Kept For Her Baby

UK  readers  - did you miss out on a copy of Kept For Her Baby?

Or would you just like a really good buy in an ebook in the M&B site's sale?

Secret Love-Child - a 3 in 1 collection  with two other books by Catherine  Spencer and Tina Duncan is currently available for .99p as an ebook on the site and on Kindle.  It's  a great deal if you grab it now.

The postman just brought a bundle of foreign translations  including two of my favourites -  one from Czechoslovakia where I'm  'Kate Walkerova'  and another new manga edition - I love getting those. The illustrations are so great. this one is  Sicilian Husband Blackmailed Bride

 with the Sicilian hero looking like a secret agent in his black trench coat arriving at his heroine's wedding! (He isn't a secret agent however!)

Advent Calendar Day 3 & Winner Day 2

Today's the Post Office day.  The day when I wrap up  the gifts for my friends and family who live too far away for me to be able to visit and deliver their presents in person over the Christmas holidays and then take them down to the Post Office to let the mail service do that for me. .  As I do this I think of the people I love who are in other countries, even the other side of the world, and I wish I could be going with the packages to their doors.

There are dear family members like my beloved eldest sister over in Australia. The Ofspring's gorgeous  Godmother who now lives in Spain. And then there are the friends I would never have met if it wasn't for the internet and email - dear friend Anne McAllister and my lovely web designer - and maintainer - Heather from HR Web Concepts . And Lee Hyat from Author Sound Relations  whose blog at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs I contribute to each month.  

These are the ones I have to get into the post now while there's still time for delivery for the big day.  There will be a few more parcels sent out  where they're going to the UK and there's more time  to spare for them. 

And then of course there will be  all the Advent Calendar giveaway  that will be sent on their way as soon as I get the addresses to send them to.

So  - yesterday's prize goes to:

SHROPSHIRE LASS

She wins a copy of Sicilian Husband,  Blackmailed Bride -  please send  your postal address so I can sent the books on its way - kater AT kate-walker dot com (or use the link at the bottom of the page. ) PLease ask for a receipt so that you know I've received the email

Today's prize is The Good Greek Wife. This book came out in 2010 and was part of a mini seroes based on the Greek Myths.

The return of the proud Greek husband...
He was declared missing at sea — but now notorious Zarek Michaelis is back and ready to take cont

rol! 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? 


To be in with a chance of winning, just leave a comment - answering this question:

Do you have relatives and friends over seas who you need to send packages to? Is there someone who lives so far away (even in the same country - not many places are as compact as the UK!)  that you'll have to rely on the Post Office to act as Santa  for you?

Who would you love to see on Christmas Day (give me a Tardis and I'd bring my sister,  the Godmother , and Anne McA here like a shot - or I'd go to them.) Will you get in touch with them on Dec 25th no matter what?
I know my phone bill is going to be huge over the festive period!

Advent Calendar - Day 2 .

Well, if you visited on Sunday, you'll have been wondering what happened to day 2 of the Advent Calendar -  me too!  I just couldn't find a moment to write a post, choose a book to give away, organise anything.

But that's what it's like at this time of year, isn't it? There are places to go, people to see, presents to buy . . . .  Monday was one of those - places to go, people to see days.  The Babe Magnet's brother lives in Leeds and  Monday was the day planned for a visit to him  - and an early delivery of some Christmas gifts.  So that's what took up the time  and I never managed to write a blog post for the Advent Calendar.

So  because of that I think today's question should be about visiting people at Christmas.

Do you have all your family and friend close at hand so that you  can see them on the day, or close to it (lucky you!) Or do you need to go travelling to make sure you can see people who matter to you at Christmas?

Who is the one special person you really must see, without whom it just wouldn't be Christmas?

Post your answers in the Comments section  and as always I'll get Charlie on the job of picking the name of a winner - as you can see he's getting into the spirit of things and is  more than ready to pick Day 2's winner  ..  .

. .  .and Day 3's  . . . more of that coming up.

Today's prize giveaway is  Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride   a book from 2007
It's Guido's story from the Sicilian Brothers duo -

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!

PS If  you're on my newsletter mailing list, there are extra chances to win in this year's  Advent Calendar giveaway - so make sure you comment to be in with a chance.

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!

 

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

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.

New Voices revisited

So the Top Ten entries in the New Voices Contest have been announced and congratulations are in order.

Congratulations for the 'winners' ? Well, yes - but for me the emphasis should be the other way. The first congratulations should go to the total of 822 entrants all of whom are, in my mind, winners. Winners because in a world of people who want to be writers, they put their words where their mouth is and wrote.

And, as the saying goes 'Writers write, everyone else makes excuses.' (Jack Bickham)

So everyone who submitted a chapter fulfilled the demands of being a writer by sitting down and writing a chapter aimed at a particular market. Well - yes - OK - some of them clearly were not aimed at the market that was being offered, and some had a strangely distorted view of just what that market was looking for - but they all wrote 2- 3- 4,000 words. Because being a writer means writing - not being published. That's being an author. Writing is what writers do. I was writing for almost thirty years before I was published. I have written for publication for 25 + years (the + bit being the times when I was writing for publication and getting it rejected regularly) So let's say I have been writing and been published for 25 years - writing for publication a bit - add on a couple of years.

And if it all ended tomorrow then I would keep on writing. I'd be telling stories - I have to - it's what I do.

Being an author? That's different -and more difficult. It depends on other things, like market forces and individual publishers and individual editors within individual publishers.

But the current editors have chosen a top ten - ten writers who they feel they could work with to build on those chapters submitted, take them further and hopefully turn them into the next stage on - another chapter, the development of a plot, the building of characters. The telling of a story. As the editors said : "We weren't looking for a perfect story . . . but we were hoping to find fresh voices and raw potential.' The editors' comments on why they picked each individual entry are going to be one of the most interesting parts of this contest.

And they are the bits that writers who really want to be authors for this particular company can learn most from. Where they can learn what these editors are looking for, why they like something when they see it. What reached out and grabbed them, lifting this entry out from so many many others.

Did I have the same Top Ten? No - but then I've not had time to read every single one of the 822 chapters ( kudos to the editors who did - it's no mean task!) But the ones I felt wouldn't be there weren't.

What mistakes did I find that stuck out?

Chapters that hadn't done their marketing homework - writers who submitted work that just wasn't what this very specific publisher is looking for

Showing not telling

Narrative . . .. lots of it without the dynamism and drama of dialogue

Chapters that were trying to be too clever for their own good - that 'cute meet' thing .

Chapters that were pale versions of stories that had been published so often - the advice was 'don't imitate - innovate'.

I hope the 812 writers who are not in the selected ten will find lots to help them in the posts in the next few days. Information about what the editors are looking for, advice about what works and what doesn't. It's going to be intriguing to see how the next stages of the process work - how the chosen chapters are worked on, developed . . . turned into a story - or not. Because for me the important bit is that.

Because there are writers and there are writers who are storytellers. And telling a story so that people want to read it takes a different set of thought processes from just putting down and opening that you feel is going to grab an editor's attention. It's not the same thing as refining, editing, polishing a clever chapter till it squeaks. There are reasons why an editor's job is very different from a writer's and for me the difference is right there in that 'story tellling'.

So some of these top ten might make it. Some might not. Some of you 812 could very well (as Maisey Yates did) go away, complete your novels and turn them into a book that might not have the 'best' opening chapter but tells a story that reaches out and grabs people so they want - have to read on. I hope so. Because a chapter is a chapter but a story is a book.

As a result of my last post on this subject, I received an email from one of the entrants to the New Voices contest. She was reading one of my books - Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride - and she wanted to tell me how brilliant she thought the opening was. (Thank you Jennifer if you're reading this) I was complimented, honoured, obviously - but as a writer/storyteller/author what meant most to me was the next bit 'I wanted to tell you that you're queen of opening chapters and I am riveted to this story.'

That's where the real compliment is - that's why I write. To have readers wanting to read the story.

So congratulations to the 10 whose chapters were chosen this time. I hope this is the start of your journey towards becoming a published author and writing stories that people want to read. Congratulations to all the writers who submitted a chapter - I hope this is the start of your journey towards doing more with your writing, submitting again, finding the story you want to tell, 'winning' first chapter or not.

I can't give you the 'secret', the 'formula' to being published - because if there is one then I honestly have never ever found it in the past 25+ years - or the 30 before that! - but I can tell you the one thing that will guarantee that you'll never ever be published and that is if you give up now. If you can't take the risk of rejection, then you're making sure you'll never know the joy of success.

Thinking about my 25 years of being published and the books that have my name on it, I'm also well aware of the 'ones that got away' - the stories that never made it into books. The ones that were rejected. But did I let them stay rejected ?

But that's a different story. Today, I've rambled on for long enough and -

Writers write, everyone else makes excuses

I have writing to do - and (I hope) so do you.

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

My First Kate Walker - Donna Alward

Continuing the celebrations for the 25 years with contributions from some wonderful writing friends who have been kind enough to share the first Kate Walker they ever read and/or their choices of the Top Five Kate Walker novels they've chosed - today's writer is Canadian Romance writer Donna Alward.

Donna says -

I never really read Presents until I found myself fully immersed in the Category Romance world once I started writing – and that was 2001-2002 (I feel somewhat strange admitting that. It was like a whole world opened up that I’d been missing). So my top five are fairly recent books – all but one.

Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
Kept for her Baby
The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge
Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife
And the surprise entry – Leap in the Dark!

I knew of course which book Donna was going to choose as her #1 - she has made no secret about how much she loves Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Wife, and Guido Corsentino, the hero of that story. Leap in the Dark is definitely one from the past - as it originally came out in 1989 - 1990 in America.

Donna's own latest hero is Drew Laramie in the first of her Cowboys and Confetti Duet - One Dance With the Cowboy - coming in January 2010.

The second half of this duet, Her Lone Cowboy will follow it in March 2010.

More details can be found on Donna's web site

As there is still so much snow and ice around, and I know that lots of people are travelling today to be with family or to get away on a Christmas break - I want to wish you all a very safe journey so that you reach your destinations without harm or injury ready to enjoy Christmas together.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - about the 25th Anniversary Contest

As I've realised how difficult it's been for me to keep up with things this month - Christmas, visitors, dreadlines - life! - I 'm sure everyone reading this has far too much on their plate to.

So I'm extending the deadline for you to send in contributions to the First Book/Top 5 Favourites for another month.

The last date for entries is now JANUARY 31st.

I have 25 prizes of signed books and an extra gift to give away - so get your entries in now and help me find out which of my titles cames in at #1 in the list of favourite books.

Foreign Editions

Some weeks there are no books in the post - copies of my books that is. And then sometimes the doorbell just keeps ringing and there is a flurry of packages arriving with author copies from all over the place.This week, most of them have been mine but there was one Grim and Gruesome title of the Magnet's. (Must stop calling them that - people will think that the series really is titled that way!)

So, I have Danish, Norwegian, Swedish editions of a collection which includes Miranda Lee, Carole Mortimer, and Lee Wilkinson. The book of mine in this collection is The Hired Husband which was originally published in 1999. I do love the way that older books come round again and get another airing. It's like seeing old friends.

Then there were two Japanese editions - a touch of that revisiting 'old friends' here as well. The first one is a Japanese translation of Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride - the other, the 'Classic' is reprint of an even older book - Something Missing which was originally published in 1993!

That was way back when I had the only male M&B editor. I remember we had one editorial lunch together - that was the infamous lunch where, with his back to the crowded restaurant, he told me that his only criticism of my latest submission was that 'I want more sex . . .'

Stunned silence in posh London restaurant.

He also told me that I was - quote 'very original' - surely I realised that? Er - no. Funny, isn't it, that sometimes we don't really see - or don't see - what other people see in our work. One of the toughest things is to be objective in our assessments of our own writing. That's something I always think of when I work with unpublished authors- how easy it is to get too close and not see what we've actually written but what we think we've written. Long ago, when I had more time between dreadlines I used to put the book away for as long as I could and 'grow away' from it , then hope to read it more objectively. No time for that now.

Anyway - more foreign editions. There's the Czech edition of The Italian's Forced Bride. I love the way the Czech edition changes my name to Kate Walkerova. This always makes me smile. Some names lend themselves to this Czech version - but none, I think, as well as Historical Novelist Elizabeth Rolls who becomes Elizabeth Rollsova.

As well as these I've had more Danish, Swedish and Norwegian editions, French, German, Spanish, Greek . . .

All of which reminds me how huge and international this company I write for has become since it first started out in 1908 in the UK. Something that perhaps gets forgotten in the celebration of Mills & Boon's 100th Birthday. So many people think that Harlequin Mills & Boon is still just that 'home-grown' company, and the books on the shelves in WH Smith, the only ones published and sol nowhere but here in the UK. My latest royalty statement ame this week and it had sales in 31 different countries listed on it - including those posted above and others ranging from Russia to Brazil, Holland to Indonesia. And I only have to look at the flags of all the countries where the visitors to my blog live to see just how international romance writing and reading really is.

And of course the Centenary is in my mind because tomorrow (today when this is posted) I'll be heading for Manchester and the opening of the Mills & Boon Centenary Exhibition. I'm so looking forward to seeing that. But while celebrating the past 100 years, I hope we'll also be looking forward to the future and all that holds.

Oh yes - and to come back to those book parcels that have been arriving in the post. The Babe Magnet's contribution to all this has an international flavour as well. The Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths series has moved across the Irish Sea and Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Dublin is the result of the research trip we made to Dublin last year.

But after that he's coming back closer to home with Heroes , Villains and Victims of Bradford.

12 Days of Christmas Contest Details

So now the wonderful Lee has organised everything and put up all the details for the 12 Days of Christmas Contest and she's sent me a direct link for you all to follow so that you can find that and enter.

Remember you need to go to the My Tote Bag Web site to find the contest - and lots of others - so that you can enter. And you enter there, not from my site.

Here's the direct link:

Kate Walker 12 Days of Christmas Contest

Good luck!

Oh, and if you live in Australia and missed the first part of the Sicilian Brothers duo - Guido's story Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride, I just learned that it's available once more on the eHarlequin.com.au site leading a 'European Sexy Pack' with other titles by Anne McAllister, Cathy Williams and Lynne Graham. It's currently on sale here at a 33% reduction.

Great Big Blog Party #60 Caerleon Special

So - Caerleon has great courses, friendships, food - but that's not all. As the organisers my dear friends Anne and Gerry Hobbs always emphasise, it is a Writers' Holiday - so you can do everything or nothing. I've been to Caerleon and I've joined in everything - run one course, attended another, been to all the Main Lectures, a couple of After Tea Sessions, the Poetry Reading, the afternoon trip out, the Welsh Male Voice Choir Concert . . .Phew!

And I've been there and done nothing at all. There was the year I had a deadline and I gained a reputation for disappearing off to my room at every opportunity. 'Kate's locked in her room with a hot Italian' was the story that went round Caerleon that year. It did my image a power of good - and the resulting book - The Sicilian's Wife - was a brilliant success too!

But there's plenty of fun to be had in Caerleon as well as plenty to learn and to find out about. There's the final Concert Evening which I've mentioned and there are the trips out on the Wednesday Afternoon. You can visit Cardiff or the Welsh Folk and Country Museum at St Fagan's - or you can really go for Book Overload and take the coach to Hay on Wye.

Hay on Wye is the Town of Books. Mostly secondhand boooks - shops and shops of them - and streets and streets of shops!

Every year I lose the BM as he disappears into book heaven and emerges, blinking, several hours later with innumerable carrier bags filled to the brim with musty, dusty old books and an expression of pure bliss on his face. I just thank heaven that we're not flying to and from Wales - we would have to pay for excess baggage every time.

And I've barely mentioned Caerleon village itself where you can visit the remains of the Roman Fortress,find out about Caerleon's links with King Arthur, explore the wonderful little museum or simply sit in the sunshine and stare at the river. The BM's friend Les tells me that there is excellent beer in the local pubs as well and he should know - he organises the traditional Pub Crawl every year.

And the traditional Poetry Reading. Every year anyone who goes to the Poetry Writing Course - or who just wants to join in the reading - gathers for the 'Open Mic' evening. And it's at this event that the notorious Caerleon Mad Russians have appeared for the past 3 years or so.

The first Russian immigrant poet to appear was Dmitri Todgeroff who bore an unfortunate resemblance to the BM. He was soon joined by Vladimir - who looks surprisingly like Les and then there is the lovelorn Tatiana who sends Dmitri love poems every year. There are rumours of a Russian Poetry collection next time . . .

So that's Caerleon in brief - is it any wonder that the BM and I - and many many other Caerleon 'regulars' - Kathy, Val, June - sending you special hugs - are addicted and each time we go there the week just seems to fly by. Just writing about it makes me wish I was back there.

Oh yes, and just to prove that we do actually do just a little work - here's the BM holding forth on writing History.

And yours truly talking about How Not To Write A Romance

And so, to round off this Caerleon Special - and the whole Great Big Blog Party - is Guest Blogger number 60 - the brains (and the beauty) behind Writers' Holiday - the fabulous Anne Hobbs who thought of the whole idea 20+ years ago and has been running the fabulous event with her husband Gerry ever since.

I photographed Anne as she wrote her blog in the Bookroom at this year's Caerleon - and it's a picture that really sums up the mood and the atmosphere of Caerleon and the warm personality of Anne herself.

So if Caerleon is the writing event withe heart, then here's the heart of Caerleon : Anne Hobbs

Kate Walker kept me awake last night-again. To be more precise her 50th book did. Being really pedantic but, terribly honest, it wasn’t so much the book's fault as the Sicilian hero between the sheets - ahem - pages!

Not only am I a huge fan of Kate Walker's but I’ve had the pleasure of introducing her as a main lecturer at Writers’ Holiday this year. I wonder how many realize what a great sense of humour she has. Being a coward and of fairly sound mind I’m not going to repeat here any of the probably libellous, certainly comical instructions on “How not to write Romance”.

Writers’ Holiday is an annual event held at the Caerleon Campus of the University of Wales-Newport. My husband and I originated and run the holiday, without the aid of safety net or the dubious benefits of a committee. The whole thing began as an act of friendship and it’s the friendship of the speakers, course lecturers and that of the delegates that has kept us doing this insane thing for over twenty years.

As you can imagine it’s pretty hectic trying to look after almost 150 people and I need my beauty sleep more than most (my own mother will testify to the truth of this) so I really needed Kate’s fiftieth book like Britain needs more rain right now. Not that I’m complaining, but the two bottles of Champagne and a quantity of wine (undisclosed amount to protect the guilty from the Really Nice Alcoholics association) we consumed in order to celebrate the safe arrival of Kate’s fiftieth child didn’t do much to make the holiday the run without hiccoughs.

It would be quite a good idea to reach for the sick bag at this moment-but in truth, and with the benefit of over twenty years experience, I can honestly say the more successful the author the more willing they seem to be to pass on their hard won knowledge to would-be –writers.

Writers’ Holiday delegates not only receive tuition from the very best, they are royally entertained by them and where else can you go and find it perfectly normal to sit and enjoy excellent food, alongside top Mills and Boon authors, agents, publishers and above all, in an intoxicating atmosphere of fun and friendship… I think I just talked myself into running this event for another twenty years.

To the bags under my eyes - sorry, to the extra pounds in weight from the good food and unreasonable amounts of alcohol - sorry. To Kate and all my friends at Writer’s holiday a big thank-you and I look forward to partying with you all again next year!

ANNE'S GIVEAWAY QUESTION:
If you could ask any writer just one question - which writer would you choose and waht would you ask them?

GIVEAWAY PRIZE:

Well the prize was supposed to be a couple of books from some of the speakers at this year's Writers' Holiday - but then Zoe and Jane wanted to join in the Blog Party too so their prizes went into their blogs - and you've already had Marina Oliver, Iris Gower and Jane Wenham-Jones as guests on here. You've even had the BM aka Dmitri. I'd offer you the Mad Russians' Poetry Collection From Petrograd To Pudsey but that's still in production. So I thought we might as well go back to the beginning and I'll offer as a prize the whole reason for this Blog Party in the first place - that 50th title of mine. And because it's one of two linked books, then I'll throw in the other book as well.

So the final 60th Great Big Blog Party prize is a signed copy of

The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge and its linked title

Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride

And thank you all for coming to my party!

But I can't end without posting one last special picture of Caerleon - this is a wooden sculpture that is in the grounds of the college - I've passed it every day I've been in Caerleon and I love it. (If you can't imagine what it is - think of a wonderful Welsh Dragon disappearing underground and leaving only his tail sticking out).

And if these reports on Caerleon have whetted your appetite and made you want to think about trying the Caerleon experience for yourself then you can check out the details here

I won't be running a course next year - next one I'm doing is 2009 - but if you can't wait till then, then take a look at the Fishguard Novel Writing Weekend which you'll find here. It's a shorter event and hasn't as much variety to offer as Caerleon but the tutors are every bit as enthusiastic and welcome is every bit as warm - it's run by Anne and Gerry to so it has just the same atmosphere.

Maybe I'll see you at one event or the other.

A Kate Bit - Celebrations, Contests, Cats and Charts

Over on Anne McAllister's blog she's calling the Great Big Blog Party the Never-ending Blog Party! And it seems appropriate. I can't quite believe how long this celebration has gone on for - not that I'm complaining! But this week it will be coming to an end - I think! (Though I did get one last offer of a blog only on Sunday!) And I've been saving some of the best till last so I hope you'll enjoy the last few party posts. I'll be putting up another one today.

But thinking about today's Guest Blogger reminded me that I need to put up one last post about my Spotlight and Great Big Contest that is still running - just over on Leena's Goodie Room. Those of you who have been visiting and answering questions already will know that there are 50 questions to answer. Lee has been adding a set of questions each week and now they are all posted up there. Answer all 50 - even at this late stage - and you are in the running to win the major prize. Even if you can only manage the set of questions that are up for this last week, you're still in with a chance of the Book a Day that I'm giving away.

And if you need a reminder about the main prize - there are signed copies of the hardback edition of the special 50th title - which you all know by now is The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge, together with the other linked title in the Sicilian Brothers duo - Sicilian Husband; Blackmailed Bride. And there's a lovely heart shaped necklace too.

So with such great prizes on offer, why not enter while you still have time? This contest is closing soon.

The other prize giveaway I have been running was to bribe - ahem - ask - you all to vote for your favourite top five Kate Walker novels. I haven't posted a result of this for a while so here is the Top Ten as it stands at the moment.

1.The Italian's Forced Bride
2.A Sicilian Husband
3.The Antonakos Marriage
4.The Sicilian's Wife
5.Desert Affair
6.The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife
7.Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
8.12 Month Mistress
9.Wife For A Day
10.At The Sheikh's Command

And I need to announce another batch of winners from amongst those who have emailed me their votes so the winners are:

Judy Theis

Mary Reinert

Marcy Shuler

Laurie Bertram

Eva Silkka

I'll be contacting the winners today

On to cats or The Cat

If you've read Anna Campbell's Contest for yesterday, you'll know that she has asked Sid to help her pick a winner from amongst the answers. He has taken his responsibilities very seriously and has been up all night reading the many entries. I did mention that he could try the usual cat crunchie on the names technique and he says he will try that one when he has woken from the exhausted sleep that has laid him flat out on my desk after all that reading. Watch this blog for the result.

Finally, while I was away in Wales, my ccountry count did a mini leap and I now have had visitors from a grand total of 110 countries! I spotted a couple of the new ones - Togo and Gibraltar and I think the third one was Pakistan. Wherever you're from, thank you for visiting - and I hope you'll come back often!

A Kate Bit - Blog Party thoughts and round up so far . . .

I have been so lucky in this job of writing. Not only have I been able to do the job I love, but I've also sold well enough that I've been able to earn my living from it and so make it my only job.

But alongside that, and every bit as valuable, have been the numbers of wonderful friends I have made through my writing. Whether they have started out as readers, or fellow M&B authors, peope I have met through classes I've taught, at the RNA meetings and Conferences - or through the times I've travelled to other Conferences, where I was warmly welcomed in New Zealand or the Romance Writers of Australia Conferences, or even a couple of times at RWAmerica National.

Then there have been the people I've 'met' on the internet - on the eHarlequin message boards, the the Romance Junkies web site and Readers Club, the We Write Romance Site run by my brillilant web mistress Heather Reed. There have been some great reviewers like Julie Bonello and many others who have stayed with me through the years, and last but very definitely not least, the wonderful Lee Hyat on any web site she's been involved with right through to her own personal site My Tote Bag and her Authorsound Relations.

One of the reasons behind this Great Big Blog Party has been to introduce you to some of these people in my life, my friends and fellow authors, writers I admire, people I've worked with. I wanted them all to be part of this special celebration of this golden book of mine. When I started out, I had hoped that I might just make the total of 50 posters who would all join in, all come and say hello to you so that you could learn more about them - and their generosity in giving away prizes has been amazing.

And it's not over yet!

As I said, I'd hoped to make the total of 50 posters - and today, as we head towards the 41st Guest Blogger , I'm able to say that not only will we make that golden total - we'll actually surpass it!

I just checked the number of Guests I have till to come and the total will go past that 50 target.

And believe me I have some fantastic guests lined up for you in this final countdown. There have already been 40 of my favourite people in all the world chatting with you so far - there are more to come. Some of the best writers and people not only in the world of category romance but in novel writing as a whole. People I'm just thrilled and delighted - and honoured to have come and share this special time with me as have been all the people who have joined in so far.

So I hope you're not yet tired of partying and that you'll keep coming back for the next 10+ days there are left of the Great Big Blog Party celebrations. (We might even have to run into August!) There are some fabulous guest and wonderful prizes still to come.

I hope I'll see you all here!

PS And I must add a special great big gold Thank You to every one of my readres who have made The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge (and its companion book Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride) such a wonderful success. With Vito's story still riding high in the Amazon Bestseller lists in the UK and USA and in Barnes & Noble, and Waldenbooks - this really is a golden time for me. Thank you all for being part of it.

Kate Bit - Celebrations, Charts and Covers

The Great Big Blog party is still going on - I'll be posting another Guest Blog in a moment. And it looks like we'll be partying right to the end of this month as well! Which means that the celebration for the publication of The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge will be going on right through the two months it's been out in UK, USA and Australia. So that's fantastic.

And something else that's still going on is the poll for your Top Five favourite Kate Walker titles. Voting on this poll has slowed down a bit so can I just remind you that if you haven't voted please send in your vote! You're in with a chance to win a signed book if you do. Email me with your Top Five titles in order of preference and if Sid picks your name then you'll win.

At the moment the result for the Top Ten looks like this:

1. The Italian's Forced Bride
2. A Sicilian Husband
3. The Antonakos Marriage
4. Desert Affair
5. The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife
6. The Sicilian's Wife
7. 12 Month Mistress
8. Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride
9 Wife For A Day
10. Bound By Blackmail

Is your favourite there? If not, why not send me a vote for it and maybe you'llsee it in the next chart I publish.

Interesting to see that although it's only been out a couple of months, the other Sicilian Brothers book - Guido's story (Sicilian, Husband, Blackmailed Bride) - is already in the Top Ten at #8. It makes me wonder what might happen when you've all read Vito's story this month - would that jump right in there too?

And finally, the current book(s) are still on sale, but publishing being the way it is, I'm already looking forward to the next couple of titles. I have just dealt with proofs for the March 2008 book (Spanish Billionaire; Innocent Wife) and the hardback library editions of November's The Greek Millionaire's Unwilling Wife arrived in the post the other day. I realised that I've put the cover up in the slide show in the sidebar, but not actually shown it to you all here - so here it is:

Knowing the scene that my editor had asked for I had hoped that it would be a good cover and it is. I'm really happy with it.

What do you think?

Great Big Blog Party 23 - Winner

Heather Rae Scott has sent me the name of her winner and this time the lucky lady is

Ellie

Congratulations Ellie! You win a signed copy of The Last Thing I Expected.

And while I'm talking about prizes I think I should remind you all of the great prize there is to win in my Great Big Contest in the special Spotlight over on Leena's Goodie Room on the Author Sound site.

As well as signed hardback edtions of the two titles in my Sicilian Brothers duo (that's Sicilian Husband;Blackmailed Bride and of course The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge) you also get a chance to win a real gold heart shaped necklace.

So what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning?

Well, every week, Lee is posting up a set of questions about my books - all those 50 titles on my backlist. All you have to do is to find the answers to each question - the answers can all be found on my web site in the backlist pages. Answer the questions and send you entries to Lee together with your full names, mailing address and of course the answers to this week's questions!

Every week seven winners will be picked out and each of those seven will win a first round prize of a signed book and one of my special bookbags. There are 50 of these first round prizes to win so you have plenty of chances.

Then at the end of the 50 questions, everyone who has answered all the questions correctly will have their name entered into the Great Big Prize draw and one lucky winner will receieve the main prize.

Now just in case you have missed the first couple of weeks' questions - don't worry . You can still enter the Main Draw! Just catch up on the questions you haven't answered - they're still up on the Spotlight page for you to see them. Answer all the questions - including this week's - and send them in to Lee then come back and answer the rest next week and the week after.

Each time you enter you'll be in with a chance for a first round prize - and everyone who get all the answers right, whether they're a Round One winner or not, will be entered into that final Main Draw.

So hurry over to Leena's Goodie Room - read the Spotlight - and enter the contest for a chance to win a really Great Big Prize.