Library Event

If anyone is around on the RNA Conference Thursday evening  13th July, there's a free event at the local Wellington Library, from 7-8pm, with Kate Walker, Sarah Morgan, Freda Lightfoot, Bernardine Kennedy and Nicola Cornick. You'd be very welcome.

12 Point Guide 2 Launch Party 4

I'm dashing today because I'm setting off for London, literally any minute.
This afternoon I'll be at the London Book Fair for the real launch party for 12PGTWR2, but I'll leave you with some really wonderful guests who will chat with you and I'm sure you won't miss me.

My apologies to the people who have sent in questions for the Writers' Q&A which has been rather pushed to the side in the chaos that has been my life this past week or so. I have not forgotten you and I still plan on answering the questions just as soon as I get back from London and can breathe again.

So watch this space.

And when I get back I will have winners to annouce as well.
So I'll see you Thursday and in the meantime, enjoy meeting today's guests.

The first of these is Holly Jacobs who says:

Kate Walker's book is a must-have for any writer's bookshelf. It's clear, concise, informative!! Okay, so when I say things like that you might think I'm biased since I think Kate's one of the loveliest ladies around, but my copy of the book is on my reference shelf, within arm's reach of my desk! Congrats, Kate!

Holly's prize:

The winner can pick a book from my backlist (although there are a few that I'm now out of, I have copies of most.)

Holly's next book out is Same Time Next Summer, SuperRomance, in August.

I don't yet have a cover for Same Time Next Summer, but the lovely House on Briar Hill Road is still around on Amazon. And you can read more about Holly's books on her web site

My next guest is a lovely author from Australia - Ally Blake who writes for both the Modern Heat and Romance lines. Welcome Ally!

Ally says:

The second edition is here! The second edition is here! For anyone out there who does not have a copy of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance, run, don't walk, down to your local bookshop and buy one now. And I just ain't saying that, Kate, because you sooooo kindly asked me to be involved ;). When our published members of the Pink Heart Society get together to say which book helped them most on their journey to becoming a romance author, your wonderful book comes up trumps time and time again. And if that ain't a stamp of approval I don't know what is. A big fat humungous congrats on the release of the second edition and here's to it helping spawn a new generation of romance authors for us all to fall in love with!

Ally's next Modern Heat novel The Magnate's Indecent Proposal hits UK bookshelves in May . You can find her at her website.

Now I'd like you to say hello to Nicola Cornick who writes such fabulous historical novels.

Nicola says:
It's been great to be able to recommend The Twelve Point Guide to lots of aspiring authors who have contacted me for writing advice and I'm thrilled to know that I've been able to make a small contribution to the new book. Thank you, Kate, and I wish the book every success. When it comes to good, practical advice for would-be authors the 12 Point Guide is the best!"

Nicola's next book is The Last Rake in London - May 2008 from Mills & Boon Historicals and June 2008 from Harlequin Historicals

Nicola's Prize:

I'd love to offer a copy of The Last Rake in London as a prize

Nicola's question is:

Which historical period would you like to have been born in?

(Answer in the comments as usual please)
You can find more about Nicola on her website.

And last but not least is Presents auhtor Abby Green .

Here's what Abby has to say:

HUGE congratulations to Kate on this occasion, the launch of the second edition of her world famous 12 point guide to writing romance. It helped me along my way and then I was lucky enough to meet Kate and get her to sign my copy, and I've subsequently ordered it and also lent my own precious copy to various other aspiring authors.No doubt it's featuring right now in someone else's path to publication and the new edition will be even more fabulous than the last one. Even more encouraging. Even more inspirational and even more jam packed with helpful advice and exercises.Thanks for all the hard work you've put into it Kate...x Abby Green

Abby's next next book out is The Mediterranean Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain in July

You can read more about Abby and her books on her website

And don;t forget that all these fabulous authors are partying with me because they contributed to 12PGTWR2 by offering thier own personal tips and advice on writing romance in general and the lines they write for in particular.

Keep commenting for a chance to win - and I'll be back before you know it!

Great Big Blog Party 20 & 21 - Winners

Well, across the country, the cats have been busy, as Sid and India Grey's Ruby were roped into action to choose the winners of the next two prizes.

Sid, of course, is used to this. He has chosen so many prizes in the past that as soon as he sees the bits of paper being laid out on the floor, he's ready. Sometimes he doesn't even need to have the crunchies laid out too - that takes far too long. So he just walks up to the list of names, puts his nose down on one of them - 'That's the winner, Mum - now gimme the crunchies all together - never mind this spreading them out thing!'

In just this way, Sid chose the winner of Nicola Cornick's prize - and the copy of Lord of Scandal goes to:

Juliemt

Who I believe is actually guest blogger 15 - Julie from Malta

Congratulations Julie! As I mentioned, Nicola is actually away at the moment but I'll send her your address and as soon as she gets back the prize will be on its way to you.

Now we come to Ruby's choice . . .
Well, Ruby isn't quite as experienced at this winner-choosing thing. And her mind was clearly on other things so she gave India a hard time. Here's what India says:

In the end, I'm afraid Ruby let me down. Spent ages making a very elaborate and amusing toy for her, featuring all the names of the entrants, folded over and secured by paper-clips onto lengths of string, and dangled it enticingly over her head for ages. Trailed it alluringly along the floor. Bashed her repeatedly on the nose with it. Not a flicker.

I'm blaming Sid. A year ago she'd have been making a complete and utter banana of herself over a toy like that, but now she's lost her heart she's gone all serious and grown-up. It's all very boring.

India - I suspect that the missing factor in the way Sid chooses winners and the method you were using on Ruby is a four letter word - f - o - o -d . Sid chooses happily because the idea appeals to his stomach (aka the 'flab sack'). He'll do anything for a smackeral of something.

Luckily India had helpful daughters, one of whom helped by picking a random piece of string and pulling it out of the bundle. And the name on that piece of string was . . .

Lis

Congratulations Lis! You win a copy of India's The Italian's Defiant Mistress - so send me your address and I'll pass that on to India. Coincidentally, Lis chose as her favourite Kate Walker book Bound By Blackmail - which is also India's choice . . .

And that reminds me - next post . . .

Great Big Blog Party 21 - Nicola Cornick

Strictly speaking, if I'm going by the date of arrival in my Inbox, today's blog should be by Kate Hardy but I know that Kate is on a screamingly tight deadline and so I'm giving her a day's breathing space and turning instead to lovely Nicola Cornick whose fantastic historical novels are such a delight to read.

Nicola is one of the many writing friends I've made through the Romantic Novelists' Association and for two years she ran the RNA'S New Writers' Scheme so we were often in touch about the scripts she sent me to critique. Regular readers of this blog will remember that I had one of Nicola's books Lord Greville's Captive (Also known affectionately as Cavalier in Bondage!) in my Christmas Stocking stuffed with books contest - and that that book was later shortlisted for the RNA Romance Prize.

Nicola's current book - with the fabulous title of Lord of Scandal is out this month in HQN books and as well as a great title it also has a wonderful cover. This book is the one that Nicola is giving away as her prize to one lucky commentator.

Here's Nicola Cornick

50 Books – It is Rocket Science!

I’ve always been useless at maths so when I looked up the number fifty on the internet to see what its special numerical qualities were it’s no real wonder that I couldn’t understand a word. Fifty is the smallest number that can be written as the sum of two squares in two distinct ways? Well, okay, but...

Then I read on and saw that fifty is a magic number. Now that I can understand. I don’t get it in the nuclear physics, rocket science sense, of course, but in the sense that it’s magic and an amazing achievement. Writing 50 books shows creativity, imagination and dedication and Kate has those qualities in abundance. I have so many of her books on my keeper shelf and only last night was late to bed because I was re-reading Hers for a Night.

I remember when I first met Kate at a Harlequin Mills and Boon author day about 10 years ago. I was totally in awe of her. Liz Fielding had taken me under her wing and introduced me to a few people and I’ll never forget their warmth and friendliness to me, a newbie author who was just starting out. Kate was one of those people and her kindness and encouragement made a huge impression on me. I’m still in awe of Kate’s achievements and also of the dedication she has shown in helping other authors to achieve publication through the Romantic Novelists Association New Writers Scheme and her other mentoring as well. She's a star in so many ways.

Kate, congratulations on reaching the magic fifty! Keep writing those fabulous books!

GIVEAWAY:
I have a copy of Lord of Scandal, my June 07 "Regency Celebrity" book, to give away.

GIVEAWAY QUESTION:
My question is which actor would make the best hero of a Jane Austen drama? Did you like Matthew MacFadyen in Pride and Prejudice or James McAvoy in Becoming Jane? Or do you have another personal favourite?

Bio: Nicola writes historical romance for Harlequin Mills and Boon and single title Regencies for HQN Books. She lives in a cottage in the country with her husband, her adorable Labrador Monty and two characterful cats. Website www.nicolacornick.com