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Friday, August 12, 2016

Notes and Notebooks - with Kate Walker

I went into town yesterday. I had bills to pay, food to buy, parcels to post . . .
(I'm sending out copies of my new book, Indebted to Moreno to reviewers to read.) 

I also went into WHSmith in the precinct and of course now they are starting with the ‘Back To School’ specials and stationery promotions are everywhere.They also had a stationery sale. For me, a stationery sale is a worse temptation than the serpent in the garden of Eden.

I love notebooks. They always hold such infinite possibilities.
Just think of all the amazing words, the wonderful stories that can be written in those pristine pages. The memories and images recorded for posterity . . .

And some of them at 75% off. I was so, so tempted . . .

But . . . errr - I don't need any notebooks I have notebooks. I have a practical ring file pad that sits beside my keyboard where I scribble notes to myself as I work so that I don’t forget important ideas.

I have a handbag notebook for ideas that strike me when I'm out and about.

I have beautiful notebooks that my friends and family have given me. Notebooks so lovely that I don't dare to sully them with my scribbles. They paralyse me - but I love them.

So why do the really important notes - the ones that come in a flash of inspiration and mark points on which the plot of my book, the development of character, the intensity of emotion always turn so importantly, end up on the tattiest piece of paper, along with yesterday's shopping list?

I recently went to Wales, to teach a course at Fishguard Writers’ Holiday and there not one but two of my friends gave me the most  gorgeous notebooks – and  files . . . I am sitting at my desk looking at them now – and I have resolved not to put them away carefully  but  to use them right now. In fact I’ve actually just pulled one right next to me, marked the first page with the  working title of the new book I’m working on – and  I will be making notes.  On this new book? Er – well, no – I have lots of notes for this one – they’re all on the usual tatty pieces of paper scattered over my desk.


But the notes for the second book in the  series – I’m writing a duet of linked books about two sisters – they will go into this lovely new notebook, honest – just as soon as I can make myself use those lovely new pristine pages!

My latest Modern Romance/Harlequin Presents was Destined For The Desert King, which was published in December 2015.

A new title, Indebted to Morenowill be published at the end of September this year - and if you missed A Throne For The Taking the first time around, that will be reprinted in the 3-in-1 By Request Collection: Claiming His Princess in August 2016.

I've just been sent a copy of my brand-new Harlequin Presents cover for Indebted for Moreno - so I can share it with you here (the UK one hasn't appeared yet).

Visit Kate Walker's website and blog for up to date news; or find her Facebook page here.


4 comments:

Anne McAllister said...

I feel a real kinship to Moreno. Wonder why! I empathize with the notebook gravitational pull, too. But having moved mine 1000 miles I now feel a gravitational pull toward online files that don't weigh anything!

Laney4 said...

Thanks for the heads up re A Throne for the Taking having a new title. Duly noted....
As for notebooks, I do the same thing - buy pretty ones, then use the backs of mailings and their envelopes, old notepads my kids didn't finish in high school ten years ago, and even the cardboard inserts in chocolate bar packaging - although I often just use binder paper too. I was in a stationery store recently and wanted to buy their notebooks, and I resisted by telling myself repeatedly that I had several at home waiting to be used instead. It was very hard to walk away....

Kate Walker said...

You should feel a kinship with Moreno seeing as you gave him his name! (Well surname anyway) And while online files don't have the real aesthetic appeal of a fine notebook, if I'd had to do that 1000 mile trek, I think I'd be happy with the virtual notebook files! I hope you have found everything has travelled with you safely.

Kate Walker said...

Hello Laney - good to 'see' you. I haven't chatted with you for a while. How I understand the way that you had to tell yourself that you had to walk away - but it does take strength! I'm glad to see that someone else does the same as I do and use any available bit of paper to jot down important notes - why does inspiration always strike when you have no pretty notebook to hand?!