Saskia Walker's Blog, page 132

Availability of my Taskill Witches books in the UK - result!

I posted recently about the availability of print versions of THE LIBERTINE and THE JEZEBEL in the UK. Good news! UK readers who picked up THE HARLOT in print and want to read on in the series can now purchase the next two books on import via Amazon.

If you've been waiting for this, sorry it's taken so long! It took some doing. N,ow these books are more costly then the UK edition of the first book, so a brief reminder that if you've got a Kindle you can buy the books much cheaper, and you can also read Kindles on your desktop even if you don't own a reader.
So far, one UK critic sourced by the publisher has reviewed THE JEZEBEL and it really wasn't her cup of tea at all. Oops ;o) So if you've read the book and enjoyed it please consider leaving a note for other readers at Amazon or Good Reads.

Here are the print links. 
THE LIBERTINE
THE JEZEBEL

Call back tomorrow for news of a new FREE download! :)

Writing THE BURLINGTON MANOR AFFAIR.

 Readers who have stopped by here in the past may have seen me talking about my current HQN contract. Well, I'm delighted to announce that I've finally completed THE BURLINGTON MANOR AFFAIR and it's now with my editor. I say finally, because there was a bit of a glitch in the midst of writing it, both on the personal front (health issues) and practical issues with the book itself.
I thought I'd talk about the practical issues here in case other authors find themselves in a similar quandary. Let me explain…
BM was originally conceived as a single title novel, and when my editor saw it she loved the outline and partial. Harlequin subsequently offered a two book contract. I was thrilled! We chatted about the second book and I (who likes a good challenge) wondered if I could have a go at writing BM as a two book series. It's a popular trend that many authors are doing really well. My editor approved the 2 book outline and off I went.
Well…  (deep breath before confession) I couldn't make it happen... it just wasn't right for the book. I felt awful about it. BM is a complex erotic romance with a mystery/suspense sub plot, ie big and substantial, but when I tried to make the story span two books it felt like a two parter in all the wrong ways. I gave myself a hard time for it, and for a long while too. So many authors can do this well, I thought, surely I could rise to the challenge? I'd done linked books and loved working that way, but this was different. It didn’t feel right for me, and especially not for the story…
So, I braced myself and went to my editor and 'fessed up. I suggested I write it as one book after all, and put in some new ideas later on for the second part of the contract. Bottom line, I was convinced it wasn't right for the book, so I had to do it. I was sure this was a horrible faux pas for an author, admitting I couldn’t do what I thought and said I could deliver…. My agent was hugely supportive, but even so I cringed as I waited for my editor's response.
A huge cloud lifted when she understood my feelings about the book, and respected me for braving up and asking for flexibility with the contract. I'm eternally grateful for that. She recognised that I was being honest about what I thought was going to result in the best book for her and for the readers. 
Now that BM is done and in, I know I did the right thing for the story. A relationship story over a series of books is not my forte, hands up, I admit it. But Carmen and Rex, the protagonists in BM, knew it even more than me to begin with. ;)
So, at this point I can share that the book is currently scheduled for April, and I've seen gorgeous cover concepts. Photos will be shot soon and hopefully I'll be able to share as soon as it's finalised.
I always say that writing teaches me new things every day, and that’s been truer than ever this year. 

More news from me soon!

Free novel-length read: DOUBLE DARE

I have a free read to tempt you with today. :) DOUBLE DARE is a backlist title of mine and for FIVE DAYS ONLY it's free on Kindle. If you don't have a a Kindle, you can still download and read it on your computer. If you enjoy contemporary erotic romance stories set in London and Paris, and missed it the first time around, this might be one for you!

Here's the summary:

Two hearts entangled in a steamy affair and a truth or dare game brought about by a mutual desire for erotic discovery...

Investment broker Abigail Douglas has got it all, but Abby—the woman—longs for a secret affair, a playmate who knows nothing about her high-powered business world, and Zac Bordino might just be the man. He’s mysterious and sexy—just right for Abby’s walk on the wild side—but very soon she finds that she wants more, and his mysterious, evasive nature makes her curious. Is there more to this sexy, entrepreneurial club owner than meets the eye? And why does she suddenly feel as if her every move is being watched?

Zac Bordino is perplexed when he realizes that the woman managing his business investments is the same woman he’s having an affair with. She’s pretending to be a little nobody out for a good time, and because she’s a red hot number he plays along, cautiously observing her to get to the truth. From high-powered offices in London to pulse-pounding nightclubs in Paris, they find an insatiably perfect match in business and in pleasure. But when Zac begins to fall for Abby, he has to decide whether to reveal the secret link between them, or try to win her heart first.

79,000 words in length, contemporary erotic romance. Please note: this novel has been previously published with an alternative cover. This title contains graphic m/f sex scenes.

You can read an excerpt here. The book is available FREE (5 days only) from Kindle US, and Kindle UKIf you pick up the story, I hope you enjoy it! Please consider leaving a rating or review at Amazon. Thanks!

Marveling at technical advances and how they impact me as a writer

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that a reader had done a video review of my book THE LIBERTINE and it was up on You Tube! Well… you probably can't imagine my surprise. I was stunned, really.  Keep in mind that the Internet still seems like miracle to me, on a daily basis ;) When I was growing up we didn't have PCs let alone internet, and I marvel at technical progression all the time. 
Even when I was at Uni in my 3rd year as an Arts student the height of excitement was being given access to a room (read: cupboard) with 3 manual typewriters in it. Yup. The Sciences had started with computer rooms at the time, but mostly Arts students hand wrote everything.

When I started writing in the mid 1990s I had a PC, but access to the internet was patchy until about 2002. Now, I can type on machines that are tiny, pretty much anywhere I want, and I can dictate to them too. I can research *anything* immediately, and I can communicate with my editors, fellow authors, and readers, instantly and in all sorts of ways. Because it wasn't always this way for me, I never take it for granted.   
Recently I posted about Harlequin in Australia doing a video promo of THE LIBERTINE. That was exciting too. Discovering that a reader in Texas had done a video review of something I wrote was in a league of its own though. It's just so odd and kind of enthralling to hear a reader talking about my Scottish set book while she's in Texas and I'm in Yorkshire. :)
Anyway, if you'd like to check out the review follow this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYni3vIqAjA
I don’t have a You Tube account, so if you see this, BlkLaquer, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with other readers!

Print availability of my books in the UK (or lack of)

Several British readers have asked me about print availability of the Taskill books, THE LIBERTINE and THE JEZEBEL. I've chased this up with the publisher so I hope to have some news for you soon!
The usual course of events is that my US printed books are available via import on Amazon. For some reason this hasn't happened with the Taskill Witches books. Book one came out in print in the UK and books 2 and 3 are currently digital only. The imports haven't been made available as they usually would.
It's frustrating for print readers wanting to follow the series, and that's frustrating for me too. The irony is, if I'd self published those titles I could have had a print-on-demand version out at the same time as digital, but I'm currently helpless with no way to get books 2 and 3 to my print readers in the UK and elsewhere outside the US. I'm sorry! Hopefully this situation will alter soon. 

How to Write Erotic Fiction - Sex is not enough!

Want to write erotic fiction? Try these quickie top tips in this video guide from Mills & Boon - How to Write Erotic Fiction - Sex is not enough!

Rosy, Raunchy Romance from Victoria Blisse

When I want an uplifting erotic read one of my favourite go-to writers is Victoria Blisse. There's a real feel-good factor about her erotic writing and it comes from the combination of her inimitable saucy approach to the subject matter and the down to earth good lovin' she conveys so well. It tickles me in more ways than one and makes me happy. Do yourself a favour, check out her latest title!

Rob and Lou’s Wild Weekends.
 Hold on tight, it’s going to get wild! Rob and Lou could pass you in the streets and you’d likely not notice them. They’re in their thirties, have a family and jobs to hold down and they do it with smiles on their faces. But occasionally they get a little time off and that’s when things get seriously sexy.

Light-hearted and fun, this mini-anthology features episodes from this couple’s wild weekends. Making the most of the mud, finding the erotic nature of an apron and even having a sexy visit to a fish and chip shop. Rob and Lou make the mundane much more pleasurable so join them on their kinky ride.

Includes a bonus short story Damsel in Distress and excerpts from other ebooks by the award winning queen of rosy, raunchy and rubenesque erotic romance, Victoria Blisse.
 

Find more info here

 Smashwords.Amazon.co.uk  Amazon.comAll Romance Ebooks

Stepping back and taking stock

All three of the Taskill books are now loose and I'm starting to hear from readers who have read all three. It's an amazing place to be. I never even thought I'd have the opportunity to write three big books linked this way and to see them popping up all over the world is making me pinch myself.
Stepping back, I see that readers are either loving the books big time…. or absolutely hating them. :) It's not a bad thing, much better than middle ground reactions. I'd much rather an emotional response (even if I really wished everyone liked them!) I've had several emails asking me if there will be more Taskill books. I'd like that, I'd especially like to write Ailsa's story. Ailsa was a secondary character in THE LIBERTINE and I'd love her to have her own book.
Some readers who haven't enjoyed the books didn't seem to be aware they are erotica, and one or two have been offended that the first one is about a whore. I feel bad that people are offended. It's there in the cover copy though, and I am the sort of writer who will try to address the gritty reality, even if I'm writing a romance. Conversely, a couple of erotica readers complained there wasn’t enough smut. Lol!  It just goes to show, you can't please all of the people all of the time, and it wouldn't be a real world with human variety if we could do that.
One of the things I learned along the way happened when I was guest blogging. I was quizzed about what specific genre the books are. I couldn't really answer in short order, which made me feel like a dolt! The books are cross genre, but can't be pinned down as (for example) erotic paranormal, because the paranormal theme is not the main theme. They are historical set, but not focusing on the historical. It was an interesting experience for me, because in all honesty I just set out to write passionate tales during the period of the Scottish witch trials -- adventurous stories where the characters would be impacted by their place and time and circumstances, and how love and lust play their own part in destiny. I rarely think about pigeonholing a genre beyond the fact that my stories will always have erotic and romantic content.
As always, this writing journey teaches me new things about myself every day!
In other updates, I can now share that the Taskill books will appear in Finnish as well as Norwegian and Swedish. THE HARLOT is already out in Italian and "Il Libertino" follows very soon, in June. And the latest news is that HARLOT is now available in Russian. Here's the cover – an amazing site for me to see!




In personal news I had some time out and I'm now working on completing my current project, THE BURLINGTON MANOR AFFAIR, over the next few weeks. Then I'm taking a proper break from writing for a few months. (That pesky real life stuff putting demands on me again, how dare it!? ;o) I'll then start work on my next HQN novel later in the year. 
For those readers looking for the continuation of the Witches on Wednesdays series, it'll be back up and running soon.  

Quick update

There are still a couple of Witches on Wednesdays posts to be made, but right now they are on hold because things are hectic with stuff on the home front and a big deadline. I will get them up when things calm down a bit.

In the meantime if you're reading the Taskill Witches books and you're looking for the background posts you can find the ones that have been posted so far by clicking here.

US covers
UK covers

Video review of THE LIBERTINE from Australia

This is a totally new experience for me, I've had a book promo by video, amazing! Great fun and a great intro to the book for readers.Big thanks go to Harlequin Australia for this!