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Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
There is something new and interesting about my blog page on my website — can you guess what it is? Could it be that nifty sidebar on the right with search functions and archives and categories like regular blogs have? Maybe its this little thing at the bottom of the page that says “RSS Feed”? The ability to comment on individual posts? OR is it this:
The Ability to post pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The amount of exclamation points alone should tell you how happy I am. That’s right, the changes to my blog are complete, and I could not be happier. My first blog format was great, perfect for a completely un-savvy computer user, but I’ve learned a little over the past year or so, and therefore know better what I want… and also what widgets are. I no longer have to limit myself to just text. I can link things, I can post media if I wanted to (but I’m too scared to try) and I can post as many pictures as I want. Like this one:
My office area with inscrutable handwriting on my big white board. Book 4 plot!
Or a picture of me with straight hair, which I find hysterical because it tends to freak people out:
I know what you’re thinking: I’m about 5 years behind the times in terms of blogging. All this cool stuff I’m crowing over is standard on your average blog format, from livejournal to blogspot. To you I would say… don’t squelch my happy, guys. I have parents for that.
Other news: Outline for the next book has been turned in, and I can’t wait to start writing it! So much so, I think I won’t wait any longer…
Happy reading, everyone!
Posted in Future books, The Summer of You, Writer's life | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
I posted the excerpt of my next book, The Summer of You, last week, and you guys are so amazing, I’ve received such a positive response. But, I did get asked the question more than once, “April? I have to wait till freaking April for this to come out?” Which is a legitimate question – the romance world is one of quick turnover. Readers are voracious, demanding the next when they close the page on the last. Why, in the midst of a series, have a year or more between books? The answer is quite complicated, but the short version is:
I suck.
I am not a terribly fast writer. I have a day job I love. I have research to do for the book. I have, er, laundry to do. Luckily, my lovely agent and editor know this about me and accept it. To allow me a writing schedule I can live with, my books have release dates about a year apart. Do my lovely agent and editor grumble about my molasses-like speed? Of course they do. Hell, *I* grumble about my molasses-like speed. But it’s the only way I know how to write a book.
“Okay,” you might say, “but then why post the excerpt and cover now? Why tease us so bloody far in advance?” (You’ll notice in our hypothetical conversation, I’ve made you British. You’re welcome.) Again, the answer is complicated, but it all comes down to:
I suck.
I had the info at my fingertips, the listing got posted to Amazon, and Goodreads, and all those other book sites, and I couldn’t not tell you what it was about then, now could I? So I got approval from the powers that be, and posted the Summer of You info. If you’re wretched about being teased and not having the book in your hot little hands, I sympathize. Feel free to blame me for your pain. I can take it.
This week, haircut. The summer straggle needs to go! (And, oh yeah, writing.)
Happy reading everyone!
Posted in The Summer of You, Writer's life | 2 Comments »
Monday, September 14th, 2009
I am incredibly excited today to announce the first of several changes on my website. Some content shifts, a newsletter feature for those who would like to join, and most awesomely…
An Excerpt of The Summer of You! You’ll find it on my bookshelf page. It’s being released on April 6th, 2010… I know! So far away! But trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.
Over the next few weeks, other new features will be popping up on the site, most excitingly, an RSS feed for my blog, so I don’t have to post it 7 different times on 7 different sites and you can subscribe and follow it at your leisure.
As for everything else, I spent the weekend holed up working on the next project, which wasn’t much fun as it was perfectly gorgeous here in Southern CA. But I only have myself to blame, getting into the same pressurized situation that deadlines always create, forcing me to whine and moan and racket around my apartment until I finally give in, sit down, and write.
Which is what I should be getting back to, right about now…
Posted in The Summer of You, Writer's life | No Comments »
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Oops.
I jumped the gun.
After I posted the cover art for The Summer of You last week (although not on my website blog, because of, you know, issues) I received the new and improved cover art! (and since I’m — GRRRRRRRR — still having trouble posting pictures here, head over to my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/katenoblewriter to check out the new one).
It’s not terribly different, but instead of the setting the scene during the day, its now set during a glorious summer sunset. I think they’re both beautiful, but I actually like this new one more, because it feels more connected to the book – there’s a lot that takes place for Lady Jane on that lake after sunset.
Now, as you may have noticed, I’m having some trouble with my blog, especially posting pictures. This prompted me to look into shifting some of the parameters of my blog (I want an RSS feed like I want chocolate. It’s becoming that necessary.) Then it got me into looking at tweaking some things on my website. THAT got me thinking I should put together a newsletter. So, long story short, there are going to be some changes around these parts in the coming weeks. I’ll keep you posted as the changes come into effect, but keep an eye out – I’m so excited about working out these kinks!
Until then, happy reading!
Posted in The Summer of You, Writer's life | No Comments »
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
I’m having some difficulty getting my blog page to post pictures, so unfortunately I won’t be able to display my awesome new cover of The Summer of You! But suffice to say, I’m working on it, and if you would like to see it, hop on over to my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/katenoblewriter. (and while you’re there, friend me!)
And we have a released date, too: April 6th, 2010. So mark your calendars, everyone! (Mom, you too.)
Left Coast Living is… different from the East. First of all, I have to drive everywhere. I used to read on the subways all the time, so now I’ve lost about an hour of reading time a day. Conversely, it’s gorgeous here. ALL THE TIME. Why would I want to be reading on a subway when I could be out crossing a beautiful canyon? But this is a problem, because I got a bunch of books at the RWA conference this year, and these are the books I would normally read on the subway. I’ve got everything from Deanna Raybourn to Amanda Quick.
So here’s my question for you: where should I start?
Posted in Los Angeles, RWA, The Summer of You | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Happy July everyone! I’ve been out of circulation for a little while, and the reason is summed up in one little compound word: deadline. I turned in, not 24 hours ago, my latest project! And while I look forward to getting feedback and notes from my trusted editor and agent, I also am DYING to go to the movies, and oh, I don’t know, read a book? My brain would benefit from a little time off.
But it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of time to benefit my brain, because in two short little weeks, is the RWA National conference in D.C.! I’m going to be at the Literacy Signing on Wednesday, July 15th, so if you’re there, stop on by, I would *love* to see you. But for right now, I think I might go by a huuuuuge tub of popcorn and hang out in a movie theater for a day or two.
Happy reading, everybody!
Posted in RWA, The Summer of You | No Comments »
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Hi All!
Just wanted to say there is an interview of me up over at the Book Smugglers Blog, along with a lovely new review of Compromised. http://thebooksmugglers.com/. There’s a contest too – so come on by and check it out!
Posted in Compromised, Writer's life | No Comments »
Sunday, April 26th, 2009
This past week I did a little traveling, and hit up my first book club event. It went really well and I enjoyed myself immensely, which of course got me thinking about my own book club. Which I don’t have, as I’ve never been a member of a book club. I’ve always liked the idea of one, but either my friends don’t read as much as me or I move states, and any initial discussions of a book club are quashed. But maybe with the advent of social networking and Skype I can cull together a spread out group of friends and get them all to read the same book. Just once. Thoughts?
The other thing I did this week while traveling was type. I like the idea of writing on the train but I don’t manage it very well, because… I don’t type normally. Don’t get me wrong, I type fast, but I don’t use all my fingers. Just one on my left hand and about three on my right. I think this is because I quit piano lessons before I had really mastered using the left hand. But on the upside, a friend once told me I look like I’m playing Rachmaninoff when I type, so I think my old piano teacher would be pleased.
Happy Reading everyone!
Posted in Revealed, Writer's life | No Comments »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
Hi everyone – I want to thank everyone for entering my first ever contest. From Savich and Sherlock to Shaggy and Scooby Doo you guys plumbed the depths of your favorite investigative partnerships. All five winners have been notified via email – but I want to give a special shout out to April, for her deep and devoted love to the movie K-9, which was truly the most passionate and inspired entry I received. If you entered, check your email, and congratulations to all the winners!
In other news, I spent this weekend on the road. I love a good road trip – I don’t drive all that often — living in New York City, I mostly take the bus or subway to get to where I need to go. When I visit my family, planes and trains are the mode of transport, rarely automobiles. So when I get into the car, and drive all day, it’s an experience I relish.
On a road trip, I’m allowed fast food. Don’t tell me you can drive past 400 Arbys and not stop at one for a jamocha shake. And I always have an inlaid stock of twizzlers, diet coke, and cookies with some form of chip in them. Fritos, too. Love fritos. Never eat them at home. Calories consumed during a road trip don’t count.
I also allow myself book tapes. I’m a little of a book purist (It must be read to be understood!) but that’s really just an act because I can’t listen to book tapes on my ipod. I’m afraid I’ll be sitting on the subway and burst out laughing at something in the story and people will call the transpo police on the crazy blonde, laughing to herself in the third car. So this weekend, it was me, the open road, twizzlers and David Handler. I had a wonderful time. What about you guys? Do you have any road trip rules?
Happy Reading, everyone!
P.S. Occasionally I stopped the book and listened to a little radio. Who is the Florida person and why did he cover Right Round by Dead or Alive? Did he think he could top the fabulous video they did in the 80s with the flags from color guard? There is no topping the flags from color guard!
Posted in Compromised, New York, Revealed, Writer's life | No Comments »
Sunday, March 29th, 2009
First of all I have to say, there is an awesome review of Revealed up over at The Book Smugglers blog. If you haven’t read it, check it out: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/03/book-review-revealed-by-kate-noble.html
Now, I have to make a confession: I’m a contest virgin. I have never had one in the past, and I rarely enter them. The one time I did, I won a coffee table. And honestly, what can top that? (Besides coffee table books, I mean. Word play!)
So it is with an intrepid heart and crossed fingers (hard to type with crossed fingers, by the way) that I present to you, my first ever Contest!
So here are the rules:
The hero and heroine in Revealed, Marcus and Phillippa, become partners in an investigation. Uneasy partners at first, but then they start to get along very well. So all you have to do is tell me who your favorite fictional investigative partners are and why.
They can be male-female (like Goren and Eames), male-male (Holmes and Watson), female-female (Cagney and Lacey), human-animal (Turner and Hooch), animal-animal (Pinky and the Brain pretending to be Watson-Holmes) or heck, just about any combination investigational partnership you can think of, from books, movies, tv, comics, etc.
How to contact me:
Just email me at kate@katenoble.com (put “April Contest” in the header) or send me a message via my contact form on my website, www.katenoble.com/contact.html
Time Span:
Over the next week (March 30th to April 5th)
Prize:
My top five favorite entries will receive their choice of a signed copy of Revealed or a signed copy of Compromised. Winners will be announced on Monday April 6th!
Good luck everyone, and happy reading!
Posted in Compromised, Revealed | No Comments »
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