Kate Pearce

I have to say that it was quite exciting to be doing a book signing. Mr Kate added to my nerves considerably by a) deciding to vacuum the lawn or something 15 minutes before we were supposed to be there and b)by telling me I’d got the wrong day just as we pulled off the freeway. I didn’t laugh. He was lucky to survive.

Barnes & Noble even had a big poster at the from of the store with my name and the cover of “Roping the Wind” on it! Apparently, she had to down pedal the “Simply Sexual” one to avoid complaints from Saturday shoppers with kids, and I totally understood that. Debra, the B&N community relations manager loves romance novels and thank god for people like her-she was thrilled to see me, got me water and ice and even had a pen ready in case I’d forgotten to bring one!

So here I am, looking pensive as shoppers mill around me. I was strategically placed between the cafe and the new arrivals tables so I felt a little like a fish in a bowl, or one of those Victorian ladies waiting patiently at the side of the dance floor while being ignored by all the men.

And yes, people really do ask strange questions. My favorite was, “Did you write this?” Um, yes, otherwise why would I be sitting here? Of course, I didn’t say that, I just smiled graciously and admitted it. I REALLY DID get asked where the bathroom was as well!!

Look! Real people in a line, for me! Okay, so I know some of them, but hey, they came out to support me and buy my books so I love them all.

Because of what I write, I expected a few oddballs as well, and yes, they turned up to say hi, every time Mr Kate wandered off to read Motor magazines. I ‘think’ they just wanted to see what an erotic romance writer looked like and I ‘think’ I probably disappointed them seeing as I wasn’t dressed in black leather or brandishing a whip!

So,it was fun and Mr Kate took loads of photos, I felt famous for at least 5 minutes and that was quite enough for me Back to the writing cave!

Come and meet me in person!!

I’ll have books to sign, bookmarks and candy!

Where:
Barnes & Noble Bookstore
Hacienda Crossing
Dublin, CA 94568

Time:
2-4 pm

Come save me from hours of boredom and Mr Kate from having to bribe people to come and say hi. I’d love to meet you

First off-the good news. Kensington Aphrodisia offered me a contract for two more books! The best bit is that they are connected to the first two, “Simply Sexual” and “Simply Sinful”. So I get to write about the Madame of the pleasure house, Helene and Valentin’s half-brother Anthony Sokorvsky.

It will be interesting to write about Helene because most of my books are dominated by the hero, and in this case, things are different. I just hope I can make her sympathetic enough-she’s had a tough life. But, as I explained to my editor, I have to write Helene’s book first so that we can get to Anthony’s, because characters have to be developed who will impact his life and his happiness. Anthony is seriously messed up sexually and it will take an exceptional person to sort him out.

I’ve no idea when these books will come out, although I’m thinking the first probably late 2009, we’ll see how they go It is actually slightly easier to write books when you already have some back story to help you along, although it can get a little complicated at times Not sure what the titles will be either, whether we’ll continue to ‘Simply’ ones or not-although I think the awesome Mary Balogh has used most of them already I picked a deliberately lame title for Helene’s story in the hope that Kensington would choose another one. I didn’t even try to find one for Anthony-I just called it “Anthony’s book”

I should have a cover for “Simply Sinful” in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to that-I think!

Here’s hoping you are all as pleased as I am that I get to keep writing these stories. I really love the characters and it really is a pleasure to enjoy myself and get paid for it!

FORTUNE’S KISS by Lisa Manuel
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Medallion Press
Release Date: March 2008
ISBN: 978-193383635-5

“The characters are full of depth and vitality and you feel like you are with them every step of the way. Fortune’s Kiss is definitely one for the keeper shelves.” – Night Owl Reviews

“…A cunning story of love and treachery… Settle down with some tea and cakes and put up your feet. Fortune’s Kiss is an excellent Sunday afternoon read.” – Novel Spot

“…An excellent historical romantic suspense. This is an exciting and enjoyable book and one you don’t want to miss.” – Romance Junkies

“…An amusing, engaging historical romance starring two likable heroes and a zany out of control support cast.” – Harriet Klausner

“…Unique and sinfully delicious…” – Romance Reviews Today

Practical, country-bred Moira Hughes must fight for the family fortune she believes her stepfather’s heir has unlawfully withheld from her. Graham Foster, treasure hunter and Egyptian antiquities expert, returns to London to claim his barony only to find himself accused of foul play by Moira and her widowed mother. Coming to a wary truce, Graham agrees to help Moira find her lost fortune, and together they follow a trail of fraud, deceit and murder that leads them through the streets of London—and into each other’s arms.

Visit Lisa at www.lisamanuel.com

A while ago, when I was writing ‘Roping the Wind‘, a call came out from the amazing Ms. Alison Tyler for Cleis Press for short story submissions to an erotic alphabet series. The one that caught my imagination was “L is for Leather” because, if you’re read Roping, you’ll know that Jay Turner makes cowboy boots and Helen Kinsale finds the whole leather thing a total turn on.

So I set out to write my first straight erotica short story, Sunday Service which was kind of like my characters taking their whole fascination with leather into their own little fantasy world, although in the story I give no time period, place, detailed setting or character names. It was quite interesting to write something that didn’t require a happy ending or an ending at all really

It was a real thrill when I heard my story had not only got into the anthology but was first up in the book. I love the cover of this book. It reminds me of the 1950′s poster girls, with a naughty kink!

I’ve been busy. I mean, really busy for me. Not only have I been promoting myself around the internet in a vain hope that someone will buy my new books, but I offered to run a pacing class for my RWAOnline chapter AND I decided it would be the perfect time to get my proposal in to Kensington for the next 2 potential books.

Call it Spring madness or something, but I theorized that it would all work out fine. it did, but barely, although I did find out what a lot of time I normally waste hanging out on the internet.

Both books are doing well, despite me. I’ve had some great reviews and some nice feedback from readers. What I love is that everyone seems to agree that Peter Howard and Anthony Sokorvsky really need their own books. Luckily Peter’s is already done and dusted and currently with Kensington awaiting copy edits and a cover. It even has a name! “Simply Sinful” and it will be out in November this year which isn’t too long to wait.

Anthony’s book is also in the works i.e. my head, although the one about Madame Helene has to come first in order for Anthony’s to make any sense. I love writing these inter-connecting books and I hope it shows when you read them.

Also in the works is the third Cheek book “Riding the Line which is about another of those pesky Turner half-brothers. Now Dakota is nothing like Jay. He’s much more laid-back, rather like Grayson. Dakota’s challenge is his traveling companion, the sexy as hell but spoiled and disillusioned Robyn, whom I based on the women who appear in my regular reality TV watching. Fireworks fly and Dakota’s laid back personality is sorely tried. This book comes out in Dec in the UK and Feb 09 in the US-when I finish writing it.

I also persuaded dear Mr Kate to help me out with some drive-by book signings. The idea being that the author (i.e. me) drops into a bookstore and offers to sign their stock. Much happiness all round, costs nobody nothing and my books stay on the shelf longer.

My local Borders are used to me showing up so they were quite happy to let me sign anything. I did wonder if it might be fun to pretend I was someone really famous like Nora and see if they’d let me sign her books too, but I didn’t quite have the nerve. Our next stop was Barnes and Noble where I stopped in the romance aisle to grab a pile of my books and take them up to the information desk. This lady in the romance aisle gave me a funny look and said “You must like that author a lot.”

Of course I had to tell her it was me, didn’t I? She was delighted to meet a real author and I ended up signing a book to her and off she went to the cash desk. Feeling a little flushed and overwhelmed by such lovely enthusiasm, I took the rest of the books to the desk. There I got to meet the B&N community relations manager who was also pleased to meet me and asked me if I’d like to do a BOOK SIGNING in the store. I said yes.

I said yes. Okay I’m nuts. I’m so not an extrovert but I felt I should at least do one in my lifetime So come and see me in B&N at Hacienda Crossing Dublin, California on March 22nd. I’ll be the one sitting by myself at the front of the store directing people to the bathrooms.

Flushed with success, we went onto store #3, Mr Kate laughing at me a bit for being ‘the author lady’. Store #3 were distinctly underwhelmed by my appearance and seemed bemused as to why I would want to sign anything. They came around and even put my books face out as I was leaving, but talk about bringing you down to earth.

Another person who regularly brings me down to earth is my 5 yr old daughter. Today we were watching TV and an ad for weight loss pills for women came on. She poked me and said “Mommy you should get this.” “Do you think I’m fat?” I asked. She gave me a sympathetic look and stroked my leg. “Well…you are a bit cringly.”

I’m afraid to ask what that means…

It’s a great edgy love story, that is, if you like cowboys, feisty surgeons and a love affair with no holds barred sex and attitude. It was a tough book to write because they just came out slugging at each other and didn’t lay off for the whole book-not my kind of relationship at all, but it seemed to suit them just fine!

Winner of an original 1820′s Regency print and a cover flat of Simply Sexual is…

D D BLACKMAN

please email me at
contactme@katepearce.com
to claim your prize!

and thanks to everyone who entered, I really enjoyed reading all your comments

Kate x

Happy Tuesday everyone! Even though its raining here, it’s still a wonderful day because today is the official release date for SIMPLY SEXUAL! Yes, I know some of you have already bought and read your copy, but these things happen

Comment in the next 5 days and win the chance to own an original Regency fashion plate from 1820 and a signed cover flat of Simply Sexual.

Good luck!

Kate x

It was my birthday last Saturday and dear Mr Kate took me up to San Francisco for a day of shopping and lunching and general merriment,(i.e. no kids) Initially I’d decided to get a new handbag, a brown one, to match my new Ariat cowboy boots, see left, but nothing inspired me enough to spend big bucks on it, well Mr Kate’s big bucks, but you know what I mean

We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory at the top of the Macy’s building and regrouped. I asked dear Mr Kate if he could look up a British store that I’d heard had a shop in San Francisco on his iphone. He looked a bit skeptical but when I mentioned it was fancy lingerie, he suddenly became much more interested. We located the store just off Union Square on Geary Street and headed down there, stopping in Neiman Marcus on the way.

Of course, while we were in NM, we saw a lovely Issey Miyake cardigan in beautiful reds, oranges and yellow. We both liked it and filed it away for future reference in case I didn’t find a handbag. then we went in search of the lingerie.

Agent Provocateur turned out to be a fabulous little shop. Mr Kate made himself at home on the fancy seats while I tried on about twenty different bras with the help of a sales assistant. I fell in love with two of them and decided, seeing as my lovely MIL had left me some birthday money as well, that I could afford to really splash out and get two sets. Being a generous woman, I decided to let Mr Kate pick his favorite style of matching underwear.

And here’s where I slipped up. I didn’t check the prices of the knickers…I knew the bras were expensive and I reckoned the knickers would be about a third of the bra price. Um, no…the bill was humongous and Mr Kate just paid it like a lamb and off we went.

He still wasn’t speaking 2 blocks down and he had this kind of dazed look in his eyes. Meanwhile, I was checking in the very fancy bag for the receipt and finding out just how expensive a set of French made British imported knickers can be. I was laughing so much that I offered to take them back, but Mr K wouldn’t hear of it. He even still wanted to buy me the Issey Miyake top! Luckily for us, NM only takes American Express and their own charge card, neither of which we had on us!

So feast your eyes on my new knickers and remember-always check the price before you reduce your husband to complete speechlessness…