Just got back from Harrogate ( PA duties for the other writer in the family ) but before that spent Thursday night absolutely entranced and mind-blown watching Paapa Essiedu in the tour of RSC's Hamlet in Hull.

 3 hours of totally absorbing magnificent magic. The big soliloquies were presented as real thoughts not - this is the moment when I do the 'to be or not to be' speech. Brilliant. DH and I are still talking about it. If you get a chance to see this production - grab it. I already want to see it again.

The next couple of days will be spent finalising the details of the Writers' Holiday Advance Romance Writing Course for Fishguard  next weekend. 

Can't wait to be back in Wales and reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Started planning my next course - Advanced Romance Writing at Fishguard Writing Weekend with

Writer's Holiday. Also collected some of the 'treats' that are needed to help inspire and sustain the writers on this course.

An interesting fact - whenever I go to get the chocolate (for inspiration!) the local supermarket has set up a lovely discount price on it. Do you think they keep an eye on my blog/facebook page? 'If it's February she'll be coming in for supplies for Writers' Holiday.' So maybe they have a note in their diary - April means she'll need supplies for Relax & Write' Weekend Coursesx .

.

The  Writer's Holiday course is absolutely over-full right now - but as they say 'Other courses are available.'

The next  one will be a Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction Retreat at  Royal Agricultural University  in Cirencester - dates   6th - 8th April.

If you'd rather just have a library talk - with Valentine's Day coming up I have one of those too -  The ABC of Love in Doncaster library on February 14th

I'm sharing this with another author, Lynda Stacey  - from 11am to 12.30 in the Central Library Doncaster

How did it get to almost-February?? I know I had my head down working on revisions but somehow Feb has snuck up on me. I surfaced to take a look at the reviews of A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance and was thrilled to find 7 - 7!! great reviews on Amazon and there's a really fabulous one over on the Mills and Boon site -

A Stunning read!!
*****
This is hugely enjoyable. A book to savour like a fine wine. An example of a highly accomplished author at the top of their game. The writing comes across the page as effortlessly readable. Assured storytelling at it's very best.

Raoul Cardini is a hero who delivers from the start, dominating the book. I highly recommend this potentially as of the finest in the Kate Walker vintage!!

Read it now!!

Thank you so much Karim Lalani  - I'm just thrilled you enjoyed Raoul's story so much.

Now I need to focus on sorting out a trip to York with the other writer in the family while I act as PA. That's the rest of the week seen to.

My DH  and his co-author  Stuart Gibbon - former senior police detective and now running The Gib Consultancy  are giving a talk  at Waterstone's in York  from 7pm

Historical crime writer Stephen Wade and former Senior Police Detective Stuart Gibbonhave teamed up to write The Crime Writer's Casebook, an essential companion for anyone interested in crime, whether historical or modern-day. It features true crime case studies and explains how crime investigation has evolved throughout the centuries. 

This is a unique opportunity to hear extracts from the book and to ask questions of two leading experts in their field.

PS If you can't make York - then there's a second talk in Waterstone's in  Harrogate on 16th February   at 18.30 pm

Publication day!

Happy Book Birthday to me!

 It's officially now the UK publication date of my new book A Proposal To Secure His Vengeance, something that has brightened up a very gloomy, wet and windy day. I know some of you in America have already got your hands on it - but here in the UK it's just officially out today. I discovered this morning that I have 5 fabulous five star reviews on Amazon - thank you to the lovely reviewers who have posted them! You really brightened up my morning.

I'll just quote one fabulous review from Virginia at Booked Solid

A rich man's agenda for personal revenge goes far differently than he had planned in "A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance"--a stirring contemporary romance from the fabulous Kate Walker. Secrets, scandals, and sizzling passion are all a part of this involving tale where wealth and good fortune are two very different things. Imogen O'Sullivan and her sister Ciara have long been at the core of a power struggle between their battling parents. When their father's drinking and unwise financial habits force Imogen to agree to a marriage of convenience with a longtime friend, she is unprepared for the arrival of Raoul Cardini, with whom she had a brief and passionate affair. Her sister Ciara, from whom she had long been estranged, has an unpleasant connection to Raoul's own family, further heightening the tension of the situation. Raoul's mistaken impressions of Imogen and her sister are factors in his desire to bring down the O'Sullivans in their final bid to save their family name and finances. However, the intense heat between Raoul and Imogen has once again burst to life--something they cannot ignore. Yes, the physical desire is there, but there is also appreciation and a shared sense of humor. Could love be waiting in the wings for all truths to be revealed and for honest emotion to break through pretense? If you love dramatic, deeply felt, and powerfully passionate love stories, then you will greatly enjoy the captivating contemporary romance tales from author Kate Walker.

Thank you Virginia!

I have been reminded that I forgot to post the official back blurb to go with the book - so today seems like a good day to do that. So here goes:

Raoul Cardini will have his revenge!
His preferred method? Ruthless, irresistible seduction!
Imogen O’Sullivan is horrified when charismatic tycoon Raoul breaks up her engagement and makes her his own convenient bride! She once surrendered everything to Raoul—body, heart and soul. But as he stalks back into her life it’s clear he has punishment in mind—not just passion! Can Imogen resist Raoul’s potent brand of delicious vengeance?

New Book Spotlight

It's all happening this week - new covers, new look - new book! I'm so delighted to have a new title out after a book drought last year so I'm celebrating all over the place - there are interviews and Spotlights . . .


And the first one is an Author Spotlight with lovely Sara at HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews There's an interview and lots of insight into the new book . There's a giveaway as well.
So why not take a look

New Year New Look Part 2

So I said it was all about the covers today - I'm sure you've heard the reports - the rumours, the buzz about the brand new makeover that Harlequin Mills & Boon has had coming up - and now it's here. Today is the launch date of the new look romance cover designs, across all the lines. They're very different - so what do you think?

Not only the covers but the Mills & Boon website, the blog, and Bookclub pages have all a makeover

r too. There will be lots of interesting activity and information to launch this new image - so take a look.

I have a new book out in this first appearance of the new covers. I'll post the details - and the book 'blurb' in my next post. First I wanted to let you see some images of the launch of this new way of seeing Mills & Boon that you'll start spotting in the shops from now on

New Year New Look Part 1

What's on my mind? It's all about covers this week - you'll find out more soon. But I just discovered that my 'Wuthering Heights' book has been given a mini makeover with a new 'modernised cover' - and a fabulous sale price of 0.99p

The Return of the Stranger used to look like this:

Standing high on the windswept moors, the lone figure of Heath Montanha vows vengeance on the woman who destroyed the last fragments of his heart…

Lady Katherine Charlton has never forgotten the stable hand with dangerous fists and a troubled heart from her childhood. Now the rebel is back, his powerful anger concealed under a polished and commanding veneer.

When ten years of scandal and secrets are unleashed, with a passionate, furious kiss, Heath’s deepest, darkest wish crystallizes: revenge—and Kathy—will be his!

Now - with the new look cover it looks like this:

What do you think?

Special New Year Giveaway Nominations

Don't forget you have just over 24 hours to nominate  someone for a special New Year book

giveaway.

Is there a friend or someone in your family who has had a tough time in 2017?  Someone in hospital, with health problems, or someone who has faced problems you wish you could have helped them with?
Is there someone you'd like to help cheer them  into 2018 on a happier, brighter note?

Suggest their name here and as the new year dawns, I'll get Charlie   or Ruby - or both! - to pick some names so that you can give them a little gift of one  of my books and hopefully make things  a little bit better.

You can choose from these titles:

The Konstantos Marriage Demand

Bedded By The Greek Billionaire

A Throne For The Taking

Kept for her Baby

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal

A Question of Honour

Destined for the Desert King

New Year Special Giveaway - nominate someone who needs their day brightening

I've just been packing up the Christmas giveaway books to go out to the winners who have let me know your postal addresses - there's a couple who still haven't let me know, so if you're tagged

please send me a mailing address.

As we head into the new year of 2018, I'm running an extra giveaway - but this is a little different. I've run it every year and it's been so great to be able to share with people who need cheering up.

So - you can join in by posting in the comments below - but this time you can hope to win a book as a gift for someone special who needs a little something to brighten their day. If you know someone who has had a difficult time through 2017 or is struggling with a problem and you'd like to offer them a little something to brighten the start of 2018, post below letting me know who you'd like me to send a book to and why. If you can pick a title of one of the books I have to giveaway then please let me know your choice - and the second choice - from the lis

t and I'll hope to send that one. I'll also add in a small extra gift from me to wish them a much happier New Year in 2018.

Books you can choose from are

The Konstantos Marriage Demand

Bedded By The Greek Billionaire

A Throne For The Taking

Kept for her Baby

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal

A Question of Honour

Destined for the Desert King

The final draw for the names of winners will be on New Year's Eve - just before midnight - at least I can be sure that Charlie and Ruby will be in at that time - and picking the names, choosing treats, will distract them from the sound of fireworks as 2018 begins,

Special Christmas Photos

Some of you will know that this hasn't been the easiest of years for me - health and other problems have slowed my writing down so that I'm truly happy - and relieved - to know that A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance will be a new title published in 2018 (very soon now!) and hopefully the second book in this duet will be revised and sorted soon as well.

So while I haven't had the most productive year - other members of the family have been busy in a different way, and we have welcomed two beautiful baby boys into the family within 6 months of each other.

So when I have felt down there have been some wonderful photographs to make me smile and brighten up dark days. Because this is what Christmas is all about - family and love - I asked my niece  Kitty 

Westbrook  if I could share a couple of pictures of her gorgeous little son and she's let me do that - so here is my youngest reader - and I hope a fan! Caspar is my great nephew - so I believe that makes me a Great aunt!

Have a wonderful first Christmas tiny face! (And your mum and dad too)

Christmas Eve winners

It has been a hectic and busy time over the past few days and I lost track of most things - including what was happening with the Christmas Giveaway. So I let both Charlie and Ruby go wild on the treats and names from all past posts so that they could three winners each to celebrate Christmas eve. 

So - Christmas Eve winners are:

Henza R. Mazengo

Diane Spigonardonardo

Phyllis Perryman

Sian Cusack

Debbie Cooban

Michelle Turner.

Not all these will link to the winners' names - but I hope you see your names. Please DM and send me your postal address or send it to katewalker AT ntlworld.com

Titles I have for you to pick from (please give me your first and second choices:

The Konstantos Marriage Demand

Bedded By The Greek Billionaire

A Throne For The Taking

Kept for her Baby

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal

A Question of Honour

Destined for the Desert King

Happy Christmas to all winners - and to all my readers!

I have one last special giveaway that I love to do at Christmas - but I'll put that in a separate posting.

A Box of Real Books!

At last - after weeks of waiting, seeing the new covers on Amazon etc - I finally have a box of actual books with the redesigned UK covers on. It's always such a thrill to hold a real book in my hands. It's nothing like the manuscript I first wrote - then submitted!  And I had called it Claimed by The Corsican  as my working title - not A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance.

 32 years ago, I received my first ever published book - it's great to still be getting a box of new books after all this time. The covers are so different but the thrill is just the same!

Don't forget you can still enter the Christmas books giveaway - just leave a comment, telling me the strangest Christmas present you either gave of received,

New Covers Reveal . . .

At last I can show you all the new covers for my January book - A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance. 

As you know, Harlequin Mills and Boon  are revamping the whole look of their  books  and  the covers have been radically redesigned - the same with Australia -   so I've been waiting until I could show you all three covers for my next title.

Here goes: 

The USA  cover stays the same - designers think that the long established white cover, red band and hero and heroine in a circle is iconic and will stay the same.



The new UK design - out January - is very different. What do you think?
BTW - my hero doesn't have  a beard - and he has jet black hair (see the USA cover!)






Finally - the new-design Australian cover



I think I like this one the best - what do you think?


 And the back cover 'blurb' is this:
Raoul Cardini will have his revenge! His preferred method? Ruthless, irresistible seduction!
Imogen O’Sullivan is horrified when charismatic tycoon Raoul breaks up her engagement and makes her his own convenient bride! She once surrendered everything to Raoul — body, heart and soul. But as he stalks back into her life it’s clear he has punishment in mind — not just passion. Can Imogen resist Raoul’s potent brand of delicious vengeance?


PS Don't forget that you can still enter the Christmas book giveaway - just leave a comment, telling me the most unusual Christmas gift you've given - or received.

Catching up and Giveaways

This is one of my favourite Christmas 'gifts' each year. I buy a bale of hay  for the Hillside Sanctuary  from each of us in the family - to help these lovely creatures have their Christmas dinner. So easy to do - and I also love 'adopting' a horse and a donkey to care for in 2018. The Babe Magnet and I hope to get to Sanctuary to visit again later in the year.

Still working hard to catch up on things that need to be done - and not succeeding very well! But when some things - like sending bales of hay to Hillside Sanctuary are so easy to do at least I know that's sorted out.

Charlie was out tomcatting all night - in spite of the cold - so he's only just woken up in order to pick a few winners of some Christmas giveaway books - so starting with a post back last week for Tote Bags N Blogs - Denise Stout Holcomb - he picked your name as a winner. And from the post about favourite authors - Mindy Nace Kugler and Joanne Robinson are the names that were chosen. Please contact me on Messenger to let me know a postal address - or at katewalker at ntlworld.com and I'll get your prize in the post.

Today's giveaway comes after I've sent off the bales of hay instead of some Christmas cards - so if you want to join in the giveaway today - what is the most unusual Christmas present you've ever given - or been given? I'll get Ruby on to picking some names in a day or so.

A Special Treat and a giveaway to celebrate

Thank you so much to everyone for the get well wishes. I'm not sure who had the worst of it - but I do think that being ill first, and then needing to nurse the other through 'man flu' was a bit too much. ( And Natasha Oakley - I don't think there's anything very romantic about sharing boxes of tissues and hot lemon drinks - sending get well wishes to you too!) The worst bit was not being able to read!!😮😒

But at least that bit has receded now so I can treat myself to some recovery time with a very special treat. My Christmas present to myself is a brand new copy of a new novel by the wonderful Helen Bianchin.  It was a real joy to discover that she has a new title - Alexei's Passionate Revenge - out this month. When I first started trying to write romance, Helen's books were some of the ones I grabbed off the shelves as soon as I saw them - so I can't wait to lose myself in this story. It's been too long since there was a new book.

So - to share that delight and as part of my Christmas giveaway (belated) - if you could wish for a new book from a favourite writer who hasn't had a new book out recently - who would you pick to read ? I can't promise a new title by any favourites - but Charlie will pick a winner - or maybe two - to have a book giveaway this week. Post answers in the comments below and I'll get Charlie on the task of choosing.

Not the 12 Days of Christmas afterall!

It is a well-known fact that having a chest infection/fluey virus that lasts over 10 days+ will ruin all carefully laid plans for Christmas cards/presents/giveaways. And, that being the case, a DH with the male version of the said virus (aka man flu) will mess things up even more and delay them even longer.

So my plans for a 12 Days of Christmas giveaway have rather taken a back seat lately! I shall rethink and regroup however - and the will be some sort of Christmas giveaway in the coming week - I hope!

In the meantime, as you'll know, Mills and Boon are busy giving glimpses of the new look makeover that will launch in 2018. A small package arrived today, with the very first copy of my own new- look book and a special card to mark the event - so here's your first sneak peak of the new-look Modern cover and the new line Dare coming soon.

More details to follow . . .

Ruby's Big Day - Part 2

Today is the third anniversary of the day that Ruby came to live with us. She was a little 8 week old stray, being looked after by a wonderful lady from the Cats' Protection League but the minute I walked up the drive

and towards the pens where she was staying she threw herself at the netting and demanded - loudly to be taken home As we had recently lost out beautiful Maine Coon Flora, we had a large cat shaped hole in our lives and Ruby has helped to fill that - in spite of being about one third the size of Flora.

 She was barely a quarter of the size of Charlie when she arrived, but she made sure he understood that she was the Queen around here.

She has happily posed for her homing birthday portrait - she knows she is

beautiful! And she has now chosen two winners of the Crime Writer's Casebook so I'll post the winners in a moment - but first some photos to mark Ruby's Coming Home Day.

And the winners are:

Charlotte Mcfall
and
Julie Ryan

Please contact me  at katewalker AT ntlworld.com with postal addresses to send you on your prize copies of The Crime Writer's Casebook.

Oh - and seeing as I've had several enquiries about any possible courses - I should just let you know that if you're interested Stephen Wade will be running a course in April at Cirencester University in April. There has already been plenty of interest and some bookings so it's starting to fill up.

'Relax & Write' 2018 Weekend Courses
The Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester
6-8 April 'Focus on Romantic Fiction' with Kate Walker
6-8 April 'Write that Crime Story' with Stephen Wade
6-8 April 'The Business of Writing' with Simon Whaley

For details - contact Lois Maddox at Malagaworkshops.co.uk

Ruby's big day

Ruby is busy celebrating today - it's the anniversary of her arrival here to live with us.

 But she also has a special job to do - to pick the winners of the special Writers Casebook giveaway. She's taking her time picking the treats on each piece of paper with an entry's name on it - but I'll be back when she's made up her mind!

Crime Writers' Giveaway

CRIME WRITER'S GIVEAWAY

Tomorrow is December 10th. That makes it the official publication date of the Babe Magnet's great new book from Straightforward Publishing. The Crime Writers' Casebook.

To celebrate, my DH has given me two paperback copies of this book to give away over the weekend. As Good reads have changed their policy making international giveaways much more difficult, I'm going to have to do this personally.

Written with Stuart Gibbon, former Metropolitan Police detective with 30 years experience in crime investigation. As a DCI he was in charge of murder cases and was an SIO on the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. He is now a writing consultant advising authors on police procedures.

Stephen Wade is the author of over 60 non-fiction books, many of them on crime history. His most recent works have included The Justice Women, No More Soldiering and The Girl who Lived on Air, all mainly concerned with legal issues in history. His book, Murder in Mind, was featured at the Ilkley Literature festival in 2017. Stuart and Stephen give talks to writing groups on crime past and present.

To enter, just leave a comment below - or on my Facebook page - telling me - and Steve and Stuart - the name of your favourite ever crime novel .. Giveaway open internationally; prizes posted next week; you don't have to buy anything to enter; and names

will be drawn at random.

This time, Ruby will pick the winners on Monday morning - which is a day when she will be celebrating a special something herself!

Here's a small hint about what -

Feline Filing

I have a slight quandary. 

I need to print out some advance information and key selling points for a new edition of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance - but this is the basket that contains all my printer paper . . .

 Err - Charlie . . . !