Off again

This is a picture of Charlie the Maine Coon's face when he learned we are setting out *again* and leaving him with his beloved cat-sitter for 2 days.

But this is only a short trip - and it's one where I put on my DH supporting hat (it had better be a waterproof one

considering the storms raging at the moment!).

 We are heading for the Ryedale Book Festival where the Babe Magnet has been shortlisted in their short-story competition. It doesn't matter if he wins or not - to be in the top 10 is a win as far as I'm concerned!

 But I think even Charlie will approve of us leaving for this  - and he does love his cat-sitter!

A flash giveaway

Charlie thanks everyone who has sent him get well messages.  The bite in his neck is healing well and cleanly  and apart from   boredom which is driving him crazy he is  so much better.  He chased his sister Ruby around the house at  speed in the middle of the night (using our bed as a launch pad!) just to have something to do. It sounded more like a  herd of buffalo than 2 small furry creature. Well, small where Ruby is concerned!
Anyway, I think  he's feeling  so  much better and the cone comes off v soon so that will please him.

While I'm away for the weekend, I'm going to run a flash giveaway to celebrate the weekend. But this time the book isn't mine - remember how I promised I'd try to persuade the Babe Magnet into letting me off  a couple of copies of his  book for writers to share with you - well, he's agreed, and I have two copies of Write Your Self  to give away.

This book got a great 5 star review from Simon Whaley on The Business of Writing.

There are many books about how to write. There is plenty of advice online about how to journal. What Write Your Self does is merge the two together - become a better writer by journalling your journey of exploration, as you discover your inner writer-self.

This is a practical book, packed with exercises, and oozing with examples. Stephen begins by raising a theme, issue or idea, and then follows through with an example. After that, it’s time for you, the reader, to have a go … (top tip: treat yourself to a brand new journal at the same time as you buy this book).

What makes this book different is the way Stephen encourages you to learn more about yourself as a person, as well as about yourself as a writer. Doing so not only helps you explore the direction in which you’d like to go with your writing, but it also helps you mine your wealth of life experience for potential material to write about.

Despite not being a poet, I particularly enjoyed the poetry chapter, and the idea of taking an observation from the day and creating a short haiku from it. Most people can manage 17 syllables, yet after a month of observations you have at least 30 of them in your journal. That in itself is an impressive body of work. But you’ve also learned more about how you, as a writer, observe the world around you.

I’d recommend reading this book at least twice: once right through, to absorb the idea and premise behind the text, and then a second time, with your journal at the ready. Tackle all the exercises within the book and Write Your Self will map your journey from thinker and observer into a thought-provoking writer.


There's a great interview with the author on there too.

To enter, just leave a comment below - sending get well wishes to Charlie, or saying why you'd like to win this book.   Giveaway open internationally; prizes posted next week; nothing to do with FB and all to do with me; you don't have to buy anything to enter; and names will be drawn at random.  

 Charlie will pick the winners - a little something to keep him from getting bored  and an allowance of extra treats on the names of entrants  for him to choose when I get home on Monday. (And then he'll be  able to go outside again!)

. Have a great weekend.

Another 'grim' day

 I'm  just setting out on  another day as PA the the other half of the 'Crime and Passion' duo. The Babe Magnet is speaking today at the Ilkley Literature Festival - in a discussion about  Crime in Your Back Yard   with fellow Yorkshire writers Liz Mistry   and A A Dhand  (at the Playhouse at 5pm  ).

I'll  be the back up team this week  - next weekend I'll be the one doing the work at the Writing Fiction That Sells weekend course at Keele University.

Looking forward to that, but the treat this week, is that we get to have afternoon tea  at Bettys in Ilkely - no doubt we'll bring home  Fat Rascals (and I'm not talking about DH!)

The weather is supposed to be untypically mild - so long as this storm Ophelia doesn't hit us  so I'm looking forward to the trip.

Tote Bags Day

The 12th of every month is the date that I write a post for the Tote Bags 'n' Blogs  Blog. 
So that's where I have posted today . 
(well - a couple of days ago - I've only just  caught my breath to remember to come and post here to tell you about it!)

Anyway, I've written about being one of two writers in the family and how my DH - aka the Babe Magnet  is a writer of  Local History and True Crime - and the history of Crime.

So you'll find out about him on Tote Bags  - and about his new books coming out - that's Write Your Self.  

And then  The Crime Writers' Casebook with his friend  former Detective Inspector in the murder squad Stuart Gibbon.


This weekend we're off to Ilkley where the Babe Magnet if speaking on writing true crime and crime history at the  Ilkley Literature Festival.  So I'll be acting as PA   then and letting him do the speaking and greeting.

Back from the Book Launch

I have just about recovered from a hectic weekend!   We had a family reunion in York with two of

my sisters and a brother-in-law.   The rain was lashing down when we set off but luckily had dried up by the time we were in the queue  for lunch in Bettys. 

From there it was off to Haworth where the book launch for the Babe Magnet’s  book  of short stories   Uncle Albert   was to be held in The Black Bull. 

Haworth of course is  the Yorkshire village where the Bronte sisters, Emily, Charlotte and Anne all  lived and wrote in the Parsonage there, producing  classic novels like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and  The Tennant of Wildfell Hall.  And the Black Bull is  the inn where their brother Branwell spent   many hours of his life drinking in the bar.  There is even an old chair reputed to be the chair Branwell sat in regularly during his long drinking sessions.  We had to pass this chair every time we went  upstairs to our room.  That room looked out over the back of the pub and the graveyard by Haworth Church where so many past inhabitants of the village are buried.  Charlotte Branwell and Emily are buried in the crypt below the church.

The Black Bull is reputed to be haunted  by several ghosts – one of which is supposed to be Branwell

Bronte himself -  but in spite of that we slept very well!   It was only in the morning when the Babe Magnet said he had heard an animal –possibly a fox? – crying  in the night. Er, yes, well – one of the ghosts is reputed to be a child crying in the middle of the night.  Fox or child?  . . .   We didn’t investigate further.

Saturday was a cold rainy day but we still enjoyed exploring and revisiting some of our favourite places in Haworth  before we got ready for the evening and the official book launch.  There were glasses of prosecco, great snack food (the Black Bull does great food)  live music – and of course Uncle Albert! There were even Uncle Albert  beer mats all over the bar tables.  I’m not sure that many of the regulars in the bar quite knew what was going on but they  enjoyed the readings and several of them came up afterwards wanting to buy copies of the book for their Dads on Father’s Day.

The publishers also announced their search for new short story writers – check out their web site www.priory-press.co.uk  for details.

By the end of a long  evening we were too tired to care whether any sounds in the night were animal or spectral.  Sunday morning was lovely and warm and we all – the Babe Magnet’s brother, the 

publishers (Priory Press Isle of Man)  and us  enjoyed breakfast on the balcony as the sun warmed up.

So  that’s the official launch – next thing is a trip to the Isle of Man where  ‘Albert’ is appearing at the Douglas library,  talking on Manx Radio – and appearing at  the Mananan International Festival in the Erin Arts Centre Port Erin.  I shall be there in my role as PA  and ‘author’s wife’. It’s 15+ years since I last visited the Isle of Man so I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s changed and visiting places  I last saw in   1987 – when I only had 6 books published!  The island isn’t the only thing that has changed a lot!

Tote Bags and Book Launches

Today is the 12th of June so that means it's my day for blogging over on Tote Bags N Blogs  where I'm talking about the fabulous Manga in English Harlequin Comics editions of my books.

That's because there is a new Manga comic book out next week - the Manga edition  of  Bedded By The Greek Billionaire.

It has the most amazing cover !

But this isn't the book launch I've been busy with. The reason why I've been missing on this blog for a while is because I've been helping the Babe Magnet and his publisher Priory Press with preparations for the launch of  his new book of Yorkshire short stories - Uncle Albert.

You may remember that I wrote about this book and interviewed its author back in April   Now there's the official launch in one of my favourite places   in all the world - Haworth, the village that was home to  Charlotte Emily and Anne Bronte.

The launch is being held in one of the iconic buildings in Haworth - the Black Bull Inn  where the sisters' brother Branwell Bronte just about  drank  himself to death.

The launch is there on Sunday night -

An evening with Uncle Albert and friends

                              At the Black Bull,

                                       119 Main Street, Haworth, Keighley, BD22 8DP.

                                       On Sunday the 14^th June 2015

             

The main festivities kick off at 8pm with a short introduction and Stephen Wade’s one man show.

       ‘Introducing Uncle Albert’.

           A rare Yorkie wit, raconteur extraordinaire and little known poet.

                                 There will also be

    live music from the simply fabulous Joe and Ann Gallagher Acoustic Experience

So that's where I'm going to be this weekend.  If you're passing  do drop in!   At the moment the forecast is for violent thunderstorms, lightning and torrential downpours - which seems very suitable to the place where Wuthering Heights originated.  I hope it won't be too wet and make everyone reluctant to turn out.

                             

Today's my day to  wear a different hat (if I ever wore a hat! ) Today I am acting as the Babe Magnet's PA  as we go to a meeting with his publisher about the launch of Uncle Albert.   But as the meeting is in one of my favourite places in all the world - Haworth village where  Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte grew up, I'm perfectly happy with the prospect.

While I'm away there should be a post about Olivero's Outrageous Proposal over on I Heart Presents . Not sure exactly when it will go up as it will be when Elissa gets a chance to post it - but it will be there!

Meanwhile I'll be hoping the sunshine lasts - I love Wutherin Heights as a book  but I don't fancy braving the sort of cold, snowy weather Heathcliff and Cathy endured.

Double Publication Day!

 As I announced yesterday - April 1st is the official publication date of my latest book Olivero's Outrageous Proposal. But,  as I'm sure so many of you know, I'm not the only writer in this  house.  My husband, Stephen Wade, also known as the Babe Magnet is also a multi-published author.
Usually he writes non-fiction, local history, true crime, biographies,  but April 1st is also the ;publication date of his collection of Yorkshire based short stories  -  Uncle Albert. (Priory Press) 

So, to mark this double publication date,  I thought we'd  do a double blog post with each of us talking about our own new titles - but there's a twist. I've interviewed  the author Stephen Wade -   and he's interviewed the author Kate Walker  -  so here's the result:

Kate Walker to Stephen Wade on Uncle Albert

What is the book about?

I wanted to go back to my childhood –in fact I think my best writing has always been on that theme. The stories are an exaggeration of people and events from a Yorkshire village in the 1950s. I wanted to make it larger than life, very much influenced by Peter Tinniswood, who used to write about a northern family, or maybe a bit like Carla Lane’s Bread.

What made you write these stories?

I decided I’d had enough of miserable tales about crime and decided that I wanted to encourage people to smile at a thoroughly daft character.

    Is Uncle Albert  based on someone real?

      Only in a very small way – about 2 % of Albert is actually my real Uncle Albert, from Churwell, near Leeds.  He and Aunt Ivy never had children, and they looked after me when I was little, as Mam went out to work as a dressmaker in a clothes factory. Later, they gave a home to three boys – sons of my Uncle Harry Medd.

  Is the village where the stories are set a real  one?

Gawpham is vaguely Churwell but there is something mythic about the lace- it’s locked into my DNA. There are key locations such as the cottage garden, the working men’s club and the small-holding.

  Did you use the local dialect words when you were a kid? (the ones you have to explain in a glossary for non Yorkshire tykes!)

I was a dialect speaker until the age of 7. So I asked my mates, ‘Are tha laikin’ aht toneet?’

‘Are you coming out to play tonight?’

Description

Everyone has an Uncle Albert somewhere in their family tree and he's usually the one having a quick smoke around the back while trying to think up a new get-rich-quick scheme that doesn't actually involve work. The sort of uncle who is wonderful to talk about unless he actually turns up on your doorstep carrying a still-moving sack and wearing a furtive look.
Uncle Albert is a nostalgic look at life in a small Yorkshire village when Tetley's Yorkshire Bitter was still made in Yorkshire and a pie and a pint with ketchup was at least two of your five-a-day.

A wonderful collection of Yorkshire-voiced short stories by Stephen Wade which will appeal to young and old alike.

Stephen  Wade to Kate Walker  on Olivero's Outrageous Proposal.

  Was the title difficult to create? – or do you find satisfactory titles always to be a tough ask?

  I rarely get to keep a title that I've come up with - usually my editor chooses one that fits the book in the  Presents line-up.  The last title I had used as a working title for my book was the previous book - A Question of Honour so I was pleased to keep that. But when I was writing this, to me it was  just 'Alyse and Dario's story' and my editor rechristened it Olivero's Outrageous Proposal. She's good at thinking up good titles - and the one she has for my next book is just fabulous. (But I can't reveal that until it's all signed and sorted and officially scheduled)

       Would you say it has the Kate Walker hallmark – and if so, what exactly is that key element that makes a Kate Walker story?

      Oh that's a tricky one -  I'm not sure authors are the best at describing their 'hallmarks'.  I did have an editor once who said she loved my dark heroes (and she wasn't just talking about tall dark and handsome)  so there's that of course. And there's an intensity of focus on the  emotional journey of the hero and heroine.  And  there's also an intensity of passion! I'd have to go with the way Romantic Times described it: This couple heats up the pages with their battle-worthy banter and sensual conversations. 

Is the hero a personal favourite? (Where does he stand vis a vis the long line of heroes in all the books?)  

       Dario was fun to write    and I fell in love with him as I wrote his story. But then I'd have to say that about every hero I write.  They're all my favourite when  I've just finished writing there story (not so much when I'm battling with them to get the story written!) 

       I'm loving having Dario's story in my hands - but I'm afraid I have to confess that I'm now being unfaithful to him with Nabil my new, sexy, scarred sheikh hero!  

 Do you still get a thrill when your new book drops through the letter-box?

 

   Oh yes! That's one of the best bits of being a published author - seeing the new book, with a shiny cover and   somehow the words look so different in printed form.

            Even when I'm not so keen on the cover it's still a special feeling- and then seeing the book in the shops is always a thrill

I 

  If you compared yourself to Him Indoors, what differences would you find – that is, in the kinds of writers  you are?

I think the different sort of writers we both are just proves the truth of the fact that there is no right way to write a book - we all have our own processes, we go about this writing business in  very different ways and neither is better than the other we both end up with published books in the end.

I write in silence and  the books take time to put together - thinking of the emotional story and the motivations of the characters etc. And my characters get very serious and intent about things - there's none of the humor that Albert brings to the page,  This Stephen Wade person writes fast  - specially with Uncle Albert! and  always has music playing  while he's at the keyboard - often jazz which I can't stand. So it's just as well that we have managed to set ourselves up in separate studies so we can each work in our own way. 

What's that they say about opposites attract? It certainly seems to be so with two such very different writers. 

Description:

One problem...
Dario Olivero, Alyse Gregory was supposed to be a way to reap revenge against his estranged half brother. But Alyse carries the key to the family acceptance he's always craved and, realizing just how much trouble she's in, he can't turn away.

One solution!
A marriage proposal is not what Alyse was expecting. But this deliciously sexy Italian will resolve her family's debts if she becomes his convenient wife... Her head says no but her body begs her to say yes.

With an intensity rivaling the Tuscan sun, their mutual desire soon escalates to something inconvenient, creating a whole new dilemma!

Coming up for air

I've been so busy with revisions for the latest book  with  my sexy sheikh and his  arranged marriage, that I'd almost forgotten that the publication date for my April book -  Olivero's  Outrageous Proposal is this coming week. ( In fact I think it's actually out already in some places and in the Presents edition in America.)

So  when I lifted my thoughts from the  and went to look, I was thrilled to find that it has  been getting some lovely reviews as well as being in  the Top Ten on the Mills & Boon web site since the  1st  week of March.

It's also lovely to  see some great reviews - not just because  they give it 5 stars  but because it shows that readers are enjoying Dario and Alyse's story - always the best thing for a writer to read!

On the Mills & Boon web site there's this one:

Mrs Walker's renaissance continues with this fast-paced, evocative and emotional story with scintillating characters especially the brooding and mixed-up Dario. With great tension and dialogue this is exactly what this reader wants in an M&B Modern. Ten out of ten
R

And on Amazon.com

Marriage of convenience? Those are stories that I really like.
This one started as a game to thwart one man and ended up bringing the main leads into a tangled chaos of titles and pedigrees as if there was no difference between looking for a wife and looking for a horse for your farm.
Olivero suggests (or rather commands very subtly) that they get married and Alysse who has to do something to resolve the issue of getting the family debt paid sees no way round it.
A story where a relationship is as much pretense as it is real and the emotions just run out of control. Wanting something with all your heart but are not able to even voice them.
Awesomely portrayed Kate, I simply loved it.!
Hina Tabassum 

And another -

 OLIVERO’S OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL by author Kate Walker is an April 2015 release by Harlequin Presents.
Alyse Gregory wanted to get away from one persistent suitor so she planned on being seen with another man. But meeting Dario Olivero put the plan put of her mind as she was scorched by desire so hot that there was nothing else on her mind.
Yet was Dario also hit by desire or had she played in his hands? Then he proposed marriage to her as a way of getting out of her problems, would she accept it? Now that she knew why he came after her in the first place?
What would happen to their super-charged chemistry? Would they give in to their passion? But Dario doesn’t do family, what would he do when Alyse drops the bombshell on him?
OLIVERO’S OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL is a sizzling romance. Author Kate Walker once again brought a tale of romance shimmering with emotions and sensuality. A reader would stay hooked to the book till the very last page.
Highly recommended for all readers of romance. 

Nas Dean 

My thanks to the lovely reviewers who have made my day with these comments.

And a quick check shows that the new paperback edition of the 12 Point Guide to Writing 

Romance  is now in stock on Amazon.com .  and Amazon.co.uk.    Oh,  and on Barnes and Noble too. So it's easily available.

But if you want free worldwide delivery - then try  The Book Depository where  you'll also get a discount on the price.

Back to the revisions - but next week I'll be celebrating the official publication date of Olivero's Outrageous Proposal on the 2nd April - which will be quite a special publication date as I'll be sharing  it with the publication of a new book by  The Babe Magnet  as we arrive in the shops together!

Good news day

As many regular visitors to this blog know, there have been some very difficult days and sadness that has knocked me off balance for a while.  So it's a great feeling to know that I have good news to share - and something(s) that have put a smile on my face.

Firstly there's the fact that the revisions I was working on  were just what my editor wanted and after a slow  (understatement!) start to my writing this year  that book has been accepted, scheduled and titled.  Which means that Olivero's Outrageous Proposal  will now be published in M&B Modern and Harlequin Presents in April 2015.  It will be my 63rd title.

It feels so good to have a new book in the pipeline and a publication date to look forward to.

There are a couple of other books coming up that I'm looking forward  to - but they're not by me  . . .

This weekend I'm heading for Wales where I shall  be proudly taking on the role of Mrs Babe Magnet when my husband is speaking at the Penfro Book Festival - talking about his book The Girl Who Lived on Air which is about a 19th century mystery ( a true one)  set in a small village in Carmarthenshire in 1869.   We've been told that this book will be Book of The Month in branhces of WH Smith and Waterstones in Wales this month - so I'm looking forward to seeing that.

And maybe I'll see if the  author will come along and tell  you some more about it.

Another guest  who will be coming to tell you about her brand new book - her very first - is lovely Rachael Thomas, one of my students from my Advanced Romance Writing course in Fishguard (another Welsh connection)  Rachael's  Modern Romance/Harlequin Presents title A Deal Before the Altar is published in  October - though it's out already on the Mills & Boon web site.
 Obviously I'm very very proud of one of my students' success and I've invited Rachael along to my blog to tell you all about book.

Talking of courses - I'm busy planning the ones I have coming up and looking into new ideas and dates for 2015 - so I'll let you know more about those too.  There are details of some coming up on the Events Page on my web site and I'll post up more details just as  soon as I can.

40 for 40

Once upon a time . . . . .

 

  

 

 

 

Forty years later . . .

 

 

I have some books to give away today.  The winners will receive  a signed copy of their choice from my backlist.  So all you have to do is to help the Babe Magnet and I celebrate.

 

Just leave a note in the comments, telling me about your wedding - or the last wedding you went to - or just say hello and tell me how you're enjoying the party! And when I get back from the RNA Conference, I'll get Charlie the Maine Coon to pick a winner or two.

 

It's July - so it's time for 40 for 40!

It's 1st July -  1st July 2013
And so it's time for 40 for 40

What? Why? Where?

Ok - I'll start with the 'why' first -

This July is really important to me  and to the Babe Magnet. We're going to be celebrating something really special  , and I’d love to have   my wonderful friends - and you share in the celebrations.

Celebrating what  - well, Steve aka The Babe Magnet  and I are celebrating a big wedding anniversary. (Yes, I really was a child bride – I can’t possibly be old enough to have a wedding anniversary with a Ruby in it! ) Well, yes, I admit it, we will have been married for 40 years on July 14^th (and all the jokes about the storming of the Bastille were done at our wedding back then.)  After a difficult year I want to celebrate the good stuff and this is well worth celebrating.

What?

So I'm asking  my writer friends – hopefully 40 of them! -   to come and join me here on my blog  to party.

I'm still collecting up names but there are some of the brightest and best in romance writing  - and  other authors I've met at Caerleon, other writing events, or perhaps just through the internet and they've all become friends.

Melanie Milburne,  Kate Hardy,   Anne McAllister, Julie Cohen,  Michelle Styles,  Michelle Reid,  Sandra Marton,  Lesley Horton, Liz Fielding,  Louise Allen,  . .  . Posts are still coming in so watch and see it your favourite authors are coming to the party.

They'll be  contributing  a small blog post.  A post on weddings or anniversaries   or meeting your partner -  or even something about Kate Walker and the Babe Magnet. And because my friends are lovely, generous people, there will be prizes and giveaways galore. All you'll have to do is  to join the party -  to chat in the comments section - answering the question that day's guest has asked.

And every day one of those comments will be chosen as a winner - with a giveaway prize for  everyone chosen.

Where?
Here, obviously, on my blog - every day there is a 40 for 40 post there will be a new guest and a new giveaway.

Each question will be open for a few days so if you miss the moment a post goes up, don't worry - you can still comment for  4 days afterwards.

So I hope you'll visit every day - meet my friends, answer their questions  and join in the celebrations.

 

And now I'm off to welcome my first guest  - a little late  - but of course on an important date my computer had to go into meltdown   but I hope we're back on track now . . .

 

Come in and party!

 

A Special Day

I have some more posts about Conflict coming up but I'm pretty busy today with something special to celebrate . Two special things really. Two special birthdays.

One I'm a bit late - a day late - with so I have to say sorry to my lovely 'twin' Holly Jacobs for that. Holly's birthday was yesterday. So Happy Birthday for yesterday Holly! I hope you had a very special day.

And today's birthday? Well that's really special - to me anyway.

Some years ago (quite a few of them!) in Leeds, West Yorkshire, a baby boy was born who was destined to become my own real life hero. I had to go to Aberystwyth in Wales to meet him, in spite of the fact that while he was growing up in Leeds, I was only 20 or so miles away in Halifax. But destiny knew what she was doing and it all worked out as a HEA in the end.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE MAGNET and here's to many many more of them!

It doesn't seem right somehow to be talking about Conflict today though, so if you're looking for Conflict posts then come back tomorrow. We're off out into the sunshine for the day to celebrate. And then dinner tonight with The Offspring and his Lovely Girlfriend.

But on a small intriguing coincidence thought - Holly's birthday is August 8th, the Babe Magnet 's birthday is today - August 9th. And when I was at school my best friend then was born on August 8th too. There must be some special connection between me and these dates at this time of year.

So Josephine West - if you're out there - Happy Birthday too!

And the answer is . . .

So yesterday I had avery quick (blink and you'll miss it) interview with Radio Kent - and that question came up again.

No, not the 'formula' one. Or even the 'How many of those do you churn out . . .' one. No this was the even more basic, even more frequently repeated one:

'Why do you think these books are so popular.'

So I gave the interviewer some answers - like the fact that they are about relationships and we are all fascinated by relationships. That they are about couples/people . . .ditto. They are 'comfort reads' where you know that you are going to get a happy ending and not be left disappointed. They deal in universal themes, appeal to international audiences. They are women's reads, easy to pick up and get into when you're tired, pressed for time . . .

But then I checked out some newspapers on-line and there was another major reason. Yet another celebrity - a TV star this time - admitting to having cheated on his wife, the mother of his children. He wanted to be open and honest, he said. He had been irresponsible.


Irresponsible? He'd been unfaithful. And apparently he was only admitting it now because his mistress had threatened to reveal all. (And there's 'mistress' used in the 'bit on the side' meaning, not the 'just his lover/not married partner ' romance type of meaning.)

And there's another reason why romances are popular. Readers want to know that it is possible to work through problems, weather the inevitable storms, dig deep into what brought you together in the first place and overcome the temptations/boredom/fights that inevitable come up along the way. They want to know that liars and cheaters are not heroes - not for me anyway. They want to feel that love and faithfulness can last and not be destroyed because a younger model/ glamorous other woman - any other woman is available. Tiger Woods, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Mark Owen . . . the list grows every day. And to be honest, I'm tired of reading about them. I'd much rather read stories like this one about childhood sweethearts who eloped to get married as teens become Britain's youngest golden anniversary couple.

Or read romances that show couples working through things and finding the real value in a relationship. It always makes me smile - wryly - when romance writers are given a bad press for giving readers an unrealistic image of love and marriage. Hmm . . . That probably comes from someone who hasn't read one but who 'knows' the books are just full of roses/chocolates/and women being swept off their feet by billionaires.

My books are about couples doing the working things through thing.

That's one of the reasons why I write them. And why I read them.

What about you? Why do you read romance? Why do you think they are so popular? I still have some prize books to give away in the birthday celebrations week. So I'd love to hear from you.

Oh - and talking of interviews - today the Babe Magnet and I had another(much longer) interview with Judy Theobald from Radio Lincolnshire - and we ended up talking about, and looking back on some of the major rows we'd had in 37 + years we've been together. So yes, I do believe it can happen. You can hear the interview on Sunday at 1.00 pm if you're interested. We also talked about writing and books and other things.

Thursday??

Are you sure?

Is it really Thursday? I could have sworn that it was only another Thursday - the previous one - just . . . well, it feels like yesterday!

But no, life is what happens when you're busy doing other things and here it is Thursday again.

In the case of this past few days, the 'other things' have been preparing the weekend workshop for Fishguard Writing Weekend and sending out the preparatory work for it. I'm so looking forward to this and to meeting up with friends from past courses and of course making new ones. (Yes Caroline - this includes you!)

On Monday when I got home from the Hull workshop there was a note from my editor saying could I please 'just' write her a short article for M&B's Romance Magazine the goes out to all their Direct customer. This was to be about the next book I have coming up - the one based on a modernisation (or perhaps seeing as it's for Modern Romance that should be a Modernisation) of one of the Greek Myths - The Good Greek Wife? So I had that to write as an extra.

Oh, and I also got a confirmed USA publication date for that book - A Good Greek Wife will be out in one of the special Presents EXTRA collections in October 2010.

But of course before that, the next book The Konstantos Marriage Demand (the one that won a Romantic Times Top Pick) is now available on the eharlequin site as a print book or as an ebook publication.

Another thing that happened yesterday was that I received a fabulous review for it from Julie over on CataRomance:

For the past 25 years, international best-selling author Kate Walker has been entertaining audiences worldwide with her intensely passionate, highly dramatic and immensely absorbing romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon. In her latest release, The Konstantos Marriage Demand, this outstanding writer of romantic fiction has written a captivating and enthralling tale of forbidden passion, illicit secrets and powerful romance that is guaranteed to leave you breathless!

The Konstantos Marriage Demand is romantic storytelling at its most mesmerizing! Kate Walker peppers her highly emotional and fabulously dramatic tale with heart-wrenching intensity, searing passion, powerful tension and tempestuous seduction. No sooner will readers read the first page of her sensational new novel that they will find themselves unable to put down and unwilling to forget the latest gripping Modern Romance from the stupendous pen of this much-loved author of romantic novels: Kate Walker!

And Julie gave it another 4.5 stars. Thank you so much Julie - you made my (rather hectic) day!

Then there was the unexpected interview with the Hull Daily Mail (Waves to Joanne - please look out for this for me. It might be in for Valentine's Day - or some time later in the week). And Allison, if you've dropped by the web site looking for those extra details - welcome - and thank you for the great interview!

I've also been planning my contribution to the Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research. As my own father died of problems that were the result of diabetes and I'm always being tested to make sure that I haven't developed this problem, this is a cause that I believe in very much. Last year I donated a Readers and Writers' Basket and this time I'm doing the same - details to follow. But this year I'm also donating a critique aimed at would-be Modern Romance/Harlequin Presents authors. And I know that a lot of you out there fall into that category. So I'll let you know when the details go up and you can offer a bid.

Now it's Thursday again. The Babe Magnet is heading out the door to go and teach the last of his Writing Crime course in Oxford, hoping that the snow won't cause any problems - yes it's back again! - and I'm going to stay nice and warm and hopefully get to grips with my sexy - and currently un co-operative - Sicili9an hero.

Or try to because the other thing on the agenda today is that the plumber is supposed to be coming to replace the toilet and the sink in the downstairs cloakroom - and guess where that is - right beside my office door!

The life of a romance novelist is full of these little contrasts!

PS It's Scary Kate's (Kate Hardy) birthday today so why not go and wish her a very happy day. She'll probably have written another book by the time you get there!

Reasons to be Cheerful - 4

I've been looking forward to doing this for ages . . .

Well, it seems like ages because I've known about this from the beginning and I've watched it grow and known that today - the Big Day - was coming soon.



So today I'm really thrilled to let everyone know about a brand-new, very special web site (to me) that goes live today.


You've heard about him a lot on here, - that's the Babe Magnet aka the writer of the Grim and Gruesome - Stephen Wade.


You know the wonderful designer who designed and runs my web site - Heather Reed from We Write Romance and HR Web Concepts



So put the two of them together - and no, in this case, I haven't minded at all that my husband has been in close contact with another woman! - and you get - fanfare and trumpets :

http://www.stephen-wade.com

And the site goes live today. Just in time for the publication of his latest book - DNA Crime Investigations - on cold cases solved using DNA.

Why not take a look and see what the Babe Magnet gets up to. There will be more to add soon, but today is launch day so I'm celebrating.

Congratulations Babe Magnet - and thank you Heather.

Feline flirtations

Flora has a suitor - an ardent suitor.

But she's just not keen ( I'd say he doesn't suit 'er but perhaps not . . .)

So far she has totally repulsed his advances with hisses, spitting and scratching. Oh, and the most horrendous wails from Dylan as he comes to the defence of his sister's honour - a real alpha hero cat!

Of course nothing can come of it as Flora has been 'done' over a year ago. But I keep looking at this beautiful long-haired, golden-ginger male with big green eyes and a white tip to his tail and I can't help thinking what gorgeous kittens they'd make!

It's almost 11am - time to tune in to the Babe Magnet being a radio star on Radio Lincolnshire talking about his latest book Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors.

The wrong sex flu . . .

Yes, very definitely the flu.

But if I thought I was going to get away with the girly flu - the lightweight one that we females suffer from compared to the one our heroes have to suffer through, then forget it. The Babe Magnet has very definitely passed on his manly flu to me.

So, with no voice (none at all) no brain, no energy and no concentration, I'm cheating and saying that for those of you who are interested in writing there are a couple of interesting posts for you to read elsewhere -

Jackie Ashenden has 10 Fun Ways to NOT win the Harlequin Presents Writing Competition here. She makes some good points

And Michelle Styles has a really interesting post on Conflict on her blog here : Conflict is more than good vs evil

And I'll make another honey and hot lemon and go back to bed. Annoyingly, with this thing affecting my eyes so badly I can't even read very much.

And the Babe Magnet? Oh he's fine now - disgustingly healthy - nothing wrong with him at all !

Friends and Books

I had a wonderful evening yesterday. Meeting up with lovely Susan Stephens and her personal handsome Alpha Male, enjoying a meal and sharing a bottle of wine - and talking books,editors, writing, markets, books . . . It was great. Thank you Susan - we must do it again soon.

And then on to the poetry event in Borders where the Magnet had a great time too. He was so involved in chatting to everyone, talking about poetry and enjoying himself that they had to be asked to leave as the shop was closing! He was also delighted to see how many of his books the shop had on display.

And while I was there I spotted that the newest Mills & Boon titles had been delivered and were on display so of course I had to go and make my selection. And for the very first time I saw the 3 in 1 collection Sold to The Sheikh where my 2006 book At The Sheikh's Command is reprinted together with other novels by Miranda Lee and Emma Darcy.

I thought that the original cover of this book was great when it came out 3 years ago, but this new collection cover is just fabulous when see in print for the first time.

Last Chance and Coming Up . . .

I'm not quite sure how it got to be the end of May but here it is heading for June - so I need to let everyone know about things that are coming to an end and coming up

First of all, there are just a couple of days left to bid on my lot in Brenda Novak's Auction to benefit Diabetes Research. The Writers' and readers' Basket can be found here.


Then coming up in June I have two appearences (in the UK) that you might want to look out for.

THE BRONTE SOCIETY

The Brontes and Romance: The Brontes' novels are often described as being amongst the greatest love stories in English literature. This discussion, chaired by Justine Picardie, brings together a panel of writers to discuss the influence of the Brontes on the romance genre.
Panelists include Joanne Harris, Amanda Craig, Jude Morgan and Mills & Boon author Kate Walker - 8pm

Date: Saturday 6 June 2009, 8pmVenue: West Lane Baptist Centre, HaworthTickets: £10 in advance, bookings 01535 640188 / peter.morrison@bronte.org.uk

You can read more about it here on the Bronte Society Blog

Then on June 17th I will be at Derby Central Library for an evening event with a talk and Q& A.

Refreshments will be provided.

Meet romance writer Kate Walker 17 June, 7-9pm, Central Library Kate Walker
has been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern romance since 1984 and
has sold over 12 million copies of her books worldwide. She is also the author
of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance. This is sure to be a fascinating
evening for both readers and writers alike.

Cost: Free, complimentary refreshments

Booking is essential due to limited places. Please call Central Library on 01332
641702 for more information

Looking a little further ahead, I will be running a 2 hour workshop on Writing Romance in Hebden Bride on July 5th as part of the

CALDERDALE WRITING DAYS

In the morning, I will be holding one-to-one sessions in the morning to discuss writers’ work

Date: Sunday 5 July

Workshop: Romantic Fiction Writing Workshop 1-3pm

Venue:Hebden Bridge Library Cheetham Street Hebden Bridge HX7 8EP

E-mail: hebden_bridge.library@calderdale.gov.uk

Telephone: 01422 288040

But this evening it's the Babe Magnet's turn to do a public appearence when he's reading some of his poetry at Borders Birstall. I'm going along as back-up - and this great because it means that I get a chance to meet up with my special friend fellow Presents author Susan Stephens and chat with her over a meal. Can't wait.


Talking of Susan reminds me of another thing that's coming up - and that's the return of the great Tote Bag Full of Books Contest for the summer.

This year is a very special year for Harlequin and becaue of that I'm planning an extra special Tote Bag Contest - so watch out for that around July.