We have author Kate Walker talking about A QUESTION OF HONOR and she has a Kindle gift copy for one commenter.
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This year is an important one for me. It’s actually 30 years since I had my very first ever book published. Yes, I did say 30 – and no, I can’t quite believe it myself. I find that I can remember the time before I was published – that feeling of so wanting to write and trying to tell stories – and then submitting them to Harlequin Mills & Boon in the hope of seeing them published. I was told that I was accepted pretty quickly. It was my third submission that I sent in that was bought and became that first book – The Chalk Line – that was published in December 1984.
This code of honor was very much in my mind when I wrote my latest novel, A Question of Honor (or A Question of Honour if you’re in the UK) which is out in Harlequin Presents this month. My hero Karim is sent to fetch runaway princess Clementina and bring her back to her arranged marriage with Prince Nabil. He is given the job because he is a man of honour, a man who can be trued to stick by that code of honour, no matter what his personal feelings might be. So his sense of honor and that trust that others have in him are severely tested when he finds that Clementina is a woman who stirs his senses more strongly than anyone he has eve r met before.
Kate Walker on the Web:
Facebook Website Blog
Over to Kate now...
A QUESTION OF HONOR
This year is an important one for me. It’s actually 30 years since I had my very first ever book published. Yes, I did say 30 – and no, I can’t quite believe it myself. I find that I can remember the time before I was published – that feeling of so wanting to write and trying to tell stories – and then submitting them to Harlequin Mills & Boon in the hope of seeing them published. I was told that I was accepted pretty quickly. It was my third submission that I sent in that was bought and became that first book – The Chalk Line – that was published in December 1984.
Since then I’ve written and had published another 61 titles. It’s hard to believe. When people ask how I’ve managed that, the answer is, well, really it’s ‘One word after another. . . ‘. That’s the truth. It’s the only way to tell stories, to write novels and to get them published. To keep on keeping on. Telling the story. Putting one word after another until they all build up into something worth reading – and the story’s told.
Lots of things have changed in that time. When I first started writing there was no place in the book for the hero’s point of view. Now almost all romance show both the hero and the heroine‘s point of view. I can’t recall the last time I read a romance that was just told from one point of view. The sensual scenes have become more frequent – and sometimes much more explicit . But the one thing that has never changed for me in all that time is that a hero – my heroes anyway – have to have a strong code of honor and decency that they hold on to, no matter what happens to threaten it or to make them question it.
This code of honor was very much in my mind when I wrote my latest novel, A Question of Honor (or A Question of Honour if you’re in the UK) which is out in Harlequin Presents this month. My hero Karim is sent to fetch runaway princess Clementina and bring her back to her arranged marriage with Prince Nabil. He is given the job because he is a man of honour, a man who can be trued to stick by that code of honour, no matter what his personal feelings might be. So his sense of honor and that trust that others have in him are severely tested when he finds that Clementina is a woman who stirs his senses more strongly than anyone he has eve r met before.
He is so strongly tempted, especially when Clementina herself makes it clear that the attraction he feels for her is mutual. But he has promised on his honor . . . So now he has to fight against her alluring appeal, the enticing glances, the temptation she offers – as well as the hunger she awakens in him, if he is to hold on to that honor.
Kate
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Honor is one of my favorite qualities in a hero. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa - thanks for commenting. And as I said to someone on my personal blog - I agree - it doesn't matter if you spell it honor or honour - it's something that's very important to me. And my heroes.
Delete61 titles?? That's truly amazing. Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz. Actually, I've just checked and I miscounted! A Question of Honor is my 62nd title - which means I just submitted my 63rd book to my editor! I can't quite believe it myself. Bit as I said - one word at a time . . . ;-)
DeleteAmazing achievement Kate, especially since they're all different characters with different struggles and emotions. Love them all. And the honour of Karim was fantastic. He stuck to it.
ReplyDeleteTash thank you - and thank you for saying exactly how I hoped my readers would feel about things - that my characters are all different characters with different struggles and emotions - that's how I manage to write the books - they are all different characters with their own stories. I'm so glad you liked Karim - I loved writing him.
DeleteHi Kate, I wonder if, and how, your writing style has changed over the 30 years?
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hi Mary - now that's a question and a half! There are some obvious things - like the fact that when I started out the bedroom door tended to stay closed - and no one showed the hero's point of view . . .but as for my personal writing style . . .I'm going to have to think about that - and maybe blog about it. (Though I'll bet that a long term reader like you might be able to make some interesting comments too!)
DeleteSorry to be late coming in to answer you! We've actually had some sunshine - and visitors - and the combination has meant that I've been away from my desk for a while. But now I'm here to answer your comments - thanks for visiting everyone!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to getting your new title, can't wait until it arrives at my bookstore :-)
Wow you have a fascinating history in your family and this title is a beautiful way to honour your great –great-great (etc) grandfather !!
BTW being in South Africa we have no problem with the spelling of honour as this is just how we spell it to *LOL*
Hi there! I have to say that I do find this bit of my family history fascinating - and romantic. I always wanted that story to have a happy ending so it was fun writing it to give it one. I do hope you find it in the bookshops - and that you enjoy it if you do. I'm glad that the spelling of honour I use works for you too. :-)
DeleteSon many books!!!!!! I'm looking at my screen mouth agape now.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa - thank you for visiting - and sorry to be late replying. I know - sometimes I feel like that when I think of all my books - but then as I say it's just one word at a time and they mount up! But it's a little scary to think of how many words they total altogether!
ReplyDelete