40 for 40 - Sally Quilford

How do I introduce Sally Quilford?
She's someone who's aiming to earn the label  of a Kate Walker Stalker by attending as many of my workshops as she can.  She has had stories published in most of the major women’s magazines, and had nine pocket novels (to date) published My Weekly Pocket Novels and one by The People’s Friend Pocket Novels.Sally is a monthly columnist with Writers Forum magazine and has also had articles published in The New Writer. Sally lives in Derbyshire with her husband and four westies. When the weather is nice enough she writes in her shed, hence her own ‘publisher’ on her Kindle ebook being labelled ‘Tales From the Shed’.   She also has so many pen names that I often forget what I really should call her  and she ends up being called by a sort of blend of them all - so . . .

Here's Trally!


My Big Fat Derbyshire Wedding

Our wedding day August 27th 1982

I’m sure everyone imagines romance writers to have very romantic weddings. Maybe on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Or at Blenheim Palace with an orchestra playing in the background. I’m sure that as a teenager I dreamed of such scenarios. They usually involved David Soul if I remember rightly. My wedding was nothing like that.

Oh our love affair started off promising enough. We’d only been going out for three and a half months when we married in August 1982, so it was the epitome of a whirlwind romance. I was also marrying a man nearly fifteen years older than myself. That’s another romantic staple ticked off. Less romantic was that we’d met as a result of CB Radio, where I used the handle White Queen and hubby was known as Cheapskate.

The gossipy older women in the factory where I worked kept looking at my tummy, which remained resolutely flat (those were the days!) Our son was born 11 and a half months after our wedding, on my 20^th birthday. So there! But the events of our wedding day gave everyone cause to give us just a few months before we gave up and went home to our parents. I was surprisingly calm when our wedding day arrived. I only wanted to wake up the next day in our new home with the man I loved, so I didn’t care that our wedding was at the Registry office, followed by a reception at the CB Radio club where we’d met.

Unfortunately the friend who was due to pick me up in his Ford Granada (posh huh?) decided to leave it till the last minute to drop off his girlfriend at the registry office in Chesterfield, before coming back to Bolsover (6 miles away) at quarter to four. This was on a Friday afternoon, and I was supposed to be getting married at four o’clock! So another family friend said they’d take me in their Cortina. I seem to remember that it was black, but one door was painted white. Lovely.

We headed off towards Chesterfield, but then who should be coming the other way but Granada man? So the Cortina driver stopped and there I was, standing at the side of the Bolsover to Chesterfield road in all my finery, whilst Granada man found a place to turn around. I looked as if I was hitching a lift to my wedding! Granada man, who couldn’t understand the panic (!) drove like an idiot, and my abiding memory as we hurtled towards Chesterfield and my nerves finally took hold was that ‘Come on, Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runneres was playing on the radio. Too-ra-loo-ra-hey indeed.

 I was convinced that my future husband, Den, would get there before me and think I’d changed my mind. But I made it, just in time.

Unsurprisingly, I was a mass of nerves during the ceremony. So much so that the registrar asked ‘Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to.’

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur, but just to make my wedding as low class as possible, when we reached the club, my father-in-law bet another family friend, Stan, that he wouldn’t get up on the table and do a strip. Stan, now deceased, was a one-eyed man who still lived with his mother. His mother was at the wedding, and when he got down to his underpants, she started hitting him with her handbag. The poor woman was beside herself with embarrassment. Everyone else, including me, burst out laughing. Only later did I think that it was a rotten thing for my father-in-law and Stan to do at our wedding.

So yeah, not the most romantic wedding ever, thanks to Granada man’s poor timing and Stan the stripper. I can’t imagine any of that turning up in a Mills and Boon novel, can you? But do you know what? On 27^th August 2013, we’ll have been married 31 years, proving all the naysayers wrong.

We have two wonderful children and loads of gorgeous grandchildren who bring lots of love and laughter into our lives. Real life romance isn’t about overcoming the odds in order to get married. Real life romance is about overcoming the odds and staying married.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish Kate and the Babe Magnet the very best for their 40^th wedding anniversary. I know they’ve had to overcome a few odds over the past couple of years, yet their devotion to each other is clear to everyone who is lucky enough to meet them. Here’s to the next 40  years!

Our Day I’m offering my large print novel, Our Day Will Come, as part of Kate and Babe Magnet’s anniversary celebration. I’ll let Kate tell you how you can win it.

From Kate  -  To win Sally's Our Day Will Come - answer this question in the comments:

What’s the best song for a first dance at a wedding and/or what’s the worst song you’ve ever heard at a wedding? (you can  answer either of them)

 

Sally says:  I ask that because my novel Let Me Be Your Hero is inspired by Enrique Iglesias’s song and it was played at the hero and heroine’s wedding.    This book is published under my Elise Hart pen name.

 

You can find out more about Sally and her writing at her blog Quillers Place

 

40 for 40 - Anne McAllister

Do I need to introduce you to today's guest blogger?
Anyone who has followed my blog for some time will recognise my dear friend Harlequin Presents author,  Anne McAllister.  She has appeared on this blog many times,  as my friend, fellow author and of course, the late lamented Sid Sidney's Lady Across the Pond.  She's shared Sid, the other cats, the hedgehog family - the Hecks  - and as she now tells you, amazingly her husband and mine share - well, an on-going conversation.

Welcome Anne!

When Kate asked me if I would write a post for the 40th anniversary of her marriage to The Prof (UK version), of course I said YES!

What else could I possibly say. There are just some people that you find an instant connection with. And Kate and I shared that from when we began corresponding on an authors' loop long ago now.  But there are not a lot of people with whom one's spouse finds an equally kindred spirit in the other's spouse.  Our respective Profs (UK and US) did exactly that.

We met Kate's husband at the Doncaster railway station, having been invited for a few days, and wondered if her spouse and mine would find anything to talk about.  They were both English professors. Surely they could find common ground, we thought.  But mine can go days without saying much, and hers might say more, but not necessarily to order. So we were, um, a tad bit apprehensive. 

Did they talk?

When have they shut up?  They talked their way out of the railway station, at tea, all the way home in the car. They talked in the back garden, in the shops, on the way to a) Lincoln, b) Grasmere, c) Millom, d) York, e) all of the above (answer: all of the above. See first sentence of paragraph,)

They came to visit us. We picked them up in Chicago. We drove them to Denver. We drove to Cheyenne. We drove home again.  They talked.

We met them in New Zealand. They talked.  And talked.

Now they can FaceTime.  My husband, who can talk 30 seconds to his children and grandchildren on FaceTime can explain Complicated Multi-Phase Stuff That He Works On In The Basement to The Prof UK.

They write poetry

.  They spent several soggy days at Grasmere, writing stuff while the saner members of the foursome were out buying raincoats and umbrellas. 

So it's fun to spend time with Kate Walker and her Prof.  We also appreciate their generosity. They have shared their cats with us. Sid, of course.  I have volumes of correspondence from Sid. But  Bob and Spiff communicated now and then, too. And Dylan even write me Potry -- because he attended his dad (The Prof UK's) Potry Class and so He Knew How To Do It.  Now Charlie (aka Chaz) writes me missives and Flora deigns to communicate occasionally. She tends to prefer FaceTime, too, though.  Not a letter writer, our Flora.

They have also shared their hedgehog family, the Hecks.  And, of course, we have shared the McAllister D.O.G.S. with them. 

There are not many couples we know with whom we've had a stupendous time no matter where in the world we are.  Kate and Steve are one such couple. We count our blessings regularly -- and Kate and The Prof UK are right there among them.

So, to both of you, The Prof (US) and I wish you a wonderful anniversary. (Your gift is on its way. Truly.  You must put it whe

re you can see it -- and live by it!).

I would add pictures, but my computer (the REAL computer with the pictures on it) is (I hope) recovering at a friend's house (he's a computer guy who Knows Things and might be able to save it).  So, I can't post any. But chances are that Kate has a few pics that she can add.  If there are pics, thank her.  I will.

 

 

PS From Kate - there are pics. It was easy to find photos of Anne, of  Sid The Cat - the  D-O-G-S. Even The Hecks the hedgehogs were easy to find - but The Profs?   I can't find one of them together!  They must be off somewhere - talking!

Which takes me to Anne's question -
Where  would you  suggest the Profs and their spouses go next (it's like the garden gnome goes round the world) to keep up the conversation?

Anne is giving away a copy of  Breaking the Greek's Rules  to one lucky commenter (if you promise not to look too closely at the cover - it's - er not one of Anne's favourites!)

Happy 4th of July to you and The Prof USA  Anne!  (And to everyone else who is celebrating it.)


You can find out more about Anne on her website

The glamorous life . . .

I'm just organising the next couple of posts for the 40 for 40 celebrations. I have 

some wonderful guests  coming up over the next week or so -
Next up: 

Harlequin Presents author - Anne McAllister

Writer's Forum columnist and novelist  Sally Quilford

Historical romance writer Michelle Styles

Medical romance writer Scarlet Wilson

Romantic novelist Jane Jackson

Historical romance author Louise Allen

Romance  - and KISS  - author Fiona Harper

All with guest bog posts - and giveaways!

But just in case you're imagining the 'elegant lady novelist' sitting at her desk organising all this, I thought I'd better admit to the truth -

I have been wearing a face pack while writing this
And a deep conditioner on my hair (OK - I'll go all the way in my admissions,  I also have a plastic shower cap on my head to help the conditioner work!)
I've just made a HUGE pan of mixed vegetable soup so my office (which is just off the kitchen) and my hands smell strongly of onions
And I have a large grey Maine Coon cat on my shoulders. (I think she likes the smell of the conditioner - or maybe it's the rose face pack!)

But I do occasionally look like the pic above!
Hope you're enjoying 40 for 40  so far -  get your comments posted for our guests over the past few days.,  Winners will be drawn on Saturday!

40 for 40 - Melanie Milburne

Today's guest is the prolific and glamorous (well- look at that photo!) Melanie Milburne.  I have known Melanie for some years but only met her infrequently when we're lucky enough to connect at Romance Writers of Australia or  R W America conferences.  I envy her the fact that she lives on the beautiful island of Tasmania where my eldest  sister lives. The Babe Magnet and I were lucky enough to visit once - we'd love to go back.

Here's Melanie:

Congratulations Kate and Steve on your fortieth wedding anniversary! What a wonderful celebration of two people who have lived and loved together for so long. Where on earth does the time go?

I met my husband via my big brother. We’d first met when I was seventeen but it wasn’t until we were at a conference when I was twenty-two that I actually spoke to him. I used to think he was so shy and reserved and boring! Little did I know that behind that cool reserve was a razor sharp intellect and a killer sense of humour. One quick-witted comment from him and my heart was won! I knew on our second date he was the man I was going to marry. I still can’t explain it. It was the most amazing lightning bolt of realisation -this is THE ONE. Luckily he felt the same way! We got engaged within six weeks and were married on the 3^rd of July. It was a freezing winter’s day in Sydney, only 16 degrees Celsius, but I didn’t notice the cold even though I was wearing French lace. I wore my mother’s wedding gown and we were married in the same church my parents had been married in thirty odd years before.

We had a lovely traditional ceremony and then our reception was at our very dear friends’ lovely home on five acres. We had a marquee set up around the gorgeous gardens and the swimming pool where flowers and candles floated. It had occurred to us that there was a danger someone might fall into the pool after one too many champagnes but thankfully no one did. However, one of our elderly guests –a lovely old fellow who was known for his bumbling - fell in the fountain at the front of the house as we were leaving for our honeymoon!

 

I have my own celebration this year. My 50^th book is out in September. Never Say No To a Caffarelli is Book One of my Caffarelli trilogy.

 I have a signed copy of it as a giveaway to the best answer to this question:
 what is the thing you would do differently if you were to have your wedding day all over again, or, if you’re not married, what is the one thing you would absolutely insist on having at your wedding?

Best wishes,

Melanie Milburne 

www.melaniemilburne.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/melanie.milburne

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Milburne/351594482609?fref=ts

Twitter- MelanieMilburn1


PS From  Kate - I hope you all noted the date Melanie was married  - that's why her post was scheduled for today.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY  Melanie  to you and your husband - and thanks for sharing your special day with us.

40 for 40 Holly Jacobs

Holly Jacobs is  another friend I made on line through eHarlequin  - and then became a true friend when we met in person at RWA. She's someone who has always made a joke about the way I use the word 'lovely' - as you'll see from her post. But then, with Holly 'lovely' is an easy word to use. About her and her books - so here's my lovely  friend Holly.

Holly wanted to send  a photo of her and me together but couldn't find it. I said I'd post one. This is one of my favourite pictures ever of me (at the back) Holly (in front) and in the middle is our 'third twin' Donna Alward. (you'll meet Donna later in the celebrations.)


So here's Holly:



You all might know Steve as The Babe Magnet, but to me, Kate and Steve are 'my lovely friends.'  

 

When I wrote my June book, A Walk Down the Aisle, it was about the 'perfect' couple.  Everyone in Valley Ridge thought of them that way.  But it turned out they had their imperfections...but they learn that those imperfections helped make them who they are.  And who they are is two people who are meant to be together.  Two people who might not be perfect, but fit perfectly.  That's how I think of Steve and Kate

...two people who fit with 'lovely' perfection.

And Kate and Steve, Happy, Happy Anniversary!

So, in order to celebrate their anniversary, I'm giving away my new trilogy...which includes A Walk Down the Aisle.

Okay, question...:

 

 My husband occasionally sends me flowers, and when something that needs celebrating happens, he'll take me out for a Guinness.  But really, the gestures that mean the most to me are the small ones.  

 

For instance, he doesn't think beds need to be made in the morning...and I do.  So, on days he makes the bed, I know he did it just to please me.  I know, it sounds silly*, but I look at that bed all neatly made and feel loved. 

 

 

And I love leaves on the ground in the fall...he doesn't.  So, when I rake the lawn for him, I'm saying the same thing...I love you.

So, what small gestures have ever touched you personally, or did you read in a book and think..."ahhh, now that's love"?  

 

Answers in the comments section please .  We'll draw a random entry!

 

Again, Happy Anniversary to one of the loveliest couples I know!

Holly

PS from Kate - *Doesn't sound silly to me at all, Holly. In fact it sounds just lovely!
Holly and her husband celebrated their 30th anniversary last week - belated Congratulations to you both, Holly!  I hope you had a lovely day.

You can find out more about Holly on her web site.  Her newest title is a departure from her romance stories - as you can see from the cover above.  STEAMED: A Maid in LA Mystery  -Cleaning is Murder on the Manicure - is available Summer 2013 for Kindle

40 for 40

40 years

40 guests

40 posts

40 giveaways

Come and visit the blog all through July and join in the celebrations.

Hope to see lots of you here to meet my guests, answer their questions . . .  join in the chat in the comments . . . and maybe win a prize.

40 for 40 - Dee Tenorio

My very first guest is Dee Tenorio I first met lovely Dee on line when she was a host at eHarlequin. We chatted a lot in the forums. Then we IMed each other and finally - finally - we met at RWA Conference in New York. 

I have one very special thing to thank Dee for - and that is that without her I would never have written or published the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance.  That happened because we were once having an IM discussion about writing for Presents   and I said/wrote 'There are 10 things you need to know about writing for Presents  and - off the top of my head - I listed the 10 important points, with notes about them all.  Luckily I kept those notes and I added an extra two points  and when I realised that these points  could actually be used for all romance writing not just Presents, I expanded them and so the 12 Point Guide was born.

Thanks Dee!

And thank you too for launching my very special 40 for 40 celebration!

Still In Love After All This Time...   Dee Tenorio



"You guys are so cute. It’s kind of sickening.”

 Ah, yes, the supportive words of a friends and family that I hear at most family events. After twenty-some years together, you’d think they’d be used to it, but no. Every event, someone finds a reason to say it. We gross them out." How?, you might ask. I mean, we’re not lewd or anything. Tempting as it is, I don’t pat him on the butt whenever he passes by. We have yet to make folks super-ill by making out in public (though, it could happen folks! You know we never want you to feel safe or anything!).

Nope, all we do is treat each other nicely. He’ll bring me a drink after holding my chair for me. We still hold hands most everywhere we go. Sometimes, we lean in and tell each other stuff in whispers so as not to bother people or just for a private giggle. Apparently, after twenty some years, we should be over that. Like, totally. Snort.

Maybe there’s something wrong with us, but if there is, in the immortal words of Luther Ingram, I don’t wanna be right. I mean, wasn’t that the whole point of marrying my best friend? So we could enjoy each other’s company and have private jokes and hold hands and treat each other like precious parts of our hearts forever? *scratches head* Well, that’s why I got married anyway. :) And I hope that when my husband and I reach 40 years, we’re still able to play, to tease, to flirt. To smile at each other. At the thought of each other.

I hope that we’re as happy together as you are with your hubby, Kate. I hope we, too, never stop being a man and his bride. Because that’s a true romance story. It’s what we all long for and I’m so glad that’s what the two of you have.

Wishing you another 40 years filled with happiness. With joy and love, come good or bad, rain or shine, and what the hey, go ahead and throw a little inappropriate public displays of affection, just cause you have every right! Congratulations to you both!

Much love, Dee


PS — what kind of guest poster would I be if I didn’t throw a little giveaway in? Just for fun! So, answer the following question in the comments and be entered in a drawing for a copy of my upcoming release from Samhain Publishing, "Trust In Me"! (It’s about an old-fashioned Viking-kind-of-guy who falls like a redwood for a sassy, absolutely-not-having-it lingerie designer from the shop across the street. She’s got secrets, but he’s got determination. I have to warn you, this one may require a lot of tissues. And, uh...a fan. Just sayin'.) Ready for the question? Here it goes: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen at a wedding? Winner will be chosen randomly from the commenters so it's not about the funny—though I'd love to laugh my head off! Have at it, folks! Let's get the party started!


About the Author: Dee Tenorio is a sick woman. Really sick. She enjoys tormenting herself by writing Contemporary Romance (preferably with sexy, grumpy heroes and smart-mouthed heroines) and sizzling, steamy romances of various genres spanning dramas with the occasional drop of suspense all the way to erotic romance. But why does that make her sick? Because she truly seems to enjoy it. And she has every intention of keeping at it!


If you would like to learn more about Dee and her work, please visit her website at www.deetenorio.com. Dee’s next book, "Trust In Me"—Book 5 in her Rancho del Cielo Romance series— releases July 23rd from Samhain Publishing.

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!

 

40 for 40

Coming very soon . . . .

40 for 40

July is the month . . . a very special month for me  - and the Babe Magnet.

And July starts tomorrow -  so 40 for 40 starts very soon after July dawns.

What's it all about.  Well you'll have to be here to find out. So don't miss it - come and visit the blog in July or you'll miss out on all the fun.

Coming soon . . .

40 for 40 . . .
Coming soon  . . . .

What's that?  Well I'm having a special celebration. . .  a really special one.
And you know that when I celebrate I like to share.   So this time I'm sharing  with lots of my wonderful  friends  - and, (I hope) with lots of my readers .

Want to know more? Then watch this space . . .

Want to learn to write romance?

I've had some enquiries about courses on writing romance that I'm teaching this year - and what is happening to Writers' Holiday after this year's event. So I thought I'd  give some details of what I have coming up.

I've rather cut back on the teaching this year so  really there are just the two main courses I'm doing - both in Wales. Well, that's currently the situation - things can always change and often do. But it depends on me being asked to teach or run a workshop. If I do  decide to do anything new, then I will  of course let everyone know. The details will be posted here and on my events page if anything crops up.

But for now, I will be heading for Wales and for Writers' Holiday at Caerleon in the last week of July.  The exact dates are July 28th - August 2nd  and as you'll see from the details on the Writers' Holiday site, this is the course I'll be teaching:

A  complete introduction to writing contemporary romance

 This course is intended to provide information and advice for anyone who wants to learn how to write  a popular  romance genre novel.  It gives an introduction to all the skills needed for success, from creating realistic characters, sustaining pace and conflict, packing emotional punch, writing sex scenes and crafting a satisfying ending.  While the focus may be on romance novels, the techniques – dialogue, characters, tension, pacing, settings,  hooks etc will also be relevant to all forms of  popular fiction.

 

At Writers' Holiday in  Caerleon  - as it's now run - the course is   made up of 5 lessons in the mornings. My course is in the second part of the week so it runs from the Wednesday to the Friday .

Students who sign up for this course, can also do one of the other courses from the beginning of the week - and of course go to all the main talks they're interested in - and attend the 'after tea sessions' if they want - Phew! You'd cram in a lot if you do it all.

Or you can just relax in the sun (if we get any!) or even settle down and write!

And then of course there is the Wednesday afternoon excursion to explore more of Wales - the 'Book Town' of Hay on Wye, Welsh capital, Cardiff,  St Fagan's National History Museum have all been included in the past.

And then of course there is the traditional last evening concert with the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir.

All this - plus 3 cooked meals a day (or free choice at the salad bar) - plentiful tea and coffee for the breaks - secure parking -  and all for  under £500. If I wasn't teaching, I'd be paying to attend myself. (The Babe Magnet and I have done just that in the past.)

As it says on the site, this is the last Writer's Holiday at Caerleon  - but it won't be the last Writer's Holiday.  WH is being reborn and it's relocating to a new site - one of my favourite places in Wales, Fishguard Bay.

 

Fishguard Bay Hotel is where my other course is based. That's where I teach at the  Writers' And Artists'  Workshop Weekend every February.

And by popular demand I’ll be back in Fishguard  again in 2014 to run the Advanced Romance Writing Course  again -

• Date:  Friday 28^th  February – Sunday 2^nd March  2014
• Location: Fishguard Bay Hotel, Fishguard Pembrokeshire
• Course: ADVANCED Contemporary Romance Workshop

A series of six advanced novel workshop sessions. This course is open to previous Fishguard workshop or Caerleon Romance course participants or those who have been on Kate’s basic Romance courses or Kate's workshops elsewhere. It is not for beginners. Designed especially for Fishguard to move you on, the whole weekend will be concentrated on this workshop - without other distractions. Guests are encouraged to complete work with Kate prior to the weekend commencement.

Strictly Limited to first 15 bookings

The Advanced  Course runs from Friday night to Sunday lunchtime. 6 workshop sessions, and one- to- one  discussions on the work you've submitted plus an open discussion and critique session. (and a little wine!)
Cost -  £229 all in
This course sells out very fast so please enquire about bookings as soon as possible. If the course is already booked up, we will run a waiting list on a first come first served basis.

Further details and booking forms can be found here: http://www.writersholiday.net/

 

  Unfortunately, even as I'm talking about this course, I suspect that it is already sold out. Or there may be just one available place still open on it. But all enquiries will be noted and if spaces become available, then people will be offered them on a first come first served basis.

But then from 2014 things will change anyway - as I said, Writers' Holiday will move to Fishguard and the Fishguard Bay Hotel - and the format will be rather different. The course will be longer, with classes on each day instead of half the week . I'm still planning that out, but as there is so much demand for the Advanced Course, I'm planning on putting in some extras so that this course has more scope than the current basic one can manage.

Details are still being worked out -  but here's the basic facts:

WRITERS’ HOLIDAY  AT FISHGUARD
Monday 21st-Saturday 26th JULY 2014
  
SIX COURSES, during mornings throughout the week,
each now EIGHT HOURS LONG,
a range of MAIN LECTURES,
After-Tea Sessions,
& final WELSH NIGHT CONCERT with
CWMBACH MALE VOICE CHOIR.

 

I'll let you know more about the course  as I get to know it!

Maybe I'll see you at one event or another.

 

PS If you live in Ireland - the Fishguard venue is right at the arrival point for the ferry from Rosslare  - literally just down the road (OK  - up the road, as  the hotel is above the ferry terminus!)

 

 

 

Great Review

Just received this from We Read Romance   a wonderful new review for A Throne for The Taking:

Masterfully crafted, Kate Walker’s A Throne For The Taking is the epitome of a royal romance. Thrown in are the usual elements of royalty—need for perfection, sacrifice for the greater good, etc.—but you also have two people who are emotionally scarred and in need of salvation in the form of love.

Set in the Mediterranean kingdom of Mecjoria, Honoria Escalona is about to lose everything she’s ever known because of her father. In an effort to save her kingdom, she turns to Alexei Sarova for help…only Alexei isn’t the same man Honoria knew. His past has taught him some hard lessons, but the attraction between the two flares hot and he makes an offer she can’t refuse. In exchange for his help, Ria will become his wife and produce a true heir. What choice does she have, really?

Ms. Walker is a talent to behold. She has a way of throwing you into the thick of things and giving you a look at the heart and soul of her characters while making sure the story flows without any lag. Her gift and insight into the many facets of royal life and the sensual draw between a man and a woman is phenomenal. I honestly haven’t ever been able to put down a single on of her books once I started it and A Throne For the Taking is no exception!


Thanks so much Larissa - you've really made my day!

Pink Heart Saturday

Meet Charlie over at the Pink Heart Society today  in  Pets and Their Authors

June Weddings

It's June - the month for  beautiful weddings. Well, it would be if there wasn't a huge thunderstorm crashing and flashing outside and a torrential downpour flooding the garden,

But June is the month when people's thoughts turn to weddings  - at least they do over on Romantic Friday Writers where the theme for this month - and their writing challenge is all about weddings -  writing a story, romantic or dark, which fits the wedding theme.  -

Denise, who organises things  over on that site,  has also asked me to join in. She asked me to write a post about the  books I've written that have led to weddings via very different routes.  And I was happy to do so. In fact it was fascinating to look back and see some of the ways I've played around with the whoel wedding theme. After all, everyone knows  a romance novel ends with a happy ever after - but that wedding can come before or after the story opens. It can be a wonderfully happy or a desperate, blackmailed event. It can be a marriage of convenience - or a  marriage of revenge.  Just shows you once again that even with some thing as obvious as a wedding in a romance, it all depends how you write it.

What about you? Do you love to see  the actual wedding in a book - or do you prefer the  fuss and fanfare to happen  'off stage' ?
  
Recently over on I Heart Presents, there was a survey to find 'What is your Favourite  Marriage  Trope?'    The winners were forced marriage or marriage of convenience. Do you agree?

Tomorrow my blog will be back on the  Pink Heart Society  site again. Yes, I know I've written my Date With Kate post for June - this one is the second part of The Lady and The Tramp - featuring this handsome hunk 

Kate Kate Kate

It's fascinating what  web sites there are out there in internet world  and just recently  I learned of one that  I didn't know existed- but now that I do,  it has  an extra  sort of appeal for me.

Why?

Because the site is kate-book.com   a web site that is - to quote their headline - For Kates By  Kates and About Kates.  The sort of place I'd just fit right in  to.
So when  writer and editor Kate Stephenson  approached me to know if I'd  like to do a Q&A with them to talk about A Throne For The Taking,  my writing  and my life, how could I refuse?

This was a while ago and I'd almost forgotten about it - so it was lucky that Kate(whose name I'm not likely to forget!)  just sent me an email to remind me.

The web site's Kate's Book Club has selected  A Throne for The Taking as their reading choice for the begining of June - I'm honoured.  And so I needed to answer the Q&A they sent along to me.

That Q&A is posted at the site right now so if you're interested in having a read.

Specially if your name's Kate - there's a lot of us about!

Pink Heart Day

Today is the first Friday of June so of course that means it's the day I post my regular blog  for the Pink Heart Society. 

So that's where you'll find me today, talking about what I did yesterday - and such.

More here and there . . .

 

I am SO busy this week -  I can't believe where the days have gone.  So it's a good thing that I can offer you 'Here's one I made earlier . . .'

Well, there's more than  one I made earlier!

So - first of all there is an interview I was asked to do over on Manga Maniac Café. This was actually posted yesterday  - my apologies for being late,  but I was out most of the day.  You can find the interview here.

And then today there is a feature on me - and of course A Throne for the Taking - at Romance Book Haven. You can find that here.

And both posts have a giveaway of a signed copy of A Throne for The Taking to give to commenters.

See you there!

Tote Bags 'N' Blogs

Well that was a fun weekend.  It was lovely to see my friend again, to go out and about and show her some lovely places - York city,  Gainsborough Old Hall . . .  And the sun even shone warmly and brightly all the time.  And I had the thrill of seeing that my new book, A Throne For The Taking, is out there in the bookshops for this month. That's one ting that never gets boring!
So I was rather late getting back to write my monthly post for the Tote Bags 'N' Blogs  as I do every first Sunday of the month.

But I've managed it now - and it's up over on the Tote Bags 'N' Blogs site.

I hope you had a great weekend too.

Here There and Everywhere!

I've been busy blogging - yes, I know I haven't been busy blogging here  but that's because I've been busy blogging elsewhere!

So here are  a couple more links for you to follow if you want to read these posts

First one is courtesy of the lovely Tawny Weber  who invited me along to guest on her blog - in her special Quick Six  section.

She asks  six questions - well, no - she asks 18 questions but I picked which 6 I wanted to answer and the results are posted today.    There's a giveaway too - a signed copy of A Throne For The Taking - but also, I promised that if I got a lot of responses I'd add another giveaway  for someone else - a copy of The Proud Wife. 

And the second is for tomorrow  over on  Romance Reader.  I'll be busy this weekend - we have a friend visiting from Iowa so  I'll be concentrating on enjoying her visit. But hopefully these blogs will keep you occupied until . ..

Well, until  Sunday when I'll be doing my usual blog on Tote Bags 'N' Blogs!   What will I be blogging about? No idea as yet - but I'll think of something! I hope.

And don't forget  - last chance  to bid for my lots in the Brenda Novak Auction tomorrow.

Last chance to bid

I'm not sure what happened to May - I just know that there are only a couple of days left and that means just two days to bid in Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research  2013.

Here's what Brenda herself says:
Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research is gearing up for its biggest year yet. Thanks to all who have participated in the past — both donors and shoppers — we've raised a cumulative total of $1.6 million. This year we are hoping to surpass $2 million to help all those with diabetes.


So many people have donated lots for the auction and all funds go towards this great cause.

Every year in the past, I've donated two lots - in the past these have been a Readers' and Writers' Basket - and, previously, a critique of a partial aimed at the Harlequin Presents line.

Well, this year I'm still offering the Readers' and Writers' basket but, sadly, I am no longer able to offer the critique. I'm sure I don't have to explain why. This is the damage that the copyright infringement case has done to the trust between authors and unpublished writers. But I was determined to offer two lots as I have always done - so

The first lot is the Readers' and Writers' Basket -

The winner of this bid will receive these autographed books

12 POINT GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANCE

THE STRAIGHTFORWARD GUIDE TO WRITING ROMANTIC FICTION

A great selection of Kate Walker novels:

The Alcolar Family Trilogy (3 in 1), which includes:

THE TWELVE-MONTH MISTRESS

THE SPANIARD'S INCONVENIENT WIFE

BOUND BY BLACKMAIL

The trilogy Claimed by the Sicilian(3 in 1), which includes:

THE SICILIAN'S WIFE

SICILIAN HUSBAND, BLACKMAILED BRIDE

THE SICILIAN'S RED-HOT REVENGE

Also included are the following autographed paperback books by Kate Walker:

THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (Presents Extra April 2012)

THE RETURN OF THE STRANGER (Presents Extra October 2012)

THE PROUD WIFE (Presents Extra October 2011)

THE GOOD GREEK WIFE? (Presents Extra April 2010)

All books are packed into one of my Kate Walker Tote Bags; bonus: Kate Walker pen.

Full details and how to bid can be found here


Lot 2 - 10 Book Autographed Collection

The winner of this bid will receive these autographed paperback books:

THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (Presents Extra April 2012)

THE RETURN OF THE STRANGER (Presents Extra October 2012)

THE PROUD WIFE (Presents Extra October 2011)

A THRONE FOR THE TAKING (brand new title!)

The trilogy Claimed by the Sicilian (3 in 1), which includes:

THE SICILIAN'S WIFE

SICILIAN HUSBAND, BLACKMAILED BRIDE

THE SICILIAN'S RED-HOT REVENGE

THE GOOD GREEK WIFE?

KEPT FOR HER BABY

THE KONSTANTOS MARRIAGE DEMAND

All books are packed into one of my Kate Walker Tote Bags; bonus: Kate Walker pen.

Full details and how to bid can be found here

I hope you'll take a look - but don't just look at my lots - browse the whole site and see the amazing things there are on offer.
The auction has just  two days to go  - It's a great cause - so why not bid?

I Heart Presents . . .

Today's post is over on the  special Presents blog  - I Heart  Presents.

I'm talking about royal romances - because of A Throne For The Taking of course.  Is there a royal romance, modern or historical  that has grabbed your imagination? If so, tell me about it and you could be in with a chance to win a copy of A Throne For The Taking  to read this royal love story.

And another

So today I have yet another guest blog post to direct you to. But this one is slightly different.

This one isn't about me- except indirectly - or my book - or a craft post . . . It's about another member of the  family. The fact that it's on the Pink Heart Society site, in a series called Pets and Their Authors - plus the  picture on the left should give  you a clue.

This is part one in a miniseries entitled The Lady and The Tramp -  this one being about The Lady. The Tramp will have his own post too  in a couple of weeks.  But today it's The Diva's turn.

And another guest blog . . .

Today's post is over on the Romance Bandits' blog where I'm talking about - guess what - A Throne for The  Taking . But I'm also talking about  a very important book from my childnood.

Do you have any really memorable book that you read when you were young - and wish you could read again?   If so, perhaps you'd like to come along and join the chat to tell me about it.

More Guest Blogs -

It's a busy time for me out on various blogs right now - because of the publication of A Throne For The Taking  of course - so here's another couple of links to take you to more places to read about me or my books.

First of all, there's a great review of A Throne for The Taking over on The Good The Bad and The Unread.  It's always fascinating to read what another writer thinks of  your work  and novelist Lynne Connolly is an experienced and knowledgable critic  so her review makes interesting reading (and she liked the book too which is a relief!)

Following on  from that,  there is a longish interview with me that has just been posted -  you can find that here.

And soon  there should be a follow up post -with a giveaway of a copy of A Throne For The Taking - so if you've never visited The Good The Bad and The Unread, now's your chance to see what the site's like - and read  some of the reviews and posts.

PS If you want some more really great reviews of A Throne For The Taking then there are several over on  Romance Book Haven in the Contemporary Reviews - thank you so much ladies!

Revising and Editing

I was asked to write a craft post over on Revising and Editing -so that's where my main post is today -  it's about  Originality and Voice - I was asked to write a bit about plagiarism but I think we've done that topic recently!

It's publication day - in America anyway!  A Throne for the Taking is out in Harlequin Presents now  so thank you to everyone who has already been out to buy a copy.  

And perhaps it's time to remind you  that Author, Author! still has the very special offer on the Presents Edition of A Throne For The Taking -  the book normally sells at $4.99 but  Author, Author! has it on special discounted offer for just $3.25. Take a look.

Spotlight and giveaway

I've been so busy that I've neglected to blog for days.    I'm not quite sure where the time has gone but at least today I have a blog for you - if not quite here!

Because A Throne For The Taking is out very soon - tomorrow in fact, in  Harlequin Presents in America and   June 7th in  M&B Modern in  UK  - I'vebeen asked to do some blogs - and interviews here there and everywhere (well it seems that way!)

So today the first of those is published - with a special Spotlight Interview over on  Romance Book Paradise.  Lovely Nas Dean asked me a set of probing questions and now the interview is posted on the site.  There's also a giveaway of a signed copy of A Throne For The Taking for someone who posts a comment.

So maybe I'll see you there  - and there are other guest blogs and posts coming up in the next few weeks.  There will be more giveaways too.

Making me smile

Well that was a hectic week - celebrating my birthday seemed to go on for a couple of days.

Thank you so much to everyone who sent such lovely birthday messages and greetings. I appreciated every one of them - they all made me smile.

And here's another thing that's made me smile - I just discovered that over on the Mills and Boon site where A  Throne for the Taking is now on sale -   it's at #1 in their bestseller chart!  That has made my day.

Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy to put it in this special place.  Even the  rain that is bucketing down outside (Spring? What happened to spring?) can't dampen my spirits.

Tote Bags day

It's the first Sunday of the month so today is my day for posting over on the Tote Bags 'N' Blog site.

I'm talking about why May is one of my favourite months - and seeing as it's a long weekend,  the sun is shining, the Babe Magnet and The Offspring are watching the football while I relax with a  good book, it's not realy surprising that I like it so much - is it?

PHS Day

It's the first Friday  of the month so today I'm over on the Pink Heart Society blog with  Date With Kate.


I'm talking about writing my first ever royal romance - which is, of course -  A Throne For The Taking.

See you there.

TV star!

I was on TV yesterday.

Well, not me  actually - not in person. But my name and one of my books was prominently displayed.
There is a programme called The Intern  on Channel 4 in the UK where three young hopefuls are given the chance to work in their chosen jobs as interns for a week, and hopefully one of them  will end up with a job  as a winner.    Last night's episode was  described like this: Three more young hopefuls are given a week's trial in the job of their dreams at publisher Mills & Boon.

So the programme was set in the Mills & Boon offices in Richmond, with lots of scenes showing the editorial department, lots of insights into the way the editors and marketing work,

The walls of the Richmond offices are decorated with  big, blow up copies of book covers from all the lines and all the decades that Mills and Boon have been publishing.  And there amongst them, was a poster size copy of the cover  I have on  here -  No Holding Back  - which was published in  1995. 

The 'half a heart'  style covers didn't last very long. No one in the bookshops bothered to display them as they were designed - with two books next to each other to make a  whole 'heart' when appearing on the shelves! But I have to admit I did like the covers when they were in a range of colours so that the books didn't look quite so regimented and  'all the same'.


You can see the programme  replayed here  if you are in the right area. I hope it works for you.

Oh - and No Holding Back has been republished in  both the Harlequin Treasury and the  Mills & Boon Vintage ebook collections.  (It's currently only £1.80  or $2.74 right now)

It's May. . .

Happy May Day!   It seems that May has got off to a good start - the sun is actually shining, now if we could just get rid of that sneaky cold wind  it  would be gorgeous.

Reasons  to like May - I have a birthday coming up. So does my sister. Sadly she's in Tasmania so we won't be getting together to celebrate .

The Brenda Novak Auction for The Cure of Diabetes is now officially open.  Why take a look at some of the amazing lots - and maybe place a bid?  As I said earlier, I have the Reader and Writers' Basket  and the  10 Signed Novels lots on offer - and I'm delighted to see that there are already some bid on these. Thank you to anyone who has put in a bid.

Other reasons to like May -  A Throne for The Taking is now available on the UK's Mills and  Boon web site  and the Harlequin Presents edition will be released  on May 21st in USA.

Oh yes - and  A Throne For The Taking has  these great reviews over on  Romance Book Paradise.


The author lets her characters truly speak , as reader I was very glad to see that the author let me in


on just what each one of the characters were thinking, as I often find that I want to know what she or he is thinking and not knowing drives me insane, and in the case of Ria and Alexei it would have infuriated me, so thank you Kate!

I particularly liked the message this read gave me, not all secrets are as deadly as one may think, sometimes revealing the truth can save you, opening up the road to recovery.

I highly recommend this read for lovers of royal romances with intense secrets and all Kate Walker fans!   
Desere


A THRONE FOR THE TAKING is a very different, intriguing and thrilling story. It is full of conspiracy, scheming and plotting against the kingdom amidst the mesmerizing romance between Ria and Alexei. Author Kate Walker has yet again stunned her readers with a unique twist to her romance. She skillfully penned another gripping and compelling tale that would hook a reader in until the very last page.
Nas

Thank you both Desere and Nas

You can read the full reviews here.

So May has got off to a great start. Let's hope it continues that way.

PS Just discovered that A Throne For The Taking is already at #3  in the Harlequin ebook Bestsellers list today - another reason to like May!