Kate Pearce

I get asked this question a lot, because everyone expected me to write about one of the twins next, preferably Christian, I think (And I didn’t do that either.)

Toward the end of writing Simply Wicked I began to realize that Lord Minshom wasn’t quite as bad as he would like me to believe. And when, by the end of the book, he walks away from Anthony in disgust, I was intrigued. I happened to be in the process of deciding what book to write next and Minshom began to appeal to me as the next hero. But how to make such a hard unappealing character into a man my readers could invest in? I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I wasn’t sure if I was up to the task of doing him justice.

Like most mothers, I spend a lot of my time driving kids around and one day in the car I heard this song.
Raoul And The Kings Of Spain by Tears For Fears

When the seventh son of the seventh son
Comes along and breaks the chain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Making it plain, making it sane
To turn this loss into a gain

Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain

Did you know your father was an island
Did you know your mother was the sea
Can we ever hope to seek asylum
From the bounds of fate and family

When the seventh son of the seventh son
Comes along and breaks the chain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Making it plain, making it sane
To turn this loss into a gain

Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain

Did you know all mothers come from heaven
Did you know all fathers come from hell
That is why they’re at sixes and sevens
That is why their marriage isn’t well (not well)

And it made me think, especially the line about ‘breaks the chain’ because I realized that Minshom was going to do that. He was going to stop the cycle of abuse that had started before he was even born and continued with his father and his distant deceased mother. The song also, in my mind, referenced his relationship with his own wife. And once I knew that, and knew how hard that was going to be for him, I knew him and I knew how to write the book.

The three winners of a signed copy of Simply Insatiable are

Chaeya
Mitzi H
Sonya

I’ll be in touch ladies!
Thank you to everyone who entered and for the lovely comments. I wish I could give books to you all, I really do
Kate x

Today Simply #5 is out and its hero, Lord Minshom, is a man who has already stirred some controversy among my readers. Several people have written to me asking why I decided to write about him, or would want to!

When I was writing ‘Simply Wicked’ I realized well before the end of the book that Lord Minshom was going to let Anthony get away from him and this interested me-a lot. Once I had that thought in my head, it was easy to write Lord Minshom’s book, (which continues just 4 weeks after the end of ‘Wicked). And, as soon as Jane, his wife, appeared and demanded that he listen to her and come home, I knew there was a lot to discover.

It was a hard book to write because of the subject matter, but I wanted to show how Minshom’s past affected him through our modern understanding all of the long lasting effects of any kind of abuse. But while showing us that, I didn’t want him to change or make him a victim. And, of course, he doesn’t do pyscho-babble or believe that he can do anything but simply endure and get through it.

Some reviewers haven’t liked him-even at the end. For me, he came to represent some very heroic characteristics. He learned to love again, he let go of his anger and he refused to carry on the cycle of abuse-and that for me, was a very big thing.

Let me know how you liked the book

I’m giving away 3 copies today to blog commentators.
Comment below for a chance to win and tell me about villains who get their own books-love them or hate them?
I’ll announce winners here next Tuesday, May 4th

p.s. and while you are here, go check out the ‘coming next’ page on my website for a glimpse and an excerpt of the first Tudor Vampire book “Kiss of the Rose”l

While we’re all still anticipating the launch of Kiss of the Rose book #1 in the Tudor Vampire Chronicles on August 3rd, (well, I’m anticipating it!) I’m just finishing writing book #2. The basic premise of the series is to cover one of King Henry VIII’s wives in each book. So the first book involves Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife.

The second book will feature the lady pictured above, Anne Boleyn, probably one of the best known of Henry’s queens. A woman who has inspired numerous works of fiction, films and scholarly reviews. The book will also feature the same hero and heroine, Christopher Ellis and Rosalind Llewellyn, from book #1. It was fun to revisit these two and other characters from book #1.

I can’t tell you a lot about book #2 yet, other than it will be called Blood of the Rose and that it will come out in February 2011. We’re currently talking about the cover and back cover copy, which happens very early on in the process. I can tell you that it is good though, and that I’m very pleased with it.

Here’s Showtime’s “The Tudor’s” version of Anne, just to compare.

Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the English crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids that bound him and his heirs to the Druid’s deadly struggle against the Vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, an ancient Vampire slaying family, have been in the permanent employ of the monarchy.

To save the king from a nameless assassin, Rosalind Llewellyn, Vampire hunter extraordinaire, must form an uneasy alliance with a known Druid slayer. Sir Christopher Ellis hails from a family that has protected the Vampires for centuries, yet Rosalind has no choice but to rely on his help. And with her life threatened and her loyalty tested, Rosalind may even have to acknowledge the unthinkable. This sworn enemy may be her soul mate.

On the Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards hits bookstores today!

She’s Never Met A Man So Mouth-Watering

When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses . . .

And He Can’t Resist Her Down-Home Spice

Devon’s not sure he can handle one more surprise ingredient in his life—he left his popular TV show, his culinary reputation is on the line, and now the son he barely knows is back for seconds. Lilah’s Southern sass is supposed to keep the boy in line, but soon enough she’s teaching Devon a thing or two about homespun food . . . and turning up the heat.

This is the second Recipe for Love novel, and it’s packed with just as much delicious food, restaurant drama, and hot chefs as my debut culinary romance, Can’t Stand the Heat!
Here’s a little taste to get your mouth watering for more.

Now available at Amazon, Borders, B&N, BooksAMillion, Indiebound, and Target!

My latest book from Samhain, SPRING EQUINOX, is out today! This is Book Two in my Celestial Seductions series, a four-book seasonal collection of contemporary erotic romance novellas, and each one has a special little twist.You can find Book One, WINTER SOLSTICE, at Samhain, on MBAM and on Amazon.
But back to SPRING EQUINOX. Would you like a little peek?

Once upon a time, two young lovers vowed to reunite…

Celestial Seductions, Book 2

After a bitter divorce, Isabel Asher returns to Isla de Margarita to find the only man she’s ever truly loved. Twelve years ago, on her eighteenth birthday, they made a pact to meet…if they both were free. Now she waits, wondering if Rafael Cruz will be her every fantasy come to life…or just a foolish dream.

Rafael never forgot their summer of love all those years ago. Since then, no other woman has measured up to the memory of Isabel in his arms. Their chemistry is still stunning, the sex is sizzling. The power of their memories is overwhelming. Yet it’s too soon to tell if she wants to be with him as much as he wants her.

As her time on the island grows short, their sensual play heats up, and includes a night with Rafael’s best friend. But they must decide if their passionate reunion is simply a celebration of the past…or a new beginning for lasting love.

* * *

To celebrate my release, I’m running a contest and posting an excerpt over on The Smutketeers blog, so come on by and check it out!

Take a walk on the wild side with these steamy stories of erotic ecstasy…

Some Like It Rough by Kate Pearce
Luke Warner wants to chill out when he cashes in his hectic life in Silicon Valley
and returns to his hometown. But things heat up when he reunites with his best
friends, Julia and Paul, and invites them both to share in a sexual adventure like
they’ve never had before…

Private Eyes by Susan Lyons
Assigned to work undercover as an exotic dancer, straight-laced Haley Croft
discovers the thrill of strutting her stuff. And when she catches sexy PI Ry
Montana checking out her moves, she can’t wait to give him his own private
show…

Cherry on Top by Anne Rainey
When massage therapist Cherry DuBois rubs her oil-slicked hands all over Dante
Ricci’s rock-hard body, red-hot desire courses through her. She longs to lose
control and give herself to the pleasures of sexual submission…

Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy. I’m giving away two copies
End date Sunday Feb 28th

Kate x

I am so excited to get to show you this cover for the first of my paranormal historical romances for NAL Signet Eclipse.

It comes out in August 2010, and I’ll have more details for you as soon as I can!

And to prove it-here’s a photo of the trifle I made for Christmas. Unfortunately, when I went to find the bottle of brandy to add to it, the brandy was all gone. I ‘believe’ we used it up last Christmas, although I have my suspicions…

It is fiddly to make but well worth the effort. My kids demolished it in about 24 hours

Here’s another picture of me watching my daughter have her first ski lesson. She’d just fallen over…

And here’s the little darling herself

And just in case you are looking for something to read next month:
Try this…

Love Kate x

I’ll have a contest on my blog next week to win an early copy.

Wow this year has gone by fast! I suspect that’s because between 4 kids and writing 3 books and a novella I got pretty busy.

I want to wish you all a lovely holiday season full of good food, nice presents and peace and goodwill.

I also have a few details of my upcoming books in 2010-those I know for definite, anyway

February-”Some Like it Rough” contemporary novella from Kensington Aphrodisia along with Susan Lyons and Anne Rainey.

May- “Simply Insatiable” book #5 in the Simply series from Kensington Aphrodisia. This one is about Lord Minshom.

August- “Kiss of the Rose“- the first of my new paranormal Tudor Vampire historical romances for Signet Eclipse. I’m excited!!

Also coming up another Simply book, Simply Forbidden and a historical novella. I’ll give you dates for those when I get them.
And, readers who have been asking me about when the Virgin ‘Cheek’ Turner brothers books will be going into e-book format-they will and they are. The third one, Riding the Line is already available, and apparently the other two will be out in May 2010.
All good stuff.

So have a great holiday and look forward to seeing you all here in the new year!
Kate xx