Happy St David's Day from Kate Walker

It’s March 1st – the beginning of a new month. It’s St David’s day and he’s the patron saint of Wales. In fact he was supposed to have been born in Pembrokeshire, not all that far from Fishguard where I was teaching a Writing The Novel course last weekend. I had a wonderful time and added to my happy memories of Wales. Of course one particular memory of Wales stands out above the rest because it was in Aberystwyth, on Cardigan Bay, where I first met my husband a long time ago.

So March 1st is for celebrating St David. Realising I knew very little about him, I looked him up and discovered that he’s supposed to have lived to be 100 and that he advocated vegetarianism so I can relate to him there - the vegetarianism I mean. I don't know about living to be 100 - not yet! He’s also supposed to have been born on the edge of a cliff in a violent storm.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why there is a saying about March that it is supposed to ‘come in like a lion and go out like a lamb’. I was thinking about that saying this morning and realised that really it’s the sort of thing that could be used to describe one of my heroes too! Being typically Presents heroes, these guys appear on the scene ‘stormy’ and forceful, sweeping all before them and turning his poor heroine’s life upside down. Take Santos Cordero, the hero of my March UK release, Cordero’s Forced Bride for example. When the woman he originally planned to marry does a runner and doesn’t turn up at the wedding, he is determined that someone else will take her place. And the someone else he insists on is Natalie’s half-sister, Alexa. Alexa will marry him he declares and he’s determined to make it happen, whether she likes it or not. The passion between them is too strong to be denied.

But of course that’s at the beginning of the book and as the story progresses both Santos and Alexa learn that there is so much more to this relationship than there appeared to be at the beginning. By the time comes for the happy ending, Santos, if not exactly ‘like a lamb’ is a very different person from the man who began the story stormy and blustery.

Personally I love both sorts of weather – wild storms or gentle sun-warmed days. And in the same way I love my heroes in their wilder more difficult times and the loving, caring men they finally can show their heroines at the end of the book. I suppose it’s like the way that when the storms are raging outside I know they won’t last for ever and in the month of March there is the hope of spring very close behind. I think that’s why March is one of my favourite months – it holds such promise.

Actually, as I write this, the weather is mild and mellow – no sign of those March winds that mean the month is coming in like a lion but I’m sure those will come – after all, there’s snow predicted for next week!

So what’s you’re favourite month and why? Tell me and I’ll get Sid the cat on the job of picking out a winner from everyone who posts and they’ll get a signed book from my backlist


Kate's latest novel Cordero's Forced Bride will be released in Mills & Boon Modern in March and Mills & Boon Sexy in and it is still available in Harlequin Presents.
Pink Heart Society Reviews described the book as :

" . . . intense, explosive and the passion leaps off the pages. It’s one of those books that once you begin you’ll literally stay up all night reading.

Cordero’s Forced Bride is part of the Bedded by Blackmail series and a wonderful addition especially with this year being Harlequin’s Diamond Anniversary, celebrating sixty years. It’s a beautiful sensual and passionate love story and one you definitely won’t want to miss."

You can find out more about Kate and her books on her website or for the most up to date news, visit her blog.

WINNER - Sid has done his job and the name he has picked is Virginia. So Virginia will you please email me kate AT kate-walker.com and then I can organise your signed book.

Thanks to everyone who commented.