A Question of Covers

On Wednesday, the UK newspaper The Guardian ran this article:

Ad agency St Luke's is set to redesign Mills & Boon covers. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian
Romantic fiction publisher Mills & Boon is planning its first new advertising campaign in six years to "ignite passion" in younger readers.
The publisher, which celebrated its 100th birthday this year, has appointed ad agency St Luke's to develop a new campaign for its novels.
St Luke's, which won a pitch for the account against two other unnamed agencies, will launch the campaign next summer, and will also redesign the covers of Mills & Boon's books.
Mills & Boon said the aim of the ad campaign is to "ignite a passion for the brand among a new target audience of younger readers while continuing to fuel love and loyalty among its very sizeable fanbase".
The company said that more than 7 million Mills & Boon books are sold in the UK each year.
"It is not every day that you get to work with a client listed in the Oxford English Dictionary," said the St Luke's business development director, Liz Little.

Now this intrigued me. In the almost 25 years I've been writing for Mills & Boon, I, and my books, have been through heavens knows how many changes in the design of the covers. There were the original covers with different coloured bands at the top. (The bands were supposed to be dark or pastel depending on the sensuality of the covers, but in my own books it seemed more that they picked up colours in the actual cover art work)

Then there were the 'half a heart'covers. Covers where the different halves of a heart, one facing right, one facing left, were meant to be displayed so that on the shelves they made up one whole heart. They never were displayed that way - at least, I never saw them.

Then the lines were split into Romance and - then it was Mills & Boon Presents - and there was the solid band of blue. The band of blue became a blue swirl with - oh dear - photographs that so often made the heroes look about 3 years old and often very gay. The heroines were too frequently emaciated too.

The photographs disappeared. We went back to art work. But it was still a matter of luck if you got a good cover or not. You could describe your hero and heroine till you were blu in the face, send in magazine pictures that were meant to show what your characters looked like. Sometimes it seemed that the artwork department listened - sometimes . . . NOT! I once foolishly said that my hero was an actor, a film star - Robert Redford type.

What I got was this. RR's older, fatter, less handsome cousin maybe - but Redford himself??

I'm intrigued by this Guardian article in two ways.

One is that the covers tend to be matters of fashion. And luck. Sometimes you get a great one. Other times you get ones that have you wincing and crying 'No!'

Who could forget the glory of 'The Blob' that was the cover of Desert Affair - though you had to see it in the pink hardback library version to see it in it's true horror.

And my other point is that 'younger readers' bit. How young? I've met readers of romances who range in age from 16 to 86 . And none of them buys the book solely because of the cover.

If we design covers for younger readers do we need to use - say Zac Efron - as a cover model as opposed to H-I-A-T?

Well, Zac's pretty but he's not my Greek Billionaire or my hard-bitten, brooding Santos Cordero in my next book.

And what do you want on a cover? The hero and heroine? A clinch? Flowers? Hearts and flowers? It seems to me that you can't please all of the people all of the time - and unless we go down the Harry Potter route, with one cover for the adult version and one for the younger market, we will struggle to create a cover image that appeals to everyone.

So what do you think? Are you a 'younger reader'? Do you think romance appeals to you and your age group? Is it anything to do with the covers that appeals/puts you off? Would a change in covers make you want to pick up a book or would one of those The Amnesiac Greek Billionaire's Secret Mistress's Secret Baby titles make you put it straight back down again?

And what does everyone think? No matter what your age or how long you've been reading romance. Do you buy because of the appeal of a cover image? Or is it the title (is it really??) or the author's name . . .

I'm interested - and I'm pretty sure St Luke's ad agency is too.

Christmas Stocking Stuffed with books - and finally . . .

So I've told you all about the books donated by friends and fellow authors to be part of the Christmas, but of course there is one final title in this special Christmas Collection and that's the one that I've put in this time.

With 2008 being the 100th birthday of Harlequin Mills & Boon, I thought that the most appropriate book I could donate this year is the special novella from the Centenary Collection - The Duke's Secret Wife.

Isabelle's secret marriage to Don Luis de Silva seems to be over. But the heir to the dukedom of Madriagalo demands that she return to Spain with him and pretend to be his fiancée - and then his wife! What does Luis have to gain from this reunion - except Isabelle?

This came out along with 23 other short stories in the special Centenary Collection. I'm not sure how long all the stories will be available but if you did want to make sure you have the whole collection, then you can take advantage of the speciall offer available on the Mills & Boon Website where you can buy all 24 titles for just £23. That's less than £1 a book.

And talking about sexy Spanish heroes, I just discovered the cover of the UK edition of my next book, coming in March 2009. It's now up on Amazon.co.uk for pre-order. My lucky American readers can get their hands on a copy before then because Cordero's Forced Bride is published in February 2009 in USA.

If you want to enter the Christmas Stocking Contest, then get your entries in soon. The closing date is 20th December. And then Sid will get to work, picking winners. (If you want to offer brides, he's very fond of tuna.)

The 12 Days of Christmas Contest will run for a few more days - right up until Christmas Eve.

Details of both my contests can be found on my Contests Page and over on Author Sound Relations for the 12 Days of Christmas Contest.

Good luck!

Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books 6 - Sabrina Philips

I' ve finally managed to sit down at my desk and write this blog after a hectic day posting yet more parcels - if you're expecting a prize from me, it's on its way! - getting the car serviced - washing sheets - the exciting and glamorous life of a romance novelist! So now I can finally talk to you about another of the books in the Christmas Stocking.


I'm really happy to be able to introduce my readers to the final author who has donated her book to the Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books. As everyone knows, this year has been the 100th birthday of Harlequin Mills and Boon and to reach that amazing milestone - and go on into the future, they need new and up and coming writers for all the lines. This year, several new authors have been signed to write for Presents and you'll be seeing their books coming out in 2009.

The first of these is my guest author today and she is brand-new Presents author Sabrina Philips. Sabrina has her very first book, Valenti's One-Month Mistress out in the UK in February 2009 and then it will be published in America in Presents in March.

But Sabrina has very kindly given me two signed copies of her first release so that I can offer them to you as part of the prize in this special Christmas Contest. This is your chance to be one of the first to read this special book by the newest Modern/Presents author. Sabrina also has her second book already bought and scheduled and that will be out in July in the UK.

Here's a bit more about Valenti's One-Month Mistress

Blackmailed!
Faye Matteson cannot believe the nerve of Dante Valenti! The arrogant Italian expects her to become his mistress in exchange for his help with her failing business.

Defiant!
She fell for him when she was just an innocent – but he took her virginity and left her heartbroken. She’d sworn, Never again!

Taken!
But no one should ever underestimate the power of Dante Valenti’s sensuality. If he wants her, he will have her.

And here's a special message to you all from Sabrina herself.

My next book, 'The Desert King's Bejewelled Bride' is out in the UK in July. (I haven't got a US date yet). I love all Presents men but I think Sheikhs have to be my favourite to read, so it was an absolute joy to write my own - and a non-nonsense heroine to match! I am currently working on my third book about a drop-dead gorgeous French Prince called Leon and a feisty, red-haired art-restorer called Cally. They both appear as secondary characters in 'The Desert King's Bejewelled Bride', and I am really enjoying giving them a story of their own. Hopefully they'll have their happy ever after and be winging their way to my editor's desk in January. That, of course, is if I find time to put fingers to keyboard inbetween all the card-writing, present-buying and festive cooking!

And now the season to be jolly is upon us again, I can't help thinking back to Christmas last year. We have a tradition in our family that when making the Christmas puddings we have to stir them three times and make a wish, and I optimistically wished that I would be published before the year was out (for three years running as a child I wished I could find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, and to be honest, the prospect seemed just as elusive!) So for me to be going in to 2009 with one book in print and the second on the way is literally a dream come true. I really couldn't ask for a better Christmas present! Although I still wouldn't say no to a pot of gold..... ;)

You can find out more about Sabrina and her books on her web site here.

Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books 5 - Joanna Maitland

So are you ready for Christmas?

No - me neither. Over on the Pink Heart Blog I vowed that this year would be the year I was not still wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve. Well, I still have time to manage that I suppose. I have all the presents anyway. And everything that needs to be posted overseas has gone in the mail. The next lot will be the UK packages some of which are still sitting on the dresser in my hall. The Post Office are already sick of the sight of me and my bundles of parcels.

Of course, the one thing that hasn't been posted yet is the prize from the Christmas Stocking stuffed with books. That's because the contest is still open - but only until the weekend. So get your entries in this week if you want to be in with a chance to win this great prize.

Today's Christmas Stocking author is Joanna Maitland. And the book she has kindly donated is her fabulous Historical Romance His Cavalry Lady. His Cavalry Lady is the first book in The Aikenhead Honours trilogy that tells the story of three gentlemen spies and the women who complicate their lives. Having read the first part, I'm really looking forward to parts two and three and - er - four. (Joanna explains the trilogy in four parts in a moment)

Here are the details of the books in the series:

The Aikenhead Honours
Three gentlemen spies: bound by duty,
undone by women!

The stories of three of England’s most eligible bachelors:
Dominic, Leo, and Jack,
code-named Ace, King, Knave

Together they are
The Aikenhead Honours
A government-sponsored spying ring,
they risk their lives, and hearts,
to keep Regency England safe!

Follow these three brothers on a dazzling journey
through Europe and beyond, as they
serve their country and meet their brides,
in often very surprising circumstances!

Meet the ‘Ace’, Dominic Aikenhead, Duke of Calder
in
His Cavalry Lady
travelling through England and to the vast expanses of Russia
(published UK September 2008, US/Canada March 2009)

Meet the ‘King’ and renowned rake, Lord Leo Aikenhead
in
His Reluctant Mistress
among the intrigues of the Congress of Vienna and beyond
(published US/Canada April 2009, UK June 2009)

Meet the ‘Knave’ and incorrigible playboy, Lord Jack Aikenhead
in
His Forbidden Liaison
braving the dangers of France after Napoleon’s return
(published US/Canada May 2009, UK July 2009)

Obvioulsy, the winner of the Christmas Stocking Contest will win the UK edition because that's the one that's already published, but I've included the USA covers that Joanna sent me because they're great covers - and so that American readers know what to look out for in March and April. For UK readers, the second part of the trilogy will be out in June 2009.

And here's what Joanna has to say about writing this series:

I’m now in the process of writing the fourth part of The Aikenhead Honours Trilogy. Yes, a trilogy in four parts!!

There are actually four members of the Aikenhead Honours spying band: the fourth is Ben Dexter, code-named ‘Ten’, and best friend of Lord Jack Aikenhead. He had to be left behind in Lyons, wounded, during Jack’s book, so it was only fair that I should tell the story of the dangers he met and how he dealt with them. He had help, of course, from a daring French royalist girl who risked her life for him and earned his undying gratitude. And more…

I had such fun writing the trilogy, and following these gorgeous heroes all over Europe, that I was delighted to have an excuse to keep writing about them. Ben’s story will be published as a e-book in Harlequin’s Undone series in the middle of 2009.

I've told you about nearly all the books in the Christmas Stocking, but I still have one special book to tell you about next. Come back tomorrow for the details on this book - the very first novel by one of Harlequin Presents brand new authors. Sabrina Phillips.

And don't forget that the Twelve Days of Christmas Contest is still running over on My Tote Bag so check out that and see if you can win a signed copy of one of my backlist books.

Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books 4 - Anne McAllister

The writer who has donated today's title to the Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books will be no stranger to anyone who visits my blog regularly. I make no secret of the fact that I like Anne McAllister's books - and Anne McAllister - very much indeed.

Anne's latest book Antonides Forbidden Wife has already come out in the UK in the Mills & Boon Modern version. It was on the shelves in November, but is still around on Amazon and the M&B site. It's also on my TBR pile. I wanted to read it as soon as I got my hands on it, but at that point I was deep in revisions, 'tweaking' Ricardo, and since Ricardo went on his way to please my editor and turn into Kept For Her Baby, I have been too deeply involved in things like buying and wrapping gifts and writing cards ready for Christmas to pick it up. I like to read Anne's books as a whole, no interruptions, and right now there are too many interruptions so I'm waiting for the right moment to dive into it - and then I won't come up for air until I've finished it.


Here's the blurb on the back of this latest instalment of the Antonides' family story:

Antonides Forbidden Wife

His wife is back – in his bed! No one expected the woman who walked into PJ Antonides’ office to be his wife! But Ally is only back for one thing – a signature on their divorce papers. Ruthless businessman PJ won’t be signing anything. He won’t accept that Ally’s no longer his. And when the smouldering attraction between them moves from his boardroom to his bedroom, PJ knows that his forbidden wife is once again his for the taking…

But as we all know, what's written on the back of the book is so often just a teasing hint at what's inside - so I've asked Anne to tell you a little more about it. After all, she should know!

Here's what Anne has to say:

PJ Antonides was never supposed to be a hero. He was a surfer, for heaven's sake! He appeared in The Antonides Marriage Deal -- where his older brother Elias had the hero role sewn up -- and was annoying and misunderstood and charming by turns. I fell in love with him, but I didn't expect anyone else to. Particularly anyone who knew what Presents/Modern heroes are "supposed to be like."

But when I put off writing the book I had been working on because I needed to think about to some more, the editorial director at HM&B said to me, "Why don't you write about PJ?" I reminded her that PJ didn't exactly come with a Presents CV, and there was a pause and she said in her brisk no-nonsense tone, "Well, I'm sure you'll take care of that."

Turned out I didn't have to. PJ already had. He was, he reminded me, running the company now. He'd stepped in when Elias bailed out (to build boats, no less) and was every bit as capable as his brother. PLUS he'd already sown all his wild oats. He was rock solid now -- except where his wife was concerned.

"Wife?" I said. "What wife?"

Enter Ally Maruyama, the girl PJ had met during his carefree days of surf and sand in Hawaii. Ally needed a favor. PJ offered to help -- and next thing you know, they were husband and wife. On paper at least.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I said.

PJ shrugged. "No point. I mention a wife, no one believes me. She's not here, is she?"

She wasn't. Then. But she showed up --- and proceeded to turn PJ's life (happily for me) upside down. He returned the favor.

I had a book. It's called Antonides' Forbidden Wife. It was a November 2008 release in UK and a January 2009 release as a Presents. In the middle there, I think it may have come out in Down Under. I hope so.

I checked - PJ's story is in fact out in Australia as I wrote this. It's a December 2008 ttile available right now. And the Presents version will be available in January - which means the end of this month. You can browse the book or you can buy an ebook version on eHarlequin now.

Don't forget that I have two contests running at the moment - as well as the Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books, there is also the 12 Days of Christmas now up on My Tote Bag. 12 prizes on offer between now and Christmas Day.

Oh and talking of 12 Days of Christmas - I'm blogging about that on the Pink Heart Society today where you win a copy of Bedded By the Greek Billionaire. I'm giving books away all over the place - Christmas does that to me!

Two contests

Today's book from the Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books is Appointment at the Altar by Jessica Hart.

As you'll remember from earlier in the year, Jessica celebrated her 50th title - Last Minute Proposal - in October this year. Her donation to the stocking is an earlier book that was published in 2007 but it's a classic Jessica Hart.

Here's a summary:

Three steps to the altar!

Monday - buy stylish suit

Bubbly Lucy West has always thought she can handle everything. That's before she meets charismatic tycoon Guy Dangerfield, who challenges her to find a 'real job' for a change.

Tuesday - Find proper job

So, determined to prove she has what it takes, Lucy secures a top job - working for Guy!

Wednesday - Fall in love with boss.

Lucy thrives in her knew world . . .and it's all down to her gorgeous boss. Lucy has a spring in her step and just maybe a ring on her finger!

And here's a bit more about Jessica herself:

Jessica was born in Scotland, where her mother continues to live. Jessica's earliest dreams were about sitting on a sand dune in the Sahara, working in the Outback, hacking her way through a jungle or bouncing along a dusty track in a battered old Land Rover rather than writing a book. Her itchy feet took her from Afghanistan to Australia, from Algeria to Belize, and Cameroon to Indonesia, with various stops en route, and she loved it all. Because she was always thinking about where she wanted to go next, she never quite managed a proper career. Instead she had a haphazard series of jobs around the world. Her last 'proper' job was on the foreign newsdesk of a national newspaper. Before that, she was on expedition in West Africa, cooked on an outback cattle station, taught English as a foreign language, was production assistant for a theatre company and research assistant for a publisher of restaurant guides and filled in the gaps between by working as a secretary, waitress, chambermaid and dishwasher. Regular readers will probably recognize how often she has drawn on her wide but lowly working experience for inspiration when it comes to setting and plot!

Now Jessica leads a rather more staid existence, dividing her time between city life in York and a country cottage in Wiltshire where her partner, John, lives. This involves a lot of driving up and down the motorway, which takes up a lot of time. After nine years of research, Jessica finally completed a Ph.D. on York's later medieval and early modern streets in 2004, but still never seems to have enough time to get everything done.

When she's not writing romance, she is usually busy doing something connected with food (cooking, meeting friends for a drink, eating, gossiping over coffee etc) or walking her Westie, Mungo, but she also loves history and gardening and reading and travelling, and there are still times, too, when she yearns for wider horizons. Jessica has written over 45 books for Harlequin Romance, and won the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award for the best traditional romance in 2005. In 2006, she was awarded the Romance Prize for the best category romance by the UK's Romantic Novelists' Association, and was short-listed for the same award in 2007.

You can find out more about Jessica by visiting her web site.

And now, as promised, here's news of another Christmas Contest - the Twelve Days of Christmas contest.

As before, I'm running this contest with lovely Lee Hyat of Author Sound Relations. So to enter this one you need to go to the My Tote Bag site where you will find details of the contest and how to enter here. Please send you entries direct to Lee and not to me!

And of course, as the name implies, there are 12 special prizes up for grabs. Good luck!

All details on how to enter the Christmas Stocking Contest together with the questions to answer can be found on the Contests page on my web site.

Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books 2 - Ellen Hartman

The second author who has generously donated a book to the Christmas Stocking Stuffed With Books this year is a new friend I made at RWA in San Francisco. We actually met when we were both wearing our nightclothes!

This was at the traditional eHarlequin Pajama Party that is one of the most fun parties held at RWA each year. Everyone - authors, eHarlequin hosties and even Harlequin editors and management turn up in their nightwear. It's impossible not to have fun when everyone's in PJs. I always make a lot of friends there.

And this time I met Ellen Hartman. We had a lot of fun that first evening playing word games with adjectives. I met Ellen several times after that - and I know I took her photograph because I'd already asked her to join in the Christmas Stocking contest. I did take her photograph - honest - but I can't find it anywhere - it has rather spookily vanished. So I'm lucky that Ellen sent me this 'official' photo that I can use.

Ellen writes for SuperRomance - and you have to want to read books by someone whose web site declares : Love is no joke. But it sure is funny.

(And having spent a couple of great evenings in Ellen's company, I know she has a wonderful sense of humour)

The book that Ellen has donated to the Christmas Stocking has a wonderful, intriguing title and a summary that just makes you want to grab the book and start reading.

His Secret Past

One Night Changed His Life Forever

Mason Star spent his teens living the fast life on the road with his band. Tragedy struck one rainy night when his tour bus crashed and a young fan was killed. Fifteen years later, Mason is struggling with his own teenage son who wants to quit high school and with the local zoning board that wants to take his home.

Anna Walsh may be able to save his bacon but she just might ruin his life in the process.

Here's Ellen's latest news about what's coming up for her in 2009

Here is my 2009 news:Fifteen years ago, JT McNulty's pregnant girlfriend turned down his marriage proposal and his parents kicked him out of the house. When he comes home for his mother's funeral, he comes face to face with his past. Find out what happens in "The Boyfriend's Back," coming in May 2009.

In December 2009, it's JT's brother, Charlie's turn. Charlie McNulty grew up in the messy shadow thrown by his parents' chaotic marriage. He vowed he would live a rational life, safely defined by logical choices. What happens when he finds himself falling for a single mom with a troubled child and a tendency toward public drama?

There's a little bit more news - when Ellen wrote me this summary, she didn't know that her second book, Wanted Man is going to be her first UK publication and it's out in January. So if you live in the UK look out for that one.

Here's a short summary of Wanted Man:

A mystery author. A single mom.

Nathan Delaney is on the lam and needs to stay hidden. Rhian MacGregor has had her fill of love and then some.
When two people trying to stay out of love can't help falling into love, how will they ever make it work?


Liberal doses of homemade cupcakes, basketball lessons, rock and roll, and romance, of course!
Throw in an evil talk show host, a Pepto Bismol pink house, two best friends, and one eight-year-old boy. Rhian and Nathan's lives will never be the same

If you want to know more about Ellen and her books, check out her website here

These days I mostly catch up with Ellen by email or on eHarlequin - and that reminds me that I have to tell you that tomorrow, December 11th is the date for the annual eHarlequin Open House. Every year dozens of Harlequin authors visit the eHarlequin web site and chat with readers as part of the Christmas celebrations - many of them give away prizes as well. This year, there will be over 100 authors visiting and chatting - you can check out the guest list here.

The Open House is on all day long so why not come and join us? I hope I'll see you there.

Christmas Stocking Stuffed With Books 1 - Louise Allen

Today I'll start to tell you about the books that are going into the Christmas Stocking for this wonderful prize that you have a chance to win.

I'll talk about the authors alphabetically so the first up is Louise Allen . I met Louise through the UK's Romantic Novelists' Association and I work with her a lot as she currently runs the New Writers' Scheme with great efficiency and skill. I find it hard enough to read my way through the scripts she sends me, never mind organising the scheme, selecting the readers and sending scripts out to them etc . . .

Louise is a very popular writer for Mills & Boon or Harlequin Historicals and she's generously give two titles from her series Those Scandalous Ravenhursts to go into the stocking. The winner will receieve either The Shocking Lord Standon or The Dangerous Mr Ryder as part of their prize.

Here's what Louise has to say about this series of wonderful characters that she has created:

The Ravenhurst cousins emerged when my editor asked me to think about a trilogy featuring brothers and sisters and I realised I already had my first hero - the mysterious Jack Ryder who had made a spirited attempt to take over in No Place For a Lady. As I worked on the family tree I found there were too many ideas for just three siblings, and I kept discovering cousins - seven of them who have six stories between them.

The first three of Those Scandalous Ravenhursts came out this year - The Dangerous Mr Ryder (Jack), The Outrageous Lady Felsham (Bel) and The Shocking Lord Standon (Gareth). Next year in April in the UK it is the turn of Theo and Elinor (The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst); in July - Eden (The Notorious Mr Hurst) and September - Clemence (The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst).

In the US they are out with Harlequin in July, August and September, respectively. In May I have one of the new Undone e-books linked to the Ravenhursts. (Title to be decided).

With six books it was fun to play with different ideas and styles: Dangerous is an adventure with a Ruritanian Grand Duchy as a back-drop, Outrageous sizzles by the seaside, Shocking is set firmly in the world of Almack's and polite Society. Disgraceful is another adventure complete with dungeons and mysterious treasure, Notorious is set in the world of the Regency theatre, Piratical takes to the high seas with a villainous Caribbean pirate and the e-book has a highwayman hero.

It was a real wrench to leave the Ravenhursts behind but I am now exploring an equally engrossing set of heroes and heroines with five other authors (Annie Burrows, Julia Justiss, Christine Merrill, Margaret McPhee and Gayle Wilson) for a Regency continuity of eight books to be released in 2010.

If you'd like to know a little bit more about the books Louise has donated - here are the summaries for each of them:

The Dangerous Mr Ryder

(Those Scandalous Ravenhursts: Book 1)
A government agent with a difference, Jack Ryder is not sure he wants to be responsible for smuggling the Grand Duchess Eva de Maubourg out of her castle and across France, one step ahead of Napoleon’s agents, not after what he has heard about her temperament. But if Jack is reluctant, Eva is torn – where does her duty lie? With her beleaguered Duchy or her son in England? And how can she tell what is right, when all she wants is to be in the arms of the thoroughly unsuitable Mr Ryder?

The Shocking Lord Standon
(Those Scandalous Ravenhursts: Book 3)
Gareth Morant, Lord Standon might be contemplating a match with childhood friend Lady Maude Templeton with dismay, but it is not until he finds his arms full of the naked form of Miss Jessica Gifford, respectable governess in a fix, that the solution to his problems presents itself to him - a solution that forces the respectable earl to become a shocking rake, all for a good cause.

Now doesn't that just make you want to read them? If it does then you won't be the only one because I have to tell you that I had to fight to keep these books safe. When I had weekend visitors recently, one of my friends needed something to read on the train going home. I offered her a choice from my bookshelf - which was where the Christmas Stocking Contest books were also stored. She pounced and the Louise Allen titles and would have run off with them if I hadn't explained that these were for the contest. She was very disappointed - and may well enter the contest herself in the hopes of winning one of Louise's titles.

You can find out more about Louise and her books on her website here. And the details of how to enter the Christmas Stocking Contest are on the Contest page of my website.

So these are the first books going into the stocking. Come back tomorrow for more.

PS I had some really good news yesterday but I can't share it with you until it's official - so watch this space!

A very fine dog

I'm going to be putting out the details of all the books in the Christmas Stocking contest during this week, but today I need to blog about something else. Today I need to sympathise with a very dear friend in the loss of her very dear (canine) friend.

This time last year when I had the sadness to lose my alpha male cat Bob, and then his next in line Spiffy, there was one friend who totally understood and sympathised with what I was feeling. And that was Anne McAllister. She knew how these wonderful creatures we arrogantly call our 'pets' - when really they own us - work their way into out hearts so that their loss leaves a hole that is raw and empty. Last year Anne's understanding helped me. This year, sadly, I need to do the same for her.

Yesterday morning, Anne's handsome, lovable, cantankerous alpha male dog, the black flatcoat retriever Gunnar died peacefully on her sofa. His leaving was peaceful but the time leading up to it was a long, slow wearing out of a very strong and fine spirited creature that was distressing to hear about and I'm sure it was terribly hard for Anne and her family to live through.

So I prefer to remember Gunnar as he was when I met him. Because I was lucky enough to meet him when he was in full health and powers. When he earned the nickname Gunnar the Great. And he was a very fine dog indeed.

Anne has posted her own tribute to Gunnar on her blog and I couldn't match that. I just want to recall what a gracious host he was. Even though he knew his job was to protect the homestead - and defend it against anyone who was foolhardy enough to walk on Gunnar's sidewalk, approach Gunnar's home, or, worse - the mailman was a terrible villain for this - But when Gunnar had decided that you were a friend and could stay, he made you very welcome. He would sit on your lap, accept head rubs, share your mug of tea. He was, as Anne always said of certain cats, a centre of the room dog. A dog who knew his place - and his place was in the middle of things.

My favourite memory of Gunnar is the way that he bounced - the sight of his lead and the prospect of a walk made him bounce as if he had springs on his feet. It was quite a sight to meet a large, weighty, in his prime flatcoat retriever at above waist height as he bounced for joy at the prospect of going out of the house. The Babe Magnet often went for walks with Gunnar and Anne's husband and was shown some of the local wildlife and the best sniffing places. I thought that the photo I took just before they set out on one of these expeditions showed Gunnar in mid-bounce, but actually, looking at it now, I see that it is in fact a 'prepare for lift off' moment - but I'm sure you get the idea.

Once Gunnar accepted you, you were part of the family. During part of our stay we went to the RWA Conference in Denver, and on our return we were welcomed as if we were long lost relatives, cousins at least, if not quite comparable to Gunnar's Mum and Dad. No one, in Gunnar's eyes, was comparable to Gunnar's Mum. I have very special memories of him climbing on to the sofa and then onto her lap and lying there, totally blissed out to be so close.

And in Anne's eyes no other black flatcoat was comparable to Gunnar the Great. I know that she still has the beautiful 'goldens' Micah and Mitch but the Gunnar-shaped hole will be a big one and even though the two boys who are left are big and full of character, even together they still won't quite fill the space he has left behind.

So if you have a dog of your own you'll understand how Anne must be feeling today. If you have a minute to go by her blog and read her tribute to Gunnar and maybe send a hug, I know she'll appreciate it.

Gunnar will be a hard act to follow. Gunnar the Great, the d-o-g that even Sir Sidney the Cat of Superior Breeding was proud to call a friend. A very fine dog indeed.

Christmas Stocking Contest

The winner of the November contest on My Tote Bag to mark the publication of Bedded by The Greek Billionaire is Heather Bennett from California.


Congratulations Heather

And now the special Christmas Contest -



It’s back!


It’s December so that means that once more I’m running my annual Christmas Stocking Stuffed with Books contest when you can win a Christmas Stocking full of really great reading.

This time, the books on offer in the 2008 Christmas stocking are:
The Dangerous Mr Ryder
Or
The Shocking Lord Standon by Louise Allen

Appointment at The Altar by Jessica Hart

His Secret Past by Ellen Hartman

Antonides Forbidden Bride by Anne McAllister

His Cavalry Lady by Joanna Maitland

Valenti’s One-Month Mistress by Sabrina Philips

And a signed copy of my special Centenary publication The Duke’s Secret Wife

How to enter:

To enter the contest you need to answer these four questions :

What two new books (new titles – not in an anthology) did I have published this year?
What was the title of the special Centenary Novella that I had published in 2008?
What was the title of the reprinted trilogy that was published as a 3 in 1 collection and in a special ebook bundle in 2008?
What award did Romantic Times give my latest book in November this year?

The answers to all 4 questions can be found on my web site.

Send you answers to me kate AT kate-walker.com with the heading Christmas Stocking Contest in the subject line of the email message.

Closing date is 21st December so that gives you two weeks to get your entries in

Busy, Blizzards, Birds and Books

The details of the Christmas Stocking Contest are just about sorted. And tomorrow I will have news about my other annual 12 Days of Christmas Contest. (Newsletter readers get the information first so if you want to be one of the favoured ones, you can sign up at Yahoo, using the link in the sidebar or on my web site)

It's a good day to be inside working, the wind is howling, the snow whirling and the temperature is icy. Princess Flora took one look at the outside world and said 'No way!' Or meows to that effect. So it's a day to be snug indoors. If you have to be out today then I hope the weather is rather less vile where you are and that you and your loved ones keep safe and sound whatever it's like.

The blizzard conditons means that I have been out organising food supplies for the various wildlife friends in the garden. There is left-over cat meat in the tunnel of Hedgehog Towers so that they don't have to venture into the snow to find anything to eat. I'm not totally sure that Mini Heck the littlest newborn came foraging often enough to stoke up enough to see him through the winter without a little help. The suet, seeds and insect treats are on the birdtable (carefully out of the predatory cats' way!) and the mealworms (soaked to make them more appealing) are on the ground feeder for the robins etc. And the baby squirrel was seen stealing peanuts last week so he/she should be OK.

I spent yesterday evening sorting through Christmas gifts and stocking fillers with an idea of getting organised. As many family and friends are abroad or will be abroad for Christmas, those parcels have already been packed up and gone. Many of them are rather book-shaped - OK - most of them are book shaped - whihc makes for easy wrapping and easy postage.

And talking of books and stocking fillers - the Mills & Boon site is having a Winter Sale right now and one of my older titles - The Greek Tycoon's Unwilling Wife - has turned up there for the bargain price of just £0.99p. So if you missed out on that title when it was originally published in November last year, then now's your chance to grab a copy at a bargain price. I know a couple of people who have been looking for it so I'll be able to add that book to their stockings. Along with the copies of The Alcolar Family trilogy 3 in 1 which also makes a great stocking filler.

Which reminds me . . .I've just been looking at the books in this year's Christmas Stocking prize and there are at least three titles that are in my own TBR pile - together with one still on its way to me that I really want to read. (Hint - I love reading first books by new authors . . ) Now as always all I need is some time to read. But at least with Ricardo's story - aka Kept For Her Baby - accepted and bought, I have a little more time to relax with someone else's book.

What about you? Do you have books on your Christmas list? Or are you - like me - seeming to be giving away nothing but books this year?

PS I just checked this through before posting and found that I had given the title of my book in the Winter Sale as The Green Tycoon's Unwilling Wife. M&B meets the Incredible Hulk?

Princess Flora meets the snow

I have to be out and about today, acting as back-up aka literary wife while the Babe Magnet meets one of his editors and discusses new projects, particularly one he's excited about, so I'm dashing in here while the kettle boils. (And hopefully while it does boil and not, as the old kettle did, fuses the whole house!) The details of the Christmas Stocking Contest will - I hope - be completed later today and up on my web site very soon.

Yesterday while I was writing my blog I didn't notice the weather outside. So it was only when I looked up and saw that the houses opposite suddenly had white roofs that I realised it had been snowing.

This was the first time that Flora had encountered any real snow. There was a bit the other weekend, when we had visitors, but there was too much excitement and attention in the house for her to really notice it then. So this time she went out when the snow was still actually falling - and she found the whole experience very disconcerting.

She approached this strange white stuff with hesitation and suspicion, shaking her paws in indignation every time they got wet as she prowled around the garden investigating. And then she looked up at me in protest, as if to demand that I take this nasty wet, c

old stuff away as it was ruining her lovely jungle play area.


These pictures show how much she's grown and filled out recently, now that she's a year old. She is the biggest cat in the house - much to the indignation of the two gentlemen Sid and Dylan. And she is, as the Magnet describes her, a fully fledged brigand. If the treats aren't put away in the highest cupboard, she will get up on to the worktops to find them, knocking the plastic container on to the floor so that it falls upside down, lid first. Then she holds on to the lid with one paw and with the claws of the other paw - and a little help from her sharp teeth - rips the box open and steals the treats.

She will play pounce and chew with him, ripping his hands to pieces in the process, but when with our visitors we had a not quite two year old in the house, she immediately understood that he was too small to fully know what he was doing and was remarkably patient under the pr

ovocation of being chased round the house by a small person shouting 'Catcatcat!' at the top of his voice.


This picture of her on my desk shows how different she looks from the beginning of the year when she sat in front of the computer screen too - but you could see a lot more of the screen then than now!




She still likes to watch the televsion a lot - much more than either of the other two. And she particularly loves horse-racing. If we don't watch her, she will get up to that screen and try to chase the nice little horses she finds there.



Which might have been OK when she was, as here, just 10 weeks old. But now that she's 13 months, it's a very different matter.

She just walked past the screen again and took a lot of interest in the movement of the cursor - having to be dissuaded from chasing it and batting it with her paws. I don't know if she realised that all these photos of her but I have no doubt that she would have approved. 'It's all about me!' is very definitely this fully fledged brigand's attitude to life.

Back - I think . . .

OK, so life just got away from me for a while then. Thank you to the friends who wrote to enquire if I was OK. I've finally (well, I hope it it's finally) managed to crawl out from under most things - though you should see the pile of paper on my desk! And I'm not going to mention the 'To Do' list that is longer than my arm! - But now I'm back - and I hope that this time I'm staying.

The good news is that my editor loved the tweaked Italian - Ricardo, remember him? She's accepted and bought the book so now Ricardo's story becomes Kept for Her Baby and will be published in September next year. Sighs of relief all round and now it's on to the next project . .

But an acceptance is always worth celebrating so this one made me feel like the smiling face that seemed to appear night sky in the pictures that were published in the newspapers yesterday. Did you see those? Where the new moon and the planets aligned to create this 'smilling' image? They looked wonderful and after the horrible news reports we've had lately really felt like a lovely good omen - I certainly hope so.

So now it's December and we're heading for Christmas and celebrations so I need to tell you about my contests - as always there will be the Christmas Stocking Stuffed With Books as a prize . and I'll get the details of that up on my web site just as soon as I can.





In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at what's coming up in this year's stocking.





There's a book missing from this line-up because brand-new, just-published Presents author, Sabrina Philips has promised me copies of her first ever title Valenti's One-Month Mistress which is coming out in February. Sabrina doesn't have her paperback copies of this book yet, it's so brand new, but she will be sending copies just as soon as she gets them. So if you want to be in with a chance to win this great selection of books, check back soon.
I'll get all the details and the questions you need to answer to win up on my web site just as soon as I can. And then I'll be back to tell you about all these wonderful books.

So long as life doesn't swamp me again. But I'm determined to take that smiling new moon as an omen that it won't.