Kate Walker's Blog, page 9

Mother's Day twice over

Facebook threw a  memory up at me as I logged on today. It didn't surprise me - how could I forget that today is my mother's birthday? But it's an interesting coincidence that this post appears just after I get back from teaching the Advanced Romance Writing Course at Fishguard, when one of the topics that I mentioned was the fact that for some reason the explanation of why a hero behaves as he does, the mistakes he makes, his cynicism about the heroine - and women in general - is so often laid at the door of his mother - who was unfaithful to his father - or some such. I find that a little bit (OK a lot) irritating. Is one woman's behaviour when he was a child enough to turn a grown man - and we do hope that our heroes are 'grown ups' - into cynics about women in general?

 I do hope that mature adults (male or female) would see that one person's behaviour doesn't mean that *every* other woman is like that. And yet I do find that mothers do get a bad press these days in romances these days - sort of like the wicked stepmother without the 'step' bit. So it was interesting to find this post I wrote on the subject back in 2015.https://kate-walker.blogspot.co.uk/20...
Anyway - I could never forget my mother. We only get one mother and I'd give the world to be able to celebrate her birthday with her - and I think she'd have loved to know about that Romance Writing Course in Fishguard. This makes it a poignant week, with Mather's Day coming up next weekend. I hope you who are mothers and those whose mother is still alive manage to share some special time together for Mothering Sunday. It might not always be possible

There and back again

Finally catching up with things after a long and lovely weekend in  Fishguard,  teaching the Advance Romance  Writing Course,  getting to see and talk with fellow  tutors and students  - established and new ones.  This year everyone seems to have been even more enthusiastic and involved  than  usual - and there had been really enthusiastic groups  in the past.   We didn't want to leave, we were enjoying ourselves so much,  but  the weekend seemed to pass in  a flash and  before we knew it we were packing the car ready to travel home.  And that was when life got interesting . . .

This country has a strange climate. Spent a wonderful wonderful weekend in Fishguard in bright sunshine then set off home in sunshine and blue skies. Halfway home we got stuck in a raging blizzard which was not fun but eventually we made it home safely . . . to find none of the threatened snow here at all! Overnight this changed and we are now snow-bound in deep deep snow and whirling winds! Oh well,I have cases to unpack, books to sort out, course teaching papers  to file away . . . and the presents . . . .
Every year I try to point out to my students that I have as much fun teaching them as I hope they have in doing the course with me - add in a stay at the Fishguard Bay Hotel - and the fabulous company of the Fishguard 'Family' -   Gerry  and Anne Hobbs, Alison  Chisholm,  Simon Whaley.  Della  Galton  and Susan Alison . . . and everyone else. So there is no need to do anything else. But every year they ignore me and I came home with this lovely bundle of 'excess baggage'! Thank you all for your kindness and warmth - and specially for your company over a great weekend.
  And it's  a lovely reminder of  a fabulous weekend in Wales while  I  try to catch up with everything, write revisions, send out critiques and letters.   And it's  so sad that it will be  next Febraury (2019) before we're back in Fishguard again.
Oh well,  it's warmer and safer inside right now, when my garden looks like  this  with the birds queing at the door for extra mealworms and  seedcake to get them through the freeze.
Keep warm and safe everyone!

PS Re the Advanced Romance Writing Course weekend - that's back again in February  2019 with Writers Holiday   I saw  lots of my students   booking ahead to ensure a place on  this popular course next year  - so if you're interested, register that fact now!   I'm  told there are 'a few' places left but as I've talked with two people who wanted to book  a place in 2019  -  those don't look like  they're goping to habg around!

Just got back from Harrogate ( PA duties for the other wr...

Just got back from Harrogate ( PA duties for the other writer in the family ) but before that spent Thursday night absolutely entranced and mind-blown watching Paapa Essiedu in the tour of RSC's Hamlet in Hull.

 3 hours of totally absorbing magnificent magic. The big soliloquies were presented as real thoughts not - this is the moment when I do the 'to be or not to be' speech. Brilliant. DH and I are still talking about it. If you get a chance to see this production - grab it. I already want to see it again.

The next couple of days will be spent finalising the details of the Writers' Holiday Advance Romance Writing Course for Fishguard  next weekend. 

Can't wait to be back in Wales and reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Started planning my next course - Advanced Romance Writi...

Started planning my next course - Advanced Romance Writing at Fishguard Writing Weekend with Writer's Holiday. Also collected some of the 'treats' that are needed to help inspire and sustain the writers on this course.

An interesting fact - whenever I go to get the chocolate (for inspiration!) the local supermarket has set up a lovely discount price on it. Do you think they keep an eye on my blog/facebook page? 'If it's February she'll be coming in for supplies for Writers' Holiday.' So maybe they have a note in their diary - April means she'll need supplies for Relax & Write' Weekend Coursesx . . The  Writer's Holiday course is absolutely over-full right now - but as they say 'Other courses are available.'
The next  one will be a Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction Retreat at  Royal Agricultural University  in Cirencester - dates   6th - 8th April.

If you'd rather just have a library talk - with Valentine's Day coming up I have one of those too -  The ABC of Love in Doncaster library on February 14th

I'm sharing this with another author, Lynda Stacey  - from 11am to 12.30 in the Central Library Doncaster

How did it get to almost-February?? I know I had my head ...

How did it get to almost-February?? I know I had my head down working on revisions but somehow Feb has snuck up on me. I surfaced to take a look at the reviews of A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance and was thrilled to find 7 - 7!! great reviews on Amazon and there's a really fabulous one over on the Mills and Boon site -
A Stunning read!!
*****
This is hugely enjoyable. A book to savour like a fine wine. An example of a highly accomplished author at the top of their game. The writing comes across the page as effortlessly readable. Assured storytelling at it's very best. Raoul Cardini is a hero who delivers from the start, dominating the book. I highly recommend this potentially as of the finest in the Kate Walker vintage!! Read it now!!
Thank you so much Karim Lalani  - I'm just thrilled you enjoyed Raoul's story so much. Now I need to focus on sorting out a trip to York with the other writer in the family while I act as PA. That's the rest of the week seen to.
My DH  and his co-author  Stuart Gibbon - former senior police detective and now running The Gib Consultancy  are giving a talk  at Waterstone's in York  from 7pm
Historical crime writer Stephen Wade and former Senior Police Detective Stuart Gibbonhave teamed up to write The Crime Writer's Casebook, an essential companion for anyone interested in crime, whether historical or modern-day. It features true crime case studies and explains how crime investigation has evolved throughout the centuries. 

This is a unique opportunity to hear extracts from the book and to ask questions of two leading experts in their field.

PS If you can't make York - then there's a second talk in Waterstone's in  Harrogate on 16th February   at 18.30 pm

Publication day!

Happy Book Birthday to me!
 It's officially now the UK publication date of my new book A Proposal To Secure His Vengeance, something that has brightened up a very gloomy, wet and windy day. I know some of you in America have already got your hands on it - but here in the UK it's just officially out today. I discovered this morning that I have 5 fabulous five star reviews on Amazon - thank you to the lovely reviewers who have posted them! You really brightened up my morning.
I'll just quote one fabulous review from Virginia at Booked SolidA rich man's agenda for personal revenge goes far differently than he had planned in "A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance"--a stirring contemporary romance from the fabulous Kate Walker. Secrets, scandals, and sizzling passion are all a part of this involving tale where wealth and good fortune are two very different things. Imogen O'Sullivan and her sister Ciara have long been at the core of a power struggle between their battling parents. When their father's drinking and unwise financial habits force Imogen to agree to a marriage of convenience with a longtime friend, she is unprepared for the arrival of Raoul Cardini, with whom she had a brief and passionate affair. Her sister Ciara, from whom she had long been estranged, has an unpleasant connection to Raoul's own family, further heightening the tension of the situation. Raoul's mistaken impressions of Imogen and her sister are factors in his desire to bring down the O'Sullivans in their final bid to save their family name and finances. However, the intense heat between Raoul and Imogen has once again burst to life--something they cannot ignore. Yes, the physical desire is there, but there is also appreciation and a shared sense of humor. Could love be waiting in the wings for all truths to be revealed and for honest emotion to break through pretense? If you love dramatic, deeply felt, and powerfully passionate love stories, then you will greatly enjoy the captivating contemporary romance tales from author Kate Walker.
Thank you Virginia!
I have been reminded that I forgot to post the official back blurb to go with the book - so today seems like a good day to do that. So here goes:
Raoul Cardini will have his revenge!
His preferred method? Ruthless, irresistible seduction!
Imogen O’Sullivan is horrified when charismatic tycoon Raoul breaks up her engagement and makes her his own convenient bride! She once surrendered everything to Raoul—body, heart and soul. But as he stalks back into her life it’s clear he has punishment in mind—not just passion! Can Imogen resist Raoul’s potent brand of delicious vengeance?

New Book Spotlight

It's all happening this week - new covers, new look - new book! I'm so delighted to have a new title out after a book drought last year so I'm celebrating all over the place - there are interviews and Spotlights . . .


And the first one is an Author Spotlight with lovely Sara at HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews There's an interview and lots of insight into the new book . There's a giveaway as well.
So why not take a look

New Year New Look Part 2

So I said it was all about the covers today - I'm sure you've heard the reports - the rumours, the buzz about the brand new makeover that Harlequin Mills & Boon has had coming up - and now it's here. Today is the launch date of the new look romance cover designs, across all the lines. They're very different - so what do you think?
Not only the covers but the Mills & Boon website, the blog, and Bookclub pages have all a makeover r too. There will be lots of interesting activity and information to launch this new image - so take a look.

I have a new book out in this first appearance of the new covers. I'll post the details - and the book 'blurb' in my next post. First I wanted to let you see some images of the launch of this new way of seeing Mills & Boon that you'll start spotting in the shops from now on

New Year New Look Part 1

What's on my mind? It's all about covers this week - you'll find out more soon. But I just discovered that my 'Wuthering Heights' book has been given a mini makeover with a new 'modernised cover' - and a fabulous sale price of 0.99p
The Return of the Stranger used to look like this:
Standing high on the windswept moors, the lone figure of Heath Montanha vows vengeance on the woman who destroyed the last fragments of his heart…Lady Katherine Charlton has never forgotten the stable hand with dangerous fists and a troubled heart from her childhood. Now the rebel is back, his powerful anger concealed under a polished and commanding veneer.When ten years of scandal and secrets are unleashed, with a passionate, furious kiss, Heath’s deepest, darkest wish crystallizes: revenge—and Kathy—will be his!
Now - with the new look cover it looks like this: What do you think?

Special New Year Giveaway Nominations

Don't forget you have just over 24 hours to nominate  someone for a special New Year book
giveaway.

Is there a friend or someone in your family who has had a tough time in 2017?  Someone in hospital, with health problems, or someone who has faced problems you wish you could have helped them with?
Is there someone you'd like to help cheer them  into 2018 on a happier, brighter note?

Suggest their name here and as the new year dawns, I'll get Charlie   or Ruby - or both! - to pick some names so that you can give them a little gift of one  of my books and hopefully make things  a little bit better.

You can choose from these titles:
The Konstantos Marriage DemandBedded By The Greek BillionaireA Throne For The TakingKept for her Baby Olivero's Outrageous ProposalA Question of HonourDestined for the Desert King