Peppermint Mochas and A Free book!

Check out my post as the Whipped Creme site where I am a guest blogger. Get a yummy recipe and win a free book!

"A Special Treat"

So, I'm thrilled to share this fantastic review from the One Good Book Deserves Another website.

Here's a snippet: If you'd like to read the whole review, click here. :)

So this is what you get when you take a little magic and a little chocolate, add a dash of humor and a bunch of hot sex, and stir with a surprising depth of emotional connection. Wow! All In is an erotic PNR novella that thoroughly satisfies.


If you'd like to read the whole review, click here. :)

Winner!

It's finally time to announce the winner of the complete set of Be-Wished books--ALL IN, A WOLF AT HER DOOR, ONCE UPON A KISS, and JUST WINGING IT. I made a list of everyone who was eligible from this site and the blogs (see list below) where I was a guest:

And the lucky winner is....

DRAMATIC DRUM ROLL AND CYMBAL CRASH

Ann Mayburn! Congratulations!

Ann, please email me at kate_willoughby at yahoo dot com so we can arrange delivery. :)

To everyone else, thanks so much for participating.

And to the blog hosts, Cristal Ryder, Passionate Reads, Ye Olde Inkwell, Tara Kingston, and Stephanie Julian, thank you for the hospitality.

Interview Fun

So, fellow author, Tara Kingston interviewed me. She and I share the same editor at Ellora's Cave. She lists some men she'd spend three days on a desert island with, and I agreed with most of her choices. Johnny Depp is the one guy I wouldn't have on my own list. He's a little strange. One day, maybe, but not three. I'd probably bore him by then. LOL

Anyway, read the interview here. :D I really enjoyed myself because she had some questions that were out of the ordinary.

Awesome Shirt

I want this shirt.

It's so true most of the time.

In fact, I almost always see the movie first now because I always like the book better and this way I can enjoy both for what they are.

Visit Me Today!

Today I'm featured on Michelle Miles' Blog, Ye Old Inkwell. There you'll find another interview.

I'm also at Stephanie Julian's blog talking about wishes...

Come visit me and enter the contest to will all four Be-Wished books.

Blog Hopping

I am blogging elsewhere to promote the release of Just Winging It.

Here at Passionate Reads, I talk about wishes and giving things to others.

And Cristal Ryder interviewed me for her blog.

Come visit me there!

JUST WINGING IT – BUY IT TODAY!

Hooray! The day has finally arrived. Woot! You can buy Just Winging It at Ellora’s Cave for a mere $5.20. That’s like one one-hundredth of a penny per word. What a bargain!

Here’s the blurb again to refresh your memory:

Ex-wish fairy Davina Traherne has until midnight to choose a groom at the birthday ball or her draconian grandmother Agatha will pick one for her. Panicking at the prospect of marrying a fussy, well-bred bore with no sense of adventure, she flees.

Laszlo can’t believe it when Davina asks him to help her go off-grid. He’s always had the hots for her but kept his feelings to himself. Eventually, close proximity and Davina’s playful teasing get to be too much, especially when he finds out his lust is reciprocated. But when Agatha zeroes in on their whereabouts, his resolve to keep his emotional distance dissolves and he discovers he’ll do anything to protect Davina.

Even marry her.

Don’t forget you can win the complete Be-Wished series. All you have to do is read the excerpt at Ellora’s Cave and EMAIL me the answer to this question:

What is the name of the porno flick that Davina watched by accident?

I won’t be keeping your email address for a newsletter because I don’t put out a newsletter, nor will I give it to anyone. Winner will be announced on December 16 right here on my blog.

JUST WINGING IT, Pre-Release Celebration – Sex Tally

Every time one of my books comes out, I tally up the sex in it, just because I’m curious. Here’s how JUST WINGING IT scored. (Ha! Get it? Scored? LMAO)

Number of sex scenes: 5

Longest scene: 2235 words

Shortest scene: 468

Percentage of book dedicated to sex: 19%

Today, in order to enter the contest to win the complete Be-Wished series, follow me (@kate_willoughby) on Twitter. (Check out my shiny new Twitter button on the left!)

Winner to be announced on December 16 here on my website.

JUST WINGING IT, Pre-Release Celebration – Off-Topic

Today I’m celebrating the twentieth anniversary of my twenty-ninth birthday.

I already had breakfast in bed, which was wonderful. Later I plan to prep a few things for Turkey Day and then go out to dinner to Macaroni Grill because I have a coupon for a free dessert, courtesy of them for my birthday.

On my wish list, I want cold hard cash because I want to get a new computer – maybe an iMac. The Apple laptops are too pricey, and since I have my iPad, that’s portable enough for me in a pinch.

Today, if you’d like to enter the contest to win the Be-Wished series, let me know in the comment section…

a) if you’re an Apple person or a PC person.

b) if I should throw Weight Watchers out the window today because the calamari fritti at Mac Grill is to DIE for.

Winner will be announced here on December 16.

JUST WINGING IT, Pre-Release Celebration - Guilty Pleasures

In my book, Just Winging It, that releases on Black Friday, three days from now, the main character, Davina visits a McDonald’s for the very first time.

Personally, I like McDonalds. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine. I know it’s horrible for me and the fries aren’t even as fantastic as they used to since they started using healthy oil, but I still love the Filet o’Fish and the Quarter Pounder.

When I was a teenager and could eat anything I wanted without fear of calorie overload, I’d order a Big Mac with fries and a strawberry shake. YUM.

So, what would you suggest Davina try at Mickey D’s? Answer in the comment section for a chance to win all four books of the Be-Wished series! Winner to be announced on December 16.

JUST WINGING IT Pre-Release Celebration - Thoughts on Books in a Series

The fourth and final book in the Be-Wished series, Just Winging It comes out on Black Friday, and I’m so excited! It’s been quite a journey writing this series. It all started with a special call for submissions from Ellora’s Cave. They wanted stories for their Naughty Nuptials theme and I rose to the challenge. The result was ALL IN…

When three close friends made margarita-fueled wishes on magical woven bracelets, none of them ever dreamed that their sexy wishes might come true. But then a real-life fairy appears with Universal Wish Federation credentials and a ludicrous claim that Mariah's wish is her command. And before Mariah can say bippidy-bobbidy-boo, old flame Tucker arrives in town…and in Mariah's bed.

Life on the road is a lonely one, but when Tucker bumps into Mariah again, all that changes. Sparks immediately fly and it's all he can do to keep his hands off her. As things deepen between them, he swears he'll be damned before he passes on a chance to reconnect with a woman he never forgot.

But wishes aren't always simple and Happily Ever After is never guaranteed. It will be up to Mariah to go all in and make her wish last a lifetime…or lose Tucker forever.

ALL IN didn’t make it as a Naughty Nuptial, but Mary Altman, an editor I greatly miss, contracted it as a stand alone novella. Good thing, too, because that novella spawned two more related books. I’d wanted to write a shape-shifter book for a while, so the hero in A WOLF AT HER DOOR became a wolf shifter…

A wish bracelet, a hot alpha werewolf and a frisky fairy whose specialty is “happily ever afters”—what does all this have to do with Paige’s love life? A whole lot, when gorgeous and sexy shapeshifter Adam shows up to sizzle her synapses, trigger her sensual meltdown and make her secret wish come true.

Adam is one big bad wolf who makes all her kinkiest fantasies a reality. Until real life intrudes and things take a turn for the serious. When Adam’s sanity is threatened by an agent of the Universal Wish Federation, he needs more than a well-meaning wish fairy and an unquenchable hunger for Paige to help him make the hardest choice of his life.

With the third book, ONCE UPON A KISS, I wanted to go somewhere completely different, so I decided that the third friend should not be so quick to accept the wish fairy was really a wish fairy…

Livvy thought she lost her chance for a Happily Ever After when she dismissed the wish fairy who knocked on her door, so when a prime specimen of masculinity appears on her front lawn one stormy night, she can’t quite believe it. Like a prince in distress, he needs her kiss to bring him out of his enchanted sleep.

After a war injury left him paralyzed, Joe Kimball never expected to walk again, but when he regains the use of his legs thanks to his sexy neighbor, he can’t argue when she insists the credit belongs to a wish fairy. Nor does he want to. Arguing is the last thing on his mind now that he is a whole man again.

Unfortunately, a few days of hot sex do not a fairy-tale ending make, and as the magic becomes increasingly volatile, Joe and Livvy realize there’s much more at stake than just their happiness.

Finally, in JUST WINGING IT, it’s the wish fairy’s turn for true love. Davina was such a fun character to write, I thought she deserved her own book…

Ex-wish fairy Davina Traherne has until midnight to choose a groom at the birthday ball or her draconian grandmother Agatha will pick one for her. Panicking at the prospect of marrying a fussy, well-bred bore with no sense of adventure, she flees.

Laszlo can’t believe it when Davina asks him to help her go off-grid. He’s always had the hots for her but kept his feelings to himself. Eventually, close proximity and Davina’s playful teasing get to be too much, especially when he finds out his lust is reciprocated. But when Agatha zeroes in on their whereabouts, his resolve to keep his emotional distance dissolves and he discovers he’ll do anything to protect Davina.

Even marry her.

To celebrate the completion of the Be-Wished series, I’m giving one lucky winner a complete set of all four books. All you have to do to enter your name in the contest is tell me about your experience with books in a series. Personally, I prefer to wait until all the books in the series are finished before I start. Several times I’ve started a series and had to wait too long for the next book. With Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, I never did read A Fiery Cross. I tried, but after only five pages, I realized I was hopelessly lost. With J.D. Robb’s In Death series, I actually just got tired. (There are 31 of them.Yikes!) I took a break and just never returned because I couldn’t remember which book I’d left off on.

But I can’t always read them in order or wait. I recently read Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, not knowing until I was hooked that it was the first of a series. I’m hoping book two comes out before I forget what occurred in book one.

Lastly, sometimes, I just get bored with a series because the books end up being too alike. The characters just have different names and professions.

How do you feel about series? Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Have a favorite I should try? Answer in the comment section to win! Winner to be announced on December 16.

Back to the Drawing Board

I think this will be the biggest dump of writing I've ever done. I am starting my Suzume, Ako, Hidaru story over from the beginning. It's killing me, but I realized that Ako would never do something I had him doing in the very first chapter. It changes everything. So, down the drain go sixteen thousand words.

Some of them were really wonderful! *sobs*

Perhaps I can keep some of it. We'll see.

I got it covered! (Get it?)

Behold! I have the cover art for Just Winging It. Isn't it gorgeous? The art department at Ellora's Cave is wonderful. This cover was designed by Mina Carter. My only regret is that EC never deigned to put the name of the series on the covers of the books.

Black Friday Release

Just Winging It has "gone to print"! This is super exciting for me since it's the last book in the Be-Wished series. The book will be coming out on Black Friday, November 25.

I'm imagining the people lining up to buy the book...

LOL!

Last Line

The writing has finally jump started again. I should know by now that if it stalls for a day or more, that I need to change points of view or direction. Usually when I do this, the story flows again. So, yesterday I did and it did. :)

Here's the last line I wrote:

"...I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time that I consider you a hero.”

Artwork: Japanese warrior painting, circa 1922

Davina's Book

It looks as if Davina's book will be named JUST WINGING IT. I think it's a great title. It touches on both her attitude and a certain fairy ritual that plays an important part in this book.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that my editor, Grace, and I decided that how I painted Davina in the first draft wasn't working and I'm having to rewrite a whole bunch. That's only bad news for me, because it's a lot more work, but as always, I tell myself that the result will be worth it. :)

Last Sentence

Here's the last sentence I wrote last night and a photo of a gorgeous Japanese garden.

Akko huffed something that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “Unpolished.”

Best Book of 2010 (almost)

Well, I just found out that FIT TO BE TIED was nominated for Best Book of 2010 at The Romance Reviews. The contest is over and I have no idea how they chose the winners. I don't even know what category my book was placed in. I'm thinking it must have been Contemporary Erotic Romance.

Anyway, I am truly happy that my book was even nominated.

It's a nifty little logo, isn't it? Heh heh.

Last Sentence

I was thinking it might prove interesting to, everyday, post the last sentence I wrote. My hope is that the sentences provoke your curiosity and make you wonder about what came before and what comes next. My current work-in-progress is another story set in the Shinwa world that I created for the Torrid Topaz anthology. It has no title yet.

So, without further ado, here's the first of the last sentences.

“And seeing as how the gods saw fit to give you to us,” Akko went on, pulling open her tunic, “you were made for our pleasure. You belong to us now, to do with as we please.”

DONE

Last night, I turned in ALMOST HUMAN (tentative title), Davina's story. Woot! I'm so glad. I think it still needs some tweaking, which is why I'm really looking forward to hearing what my editor, Grace, thinks. She's a sharp chick and I really value her input.

I'll also be polishing up two stories for Woman's World magazine today and sending those off in the next two weeks. One of them, "Finding Mr. Darcy," I have really high hopes for.

Back to the Drawing Board

I wrote the end. I really did. But it didn't work out right. It didn't feel right. So I'm writing another ending.

I feel a little badly about that, especially considering my very patient editor has been looking forward to reading this for months now. But on the other hand, I truly think the story will be much the better for this extra attention and it'll be worth it in the long run.

On a side note, in my snippet file, the place where I dump all the big sections I can't bear to delete completely, I have almost 16,000 words. LOL. I'd post a chunk here, but I just looked at the last part I pasted there and it sucks. So never mind!

Update on Davina's Story

I have taken all the comments my critique parner and my beta reader gave me and incorporated them into the manuscript. I'm now trying to finish the epilogue--usually my favorite part of a book when I'm reading. As happened with the rest of the book, I had to start over. I'd remembered that the Powers That Be at Ellora's Cave frown upon babies and/or pregnancy in epilogues. They see them as cliche. I see them as fitting.

However, this is one hill I'm not willing to die on. So instead of writing an epilogue that showed Davina four months along, I've had to rewind and show her just before the wedding instead. I'm actually glad it worked out this way because now I can bring Mariah, Paige and Livvy back for a cameo appearance in this--the last--volume in the Be-Wished series.

Wheelchair Charity Contribution Update

When Once Upon a Kiss was published, I vowed to put a portion of each book sold toward the purchase of a wheelchair for someone who needs it. The Wheelchair Foundation is the charity I chose to help.

So far I've collected $13.37. It's going to take a while, but I'll get there eventually. Thanks to everyone who has purchased Once Upon a Kiss. I appreciate the support.

Davina's Book

Good news. I have finished the first draft of Davina's story. Some of you may remember her as the wacky wish fairy from the first three Be-Wished books. My critique partner is hard at work reviewing it and after I do everything she says (LOL) I'll be sending it to my editor, Grace at Ellora's Cave.

Sizzling Hot Books Reviews Fit To Be Tied

This is pretty late to be posting this, but better late than never!

Marissa at Sizzling Hot Books had this to say about Fit To Be Tied:

Fit to be Tied is an entertaining way to spend the evening. This quick read is hot (yes, graphic), at time sweet, and just a touch kinky.

To read the entire review, click here.


Painting by T.F. Simon, "Vilma reading on a Sofa", oil on canvas, ca. 1912.

New Print Release!

Ellora's Cave decided to combine the first two Be-Wished books (ALL IN and A WOLF AT HER DOOR) together into one print volume, WOLF WISHES. I'm very excited, and isn't the cover beautiful?

To help me promote the new book, Voirey Linger, herself a successful fantasy romance author, interviewed me. Read it HERE.

Also, I finally figured out how to make separate pages from my blog, but attached to my blog. You'll see the new links in a menu at the top of the blog. Now my sidebar is much less crowded. It's still a work in progress, but I like how it's shaping up.

Bitten By Books Review

Brit of Bitten by Books is a tough reviewer. Her average score is three tombstones, but I got four! She was also generous with her praise...

This is the third book in the Be-Wished series. Not having read the first two, I was not sure what to expect or if this book would work as a standalone in the series. I am happy to say that this works very well all by itself but now I cannot wait to read the first two.

What appealed to me most about Once Upon A Kiss was the quirkiness. It is a lighthearted, fun and sexy read... Davina, the wish fairy...is a total mess who is always getting in trouble for not following protocol. She makes mistake after mistake, each having hilarious after effects...
I like the relationship between Livvy and Joe. It is not only about sex, although there is certainly not a lack of hot, mind-blowing erotica.... The two share a playful and endearing love that will have readers cheering them on.


Once Upon A Kiss is a lighthearted, entertaining read that is sure to please everyone.

Woot! Here's a link to the entire review.

Money for Wheels

The holidays are over and it's back to work/writing. Davina's book is proving to be the more difficult than Once Upon A Kiss. The plot is not coming along as smoothly as I would like.

In other news, my December royalty check arrived and I'm a tad closer to having enough money for the wheelchair. In fact, I've passed the ten percent mark. I hope the sales of this book keep up so that some poor person can become mobile.