So you think you can write.

I mentioned the new So You Think You Can Write contest yesterday. This is up and running now -  but this time it’s running  through Wattpad

All the details you need are on the Wattpad site here:

There's a Facebook page  here    and lots more information on the SYTYCW site here

The grand prize is a two book contract with Harlequin.  So what are you waiting for  - get writing - and posting!

Several people have asked if I have any courses that might help you learn about writing romance - well, yes I do, but the problem is that the  Complete Romance Writing course is on next week in Fishguard and  Writers' Holiday at Fishguard is already full.    Sorry!

I  do have another course coming up -with Relax and Write -  but that's actually a Writing Retreat - it's at  a 3 in 1 event in Swanwick in Derbyshire. Here are the details:

 9 - 11 October at The Hayes Conference Centre Swanwick Derbyshire - all inclusive fee £245 -

On this weekend we are organising three different courses.  'Writing for Children' with Anita Loughrey - such a specialist genre - come and join us and find out about how to write for different age groups. How to illustrate your story for the very young. How to inspire the older children to read.

'Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction' - a Retreat with Kate Walker.  This course has a limited number of places, so if you have not booked, please hurry.  Retreats are popular with those writing a novel.  They can receive feedback during the year, as Retreats are twice yearly, they will help you progress chapter by chapter!

'Write About your Uncle Joe' with Stephen Wade links you to not only writing short stories about the past, but putting into words the Family anecdotes that are more personal to each of us, whether for your memoirs or for fiction.

This Retreat is almost booked up and you will have to submit some chapters and a synopsis to work on - but if you're interested contact  Relax and Write for details.

After that, the next course is Advanced Romance Writing back in Fishguard in February 2016 - that's  just about booked up too, with, I think just two places left.

So that's taking me into 2016. After that, there will be more Relax and Write   events - like the course at Royal Agricultural College Cirencester. ..  April 15th - 17th

And another retreat (details to follow)

Which brings us right round to . . . Writers' Holiday Fishguard 2016! They will be accepting day visitors  so that might help. 

Details of all Writers' Holiday events can be found on  their web site here. 

Which reminds me - I need to update my own web site with the new events that are planned.  (Note to self - when I get back from Writers' Holiday at Fishguard)

I know so many of you can't get to any opf the courses but there is always the Kindle edition of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance  and the new paperback editions which is available on Amazon UK and USA etc  - Barnes and Noble or here

Preparing for Fishguard

It’s been one of those weeks. Well, it’s that time of year for a start. We’re coming up to the week in  the summer where I – and the Babe Magnet – head south and west and cross the border in to Wales. It’s time for the wonderful, special time  that is Writers’ Holiday. The one that used to be at Caerleon but is now held at Fishguard right on the Welsh Coast.

I can’t wait – this is a very special event, shared with some very special people and every year I look forward to it so much. But planning the course I’ll be teaching and getting organised for the journey and the week in Wales always takes some doing. (Yes, I know I’ve taught the course before – perhaps a dozen times,  and it is always based on my  12 Point Guide To Writing Romance -  but I’m always looking for new ways of making it interesting and  enjoyable.)  Then there’s the cats to plan for. We have been training up new ‘cat sitters’, two lovely girls who will be sharing the duties between them. It’s great to know that Charlie and Ruby are able to stay in their own home  and be looked after  every day. But that was another thing to organise.

So everything was going fine until, as well as hair and doctor appointments,  there was a sudden dental emergency which resulted in a struggle to the death with a tooth that didn’t want to be extracted.  It was got rid of in the end,  thank heaven as it seems it’s been poisoning me for an age

 but it was not a pleasant struggle and something I didn’t need as an extra!

So I’m doubly looking forward to Fishguard and meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  The Babe Magnet and I always have such a wonderful time and Anne and Gerry who run Writers’ Holidays make sure that everyone is  happy  and enjoying themselves. All they can control is the weather but  if it’s even half as lovely as it was last year,  I’ll be happy.

I’ll be happy anyway – I always am. Writers’ Holiday has that effect- relaxation, conversation, good food, good friends  and some fantastic course. I’m hoping to do one of the other courses myself, when my teaching is finished.

Fishguard is full for this year  but as the smaller venue is filling up rapidly since the move, plans have been made to admit day visitors, people who are able to travel each day, or maybe holidaying nearby and want to taste a course. Details can be found on the Writers’ Holiday web site here.

So, I’m going back to planning and packing  - but I’ll hope to write another post very soon to give you the details of this year’s So You Think You Can Write -  and other courses I have coming up  very soon. 

And everyone who's coming to Fishguard - I'm so looking forward to seeing you.

Tote Bags blog

Yesterday really got away from me -  and there were the wildest storms in the evening so that I  had to switch my computer off and leave it off.

So I didn't get around to saying that, yesterday being the 12th of the month, it was my day for blogging over on the Tote Bags 'n' Blogs site.   

So that's where my latest post is. I'm talking about the books I've been reading lately - some great novels to  recommend. It's vital as an author to 'refill the well'[ of your creativity - and that's what these books have helped me do.

Specially for Australian readers

Following this lovely review on the Australian Romance Readers Association site – and the fact that they posted it as a Featured book on their Facebook Convention page, I’ve had people asking me when Olivero’s Outrageous Proposal will appear on the bookshop shelves in Australia. Usually the Australian publication is pretty much simultaneous with the UK and  USA editions, but this time  the books have been changed around rather – so the news is that Olivero’s Outrageous Proposal will not be out in Australia until December.

So  I’m sorry to everyone who is waiting to read it. It is coming – promise!  - but there will be a little wait before it does.

But if it helps  you get through the weeks before that release date – I do have news of two other  releases in Australia coming up in the next few months.

Firstly there will be a reprint of a 2001 book  - Her Secret Bridegroom.  This will be in a special  Latin Lovers collection together with books by Miranda Lee and Lynne Graham.   I'm calling  cover of this book ‘the Chest’ – I’m sure you can see why.

Secondly, there will be a reprint collection of

the three linked Alcolar Family stories –

The Twelve Month Mistress

The Spaniard’s Inconvenient Bride

Bound By Blackmail

Which tell the stories of Joaquin, Ramon and Mercedes Alcolar – Proud modern day Spanish aristocrats – passion is their birthright!

I don’t have a copy of the cover to show you yet but the trilogy will be released under the title The Notorious Alcolars, and this should be out in September.

And just in case you wanted to  remind yourself of the story that started this all off – before you read/reread the trilogy  then don’t forget that the story of Alex Alcolar – Wife For Real – is available on the eHarlequin web site  here.

Czeching in

Well I gave away all the foreign translations I had.  If you haven't received yours yet it's on its way. And Diana and Lois, I'm watching the postman waiting for those Spanish editions. You already have first claim on those . . .

Anyway, I'm emptied the 'foreign editions' box and as soon as I did, new translations started to appear!

Not that I mind because it means that my books are going out  to so many different countries where I hope readers will love them. This also means that older books come round again, years after they were first published.

This one is  The Married Mistress -  a book that was published  2003, then  2006. Great to see it back again - and I love the fact that in the Czech edition  my name becomes Kate Walkerova.  Not quite as good as historical novelist  Elizabeth Rollsova   but it always makes me smile.

Anyone want  a Czech translation?  I have a spare copy.

Have a great weekend - the sun is burning high in the sky here but we are promised severe storms later tonight - I do hope so.  I love a wild, fierce storm. The cats won't be happy so they will be under the bed!

Pink Heart Day

Today's my day for blogging over on the Pink Heart Society site - so that's where you'll find me.

I'm marking a special (and sad ) date for me - and talking about the importance of friends. If you've read the dedication to Olivero's Outrageous Proposal  this  is what lies behind that.

And if you'd like to win a copy of Olivero's Outrageous Proposal for one of your friends - just tell me about her and  her name will go into the prize draw.