Kate Pearce

Hi everyone and thanks to all the contest entrants! The winner is:
(drum roll please)

Meljprincess!

(picked by random teenage son generated number)

Mel please email me with you snail mail address to collect your prize.

Today I’m lucky enough to have a visitor from The Spiced Tea Party blog, a writer whose work I admire greatly and who is also hilariously funny-(Check out her quiz at the end of the blog!)

Hi Jane/Janet and welcome to my blog!

What inspired you to write Forbidden Shores?

I read a wonderful book by Adam Hochschild, Bury The Chains, about the abolitionist movement in England. And I knew I wanted to write about abolitionists, because it was such a polarizing issue in England, the hot political issue of the Georgian era. My editor asked me to move the action to the Caribbean, something I was rather reluctant to do because although there was certainly a fairly substantial black population in
London at the time (1800), a high court ruling in 1772 had decreed that people living in England could not be slaves, or returned to slavery outside of the country. So I had to include slaves and their owners as characters and that was very difficult–I didn’t want to sugarcoat anything, but neither did I want to gross anyone (including myself)out. The conditions of slavery were absolutely appalling, and that was why there was such a tremendous amount of support, crossing gender and class, for the abolitionist cause.

I see that your publisher categorizes Forbidden Shores as a historical romance. How would you define it?

I originally sold the book as an erotic historical for the Heat line, and then I was upgraded to Signet Eclipse. I made a few changes to make it “more like a romance”–whatever that really means. The basic concept of the book is that there are three people, each of whom are in love with the one of who cannot love them back: Clarissa is in love with March who is in love with Allen who is in love with Clarissa. I’m hoping the book will appeal to romance readers as well as erotic romance readers–really, I’m concerned that people know what they’re getting; there is a lot of explicit sex.

What’s your favorite time period to write about?

Georgian-Regency, because it was a time of such great change and upheaval, with causes like parliamentary reform and abolition, the Romantic poets, and the terrific clothes. I don’t think men’s clothes have ever been sexier, and women could actually move in theirs. I love the earlier gowns that relied on line and drape of fabric, before they got those bizarre encrustations at the hemline and the silly sleeves.
I’m also very interested in the English Civil War period (yes, we had one too) but haven’t written anything about it yet.

How do you feel your writing differs between your two alter egos?

I don’t really think it does. Jane has more sex, although Janet does her best. Janet would have her characters slip on a banana skin while careening into the bedchamber, but they’d get there anyway. My first book, Dedication (2005), had quite a lot of grown-up sex in it–my boast is that it’s the only Signet Regency with two bondage scenes–but like Forbidden Shores it was inspired by a political idea: what
happened to the political radicals who embraced the ideals of the French Revolution (liberte, fraternite, egalite) as they matured into the older generation. The Rules of Gentility (Avon, August 2007) was written as a spoof, although there is some quite serious stuff in there about families and growing up–the interesting thing about the book is that some people don’t “get” that it’s a spoof but like it anyway. Avon doesn’t think it’s a romance–it’s shelved in the Lit section at bookstores–which I think is pretty funny, as I was convinced I’d cracked the romance code with this book.

What’s coming up next book-wise for you?

I’m a publishing one night stand sort of girl–so far I haven’t snagged a contract for more than one book at a time. So I have a partial for another erotic romance out, and Avon told me I could write about anything I wanted for my next book, which I found a terrifying idea,even though it’s what ever writer wants to hear. I’m working on a partial for them now, and it’s a sort of Regency Upstairs/Downstairs because I’m very interested in servants.

Any words of advice for aspiring authors?

Write what you want, don’t try to follow market trends, ignore what anyone tells you are “the rules” of (erotic) romance, and avoid–or subvert–cliches. And read outside the genre.

Tetley’s or PG Tips?

Yorkshire Gold is my substance of choice, although for everyday purposes I drink Brooke Bond Red Label (from my local Indian grocery store which also sells the best mangos in the area).

Thanks for having me visit, Kate!

~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*

The historical writers quiz:

Do you find yourself sitting on the sofa looking like an idiot because you can’t figure out what you’re reading? Or can’t even remember where your book is? Or your laptop seems to have mysteriously disappeared into your pants?

What, exactly are you reading or writing? Here’s a simple quiz to determine if your book is (a) a traditional regency, (b) a regency-set historical, (c) an erotic historical, or (d) historical erotica.

The heroine meets a gentleman she is attracted to. She:
a. Asks to be introduced to him by the patronesses of Almacks
b. Invites him to her bedchamber
c. Invites him and his three friends to her bedchamber
d. Invites him and his regiment to her bedchamber

The hero is wearing:
a. Immaculately polished Hessians, and a finely tailored coat and breeches
b. Boots, breeches and a historically inaccurate shirt unbuttoned all the way down
c. Not much, a sneer, oil, and a whip
d. Tattoos, scars, piercings, a sneer, oil, and an even bigger whip

The heroine is wearing:
a. Bonnet, gown, shawl, reticule
b. Gown, barely, and lots of hair
c. A little wisp of something from Victoria’s Secret and lots of hair
d. Tattoos, scars, piercings, a sneer, a really, really big whip, and a shaved head

The secondary characters include:
a. Comic servants and saintly family
b. Comic servants and tiresome family
c. Sex-obsessed companions who may or may not be human
d. Underlings you never meet but someone has to get in the lube and leather supplies

Your hero likes to spend long hours in the library:
a. Reading poetry
b. Decoding secret documents
c. Twisting himself into a pretzel for future activities, based on an ancient tome of erotic practices
d. Oiling the rack and himself

Your heroine likes to:
a. Embroider, play pianoforte, visit the poor
b. Tame stallions, write novels, etc.
c. Practice twisting herself into a pretzel etc.
d. What? Time to do anything else? I don’t think so

Jane is very kindly offering 1 lucky commenter a chance to win one of her books!

THE RULES OF GENTILITY, print and e-book, Avon, Aug. 2007
FORBIDDEN SHORES, writing as Jane Lockwood, Signet Eclipse, Oct. 2007
DEDICATION, a romance of love, lust and literary identity, still
available from Signet Regency
http://www.janet
mullany.com http://www.janelockwood.com
http://riskyregencies.blogspot.com
http://thespicedteaparty.blogspot.com
http://www.wetnoodleposse.com

I’m in disgrace with Mr Kate and my 5 yr old daughter, just because I borrowed a few Barbie’s, well one Barbie (Belle) and two boy Barbie’s (Beast in human form and Prince Charming).

I was writing this erm sex scene and trying to work out how to co-ordinate everyone’s limbs and I needed help. Of course, no one was home so I had to improvise-hence the Barbie’s…Luckily one of the men was also double jointed which made everything work perfectly.

Unfortunately, I just dropped the pile of bodies to the floor and forgot about them as I carried on writing. Several hours later, Mr Kate fell over them and inquired as to why my daughter had left them there, To be fair, I said it was my fault and explained why. Mr K’s face was a picture…and suddenly I felt bad for using my sweet little girl’s toys for salacious purposes.

When my daughter saw the Barbie’s I got a lecture about asking before taking someone else’s toys and using the words ‘please and thank you’, which sounded terribly familiar. She also told me to put the boy Barbie’s away in the drawer because she didn’t like them very much.

So the scene came out great but my family aren’t so impressed-but what’s a writer to do?

I have Jane Lockwood guest blogging next week about her historical erotic romance “Forbidden Shores”. Jane is another ex-Brit so the conversation might turn to tea!

I had a great time last night in Tibron answering questions from a wonderful group of book club women. It was nice to be asked to come and I hope I represented my genre and my naughty writing well!

Tomorrow night 6:00 pm pacific time (you’ll have to work that out among yourselves, I have trouble enough with my time zone) I will be chatting here:

Join RWA Online’s Erotic Published Authors for our erotic romance genre chat on Thursday, September 20, 2007, from 9pm to 10pm EST. This chat will be open to the public so feel free to invite your friends! Everyone is welcome!
Here is the link to our public chat room!

http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/chat.htm

The chat will feature, Kate Pearce, Cara Carnes, Bonnie Rose Leigh and Monica Burns!

Cordially,
Your lovely chat divas,
~Marly and Jenna

AND-on Friday through Sunday (21st-23rd)
Come say hi to me on Amy Smith’s blog and win prizes!
http://amysmith98.blogspot.com/

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Imperial Majesty Catherine the Evanescent of Throcking in the Hole Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

It’s ‘so me’ isn’t it?

Did you know that-
Walking into one of these:

Results in you gaining one of these?
Please note, the hairy leg is not mine, I promise.

I didn’t until a couple of weeks ago when I walked into the corner of the Tibetan chest on my landing, not dissimilar to this one except mine is more red, and two of my toes went one way and three the other. I admit to saying some very very naughty words in front of my daughter because somehow I knew it was bad.

But in true British stiff upper lip, hospitals are for sick people mode, I hobbled around for over a week unable to put my left foot flat on the ground. Eventually even Mr Kate, who up till then had been enthusiastically applauding my ability to still manage my life without asking him to do too much, suggested I might want to take my toes to the doctor.

I pointed to my expertly bandaged buddied up toes. “This is all they will do and charge me a gazillion dollars for.” But no, even that appeal to Mr K’s wallet didn’t work so I went to the doctors who made me fill out all their forms again because apparently they hadn’t seen me for so many years that I didn’t register on their computers. (Did I mention I’m not keen on hospitals?)

Of course they send me for an x-ray and lo and behold I had indeed fractured almost right through my second toe in! I thought I’d be able to go home but apparently I needed to see an orthopedic specialist-for taping toes? I wondered, but didn’t say it out loud. I was indeed beyond buddy tape…

Hence the boot for 6 weeks minimum and a bone knit time of approx 3-4 months…
I feel very stupid.

Disadvantages to having the boot:
1. it weighs a ton and lugging it around makes me cross.
2. it makes me feel stoopid
3. I can’t wander the stores at my leisure (Mr Kate thinks this is a definite plus!)
4. Everyone does this peculiar sniggering snorting thing whenever I stomp past.

Advantages to having the boot:
1. Mr Kate makes me lots of cups of tea and helps out a bit more in the carrying dept.
2. I’m getting more writing done because I can’t go out so much.
3. My family get to laugh at me and call me Hoppy and Hobbly and I can’t chase after them-laughter is good right?
4. I now have a pet toe called Mr Cracky.
5. I got a prescription for vicodin

A question for anyone who is American-what is the white shoes and labor day thing all about?

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at this amazing book by M J Rose. It arrived in the mail on a Saturday afternoon and I took a quick peak at it…5 hours later I was still reading as I got dinner and 4 hours after that, Mr Kate was wrenching it out of my hands so that he could go to sleep.

When he asked me what was so good about it and whether he’d like it, I had no hesitation in recommending it to him. I told him that for me, it was like the thinking woman’s Da Vinci Code. It has the same fast pace and elements of mystery, terror and suspense as the DC and a lot more. The characters are all so well drawn that you get pulled right into the story along with them.

I finished the book Sunday lunchtime and couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was doubly hard because no one else I knew had got to read it yet and I was dying to talk about it with someone else. (It’s a bit like the Harry Potter books, I always finish first then haunt everyone else until they do too)

I’m going to steal a bit of the book blurb to share with you because they did a far better job of describing the book than I could (you all know my blurbing limits)

“A bomb in Rome. A flash of bluish white light and photographer Josh Ryder’s world exploded. From that instant, nothing would ever be the same.

As Josh recovers, his mind is increasingly invaded with thoughts that have the emotion, the intensity, the intimacy of memories. But they are not his memories. They are ancient…and violent. A battery of medical and psychological tests can’t explain Josh’s baffling symptoms. and the memories have an urgency that he can’t ignore-pulling him to save a woman named Sabrina…and the treasures she is protecting.

But who is Sabrina?

Desperate for answers, Josh turns to the world renowned Phoenix Foundation-a research facility that scientifically documents cases of past life experiences. His findings there lead him to an archaeological dig and to Professor Gabriella Chase who has discovered an ancient tomb-a tomb with a powerful secret that threatens to merge the past with the present.Here, the dead call out to the living and murders of the past become murders of the present.”

Seriously, if you enjoyed the Da Vinci code and would like to see what an incredibly skilled female writer can do with a similar idea, read this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Borrowed this from Mel but I have to say it’s scarily accurate!

There are 25 letters in your name.
Those 25 letters total to 136
There are 10 vowels and 15 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:
Latin Female Pure, clear. Form of the Latin ‘Katharina’, from the Greek ‘Aikaterina’. It was borne by a number of saints, including St Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century martyr who suffered torture on a spiked wheel.
Irish Female Variant of Katherine: Pure. Clear. Innocent. From the Gaelic form Caitlin.
Greek Female Pure. Famous bearer: Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.
French Female Pure, clear. Form of the Latin Katharina, from the Greek Aikaterina. It was borne by a number of saints, including St Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century martyr who suffered torture on a spiked wheel.
Anglo-Saxon Female Innocent.

Your number is: 1

The characteristics of #1 are: Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.

The expression or destiny for #1:
A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.

Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.

The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 7

A Soul Urge number of 7 means:
With a number 7 Soul Urge you are very fond of reading, and retreating to periods of being alone and away from the disruptions of the outer world. You like to dream and develop you idealistic understandings, to study and analyze, to gain knowledge and wisdom. You may be too laid back and withdrawn to really succeed in the business world, and you will be much more comfortable in circumstances that are tolerant of your reserve, your analytical approach, and your desire to use your mind rather than your physical being.

You are very timid around people that you don’t know very well, so much so at times that casual conversation and social situations can be strained. You tend to repress your emotions to the extend that some people have a good bit of difficult understanding you. You tend to be very selective with friends and you don’t easily adapt to new environments or to new people very quickly.

The negative traits of the 7 include becoming too much the introvert and isolated from others.

Your Inner Dream number is: 3

An Inner Dream number of 3 means:
You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated.

I believe!
try it here:

Well, there have been a few less than blissful moments, childbirth comes to mind, but overall I’m very happy with Mr Kate. and I think he’s very happy with me. (That’s a snippet of him above dressed as Mr Darcy avec moi for a fancy dress party) Seeing as I came up with 20 fabulous reasons why I still love him last anniversary, I only need to add one more to make 21!

Here’s the original 20 for anyone who missed it:

1. Mr Kate is not his real name.(gasp) When I told him I was writing a blog I was given strict instructions not to name him because he is a high up lardy-dah business type person.

2. Mr Kate now has several fans who work with him who read my blog and think it is hilarious that a big lardy-dah business man gets called Mr Kate.

3. Mr Kate is very fit. He goes to the gym three times a week and also rides a horse. I swear there is not an inch of flab to pinch on the man.

4. The first time we kissed, I knew I was going to marry him.

5. The first time we kissed, Mr Kate knew that we were going to have a problem avoiding over-bites.

6. On one of our first dates, Mr Kate scratched the immortal words “DD 4 CH” within a heart into the brickwork by my front door with his keys-where it still remains (as far as I know)

7. Mr Kate always writes the above message in every card he gives me.

8 Mr Kate likes AC/DC and loud rock music. He also had a fine collection of black T-shirts bearing band names when I first met him-come to think of it he still does.

9. Mr Kate also has a secret liking for Shania Twain and the occasional Madonna song. I’m sorry but his pathetic excuse of accidentally taking “Ray of Light’ on his business trips didn’t wash with me. I know he knows the words and can even be coaxed into the occasional philisophical discussion about what in the world will Madonna do next?

10. Mr Kate doesn’t drink coffee much as he is totally wired. If he was growing up these days he’d be classified as having ADHD. In our day, he was simply made to stand in the corner and told that he’d never make anything of himself.

11. As a kid his first dream job was ‘bin man’

12. He supports Manchester United football team (loser)

13. His second dream job was ‘astronaut’. He’s still a total space addict. If he gets really rich I expect he’ll book himself a seat on a moon tour. (alone)

14. Mr Kate used to think it was funny to leap out at me and scare me. He doesn’t do it so much anymore because once I nearly expired with fright.

15. After our first ten years of marriage Mr Kate told me that he’d realized that when I shared something with him, it didn’t necessarily mean that I was asking him to fix it for me or tell me what to do. He had discovered empathy-a big moment in a man’s life.

16. After our first fifteen years of marriage he stopped taking my shoes upstairs and let me leave them on the bottom of the stairs. (did I mention he’s a cleaning nazi?)

17. He always tells me I look nice. Sometimes I have to stamp on his toes until he’ll tell me what he really thinks.

18. He thinks I look better without make up (he thinks I don’t wear it snort)

19. He loves me despite the fact that the first time he took me to dinner at his parents I lost a whole fried tomato up my sleeve and got trifle in my hair.

20. When our daughter was born, he got up at four a.m. every morning to feed her so that I could sleep and never missed a night.

and here’s 21:
He puts up with people elbowing him aside to ask me about being an erotic romance writer and he doesn’t even sulk about it.

The Romance Studio:

This week’s 5 Heart Sweetheart chosen by subscribers of The Buzz…

“What an amazingly rich and engrossing story! I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely did not stop reading until the very end. I loved how Lauren’s emotions and attitude were so easily understood by Grayson, and his feelings were so strong and reliable. This is one cowboy you don’t want to miss! I hope to read more by this very talented author in the future.” – Lisa Freeman

Buy it today!