Pink Hearts Day

Today is the day for my regular Date With Kate  post over on the Pink Heart Society blog.

Today I'm talking about heroes - and specially  the hero in my latest release - A Question of Honor

What makes a hero for you?  Come along and let me know what you think.

Pink Hearts Day

Have you got used to the fact that the new year has dawned - and passed - and it's  a months (or more) since that happened . . ? In fact it's now February and the second month of 2014 has arrived!

I have to admit that I've struggled rather to realise that it is even 2014.  I've been so bus and preoccupied that I haven't noticed what days are going by - and how fast.

So that yesterday, when I finally got to the  end of the 'Things To Do List'  and thought |I could relax for a while, I  was rather shocked to realise that it was  the 6th Feb - which meant that the following day was 7th Feb - and the first Friday of the month.

Which,as you'll probably all know,  is the day that I regularly post a blog over on the Pink Hearts Society in my A Date With Kate Column

Cue minor panic - I needed a topic for a blog - and fast . . .

It was then, on a stroke of luck, that an email message appeared in my inbox - and when I opened it, there was  a nice idea for my new blog all ready and waiting.

So  - just squeezing in at the very last minute -  that's where I am today - blogging over on The Pink Hearts Society.

Pink Heart Day

 

It's been a busy week  - or two.   I've been nose to the grindstone doing that thing that novelists have to do - writing! It's been good to have come concentrated writing time, but  a few other things, like blogging have had to go by the wayside as I focused my attention on that.

As a result I lost track of time and almost forgot that today is the first Friday of the month - but luckily I remembered just in time.

Because of course the first Friday of the month is my day for blogging over at The Pink Heart Society. 

So that's where you'll find me today - talking about one of my  favourite romance books  and a favourite author. Anne Mather.

Pink Heart Day

Ooops! 

I've been enjoying the guest posts so much - and  been busy scheduling and posting new ones!  - that I almost forgot to tell you that today is the first Friday of the month.

And that means that it is my day for A Date With Kate over on the Pink Heart Society Blog.  So that's where you'll find another post, another giveaway.

And what am I talking about?  I wonder if you can guess? It starts with an a - - - - - - - - - and ends in a y.

So when you've read all about Sally's wedding  and posted your comment for her - you can head over there next!

PHS Day

It's the first Friday  of the month so today I'm over on the Pink Heart Society blog with  Date With Kate.


I'm talking about writing my first ever royal romance - which is, of course -  A Throne For The Taking.

See you there.

Pink Heart Day

As it's the first Friday in April, today is the day for my Pink Heart Society column  .  So today yoi'll find me over there with my  A Date With Kate blog.

Today's topic?  Knitting!  Well, it is supposed to be the latest  really fashionable craft, after all the baking TV programmes and now the 'Sewing Bee'.

So what crafts would your heroine enjoy? If she does any sort of crafting that is.  Or maybe even your hero is into some sort of craft work?

I almost forgot . . .

It's March 1st - and a Friday. So that means it's the first Friday in the month.
And the first Friday of the month is my day for blogging over on the Pink Heart Society Blog.  So that's where I am today.

It's also where I've been able - at last - to show the cover of my new title, A Throne for The Taking  which is out in June.    But I also want to post  it here for everyone to see.  This is my black sheep  prince Alexei  and his reluctant bride  Ria. (I know there are a couple of readers who will particularly like that name.)

I only have the Harlequin  Presents edition cover for now  but I'll post the Modern Romance one as soon as I get it.

Pink Heart Day

It's the first Friday of the month so that mneans it's my Pink Heart Society  day for blogging in my Date With Kate Column.

So that's where you'll find me - with the So You Think You Can Write  contest in mind, as a special  request from PHS editor, Michelle Styles, I'm talking about choosing just which type of romance writing will suit you best.

See  you there!

Pink Heart Friday

It's the first Friday of the month so that means that today I'm blogging over on the Pink Heart Society site with my regular Date With Kate.

Today with the announcement of  the So You Think You Can Write Contest in mind, I'm posting the first of a set of craft posts to help those of you who plan to entere and to start with I'm going right back to basics and looking at the 'rules'  there are in romance writing - or that everyone seems to thin there are!

See you there?

A Date With Kate

I'll admit I almost forgot about this today -  the change from posting A Date With Kate on the third Friday of the month  to posting on the first Friday of the month caught me out. That and the  non stop row of the builders drilling through a wall!  But thanks to a timely reminder from one of the editors,  I've managed to get my post written and  up on the blog before too much of the day has gone by.

So today that's where you'll find me - over on the Pink Heart Society blog  where I'm talking about a subject dear to my heart - the romantic hero.  (And it 's a good excuse for another outing  for a that pic of Hugh in a towel!)

Blogging around

Regular visitors will know that I have  several spots where I guest blog every month.  The Pink Heart Society is one of them.  And that's where I am today.

In the past, my regular Date With Kate post on the PHS has been on the third Friday of the month, which could be a bit tricky to remember,  but this year A Date With Kate will  now be on the first Friday of the month - much easier for you (and me) to keep track of.

So this being the first Friday of January  I'm over on the Pink Heart Society blog talking about something appropriate to the new year  - Starting again - and how that applies to the characters in our novels.

See you there!

Countdown to Christmas 4

The winner of a copy of At The Sheikh's Command is Lois.  I have to admit that I love the idea of  the traditional Christmas decorations along with Star Wars figures etc.

Lois please email me with your postal address - see the email at the bottom of the blog page.

The contest for a copy of The Alcolar Family is still open over on We Write Romance until  Charlie comes in from the garden - this allows for tiome zone confusions!  Don't forget to answer the question over there to be in with a chance to win.

Today is the third Friday of the month which means that I'm over at the Pink Heart Society  for my regular Date With Kate and I'm taking the Countdown To Christmas with me.

Today's book is another 3 in 1  - with all my titles in it.  it's Claimed by the Sicilian.

 But this time the winning is slightly different. In the spirit of Christmas, this is your chance to win a copy of  this book to give to someone who you think needs or deserves a special gift at this time. You can nominate your mother, your friend, your daughter , a nurse at the local hospital . . .  And I'll send the book to you to give to her.

Claimed by The Sicilian  contains these three novels

The Sicilian's Wife

He gave her marriage - but not his love!

Marriage to Cesare Santorino is all Megan has ever wanted, although never like this! She's in deep trouble and, with no other choice, agrees to Cesare's offer of a mutually beneficial. convenient marriage.
Cesare makes no secret of his desire for her. But what about love? Megan can only hope that her proud Sicilian Husband might eventually come to see his young wife with more than just passion . . .
The story of The Sicilian's Wife is linked to A Sicilian Husband which is the story of Cesare's half-brother Gio. 

Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride

(Guido's story)
Possessed by his passion!
Dark, proud and sinfully gorgeous, Guido Corsentino is determined to reclaim his wife. Outwardly, Amber is perfect and untouchable - but Guido knows the passionate woman inside. One kiss, and he's certain she'll give him whatever he demands . . .
But Guido is also certain of something else: Amber ran away from him once—so she won't be given the opportunity to do so again. He'll protect her from the consequences of her actions . . . in his bed!

The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge

(Vito's story)
They shared one night of passionate lovemaking. Then in the cold light of day, her secret tore them apart. Now Vito has come back – and he’s determined to have his revenge.
Emily Lawton never expected to see him again. But Vito Corsentino has tracked her down and he wants Emily. This time he’ll take her and he’ll be the one to leave when it’s over.
But Emily has one last secret for Vito . . . She’s having his baby and if he finds out, he’ll want more than revenge!
When only seduction will settle old scores.

This book is now sold out in paperback on the Mills & Boon site - but you can still get an ebook copy if you don't win
The Countdown continues back on this blog tomorrow

2 Stops on the Blog Tour - A Date With Kate and SEEKERVILLE

This counts as part of the Big Blog Tour  but today is one of my regular guest blogs anyway -
A Date With Kate    is over on the Pink Heart Society  blog  as it always is on the third Friday of each month,

The third Friday of November? How did it get to that?  When I next do my Date With Kate post Christmas will almost be here . . . which is really what inspired today's post.

As it's part of the blog tour there is a giveaway - always supposing I can find Charlie! He owes me the pick of several prize winner names. These young apprentices, they're not quite so reliable  . . . .

And today I'm double booked because there is another Big Blog Tour Stop  over on a great blog site - Seekerville - this is a brand new blog to me so I'm looking forward to meeting lots of people here.  And I'm looking forward to seeing what I'm blogging about! I've written so  many posts in the last few days that I've forgotten which one is up there right now . . .I'm just going to see. . . and I need to sort out my time zones on this one.

PS Don't forget that the Big Blog Tour  - which is organised to celebrate the publication of The Return of The Stranger - still has a few more stops, a few more giveaways . . . and you can either start to join in the fun - or continue 'stalking' me to be in with a chance of a final prize at the end.

All the details are here on the Blog Tour Author Page - and some new dates and stops have been added coming up soon!   I'm not not sure how many stops there will have been in the end  - but I  think I've given away over 25 books!

Blogging around again

It's been a busy week  - and that's an understatement. I  say this every time I finish a book and then rush round  trying to catch up on everything that didn't get done when I was finishing it/doing revisions. There's accounts, updating the web site (havn't completed that yet - or the accounts for that matter)

 There are new events to agree to, organise - anyone in Nottingham in October? There's the New Writers' Festival on the 7th and 8th

And there's the prospect of this year's New Voices contest just around the corner too. There will be workshops for that too  . . . watch this space.

And I had  a special reason to celebrate this week that took me away from the keyboard  for a while. If you want to know what, then check out my Date with Kate blog over on the Pink Heart Society's blog where I'm talking about that special event  - and how as writers we need to think about this when we're making our characters fall in love.

And later today (ie when I think of something to blog about)  there's my Kate's Corner blog for We Write Romance.

But first I need to go into town for my hair appointment  so that I will look reasonably presentable for  my wonderful week in Caerleon at Writers' Holiday  from the  24th - maybe I'll see some of you there . . or on those other blogs.

A Date With Kate

It's the third Friday in May . (How did it get to be this date alrewady?!)
Anyway - if you're  a regular visitor to my blog then you'll know that the 3rd Friday in the month is the date when I have my regular post  A Date With Kate over on  The Pink Heart Society - so I hope I'll see you over there.

Today I'm talking about heroines - sepcifically 'jigsaw piece ' heroines. Want to know more - see you there!

Out and about

It's going to be a busy week  (is there any other sort?)   So I'm not sure how much  blogging I'll get to do.  But there will be blogs in other places even if I don't get to say much in  here.

So  - to give advance notice
1. I'm blogging at I Heart Presents on Monday- Obviously I'm talking about the release of The Proud Wife  - and about how I love writing reunion stories.
2.  Friday  will have two blogs -
One will be  Kate's Corner on We Write Romance
The other will be A Date With Kate at the Pink Heart Society
What will I be blogging about ?  Your guess is as good as mine - I need some good ideas!

Tomorrow I have to be up early because I have an interview on the Breakfast Show  on Radio Nottingham

Then on Wednesday I'm being interviewed  for  TV - Jo Healey from  East Midlands Today  will be coming here to talk to me and then she'll be attending the workshop in Nottingham Library  as well.  I'm not sure when this will be on the programme or if I can find a link so you can see it but if I can I will.

These last two are because of the Workshop at Nottingham Library  which is on Wednesday.  Just to remind you of the details -

Nottingham Library Royal Romance Workshop - led by Kate Walker

Location Nottingham Central Library
Angel Row, Nottingham, NG1 6HP

Mills & Boon are hosting a series of royal romance writing workshops for aspiring authors to learn the secrets of writing a successful royal romance novel. Mills & Boon author KATE WALKER will be leading this writing workshop at Nottingham Central Library.

This is a FREE event but booking is recommended.  (the last I heard almost all the ntickets had gone but there were still a few left)
Tickets are available from the Help Desk on the Ground Floor of Nottingham Central Library, contact 0115 915 2825 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0115 915 2825 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Check out the author's latest books before attending this event:

THE PROUD WIFE http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/books/Modern/The-Proud-Wife.htm

MEDITERRANEAN TYCOONS http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/books/Special-Releases/Mediterranean-Tycoons-.htm

This is only one of the planned workshops - for details on other events coming up in different parts of the country, check out Mills & Boon Facebook page here   or on my events page

Blogging elsewhere

I'm late posting this  - but it has been a  pretty tough week for our family.  So new blogs might be a bit scarce for a few days while  we cope and adjust.

But today is the 3rd Friday in March so I just wanted to say that it's  my day for A Date With Kate over on the Pink Heart Society - so my post there is up now.  I'm talking about  one of the many reasons why I'm proud to be a member of the romance writing community

Not sure when I'll be back to regular blogging - but  like the Terminator I will be back!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to  you all!  Today is your last chance to enter the Here Come the Grooms Contest.

Anne McAllister, Liz Fielding  and I (s0rry - and Sid the cat ) will be drawing the names of the winners  at the end of today. So get your answers in  fast!

Don't forget too that today is Pink Monday over on the Mills and Boon web site  with lots of great deals - new ones each hour - to grab some real bargains and some great  books.    Meditteranean Tycoons has already been included in one great offer - ansd I see that there are some Modern Romance books coming up soon. So keep your eye on the site.

I'm buried in preparations for my weekend course in  Fishguard   but just to remind you that tomorrow is my day for blogging over at We Write Romance  - in Kate's Corner. And Friday sees my second Date With Kate post on the Pink Heart Society -  by which time I'm be settled  in Wales, looking out at the sea from the Fishguard Bay Hotel.

New Beginnings

I'm  starting a new project today - over on the Pink Heart Society I have the first of my my brand new monthly columns - A Date With Kate.

These will appear on the PHS blog on the third Friday of every month.   I'd love it if you could join me over there.
And I'd also love it if you have any topics you'd like me to talk about - writing or otherwise - if you'll let me know in the comments.  With 3 regular columns on Tote Bags 'N' Blogs,  We Write Romance, and now The Pink Heart Society,  I need plenty of ideas to consider!

I've also noted the questions about writing that some of you posted - and I'll get round to them just as soon as I can. Right now I have  a full  Romance Writing Course (Advanced) for Fishguard  next month to complete, not to mention  a new book  . . .so I'm just a  bit busy!

Where did the week go?

I could have sworn that I missed out a few days here. One moment it was  Monday - then I blinked and . . .is it really Friday?

What has happened to the week? Let's see -

Two interviews - check

Wallpapering - yes, wallpapering. This was one of those plans that the New Year inspires in you.  Freshen up the bathroom and the cloakroom . . .  That lost me a couple of days

Plan new book - well that was OK. I could plan a new book and match wallpaper patterns at the same time. This is something the Babe Magnet admires. He can't do the matching wallpaper thng at all!

Celebrate the Offspring's birthday - check. But I'm a little worried as to how I ended up with such a  grown up son.  I was a child bride and a child mother  - honest!

Write a Dear Reader letter for latest accepted book - check (more on this  soon)

Read - I promised myself for New Year that this would be the year I'd read  more. I've kept to it - so far

Prepare course for Advanced Romance Writing at Fishguard  Writers' and Artists' Weekend in February  - this has been interesting.  The basic course is  taken straight from the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance.  The Advanced Course is for students who've already done that . . . .much thinking involved. And reading and assessing of scripts the students have submitted

Take cats (Sid Flora Charlie) to vets for booster injections  etc

Write blogs for Kate's Corner over on We Write Romance and prepare for my new monthly column on the Pink Heart Society  blog - A Date With Kate - coming

up on the 23rd.

Oh yes, so that's where the  week went!

And as it's the 15th today then  I'm blogging over on We Write Romance where I'm talking about trying to get - and keep  - some better balance into my life!  Wish me luck - and maybe I'll see you there?