Kate Hewitt - Romance Author

Feeling a bit more settled

2008-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

We're nearly all unpacked, there are even a few pictures on the walls, and I also managed to write 3,000 words this last week! Tomorrow we're off for vacation for a week, and then after that it's nose to the grindstone (or keyboard) as I want to finish this novella by September 1. I'm enjoying writing a spunkier heroine, and the setting of the Italian Lakes is gorgeous--especially as I hear the traffic rumble outside!

Thank you to those who bought Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife and helped boost it into Waldenbooks Top 10 Bestseller List! That is always a thrill :) I don't know yet when my next US release is, although The Italian's Bought Bride is available in the UK now. I'll keep you posted...

And I *will* update my website one of these days, with a new short story and newsletter, as well as details on my last two books, The Sheikh's Forbidden Virgin and The Sheikh's Love-Child.

We're here!

2008-07-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

We've moved to the city--we're in our apartment! It still feels a bit surreal, a sort of when-are-we-going-home feeling. But overall things went well, and we even have a playdate scheduled for tomorrow! Friends for the kids are the main thing.

I haven't written anything, surprise, surprise, but hopefully I will soon...

D-Day

2008-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Or should I say M-Day for Moving! The movers come tomorrow at 9 am, and we've been busy packing since then--our house is a sea of boxes! I always find with moving there is a certain sense of unreality about it all, leaving a place and people, all the familiar faces, friends, grocery stores.. your comfortable routines and so forth--it's just impossible to imagine. But it's less than 24 hours away, so there you are.

Thanks to everyone who responded for the Italian Bought Bride's freebie--Jane, Sue, and Christine will all have copies winging their way to them in the mail. Meanwhile, despite the ensuing and everlasting chaos, I've managed to write 6,000 words of my current novella, which has been an escape of sorts from the upheaval of my own life!

Back in a few days, writing from the Big City...

He really bothers some people!

2008-07-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm continuing to get comments about Cormac, my hard-to-like hero in Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife. Wow, he really got under some people's skin! I think that's a good thing though. I set out to write a totally ruthless, manipulative man who is redeemed by love and I suppose I succeeded--at least in the first part! He is a total jerk. I won't apologize for him :) But I hope by the end he is changed, and the reader can see that.

It's interesting, and I've written this before, how my books have developed and changed. I'm starting--weeeell, supposedly starting--my eighth book, and it has a very different feel than my first three. I think my heroines have matured and my heroes have mellowed, although I hope I'm not sacrificing that wonderful intensity that is so much part of a Presents!

Speaking of books, I have a few copies of my fourth release, The Italian's Bought Bride, to give away! This book will be released in the UK in September, and sadly I don't have a US release date yet. This is also the book that I wrote 47,000 words of before realising it didn't work and having to start over--a week before my deadline! Can we say stress? Just remembering it kicks my heart rate up. But I'm happy with the result, and it's one of my favourites so far. So! If you'd like a copy, please e-mail me. First three people get a freebie :)

And if you have been trying to e-mail me, and your message bounced back, I apologise. My mailbox was full and I didn't know it! So I've deleted a bunch of messages and everything should be fine now...

More moving chaos

2008-07-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

You're probably getting bored of me writing that, aren't you? Well, I'm bored of telling it! I heartily look forward to the day when we are settled and happy and the contents of our house aren't spilled across the floor like so much detritus.

I checked the Waldenbooks series bestseller list this week, and Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife debuted at number 9! Always a thrill to make the top 10. I haven't actually written anymore of my latest work-in-progress; my mind is simply too crowded and scattered to focus, and [for once] I'm giving myself a bit of a break and waiting until we're moved & settled to work in earnest.

My oldest daughter is preparing for a two week vacation with her grandparents and cousin; this is the first time she's been away from home for more than a day or two--she's almost 10. They're taking the two girls on a cruise through Scandinavia (nice, eh?) and I've been sorting through her motley collection of clothes looking suitable daywear as well as evening formal wear--ie, Sunday church dresses. I think we'll have to schedule a shopping trip, though, which is both fun and daunting. She's a picky dresser and we've already spent what feels like boatloads of money on moving--ie, apartment rent in NYC, new bunkbeds for the girls' [tiny] room, fixing up THIS house... oh, I think I want to stop thinking about all that right now... that's one reason I like writing for Presents: if there are any money troubles, they are soon fixed by the jawdroppingly wealthy [and handsome] hero!

New work

2008-07-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

So I've started my Italian summer novella, although I haven't written much because of TOTAL MOVING CHAOS. Ugh. I never want to do this again. Anyway, for your enjoyment and mine, here is what I just wrote, rough draft, unedited, banged out :)

Zoe Clark slipped the sunglasses off her nose to survey the discreet grey limousine idling at the kerb.
“Nice,” she murmured as the uniformed driver opened the door with a flourish. He’d already taken her one beatup suitcase and stowed it in the boot.
Now she slipped into the cool leather interior of the fantasy car and leaned her against the plush seat.
This was going to be a fantastic summer.
A smile bloomed and grew across her face as she leaned forward and flipped open the minifridge.
“Is this complimentary?” she called to the driver, who stiffened before answering in heavily accented English,
“Of course.”
Zoe grinned and plucked a Coke from the fridge. She’d rather have had the little bottle of Cognac, but she didn’t think it would be prudent to meet her future employer with brandy on her breath.
She flipped the tab and took a swig of soda as the limousine pulled away from the Milan Airport and into the crazy Italian traffic.

I received some nice things in the post today: an invitation to Harlequin's cocktail party at the RWA conference, which I won't be going to do, boo -hoo, cover flats of Ruthless Boss, and two copies of the large print edition of Another Country. Plus my editor has been in touch after 3 weeks away (she got married!) and we're going to chat about my next few books.

Estonian, anyone?

2008-07-11T06:47:00.001-07:00

I received copies of the first translation of The Italian's Chosen Wife in the post a few days ago--and had to google what language they were in ! Turns out it was Estonian. And as much as I wanted to keep them, with their pretty covers and Estonian dedication (Cliff became Cliffile) I realized there won't be room in our apartment for all these books so I sent them off to the Estonian Educational Society in New York in the hopes that someone will enjoy them.

Now that I've officially sent my seventh book off, I am starting to research the gorgeous Italian lakes region for my novella. It's not due until late September but with everything else going on I'd like to finish it sooner rather than later...

Finished!

2008-07-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

I finished my book and am now just formatting it from Appleworks to Microsoft Word--a painstaking process for a dedicated Mac user. But--it's done! Seventh book completed, which is a wonderful relief.

We've been at my parents' cottage in Canada for the last two weeks--except for my brief foray to NYC--and now it's back home to pack and organize and store and give away--oh, and write a novella! Somehow I'm going to get that in there...

I'm also updating my website again--I skipped June but I'm trying to get something up for July.

Sorry for the absence

2008-07-04T19:59:00.001-07:00

I've been in Canada at my parents' summer cottage, and then I left the children there to go to New York with my husband to look for apartments. What an... interesting... experience. Manhattan is the only place I know where when you tell a leasing agent that you're willing to spend $5000 a month on rent, you feel cheap and shabby. And the apartment he shows you looks it too. Fortunately, we managed to find an apartment we can live with, and that hopefully the children can live with, although one of them right now is digging her heels in, determined to dislike everything about New York and our move ahead. Sigh. Since I'm feeling my own anxiety about our move, it's hard to keep my spirits buoyed up for my children, but I suppose that is what being a mother is all about.

I'm retreating into my book which is still one scene and about 2,000 words from the end, but the first 110 pages are complete and revised and so I'm hopeful I can send this in to my editor when I said I would, which is in five days. Eek! And then on to my novella which will be part of an 'Italian Summer' anthology. And we move in a month! More eek.

Here is another sneak peek at my work in progress. This is the opening of the prologue:

I’m sorry.
The two words seemed to reverberate through the room, even though the man who’d spoken them had gone.
I’m sorry.
There had been a touch of compassion to the doctor’s voice, a thread of pity that had sent helpless rage coursing through Khaled as he lay there, prostrate, and watched the doctor shake his head, smile sadly, and leave. Leave Khaled with his shattered knee, his shattered career. His broken dreams.
Outside thick grey clouds pressed heavily downward upon London, obscuring the city view with their dank presence. Prince Khaled el Farrar turned his head away from the window. His fists bunched uselessly on the hospital bed sheets as pain ricocheted through him. He’d refused pain killers; he wanted to know what he was dealing with.
Now he knew: nothing. No amount of surgery or physical therapy could restore his rugby career or his ruined knee, or give him a future. A hope. At twenty-eight, he was finished.

Ruthless!

2008-06-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm having an interesting discussion with a reader over on the eharlequin boards who couldn't stand Cormac, my hero from Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife. It's interesting how different readers react to different things/characters--my books seem to have touched a sensitive point with some people, which I've come to the conclusion is not necessarily a bad thing...

Of course, in general you want people to love, love your books, no holds barred, no criticism at all. But at the same time I recognise that not everyone is going to do that (huh? really??) and I'd rather people reacted strongly in a negative way than in a bland 'whatever' way... or so I keep telling myself, as I posted something similar a few weeks ago!!

It's interesting too to me to see how my own books have changed-I wrote Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife a year ago now and the books I've written more recently have slightly softer Alpha heroes and a bit stronger heroines, which is both an editorial and personal directive. They're still on the dark and angsty side, although not quite so much.

And since that might intrigue you, I thought I'd give you a snippet from my current wip, when the hero and heroine meet for the first time since their brief affair four years ago:

"Hello, Khaled." Lucy surprised herself with how calm and even her voice sounded. Unconcerned. She turned all the way round, one hand still resting on the stone balustrade.
Khaled just stared. Scowled, even, almost as if he were angry. Yet he couldn't be angry... anger and indifference were two entirely separate emotions, worlds apart.
"I didn't think anyone was here," he said tersely, and Lucy inclined her head, gave a small smile.
"I needed some air. The room was very hot."
"I'm sorry you weren't comfortable." They were the words of a cordial host, impersonal, distant, forcing Lucy to half-apologise.
"No, no, everything has been lovely. I'm not used to such star treatment." She paused, and gestured to the moonlight-bathed gardens behind her. "The palace gardens look very beautiful."
"I will have someone show you them tomorrow. They are one of Biryal's loveliest sights."
She nodded, feeling somehow dismissed. There was a howl inside of her, a desperate cry for understanding and mercy.
After everything we had...
But in the end, it--she--had meant nothing to Khaled. Why couldn't she remember that? Why did she always resist the glaring truth, try to find meaning and sanctity where there had been none? "Thank you," she managed, and then lapsed into silence as the night swirled softly around them.
Khaled said nothing, merely looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her hair, her face, her dress. Assessing. "You haven't changed," he said quietly, and surprised by what felt like a confession, Lucy blurted,
"You have."
Khaled stilled, and Lucy hadn't realised there had been a touch of softness to his features in that unguarded moment until it was gone. His smile, when it came, was hard and bitter. "Yes, I have."
"Khaled..." She held one hand out--in supplication--then dropped it. She didn't want to beg. There was nothing left to plead for. "I'd like to talk to you."
Khaled arched one eyebrow. "Isn't that what you're doing?"
"Not now," Lucy said, suddenly wishing she hadn't started this line of conversation. "Tomorrow. I just wanted you to know... perhaps we could arrange a time..." Her voice trailed away as Khaled simply stared, his lips pressed in a hard line, a bleakness in his dark eyes.
"I don't think we have anything to say to each anymore, Lucy." Startled, she realised he sounded almost sad.
"You may feel that way, but I don't. I just need a few minutes of your time, Khaled. It's important."
He shook his head, an instinctive gesture, and Lucy felt annoyance spurt through her. She hadn't come to Biryal to be rejected--again--and for something so little. Was he not willing to give her anything? Would she always feel like a beggar at the gates when it came to Prince Khaled el Farrar?
"A few minutes," she repeated firmly, and without giving him time to respond--or time for her to betray herself with more begging, pleading--she moved past him. Her shoulder brushed his and sent every nerve in her body twanging with remembered feeling as she hurried back into the palace.

What do you think??

Last chapter!

2008-06-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but I'm at the last 3,000 words or so of the book, the big black moment is beginning and it all goes very fast from here on--or so I hope! I've written about 3,000 words today so I'm taking a break to assess what needs doing. I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of tweaking going on after I finish, but I won't think about that yet.

In home news I've started packing which always makes things seem very imminent--although we don't move for six weeks, we have only three of those weeks in our house--our lovely house, which I'll miss so much. Here is a photo of the outside on a beautiful spring day:

Isn't it lovely? Oh, well. So much for nostalgia!

Getting there

2008-06-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

I'm just about to finish chapter 8--this really is the home stretch! I'm pausing though to go back and read everything I've written so far. This usually helps focus me for the end. It's amazing how often I think I'm planting something later in the book only to realise I've already done it earlier on without realising it. Then when I go back, I think 'oh, I need to add this' or 'change this' and I don't actually have to because whatever I thought wasn't there--was! However, all that niceness aside, there are also plenty of times when I feel like my manuscript is in tatters, and I don't just have to add or change, I have to delete and rewrite. Sigh.

Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife is on eharlequin's Top 10 Bestsellers list for ebooks, which is always an exciting thing to see. I finally made it to the bookshop and read the review in Romantic Times, which I can't remember exactly but it was something like 'Kate Hewitt's latest has potential, but some readers may tire of Cormac's inability to ever tell the truth and feel his transformation comes too late.' Which is possible, I suppose--I set out to write a ruthless hero, and he really was *ruthless*. Funnily enough, he was less ruthless initially, and my editor told me to make him more so--so I did. She said if readers want a ruthless hero, they want him *really* ruthless! I wonder if that's true... I suppose sales will tell! I've come to realise RT's reviews aren't necessarily an accurate reflection of a book's success in sales. Still, all my heroes have been veritable pussycats since then :)!

Life gets in the way... again

2008-06-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

As it always does. Today is the first day I've written all week, and I did manage 3,000 words, which felt good. I'm at the end of chapter 7 and the end is *almost* in sight. Meanwhile we're wrapping up the end of the school year, the softball season (I'll post an AMAZING story about my daughter's second to last softball game soon!!), Girl Scouts, everything really. And since we're moving in August I'm feeling sad rather than relieved that things are ending because I know it's not just a break for the summer, but for good.

Of course, we'll find activities and friends and Scouts and softball in NYC--at least I hope we will! But until then it's several months or more of in-betweeness, of not quite being one place or the other. Finding your feet, your friends, your regular routine. Ugh! Moving is hard. We've done it a lot--in nearly 11 years of marriage, this is our sixth house move, and we've been here 5 years, so you can imagine how crazy the first 6 were!!

Time to put the children to bed and maybe even finish chapter 7. My husband is away, the only thing that beckons besides my laptop is an okay book or an episode of Gilmore Girls, which I've never seen before... hmm... maybe the writing can wait!

More press!

2008-06-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife got another mention in the newspaper, this time The Times, reviewing Manchester Library's centenary celebration of Mills & Boon covers. Check it out:

Respectable love at that – even in today’s Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife at least we know from the title that there’s been a wedding ceremony. Without the title it looks like Becks and Vicky on a beach.

Funnily enough, there *isn't* a wedding ceremony in the book!

You can check the whole article out here.

Uh-oh

2008-06-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

This happens in every book, or just about, and it's finally happened in this one. The dreaded slump. The time when my fingers stop flying on the keyboard and tap hesitantly, nervously, and sometimes not at all. The time when I sit back in my chair and think 'hmm... I'd better go fold that last load of laundry.'

I'm at 32,000 words, the top of chapter seven, and I'm not quite sure what needs to happen next. That is, I know what will happen physically, plotwise, for the most part, but emotionally? Where the characters need to be? That's where I'm thinking 'hmm...'

However, there have been other bits of good news. First, payday! My first Mills & Boon royalty statement. Hooray. Second, a review of my historical Another Country from Historical Novels Review, which said 'the story just pulls you in... a terrific read.' And third, the cover of Another Country's large print release, which I think is very pretty:

Now, in case you haven't guessed, writing this blog was a displacement activity. I should be writing. The kids are settled in bed, I'm sitting in front of an air conditioner (it's 100 degrees here!!) with my laptop in front of me, so no excuses!! Right??? Right???

Personal encouragement

2008-06-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Goodness knows writing can be a lonely occupation, and when you read something online or in print about your book that's less than glowing, it can hurt. I've given myself all the pep talks about not taking bad reviews personally, and reminding myself that both good and bad reviews are just one person's opinion. I've come to realise that the really bad reviews don't bother me as much the 'meh' ones--my style of writing just may not be someone's cup of tea. I can accept that gracefully--really, I can! But the 'just okay' or 'kind of boring' or things like that cut to the quick. How can MY writing be boring?!

So when I stumble across a review of my books by someone who really GETS my writing, it's such a joy. And I stumbled upon one on the eharlequin site for Greek Tycoon's Convenient Bride:

You know, Kate Hewitt is fast becoming one of my favorite Harlequin authors! LOVED this book. The insecurities of both the hero and the heroine are real and how they overcome these internal conflicts to find love is gut renching. Kate really slices a vein and bleeds when she writes. Awesome stuff.

So that made my day! And let me make yours by sending you a FREE copy of my newest release--I got sent 75 copies in the post and am itching to give them away! Just e-mail me your address at katehewitt@kate-hewitt.com, with Freebie in the subject header. I've already given a few away, but am happy to send more out and convert you all to Kate Hewitt fans :)

Feeling generous

2008-06-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

I just received not one but two boxes of copies of my third book, Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife, and I'm feeling generous, so email me at katehewitt@kate-hewitt.com before Monday and I'll send you a copy free in the mail. Just put Freebie in the subject header :)

Meanwhile I'm halfway through chapter six in the current wip--this book is flying! And even better news, my third historical, Down Jasper Lane, has been accepted by Robert Hale Ltd. This story will be published as a serial in The People's Friend in the UK starting July 12, so you can read it then or buy the book sometime in spring 2009, which is about 20,000 words longer.

Come on over

2008-06-05T09:21:00.001-07:00

I'm guest blogging on Jessica Hart's site today. Jessica Hart is a Harlequin Romance author and one of the writers that got me hooked on romance about 12 years ago. I'm so thrilled to be actually blogging on her site! I'm writing about when your writing surprises you, so come on over and check it out...

Halfway!

2008-06-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote a record 5,000 words today, which takes me to the halfway point word count wise, although a little less than that chapter-wise: I'm a few pages before the end of chapter 5, and it's going to be a 10 chapter book. Still, it feels good. This book has been going by very quickly--I started it last Sunday--about 10 days ago--so halfway seems pretty amazing.

I think I might need to take a breather though. I've learned that you cheat yourself and the book when you write too fast--at least I do. I miss the layers and nuances that a book that has had longer to stew and develop possesses, so I think I might give myself a few days' break and let things percolate. Of course, on the other hand, you get a certain momentum going when you write several thousand words a day, and there's something to that. You feel like you're riding a wave, and you want to keep going. So check back tomorrow and see if I've written anything or not!

Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife now in shops!

2008-06-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

If you live in the UK. Available in the US in July.

I'm in the middle of chapter 4 of my current book, about 18,000 words. So far... so good! There have been a few rough spots in the writing but overall things are going smoothly and I think I'll make my self-imposed deadline of July 1.

Meanwhile I'm busy tidying the house for a dinner party we're having tonight (that sounds posh but it really isn't--it's a work thing). As soon as I tidy up, it seems like three small beings mess everything up again. Why IS that?!

Halfway through chapter 3--and various news!

2008-05-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

Which, for the moment, is a good place to be. I usually like writing these middle chapters, when things start to heat up and get interesting but before you've got to wrap it all together... of course, there is always the quandary: how much of the internal conflict to reveal? How much to keep secret, save for later? I usually like to hint at things but if the hints are too heavy-handed, I find as a reader, than it can just be annoying!

Brenda Novak's auction is closing tonight, and my offer of a three-month one way critique partner closed out at $530! I don't know who will be receiving my precious pearls of wisdom, but watch this space...

Interestingly, my book Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife was given a mention in an article by The Independent which you can find here.

And lastly, we have a winner for our fake boyfriend contest--Rachel Long, who picked Daniel Craig! This *was* drawn randomly even though I have to say it works for me as Cormac Douglas, my hero from Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife, was inspired by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (love that film!) So Rachel, let us know if Cormac reminded you of Daniel when you read the book... :) Natalie has more information on her blog.

Almost finished chapter 2

2008-05-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

and then I think the writing will go a bit more smoothly. One can hope, right? I'm at 8,500 words, having managed about 2,000 words for the last three nights.

I wrote a scene with a meal, which I always like to do. I looked up a recipe from Yemen which sounds yummy: melon halves stuffed with lemon and parsley-flavoured chicken and rice. I'd eat that!

Cover time

2008-05-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

I found the cover of my fourth book, The Italian's Bought Bride, on Amazon. I like it well enough, but I must admit it's a little perplexing. Is that water in the background? And do they look like they're on some kind of ship? Because there is no water or ship in the story. Most of the book takes place in Abruzzo, in the mountains. It looks like there might be distant, hazy mountains on the horizon but I can't tell... what do you think? Is it mountains or the sea?

Finished chapter one!

2008-05-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

It feels rather rough but at least it's done! :) I love writing settings, and my fictional Arabian kingdom is based on the Yemen-owned island of Socotra. This is a picture of the island's Dragon's Blood tree, which is found nowhere else on earth [except, of course, in my book, on the island of Biryal!]

I always feel the setting of my story helps to convey the tone, and Biryal is barren, bleak and rugged--sort of an Arabian Isle of Skye. I think it goes along with the tone of the book--this story is about two people who will go to any length to protect themselves and keep from being vulnerable--until of course, they have to! That's when the fun begins, but it's not for quite awhile yet...

Finally

2008-05-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

I've made a start on my next book. I wrote the prologue a few days ago, and have now written half of chapter one. It's a relief to have actually got something down on paper, while at the same time I'm in that this-is-painful part of writing, because I'm not 'in' to the book yet, and everything feels new and strange. But hopefully that will change soon, and the writing will flow with smooth and wonderful ease...

I know my characters and I like them, and I feel like I pretty much know where this book is going, but still as I write there are usually a few surprises. And sometimes they're good surprises--added depth and characterisation--and sometimes they're not so good--plot holes and flimsy motivation--so we'll see how this goes.

I'm on a pretty tight writing schedule because I want to finish this book and hand it in by mid-July, before we move.

And in personal news, our house has a buyer--the ministry my husband works for wants to buy it for the next worker, which is great because it means we don't need a realtor or to show it. Now we just need to find an apartment...