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September 2014 newsletter

9/3/2014

12 Comments

 
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Those of you who regularly get my newsletter, will recognize that this is where the usual mea culpas go...I'm sorry I didn't get a newsletter out in August, but a week-long trip to San Antonio, Texas at the end of July and a week in Charlotte, North Carolina a week after sort of did me in. The final straw, however, was when my laptop went into its death throes and I knew it was time to do what I've been swearing I'd do for the past few years--I bought a Mac. 

I may yet need therapy.

I've used Microsoft operating systems for over twenty years, so needless to say, adjusting to Apple hasn't been easy. In fact, it's been a bit stressful around the homestead! Which is why I posted the picture of the morning glories above--when it gets really bad, I go out and sit in my yard and stare at the flowers. They tend to calm me a bit. You know, get rid of that desire to throw a very expensive laptop the wall? 


I'm actually wondering if the high cost of Apple products is the reason people love them--I mean, after spending a freakishly high amount of money on a laptop, who's going to say that this was a really stupid thing to do? Just sayin'...


Actually, there's a lot about it that I love, and I imagine we'll get to be friends at some point--hopefully soon, as I'm working on the next book for St. Martin's Press and want to be able to write without having to think what I need to do next to make the words show up on the screen. I'm getting there.


Which reminds me--big cover reveal today for HOT ALPHAS, the anthology coming out May 19th with my first story for SMP, a novella called Tangled. You can read about it--just click on the cover below.


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Now that I have a cover, I'll be getting a page up on my website with an excerpt from the story as soon as I get permission from my editor. I'm not sure how much of the story I'm allowed to upload. Once I find out, I'll post it and let you know.



The first novel, INTIMATE, is done and with my editor. I've started work on REDEMPTION, the second in the series, and my hero is in the military, an army master sergeant home on leave. Ben Lowell is the older brother of my hero from INTIMATE. I needed to get a feel for writing a military hero, so I grabbed a military romance novella by author Jessica Scott, who is a captain in the army, has served in Iraq, and will actually be teaching at West Point in the near future. The book, BACK TO YOU, from her COMING HOME series, had me hooked from the beginning. I ended up buying four more novels and two novellas, all she's got out in this series at the moment, and I can definitely recommend these stories because they're just so damned good. Her next novella, ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, will be in the HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, A HOLIDAY DUET, a two-novella collection with JoAnn Ross, that releases November 12. (Jessica's story as a single title comes out November 11, but it's the same price as the two-book deal, so go for the duet!)


As always, when I'm stressed, I read. A lot. Just finished a wonderful collection by Mel Curtis. GEMMA RULES ($1.99 for all three stories) includes VALENTINE RULES, WEDDING RULES and BRIDE RULES. This is a really cute series, and there are more I have to get as soon as I have time to read!


Weird, isn't it, how we can always find time to read? Try SLOW HAND by Bonnie Edwards. Last night I wanted something short and fun, and this one fits the bill. Sexy and sweet, and when I say that Jared and Teri set off unexpected sparks, I'm not kidding. Okay...so that's a lot of books, but it should tell you what kind of a month I've had...


Other than that, all is well. The grandkids are back in school, my husband is busy with all the things a retired man can find to do when his writer wife says, "GO!!!!!" (I've been a bit testy lately. See above...)


So I'll quit my bitching and do a contest. I have one bag of swag that will have to go to a winner in the US. I'm sorry, guys, but I can't afford the postage to send it out of the country. I'll pick one US winner for the swag, (Be sure and include your postal mailing address) and more winners from readers who enter with just an email address, which means you're entering to win an ebook. I hope that makes sense.  



You can choose from these titles ONLY: Lethal Deception, Lethal Obsession, 68 & Climbing, Cowboy in My Pocket, Carved in Stone, Unbound, Unmasked, Unleashed Undaunted (the first story, Unbalanced, is free everywhere) Dark Spirit, or Dark Refuge. 


Just enter using the form to the right of this post, and include your mailing address if you're entering for the swag prize. If you're in the US and want to enter for an ebook rather than the swag, please do. 


And one more quick note--the five author collection of romantic suspense books that I've got Lethal Obsession in has gone on sale for $.99 for two weeks only. Links to all retailers are on my book page. Just click on the picture below.


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12 Comments
Helen Gonzalez
9/3/2014 02:42:17 pm

Hi Kate!
So glad to hear you are at home now, from what sounds like some exhausting trips. Can't wait for your latest books, they sound awesome! I have been a military kick in romance so it sounds fabulous! Take care! :)

Reply
Kate Douglas
9/3/2014 03:24:24 pm

Hi Helen--I was absolutely worthless when I got home after the second one! If you're into military romances, I definitely recommend Jessica's. She's a hell of a writer, and the fact she's military and has served in the Middle East gives her stories an authenticity you won't find in a lot of romances.

Reply
TM
9/3/2014 07:24:51 pm

As a diehard PC person who has in fact tried to work on a Mac(there isn't a person in this world that can't ever make me do it again) WHY would you switch to a Mac ever?

Reply
Kate Douglas
9/4/2014 02:21:18 am

Because I've had to replace my PC (laptops) every two years for the past ten years. I wear them out. Mac has a reputation for lasting longer and it's one hell of a lot faster. At this point, it's also a matter of pride. I refuse to let this SOB win!

Reply
Carol
9/3/2014 10:18:27 pm

G'Morning, Ms. Kate (and all):
I also am happy to hear that you are home....and hopefully you will get the rest you need.

I started our as a DOS person who had to switch to windows when it came out. I really like lap-tops and desk PCs..... BUT these I-PADS really take a lot to get used to them. My PC decided not to boot up a few days ago and cannot get it to get past a huge error screen (after it finally decided to wake up -- LOL). But I will figure it out! Anyway, I am now typing to you VIA I-PAD and I do not even know how to turn the silly thing off. My 5 years old granddaughter does, since it is her computer when she is home from school....LOL. I am not sure I like it for a long term use.

Reply
Kate Douglas
9/4/2014 02:25:02 am

Same for me, Carol. My first computer was late in 1989, and it worked on a DOS system with 5 1/4" floppies (that actually flopped...) The natural segue was to a desktop PC that was Windows based.The Mac is supposed to be a lot tougher machine. I have to replace my laptops every two years. This one had damned well better last longer than that!

Reply
Eva Millien
9/4/2014 01:47:05 am

Good luck with your new laptop. Like you I have gotten used to office, but my brother swears by the Mac and says I need to switch, Sorry about all the exhaustion, hope you had a great time to make up for it and congratulations and good luck with the new releases.

Reply
Kate Douglas
9/4/2014 02:26:13 am

Thanks, Eva. There comes a time...at least you'll have your brother to ask for help if you make the switch. I think I'm driving my fellow authors batshit crazy with questions!

Reply
Marie Tuhart link
9/4/2014 02:57:24 am

Hi Kate,

I started in 1986 on the 5 1/4 floppy with no hard drive had to boot up from the floppy disc. Learned how to do everything in DOS and even when windows came along I still did a lot in DOS. I had people in later years that didn't understand how I knew how to get a DOS prompt to do certain things. But I'm a PC person, I only buy Toshiba laptops and have had great luck with them, most of them last me anywhere from 5 to 8 years depending. My original laptop lasted 10 years and all that killed it was the case got cracked and then it spread to the screen.

Reply
Kate Dougulas
9/4/2014 04:02:56 am

I've got the same history ie: floppies and no hard drive, and DOS was so perfectly simple! I've grown frustrated over time with the new Word programs, where they've added so many whistles and bells that get in the way of just writing. And I've worn my laptops out every two years. This last one was the clincher. The older Dells were good--I had one of those that went forever.

Reply
Caffey
9/4/2014 07:26:27 am

Hi Kate. I've been leary of getting a MAC for the same reasons. It can be expensive especially with everything now I have is Windows! Plus I have little patience in techy things lol. I'm excited about your military romance! I have read a couple of Ms. Scott's but so need to read more. I'm glad Loveswept is back. Doesn't Bonnie Edwards books get to you. Remembering those Aphrodisiacs books and the wolfies :).

Reply
Kate Douglas
9/6/2014 05:50:31 am

Ya know, I haven't read all that many of Bonnie's stories, but I'll have to start. She's a wonderful writer! And that business with the new programs is so true, but I've heard that I wouldn't have been able to use a lot of my programs on the new Windows operating system, so figured this was as good a time as any to make the change.

Reply



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    I'm a romance author--I really love those happy endings, though I don't mind putting my characters through pure, unadulterated hell before they get there...

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