistress (2006)

Gorgeous Greek tycoon Damon Nicolaides is always in the news...so when the paparazzi get a tip-off about his new mistress, they come banging on her door!
Actually, Sarah and Damon were married a year ago! Sarah left him, thinking their marriage was a lie. Now Damon's come back to claim the wife he truly loves. But first he must protect her from the press by pretending that Sarah is merely his mistress...and to do that, he tells her, they'll have to make their love affair real!

and Bound By Blackmail (2005)

Jake Taverner has never wanted a woman as he wants Mercedes Alcolar. So when she rejects him, Jake's hurt pride demands revenge!
Jake traps Mercedes into a fake engagement as he embarks on a skillful seduction. She'll share his bed for one passionate month, bound to him by blackmail....

Not quite sure why they've chosen these two to republish now. But it's good to see both of them back again - though if you have The Alcolar Family Trilogy bundle, then you'll already have Bound By Blackmail.

Hopefully this means that for those of you who buy your books now in ebook format, this will be a great way to collect backlist titles.

RITAs

Yesterday the Romance Writers of America announced the line-up of finalists in all the categories for the RITA and Golden Heart awards for 2010.

I was thrilled to see that M&B Modern/Harlequin Presents authors were well representedin the Contemporary Series Romance Category, with nominations for:

The Christmas Love-Child by Jennie Lucas (November 2009)
One-Night Mistress…Convenient Wife by Anne McAllister (November 2009)

Duty, Desire, and the Desert King by Jane Porter (December 2009)

Kelly Hunter, whose books are published as Modern Heat was also nominated for her title Revealed: a Prince and a Pregnancy

There are several other M&B published authors on the list - for example

Michelle Willingham with Taming Her Irish Warrior in the Historical category

and

Elizabeth Rolls for Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride in the Regency Historical category.

Many congratulations to all the nominees - but I'm sure no one will be surprised if I save some very special cheers and congratulations for my dear friend and wonderful write Anne McAllister whose nominated book was the prize in our joint Here Come the Grooms Contest just a few weeks ago. Congratulations, Anne (and Christo!) !

You can read the full list of the finalists here.

The winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in Nashville in July.

Sicilians again . . .

It seems like only a week ago I was waving goodbye to the Sicilian as he went off to meet my editor . . .

Oh, wait, it was only a week ago - now he's back for tweaking. So talk amongst yourselves while I deal with him!

On other Sicilian topics, everyone who see it just loves the cover of Claimed by The Sicilian. I have to admit it is rather gorgeous. There's something really special about a 3 in 1 collection that has just my name on it. But more special is the line inside that says:

Three red-hot Mediterranean romances from one beloved Mills & Boon author

It makes me want to read it myself!

Claimed by the Sicilian will be on the bookshop shelves very soon. But The Konstantos Marriage Demand is out now - apparently - in Presents Extra. I say apparently because some readers are having difficulty finding it. So if anyone has spotted Nikos and Sadie out there, please let me know where you found it - you could be helping other readers track down their own copy.

Sid, of course, is feeling smug because he's had his personal copy for weeks.

Covers

I've been pretty blessed by the cover fairies recently -

There was the one for Kept For Her Baby which looked like this.

This one made some great bookmarks that everyone has loved when I've sent them out.



There was the lovely one for Mistresses Shackled By Rubies - even if she does seem to be shackled with pearls rather than rubies in this picture.



And then there is the brand-new 3 in 1 By Request Claimed by


the Sicilian, which I've already said I really love. And as I've just got my hands on the book, I have to say it looks even better in reality.





Just this week, I was shown the article in Romance Magazine which has the cover of my July book - The Good Greek Wife? to illustrate it, and I was thrilled.

Thanks to Amazon, I can show you what that one looks like now .


It's really caught some of the atmosphere of the book. That bed is an important part of the story - and not just because of the obvious. And the fact that you can see the sea through the window picks up a central thread of the plot too.

I can see this one on some new bookmarks soon . . .





But I'll have to admit that I'm not particularly keen on the cover art for The Konstantos Marriage Demand. The characters are as I described them ( believe me, that isn't always the case!). Sadie's dress is just right. The scene is exactly where I set it It's intense enough in their fierce concentration on each other. But . . . I just can't get on with it.

Anne McAllister and Michelle Reid don't agree with me. They both tell me they like it fine and what am I fussing about? So it must just be personal preference.

Or perhaps it's the fact that this picture makes Sadie look scarily like my mother when she was young and considering the way this scene develops that's perhaps not the best thought to have in my head.

But it did make me wonder what you feel about the covers these days. Some of them have changed, some remain the same. The new designs - for Romance, Medicals, By request etc have been out for a while now. I've heard that there may be further re-vamps coming up but that has yet to be confirmed.

So what do you think of the designs we have now?And how much does the cover affect you choice of a book - to buy or ot to buy? Just wondering.

Happy St Patrick's Day

A Happy St Patrick's Day to everyone - specially my two Irish writer friends Abby Green and Trish Wylie. And of course to all the Irish side of my own family. Just the thought of the celebrations in the 'Emerald Isle' makes me think about going back to Dublin again and sharing a special drink with Abby to mark the day.

I'm sure you've spotted that I actually dedicated my current Presents EXTRA title The Konstantos Marriage Demand to Abby as a thank you for her company and generous chauffering duties when the Babe Magnet and I have visted Dublin in the past and when she and I went on writers' retreat to Delphi Lodge in spring last year. Happy St Paddy's Day Abby!

Today I'm celebrating St Patrick's Day with another guest blog in the company of the Mamawriters. It's a long time since I combined writing with fulltime motherhood, but I remember it only too well. And that's what we'll be talking about over there if you'd like to come and join us.

Oh - and the winners of yesterdays RNA prizes were:

Romantic Novel of the Year

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts - Lucy Dillon

Love Story of the Year

Animal Instincts - Nell Dixon

Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to romantic fiction, as the Romantic Novelists' Association marked its 50th anniversary.

Many congratulations to all the winners - and to the RNA on this very special anniversary.

Publication and Prizes

Today is the RNA's Awards lunch in the Royal Garden Hotel Kensington London. Sadly I can't be there this year but in the past I've always run a small prize for the person who can name the two winners of the Romantic Novel of The Year Award and The Love Story of the Year Award.

So post your guesses in the comments sction and I have a copy of Mistresses Shackled By Rubies to give to the winner.

The Romantic Novel of the Year

The Romantic Novel of the Year is chosen from a shortlist of six titles which have been selected by the reading public from more than 150 nominated books.

The winner is selected by three independent judges.

The shortlist, in alphabetical order by author name, is:

Passion, Louise Bagshawe, Headline Review

Fairytale of New York, Miranda Dickinson, Avon (Harper Collins)

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts, Lucy Dillon, Hodder & Stoughton

A Glimpse at Happiness, Jean Fullerton, Orion

The Glass Painter’s Daughter, Rachel Hore, Pocket (Simon & Schuster)

The Italian Matchmaker, Santa Montefiore, Hodder & Stoughton

The Love Story of the Year

The Love Story of the Year is for a shorter romance where there is a strong emphasis on the developing central relationship.

A shortlist of six is again chosen by the reading public, with the winner selected by three judges. The shortlist is:

The Notorious Mr Hurst, Louise Allen, Harlequin Mills & Boon

Animal Instincts, Nell Dixon, Little Black Dress

Always the Bridesmaid, Nina Harrington, Harlequin Mills & Boon

Fair Deception, Jan Jones, Robert Hale

The Wedding Party, Sophie King, Hodder

Claimed for the Italian’s Revenge, Natalie Rivers, Harlequin Mills & Boon

Today is also publication day for The Konstantos Marriage Demand in the Presents EXTRA line-up in American bookshops.

So look out for that.

Blogging around - again - X2

I warned you that March was going to be a crazy month for me - and once again I'm blogging around the web. Today I'm on two different sites.

First is my special appearance on I Heart Presents to talk about my new Presents EXTRA release The Konstantos Marriage Demand which is released in America tomorrow.

And then because it's the 15th of the month, I have my regular Kate's Corner blog over on We Write Romance.

Not sure exactly when each of these posts will go up because of time zones affecting things but I'll be there sometime today!

Today I start on the clearing the decks routine of tidying, cleaning and organising my office and catching up on the things that I had to neglect a bit while tackling the Sicilian.

But someone I know will be celebrating today - and preparing for a really special day tomorrow. So to Caroline who was on my course in Fishguard - Happy Birthday today.

And have a fabulous Wedding Day tomorrow! Don't forget to send me a photo.

So last year one of my students became Grandma to twins while on the course. This year, Caroline prepared to become a bride - I can't wait to see what next year's course will bring!

One Sicilian Out - Three in!

At last - the Sicilian has left the building!

Il Principe Pietro D'Inzeo finally gave in, accepted his happy ending (though not without a struggle) and went on his way to my editor's desk. Where she was very happy to see him. I can now relax my shoulders, tidy my office, do some reading . . . and think about the next book.

The plan for that one has changed slightly - still the 'special project' I've been asked to work on but with a rather different approach. And the new plan suits me just wonderfully. So I'm really happy about this. More details when I can tell you.

But my editor also had some god news for me about other books. I've had a sneak preview of the cover for The Good Greek Wife? and I love it. There is also going to be a special article about this book in the upcoming edition of Romance Magazine that goes out to all HMB's Direct customers. At the moment I've just seen the proofs for this but it looks wonderful. I'll see if I can find a way to share it with you when it comes out.

And finally, as one Sicilian left the building, I got to see - at last - the cover for the April collection - the By Request 3 in 1 Claimed by The Sicilian and I just love this one too. It isn't up on Amazon yet so I'll post it here for you to see. I think it's just gorgeous.

What do you think? I'm so thrilled by this book - instead of a selection of 3 titles by different authors as is usual in the By Requests I've had stories in, all three of these Sicilian titles are my novels - and with such a wonderful cover, I just can't wait to get my hands on the book.

Normal service will be resumed . . .

. . . when the book has left the building. . . .

Honouring a real Mills & Boon heroine

Britons who helped save Jews and other persecuted groups during the Second World War will be honoured at Downing Street with the new ''Hero of the Holocaust'' medal.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the creation of the award last year on a visit to the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.

Two surviving recipients, Sir Nicholas Winton and Denis Avey, will be given their medals in person while another 25 will be recognised posthumously.

Two of these will be Ida and Louise Cook. Opera loving sisters from London who smuggled British visas to Jews while attending recitals in Europe before the war and brought their valuables back to the UK.

Ida Cook also wrote romantic fiction for Mills and Boon as Mary Burchell.

Harlequin Mills & Boon, who published Mary Burchell and republished her autobiography SAFE PASSAGE a couple of years ago, under her real name, say that the British Heroes of the Holocaust Awards are to take place thisafternoon at Downing Street, presented by the Prime Minister. Ida Cook will be represented by her agent, Doreen Montgomery, Joint MD of Rupert Crew Ltd.

This gives me an added reason for being proud to say I am a Mills and Boon novelist.

You can read about the other Holocaust Heroes here

Blogging around again

As I'm sure you've noticed, I have a new book out in America this month - The Konstantos Marriage Demand in Presents EXTRA which is published officially on March 16th.

So as a spin-off from that I've been asked to guest on lots of different blogs all around the internet. And the first of those posts goes up today.

So today I'm visiting with the fabulous Romance Bandits. And I'm talking about . . .what am I talking about? Oh yes - Family Feuds - and of course The Konstantos Marriage Demand.

Why not come and join me over there?

Important announcement and an apology

I've just heard from the organisers of the weekend course I was supposed to be running in April at New Place Shirrell Heath Southampton. They have had problems with web sites etc so that the event hasn't been as accessible as it needed to be and now, unfortunately they have decided that it will not be possible to run it as planned.

So I'm afraid that this weekend has now been cancelled.

My apologies to everyone who had signed up for it but these are circumstances beyond my control. I hope that you might find some other course that I am running that you can attend in the future. And I'll look forward to seeing you then.

Blogging about . . .

It's the first Sunday of the month which means that I'm blogging somewhere else today - over on Tote Bags 'N' Blogs.

As I write this I'm not totally sure what I'm blogging about but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Care to join me?

PS As I just wrote the blog I can tell you it's about new beginnings! ;o)

Making my day 2

To celebrate the USA publication day of The Konstantos Marriage Demand - coming up on March 16th in Presents EXTRA - I'm running an extra contest together with lovely Leena Hyat over on My Tote Bag.

You can win a signed copy of one of my backlist books and one of my tote bags together with one of my brand-new special 25th Anniversary celebration pens.

You'll find the contest here

And talking of those pens - for USA readers Lee is running a special giveaway from her Goodie Room where if you send her send a stiff or padded self-addressed envelope with at least $1.49 postage. She'll send you one of the pens and my special bookmarks.

Send your request to-

Lee Hyat - Kate Walker Goodies

12819 SE 38th St. #243

Bellevue, WA 98006

UK readers, I'll try to organise something for you once my delivery of the pens arrives - watch this space!

On the subject of The Konstantos Marriage Demand, this morning I received a copy of a fabulous review for this book from Larissa at We Write Romance. She gave it 4 out of 4 stars (she wanted to give it 5 but they don't go up to 5 stars!) and it has started me smiling early today -

Kate Walker's latest is brilliant! Devastatingly emotional, intense and fast-paced, The Konstantos Marriage Demand leads you down the fairytale path in reverse!

Once upon a time, Sadie Carteret had it all. She'd fallen in love with a beautiful prince charming and they were set to be married. Then reality set in and she realized that he'd used her as a pawn in an age-old feud between their families! But what Sadie didn't know was that Nikos Konstantos wasn't really the man her father had portrayed him—and she should have followed her heart. Instead she allowed herself to be used by her father to destroy Nikos.

In the end the laugh was on them, though, because Nikos didn't take it lying down. He built back up his empire and systematically tore apart Sadie's family fortune until there was nothing left.

What Nikos Konstantos hadn't counted on when he'd been pulling that last rug out from under Sadie's feet was her love for her mother and younger brother. She'd do anything to keep them from harm...even if that meant facing the devil himself. So when the opportunity for a little more personal revenge presented itself, Nikos took it. He arranged for them to spend time together away from the demands of outside influences. What they found was each other and the love they'd never really lost.

There are many books released from Presents each month, but by far this is one you must pick up. It's a twist from the meet, fall in lust, fall in love type stories out there. This one is most definitely more intense. And while each character is flawed, they are perfectly written to make you want to see them succeed and come together. I must say that Ms. Walker certainly gets better and better with each new book!

Thank you so much Larissa!

When you're fighting with a book that has been difficult to really get going, that sort of review is a wonderful boost. Pietro D'Inzeo had better watch out today. I'm planning on wrestling him into submission!

Pink Heart Society

It's a busy (Busy? It's crazy!) month for me - I'm going to be dashng arund here there and everywhere like a Mad March Hare.

Because I have a new book out it seems that everyone wants me to blog with them. But today I'm in one of my regular spots - over on the Pink Heart Society Blog where I'm talking about what I'm reading . . or not!

See you there!

Over on I heart Presents there's an interesting survey where you can vote for your favourite hero nationality. The last time I looked, the Brooding Brits were in the lead - which suits me fine! Specially with the book I have coming up . . . .

I'd love to know who you would vote for. Do let me know your choices.

Oh - and there's a great article here about the titles of romance novels - and we all know how we feel about some of those! It's by Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and it's in answer to another article here which really rather states the obvious. As Sarah points out.

More birthday wishes - today is the birthday of a very special lady who helps me so much with publicity but, more important, has become a dear friend. She's Leena Hyat from Author Sound Relations

Happy Birthday Lee!

Oh I'll take the high road . . .

First of all - it's time to announce the winners of the Here Come the Grooms Contest, Sid the Cat, Mitch and Micah McAllister and - well whoever Liz Fielding gets to pick her winners - have all chosen a name and the winners are:

Nikos' winner - Mary Anne D from Michigan

Kal's winner - Alison L from Scotland

Christo's winner - Dena W from Washington

and the winners of course each receive copies of The Konstantos Marriage Demand, Loves Me, Loves Me Not (the RNA anthology) and One-Night Mistress . . .Convenient Wife.

I also ran an extra prize draw alongside the Here Come The Grooms Contest and the winner of that was Laurie B.
Congratulations to all the winners!

Special thanks go to Anne McAllister and Liz Fielding for joining in this special contest with me - we've had a lot of fun since we started the very first Here Come the Grooms Contest four years ago - here's to the next one!

So March 1st was St David's Day. Later in the month we'll have St Patrick's Day. And just to cover almost all parts of the British Isles, towards the end of March I'll be heading for Scotland.

I've never done any workshops/talks in Scotland before so this will be a new experience for me.

There are two events that have been organised by HI~Arts - Highland and Island Arts. And if anyone in Scotland is interested then the details are these:

1. Thursday 25th March 2010

Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness
7.30pm - 9.30pm

2. Saturday 27th March 2010

The MacPhail Centre, Ullapool.

2pm- 4pm

Both events will be seminars - part talk and (probably the most useful part of the seminar) a Q&A session

For further details and to book - please contact:

Peter Urpeth
Writing Development Coordinator HI~Arts

Suites 4 & 5 Fourth Floor Ballantyne House

84 Academy Street

Inverness Scotland IV1 1LU

t: 01463 720 885

f: 01463 720 895
http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/

Today would have been my mother's birthday sadly, she's no longer here to celebrate with personally - so instead I'll celebrate with a special friend who shares Mother's date - and who lives in the city of Dublin where my mum grew up -

Happy Birthday Abby Green!

Making my day . . .

I love to hear from my readers about my books. It makes my day when I get a quick note from someone who has enjoyed a novel I've written enough to take the time and trouble to write and say so.

Sometimes there are others who write and say the exact opposite, but well that's part of being a writer. You can't please everyone and I don't expect to do so.

But every once in a while I get a really special letter that really makes me proud to have written a particular novel. A letter that touches my heart and lets me know that I've touched someone else through the medium of my book.

I got one of those the other day in a message from someone who had read Kept for Her Baby. I'll admit that this message made me feel a little tearful when I read it.

Ms. Walker

I just finished your novel, Kept For Her Baby. It was the very first romantic novel I've ever read that addressed the issues of postpartum depression/psychosis, for the "heroine" and not a vengeful ex-whatever for the "hero". I shed many tears while reading this novel,but yet was happy that I had the chance to do so. I have met many people throughout my adult life that think it's a load of bull all because they have never experienced it. I had actually been told by my previous therapist that I could turn it on and off--on for inside her office when in a session, and off as I leave her office to go home. I never saw her again. I really think some men, like my ex-husband, should also read this novel--maybe it'll get through to them that maybe this is why their women have seemed very different after child birth and they should show some compassion and take them to see a doctor.

Thank you for writing this novel.

Your new reader

And this got me thinking.

Romance writing isn't 'great literature' - it's fantasy and fairly frothy. When I - and other writers - deal with the problems we give our characters to face, we do so in a very brief story really and with the guarantee of a happy ever after ending - something that can't be given to anyone dealing with those situations in real life.

But sometimes we can touch of real problems that speak to people and - hopefully - help them to know that other people have been through what they're experiencing. But we can't do it lightly. I know that I thought long and hard about writing Kept for Her Baby. I didn't want to write it if I couldn't do it well, and give the subject the right respect and care. Thankfully, from the responses I've had it seems I managed to do this.

What do you think? Do you like to read about real problems - real issues in your roamnces or do you prefer to keep the books on the fantasy side of life?

How deep and dark do you think an author can go and still write a romance?

Enquiring minds (OK - nosey minds) want to know

Wales, A great interview and last Chance . . . .

Last chance to enter the Here Come the Grooms Contest which closes on March 1st so get your entries in if you want to be in with a chance of winning the three great prizes that are on offer.

Details below or on my Contest Page.



March 1st is St David's Day and as you all know I have a strong connection with Wales - all that teaching in Fishguard, Caerleon - and of course I spent five years of my life in Aberystwyth which is where I met the Babe Magnet - so Happy St David's Day to you all and specially to my Welsh Readers.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Dedwydd!

The new Managing Director of Harlequin Mills and Boon Mandy Ferguson was interviewed on the Today Programme on Radio 4 on Friday and you can hear the interview here .

I have to admit that I smiled when the interviewer commented that HM&B don't win the Booker prize - or even get short-listed. My answer to that would be that I would far rather have my novels read and enjoyed by the hundreds of thousands of readers who buuy them than have them selected for some rather elitist, high-brow fiction prize. For me the real prize is knowing that my readers love what I write - that's the best sort of prize there is for an author of popular romance.

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Oh and if you missed it the first time around, the Presents EXTRA edition of Kept For Her Baby is now on special offer with 20% off with the chance to save an extra $6 on a selection of books over on eHarlequin. Just follow the Shirts and Skins promotion link in the sidebar. No prizes for guessing which 'side' this sexy cover belongs in!