Kate Pearce

I’m all set now…
for greatness in the world of romance fiction
How can it be otherwise?
I have my Jane Austen action figure (with desk and quill pen) and now I have my Nora Roberts ‘signed’ bobblehead.

Every morning I rub their little heads and start writing…
how can I fail?

Edited to add the Jane Austen action figure and a link to buy!

I have more pictures from RWA-not mine, of course, although I did take my camera I forgot to take many pictures. I’m truly lousy at taking photos so you didn’t miss anything except the back of Nora Robert’s head and a few elbows!
Oops I just kicked my dog right in the nose with my big toe, he’s looking at me funny now-okay, now he’s licking my toes-would I be sick if I said I kind of liked it?

Here’s a great picture of Ms Lilian Feisty, an RWAOnliner and EC author, and yes, she is just as naughty as she looks. Beware Feisty, she is Trouble-in the nicest possible way of course! And before you ask, yes that is me in the red cowboy hat and flashing feather boa. It was the obligatory RWAOnline party wear along with red shoes, honest.

Another special person-Ms Louisa Edwards, stalker extraordinaire and book reader/critter who is very keen to get her hands on Peter’s story from the second Kensington book, no idea why Louisa has just won a print copy of “Planet Mail” which is why she is looking so happy!

The fabulous Maria Geraci, another person who gets bombarded by crit requests from yours truly and always comes through. She is looking through a deck of EC playing cards that I gave out at the RWAOnline party and seems to like what she sees.

Okay Blogger is throwing a hissy fit at me so I’ll upload more photo’s later.
One more nice thing, I got a review for “Where have all the Cowboys gone?” from Lisa Freeman at The Romance Studio, who said this:
“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.”
Thank you Lisa…

I’ve been away in Sedona, Arizona. It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in my life. Enjoy the view while I disappear for a week to the RWA conference in Dallas, Texas. don’t forget to come by and say hi at the literacy signing on Wednesday July 11th, it’s open to everyone!

First off, here’s the new cover for the print version of my Ellora’s Cave book “PLEASURABLE BARGAINS” which is a combination of ‘Eden’s Pleasure’ and ‘Antonia’s Bargain’. I was delighted to see that the talented art department at Ellora’s Cave excelled themselves yet again. I must admit that when I saw the first version of the cover, I did ask them if they could blur the little rolls of fat around her waist…it was a little too realistic for me! But they did a fabulous job and I shall happily pretend it is me if anyone inquires.

My print copies of PLANET MAIL arrived this week as well. Of course I took the opportunity, (when Mr Kate wasn’t looking), to give the cover a good lick. How could I resist? As soon as I get organized, I’ll be running a contest to win a print copy of either PM or PB on my website. The books will be on Amazon and in good bookshops near you soon!

I was in San Francisco this week and I happened to go past the Borders near Union Square. I decided to pop in and see if they had any copies of Cowboys-and they did. After a five minute pep talk, I persuaded myself to ask the store manager if I could sign the copies for her and she said yes please! I felt like Nora Roberts. It did occur to me that I could’ve pretended I was Nora Roberts because no one really asked me to prove I was Kate Pearce either. Emboldened by my success in San Francisco, I went into my local Borders and signed my copies there too! It was a fabulous feeling.

Book stuff tends to happen in clumps rather than smooth lines and last week was a definite clump. I had to finish ‘Roping the Wind’ for Virgin ‘Cheek’ and my copy edits for ‘Simply Sexual’ arrived on the Tuesday. Despite having written a few books, it’s the first time I’ve actually had paper edits. It’s a surprise to see the pristine manuscript you lovingly placed in the mail come back covered in red pencil, post it notes and other stuff, which indicates that you might have to change things again! I still have weird transatlantic grammar issues which necessitate taking off letters and adding comma’s by the bucket load. Now all I have to do is get this baby back in the mail (overnight rather than regular) because if it gets lost, we have a big problem because it’s the only marked up copy in existence.

This week I’m trying to keep writing another short book for Ellora’s Cave but I’m kind of distracted by the fact that I’m going to the RWA conference in Dallas on July 11th. I’m so not prepared since my writing marathon of last week. I need to get out in the sun, get my hair cut, have a manicure, etc etc. I asked Mr Kate if he could suggest a miracle diet that might make me lose 40 llbs by July 10th. He offered to cut my leg off.

I have to look glamorous because I’m signing my books at the huge RWA literacy signing at the conference on July 11th-me, Nora and about 400 others. All the profits go to literacy charities both in the U.S. and the rest of the world. It;s open to the public so come and see me and I’ll sign your book!

Any miracle diet suggestions gratefully accepted…

Please welcome Jan Kenny to my blog. She writes novels about real cowboys from the old Wild West and I just love that genre. Jan also has a very interesting call story which shows that perseverance does pay off! And hey, it’s always nice to salute someone who took a few years to get published like me!

1. When did you start writing and how long did it take for you to get
THE CALL?

Wow, it was a long journey for me. I wrote my first historical novel thirteen years ago, sent it to New York, and then waited a year for the reject. Then I spend two long frustrating years rewriting that first novel for an editor, and resubmitting, and waiting, and ultimately getting rejected. I was so naive about the business, and there are still things I’m learning, but I wasted four years with the first novel before I finally shoved it under the bed and wrote the second book. I got an agent with that work which was a Dell Diamond Debut finalist, and while the agent was (supposedly) shopping it around, I wrote my third novel. When my agent finally (after a year) confessed that she’d lost all record of my book, I cut all ties with her. There was a spate of family illness after that where my writing was sporadic.

When I got serious about writing three years ago, I rewrote my third novel but couldn’t find an agent for it because “nobody” was publishing western historicals. So I wrote several romantic suspense novels that I now believe were a great learning exercise for me. Then at the insistence of a good friend, I queried Kensington, submitted the novel and got The Call. That submission to acceptance took me a month.

2. Have you always been interested in the old West?

Always. I love cowboys and the western way of life, and our country’s rich history.

3. What gave you the idea for this particular story?

I was researching an article and came across this snippet about an Irish promoter who lured sons of English nobility to Kansas on the pretext of teaching them how to farm, etc. They established the town of Runnymede, did more drinking, fox hunting and gambling than tending their land, and their fathers cut off their stipends. The majority of the English citizens went home, which gave me the idea of “what if one stubborn women didn’t want to return to England?”

4. What do you most admire about your main characters and what do you
want your readers to take away from reading this book?

Their drive to achieve their goals and never give up, even when the world seems against them.

5.What are your plans for the future, writing wise?

My second western historical comes out from Kensington April 08, and I just submitted the proposal for a third book in that series. At present, I’m working on two other proposals. One is a fun paranormal, and the other is a dark romantic suspense. And I also have ideas for another western historical series.

6. Tell us something interesting about you that isn’t commonly known (promise we won’t tell)

Well, if you promise you won’t tell– When I was a teenager, I posed nude for a painting. Nuff said.

Janette Kenny
ONE REAL COWBOY Zebra – Available now!
ONE REAL MAN Zebra – April 08
http://www.jankenny.com – monthly contest
http://www.writemindedblog.com
http://www.myspace.com/jankenny
http://www.janettekenny.bebo.com

This picture always makes me laugh. It’s a beautiful piece of art, but I have 4 kids, just like Madame Caroline Murat and I think I know exactly what’s going through her head. To me, she looks like she’s trying to get away, rather than present the conventional ‘mother image’. I imagine her thinking: “are these all my children? I’m sure they were smaller than this the last time I saw them, and less noisy and…don’t touch my dress…Nanny? where are you? Nanny?” Of course all this would be in French rather than English.

This last week, as a proud mother, I attended two graduation ceremonies. One for son #3 who graduated middle school-hurrah! He seemed fairly laid back about the whole thing and it went off beautifully and relatively quickly.

Son #1 graduated from High School two days later and I was quite excited about the whole concept. I’ve never been to an American high school graduation before and I was dying to see if it lived up to all the films and T.V. images I’d stored away in my head. I felt a bit sorry for him in his black nylon gown sitting in the sweltering heat. Being as this is California, some of the guys decided to go extremely informal under their gowns, sporting a variety of trainers, shorts, hairy legs, sandals etc etc. I did wonder if any of them had gone the whole hog and were naked but luckily I didn’t find out. The girls wore white nylon which while cooler let the sun shine right through…what a choice.

Anyway it all started relatively quietly, although I did pause to wonder why the ceremonial procession music ‘pomp and circumstance’ came to be used as the standard music being as it’s a late nineteenth century jingoistic rant about how great Great Britain is, (or was in those days of Empire). the first verse goes like this:
“Land of hope and glory, mother of the free, how shall we extol thee, who are born of thee? Wider still and wider, shall thy bonds be set. God who made thee mighty, make the mightier yet, (barm barm barm) God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet!”
It’s kind of considered the second British/English national anthem, so it tickled me to hear it played at both graduations.

Back to the ceremony, I noticed quite a few blow up balls being punted around in the air by the grads. Every time one came into a teacher’s radius, a teacher would leap up and confiscate the ball, causing groans. After a while, the balls got bigger and several blow up dolls apparently made their appearance. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at this point-got to love California!

And then after the ceremony of twisting the tassel (?)or something like that-it happened-they threw their hats in the air! I just loved that part!

Other news-I had a blast reading all the entries to the contest. some of the captions were great! I’ll be having another contest soon just for my newsletter readers, so sign up now!

I also heard that “Planet Mail” will be available in print in the next couple of weeks. As soon as I get some links I’ll put them up on the website. I know some of you prefer a print book to an e-book and hell, look at that cover! Wouldn’t you like to kiss that goodnight? (I wouldn’t, of course, as I have the lovely and gorgeous Mr Kate to kiss instead.)

I also have a date for the publication of my first Kensington Aphrodisia book “Simply Sexual”. It will be available in Feb 08. As soon as I get a cover, I’ll put it up for you all to see.

Unbound

Publisher: Silhouette Nocturne
ISBN: 0373617658
ISBN-13: 978-0373617654
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 1, 2007

Read an Excerpt
Read Reviews
Order Now from Amazon.com

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound—a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay—for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister—and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake…and two hearts on the line.
~ Reviews ~

Top Pick, Romantic Times Magazine
“Lori Devoti’s UNBOUND (4 1/2) delivers a truly unique, fast-paced and sexy adventure. Risk is so hot that you’ll be using the book to fan yourself as you read!”-Romantic Times Magazine, Alexandra Kay

…tremendous read…
“Oh what a tremendous read Unbound was! The title alone was enough to make me read it and as I opened the pages, I settled in for a pleasant read. Pleasant doesn’t even begin to describe the utter amazement I experienced at the hands of author Lori Devoti! Unbound knocked my socks off with its complete and unrelenting plot.
Lori Devoti has a new fan! Unbound is now happily filed on my keeper shelf under “O” for outstandingly wonderful!” -Joyfully Reviewed, Talia Ricci

5 Stars…an enthralling and totally satisfying read..
“With her first Silhouette Nocturne release after her delightful contemporaries, Lori Devoti proves she is an outstanding writer of multiple genres. Taking a Norse myth about hellhounds and adding her own twists to the legend, Ms. Devoti developed a modern day variation that results in a riveting romantic adventure. The plot is a masterful combination of action, danger and intense emotions, where the lives of the featured characters are vividly depicted. … UNBOUND is compellingly intriguing from the first word, where the reader is transported into an imaginative realm and never wants to leave.” -Amelia Richard, Singletitles.com

Doesn’t this look fab? I love the cover and I can’t wait to read it!

Okay-so all pretend to get excited again-”Where have all the Cowboys gone?” is out in the U.S. today!!
It’s so good I announced it twice (grin)
So far, the reviews have been fabulous (go take a peek at them on my website)
And while you’re there:
ENTER THE ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ CONTEST!
And win a signed copy of the book, a T-shirt, a Western-themed charm bracelet and if I love your caption for my dear doggie-win a pack of Ellora’s Cave themed card decks as well!
What are you waiting for? Scoot!

This Friday Mr Kate, my daughter and I went to have a quick lunch in Borders. While we were there I moseyed over to check out the romance section (as you do) and there…
WERE 3 COPIES OF MY BOOK!!!!
I was so excited I had to run and get Mr Kate and my daughter who were suitably impressed. I very carefully faced one book out just so that everyone could see the fabulous cover and just about resisted the temptation to loiter by the shelves ‘encouraging’ people to buy it.
Wow
It was even more thrilling than I expected-possibly cos I wasn’t even convinced my local Borders would carry it!
If anyone wants to comment and tell me where they’ve seen it-I’d be delighted to hear from you!

And please check back Tuesday for my grand rootin’ tootin’ cowboy contest grand giveaway!!

This week was one of those when I really didn’t want to talk to anyone or do anything except stare at my computer screen. I always get that way toward the end of writing a book. Hopefully at that point, I’m so immersed in the characters and the ending that I can’t really think about anything else. My kids are fairly used to being greeted with a vague smile and a ‘huh? I was supposed to pick you up when?”

Mr Kate is also used to me pontificating about the sex lives and happy endings of PEOPLE WHO AREN’T REAL (Mr Kate’s capitals) I usually try to explain that if I’ve done my job well enough as a writer, the readers will believe my characters are real and buy lots of my books so that he can then retire in luxury and forever been known as “Grape Boy” the guy who stands behind me and feeds me delicacies while I pound away at the keyboard…usually at this point Mr K stops me ranting and shows me his chart again with the words “Reality” and “Fantasy” heavily underlined. I don’t know what he’s talking about I TOTALLY understand the difference. Frankly, I just prefer the F word-or do I mean world?

Good news. Ellora’s Cave are going to be producing print versions of “Planet Mail” and Eden’s Pleasure and Antonia’s Bargain-the latter two are going to be put into a book together called “Pleasurable Bargain” I’ll get to sign these babies at the RWA literacy signing in Dallas Texas at the RWA conference. This event is open to the public, so if you are around-come see me, buy a book, get my autograph, I’d love to meet you!

I had a peek at the new cover for “Pleasurable Bargains” and it is fab. I asked for one little tweak-we’ll see how that goes. As soon as I get the file I’ll post it up here. I hope they don’t mess with the cover of “Planet Mail” Ellora’s Cave recently printed up decks of cards with the covers of the books instead of the regular blank card faces and my Intergalactic Viking scored the Ace of Clubs! I’ll have some of the card decks to give away in my upcoming ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ COWBOY CONTEST!! on May 29th.

I’m off to the local community college to see the prizes handed out for a short story contest which I helped judge. Should be fun!

Btw-in case you were wondering, that little tiny picture on the right is me, dressed up as Elizabeth Bennett at a fancy dress party-Mr K went as Mr Darcy but he looks way too gorgeous to share so I’ll keep him to myself okay?