Talking of older books . . .

This is a post that results from a comment posted on my earlier blog about the reissue of older books.

In the comments on that day PrincessFiona said:

>>Excellent to see the ebooks coming out. Though I look at my nice little shelf with 37 of your titles in paperback and want to complete the set.

I was so thrilled to think that Fiona had  a collection of my books and was looking to complete the set (only 23 titles  to go Fiona!  Well - actually only 21 as two of these were only in ebook form  or a story published on eHarlequin). But this got me wondering  - which is the oldest Kate Walker title  you have?  On your bookshelves? Do you have a collection of oldies from my writing history?

Does anyone out there have a complete collection of Kate Walker titles? Or who has the largest collection?  Is Fiona's 37 titles the biggest collection of Kate Walker's in captivity?

Or - another question - which older title would you most love to find and read ?

Fiona - I don't know if you knew of this, but I just discovered that one of those 'ebook only' stories has actually be published in print in  Australia -  Wife For Real which was a serial over on eHarlequin was a bonus book in with  Innocent Secretary . . .Accidentally Pregnant by Carol Marinelli.  You might find that somewhere.

Anyway - tell me about your oldies and  I'll have a look in my book stock boxes and  offer a couple of giveaways from my backlist to help some of you add to your collection.

Where does time go?

Yesterday we celebrated a birthday in this house. No, not mine or the Babe Magnet's  - but Flora's.  I find it hard to believe that she is actually now a mature (well I use the word advisedly ) lady of five .

Five! That's mature in cat years. And even though Maine Coons are supposed to keep on growing longer than most cats, she has now reached her full size and beauty. And she knows it.  It's hard to remember when she was just a small kitten who came to live with us two days after Christmas  in 2007.

So to celebrate,  I thought I'd just post a couple of pictures of   Princess Flora Floozibelle - as the little kitten I first met, through her growing up years and - as she was yesterday , asleep on my desk after all the extra treats and food.

Old books . . . New editions

One of the best things about writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon is the way that the books are published in so many different formats and countries all  over the world.  Every now and then a bundle of new foreign editions appears in the post and I have fun finding out which books they are and where they've been reprinted this time.

I've  had a flurry of these books lately and it's been interesting to see which 'old favourites' have turned up this time.

One is a reprint of a reprint  now appearing as a 'Select'  title in Japan. The Twelve Month Mistress always had one of my favourite covers and now I think it looks really powerful and  atmospheric in this new edition.

Another reprint of an older book appears in a French edition where I'm thrilled to be published together with my lovely friend Trish Morey - who just received her silver pin for her 25th title  -   In this edition  Trish's Secrets of Castillo Del Arco  has my  The Married Mistress included as a free promotional title - a great bargain. And Congratulations Trish on that 'silver' book!


In parcels of books arriving last week, I also  had an Italian edition of The Antonakos Marriage,   The Return of The Stranger in Greek, Spanish, Portugese, and  Hebrew. And The Devil and Miss Jones is out in France this month too.

It's been intriguing to see these foreign language editions appearing on Kindle - and so showing up on my listing on Amazon, where I can now spot German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese editons alongside the UK ones.  When I think back to how when I was first published, the books tended to appear on a shelf in a UK bookshop for one month and that was the only time I ever saw them on sale, this is such a great thrill to see  all these editions appearing now.

And then there are the older books, now being reproduced in the Kindle format -  after browsing on Amazon, I discovered that The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge has been brought out in this format last month -  sadly, without the gorgeous sexy cover  of the original. 

And it's great to see that in the top 100  Mills & Boon titles on sale on Amazon today, there  are four 'elderly' Kate Walker titles  listed there - The Greek Tycoon's Unwilling Wife (in Mediterranean  Tycoons)  Kept For Her Baby, The Duke's Secret Wife  and, of course The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge. It's great to see them all enjoyuing a new lease of life  as Kindle books.

And who knows what today's post might bring!

What oldies but goldies romance books would you love to see reappearing on Kindle?

Celebrating a friend's achievement

Today I have a blog in a very special place - I'm over on my friend Kate Hardy's blog, joining in  the special  - and very big - blog party she's having to celebrate her real landmark book - her  50th published title!

Some years ago I shared the day of my 50th book presentation with Kate  because  she was then celebrating her 25th silver pin.    And last Friday I was there after the AMBA lunch  to cheer and applaud when she was presented with her gold pin for her 50th title!

Er . . .yes  - five years later!! She's hit 50 and I'm plodding along with 61 . . .

That - and other reasons are why I call her Scary Kate. If you want to know more, then why not visit Kate's Blog today. I'm giving away two copies of my trilogy Claimed by The Sicilian (it includes my 50th title The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge)  as part of the celebrations.

See you there?

And many, many congratulations, Kate on this landmark book. At the pace you write, I'll expect to be celebrating your 75th . . .Oh - next year??

Missing again

My blog is getting neglected  - that's because I've been busy and been away again

I've only just got back from a trip to London where I was att the annual lunch for the Association of Mills and Boon authors  - I also had a great trip to the theatre - and  dinner with my sister.

Because it's the day for my regular Kate's Corner blog over on  We Write Romance,  there are more details over there.

Meanwhile, I've been busy appeasing  the cats for abandoning them, unpacking, washing . . reading for getting back to my desk tomorrow.

Pink Heart Day

It's the first Friday of the month so that mneans it's my Pink Heart Society  day for blogging in my Date With Kate Column.

So that's where you'll find me - with the So You Think You Can Write  contest in mind, as a special  request from PHS editor, Michelle Styles, I'm talking about choosing just which type of romance writing will suit you best.

See  you there!

Tote Bags Blogging Day

It's the first Sunday of September  (where did the rest of the year go?). So today is my day for blogging over at Tote Bags 'N' Blogs so that's where you'll find me.

 I'm talking about my  'New Year'  - which I'm starting with a book giveaway. So if you post a comment over there you'll be in with a chance to win. Maybe The Devil and Miss Jones  or The Return of The Stranger  . . . Your choice of the backlist books I have available.

Thanks to everyone who has sent sympathies and get well messages after Charlie revealed that I'd sliced into my finger - it was definitely an OUCH! moment. It's  still not quite healed - I'm not sure if I'm going to lose the nail - but it is getting there so thank you all for your concern.  It has certainly made typing messages  a lot more difficult! One of the reasons for the shortage of blog posts.