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Sunday, March 07, 2010

New Beginnings by Kate Walker

I’ll admit that I was stuck for something to write about for today’s blog post. I’m in the last stages of finishing the latest book and my mind is focussed totally on that. It’s been a struggle to get this one written what with doing Valentine’s Day talks in several libraries and travelling to Wales for a weekend teaching writing romance . So I didn’t have much inspiration for blogging.

I thought about Wales, because I’ve just come back from there Spring – and Spring Cleaning but then I was looking back at some of my previous posts and I found that last year at this time I talked about those then! Hmm – nothing changes much in a year does it? The one thing that has changed is that I have a brand new book out in the shops this month and that always makes me smile. And recently I had news that made this one even more special.

As many of you know, I'm celebrating 25 years of being published - my first ever book, The Chalk Line was published in December 1984. In all those 25 years, one of the things I always dreamed of was to win the honour of having my book names as a Romantic Times Top Pick in the month it was out. It never happened - well, not until now. Several of my books earned the score of 4.5 stars, but none of them were ever awarded that elusive Top Pick.

Then suddenly, at the end of 2008, my November release, Bedded By the Greek Billionaire was the first of my books to be awarded the Top Pick for that month. I was thrilled. An ambition achieved. So imagine my delight when I just discovered that it's happened again. I just learned that my next release - The Konstantos Marriage Demand (Presents EXTRA March) has also been given the Top Pick selection for March. Once again I'm celebrating. And it’s every bit as much of a thrill the second time around.


I’m not quite sure what made this book so popular. (It’s been getting great reviews all over the place too). But I know one of the things that made it special for me when I was writing it and that was because there was the extra ‘edge’ to the background of my two central characters because I was writing about a long-standing, generations old-family feud.

But one of the great things about romances is that they always show how, with determination, open-mindedness, thought and – most importantly - love – the past can be put aside, the future opened up, and the characters can start afresh. That for me is one of the most important things about reading and writing romance. That whole sense of new beginnings when anything and everything is possible. And it’s perhaps what makes a romance the perfect reading for the start of spring when everything is new and starting over again. The trees are growing new leaves, the flowers are starting to push through little green shoots, ready to burst into bloom in a very short space of time. That’s why I always say that the endings of my books aren’t really endings – they are new beginnings.

I wrote this book at about this time last year when Spring was just around the corner. And now it’s being published at the beginning of Spring this year. I think that’s extra special. I love Spring and its promise of renewal and brighter days to come. And after a particularly hard winter with heavy snow, freezing winds and just lately far too much cold, pouring rain. And that’s why I love writing and reading romances too.

Do you agree? Is that why you choose romance to read? Or is it something else? I’d love to know.

PS To celebrate the publication of The Konstantos Marriage Demand I’m running a special contest with Lee’s help over on My Tote Bag. Why not check that out and see if you can win a copy of one of my books to help brighten your month and remind you that Spring is just around the corner?

And when I've written the happy ending/new beginning for my current hero and heroine and I get this book off my desk and on to my editor's then I'll be really ready for a whole new beginning all over again with another pair of characters.
Kate Walker's latest Presents release is The Konstantos Marriage Demand which will be out in Presents EXTRA on March 16th and is already available for pre-sale on eHarlequin.com.

Romantic Times called this a ‘ terrifically well-paced and fiery romance’ with a ‘very rewarding conclusion,’ and chose it as one of their series romance Top Picks for March.
And We Write Romance's reviewer says that:
There are many books released from Presents each month, but by far this is one you must pick up. It's a twist from the meet, fall in lust, fall in love type stories out there. This one is most definitely more intense. And while each character is flawed, they are perfectly written to make you want to see them succeed and come together.

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.

19 comments:

Glenda A Bixler Reviews said...

For starting out that you didn't know what to write about, you sure shared some great news. Congrats to you for achieving your long-time goals! May you have continued success!

Caroline said...

Congrats on all the great reviews Kate. I can see why though - KMD was/is a great read. Caroline x

runner10 said...

Congrats on 25 years!

cheryl c said...

Congrats on the 25 years, Kate! The RT Top Picks show that you are still good at what you do, even after all these years! :-)

Kate Walker said...

Hi Glenda ( I followed your link to find out your name rather than call you GA!)

Thank you so much for your congratulations - I'm thrilled with the good news and it's always fun to share. Thank you for your good wishes

Kate Walker said...

Hello Caroline. I'm so pleased to know you enjoyed Konstantos so much. It's the best thing for a writer to know when a book has touched a reader

Kate Walker said...

Helo Denise adn thank you - I can't quite believe it's been that long. I started as a child author of course ;o)

Kate Walker said...

Hello Cheryl and thank you too for your congratulations. I'm so pleased to think that even after all this time, my books are winning new readers and great reviews - here's to the next 25 years!

Pat Cochran said...

Congratulations on being selected
as an RT Top Pick! It is a great
honor and you deserve being so
recognized. I've added your book
to my TBR list!

Pat Cochran

Sue A. said...

Congratulations on 25 years and the many books written in that time!

Sarah Morgan said...

Congratulations on your top pick Kate. I loved that book so much!
x

Christina Hollis said...

Congratulations on both your 25th Anniversary and Top Pick, Kate. You deserve it!

Kate Walker said...

Thank you Pat - both for the congratulations and for adding Konstantos to your TBR pile. I hope it lives up to the award

Kate Walker said...

Thank you Sue. I'm not as fast a writer as some but I still feel proud of my achievement over those 25 years - and just staying published for all that time is something!

Kate Walker said...

Hi Sarah - and thank you. It's a wonderful feeling when fellow authors say they love somethng I've written so that's a great compliment

Kate Walker said...

And thank you too Christina. How lovely to see my author friends here

Mary Kirkland said...

Congratulations! That's great news. I've been a fan forever of yours.

I didn't start out reading romance, I actually started out reading horror books and sometimes still read them. Then my mom gave me a romance book and I read it and loved it. Been a fan of romance ever since.

Michele L. said...

Wow! That is awesome Kate! Lot's of congrats on your book! Gosh, with all the glowing reviews, I can't wait to read it myself! I just love all your books and have a wonderful collection on my keeper shelf!

Have a fantastic week!

Laurie G said...

Your book sounds wonderful! Congrats on the Top Pick Award!! 25 years!! I'm definitely going to look for some of your earlier works!!