Another Medieval Title and Release Date!

Good news!  I have a title and release date for the sequel to CASTLE OF THE WOLF, my July release from Harlequin Historicals.

BRIDE FOR A KNIGHT is to be a January 2015 release.  That means it will actually be available earlier, probably mid-December -- in time for Christmas!

What's BRIDE FOR A KNIGHT about?  Here's a little teaser:

Lady Mavis plans to flee her arranged marriage, until she overhears Sir Roland talking to his horse.
Sir Roland wants to cancel the arranged marriage, until he meets the bride.

Mavis is the cousin of the lively heroine of CASTLE OF THE WOLF and Sir Roland is the stern, reticent brother of the villain of that story.  And let me just add, Mavis is no shrinking violet, in any way. 

A wonderful article about Harlequin Historicals

I'm working hard to meet the deadline for the sequel to CASTLE OF THE WOLF, but I wanted to point out a great article about Harlequin Historicals in USA Today. 

Read it here.

Now back to work on Mavis's story!

The Cover!

Here's the cover for my newest medieval historical romance,

CASTLE OF THE WOLF,

 which will be out in June in both print and digital editions.  Isn't it great???  I LOVE IT!

Read more about CASTLE OF THE WOLF, including an excerpt, on my website.  You can pre-order from Amazon there, too.

I could go on and on about this cover but I've got a deadline for the sequel looming.  

CASTLE OF THE WOLF is available for pre-order!

My new medieval historical romance, CASTLE OF THE WOLF, is available for pre-order from Amazon!

From the back cover:  

PASSION FOR HER PROTECTOR 

Facing marriage to a man she loathes, virtuous Thomasina is forced to choose family duty over her own happiness—until a high-stakes tournament ends in her abduction! Trapped with her fearless captor, the legendary Wolf of Wales, she soon finds herself irresistibly drawn to the man beneath the armor.

Though Rheged captured Tamsin in the name of revenge, he can't ignore his instinct to protect her. Although to love her could bring the wrath of his enemies down upon them….

These descriptions are never exactly what I'd say, but this one is very good!

I've also posted an excerpt on my website.

I don't have the cover yet, but when I do, my email newsletter subscribers get the first look.  Then I'll post it here.

It's been quite a while since I've had a new book out, so I'm pretty darn excited!

Pre-Order in the U.S.

Pre-Oder in Canada

Cover copy Copyright ©2014 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited.  Cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

Book Centerpieces

Here are three of the centerpieces I made for the recent Night Out With Authors event.  I didn't come up with this idea.  I found it in a magazine.  Unfortunately, in my zeal to de-clutter, I didn't keep the issue, so I can't remember which one.  And I'll confess that when I first saw books used in this way, my first thought was "Desecration!"  

My second thought was, "Hey, I've got some foreign editions in the cupboard..." 

How did I make the holes for the ELECTRIC tea lights?   (And for reasons I hope are obvious, you must use ELECTRIC tea lights.) 

First, I found the center point in the cover and traced the tea light.  

Then I started to cut.  Someone thought I must have used a drill.  Nope.  I used fingernail scissors.

After I cut out the hole in the cover (and it's better to do this from the back, I discovered), I ran my pencil around the hole, gathered a few pages, and cut again, from the center out.  I did this many times, until I got down to about Page 200.  That seemed deep enough to me.   

I only encountered one minor problem - the covers tended to stick up, so they had to be taped down.

Cost?  The books I got free from my publisher, the tea lights were 2 for a dollar from Dollarama. 

That's my kind of craft project - easy, inexpensive and no fancy equipment required (although I did have to overcome my qualms about cutting into a book)

Boldly going where I've never gone before....

Unlike many authors who've been published for more than 20 years, I've never done readings of my own work.  It's not that I get stage fright or hate public speaking.  Quite the contrary. 

Why not, then? 

Because it just seemed...weird...to me.  Like I'm intruding on a reader's experience somehow.  Also, I tend to "hear" my characters more than "see" them.  For me, they have distinctive voices, and I can't really do them justice.

However, that's about to change.  On January 20, I'll be doing a reading from my next release, CASTLE OF THE WOLF, at Night Out With Authors in Toronto.  (Details of location, time, and who else will be reading, etc can be found here.)  I dipped my toes in the reading waters at the last Night Out With Authors, and it was...okay.  Even kinda fun.  So I'm actually feeling pretty good about the longer reading on the 20th.

I just hope Mother Nature cooperates, and doesn't send more cold, snow or ice!

2014 so far...

After a Christmas "holiday" that wasn't exactly that, what with the ice storm and power outage and subsequent unexpected overnight and dinner guests, I was hoping to start the New Year off on a less stressful note.

We decided to see the new Hunger Games movie on the 31st, only to find it sold out.  No problem, though. We saw the Hobbit movie instead and enjoyed it.  Then we had dinner out.  So far, so good, right?

Until we got home and realized something was Wrong with one of our cats and perhaps had been for awhile.  We have 2 cats, so we had to be sure which one it was, since both were acting quite normally.  We figured it out the next morning, and then spent the entire afternoon of New Year's Day at the Toronto Emergency Veterinary Hospital.  Lovely facility, but not quite the way we'd planned to spend that day.  Fortunately, it appears that it's not a serious problem, although more tests today will confirm.

Then, last night, we heard three loud bangs that seemed to be coming from the attic.  I'd heard two such noises before.  In fact, at one point, I feared one of my parents had fallen from the bed when they were having their impromptu overnight visit.  But they were fine, the chimney hadn't fallen down, no tree limbs were on the roof.  Indeed, nothing else seemed amiss.  Must be a neighbor's car door, or perhaps the newspaper delivery guys (because we read two newspapers every day and I will subscribe to the paper version for as long as it's published).   But the three noises last night had me worried that we had critters in the attic.  Until the early morning TV news (what can I say?  I like to be informed!) mentioned "ice quakes," and a check of the attic by my Intrepid Husband revealed no sign of animals.  Voila!  We have an answer.
Still, it didn't make for a restful night.

In fact, this may be the most sleep-deprived holiday I've had since my kids were babies, and I've had some serious jet-lag in my time.

That said, it could have been much, much worse and we'll be telling tales of the Christmas of '13 for years to come. 

How were your holidays?  Better?  Worse?  Will make for good stories...or just want to forget?

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone all the best for a wonderful holiday and a happy, healthy New Year!

News and First Drafts

I've got some news. It's official that CASTLE OF THE WOLF, my new medieval from Harlequin Historicals, will be out in July 2014.  Hooray!

I'm currently working on the sequel.  Well, it's more like I'm wandering around, or at least that's how it feels as I wend my way through the middle of the story.  I don't do outlines other than the synopsis my editor gets and I generally tend to be pretty vague about the middle of the story at that point.  I know the beginning, I know the crisis and the climax and how the story's going to end.  But the middle?  Uhhhh....stuff happens. 

But that's also where the unexpected happens, in no small part because I've kept things vague.  That leaves me wiggle room to explore new characters or plot ideas, and to come up with unforeseen elements of the characters' histories. 

So while it's a bit of a nail-biter to be wandering through uncharted territory, it's thrilling, too.

7 Tips for Public Speaking

I used to do a lot of public speaking competitions when I was in school - prepared speeches, impromptu speeches, debates.  Along the way, I learned a few things about getting up and talking to a room full of strangers.

1.  Eye contact is good.  But forget the ol' adage about picturing people naked.  I can think of few things more distracting when giving a speech or workshop.  Here's what I do, especially if it's a big crowd.  I look just over people's heads.  Looks like I'm looking at them, but I'm not.

2.  Instinctively raise your voice by looking at the back wall.  This tip came courtesy of the late True Davidson who was one of my contest judges.

3.  Move around.  Not a lot, but some.  Few things are more boring than seeing somebody stand in the same place for an hour.

4.  Avoid fussing with glasses, jewelry, your water bottle, papers...anything, really, that makes folks start to pay more attention to what you're doing than what you're saying.  I remember one workshop where the speaker kept unscrewing, then re-screwing, the lid of her water bottle.  Just about drove me nuts and I have no memory at all of her workshop except for that.

5.  Rehearse, but not too much.  You want to sound competent and in command of your material, but you don't want to sound like a robot. 

6.  Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.  This is NOT the time to wear those fantastic new pointy-toed pumps.  Or that shirt that looks good, but makes you itchy around the collar.

7.  Most importantly, try to relax, especially if it's in a workshop environment.  People want to hear what you have to say, or they wouldn't be there.  And having been to several workshops myself, I can tell you that you really have to do something pretty foolish to earn the enmity of the room.  Nervous?  That's fine.  We sympathize.  Lose your place?  Laugh and get back on track, and it's all good.  Don't have the answer to a question?  Admit it.  Nobody expects you to know everything.  Slam a genre in a roomful of readers and writers of the genre?  That's just plain foolish.  But you really do have to do something that extreme to lose the room, so try to relax, look at the back wall, move around a little, and enjoy the ride.

Night Out With Authors

The next Night Out With Authors is Monday, November 18, featuring Kelley Armstrong and Ann Lethbridge and our first Open Mic for Writers.  Same time, same place.  Details here.  Hope to see some familiar faces!

Beneath the waves

This is the day my Dad, a veteran of World War II, is a rock star.  He goes to the school where my sister is a teacher's aid to talk to the kids about his experiences.  First, their minds are boggled that somebody from WWII is still alive.  Then they ask for his autograph.  And write lovely thank-you notes to him for serving our country.

He stopped by this morning and I asked him what he was going to talk about today.  He was in the navy, so today he's telling them that the men who died at sea don't have graves, so there are no white crosses for them.  Yes, there are memorials, but they are not "beneath the crosses, row on row."

They lie beneath the waves.

May they all rest in peace.   

Handouts, Free books and More!

If you're attending my workshop What Lies Beneath:  Adding Layers to your Characters and Conflict

for Toronto Romance Writers this 

Saturday, November 9, 

at the North York Central Library

 Room 2/3

from 1 - 4 p.m. 

there'll be handouts, free books and me, doing my lively, entertaining best to share some of the things I've learned about writing over the course of 20+ years as a published romance author. 

I'll also be raffling off two tickets to the next Night Out With Authors, featuring Kelley Armstrong and Ann Lethbridge.

Hope to see you there!

Really Big News!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that I've signed a new contract with Harlequin Historicals for two medieval romances.  Yes, I'm back in Merry Olde England!

CASTLE OF THE WOLF is tentatively scheduled for summer, 2014.  The sequel doesn't have a title or release date yet because I just started it.  If you follow me on Twitter, that's my National Novel Writing Month project.  Except I'm extending my NaNo experience into December, because of other things happening this month.

So who's the Wolf?  No, he isn't a werewolf or shape-shifter.  Rheged of Cwm Bron is a Welsh knight known as the Wolf of Wales because when he fights, he's fierce. He wasn't born noble and has had to earn his title and estate. But he puts his future in jeopardy when he impulsively abducts a Norman lord's niece. 

Who's the lady?  Thomasina (aka Tamsin) of DeLac.  When her uncle betroths her to a notoriously cruel lord, she tries to refuse, until her uncle threatens to make her beloved cousin take her place as bride. But Rheged takes Tamsin before the wedding can occur. 

There's a lot more to the story than that, of course.  And several more characters.

It's wonderful to be back in the publishing world after my long, but necessary, break.  I feel energized, refreshed and excited, and not even the daunting prospect of Chapter One, Page One could dampen my enthusiasm.  

Workshop on November 9

On Saturday, November 9, I'm conducting a workshop for Toronto Romance Writers called What Lies Beneath:  Adding Layers to your Characters and Conflict.

What exactly does that mean?  For longer than I should probably admit, I would hear that a romance needs "layers" and I was baffled.  What does that mean, layers?  I'm not baking a cake, I'm writing a book.

I did a lot more thinking about it, and read a few more writing books, and finally a light bulb went on.  I'm going to tell the members of Toronto Romance Writers what that light bulb was.  And how to add layers to their own work.

The workshop takes place at the North York Central Library, Toronto

Room 2/3

from 1 - 4 p.m.  

Yes, I'll be taking questions about the workshop and, if there's time, anything else you want to ask me. 

Cruising down the Rhine

For two and a half weeks in September, my husband and I were on holiday in Europe. 
See that boat to the far right on the first bend in the Rhine?  That was our cruise ship, the Da Vinci.  It was a lovely holiday (even though the weather wasn't great and I developed a terrible cough).  

 We saw lots of castles and vineyards (and sampled the local wines).

And we found something unexpected  - a German edition of one of my books in Cologne.

Now it's back to our usual lives...but with some more changes coming.  Stay tuned! 

Latest News

It's been a busy time for me!  A wedding, son's visits, anniversaries (my parent's 65th!), new nieces in the family, trying to keep two gardens in some semblance of order, finishing a book (I wound up doing ten complete drafts), and being involved in creating a new reading series, Night Out With Authors. Where has the summer gone???

The first Night Out With Authors event is on September 23rd in Toronto. If you're in the GTA, I hope you'll attend.  The authors reading are Mary Sullivan, Molly O'Keefe and Susanna Kearsley.   


More Information about Night Out With Authors

Here are some pictures of the cottage garden.  I can't believe those yellow bushes bloomed all summer long!

I hope everyone had a lovely summer! 

Big and Little Doin's A-transpirin'

It's been awhile since I've blogged. Wondering what's going on in my life lately?

First and foremost, I'm writing. Or rather, rewriting. My agent had, shall we say, issues with certain things in my latest effort. Issues that were at the start of the book. Issues that I could see and yep, she was right. Revisions are never delightfully pleasant, but they can be easy, not too bad, or OH LORDY! These revisions are in the OH LORDY! category. Whole scenes have disappeared, new scenes added. Some bits could be salvaged and worked into the new material, but if you've ever had to unravel a sweater and re-knit, or pick out a seam to sew again, you'll appreciate what that's like.

This had to happen in the spring, of course, when I have two gardens to get in shape.

 I've also been involved in a very exciting venture with some fellow authors. We're starting a cross-genre reading series in our city called Night Out With Authors. We've been busy lining up authors and a venue, and starting a blog, among other things. Our first Night Out is in September, featuring Mary Sullivan, Molly O'Keefe and Susanna Kearsley at the Tranzac Club in Toronto. You can find out more at the Night Out with Authors blog.

We have some family events coming up that require some planning and legwork, too, like my parent's 65th wedding anniversary (yes, that's right - 65!!), and few other social events as well. And more visits from my far-away son (YEAH!).

So blogging this summer will likely be sporadic. I'll probably be tweeting, though, because it's fast and easy. I'm WriterMargMoore on Twitter,and I hope you'll follow me there.

Have a great summer, everyone! Like the Terminator, I'll be back. I just don't know when.

Wedding Pictures!

My daughter's wedding was wonderful. Even Mother Nature cooperated with a beautifully sunny day.

Being self-described geeks getting married on Star Wars Day, there were plenty of geeky touches. The biggest Star Wars Day surprise was the ring bearer.

We didn't know about this. Nobody did, except the bride, groom (who found and arranged the special guest appearance online), their friend who was the driver (and apparently pretty darn pumped driving around with R2D2 in his car, although if you were stuck behind him on the highway because he was driving so very slowly and carefully, our apologies) and of course, the operator, who works the remote controls behind his back, so nobody knows anything's afoot. R2 even made the appropriate noises coming up the aisle.

But it wasn't all Star Wars and video games, as the seating chart demonstrates.

The bride and groom also exercised their considerable creativity with the centerpieces. They bought lanterns at IKEA, then personalized them to each table. Ours was Pemberley. Is that cool or what???

(Those are little electric tea lights on the top, that later went inside the lanterns.)

What made the day most memorable, though, beyond all the surprising, clever and creative personal touches my daughter and her fiance came up with, was their obvious love for each other. When it comes to a child's wedding, everything else pales in comparison. Both our children have found wonderful spouses, and for that, we are truly grateful.

The Wedding Day Approaches...

My daughter is getting married in less than a week. It's exciting, it's wonderful, it makes me nostalgic.

Wasn't it just last month she was toddling around in her fuzzy pink sleepers? Wasn't it a couple of weeks ago that her brother chopped off her bangs right before a big family reunion?

It was surely just last week she was graduating from her high school with the highest average of the class, and applying to study English and history in university, much to the chagrin of her science teacher. But she was well aware that, all talk to the contrary, one could actually get a job with an English and history degree, and that's what she wanted.

Which means it was yesterday that she began her career in publishing and met her fiance.

On Saturday, she'll be embarking on another new path, with someone she loves to walk beside her.

I probably won't cry at the wedding. I'll have done that this week, when I'll be remembering all these things, and more.