Kate's Blog

Getting Your Facts Right

So in my latest ms, whose proofs I just finished checking, I had the Italian hero call the heroine [also Italian] passera, which, according to trusty Babelfish, is the female form of passero, or sparrow. This is a running theme throughout the book, and so he calls her passera quite a bit.

The book was accepted, and my editor got back to me during the copyedits because apparently the word passera doesn't exist. Fair enough, I thought, let's go with passero. But the whole exchange made me a trifle wary, so I telephoned my Italian sister-in-law [very handy to have when writing Mediterranean-set romances!] and asked her if passera was indeed a word, and also, incidentally, if she knew of any endearments similar to sparrow.

She emailed me back, rather firmly telling me that passera was most certainly not a word. Then the next day my brother emailed me, amused, to tell me the whole truth: passera is a word, of sorts; it is a very vulgar term for the female genitalia. And this was what my hero was calling my heroine as an endearment!!!

Thank goodness for Italian sister-in-laws [even if she was too embarrassed to tell me what this word meant!] and for more forthright brothers!

My sister-in-law compiled a list of birds that would do as endearments, and we settled on rondinella, which means swallow, and apparently is used in Italy as an endearment. Perfect! Much better than passera, don't you think?

And in any case, I've certainly learned my lesson. All Italian terms, endearments, and names are first run by the indomitable Gabriella!

Labels: oops, the bride's awakening, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 6:25 PM 4 Comments

Hello out there...

There is something a bit dismal about a neglected blog, isn't there? Have you ever stumbled upon a blog--whether it belongs to an author or someone else--and there hasn't been an entry for months or even years? It's the equivalent of a dusty, sheet-shrouded room, and not a place you would want to linger.

On the other hand, a blog that has a lot of entries--and comments--feels like a cozy library or living room with a blazing fire and a comfy chair, and perhaps even a pot of tea and something yummy to eat--cookies, scones, take your pick! It's a place you want to stick around and explore.

So I'm realizing that my blog has become a bit of the former, and I regret that as I had the best of intentions to keep it going, and in fact I kept a personal blog for family and friends for about three years--writing just about every day--so I thought I wouldn't have a problem doing the same here. Unfortunately, I did. Part of it was the increasing chaos of life, and part of it was the number of deadlines I gave myself, writing 4-5 books a year. And part of it was I was blogged out--that part of my brain that attempts to write witty and thoughtful summaries of my life and my writing had been sucked dry--not that there was all that much there to begin with! Blogging is a different talent than novel writing, and some writers are blessed with both. I'm not sure I am.

That all said, I'm going to *attempt* to give this blog another try and write diligently--if not daily--here. I love reading blogs when I get the chance--and the time--and I know that there are people out there who read this, even if you don't comment!! I check my stats and I get a regular number of hits every day, so whoever you are, I hope you want to read a bit of my blathering.

I just submitted the updates for my website to my webmistress, and she will hopefully have those up for you in the next week. At some point I am hoping to change the layout of my site with photos of beautiful New York City, and even a couple of me I'm notoriously camera-shy, and feel terribly unphotogenic, so this is big--for me). In fact, when I first met the fabulous Jennie Lucas, one of the first things she said to me was how much better I look than my photo on eharlequin! Thanks, Jennie!! :)

I also just handed in my 12th book, now titled Italian Count, Untamed Innocent, although I am 0 for 11 when it comes to picking titles the editors stick with. My last title--The Playboy Prince's Convenient Wife--seemed to hold all the relevant hooks, yet it was discarded for Royal Baby, Forbidden Marriage, and it is now available on eharlequin. Anyway, titles aside, I enjoyed writing this book because it features a tall heroine who is a bit insecure about her height--and I am 5'11" and have definitely gone through phases of insecurity about it, so it was nice to be able to put a little relevant personal experience in the story! Here, to tempt and tease you, is the first paragraph:

Vittorio Calzevara, the Count of Ralfino, stood on the threshold of San Stefano Castle and searched the milling guests for the woman he intended to be his wife. He wasn't certain what she looked like, for beyond a single blurry photo, he hadn't seen her in sixteen years. Or if he had seen her, she hadn't made much of an impression. Now he planned to marry her.

I'll let you know what my editors think of it!

Labels: Harlequin Presents, Italian Count, Untamed Innocent, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 6:56 PM 1 Comments

Auction Time

Brenda Novak is sponsoring her fourth annual auction for Diabetes research and the bidding is going on now! There are loads of goodies, from once-in-a-lifetime vacations and opportunities, to jewelry, handbags, books, and feedback opportunities for aspiring writers from editors, agents, published writers, and... me! I'm offering three months' worth critical feedback on any proposal, partial, or full manuscript, as well as any revisions the winner should choose to make within a three month time period. Also within that time period I'm available for writing and publishing advice and suggestions. And yes, I'm a little crazy in offering this what with our summer move planned and a baby on the way... but!! I want to help Brenda and diabetes' research and I also love helping writers take a further step on the path to publication. So if you're interested in any of the aforementioned goodies, stop by www.brendanovak.com and place a bid, or at least check it out.

We're on Martha's Vineyard for the weekend--business, not pleasure--so no writing or research is getting done at the moment, but hopefully I'll be back on track soon...

Labels: auction, Brenda Novak, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 6:14 PM 0 Comments

Starting my next book... sort of

So I'm doing the preliminary research and note taking on my next book. Unlike most books I write, this one was sort of 'given' to me by my editor, or at least a very basic two sentence plot summary was, namely: Sheikh has an affair and then leaves heroine not knowing she is pregnant. Three years later they meet again...

Lots of room for possibilities!! So for the last few weeks I've been thinking about motivations for the characters. I'm pretty big on motivations. I can't 'settle' into a book until I've thought of good reasons for the hero and heroine to act the way they do. So right away I saw I had some pretty big problems to solve, namely: 1.) Why would a hero ditch the heroine? 2.) Why would she not tell him about the baby? I've never done a secret baby plot before, and in this day and age I don't think there *should* be too many secret babies, so I'll have to think through this one carefully!

The other thing I've been researching is my fictional sheikhdom. Now since it's fictional, you might think there might little research to do, but I like to put my fictional kingdom in real places. My last made-up country was based roughly on Morocco. This time it's based on the island Socotra, which is owned by Yemen and positioned off the coast of Somalia. And finally I need to research pearl diving, because that is the island's industry!

I really enjoy research, and I've had to do more than I anticipated for each book. I love writing settings, so I really try to get my details right. It helps when I've been to the place--like Italy, Greece, Morocco--but when I haven't my imagination and the internet can take me there! Besides places, for various books I've researched architecture, real estate, hospice care, art therapy, autism, the diamond industry, and self-injury to name a few.

Of course, with all the research, there has to be a balance. You don't want to stuff your book full of irrelevant facts just because they're interesting [to you]. What do you think? Do you like lots of research-type details in your book or do they annoy you? Or do you notice them at all?

Labels: research, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 4:10 PM 0 Comments

Dreaded RSI

It's found me at last. Doing my best to be healthy and happy and whole--and get some writing done!

Labels: RSI, writing life

posted by Kate Hewitt at 6:09 PM 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