It's been tricky to find time to write a blog or anything. So now I'm dashing in to introduce you to my Guest Blogger today to give you something to read until I get back to my blog on Monday.
Today's blogger is Dee Tenorio - who is another of the lovely and hardworking hosties on the eHarlequin web site. Dee helped so much when I first ventured on to the boards - so much so that she earned the name of Kate's Slave for all the help she gave me. Then, like Heather Rae Scott, I met Dee in person at RWA Denver where one of the highspots of the event was the way that Dee crowned me Queen Bee at the eHarlequin pajama party.
We met again in New York and since then she's been pretty busy - she's become the mother of beautiful twin girls, as well as her handsome son Gio - and - as I always expected she would - she's been published - several times. I can't wait to get my hands on print copies of her books as I saw them in their first incarnations and I knew they had such potential then. I'm just so glad that a publisher saw the same qualities in them that I did.
So here's Dee Tenorio.
50 Reasons I Love Kate Walker:I met Kate Walker during a particularly difficult time in my life. I was a young mother, living with my in laws while hubby and I got on our financial feet, and as you can imagine, the writing wasn't going so well. I admit, I had moments of potential...but for the most part, I was writing some really awful stuff. I hadn't yet found my voice, I definitely had no sense of plot, no understanding of craft whatsoever and, of course, no idea that I was in the presence of greatness.I was, without question, really, really dumb.
But Kate liked me anyway.She started teaching me how things work, And how to improve. And how, if I applied myself, I could make my publishing dreams a reality. And she's been setting an example for me ever since.
Which is one very special reason that I love Kate Walker. But there's more.
49 more to be exact.You probably think I'm exaggerating, but believe it or not, I really do have 50 reasons to love Kate. I can even enumerate them.
I should start with 5 reasons--one for each year that Kate has been my friend and mentor.
Then I'd have to add 12 reasons--one for each point in her 12 Point Program, which she used to crack open my head and teach me that not only did I not know it all...I had soooo much more to
learn.5 more reasons are the five books I've sold as a result of Kate's gentle lessons and never ending cheerleading.
1 reason is that she made New York an unforgettable experience. I'd always wanted to go there and when I did, she gave me tips that proved invaluable to not looking like a complete and total hick. .
15 reasons are the various hugs she gives, from the one that makes you see stars, to the ones that make you cry. The one where you both bounce because you're laughing or the one where she lopes an arm around your shoulders and makes sure you know you belong. If there is a mood, Kate has a hug for it.
7 reasons are every day of the week, because whenever I have sent a message her way, she has never been unavailable if I've needed her. She's a 24/7
kind of friend, which I can say is true even in the middle of the night, when she talked me through a crippling nightmare and my equally stupid fear of the dark for an hour.2 are for the frequency of times she generally has to send me a birthday present each year, which she always does, because I have a Kate Walker Stalker, who steals my packages from her--while politely leaving me the cards so I know how much she cares.
1 is for her lovely husband, whom she chose because he's kind and good to her and in turn, good to everyone who is good to Kate. I just love that he's willing to share you with all of us.
And my last reason for loving Kate? It's the most important one of all. Because Kate loves me too. The best part about this reason is that everyone who knows Kate, who has the privilege of being her friend, gets to have that reason too. :)
So, I get to offer my congrats on this, your 50th book, and I can only hope for 50 more. :)
Giant hugs!
Dee
Giveaway Prize: Signed Copy of "Betting Hearts"
Giveaway Question: What is the funniest joke you've ever heard? Post it in the comments, best joke wins the romantic comedy!
