This is more of an apology than a newsletter—I had the second and hopefully final minor surgery on Wednesday (my mouth is full of stitches—it’s a great diet because I really can’t eat much!) and I've been feeling like crap. I just don’t have the energy to deal with the gazillion emails that a contest entails, so this is more a quick update until I can do the real thing. I promise a big one in January, or possibly later this month if I can manage, but this last couple of months have been tough.
I got Redemption finished and sent to my editor a couple of days before Thanksgiving, and I’m really pleased with the story. Have been thinking about what I’m going to do with a new Spirit Wild story and should get moving on that as soon as I’m feeling a little better.
I’ve been reading the past couple of days, and doing it without guilt. (Such a concept—for those who know me well, I do GREAT guilt!) If you love small town, connected family, friend, and neighbor type stories, please check out Susan Fox’s Caribou Crossing series. I’ve just finished reading LOVE ME TENDER, which is the third book and also includes the novella, STAND BY YOUR MAN in the back of it. The novella was released as an ebook a while back, but I just finished the main story today and it’s definitely left me smiling. Susan writes real characters who deal with real problems—Cassidy is a free spirit who really caught my attention, because part of the story is about her discovering that she has multiple sclerosis. I was diagnosed with the disease in 1985, but I’ve been in remission for a number of years, which isn’t all that unusual with MS. Susan nailed the feelings, the symptoms, and the issues in dealing with a life-changing event like discovering you have a serious illness, absolutely perfectly, and she does it with humor and compassion. Throw in a truly sexy hero, and I’m sold! I definitely recommend this one. Her books always end up on my keeper shelves.
And if you like anthologies, look for the new NIGHT SHIFT anthology. It’s got a wonderful story from Nalini Singh and another one that really caught my attention by Milla Vane. I had to do some searching, because I wanted to find out what else this author had written, and it turns out that Milla is author Meljean Brooks’ alter—albeit grittier, harder-edged—ego. The other two stories in the collection are by Ilona Andrews and Lisa Shearin, and they’re every bit as good. It’s such a treat to buy an anthology for one author (I will buy anything Nalini Singh writes!) and discover that every single story is wonderful!
I’ve just started another anthology called HEROES TO SWOON FOR—it’s a boxed set of nine full-length novels, a novella and a short story, and right now it’s only $.99 at Amazon.com and $.99 at BN.com. I’m not sure what other places have it at that price, but I’m reading Melinda Curtis’s AMBER RULES from the collection now, and it’s a kick!
So, all you’re really getting from me this month is my bitching about my mouth full of stitches, and all the books I’ve been reading when I should probably be writing, but I’m taking some time off to get well—and enjoy the holidays a bit. This is my first Christmas since 2005 without a January deadline, and I definitely plan to enjoy it!
I’ve also been rebuilding Ross Dillon’s website. The old program is VERY old—I’ve been using it for over fifteen years now and it’s hopelessly out of date. The final straw was the switch to Mac, since I can’t run it on this computer, so I’ve essentially had to start from scratch had add over twelve years worth of updates and information on traumatic brain injury, using a new program.
For those who don’t know about Ross, he was our son’s best friend from the time the boys were about 14 and on the same bicycle racing team. In 2002, Ross was on a training ride and was hit from behind by an inattentive driver. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and still needs full time care. He recently turned 38, but his website has become an important link for other families with brain injured relatives, so I really need to finish getting it updated. The old one is at http://www.rossdillon.com if you want to see what’s happened in the past. A lot of the stuff is out of date—I’ve got most of it transferred to the new account, but I’m having to fix typos from switching operating systems, and will need to remove a lot of older, out-of-date links.
I’ve also been updating my own website and have added a couple of vignettes that go with the Dream Catchers erotic science fiction series. They’re short, fun, and free, and the link is right here:
http://www.katedouglas.com/dream-catchers-shorts.html
I just wanted to make sure and let you know that I’m not ignoring you! It’s been pretty crazy here, not always in a good way, but I’m doing fine and getting my zing back. Quickly, I hope! And if I don’t have time to do a “real” newsletter with a contest between now and the first, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday season, hopefully spent with those you love. And, amid all the seasonal chaos, I hope you also find some time to read a few really good books.
Take care, be well, and please stay safe this holiday season, wherever you are and however you celebrate. It really is a magical time of year.
Best to you,
Kate Douglas
I got Redemption finished and sent to my editor a couple of days before Thanksgiving, and I’m really pleased with the story. Have been thinking about what I’m going to do with a new Spirit Wild story and should get moving on that as soon as I’m feeling a little better.
I’ve been reading the past couple of days, and doing it without guilt. (Such a concept—for those who know me well, I do GREAT guilt!) If you love small town, connected family, friend, and neighbor type stories, please check out Susan Fox’s Caribou Crossing series. I’ve just finished reading LOVE ME TENDER, which is the third book and also includes the novella, STAND BY YOUR MAN in the back of it. The novella was released as an ebook a while back, but I just finished the main story today and it’s definitely left me smiling. Susan writes real characters who deal with real problems—Cassidy is a free spirit who really caught my attention, because part of the story is about her discovering that she has multiple sclerosis. I was diagnosed with the disease in 1985, but I’ve been in remission for a number of years, which isn’t all that unusual with MS. Susan nailed the feelings, the symptoms, and the issues in dealing with a life-changing event like discovering you have a serious illness, absolutely perfectly, and she does it with humor and compassion. Throw in a truly sexy hero, and I’m sold! I definitely recommend this one. Her books always end up on my keeper shelves.
And if you like anthologies, look for the new NIGHT SHIFT anthology. It’s got a wonderful story from Nalini Singh and another one that really caught my attention by Milla Vane. I had to do some searching, because I wanted to find out what else this author had written, and it turns out that Milla is author Meljean Brooks’ alter—albeit grittier, harder-edged—ego. The other two stories in the collection are by Ilona Andrews and Lisa Shearin, and they’re every bit as good. It’s such a treat to buy an anthology for one author (I will buy anything Nalini Singh writes!) and discover that every single story is wonderful!
I’ve just started another anthology called HEROES TO SWOON FOR—it’s a boxed set of nine full-length novels, a novella and a short story, and right now it’s only $.99 at Amazon.com and $.99 at BN.com. I’m not sure what other places have it at that price, but I’m reading Melinda Curtis’s AMBER RULES from the collection now, and it’s a kick!
So, all you’re really getting from me this month is my bitching about my mouth full of stitches, and all the books I’ve been reading when I should probably be writing, but I’m taking some time off to get well—and enjoy the holidays a bit. This is my first Christmas since 2005 without a January deadline, and I definitely plan to enjoy it!
I’ve also been rebuilding Ross Dillon’s website. The old program is VERY old—I’ve been using it for over fifteen years now and it’s hopelessly out of date. The final straw was the switch to Mac, since I can’t run it on this computer, so I’ve essentially had to start from scratch had add over twelve years worth of updates and information on traumatic brain injury, using a new program.
For those who don’t know about Ross, he was our son’s best friend from the time the boys were about 14 and on the same bicycle racing team. In 2002, Ross was on a training ride and was hit from behind by an inattentive driver. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and still needs full time care. He recently turned 38, but his website has become an important link for other families with brain injured relatives, so I really need to finish getting it updated. The old one is at http://www.rossdillon.com if you want to see what’s happened in the past. A lot of the stuff is out of date—I’ve got most of it transferred to the new account, but I’m having to fix typos from switching operating systems, and will need to remove a lot of older, out-of-date links.
I’ve also been updating my own website and have added a couple of vignettes that go with the Dream Catchers erotic science fiction series. They’re short, fun, and free, and the link is right here:
http://www.katedouglas.com/dream-catchers-shorts.html
I just wanted to make sure and let you know that I’m not ignoring you! It’s been pretty crazy here, not always in a good way, but I’m doing fine and getting my zing back. Quickly, I hope! And if I don’t have time to do a “real” newsletter with a contest between now and the first, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday season, hopefully spent with those you love. And, amid all the seasonal chaos, I hope you also find some time to read a few really good books.
Take care, be well, and please stay safe this holiday season, wherever you are and however you celebrate. It really is a magical time of year.
Best to you,
Kate Douglas
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