Ally Blake's Blog, page 14

happy 50th kate hardy! 50th *book* that is ;)

Ever read a book that made you think, "I wish I'd written that!"  It's happened to me a handful of times, and one time that honour belonged to a book written by Kate Hardy.

Wanna know which one?  Well then head on over to Kate Hardy's blog today where she's celebrating the release of her 50th - yes FIFTIETH! - book!

I'm giving away a signed copy of my 22nd ;) novel THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT to one lucky commenter.

out now in australia & new zealand!

I am thrilled that my latest book is out now in Australia and New Zealand in a double whammy, romance-arama with the fantabulous Anna Cleary !

Ann writes rich, exciting, passionate stories that grab you by the lapels and whip you into a loved up frenzy so I'm sure you're just gonna love Keeping Her Up All Night.   I've been waiting for my author copies to read this one, but they're not yet arrived and it was almost enough to buy a copy at the shops a couple of days back!  My husband - blessed with more patience than I - pulled me back at the last second ;).

Oh, and I hope you'll love the other book therein - THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT too ;).  Get a taste here.

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Read more ::  Buy now!
M&B RIVA July UK. M&B Sexy - August, Aus/NZ.  Harlequin Presents Extra - December, North America

picture me rocking in a corner...

Well my insanely busy August just got busier!

What with my husband's impending birthday to think about - and it's an important one! - I have the Romance Writers of Australia conference - woohoo! - and a talk to get ready for that - eep!  I have the Ekka (Brisbane's Royal Show) to take the kids to, as well as a day long kindy farm visit.

I have proof edits on THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS due.  Another writing project I need to finish ASAP.

And on Monday? An interview at my house from the fabulous The Project TV show !  So naturally between now and Monday everything else will be on hold while I renovate, de-mud the kids, move the garden form one side of the pool to the other, lose 5 kilos and...

What was I talking about again?

the business of storytelling...via stephanie laurens

I was chatting to my husband the other day about writing, and about art in general, and how, to my mind, it's about making an emotional connection with another person.

In reading a book that makes you sigh, hearing a song that makes you cry, seeing a painting that makes you feel, when you get that visceral reaction, the artist has done their job.  They've connected to your emotions.  You have recognised the human experience, or more specifically your experience, in what they have created.

Long story short, I love love LOVE this cartoon  the faaabulous Stephanie Laurens used as a part of her Key Note speech at the Romance Writers of America awards in Anaheim this last week.  Says it all really.

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Read Stephanie's speech on her website here.

books from our backyard

Australia/New Zealand EditionI'm thrilled to be a part of the Books From Our Backyard initiative in which Queensland writers were invited to have any books published in 2011 as part of a showcase of Queensland writing.

My contribution is THE WEDDING DATE , which is super lucky to be one of the select titles in the big RIVA relaunch in the UK this October!  You can read more about the book here.

If you'd like to come to the big launch, here's more about it:

Books from our Backyard 2011 – Launch
When: Tuesday 21 August, 6 – 7pm
Where: Queensland Writers Centre, Level 2, State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, South Brisbane
What: Wine, cheese, conversation and a chance to browse a year’s worth of Queensland writing
RSVP: 18 August -Sharon Phillips on 07 3842 9954 or sphillips@qwc.asn.au

UK - RIVA relaunchThe collection will also be on display and available to the public from 19 August in the Writers’ Lounge on Level 2 of State Library of Queensland (outside QWC’s offices).

THE WEDDING DATE
Read more :: Buy the ebook :: Buy the paperback

I'm reading...Fiona Lowe

BOOMERANG BRIDE About time too!  I love love love Fiona Lowe 's work.  She writes Medicals for Harlequin Mills and Boon and they are exactly as I like 'em; warm, deep, rich with texture, evocative with scenery, romantic and real.

What with Fiona being in Anaheim right now, and this book being up for the prestigious RITA Award for Best Contemporary Single Title romance, I couldn't wait a second longer!

BOOMERANG BRIDE is her first longer book and its just as glorious as everything of hers I've read!  Set in a deep Wisconsin winter rather than her usual small town Australia, it still has the same warmth, a cast of unique and wonderful characters, a heroine with warmth and guts, and a hero to fall smack bang in love with.

The clash of Australianisms and Americanisms was hilarious, as I remember having those exact same conversations on my trips to the US!


THE BLURB:

Matilda Geoffrey risked it all for love. She left Australia to be with Barry—the man who had swept her off her virtual feet. Now, wearing a wedding dress, she's alone on Main Street in small-town Wisconsin, and things aren't working out exactly as planned…

In town for his annual family visit, Marc Olsen had never seen a bride quite like Matilda—staring into a storefront window, holding a tottering wedding cake, and looking desperately in need of a groom. He may not have any warm feelings for his hometown,but meeting Matilda just as she discovers she's been scammed by her online "fiancé" stirs something in him. 

Matilda is not the kind of woman Marc imagined himself with, and Marc is anything but the romantic hero that Matilda has always dreamed of. But as unlikely circumstances throw them together, can they let go of their misconceptions and risk their hearts for love?




More about the author here.  Buy the books here.
Next I’m reading... Break Out (A Blood Hunter novel)  by Nina Croft.

What are you reading?  Which book MUST I read this year?    Find the other books I've enjoyed in my "I'm reading..." series this year here!  Or join me at GoodReads.

SOLD!

My 23rd book -  THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS - has been sold to Mills and Boon Modern with a January 2013 release date in the UK!  The Modern books in the UK have the most gorgeous covers.  Very slick and sexy.  I'm thrilled I'll be getting one of my own.  Yum.  Check them out here.


Paige and Gabe - and I offer no apologies for the shot to the right, in fact I accept your gratitude -   started out as an idea that slammed into my head one morning, like a scene from a movie: a woman standing in a lift holding a wedding dress, when into the lift walks the man of her dreams.  I had no idea who she was, if she was engaged, if the dress was hers or not.  But I knew I had to write that scene.  You can read how she eventually ended up with the dress here.


Even after so many books every sale is a joy/relief for about five minutes before the onset of panic about what to write next! Though I do have an idea brewing about Gabe's best friend and business partner Nate.  I think he's about to get a phone call that changes his life!


Read all about THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS at it's new page here!

THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS
Read more
M&B Modern Romance January 2013 UK. M&B Sexy February 2013Aus/NZ.

six sentence sunday

Here's a little taste of my current RIVA THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT via a fun little thing called Six Sentence Sunday.


Caitlyn's attempt at flirtation with handsome guy in suit AKA Dax our hero:

'Are you a dancer?' she asked. But when she felt him take a breath to answer, she got in first. 'I meant do you get your dance moves on at places like this? Not professionally, of course. I didn't mean you look like a ballerina or anything. And I'm not sure it would be physically possible to achieve head-spins in that suit.'

You can follow the writing of this book on my blog here.  More Six Sentence Sunday taste tests here.

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Read more ::  Buy now!
M&B RIVA July UK. August Aus/NZ.  Harlequin Presents Extra December North America

the rules of engagement - uk release

Out now in a limited UK paperback release is one of my absolute favourite books ever - THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT .

This fun, flirty, nutty little book was absolute bliss to write from the first page to the last.  One of those rare books that just seems to write itself, hence my dedication to fairy dust ;).   I really love the blurb for this one, as every line is pretty much taken from the book!

For Better, For Worse, For Ever?
The first look, the first touch, the first kiss...Is there anything better than the beginning of a new relationship? Not for Caitlyn March - self-confessed relationship junkie. Now she's sworn off 'for ever' for good - three broken engagements make it clear that she - and her fickle heart - are not to be trusted...
Enter Dax Bainbridge - the most deliciously handsome man she has ever met! He's a man with enough oomph to make her forget her vows to steer clear of romance, but luckily his rules of engagement are simple: there's no ring on offer; all he's interested in is one unbelievably hot fling...

You can follow the writing of this book on my blog here.

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Read more ::  Buy now!
M&B RIVA July UK. M&B Sexy August Aus/NZ.  Harlequin Presents Extra December North America

happy birthday to me!

Another year older, another year...older ;).

Hubby's working all day, my usual babysitter (mum) is away, so my birthday this year will be spent kid-wrangling.  Woopee!   Imagine me now eyeing off the bottle of red just waiting for seven o'clock to come around and I can kick back on the couch with a big glass and good book.

Actually sounds pretty perfect to me.