Each year for the last twelve or so years, my summer has been defined by the RWA Conference. It’s always in July, usually the last week of the month, and I know that once the 4th of July holiday passes, it’s time to hunker down and get meetings and meals and workshops scheduled.  By the time I get home from the conference, August is underway and I can see the end of summer and beginning of the school year approaching. It’s almost comforting in a way to know the flow of my summers.

But this year, it’s all confused! The conference was held a month earlier (hotel renovations) and also a day earlier in the week, too. So events always on Thursday were on Wednesday this year…leading me to miss several things I like to attend. And I know I was not the only one…. I did all that conference planning in May and June and now the 4th of July has passed and . . . .

I am lost!

How do I make it through the rest of the summer?

Well, honestly, I do have some things to do. . . and lots of things I don’t have to worry over now, too. I could write. . . well, I WILL write since I have two projects I need to work on and get into my editors or my agent.

Stories are beginning to swirl in my mind and I need to put words to them and get them down so they begin to make sense. Characters are beginning to speak to me — one actually opened my front door and walked in today, though he or she is not speaking directly to me yet. Scenery, medieval Scotland for the most part, is beginning to scroll across my vision at the oddest times. Celtic symbols are appearing in my dreams.

I guess it’s time to write!

But, I think I’ll also read all the books I put aside when last on my deadline binge of writing, and I think I’ll clean my office, and I think I’ll catch up on all the recorded TV shows I have saved, and I think I’ll. . . .

Ok, nevermind on the cleaning the office thing, but the rest sounds good! And if I really put my mind to it, maybe I’ll make my way down to the shore, the REAL Jersey shore, and spend a day on the beach, wearing my darkest sunglasses and doing what all writers do. . . people-watch! Oh yeah!

So, in this lull between now and the end of summer, what will you be doing? Traveling? Catching up on chores or reading? Prep for school or family things? Is summer all R&R for you or is it just as busy as every other season of the year?  Since I collected more than a few books at the RWA conference, I’ll send out a couple to each of two people who post a comment and I’ll include a book of mine, too!

  Terri is celebrating the release of the final book in her STORM series – MISTRESS OF THE STORM – and the rerelease in digital formats of the connected novella – A STORM OF LOVE. Stop by her website for more info about her upcoming books and events @ www.terribrisbin.com

I’ve just touched down in England where I will be living for the foreseeable future. Its been a crazy-exciting two months as my son graduated from the 8th grade (or as he said, got promoted like I always do), packed up my entire house and had it loaded on a on container, drove across the country with my kids and my mom (Cali to Florida) then attended RWA in NYC. I’m tired! And so glad to be in one place with the knowledge that I don’t have go anywhere for at least 6 weeks!

Moving to England seemed like a fun idea in theory, I mean we speak the same language sort of and its a cute country with castles and gardens galore. But there are a lot of differences and I’m sure they will be more obvious to me the longer I am here.

Have you ever tried something new and found it was more than you were expecting? I’m thinking kids were!

Happy Reading,
Katherine

Weddings are a staple of life…and romance novels. A lot of romance novels end with a wedding; in contrast, a lot of romance novels feature a wedding as the dreaded event at which the heroine’s single status will be hugely noticeable. (I always thought the bouquet toss was a little cruel, personally.) I like to have people married by the end of my books; only one of mine ends without that happening.

I remember going to a Southern belle’s society wedding when I was in my early twenties. The bride was one of those; one had to wonder what drug she’d slipped the groom, because she was utterly terrifying. Everything was wrong, she was furious because her hair hadn’t come out the way she wanted it to, and the lilies in the arrangements hadn’t opened enough, and her wedding planner was going to hear about this, oh yes. Her mother made the mistake of telling her she looked beautiful; the bride started screaming! At her mom!

The other two “society” weddings I went to were completely different—sure, they were both lavish and expensive and both brides had spent eons on all the little details, but the difference was, they were having fun. They were crazy in love, they wanted to throw a huge party to celebrate, and we all had an incredible time.

Another memorable wedding reception I attended was in a backyard. That was a very happy wedding. The bride, my cousin, had asked some of us to make cakes, so rather than just one big wedding cake, there were several. Another of my cousins got married at a place that had a beautiful carousel, and we all rode at least once or twice. I did the flowers for that wedding. Just bouquets in mason jars, very simple and cheery. I’ve been a bridesmaid four times, did a reading once, and gave a speech about the bride and groom once.

I’ve been to two weddings where it was hard to have fun, because it was obvious to just about everyone that this couple would not go the distance. We all hoped to be wrong, but both those couples ended up bitterly divorced. It was hard to remember that everyone knew they were making a mistake except the couple, you know? I fail to get excited over celebrity weddings; I think it’s sad how quickly most of those burn out.

At my own wedding, my sister was the maid of honor, and my godchild was the flower girl. I gave the job of ringing the church  bell to two of my then-seven-year-old  cousins. McIrish’s dad was best man, and my brother stood in for my late father and walked me down the aisle. It was a very happy day; great food and great music in a very pretty little place. We all had a lot of laughs, we all danced till the wee hours, and the stars were so bright that night! But one of my clearest memories of my wedding day was sitting there at the head table and, despite the fact that the room was packed with my nearest and dearest and I was having a lovely time, I couldn’t wait to get home and start being married.

What do you think about weddings? Can you tell a lot about a couple by the wedding they throw? Got any memorable wedding stories? Do you like reading about weddings in a romance novel? How much detail do you like to see?

I have some wonderful books to give away; leave a comment, and I’ll pick two of you as winners. And have a great day!

Kristan

www.kristanhiggins.com
www.Facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks

Danielle!   I randomly drew her name as the winner of the $10 Barnes & Noble gift card.  Congratulations!   Danielle, please check your email for a note from me.

Terri Brisbin is thrilled that her Knights of Brittany series for Harlequin Historicals is being released in hardcover (aka board books) for the British market while also being released in France, the UK, Spain and several other countries in paperback!

It’s Mairee! Thanks to all who gave me input on my new Scottish series – I really appreciate it! Mariee – just email me with your contact info and I’ll get your book out to you asap. Margomaguire@yahoo.com.

I think most of us have our comfort reads…books that are on our “keeper” shelves. Books that we go back to when we need to be entertained and want a guarantee.

Several books that fulfill this function for me are any of the books in Mary Balogh’s Huxtable series, Lisa Kleypas’s “Stranger in My Arms” and Susan Elizabeth Phillips “Dream a Little Dream” or “Nobody’s Baby But Mine.”

Sometimes though I want to watch a movie, instead of reading a book. The movie that wins hands down when I’m in this mood is Pride and Prejudice. Watching this movie used to be my reward everytime I finished writing a book. (The version I like best is the one with Colin Firth) Another fav movie is Emma.

I’m curious. I know I’m not the only one with comfort movies and books. Could you share your favorites…perhaps they might end up being one of mine as well!

Margo Maguire has agreed to write two more historical romances for Avon Books. The first one – set in the Scottish Highlands - will be released in September, 2012.

I have an announcement to make. I’ve just agreed to write two more books for Avon, and I’m switching settings and time period. These books will be set in the Scottish Highlands, a year or two after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. The books will be full of adventure and fiery characters (hey, they’re Scottish, right?) and the first one will be out in September 2012. Which means I need to stop researching and get to the writing part!

But it’s so hard to stop doing the background work. Though I’ve been to Scotland (and loved it!), I’ve never read extensively on Scottish history – just a few bits and pieces here and there when I’ve needed peripheral information for a book I was working on. But now I’m fully immersed.

The evolution of Scotland is a complicated story, with Highland clans and feuds, raids, troubles with England and the borders, as well as friction between the highlands and Scottish lowlands. It’s a fascinating history, one that I hope to bring to life with these two books.

The hero of the first book is going to be a child survivor of the Glencoe Massacre (a nasty piece of work perpetrated by none other than King William of England and his Scottish henchmen to give the Highlanders a brutal lesson). The story takes place years later as he tries to find a secret cache of gold sent by the French to help “The Old Pretender” regain the Scottish crown. The heroine is going to be working at cross-purposes, of course – I think maybe she wants the gold for her own clan.

I’ll let you in on more of the details when I finalize them. For now, I’m learning about my characters – what makes them tick (and what ticks them off, lol). And need to ask you a couple of questions: Should I use a brogue in the dialogue? My thought is that it’s off-putting and difficult to read, but maybe I’m wrong. What do you think? Brogue or no? My second question is for anyone who reads Scottish romances: What draws you to them? The adventure? The colorful characters? The culture? Sean Connery?

I’m going to send a copy of Seducing the Governess (or something else from my backlist) to someone who comments on this question, so let your answers  fly!

Also, just to let you know — one of my earlier books for Avon – The Bride Hunt - is available for a limited time in e-format for $2.99. It’s got a bit of Scotland in it, as a matter of fact! 

I would love it if you would come on over to my website  and sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date on my next release - Brazen – which will be out at the end of November!

One of the things I love about summer is the chance to catch up on some reading.  I love taking a book with me to the beach and reading while my husband and daughter splash in the waves.  Hanging out by the pool is another great time to indulge in a chapter or two.  And then there are the lazy evenings, when my husband and daughter are busy with their computer games or projects, that I can curl up in a chair and read.

I’m picky about what I read.  I love a funny, heartwarming, romantic story.  I also love edge-of-your-seat suspenseful reads, often with a few swordfights and treasure hunts thrown in for added excitement (I guess that’s why I write historicals!). I don’t like creepy, bloody, gross, or scary books.  No vampires for me, unless they’re funny, romantic ones.    

So, what books are in your to-be-read list this summer?  What do you recommend for me?  I’ll send one commenter a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble so she/he can stock up on some summer reading.