Advent Calendar - Catching up again!

Well, that was something I didn't need. Just whehn I thought I was catching  up with the  Advent Calendar, I came to post a new blog and - no internet access!!
Great  - so I've been sitting here, waiting, frustrated - hoping to be able to post  - and not been able to log on. At last, things seem to be sorted,  and I'm able to post again. Let's hope it lasts.

Ok  - so - winners -

Charlie has picked  two names  who will win their choice of books -  and they are:

Marcy who wins  Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife
and
Catherine who wins Kept for Her Baby

Marcy and Catherine please email me (see the link  at the bottom of the page) and send me your postal address and I'll get your prize in the post to you.
I'll be doing another post with your choice of my backlist as a prize  in a couple of days - but there will be a different question.

And today's choice? 
Well today has another 3 in 1 collection on offer as a prize, but  this time, all three books in the collection are my titles - The whole collection is called
Claimed By The Sicilian

And the books in it are:

Sicilian Husband Blackmailed Bride

The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge

The Sicilian’s Wife

And the question -

I spent this weekend writing cards as well as wrapping presents - so when you pick Christmas cards, do you  like to  buy traditional  ones - with a Christmas scene, ths stable and the manger  or perhaps the 3 kings?

Candles Robins and Holly and things like that?

Modern bright colours?

Funny cards - with cartoons on?  ( I just received a great card with Simon's Cat on it - if you like cats and haven't seen some of these videos you will enjoy them"!)

Or gold and glittery images?
Personally I buy a variety and choose ones that I think will suit the person I'm sending it to. But I do always buy cards from charities so that I hope I can help a little bit as well.

You know the drill - just post a message in the comments section  and I'll get Kate's Cat aka Charlie on the job of picking a winner.

Now I just hope I still have an internet connection to post this!

 

Celebrating a friend's achievement

Today I have a blog in a very special place - I'm over on my friend Kate Hardy's blog, joining in  the special  - and very big - blog party she's having to celebrate her real landmark book - her  50th published title!

Some years ago I shared the day of my 50th book presentation with Kate  because  she was then celebrating her 25th silver pin.    And last Friday I was there after the AMBA lunch  to cheer and applaud when she was presented with her gold pin for her 50th title!

Er . . .yes  - five years later!! She's hit 50 and I'm plodding along with 61 . . .

That - and other reasons are why I call her Scary Kate. If you want to know more, then why not visit Kate's Blog today. I'm giving away two copies of my trilogy Claimed by The Sicilian (it includes my 50th title The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge)  as part of the celebrations.

See you there?

And many, many congratulations, Kate on this landmark book. At the pace you write, I'll expect to be celebrating your 75th . . .Oh - next year??

Countdown to Christmas 5

Remind me again why I do this at this time of year - when it's Christmas and I have so much else to  do?. . . . Oh yes-  I remember  - I  do it because it's Christmas!

And because it's Christmas and there is something so special about  being able to give that extra touch of happiness to someone -  and because Charlie is SO greedy . . .well, the truth is that Charlie is greedy and so is Flora, so she helped pick winners for the giveaway of Claimed by The Sicilian.

Yes I did say winners. Even when Charlie and Flora had had their picks, I couldn't possibly have chosen between all the special nominations for this giveaway - so   because it's Christmas and as a once onlly - I'm giving a copy of the book to all the people  you have nominated  yesterday here and on the PHS - so
Adriana
Maria
Carol

- from the comments here
And
Marybelle
Rita
Kaelee
from the Pink Heart Society
I'd  love to send yuor special mother, sister, friend . . . an extra Christmas gift from me - and you. . .

So you know the drill  - please email me  - see the address at the bottom of the page  - and give me the address you want the book to be sent to - and please also tgell me who I should sign it for to make this extra special.  I do hope your  nominee will enjoy this gift -and I know it will warm their heart to know of the part you played in giving it to them.

One other prize - The Alcolar Family trilogy  - picking from the people who posted over on We Write Romance -  and the winner is -

Carol Woodruff

Carol please send me your postal address too and I can send the book to you.

Today's giveaway and question  -
The book I'm giving away today is another 3 in 1  - this one is called Mistresses  - Shackled with Rubies.
The collection has books in it by Lucy Monroe and Lee Wilkinson as well as my novel.  And the novel of mine that is in this collections is quite an oldie - it's  Her Secret Bridegroom that was originally published in 2000.


Bride by deception!

After a whirlwind wedding in Venice, Amy discovered that her brand-new husband had only married her to gain a priceless old ring. Fleeing Italy, Amy never told anyone of her marriage to ruthless billionaire Vincenzo Ravenelli.
Four years later, while Amy knew she'd never really love another man as she loved Vincenzo, she needed to be free of the past. The time had come to return to venice and confront her secret bridegroom . . .




And the question - well, I was going to ask this anyway but then I see that someone has already asked it over on the Pink Heart Society  too so if you want yo can go and add your comment there too

What was your favourite category romance read for 2011?

And no it doesn't have to be one of mine! - And yes, if you really can't decide then you can  give me your top five! But I'd love to know what you've enjoyed reading this year.

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

Pink Friday

If  you haven't already noticed  - today is Pink Friday over on the Mills and Boon  web site. There are over 150 bargains to pick up - with Modern books at  99p and bundles of 4 or more titles from  £99.99.  These discounts only last until midnight - so take a look before they're all gone.

 And while you're there - it isn't listed in the Pink Friday list, but right now my own Claimed by The Sicilian trilogy is currently at a sale price of £2.99 - that's reduced from the original price of £5.49 so you can grab yourself a bargain there too.

It was while I was over at the Mills & Boon site that I realised that they'd been busy and had now put several of my older books on to ebook format and these are now availble for anyone who wants to catch up - or reread an old favourite.

There are 8 of them in total -

At The Sheikh's Command

Fiancée By Mistake

His Miracle Baby

Rafael's Love-Child

The Antonakos Marriage

The Christmas Baby's Gift

The Hired Husband

The Hostage Bride

So if you have an ereader with some gaps in your Kate Walker collection on it, now's your chance to catch up on some golden oldies.

In other news, the Big Blog Tour is almost coming to an end. There will be another stop on November 28th and then there will be the wrap up party and the annoncement of the big winner on December 1st.



Great book news

My thanks to the lovely Abby Green who alerted me to the fact that The Return of the Stranger is currently at #1 on the Mills & Boon web site.

Abby's own book - The Sultan's Choice is at #3 this week too - and my dear friend Michelle Reid's new title  The Kanellis Scandal is at #2. Great news about great books!

Oh - and while you're over on the M&B site, if you missed out on getting a copy of any of these:
Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge
The Sicilian's Wife

Then check out this month's special sale - the 3 in 1 collection - Claimed by the Sicilian - is on sale for just £2.99. That's 3 books for less than the price of one -  a real bargain!

And another good cause to bid for

Make for Macmillan is a fab fund-raising effort, auctioning off craft type things to benefit Macmillan Cancer Support. This week they’re having a Book Week, auctioning off an amazing range of books signed by their authors. Have a look.  You might find something by an author you love - or one you'd  like to come to love. An author whose signed book you'd love to own


I have donated two books to this auction - 
The Proud Wife

and the 3 in 1 collection Claimed by The Sicilian

I'll sign them for you and I'll post them to you for free wherever you live. There are lots of other fabulous books on off - take a look.

The auction starts today, and finishes on Sunday 8pm. Have a look here:
http://www.facebook.com/makeformacmillan?sk=wall
And, for a gallery of all the books in the auction :
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.175705379147025.55498.163410227043207

Last Chance to Bid

Brenda Novak's Auction to benefit Diabetes Research comes to and end on May 31st. So you have just one more day  to get in your bids on any of the lots you want to win.
A final  reminder of the lots that I have on offer -


Critique of a partial and synopsis

Critique of a partial (first 3 chapters and a synopsis) of a manuscript aimed at Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern Romance/Harlequin Presents


A Reader and Writers' Basket containing:

12 POINT GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANCE (the 3rd edition)
THE STRAIGHTFORWARD GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANTIC FICTION (the 3rd edition)
A great selection of Kate Walker's novels:
THE PROUD WIFE (Presents Extra October 2010)
THE GOOD GREEK WIFE? (Presents Extra April 2011)

THE KONSTANTOS MARRIAGE DEMAND (winner of Best Harlequin Presents Extra 2010)
THE ALCOLAR FAMILY TRILOGY (not available in the U.S.), which includes:
The Twelve Month Mistress
The Spaniard’s Inconvenient Wife
Bound by Blackmail
The trilogy CLAIMED BY THE SICILIAN (not available in the U.S.), which includes:
The Sicilian’s Wife
Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge
BEDDED BY THE GREEK BILLIONAIRE (Harlequin Presents November 2008)
All books are packed into one of her fabulous Kate Walker Tote Bags.

And two separate lots of single, autographed books -

The Alcolar Family Trilogy 3 in 1 Collection

and

Claimed by The Sicilian 3 in 1 collection

All these lots are still open and you can bid until  June 1st - it's for such a great cause so why not take a look at just what's on offer and see if you'd like to make a bid.

Brenda Novak's Auction

I am mildly stunned and really rather honoured to discover that someone has bid $325 for my offer of  critique of a partial aimed at Harlequin Presents/M&B Modern  in  Brenda Novak's on-line auction  in aid of research into diabetes.  Thank you to the bidder for your generous contribution to this great cause - I shall  hope that my critique will be worth it.
The auction has just under a week to go - it ends on May 31st   so you still have time to bid on  my lots - or any of the other great lots on offer.

Just to remind you that as well as the critique of a partial (3 chapters and a synopsis) I have also offered -

A Reader and Writers' Basket  containing:

12 POINT GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANCE (the 3rd edition)
THE STRAIGHTFORWARD GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANTIC FICTION (the 3rd edition)
A great selection of Kate Walker's novels:
THE PROUD WIFE (Presents Extra October 2010)
THE GOOD GREEK WIFE? (Presents Extra April 2011)

THE KONSTANTOS MARRIAGE DEMAND (winner of Best Harlequin Presents Extra 2010)
THE ALCOLAR FAMILY TRILOGY (not available in the U.S.), which includes:
The Twelve Month Mistress
The Spaniard’s Inconvenient Wife
Bound by Blackmail
The trilogy CLAIMED BY THE SICILIAN (not available in the U.S.), which includes:
The Sicilian’s Wife
Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge
BEDDED BY THE GREEK BILLIONAIRE (Harlequin Presents November 2008)
All books are packed into one of her fabulous Kate Walker Tote Bags.

And two separate lots of single, authographed books -

The Alcolar Family Trilogy 3 in 1 Collection

and

Claimed by The Sicilian  3 in 1 collection

All these lots are still open and you can bid until May 1st  - it's for such a great cause so why not take a look at just what's on offer and see if you'd like to make a bid.

. . . . and talking of backlist books

Firstly I want to wish a truly Happy Birthday to my dear friend and fellow Modern/Presents author  Michelle Reid.    Have a wonderful day Michelle!

And backlist books - Each month,  with the help of lovely Lee Hyat on My Tote Bag , I'm currently running a series of contests to  mark the publication of The Proud Wife  - so that you can win copies of some of my backlist books. The prize for the April contest has just been sent out so there is a new contest running for May.
This month, the prizes are:  A copy of The Good Greek Wife? and The Antonakos Marriage.

Just answer this simple question:
Which 3 of Kate's books are reprinted in the collection Claimed by The Sicilian?

Hint: You can find the answer  on my web site!

Contest Deadline: May 31st, '11.

 
For entry details visit My Tote Bag - where Lee has lots of other great contests running every month so you might win in those too.

Good Luck!

Get your bids in . . .

Just a reminder that the Authors for Japan Auction is still open but it closes at 8pm tonight (UK time)

My lot is #110

 I’m offering signed copies of THE 12 POINT GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANCE and my novels; CLAIMED BY THE SICILIAN (3in1 collection of The Sicilian’s Wife, Sicilian Husband Blackmailed Bride, and The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge), THE GOOD GREEK WIFE and KEPT FOR HER BABY.



DETAILS:

Claimed By The Sicilian – Three proud, fiery Sicilian men who won’t be denied! Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride Dark, proud and sinfully gorgeous, Guido is determined to reclaim his wife! Amber looks untouchable, but Guido knows the passionate woman inside. One kiss and he’s certain she’ll give him whatever he demands! The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge Emily and Vito 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! The Sicilian’s Wife Cesare fell for Meg from the moment they met. He has waited for her to become an adult, but now Meg tells him she is pregnant by another man. Will Cesare still make her his bride?

The Good Greek Wife – The return of the proud Greek husband… He was declared missing at sea – but now notorious Zarek Michaelis is back and ready to take control! First he’ll see to his business, and then to his wayward wife… For two years Penny has struggled to come to terms with Zarek’s disappearance. But enough is enough. It’s time to move on… Her proud Greek husband is still as darkly handsome as ever, and the attraction between them is just as potent. But Penny can’t trust Zarek’s motives – does he just want her body and the fortune he left behind…or to try again? The Greek Tycoons Legends are made of men like these

What day is it?

OK so it's not the 27th - but what's a day between friends?

I promised the last two prizes on the Advent Calendar and - well, you wouldn't believe how stuffed Sid has been and he said that the thought of picking winners was actually a struggle!

Add into that a Babe Magnet with the manflu, visitiors and visiting . . . And the truth is that I was much more tired that I imagined. This past year has been a bit wearing and the run up to Christmas included an intensive session making sure that the latest book made the right deadline for scheduling.

So I'm going to be taking a few more days just to enjoy being between dreadlines, having family and friends to stay - and to tackle the huge TBR pile - that's got even bigger as a result of the number of book gifts that arived for Christmas. Remember the list of 'books I want for Christmas'? I got every single book oin that list! So I have a lot of reading to catch up on. (Having said that I have a blog tomorrow on the PHS !)
Anyway - just to round off the Advent Calendar winners - the final two are

Erin wins a copy of The Alcolar Family

and Denise wins a copy of Claimed by the Sicilian

Erin and Denise please email me your postal addresses

I've enjoyed running the Advent Calendar Contest - thank you so much to everyone who joined in. I've loved all the comments and learning more about all of you and the way you celebrate Christmas - and the books you enjoy. If you have won a prize - and claimed it! - if you haven't received it already, like Valerie, it will be on its way to you and should reach you very soon.

When I've drawn breath an caught up with things I'll be back and then I can tell you about the new and exciting things - books, blogs - anything - that are coming up in the New Year.

Advent Calendar Day 24 - and 25

I can't believe it's the next to last day of the Advent Calendar already - what? Yes I know most Advent Calendars are only 24 days - but I have 25 years to being published to celebrate .

So there are 25 giveaways - but I'm posting the last two today and I'll be getting Sid on the job of picking winners on the 27th - he'll be too full of chicken and gravy and salmon cat dinners to want to eat anything else before then.

Yesterday's winner is Eva please email me your postal address Eva

Oh and today I had my best Christmas present from my editor - the book I wrote and submitted and was tweaking - remember that one? The tweaks came in back about Day 14 on the Advent Calendar - well, they actually came in earlier than that but they disappeared into the ether. Anyway, tweaks went in - and accodring to my editor they are 'spot on' and the book is'fabulous'! It's accepted and scheduled - but not titled yet - so I'll tel you all about that when I get achance to breathe after the big day. But I'm really thrilled that this one is accepted - it's a bit special to me.

So to share the celebrations I have two great last giveaways on the Advent Calendar - they are both 3 in 1 collections - Today's book is . . .

The Alcolar Family trilogy (at least I hope it is - I have yet to find a spare copy but if I don't find that, I'll put in another 3 in 1

This book contains The Twelve Month Mistress, The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife and Bound By Blackmail.

And the prize for Christmas Day itself is - Claimed by The Sicilian

This collection has in it The Sicilian's Wife, Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride and The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge

So the final question(s) are - and please answer both to be included in both draws -

1. For today - have you hung up any mistletoe and who would you most like to kiss underneath it?

2. For Christmas Day - when you'vve opened your presents - then what do you do? Go for a walk? Watch TV? Fall asleep. I think I'm going to be doing all three

Or you can just post a Cjristmas Greeting to all the other readers who come and visit. There might be only some of you who are posting but I had over 400 visitors yesterday - if you were one of them and didn't join in the Advent Calendar - please leave a message this time. You never know - you might win!

I'll be back after Boxing Day and announce the final winners then

So I just need to say HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all of you. I hope you have a wonderful happy, peaceful and fun time - whatever you're celebrating.

Advent Calendar Giveaway Day 10

Well, I did warn you! I said that yesterday nothing went as I had planned it and that continued until late into the evevening. I was waiting for the Babe Magnet to get home from a book event in Hull, and I thought I'd use the time profitably and prepare some blogs ahead of time. The only thing I couldn't plan ahead for would be the prize winners - Sid's good but he can't predict the future!

So I did Friday/Saturday and Sunday's blogs and felt quite pleased with myself - and then I found that I'd written them all on the My Tote Bags Blog and not my own!

Let's hope today goes that bit better . At least there is some sign of the snow melting. All I can hear is a constant drip . . drip . . of the softening icicles outside my window turning into water so there's hope.

Thank you all for your book choices yesterday. I found them really interesting - and have noted down several for my own To Be Bought pile - not that I need any more books with a TBR the size of Mount Everest and a list for whoever is going to be my book buying Santa.

So let's see who has won a book for their Christmas gift this time.

Sid was quite happy to pick three winners and the names he's chosen are:

Summer
Ros

and Teresa Morgan (Teresa I cannot believe that you have only just read Jane Eyre for the first time!)

You all should know the drill by now - email me with your postal addresses. kate AT kate-walker.com

OK today's book giveaway is a companion to The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge, These two books together made up The Sicilian Brothers duo in 2007. The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge was Vito's story and Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride is the story of his brother Guido.

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!

I'll openly admit that this is not one of my favourite covers - but, well as the saying goes, you can tell a book by its cover. I did love the cover of the reprint when both Guido and Vito's stories - and another Sicilian hero for good measure - appeared in Claimed by The Sicilian in a 3 in 1 this year.

And today's question?

Well, yesterday you told me all about the books you've enjoyed this year. So now - what are you looking forward to reading over Christmas ? What's on your list of books you most want to find in your stocking in two weeks' time?

Answers in Comments as usual. And I'll bet everyone will be taking note and looking for great things to read.

It's going to be murder

Lincoln Book Festival opens today and runs till the 16th May. I'm not actually involved this year but tonight - in my other role as Mrs Babe Magnet - I will be accompanying Stephen Wade crime and history author to a special Murder Mystery dinner which is a sponsored fringe evenmt to the festival. Several local authors and crime writers will each be hosting tables so my friend Karen Maitland,together with Stephen Booth and RJ Ellory will also be there. We're supposed to be doing some 'sleuthing' as well - not sure what that will involve! Will report later.

I'll also be able to take the opportunity to see if there are any copies of Claimed By The Sicilian still available in Lincoln. It officially leaves the bookshop shelves this week but I was delighted to see that it's at #1 in the By Request Bestsellers list on Amazon.co.uk. (Overseas readers who would like a copy of this book can order it with free international postage from The Book Depository)

I'd like to send a thank you to those who have already bid on the lots I've donated to the Brenda Novak auction for Diabetes Research. I'm thrilled to see that the bidding has been busy - but there's still time if you're interested in trying to buy either my Readers' and Writer's Basket or a critique of a partial (3 chapters) and a synopsis of a novel aimed at Harlequin Presents.

Reasons why I love my job . . .

Sometimes I curse and swear when a character won't behave or a plot gets totally knotted, but really, althought slightly wierd, writing romance is a great way to earn a living.

Some days there are parcels and parcels of books that arrive - this last week alone, there have been

French editions of The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge, and The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife and Cordero's Forced Bride.

Brazilian editions of Cordero's Forced Bride, Bedded By the Greek Billionaire, The Greek Tycoon's Unwilling Wife, Sicilian Husband,Blackmailed Bride, The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge

Polish copies of The Greek Tycoon's Unwilling Wife

German, Portugese, Japanese and Dutch editions of Cordero's Forced Bride

The foreign languages collection in Hull library is going to be happy with me!

Other reasons to smile -

The Konstantos Marriage Demand has 3 five star rating son the Mills & Boon web site- when the readers rate your book, that's what it's all about! Oh and Claimed by the Sicilian is at #2 in the bestselling listing of the M&B By Requests titles.

And last night I spent the evening with a glass of wine and two great DVDs - and it was all research.

Honest.

Nothing but research.

The DVDs were supposed to have been this drama. . . but for reasons beyond my control they ended up being something else. Oh well, North and South can always be used for inspiration . . .

More clues? Well the 'special project' is sort of linked to a famous author who was born on this date in 1816 . . .

Oh and the post lady has just delivered an extra treat in the shape of the latest great romance by a special favourite author - Liz Fielding - A Wedding at Leopard Tree Lodge - and I might actually have time to read it!

Can't wait.

Like I said, sometime I love my job!

The trouble with Sid . . .

. . . is that he takes his duties as a host too seriously.

Whenever we have visitors he has to check that the bed is comfortable . . .

Make sure that the chairs are just purrfect . . .

Deal with any paperwork that needs doing . . .

And then he spends lots of time being great company for the visitor before he gets down to the important job in hand . . .

Of picking winners of prizes.

But at last I managed to drag him away from being stroked, having that special spot behind his ears rubbed, being told how handsome he is. . .

to get him to pick a winner of the Claimed by the Sicilian 2 3 in 1 By Request. . . and then he went and picked two names!

So - Crystal B and Karen D - you have each won a copy of Claimed by The Sicilian

Crystal, I have your address - but I'm afraid that I'll have to wait to send your prize until the planes are flying again!

Karen, I think I have yours but I just sent an email to double check.

The answer to the question was that the titles in Claimed by The Sicilian are:
The Sicilian's Wife

Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride

The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge

Dreadlines and Publication dates

I know that a lot of people reading this blog are would-be New Writers (as the RNA labels them) People who are aiming to be published, partway there, trying to learn the ropes etc . . . The sort of people I was talking about in my We Write Romance post yesterday.

But of course as soon as you reach that wonderful, magical day when you get 'The Call' and are told that someone is buying your manuscript and turning it into an actual published book, then everything changes. You become a published author, not just a writer, you enter into contracts, you have revisions, proofs, dreadlines. . . Writing becomes A Job. Not just the wonderful sit down to write when you feel inspired/want to write way you've been working up to now. Later, people will read your book, review it - some people will love it but not everyone will find it fits with them. Some of the reviews over on Amazon - or the new 5 star rating on the Mills & Boon web site are evidence of this. And guess which reviews are the ones that stick in your mind - the ones you just can't forget?

There have been some great posts on this topic out in blogland recently - over on the Pink Heart Society Mira Lynn Kelly was talking about the first year after acceptance on Wednesday and yesterday Michelle Styles had a good post about Deadlines and making sure you have a life. I so agreed with this - one of the first pieces of advice a friend of mine was given by her newly-acquired editor was that you must have a life - or what will you write about?

I'm at that stage in my writing right now. The latest book is delivered, the next one is brewing and growing , and I have a little time to breathe. It is important to breathe - this writing game isn't a sprint, with a mad dash to the winning tape and then you're done. It's a marathon run where you need to pace yourself to keep on keeping on. It was something that was brought home to me again when I was talking to the Airedale Writers' Circle and others in the past few days. After all, I'm still celebrating that 25th anniversary of being first published and I thought I'd come back to that for a few posts - because for me it wasn't just 'Now you're published, you're settled and all you have to do is to keep writing the books. . .'

More about that later. But I was also wondering about what to blog about now I have a little more space in my schedule - anyone got any particular topics they want to know more about?

But of course the other part of the heading to this post refers to one of the greatest moments an author has in their writing career, one that never gets any less exciting even as the years go by - and that's the publication date of a new book.

Although I've actually seen it out and about on the bookshop shelves already, today is officially the publication date for the 3 in 1 By Request book Claimed by The Sicilian.

So to celebrate I have a copy of this book to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning, just email me with the titles of the 3 Sicilian books that are reprinted in this special anthology. You have just over 24 hours to get your answers in - at noon on Saturday (UK time) I'll get Sid to pick a winner Put Claimed by The Sicilian in the subject line so that I'll find your answers easily.

I have to admit that I'm getting an extra special thrill from seeing this book out there with all three titles of my books in it!

A Sicilian weekend . . .

There's been something of a theme about today.

I've been checking through the Sicilian's revisions ready to send him off to revisit my editor on Monday.

Then I was just in WH Smith and in spite of the fact that the official publication date is 16th April, Claimed by The Sicilian was there on the shelves - I have to say that that cover really does look lovely and it stands out amongst the blue/pink/purple/turqoise covers of the single title books. And then I discovered that it's already at #3 in the top selling M&B By Request titles on Amazon.

Today is The Offspring's lovelygirlfriend's birthday so we've had tea and cakes in the sunshine (yes - the sun is actually shining!) and I had my favourite muffins - with Sicilian lemon! And tonight we are out for an Italian meal to celebrate as well. So it's turning into a Sicilian weekend.

Hope the sun is shining where you are.