Today is the day so many of my dreams come true. My paranormal romance novella, The Price of Freedom, releases with Carina Press. Its hero is Rafe, a gorgeous djinni–think desert sheik with angel powers, bound to the service of humanity. So I thought I’d ask:

What are the three wishes you don’t dare wish? the dreams that you’re too sensible or too shy to indulge? If Rafe could grant your wishes, what would you ask?

These are my I-don’t-believe-they’ll-ever-come-true dreams.

1. To have a conversation with an alien.

I’d like it to be a friendly alien, though I don’t mind if it has tentacles or burps rainbow bubbles. I’d just like to know if humans are alone in the universe or if there’s a galactic community out there, waiting for us to grow up.

2. I want to travel around the world with a courier.

The courier’s the catch. I want to travel with someone who can handle the languages, my luggage, security (so that I can visit dangerous, exciting places but be safe), time zone calculations and meeting people–I’m a bit shy. Enthusiastic, friendly, but shy.

3. Look at me, I can dance!

It would take a djinni to grant me this wish. I dance like an off-beat robot. As a kid I’d be told off because instead of listening to the music, I just counted the steps. In retrospect, it was moving my lips as I counted that gave me away. Still, it would be lovely to have the grace and energy (oh yeah, exercise ::shudder::) to dance.

So tell me, what are your impossible wishes?

Jenny

http://www.authorjennyschwartz.com/

I’ve just sent  in my latest book.  And for the last week, anyone who walked past my office could tell how close I am to writing those magical words ‘The End’ because – well – let’s be honest here, because of the tip that my office has become.

It’s always like this. I’ve tried to work tidily. I’ve tried to plan things so that I get moments in between chapters to sort out this room and put things away. But it never works out that way. It’s pretty hard to understand, really. I mean, writing a book doesn’t actually take up much space. I need my computer, keyboard, a notepad and pen to scribble down those new ideas of important points I just must not miss. Perhaps a research book or two, one for the language used by the hero I’m writing ( Sicilian this time if you want to know) and one about the country in which he lives or where the book is set. And – er – well, that’s it.

So how does my office come to resemble a landfill site – overflowing with bits and pieces and with the surfaces overflowing so much that things even end up on the floor which is affectionately nicknamed the ‘filing cabinet’ by my family? They have lived with this so long that they can tell what stage a book is at simply the state of the floor.

So I was relieved to read somewhere that people who can’t work unless the place looks like a disaster  are said to be geniuses.

Now that’s the perfect excuse I need – I work in a mess like this because I’m a genius. I can live with that. Or, as my friend Anne McAllister says, we’ share the same interior decorator – “Rooms by Untidy”. I think it’s because as I get deeper into a book, I become more and more involved in the fictional world and less involved in the real one. I’m an ‘all or nothing’ writer so when I start writing I concentrate on it hard until I’ve finished. After which I finally lift my head up and look around at reality again. And I’m usually pretty shocked by what I see.

There are   books I’ve used for research, books I’ve read and need to put  away. Books I’ve bought and  mean to read.  The TBR  pile– Keepers – books to pass on to my son (his reading habit is worse than mine).  There’s the bundle of letters I need to answer the bigger bundle of  receipts for my accounts, there’s the critique I’m supposed to be doing, the  cards and gifts I need to wrap and send to friends with birthdays. There are notes for my next project, research books for that. Maps of Scotland where I’m teaching next week.  Notes for the course I’m teaching . . .

But now that I’m done I can clean my office, sort everything out, buy new office supplies – and maybe even read some of those books.  The only problem there will be choosing which ones to read and in what order.

I’ve been looking forward to this day for  what seems like ages. To a time  when I can heave a sigh of relief, press send on this manuscript and then turn my attention to the tip. I’m looking forward to it . . . The sun is shining outside, reminding me that it’s Spring and time to freshen up the house anyway and I’m beginning to wonder just what colour the carpet is in here.

And next time I’m really going to try to be more organised. . . . honest!

But  I’ve also been looking forward to today for another important reason – today I’m celebrating the publication day of my brand-new USA release – when The Konstantos Marriage Demand comes out in the Presents EXTRA line-up.   It’s always a  fabulous and exciting  day for me, even if I can’t actually get to see the book on the shelves in the bookshops.  And it’s  the day that makes all the work, all the time and  – yes – all the mess  – so worthwhile.   And this book is special to me because it’s earned me the honour of a Romantic Time Top Pick award and a rating of 4.5 stars.  (If you’d like to read more about it, then I’m talking about The Konstantos Marriage Demand over on the I(heart) Presents web site today). And I’ll be chatting with everyone here – and there – when I’m not busy sorting and tidying my office.

What about you? Are you a messy genius like me? Or are you super-organised and efficient. Leave a comment – maybe give me your best tip to help me get things done and keep some order in future. And I have a signed copy of  one of my back list books for whoever Sid picks as  a winner (if I can find Sid in all the mess!)
And I hope you enjoy The Konstantos Marriage Demand if you read it.

Hello again 

I can’t believe that it’s already December 15^th and a whole  month has passed since I  last posted in Kate’s Corner.

Or do I mean since I first posted in Kate’s Corner because that is what that post was – my first.  I had lots of great respoinses  with some questions to anser and requests for things to talk about  and I’ll hope to get to those as I have more time and more posts. Because at this time of year we all have so very little time don’t we?  We have gifts to biy and wrap and deliver. Cards to write.  Food to buy, prepare and cook. Visitors to share out home with or p[arties and celebrations to go out to.
Celebrations. Yes – this holiday season is a time for celebration and for me it’s a very special celebration on a personal level.  So that’s what I want to talk to you about this time.

If you’ve spotted  the wonderful banner that Heather has made for me and is now displayed  at the top of the We Write Romance Home page you’ll see that  December 2009 is a very important anniversary for me.  Because this month  marks 25 years – 25! – since the very first time I ever saw one of my own books in print. December 1984 was the month that my first ever title, The Chalk Line was published by Mills & Boon in the UK. It didn’t come out in America until 1992 – my first USA title was Game of Hazard. But The Chalk Line was the book that started it all off – a career writing and publishing romance that has lasted 25 years!

So this month and throughout the coming year, I’m celebrating the fact that I’ve now reached my ‘silver’ anniversary – 25 years as a published author. And people who know me well know that when I’m celebrating I like other people – my readers – to join in too. And this time is no different. I’m running a special contest on my web site with 25 – that’s right, 25 prizes to give away. And those prizes go to readers who let me know their first – and/or their favourite ever – Kate Walker title.

Can you remember the first Kate Walker novel you ever read? Were you right there at the beginning with The Chalk Line? Or have you discovered my books much more recently?

Tell me about your first time – the first Kate Walker you read. What book was it and what was happening in your life when you found it? Did you pick it up in a shop, find it in the library – or perhaps a friend or member of your family suggested you try it?

Let me know about the first book you read and I will publish the most interesting ones on my blog. I will also give a prize to anyone whose story I publish. You can win a signed copy of one of the backlist books I have a available, together with another small gift to celebrate Christmas and this special anniversary.

Send your First Book storiesto me – with FIRST BOOK in the subject line. Or share them with me in the comments section of this blog and I’ll add those into the special draw just the same. And I’ll add in two extra prizes just for this Kate’s Corner blog  – after all it’s Christmas and the time for special Presents! Closing date for all FIRST BOOK stories is December 31st 2009. But I’ll be posting some of the titles and stories on my personal blog before then.

Or maybe you’d like to vote for your favourites of my books – your Top 5 Kate Walker titles? If so, check out my Contest Page for details how to do that.

And I’m thrilled to be able to say that my writing career will be lasting even longer that 25 years as I already have two new title coming out in 2010 with The Konstantos Marriage Demand coming in Presents EXTRA in March and A Good Greek Wife? following that some time in the summer. (It’s out in the UK in July) So look out for those. 

One of the questions I’m going to be answering on a regular basis is the ‘What are your reading’ question – so to answer that  for this month. I just finished a Harlequin  Romance by Marion Lennox called Betrothed to the People’s Prince which I thoroughly enjoyed. And now I’m having a change of pace with a thriller by Zoe Sharp. Zoe is a friend of mine who writes great thrillers with an unconventional heroine – Charlie Fox who acts as bodyguard to a lottery winner.  I’m finding it fascinating reading this very different style of book from my own. Oh – and the title is Second Shot.

I’m going to try to please those of you who have asked and upload photos of  my  ‘furry gang’ – Dylan, the small grey tabby. Sid (A Cat of  Superior Breeding) and Flora The Floozie  the silver ‘shadow’ Maine Coon.  Wish me luck  – I hope it works.

If it doesn’t then I  need another lesson! But you can always see pics of them over on my personal blog  where you’ll also find my latest news.

Finally I want to wish you all a truly happy  Christmas Hanukkah or whatever you’re celebrating. I’ll look forward to seeing you again and chatting with you in the New Year. Don’t forget to post any questions you want me to answer  or things you’d like to discuss.

And I’d love to know which one was your ‘first’ Kate Walker  – or your five favourites. Sid will help me pick a couple of winners in a few day’s time.

See you in the New Year!

Happy Christmas and happy reading

Kate

Abby Green is running a super contest…she’s giving away 2 hardbacks of her December UK release, Ruthless Greek Boss, Secretary Mistress to the first two people who email her and mention the title of that book. And she’s giving away 5 copies of her current book, Mistress to the Merciless Millionaire too. Just visit her site and check out her NEWS section for more on how to email her!

I hate to think how many weeks I’ve been working on my current book. To begin with I sent synopsis after synopsis to my editor, only to have her find something wrong with each one of them. I was really beginning to feel that I had lost the plot (no pun intended) until I finally got the go ahead.

But then everything conspired against me, my writing time appeared to be non-existent; I’ve only written about 4,000 words in over two weeks. I’ve firmly convinced myself that this book is going to die a painful death, either that or become a raving bestseller. Ha, ha!

Does anyone else have these problems? If so I’d love to know.

How can I go from always having another book in my head waiting to be written to – this? I don’t even know how this story is going to work out. I’m writing into the mist. Which is what I always used to do until editors requested synopses. The only good thing I can see about writing a synopsis is that it prevents writing a whole book that is ultimately going to be shredded to pieces. So it works like this, I get a synopsis approved, then the first three chapters (two in this case – which should tell me something!) then the whole book is sent in. After that there are usually revisions.

I’m writing this in the hope that it will tell newer writers who are perhaps struggling, that it still happens to even seasoned authors like myself.

How would you like to win a copy of one of my books?

Pop over to my website and answer the simple question there. The draw is taking place on October 1st so you have plenty of time.

Hi! Thank you We Write Romance for letting me visit. My name is Teryl Cartwright and my book is called A Sensible Match which is a Regency romance about the sometimes disastrous and sometimes wonderful results of matchmaking. Abby and Edwin, my fantastic and witty combatants, fight each other, their meddling families and fate itself. The big question for the reluctantly thrown together couple is simply this–can you choose whom to love?

Matchmaking is relevant today—not because of those annoying websites, but because we pick and choose everything from our schools to churches to home address. The internet has even given us freedom to choose relationships without the limits of geography, age or background. You just can’t get away from all the matchmaking we have around us! So I guess I wanted to write about matchmaking because it has a lot to do with the idea of whether we choose our destiny or it chooses us.

Why my enormous interest in matchmaking? I had it done to me (and it failed) until my husband and I decided to see why we were so “perfect for each other”. Some other neat facts about me—I have a horse which I snuck into the story, my favorite authors, Georgette Heyer and M.C. Beaton, were also “included” in this romance along with some inside jokes about being a pastor’s wife (which I know well).

I have several writing samples Read more… »

A friend of mine emailed me a link today that totally surprised me. While the site is pretty cool for the most part, it did have some beloved Harlequin Presents romances from some wonderful authors. Here’s a link to the site: http://www.scribd.com/Hazellea If you’re one of the authors and you’d like to have the books removed, Scribd has a wonderful copyrighted material removal policy so be sure to check into that. If you’re an ebook author who’d like to sell your books there, they have a pretty neat policy where that’s concerned as well.

I’m getting organized for writing in the New Year. It took me all month to really get on top of things, but I think I’m there.

Something about the process is cathartic and necessary for me. I’m the kind of person for whom jumbled surroundings equals a jumbled mind, so it’s really important that I stay organized in my professional life. It’s all the more important now, as it happens, since I’m remodeling my kitchen. My physical world is a mess! If don’t create order in my writerly niche, I’ll be perpetually stressed.

What constitutes professional organization for me? A new calendar. I have to fill in all my writing deadlines—the ones my editors give me and the ones I set for myself. I also sketch out my bigger professional goals and a wish list of accomplishments I could work on if I have extra time. Some people feel suffocated by too much goal-setting or seeing their hopes sketched out on paper, but I enjoy having things mapped out concretely.

Next up, I work on my story folders. During the year, I print out a lot of notes and research material for each of my works in progress. This is a good time of year to file it all into dedicated binders for each project. If time allows, I’ll decorate each one according to the kind of story. My Muse likes to flex her muscle in other creative directions now and then, so the time spent finding some images to spruce up my story notebooks pays me back many times over.

Finally, I use my January to rethink many facets of my writing strategy. What went well the previous year and what do I need to work on? I ask myself these questions regarding everything from the kinds of stories I chose to write (what concepts did I have the most fun with and why? How can I replicate those creative successes while still doing new things?) to how I handled the work load (did I have enough down time? Were my projects well spaced? Did I work more effectively at certain times of year?). This is a good time to make adjustments and improvements.

Just thinking about the Annual Reorg makes me feel better. As I see my writing year take shape and my projects poised for success, I can almost forget about the sheetrock dust and whirr of the drill in the next room as my husband decimates my old kitchen to make way for the new. Almost…

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I’d love to hear about your organizational efforts, whether they are writing related or life related (for example, if anyone can tell me how to stay organized during the kitchen remodel ). Do you tend toward the Martha Stewart variety of lavender scented linen closets, or is your organizational approach more organic? Chat with me this week and I’ll give a copy of my February Blaze, SHE THINKS HER EX IS SEXY to a random poster on Friday.

The Call – Paranormal Style

by Marcia Colette

I love “The Call” stories. In fact, they’re pretty much an addiction at this point. Every Friday, I tune into Dear Author’s My First Sale stories because I like to read about the successes. There is enough doom and gloom on the road to publication, so it’s nice to see that someone has made it.

So, I’ve decided to do my own take on “The Call”, only this is one where everyone can participate, both readers and authors alike. I want to know when you received your call to the paranormal or your favorite genre if it’s not paranormal. What made you sit up and say, “Wow! Is there more of this stuff out there?”
Read more… »

In celebration for the one year anniversary of TheWritersVineyard.com blog, Author Michael Davis is giving away a paperback copy of either of his publisher best seller books FORGOTTEN CHILDREN or TAINTED HERO, winners choice. Novel excerpts and 5 star reviews are available at Davisstories.com. Visit the contest page and follow the instructions for the drawing. The winner will be drawn randomly on 12/30/08.