I
have been writing for over 20 years. My very first book was published by Mills
& Boon in 1984 and since then I have written for both Harlequin Romance and
Harlequin Presents - concentrating on Presents for the last ten years. I have
published 45 titles in all. I have also published two 'How To Write' books on
writing Romance - one of which The Twelve Point Guide To Writing Romance has won
two awards for Best Book For Writers 2004 and Best Writing Reference 2004. I live
in Lincolnshire, England with my husband and four domineering cats who keep me
company while I write. I have one adult son and love films, the theatre, embroidery
and antiques (I manage to combine the two by collecting Victorian embroideries,
especially 'samplers'. ) *** Review of The
Twelve-Month Mistress
"Kate Walker has outdone herself
with this captivating novel that will draw you in from page one. Joaquin Alcolar
has me ready to take the next flight to Spain to see if the Spaniards are really
as sexy as Ms. Walker describes them. The emotional drama that Cassie goes through
as she fights her love for Joaquin is as compelling as a soap opera, and the twists
and turns with his injury will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can.
The Twelve Month Mistress is a fabulous read, and I can’t wait to read more
about the fascinating Alcolar family."~ Cat Cody, Romance Junkies
Click
here to read whole review | |
 Available
Sept '05 | The Twelve-Month Mistress Joaquin's
Story September 2005
- Harlequin Presents #2492 ISBN:
0373124929 Buy
Book |
A prisoner - of passion! Joaquin
Alcolar has a rule – never to keep a mistress for more than twelve months.
Cassie knows that her time is nearly up, and to save her pride – and her
heart - she decides to jump before she’s pushed. However,
when an accident leaves Joaquin with amnesia, he cannot recall Cassie ending their
relationship. And, on doctor’s orders, Cassie can’t tell him the truth. So
is she back where she started – in Joaquin’s bed – until her recovers
his memory . . . and the clock starts ticking once more? |
***
Keep
your eye out in October 05 for THE SPANIARD'S INCONVENIENT
WIFE Ramon's Story - click
here to learn more | |
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Why I Never want to Write a 'Proper' Book! When I
am interviewed, I'm always waiting for that question - the one where the interviewer,
having heard about degree, my MA, says, 'And don't you want to write a proper
book?' My answer -usually through gritted teeth - is that I always thought
that I did - that I write a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, characters,
development, conflict, resolution - sometime humour, some times a touch of controversy,
always, always emotion. So what do they mean by a 'proper book'? Well, they
say, not a Romance. When did a Romance become 'not a real book'? Is it the
subject? Is love and the finding of love, a great universal truth, a universal
story for all ages? Is the coming together of a man and woman, to get to know
each other, to learn how to handle difficulties, complications, dissensions between
them not something that merits a 'real' story. I read hundreds of 'serious
literary novels' when I studied, I enjoyed some, hated others, but so many of
them have bored me stupid. And, however 'great' a book is, if it bores me it's
not worth reading. And one of the subjects that rarely bores me is Romance. I
love reading - and writing Romance. Romance is for all time - stories of medieval
knights and ladies are as fascinating as contemporary stories - or novels set
in the future, or in some fantastic, nonexistent world. Romance is international
- my books are read in UK, America, Japan . Hungary, Greece . . .It appeals to
women of all ages, all colours, all nationalities. So many other books don't even
come close. That's why I'm so proud to write romances that touch people's
hearts as well as their minds - and that's why no one will ever convince me that
they're not 'proper' books! | |
*** Coming
in September/October/November 2005 
Proud
modern-day Spanish aristocrats - passion is their birthright! Mills &
Boon Modern Romance™ is proud to present bestselling author Kate Walker's
seductive new Alcolar Family miniseries.
Look
out for The Twelve Month Mistress
Joaquin's Story - published in
September 2005
Coming soon: Mercedes – Can the only
Alcolar daughter find the man who is her match? Find
out in Bound by Blackmail
Published in November 2005 [US] | |
Choosing
just five has been so difficult for me! The Moonspinners by Mary Stewart.
I saw a very bad film version of this book a long, long time ago, when I didn't
know it was a book, but I was young enough not to be too critical of the film
and just fall in love with the leading man. Then I found an old secondhand copy
of the actual book and read it - it was SO much better than the film and it started
me on a hunt for all the Mary Stewart titles I could find. It also started my
love affair with the talk, dark, dangerous and totally ambiguous hero - the one
you're not quite sure might not be the villain. The Lymond Chronicles by
Dorothy Dunnett - starting with Game of Kings. A long, complex historical series,
with one of the most fascinating, complicated and - again - totally ambiguous
heroes ever created in Francis Crawford. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- I grew up in Yorkshire, UK, just a few miles from the village where the Bronte
sisters lived in the 19th century. I loved the little village set on the wildness
of the moors and I read all the Brontes' books but I specially loved Wuthering
Heights - it's that ambiguous, dark and dangerous hero again!
Simona's
Jewel by Marjorie Phillips. This book is ancient! I read it when I was in junior
school, and even then it was quite old. For a long time I couldn't even remember
the name of the author, then I found it in an internet search and I managed to
get hold of a copy. I'm sure you've guessed why I loved it - there was that dark,
difficult, mysterious hero again.
Gold Ring of Betrayal by Michelle Reid.
To me, this ie one of the classic Presents romance - Michelle Reid is a wonderful
writer,; she can tear at your heart with the intensity of emotion she puts into
a story - and this is one of her very best. |  |
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I'm
always torn between two times of the year as my favourite. Spring is wonderful,
with its freshness and the promise of warmth, but really, I most love the autumn
- but I suppose I'd better say The Fall as I'm writing this for an American site!
After a long, hot summer (well, sometimes!) the cooler days and nights make life
so much more comfortable, but it's still a long way from the cold and dark of
winter. The colours of the leaves as they change from green to gold and bronze
are glorious, making everything look so different and beautiful. When I was a
child, the late summer, early Fall, was when my mother had made jars and jars
of jam with the summer fruits - she also bottled her own fruits - and so the taste
of those delicious spreads was new and special. But I think
that one of the things that Fall means to me most has always been the idea of
the new beginnings - the new school terms, with brand new notebooks and pens.
When I was older and went to University, the Fall was when I went back to the
small Welsh town that I loved and where I spent five wonderful years - it's also
where I met my husband. So the the autumn meant meeting up again with all my friends,
moving back into the tiny cottage we rented between us, settling in for a brand
new year at college. I suppose that's why, for me, the autumn has always been
a much better time for 'new year resolutions' than January 1st. In September I
feel more like getting organized and planning new projects than I do in the vold
dark days of December. And of course, it was in the Autumn,
at the Welsh university, that I met my husband - so that just makes it perfect! |
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