40 for 40 Annie West

 My guest today says in her post that she's smiling as she writes her contribution to the blog. Well, so am I  - smiling that is.  Smiling at just the memory  of meeting the lovely Annie West  - and the image of her wonderful smile that's in my thoughts as I write this. (You can see that in the wonderful picture of Annie here.)

Annie lives too far away  - over the other side of the world in Australia, but I've been lucky enough to meet her on a few occasions - when the BM and I visited  the RWAus conference in Sydney and on the too rare occasions on which she and her lovely husband have visited the UK. I remember one  wonderful  evening in a hotel in London when we all relaxed in our (mine and the Babe Magnet's room)  after an Italian meal - and talked and talked . . .and talked. 

 

Annie has weddings on her mind right now too. Not  a wedding anniversary  but the very special day for her daughter.  I can't wait to see the photos of Annie as Mother of The Bride. Annie's looking for ideas   and hints as to how to handle all that a wedding entails. Can  you help her? I'm afraid I wouldn't  be much help - when the Babe Magnet and I got married it was when we'd just left university - three weeks was all we had to organise everything.  So perhaps you can give Annie more advice.

Anyway - here's Annie -

 

 

Hi Kate! Congratulations on 40 years of marriage. I'm so thrilled for both you and the Babe Magnet. Seeing you both together last time I was in London I can understand how your marriage has lasted so well. Obviously there's great affection and respect there. It's wonderful to see.

I had to smile for purely personal reasons too, when you mentioned contributing to your 40 blogs to

celebrate 40 years of marriage. Weddings have been on my mind, you see, as a member of our family is getting married very soon. It's all been a delightful surprise but now we're getting down to the business end of organising a wedding.

 

After years of marriage it's quite a change to be thinking about that first celebration again - the day when you tie the knot with the one you love. Isn't it a magical time? No matter how simple there's something so special about declaring your love in front of family and friends.

 

The wedding we're planning is in the vineyards of Australia's beautiful Hunter Valley. Here's a location shot to give you an idea. I should be lovely there on a summer evening. I'm so looking forward to it. So far we've got a few things in place: location, celebrant, photographer, bride's dress and (almost) the invitations. Still a fair bit to do of course and the upcoming months will be busy.

 

So in between writing, the rest of my year will be filled with wedding arrangements. I suspect it will be a big year for us all!

 Have you ever had to organise a wedding, or some other special event? Do you have any tips on what works or doesn't, or even suggestions on how to stay sane in the process of juggling so many different priorities? I'd be grateful to hear any suggestions.

 

In honour of Kate's wonderful anniversary I'll give a copy of my latest release 'Imprisoned By a Vow' to one person who leaves a comment.

Happy Anniversary, Kate!

Annie

 

 

 

 

Tote Bag of Books Presents Special - Annie West

It’s Harlequin’s 60th birthday in 2009 and July has been designated Presents month. What a grand reason for a celebration! It’s my birthday this month too, so I’m in party mode.
Today's author is one of the great Australian authors who write for Presents. Up to a couple of weeks ago I might have said she was one of the newest Aussie authors but I've learned of a new Australian author whose book will be appearing very soon.


Annie has donated copies of her book The Greek's Convenient Mistress (a June release ) to the Tote Bag.


Welcome Annie -



Harlequin books have played an enormous part in my life. When I was a teenager I discovered the joys of romance between the covers of love stories set in exotic places all around the world. I’ve been a Presents reader for years, but I’ve also devoured Temptation, Desire, Intimate Moments, Intrigue and Romance.

I love a touch of glamour in my romances and a hero who can sweep a woman off her feet. Sigh. Is it any reason I’m addicted to these love stories? It’s wonderful writing them and such a thrill too to get to know other Harlequin writers who create just the sort of stories I love.

As we’re talking about birthday celebrations I thought I’m mention a few that stick in my mind. We’re planning a birthday weekend trip to the beautiful vineyards of the Hunter Valley (Australia) this month which should be lovely: gorgeous scenery, great company and total relaxation. Recently I was speaking to someone who celebrated a significant birthday in Venice with her husband. As she lives in Sydney, that’s no mean feat! One of my all time favourite birthday memories was of a sunny winter’s day in Canberra when I wasn’t long married. We couldn’t afford to go out to a fancy restaurant, much less go away. Instead we sat on the verandah of our newly acquired home (which at that stage didn’t have floor coverings or proper curtains) and had a lovely romantic picnic, watching the kangaroos grazing on the top of the hill opposite. It felt so special, celebrating with my husband in our very own home.

What birthday celebration stands out in your memory? Is it a treasured childhood recollection or something more recent? If you haven’t got special birthday memories, is there something you’d like to do mark the occasion in the future?




Costas Palamidis is a desperate man - desperate to save his daughter. He seeks out the only person in the world who can help her: Sophie Paterson. But their meeting is an explosive confrontation between two people shattered by grief. Costas comes face to face with a woman who embodies every haunted memory of his past yet presents an inescapable temptation. Can he trust her to help him, and trust himself to resist her?


When a furious Greek tycoon bursts into her home, Sophie’s anguish turns to outrage. She wants nothing to do with any man as callous and hard as this one. Yet she discovers a reluctant bond of understanding with this arrogant stranger. To help him she must return to Greece, face the family that disowned her and lay herself open to the shattering attraction between her and Costas. She can’t walk away, but will she survive the experience?

Annie's question for the contest is:

What is the title of Annie's current UK release?

You can find the answer on Annie's web site here

All About Alphas 16 - Annie West

So, we've looked at a range of authors who write for different lines, and covered the different 'shades' of writing an alpha male in those. But I have three more authors' comments to share with you before we finally round off the All About Alphas discussion. I also still have a couple of questions to deal with specifically - if the answers haven't already been provided by the other posts.

I started this series with some of the long established authors in the Modern/Presents line - the line best known for its alpha heroes. And now I'm goping to round the discussion off by posting the comments from three of the newer authors, writers who have come to the lin e in the last couple of years and who are building a following for themselves.

The first of these is Annie West. Llike me, Annie loves a strong alpha hero - and like me she also emphasises the need for integrity and that vital code of honour that makes a man a hero. Without that essential element, for me, he could be richer and more powerful than any other man in the world, gorgeous and sexy as sin - but would never be a hero. Annie, clearly thinks the same.

Kate, as you know, I adore writing alpha heroes, and reading them too.
What's not to like? The alpha stands out from other men. He'smore capable, more
successful than his peers, whether it be in making money, saving the planet or
the people he cares for. He's resourceful, commanding, capable, respected or
possibly feared by rivals, a leader, a courageous man who shines in a crisis. He
will be intelligent, able to perceive threats and to counter them, whether in a
boardroom manoeuvre or while facing down an aggressor. He knows what he wants
and goes after it, which can be so exciting when what he wants is a woman who's
determined to resist him! He's charismatic, virile and sexy.

But, for me none of that alone would work. I love exploring the heart of the alpha male. He has integrity and stands by what he believes in - he's a hero after all!
Sometimes his code of honour doesn't fit with those around him and he dares to
do things others might not, but he holds to his beliefs. He's passionately
protective of those he cares for or even those for whom he feels unwilling
responsibility. When the alpha hero meets the one right woman he's capable of
falling deeply, devastatingly, completely in love, even if he doesn't want to.
And when he does it's for life, with every fibre of his being.

I love reading and writing about these strong men who who can sweep a
woman off her feet but who can themselves be swept away by love.

Annie has a brand new alpha hero in her latest book out this month - Blackmailed Bride, Innocent Wife.

Forced to wed… Hard-hearted magnate Dario Parisi will reclaim his stolen birthright – even if it means forcing the granddaughter of his family’s sworn enemy to marry him. …and share his bed! Alissa Scott is certainly not the biddable wife Dario wanted – yet he’s consumed by red-hot desire for his unwilling bride. So when she tries to change the rules, he demands she honour all her vows. Finally he undresses exactly the kind of wife he wanted: a virgin bride!

But American readers should look out for her other title - The Desert King's Pregnant Bride in Presents Extra for April.

Book News

Just interrupting this Q&A to bring you up to date on my book news - with a bit of that good news I'm now able to let you know.

Basically, it's all good for Spaniards right now - I heard from my editor and the revised version of Santos's story has made her happy so that's the first new title for next year . It's out in paperback in March 2008 with the title of Cordero's Forced Bride.

I'll be sorry to say goodbye to this sexy Spaniard but there will be a new man in my life to replace him. At the moment I think he's Italian.

And talking of Italians - I finally found out which of my Italian heroes has his story in the July By Request reprint Her Passionate Italian. My editor tells me that it's Gio (Giovanni Cardella) in the book A Sicilian Husband - which is a coincidence as I posted the UK cover for that book in the discussion about Mediterranean heroes here

More Spaniards - the ebook version of my June Presents title Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife, is running high in the Top Ten Bestselling ebooks over on eHarlequin. Thank you to everyone who has bought and downloaded a copy to put it there. The print book is officially due out on June 1st, but I suspect that my American readers will find this book on the shop shelves in a week or so.

And yet more Spaniards - remember that I was thrilled that The Alcolar Family was being reprinted as a 3 in 1 By Request in the UK in August - well, the 'more good news' is that the whole Alcolar Trilogy will be available in a 3 in 1 ebook Bundle for sale from eHarlequin and other ebook sources, also from June 1st. I don't yet have an ebook collection cover for this - so I'll just show you that great cover from the August By Request reprint (any excuse - well, it is a great cover!)

Finally, following on from the question about Mediterranean heroes - there;s a great discussion on the appeal of the Greek hero over on I Heart Presents today. It's being led by Annie West whose own latest book, The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife is a great read.

Weekend roundup

First of all - and most important - I've still got time to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my favourite people - and favourite authors.

Today is Michelle Reid's birthday so Happy, Happy Birthday Michelle.

Michelle has a brand-new book, The Markonos Bride out this month and she is planning a revamp and relaunch of her web site - so watch that space.

Next - I've been swamped with Spaniards this week. The latest, Santos, has been tweaked within an inch of his life and sent back to my editor. So I hope she loves him even more now.

And the other Spaniard, Raul, is starting to appear in the Presents edition in America. The book isn't actually on sale in the shops until the end of this month, but Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife is on sale on eHarlequin here as a print book or here as an ebook.

And Harlequin now has this widget which means that you can 'Browse the book' and have a look inside and a sneak preview before you buy. I just hope it works here.

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

And while I'm talking about reading - and eHarlequin - I'd like to draw your attention to the great 100,000 Book Challenge that is running on the eHarlequin site all year. This is an easy and fun way to make a contribution to charity - in this case, the National Center for Family Literacy - just by reading (and if you're visiting here, you're more than likely to be reading anyway) and then writing a short review of the books you read so that they can be added to the total read all together.

The goal this year is to read a total of 100,000 books thanks to the combined Community team and individual efforts. When the reading challenge ends on December 31, 2008, Harlequin will make an unprecedented donation of an equivalent number of books to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) to assist them in their challenge to fight illiteracy.

And all you have to do is read and record the books you've read! You need to be registered for the eHarlequin community to post your reviews but that doesn't cost or involve you in anything else and it's easy to do. I've been so busy that I've only managed to post 7 reviews so far - writing books/ launching books etc doesn't leave enough time to actually read them - but this is a Bank Holiday weekend and I've done my revisions, so I'm hoping to add to that total. (Right now I'm reading Annie West's The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife and loving it)

If you want to know more, then there's an introduction and all the rules here

Jayne from eHarlequin has written some clear and helpful instructions about how to post up a review so that it can be counted

Finally I've discovered another stockist for 12PGTWR2 - in the UK at least.

WHSMith online has the book for sale with a 34% saving (£7.25) - and if you're one of the thousands of people who have a WHSmith points card you can get points on this purchase too. This should mean that the book will be asy to order from a WHSmith shop if you prefer.

12 Point Guide Launch Party - Winners!

I have winners ! (I also have a streaming cold thanks to the Babe Magnet's generosity - this is going to make me look SO good at the official 12PGTWR2 tomorrow !)

Anyway - the bit I like - announcing winners:


Anne McAllister says:

The winner of The Boss's Wife For A Week is acdaisy95.
Congrats to acdaisy and to you, Kate, on the 2nd edition of your book!

Michelle Styles sent me an email yesterday to say:

I pulled a winner from the hat this morning and it was:
Jane Cheung
I have sent an email to her and hopefully the books will be winging their way to her shortly.

Jane's on a lucky streak - that's her second prize!


And finally there's one from Annie West
Popped over to your blog and randomly selected a winner. It's Peggy.

So winners - here's what you do - email me with your postal address and I'll send your details to the lovely author who donated your prize. Jane of course has already been contacteed - so acdaisy95, and Peggy need to email me.

And I'll hope to post more winners soon - Kate Hardy, Julie Cohen and Yvonne Lindsay will choose their winners at the end of today - so you have plenty of time to post and maybe win.

Back soon - Aaaaachooooo!

12 Point Guide Launch Party - 2

My first guest today is no stranger to any of you because I often talk about her. And you know how I love her books. She's a dear friend both to me and to Sid The Cat and she is Anne McAllister

Anne says:

Of course, you can write a romance without reading this book. But why would you pass up brilliant advice from one of the world's best writers and teachers of romantic fiction?

(Anne you're making me blush. And thank you for writing about the 12 Point Guide of your blog)

Anne's latest book is the great read - One-Night Love Child which is on sale now in the UK and the Presents edition is still around on Amazon or eHarlequin.

Anne is offering a prize of a copy of The Boss's Wife for A Week (you can read about this book on Anne's website) and she will ask her dog Gunnar to pick a winner from the comments today. Like Sid, Gunnar likes lots of treats to choose from. So get posting!

My second guest today has come all the way from Australia just to be here. She's the lovely Annie West who also writes for Presents.

Here's what Annie has to say about the 12 Point Guide

Kate, congratulations on the launch of this new edition of your 12 Point Guide. I'm thrilled to have contributed just a little to this updated version, especially since I know how useful this book has already been to so many writers. One of the things I like best about writing romance is the generosity and support of other writers, published and unpublished. That sharing of information and good will is at the heart of our genre and has helped many would be authors become published (me included). Here's to the success of this 2nd edition. I know it's eagerly awaited.

In the UK, Annie's latest book is in the Mills and Boon Presents.. anthology (for the cover of that see Wednesday's post. Annie's contribution is called The Billionaire's Bought Mistress. Also, she has a North American release in mid May, entitled The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife. Annie is offering a copy of this book as her prize today - and she will be choosing her winner from the comments too.

You can find out more about these books on Annie's website.

My final guest for now is the very talented Historical Romance writer Michelle Styles.
Michelle has already talked about the launch party of her blog (Thanks Michelle!) so if you've come over from there, I hope you'll post a hello - you might even win one of the prizes.

Michelle says:

I am sure that the second edition will be even more valuable to writers. I know I found the first edition to be really helpful to me in my quest of reaching publication.

Michelle's current book is Taken by the Viking and is the start of her Viken series.

Michelle's prize is a copy of her earlier book Sold & Seduced along with a signed copy of The Antonakos Marriage (by someone called Kate Walker) which was the seed book for this story. (Michelle talks about that on her blog)

Michelle's question is:

What is the name of the hero and heroine of each book.

(Answers can be found on Michelle's web site where you can read an excerpt of this book - or my web site for The Antonakos Marriage)

IMPORTANT - for this question please send your answers direct to Michelle so that she can pick the winner herself.

Finally, and nothing to do with the launch party or the 12 Point Guide - but because I know a lot of you will like to see this latest development in the ongoing story of Sid the Alpha Cat and Flora the Floozie - she has finally encroached onto his special blanket on my office windowsill

And yesterday, the Alpha male softened enough to let her have a cuddle - but only while he was asleep!

She's winning him round.

Don't forget to post comments - you have to be in to win. (And send your answers to Michelle)

Great Big Blog Party 7 - WINNER

Before I post the winner of Annie West's giveaway, I want to say a very special thank you to Annie for posting and joining in the comments chat in spite of conditions that made this above and beyond the call of duty.

Annie got caught up in the appalling storms that have hit Australia in recent days. I'm delighted to be able to say that she is safe - though several huge trees have been uprooted where she lives. I'm so glad that you are unhurt Annie!

And the winner is . . . .

Annie says:

I've been reading back through the comments on my celebration post on your blog site. It was so hard choosing a winner! In the end I've opted for Kate Hardy. Her idea of putting together a special album to celebrate a special occasion sounds just lovely! If she or you can send me her address I'll post her a copy of 'The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride'.

Congratulations Kate - as I know your address, I'll send it along to Annie myself. And I hope you'll enjoy The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride as much as I did - it's a great read!

Keep safe Annie - I'm just about to have to switch off my own computer as the thuder that has been threatening all day is now getting nearer.

Great Big Blog Party 7 - Annie West

Well I'm just about to set off to Lincoln for the other party - the physical one where all my wonderful friends are gsthering so we can celebrate together - I'm just about packed, Abby Green and Trish Wylie are here and travelling with us. But then I thought I needed to leave you with something and someone to entertain you while I was away - the next blg was Abby - er - well, no, she's coming with me - so I looked at the other Guests' contributions I had and I'm going to leave you in the capable hand sof the lovely and talented Annie West - one of the newly signed authors to Modern/Presents - and a very worthy addition too. If you haven't read her Sheikh's Ransomed Bride then I suggest you do.

Annie, I'm so sorry you can't actually be with us at the celebratin - but I hope you'll enjoy being the guest blogger over the party weekend.

Thank you for joining us

Celebrations and Writing

Kate, THANK YOU for throwing this wonderful 50th book blog party! Thanks so much for inviting me – it’s a real privilege to be here. And, most of all, thanks for writing 50 books! All the more for us to enjoy.

Your red letter occasion got me thinking about the link between writing romance and celebrations. When I started writing years ago I thought of writing as fun, escape, a wonderful pastime. Then it became a passion, then an obsession, and sometimes a chore. When the rejections kept coming I even, sometimes, wondered if it had become the bane of my life, as I couldn’t give it up but really wanted some good news! Through it all, I hung onto the idea of having a book of mine published. That was the goal that kept me firm.

Eventually though, I got to the stage of seeing past the (fingers crossed) acceptance – to the celebration that would follow (G)! Seriously, I was talking to my critique partner, Anna Campbell, when an image flashed into my head of the two of us, sitting on a sunny day in a nice restaurant near Sydney Harbour. We were celebrating a book sale – hers or mine or both! We talked about ‘my editor’ and ‘my book’, laughed a lot and enjoyed being waited on, while revelling in the tremendous feeling of achievement.

That image was so vivid that I shared it with Anna and we decided that if ever/whenever (we kept telling ourselves it was the latter) one of us had a book accepted we’d celebrate like that. Just the two of us, soaking up the satisfaction of a book well finished. In the time that followed, as we wrote and rewrote and submitted and were rejected, that picture of us laughing in the sun kept me going. It seemed so real I couldn’t be wrong, could I?

The good news for us is that I wasn’t and that we’ve since had our books accepted and published (7 so far between us) by our dream publishers. And you know what? We have celebrated. And each celebration has been wonderful. We’ve allowed ourselves the freedom to have a good time and rejoice in the latest achievement. And each time we’ve had our lunch together we’ve both left feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the next/current project (for we’ve discovered that the need for perseverance continues even after publication).

I’ve often wondered if the prospect of a special celebration helped me persevere. Sometimes my belief that we would get to celebrate one day seemed the best incentive to keep writing.

Now I wouldn’t give up our celebrations for anything. Whether they’re in a swanky hotel right on the harbour, or eating fresh fish and chips on our lap in a park, looking out over the water, they’ve become part of our writing life.

I strongly believe that hard work and achievements need to be recognised and celebrated in some way. Which is why, Kate, next time you visit Australia, you’re cordially invited to lunch with a water view somewhere. Those 50 books deserve a great celebration. And to my mind there’s no better way to celebrate a book than to be with other writers.

Giveaway Question -

I have friends who celebrate good news with balloons and party hats, or with a day lying in bed with the Sunday papers and the phone off the hook. I know people who’ve marked something special with a trip away, or even planted a commemorative tree in their garden. How do you celebrate the special things in your life? I’d love to hear.

Annie lives on the coast north of Sydney, Australia. She writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Modern/Presents/Sexy and has had 5 books accepted (one tenth of Kate’s amazing achievement!). Her latest release, ‘The Sheikh’s Ransomed Bride’ is released in North America in July 2007, closely followed by ‘For the Sheikh’s Pleasure’ in August.

Giveaway: signed copy of ‘The Sheikh’s Ransomed Bride’.
Web link: http://www.annie-west.com/