Quick catch up

I've been away for a few days. The Babe Magnet and I were visiting York. We were supposed to be looking at some Christmas shopping . . . well. I managed some!

We also had a wonderful Italian meal - and on Tuesday there was afternoon tea at Bettys - that's always a tradition.  Apart from eating, we had tickets for the theatre - a production of The Importance of Being Earnest (Oscar Wilde). This was a fabulous production  - a slight  rewrite/revision of the original play  to make it believable when the 'romantic leads' - in this case Martin Jarvis and Nigel Havers were not exactly spring chickens. It was really funny and actually helped me look at the play again even though I've seen it several times.  Lady Bracknell was played  by the magnificent Sian Phillips with wonderful stage presence and energy in spite of her 82 years! I understand that she is also preparing her one-woman show! I want to be like her when I grow up!

One of the things about 'Earnest' that I'd forgotten is a quote about romance. This really struck me last night.
Oscar Wilde wrote:

The very essence of romance is uncertainty

Isn't that what readers love about reading romances? The fact that the relationship between the hero and the heroine is so much in doubt until very close to the end of the book. - It's that 'uncertainty'  they want to read about.

Oscar Wilde also said:

You don't love someone for their looks, or their  clothes or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.

How true. This is something that some would-be romance writers forget  when creating 'alpha male heroes' They put too much emphasis on that 'trappings' - the  looks, the suits, the cars, the wealth . . . when really it's all about that 'song' that the hero and heroine share and no one else does.

Thanks Oscar!

Talking or romances -  in the comments  to my post on November  2nd there were two lovely reviews from Arpita Martin who has just started her own web site to chart her love of the Modern Romance books.

One of the things she said was:
. You have the gift of spinning out these stories where the heroes are so strong, , tender hearted, yet alpha macho men who will love for ever! 

Arpita- you couldn't have said anything that would please me more. That is exactly the sort of story I always try to write.

Arpita goes on:
Your latest one' Destined for the Desert King'surpasses till date all the other ones you have written.Readers should go for it in any form or shape! brilliant.Please visit www.mills-and-boon-reviews.com

Exhilarating, emotional, riveting Modern genre Romance a 5* indeed!
Nabil and Aziza are attracted to each other with their past emotional issues and yet both are able to break down their barriers at the end! Kate Walker is a genius of a writer, to hold an exceedingly well crafted story together for the romantic readers! The plot is fast moving, well focused and the couple’s wry wit, sarcasm; facial nuances make it all so believable! Brilliant page turner, to have at hand, to escape into this world of love!
What is this thing called love?

So I've been smiling all day since I read that.   Thank you!

Also in the November 2nd comments, Lidia asked:
Kate, any idea when "Destined for the Desert King" will be released in the US?

Lidia - the good news is that it will be released any minute now! The official release date on Amazon
is November 17th - which means it's available there already. And hopefully in the shops near you very soon if not there already.

Thanks for asking!  I hope you enjoy Nabil  and Aziza's story when you read it.

Catching up - the RNA Afternoon tea in York

 I

The Guildhall Sept 5th 2015

can't believe it's Friday - who stole my week?? I'm sure it was only yesterday that I was setting out for York for a very special RNA meeting - an afternoon tea in The Guildhall. Then I blinked and - it's Friday! A week later. Help!

I know I had planned to talk about the other new courses I had coming up - but that got sidetracked. Anyway, I'd like to share some of the memories of the York afternoon.

With Anna Louise Lucia

Special thanks have to go to Lynda Stacey and Jane Lovering who planned and organised the whole thing. So good to have a meeting 'up North' instead of having to journey to London each and every time.

Also thanks to John Jackson who was the official photographer and whose photos of the day I can share with you.

Milly Johnson making her speech

It was a great chance to meet up with friends I don't get a chance to see too often - way too often Anna Louise Lucia - Marie Frances Ingrid Petrie Kim Elizabeth Lain Jean Fullerton Vasiliki Scurfield . . . Oh dear, I'll miss people out I know I will.

A couple of other special moments - Milly Johnson's brilliant and very funny speech - that's Milly below. Also meeting lovely Rachel

Rachel Louise Dove

Louise Dove . Prima and Mills & Boon Flirty Fiction competition winner 2015. Huge Congratulations Rachel! And a real highlight was meeting Jane Linfoot who made my afternoon by telling me how much help my 12 Point Guide To Writing Romance had been to her when she was starting out. Thank you so much for letting me know, Jane. I'm thrilled to know that - not least because this brings the to

Jane Linfoot and Dorinda Cass

tal of new writers helped to publication by either one of my courses or the 12 Point Guide to 17!! I've just downloaded Jane's latest book  The Vintage Cinema Club to add to my collection of 'now published' students' work. Wonder who will be #18?

With friends  -and students from  a past course (or two!) Marie Frances and Kim Lain. Maybe potential  #18??

Will add details of names etc under the photos so you know who's who.

And I'll keep on trying to catch up!

Tote Bags 'N' Blogs

Well that was a fun weekend.  It was lovely to see my friend again, to go out and about and show her some lovely places - York city,  Gainsborough Old Hall . . .  And the sun even shone warmly and brightly all the time.  And I had the thrill of seeing that my new book, A Throne For The Taking, is out there in the bookshops for this month. That's one ting that never gets boring!
So I was rather late getting back to write my monthly post for the Tote Bags 'N' Blogs  as I do every first Sunday of the month.

But I've managed it now - and it's up over on the Tote Bags 'N' Blogs site.

I hope you had a great weekend too.