Saturday, July 29, 2006

Creative Chaos

Today I'm leading a workshop for other romance writers. We're going to make collages for our works in progress, a la Jenny Crusie, who wrote an article on this process a few years ago in the Romance Writer's Report. Supposedly it's a terrific way to get in touch with your subconscious and discover things about your book.

I only have the vaguest of ideas about my next project, but here is what I do know: There will be a triple strawberry, two heroes and a heroine (lucky gal!), and a mystical cookbook that has been handed down from a grandparent or great-grandparent. I'm really looking forward to what my book is about.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

A Taste of "Leap of Faith"

I've been talking about my upcoming Phaze release so much, I thought I should offer you an excerpt. The book is set in an Incan ruin and in this scene Amaru and Kira are near a fountain. Amaru has just washed his head and upper body.

“I see you found the clothing.” With a slight smile Amaru looked Kira over and she flushed under his attention. “Your beauty puts orchids to shame.”

He stepped closer, the sunlight glinting off droplets of water in his hair and on his broad, muscular shoulders. Kira’s heartbeat quickened and she couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his.

“The moon will not want to show herself tonight for fear of you outshining her.”

Coming from any other man, that would have sounded corny. In fact, Kira wondered how many women he must have used this line on. Dozens, probably, but for some reason she didn’t really care. He managed to infuse his words with sincerity that reached inside her and made her want to lay back in the soft grass and lift up her dress. She wanted nothing more than to make love with this man in the morning sunshine, even if he was a Peruvian Casanova.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

I like to keep my website up to date, and so I've added quite a few things to the "Behind the Scenes" page. If you like special features on DVDs, then I hope you'll like that section of my site. It's there that I try to give people an insider look at my process and some of the things that happened during the writing of a particular book.

The newest additions are for a book that hasn't even been released yet, but I'm hoping to whet your appetite. Leap of Faith will be out in August from Phaze Publishing. It's a paranormal tale set in the Andes of Peru with llamas, death, a centuries-old curse, and, of course, love.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Group Hug

I've gone and done it. I've created a Yahoo!Group for myself. Jax Crane, my wonderful and tireless web designer, installed the buttons on my site so people can sign up directly. I also put up my first poll there. I assume you have to join the group to vote.

So, what are you waiting for? Join up! It's not the Army! ;)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Sixteen Questions

I'm very excited. As I mentioned a few days ago, Jeanne Laws, a good friend and colleague of mine, gave me the honor of being the first author interviewed for her bi-monthly newsletter. Jeanne posed some terrific questions and I hope people enjoy finding out a little more about me. Here's the interview!

Jeanne Laws' romance stories encompass shapeshifters, male/male love, and much more. A Good Man Is Hard To Find is due out from Loose ID on August 29th! Here's a short blurb about it:

Being at the receiving end of an outlaw's bullet changed bounty hunter Kade Black Eagle's life forever. He realizes that for a long time his solitary life in lawless gold country has been incomplete, and he sets out to remedy the situation. Now all he needs to do is convince his best friend that their friendship is just the beginning. What he wants is a partnership he can find with only one man.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Light My Fire

I just got back from a week in Lake Tahoe. What a beautiful place. We stayed at the Marriott's Timberlodge, a classy and well-run establishment. I especially loved the full kitchen inside the villa and the grocery store not a quarter mile away. With two strapping boys to feed, this saves us beaucoup bucks.

We trekked along the side of a mountain, severely taxing my dubious hiking skills, to Cascade Falls. The water was freezing, but a splash of it sure felt refreshing on my hot face. We rented bikes, rode jetskis, ate more ice cream than was wise. But the highlight of my trip came from a unique store at Squaw Valley. The Waxen Moon sells candles, but more importantly, allows you to make your own.

You pick a mold and a scent. I chose a three wick brick shape and chocolate fudge brownie. Then, you choose colors from the bins, cut the shapes you want and place them in the mold. When you're done, she pours hot wax in to fill in the gaps. My kids made candles, too. We had an absolute blast. Here's my creation! If you're ever in Squaw Valley, I highly recommend visiting the Waxen Moon store!

Friday, July 14, 2006

The Ultimate Compliment

My Phaze editor sent me her revisions on Leap of Faith. There weren't many. (My internal editor is both shocked and smug.) AND, she said as she read the story, she had wondered how I was going to resolve things and she didn't see the ending coming at all. Yeah, baby! I never want to be predictable. I cannot wait until this story is released. Luckily, it'll only be a couple of weeks.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Interviewed!


It's a first for me. I've been interviewed for a newsletter! Okay, the woman is a friend and colleague, Jeanne Laws, but hey, it's still cool that someone thinks I'm "somebody" enough to interview. She asked me sixteen questions that I had fun answering. I'll post here when the newsletter is available! Here's a cover of one of Jeanne's books. Ain't it gorgeous?

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Filched Photos: Hardbodies

Okay, I was mindlessly flipping through some stranger's blog, intrigued because he's Italian. I get to a link, follow it, and...OMG. I don't usually post pictures of almost naked men, but if you know me from this blog, you know I love Italian stuff. I'm thrilled for Italy's World Cup win and these photos are of their team: Manuele Blasi, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro advertising Dolce and Gabbana underwear.



Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Super Sales


I just got the report on my book sales from Liquid Silver. I'm really excited because after just two months, Losing It has already passed Carnal Devotions' sales by about 30 copies! And Carnal Devotions has been out since October. I am a happy camper!

Monday, July 10, 2006

Llama Quiz

In my novella, Leap of Faith, llamas play a key role. In researching these adorable animals, I learned a few things. See if you can answer these questions correctly:

1. True or false: Llamas are smarter than dogs.
2. Baby llamas are called
a) calves
b) colts
c) crias
d) infantes

3. When a llama stamps its foot it means
a) Hello.
b) Don't bug me.
c) I wanna have your baby!
d) I'm paying attention.

4. The average llama life span is
a) 10 years
b) 20 years
c) 30 years
d) 40 years

5. Llamas spit to
a) divert annoying suitors
b) ward off a threat
c) show disgust
d) a and b

The answers can be found in the comment area.
In honor of the release of "Losing It," my "Virgin Contest" is still going on!

Everyone who joins my mailing list between now and July 31st will earn a chance to win a cute white t-shirt (L) with cherries on it!

My email address is kate_willoughby @yahoo.com.
Send me YOUR email address and cross your fingers!

Friday, July 07, 2006

Top Marks


Moonluster of Fallen Angels Reviews gave Losing It 5 Angels!

"Kate Willoughby tells a story that every woman should read. It has emotional scenes that will make you cry and laugh. The emotions that flow between the two characters are so overwhelming. Ben was funny. I intend to read more of Ms. Willoughby’s books."

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Authentic Prize!

Ebay is a wonderful thing. I recently bought an item to use as a prize in a promotional contest for my Phaze Heat Sheet release, Leap of Faith. It's a small, handcrafted jewelry box from Peru with llamas on it. It's so pretty that I want to keep it myself!

Have you bought anything on Ebay?

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Like Water for Chocolate

Hmmm. My friend Lisa recommended this movie to me because I'm a Foodie and I write erotic romance. The premise was intriguing. A woman infuses the food she cooks with the intense emotions she feels. Unfortunately, the plot didn't live up to the premise. Maybe it's because it was subtitled and I was listening to a bad dub job. Even so, I just didn't like it. I especially didn't like the ending even though it was clearly foreshadowed. Bummer.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Romancing The Cave

In June 0f 2005, I submitted a partial of a novella called The Medallion to Ellora's Cave. Today, I heard from them at last. They want to read the entire thing! Maybe, just maybe, I'll soon have a book actually printed on paper that is not from my laser printer! But I'm afraid to get my hopes up too high.

Here's a short blurb: When Lucas McGrath receives a strange yin-yang pendant as a gift, he is unaware of the far-reaching effects it will have on his life. Its whispered directives to seduce Maddy Taylor unnerve him. He's always thought of Maddy as a little sister, but suddenly he realizes nothing could be farther from the truth. She is a woman who now occupies his every waking thought and he can't seem to go five minutes without fantasizing what it would be like to be buried deep inside her.

In searching for a cool yin-yang image, I found this adorable picture and had to post it!