It recently came to our attention that the ebook bundle that we participated in selecting with Harlequin is definitely making an impact on some readers. Specifically, Jane at Dear Author was inspired to by reading The Brazilian’s Blackmailed Bride to read more of Michelle Reid’s wonderful stories.
And Jane isn’t alone. I’ve heard of a few others who were caught by Margaret Mayo’s book, Surrender to the Millionaire and both Anne’s and Kate’s books as well! So have you downloaded your copy?
I never meant to write a trilogy. The start of The Alcolar Family trilogy came when I was asked to write an on-line read for 
eHarlequin.com. That was a real challenge! Getting a passionate emotional story into 10,000 words, and ending each episode of it on a cliff-hanger so that readers wanted to come back and read the next instalment.
The story I came up with was Wife For Real and the hero was Alex Alcolar, the illegitimate son of aristocratic Spaniard. It was in the next to last instalment of this story that I suddenly found that Alex not only had a Spanish father but he also had two brother – Joaquin and Ramon, and a sister, Mercedes. As soon as I wrote those names, and I realised that the people I had created had a complicated family history, I knew that I had to write it. I had the father – Juan Alcolar who had three sons and a daughter. One son and one daughter were from his marriage to his wife but the other two sons were from affairs he had with two other women. That took some explaining.
First I had to get the idea past my editor. I can still remember the warm summer day when we enjoyed a lunch sitting outside beside the river Thames and talked of my plans and ideas for the future. One of which was the idea of writing the story of the three other members of the Alcolar family. Luckily she was as keen on the idea as I was and so the next three books were contracted and I was given the go ahead to write the mini series. (She also gave me a fabulous idea for one of the most important scenes in the second book – The Spaniard’s Inconvenient Wife when she told me about a bridesmaid’s dress she had to wear for a friend’s wedding. But that’s another story.)
Once I had the go-ahead, I had to plan out the series. Not just one but 3 separate and yet linked books. It was the linking that made it more complicated. If I put some fact into one of the books, I had to note it down because it couldn’t be changed in another story. And I’d already created some of the family’s story in Wife For Real. The first member of the Alcolar Family I created was Joaquin – the oldest, and only legitimate son. And because he was the only legitimate son part of his story had to be about how he felt about his father’s behaviour. After all, his father had been unfaithful to his mother not once but twice. (The whole story about that came out in the later books.)
So Joaquin was the eldest and he was rather different from his father. Ramon, the second son was much more like his father- and that’s why I created the nickname the Lone Wolf for Joaquin. He was a man who had created his own world, set himself to doing what he wanted and not following his father’s path in life. He lived by his own rules and one of those rules was that he didn’t believe in lover. Or in lasting relationships. And so he had the rule that he was never in any relationship more that twelve months, so that the relationship didn’t have a chance to break down as his father’s relationshoips had done. That was why the book had the title it has – The Twelve Month Mistress.
Of course then in the romance my 
hero came up against Cassie who was, it turned out, the one woman he couldn’t break up with at the end of a year. But being the determined man he was Joaquin might well have acted to break off that relationship anyway, just in case, in order to avoid the problems his father had created.
So I had to find something that would make him go over that twelve month deadline whether he wanted to or not. And the way I did that was I pushed him down the stairs! I remeber telling my author friends that I was going to push my current hero down the stairs and they didn’t believe me! But I did just that.I wrote a scene in which Joaquin fell down the stairs, hit his head – and when he came round he had temporary amnesia so he didn’t know his time with Cassie had reached that critical point.
And this was where part of the fun of writing a trilogy came into things. Because Joaquin’s brother, Ramon was in the story and I was able to introduce him to my readers ready for his own next book.
One of the really interesting things about writing the trilogy was that my readers all had their own very favourite brother – or the hero of the 3rd book in the trilogy, Jake. Lots of readers loved Joaquin best , others voted for Ramon. Heather from this site of course loves Joaquin – she has told me that The Twelve Month Mistress is her favourite ever of my books. That’s why she chose it as part of the fabulous We Write Romance.com Selects Presents Blogger Bundle And she’s not alone. Back in 2006 when I ran a poll to see which of my books was my readers’ favourite – The Twelve Month Mistress came top of the poll, collecting up the most votes of any of my books. I’m running that poll again this year to mark my 25th year of being published and Joaquin’s story is still there – up there in the top 10, currently at number 7.
It was an experience writing The Alcolar Family trilogy. Would I do it again? I’d love to if I had stories that all linked together. I’ve done a couple of duos but right now I’m busy with some special commissions that my editor has asked me to write – the first of which is coming out in the UK in July. But when those are done you never know!
What about you? Do you like books that are linked in a miniseries? Or do you prefer stand-alone titles? And if you’ve read The Alcolar Family, which of the books – or heroes – is your favourite? Do you love Joaquin or prefer his brother Ramon?
I’d like to send special thanks to Heather for putting my book The Twelve Month Mistress into the WWR special ebook selection. It’s a great honour to be there – along with some other really great books by fabulous authors. Thank you Heather!
Kate Walker’s latest Presents hero appears in The Konstantos Marriage Demand which is published in Mills & Boon Modern on January 15th. It will be out in America in Presents EXTRA in March.
And of course one of her earlier books, The Twelve Month Mistress is also featured in a brand- new ebook ‘Bundle’ We Write Romance.com Selects Presents – one of the Blogger Bundles now available on eharlequin.com.
You can find out more about Kate and her books by visiting her web site or get the really up to date news on her blog.
I hope everyone has a great holiday! The blog is on a bit of a hiatus until the new year. And with the end of 2009 comes a lot of new and exciting changes for WeWriteRomance. Among the new look that will be showing up in pieces along the site throughout January, there are new blogathons coming along.
In January, the Presents Authors will be here to share about their stories that will be in the Harlequin eBook Bundle, Blogger Bundle Volume II: WeWriteRomance.com Selects Presents.
Then in February we’ll have another Harlequin eBook Bundle celebration with the authors from our Reviewer’s Pick bundle. More on that to come.
So stick around and check in often for more exciting news from the authors you love!
Hello again
I can’t believe that it’s already December 15th 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
When I first started writing fiction I didn’t really think about deadlines. Writing was an escape, an enjoyment, a way of avoiding the stresses of the day job by entering the world of romance I’d always loved. I had enough to do trying to tell a story with characters who were appealing and believable, a compelling plot, emotional highs and lows and riveting sexual tension.
Deadlines were the last thing on my mind. They belonged to that ‘other’ world – you know the one, where elegant authors pen their books in snug state-of-the-art studies before going out to meet friends for coffee or long champagne lunches, then return home to answer a little fan mail, perhaps write another scene then stop work for the day.
Yeah, right. Strange how reality is a little different. The world of the published author isn’t quite that straightforward or relaxed. I suppose I could indulge in champagne lunches on a regular basis but I suspect I’d never manage to work afterwards and there would go my productivity. Without those hours actually working on the book, I’d miss my deadline, something no writer wants to do.
As I type this I have a mug of coffee in front of me (far enough away to avoid keyboard spills). It’s decorated with a number of writerly quotes including one of my faves – from Douglas Adams: ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’ Writers I know nod and laugh a little nervously at that one. Most of us have felt under pressure from time to time to meet a deadline that seems impossible. As we’re in the business of writing, fulfilling our commitments (ie. providing a book that’s probably already been scheduled for production) is a necessity. Yes, deadlines can be extended and often are. Editors are generally understanding and realise that sometimes major events just get in the way of a book. On the other hand I also know writers who’ve been asked to bring their deadlines forward…ouch!
How to deal with these necessary evils? I say evils as I remember with a touch of nostalgia the days when all that drove me to finish a story was the desire the write and the hope of someone wanting to read it.
One multi-published author I know works out how fast she usually writes a book, calculates a completion date and then adds an extra week to her schedule for each member of the family (including the dog), knowing that one if not all of them are going to require major chunks of her attention in that time. Another author negotiates deadlines around school vacations so she can spend maximum time ‘off’ during the summer holidays with her children.
I know authors who regularly write into the wee small hours, longer and longer as the deadline (or dreadline as it’s sometimes called) looms closer. Rick Riordan said: ‘Deadlines just aren’t real to me until I’m staring one in the face.’. Some writers go without sleep in the final days to finish their book. I’m of the other school – the idea of staying up all night to finish an essay an hour before it’s due always sent a cold shiver down my spine, though I’ve come close sometimes. I work better if I feel I’ve got a chance of managing my time through steady output on a regular basis. Sometimes I even make a note of how many pages I need to write each week as a minimum to get the book done on time. Of course, just when I think I’m doing OK, life throws a curve ball in the form of minor or major family crises which interrupt the schedule. But at least, as I hit panic mode I’ve got some of the book already done – such a relief!
How do you handle deadlines or, if you’re not a writer, those big looming commitments? Do you break down the task into little pieces and feel better as you finish each one? Do you relax and take time to map out in your mind exactly what needs to be done then finish it all in one concentrated run? Are you ruled by your calendar or do you forget key dates then have to play catch up? I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and experiences.
To make it enticing to share, I’ll offer a copy of my December Harlequin Presents Extra release: BLACKMAILED BRIDE, INEXPERIENCED WIFE to one person who contributes to the discussion. I’m happy to say this book at least was easy to write within deadline. Once my hero, Dario, burst onto the page, my hardest job was typing fast enough to keep up with him and Alissa! It’s a marriage of inconvenience story where my poor hero and heroine find themselves marrying the very last person in the world they want to spend time with. It’s intense, passionate and emotional. If you want to find out more about the book visit my website or go to eHarlequin where you can read the opening.
