Kate's Blog

It's up!

The December releases are up on millsandboon.co.uk, and yes, I've been checking compulsively. But I am now officially featured on the website--you can buy my book!!--can you tell I'm a little bit excited??

It's strange to think my first book is already hitting the shelves, because while it seemed ages away when it was first accepted, the last 9 months since I've sold have gone by incredibly fast. I received my first set of paperbacks in the mail yesterday, and stared in stupefecation (did I spell that right?) at the growing pile of books--my books--in my study. Paperbacks, hardbacks, all kinds of colours, shapes, and sizes. Mine! All mine! (If you're not a Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck fan, you won't get that reference...)

Meanwhile I'm typing away, back in the groove after a week's break, and it feels good. Although I did break for Halloween festivities, and helped outfit Laura Ingalls, a ballerina, and a bumblebee. And I'm not trying hard not to eat their Halloween candy; I'm just eating the stuff I bought that was leftover. Honestly.

posted by Kate Hewitt at 7:03 PM 0 Comments

Today's accomplishments

Three loads of laundry
Two meals
Four readings of 'Somewhere in the Ocean'
Two games of Monopoly Junior
2,000 words

posted by Kate Hewitt at 7:24 PM 0 Comments

A good cry

I'm not someone who cries easily. Well, actually, I do cry easily, which is part of the problem. What I should say is, I'm not someone who cries easily in front of people. In fact, it's fair to say I hate crying in any public forum. Loathe it. Dread it. Will do just about anything I can to keep myself from even tearing up in public or even in front of friends or loved ones. Like blinking rapidly, clearing my throat, pretending I have something in my eye... Admittedly, I've improved somewhat. My husband has seen me cry. That took awhile, but still. Last year when I was going through a difficult time some friends saw me cry. It was big. It felt like a breakthrough.

I was reflecting recently that in all my books so far, the heroine has a good cry. A cathartic, cleansing cry, and in front of the hero. And I didn't do this intentionally ('must write cry scene') but simply as part of the story. And I love writing that kind of scene--a scene, which to me, shows an emotional vulnerability and nakedness as great as or greater than any scene of physical vulnerability and nakedness.

So tell me, what kind of crier are you? Do you cry easily and freely (I envy you, then!) or quietly and carefully? Or perhaps something in between?

posted by Kate Hewitt at 6:16 PM 2 Comments

The aftermath of writing a book

I handed in the revisions on my fourth book on Tuesday, and since then I've been trying to motivate myself to start something new. I have plenty of projects to keep me busy: a serial for The People's Friend, a historical novel for Hale, and of course my next Presents. And yet.

And yet, I'm not doing anything. I've outlined all three of the above, lovely, detailed outlines which I am quite excited about, and there is nothing to prevent me from sitting down and starting my next big thing.

Except.

Except, I always forget I need some downtime, some nothing time, some I'll-actually-spend-two-hours-surfing-the-net-because-I-CAN time. And so that's what I've been doing this week... a lot of nothing! Except it isn't nothing because I've read two books that qualify as research for my next Presents, I've looked online for some material for settings, and perhaps most importantly, I've relaxed. I've let that tension go a bit and I know when I start up again--probably next week--I'll feel ready and energised. That's important. Taking time NOT to write, I've come to realize, is just about as important as taking the time TO write. A delicate balance, though. A very delicate balance...

posted by Kate Hewitt at 11:53 AM 1 Comments

Welcome to my blog!

I'm hoping to use this blog to update my readers on my writing, feature guest bloggers, and cover what's going on in the world of romance!

I've just finished my fourth book, tentatively titled 'The Italian's Bought Bride', and I'm taking a short breather before I start my fifth book.

It's funny, because when I'm in the middle of a book I promise myself a few months' break when the manuscript is finished, and then as soon as it's over I have another idea that I just have to start--now--

Long may that cycle continue!

Labels: Italian's Bought Bride, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 2:49 PM 1 Comments