His Magick Touch

I've come to realize that I spend more time on Facebook than I do updating my blog. So, I'm here to tell you a wee bit about my upcoming release.

A wild and passionate highland fling...

Contemporary romantic fiction from bestselling writers set in Scotland and concerning ever-popular Highlanders from every historical period. A collection which ranges widely, including both contemporary and historical settings, time travel, ghosts, and plenty of fantastic and paranormal elements.

His Magick Touch is a sensual novella set on the Isle of Barra in the 16th century Scotland. More coming soon...

Read an excerpt or meet the characters.


Robinson
Paperback
512 pages
Published Jan 2011
ISBN: 9781849014526
Markets: World ex USA, Can
RRP £7.99

Love Letter Magazine

Check out the June issue of Love Letter magazine. I've got an article featured on the front page! I can't read it, but my name sure looks cool sitting nice and pretty next to those NYT Bestselling authors. :)

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From Love Letter's website:

Excerpt from the editorial in the current 54th Edition (June 2010):

Calling all passionate romance readers who

Heroes are the theme of this edition. They deal not only the readers but, as can be seen in many contributions , including the authors. Irene Hannon raves that its a "big , dark and handsome man , Elizabeth Amber is preferred, if it is " charming and amusing ", but also a weakness for " tortured hero with a dark past . " In its "Romance in Space "column examined the role of Heather , which can take the hero of science fiction and romance novels with the support of Lara Adrian , we took the opportunity to ask three of their heroes very personal questions.

In this issue:
Romance & tension with paranormal Touch
In an interview with Amanda Quick ( Jayne Ann Krentz )

Preview
Fall / Winter 10/11

Lucan, Andreas & Kade
In an interview with Lara Adrian's book hero

Soundtrack: music in Las Vegas
by Angie Fox

Romance in Space:
How to tame the hero of a science fiction love story

True Love : A wild summer
Kimberly Killion

St. Louis Renaissance Faire

Went to the St. Louis Renaissance Faire. It rained as usual, but the entertainment was awesome as always, the food delicious, the silver tempting, and the weaponry is always a bonus. :)

Want to Heat Up Your Valentine’s Day?

How about a Hawt Highlander and body honey?

Win a signed copy of my newest release, HIGHLAND DRAGON, plus Body Honey Miel from Perlier.

To enter, visit FreshFiction.com

Pouring salt on the wound

I'm usually that person who walks into a room smiling. If I have a personal issue, I'm not one to cry about it to my co-workers or friends. Perhaps it's that quality that makes me a determined writer. Perhaps I'm out to prove to the world that I am a capable of transporting a reader to another time and place. It is my love for the genre that gets me up at 3:00 am to spend time with my characters.

Furthermore, when I get emails from readers telling me how much they loved my books, I get that little tingle of accomplishment. In fact, just yesterday I received this comment from a reader "I am a big fan of character development, and this book has some of the most well developed characters that I have even seen"

But there will always be "those" people who just didn't care for my characters and ideas.

OK...I admit it, I could get a 100 emails telling me how great my work is, but it's that one horrid reader who uses a handful of "ugly" words that kicks you so hard, she steals a little of that determination. She makes you think, hmmm...maybe I do suck.

Unfortunately, this reader didn't send me the email. She posted her opinion on Amazon. Dang!

I'll give you the play by play of what a review like this does to a writer, or at least what it did to me...

"This book was awful." ...Oh my. Gasp. Swallow. Blink

"The heroine was annoying, changing her mind at the drop of a hat - I thought I would scream if I read "Mercy Mary!" one more time." ...hmmm...i suppose I could have made the heroine say mother-fucker, but that really wouldn't fit into the time period. [snort] As for changing her mind, isn't that what we are supposed to do to build the conflict? She likes the hero, but knows she can't have him so she slips up from time to time. I guess I could have made the heroine a girl who goes after what she wants but then she would be shallow and viewed as a whore. hmmm...still thinking about this one

"The plot thin and unbelievable,"...Really? Thin? Shaking head. I could go into the many layers of twists and in this book, but it would make this post rather long. And, yes, I'm defending myself on this one. Maybe it's because I spent months of my life researching and writing this book, pouring my soul into developing it, only to have this dagger thrust into the very heart of me and then twisted. (OK... that last bit was overly dramatic, but I'm reading Shakespeare right now. LOL)

"I kept trying to finish it, but it was just too dumb." ...Wow! Dumb? Really? Dumb? Tell me what you really think. And there was the salt on the wound.

The last thing I recall thinking after I read this review was...well, I guess it wasn't too dumb since it was nominated for a RITA. At which point I clicked "NO" the review was not helpful (because really that's all I can do) then I stuck my tongue out at the computer screen and went in search of chocolate. :)

Top 100

Look who's sitting nice and snug between Diana Gabaldon and Laurell K. Hamilton! Yikes! I don't know how that happened, but it's pretty sa-weet. Don't believe me? (I don't blame you. I didn't believe it either.) Check it out HERE!

Happy Hogmanay!

You read it right...Happy Hogmanay!
Only one nation in the world celebrates the New Year or Hogmanay with such revelry and passion – the Scots!

It is believed that many of the traditional Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading Vikings in the early 8th and 9th centuries. These Norsemen, or men from an even more northerly latitude than Scotland, paid particular attention to the arrival of the Winter Solstice or the shortest day, and fully intended to celebrate its passing with some serious partying.

When the clock strike midnight on 31st December, fireworks explode in Scotland. Crowds gather and the party begins to the tune of Robert Burns' Auld Lang Syne.






Traditions and superstitions related to Hogmanay:

One should clean the house on December 31st (this includes taking out the ashes from the fire).

One should clear all your debts before "the bells" ring at midnight.

One should welcome friends and strangers with warm hospitality and a kiss and to wish everyone a Guid New Year. It is verra important to clear out the vestiges of the old year before you welcome in a young, New Year.

"First footing" is still common in Scotland. To ensure good luck, the first person to enter your home should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) This male should bring coal, shortbread, salt, black buns and whisky.

"Handselling" is the custom of gift giving on the first Monday of the New Year. So be sure to present your loved ones with a Hogmanay gift this year.

Huzzah!
Kimberly

TV's Top Shirtless Guy Moments of 2009

Other than the obvious error that Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore) should have been in the number one spot, this is a verra good list...

clipped from insidetv.aol.com TV's Top Shirtless Guy Moments of 2009 While this scene technically occurred at the beginning of season 2 in 2008, we'll let it pass since the season carried over into 2009. Plus, it's just too good not to include. As the dashing Nate Archibald, Crawford has plenty of half- and almost-naked scenes with various women. But nobody ever sticks with the same partner for long on 'Gossip Girl,' so way to spread the heat around, guys. Here's the opening of 'Summer Kind of Wonderful.' 10. Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald), 'Gossip Girl' This year offered plenty of hot and steamy TV moments, but some of the best featured hunky, half-naked guys. It was like an instant party for all of us female viewers out here, whether you're into sexy vampires, rough-gem bikers, or scrappy high school football players.

Drum roll, please...

And the WINNER of the Holiday Book Giveaway is...

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Wendy Wallach ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Congratulations, Wendy!
(Please email me at kim@kimberlykillion.com with your snail mail addy)

And thank you to everyone who signed up and is now following me here at Wowf about Writing. Be sure to stop by in January to check out my Valentine's Day Contest I will be hosting.

May you and yours have a very prosperous and romantic New Year.
xoxo Kimberly

Happy Holidays from William Lawson...

I will never get tired of this marketing campaign. Here's hoping you all buy someone you love a little William Lawson this holiday season...

clipped from www.youtube.com

Ho, ho, ho...'Tis the season for gift giving and Kimberly Killion must be feeling verra generous this year. She's giving away a sled-full of books...


Highland Dragon by Kimberly Killion
Her One Desire by Kimberly Killion
An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James
Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
Untouched by Anna Campbell
Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell
Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch
Death Angel by Linda Howard
Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins
Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary
Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spears
Everything Forbidden by Jenna Petersen

You have to do two simple things to enter:
1) Go to Kimberly's website and fill out the form on her contest page
2) Follow Kimberly's blog, Wowf about Writing!

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Contest Rules: One entry per person per contest period. Contest winner will be announced on Kimberly Killion's website and blog Dec. 26th, 2009. All entrants must be 18 years of age or older

Foreign Sales

To my great surprise, I received an advance this week on a foreign sales to Thailand. I was so tickled, I emailed my editor only to find out not only did my debut book, HER ONE DESIRE, sell to Thailand, but also to Brazil, Germany and Japan!

The book releases in June 2010 in Germany and was re-titled Im Kerker der Sehnsucht. I won't even pretend to know how to translate the, but I babelfished it, and the best I can tell, the German publisher re-titled the book: IN THE DUNGEON OF DESIRE. :)

If you think that's fun, the snippet on the cover (the words in the green bar) translates like this...
They defied the danger together - and began a play with the fire

More comparisons...
The English product description on Amazon.com
Secrets and lies have a price that must be paid in blood through the generations. In medieval Scotland, Laird Calin MacLeod must choose between avenging his father's death and surrendering to the passion he finds in the arms of his enemy's daughter.

The product description on Amazon.de
Tower OF London, 1483: Lizzy, the daughter of the executioner, must flee, because she stole an explosive document. The prisoner Broderick uses the opportunity likewise to the escape. Pursued of their enemies they come themselves dangerously close…

Facts, Fiction, Research...oh my...

Readers often email me to ask me about research. Sometimes they simply want to know if I hold a Masters in history and sometimes they want to point out what I did wrong.

Well, I don't hold a Masters in history. In truth, I never like history in school, but I do enjoy researching now. Partly because it is a means to procrastinate and partly because I find it fascinating. I recently had a woman email me to tell me how much she enjoyed my latest release, HIGHLAND DRAGON, but also pointed out that my heroine was liable to make the hero and his kin sick because she had picked rowan berries and they ate them. Apparently raw rowan berries will give you a stomach ache. I didn’t know that. Which is what I told her. LOL She was so tickled to discover that she had taught me something, that she dug out the newspaper article she had read on the subject and mailed it to me. FROM SCOTLAND!

I didn’t mind. Actually I thought is was kind of cool. We writers have so much to worry about that sometimes, yes, we can get the research wrong. For example, in HIGHLAND DRAGON, I also used the scent of honeysuckle to describe my heroine. Prior to publication, one of my critique partners pointed out that honeysuckle was not native to Scotland. Sheesh! What’s a girl to do? So I changed the name of the flower to the Gaelic word for sugar: siùcair.

Is it really that important to get it all right? Well, there are some readers out there who would say yes. I for one, like to focus on the romance and hope for the best, but if you are one of those crazed-diehard-must-get-it-right people, then here are a few website to assist you with your research…Enjoy!

COSTUME:
12th & 13th Century Clothing - Definitions
18th Century Costume Terminology
By the Sword
Historical Clothing Terms
Crinolines Fashion History
Deb's Historical Research Page
Measurement in the Middle Age
Medieval Clothing Terms
Medieval Fashion Glossary-Images
Noble Ware
The Tudor Shoppe
Clothing Of The Fifteenth Century

SCOTLAND
History of the Scottish Kilt
History of the Tartan
Reconstructing History — Scottish Historical Clothing Research
Scottish Women's Clothing

ITALY
Italian Dress
Italian Renaissance Clothing 1420-1520
Italian Renaissance

DICTIONARIES / GLOSSARIES:
Arms and Armour Terms
Emotion Thesaurus
Color-terms
Dictionary of Baby Names, Meanings and Origins
Dictionary
Etymology Dictionary
English/Irish Dictionary
Herb & Spice Dictionary
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
MSN Encarta
Navy Slang
One Look
Pirate Glossary
Regency Cant and Expressions
Regency Lexicon
Renaissance Faire Glossary
Scots Dialect
Scots Terms
Scottish Vernacular Dictionary
Sex-Lexis.com
Ships Glossary
Slang

MEDIEVAL:
Terms for Castle, Armor, Weaponry
Clothing Terms
Job Listing
Insults and Slang of the 15th Century
Medieval English Towns
Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament
THE MIDDLE AGES-Lots of Links

FOOD:
Medieval-Themed Restaurants
Medieval and Renaissance Food
The Medieval Kitchen

MONEY:
Historical Money
The DiCamillo Companion
Money in Florence, Italy
Measurement in the Middle Ages

NAMES:
Baby Names
Fake Name Generator
Regency Names
Medieval Names
Medieval Naming Guide
Scottish Boy Names
Scottish Girl Names
Scottish Names 101
Victorian Era Names

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If that isn’t enough to make your eyes cross, feel free to visit my writers page for more...

Huzzah!
Kimberly Killion
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HIGHLAND DRAGON ~ ON SALE NOW!
4-STARS from RT Book Reviews "This is a tale to cherish."
http://www.kimberlykillion.com/

Vote for "Best Historical Cover"

The poll for Best Historical Cover of 2009 (finals) is up!
The winner gets a cover feature and 4 week ad spot at THE SEASONS webiste.

I'm super thrilled to have HIGHLAND DRAGON sitting amidst such beautiful covers.

Don't delay, the voting ends, Dec. 13th. Vote now!

NEW TURKEY RECIPE

Your dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!! You should try this! Sure to bring smiles from your guests! Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.

1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.

2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully.

3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve. :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

Did a woman’s virginity raise her worth on the slave market?

I'm talking with Eliza Knight today at History Undressed about the "auction scene" in HIGHLAND DRAGON. If you ever wanted to know more about historical slave markets, then pop over. Plus, there's an excerpt...

"After reading HIGHLAND DRAGON, I immediately emailed Kimberly about the book. She had me held captive literally from the first sentence. No kidding, I was sitting in Starbucks with a girlfriend, and I kept tapping her arm and reading to her. She has such a vivid and intense way of writing. I really felt like I was there, experiencing everything that Calin and Akira experienced. The characters are so well-crafted they appear to be real people, with real emotions. Not to mention Calin is a hot-blooded Highlander—you can’t beat that! Verra, verra nice… I cried, laughed, held my breath, chewed off my nails, sighed…the whole nine yards. I told Kimberly this, and I’ll tell you all too, I haven’t read a book this good in a long time. She rivals with some of my old favs, Julie Garwood and Jude Devereux to name a couple. And OF COURSE, she has a great bit of knowledge on history and weaved all the details and facts into the story in a way that it just flowed off the page. I like history with my romance, I like travelling back in time."

READ MORE...

I would read your grocery list!!!

You know what's better than getting a 5/5 star review from a review website? Getting a letter from a fan.

With the release of Highland Dragon only a month old, I'm starting to get letters from readers that make my heart sing...

"OMG! I just finished your book, Her One Desire, in the early hours of this morning and then immediately started on Highland Dragon and stayed up all night reading the firsty half of it. I Love Them! Thank you so much for bringing your awesome talent to all of your faithful fans!!" —Susie

"I just had to send you a quick note to say... I would read your grocery list!!! You are truly fantastic!!! I was hooked on your first book [Her One Desire] and could not wait for Highland Dragon. I just finished it. LOVED IT!!!"—Jenai

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HIGHLAND DRAGON by award-winning author, Kimberly Killion
Oct. 2009/Zebra books

A desire that defies all limits…and a love that was meant to be…Secrets and lies have a price that must be paid in blood through the generations.

Eighteen years after hiding the secret of his betrothed’s lineage, Laird Calin MacLeod must choose between avenging his father’s death and surrendering to the passion he finds in the arms of his enemy’s daughter.

From the PublisherKimberly Killion's gorgeous, dramatic novels have the sweep and intensity of Hannah Howell's megaselling Scottish romances.

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Grade A - The Good, The Bad and The Unread
4/4.5 Stars - RT Book Reviews
5/5 Stars - Lond and Short Romance Reiviews
5/5 Stars - Single Titles
5/5 Stars - Book Junkie
5/5 Stars - Heather's Reading Romance

READ THE REVIEWS: http://www.kimberlykillion.com/hdreviews.asp
WEBSITE: http://www.kimberlykillion.com

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EXCERPT:

Hidden behind a false panel, ten-year-old Calin MacLeod covered his ears with sweaty palms. The screams echoing throughout Brycen Castle were loud enough to loosen his teeth.

Lena Kinnon cried for mercy with every gut-wrenching contraction, but didn’t receive the slightest morsel of compassion from the many men present. Her position held no dignity, sprawled atop the council table like a sacrificial lamb. The wool of her soiled sark draped between her raised knees and provided her little privacy. No one wiped her brow or offered soothing words of comfort.

A woman was supposed to suffer during childbirth to pay for the sins of Eve. Even at his young age, Calin knew the laws of the church. He also knew Lena had already suffered more than any woman in Clan Kinnon. The bruises speckling her pale skin were evidence of the constant torture she endured at the hands of her ruthless husband.

The sliver of space between the wooden planks where Calin hid was no wider than the trunk of a sapling, but provided a view of his da, Laird MacLeod, who stood against a stone pilaster opposite Laird Kinnon. Da’s dark hair had grayed at the temples over the recent months, and his face sagged in weariness, but his rigid stance displayed his contained rage. With his eyes narrowed, Da stroked the golden bull’s head engraved into the signet ring he wore and glared at his enemy.

Two pairs of MacLeod warriors flanked each side of his da, while four Kinnon warriors surrounded Laird Baen Kinnon. All were unarmed as was previously agreed upon by both lairds.

“Ye keep screamin’, wife. It’ll cleanse your black English soul.” Laird Kinnon paced the council chamber, a sneer twisting his pitted face.

Calin hated the chieftain of his neighboring clan as much as his da did. Laird Kinnon was a cold-hearted demon. Anyone who would beat his lady wife during her childbearing time walked upon this earth with the devil’s black blood flowing through his veins.

“Ye bear me another bitch and it will be your last.”

READ MORE: http://www.kimberlykillion.com/hdexcerpt.asp

"Love is Scary"

That's the theme on TJ Bennet's IMHO and I'm her guest today. Hop over and leave a comment for a chance to win HIGHLAND DRAGON, one of TJ's historical romances, and at least one of our other guests' books, as well as a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com, tell us what you either love or hate about Halloween. On October 31, 2009, TJ will announce the winning entries drawn at random from all eligible participants (US addresses only, please). The winners will have until November 5, 2009, to claim their prize.

Book Tour

October has definitely been crazy, which is why I've neglected my blog. Promoting is so draining, but very enjoyable expecially when you can share it with friends. The first weekend I spent in Georgia with the Moonlight & Magnolias chapter. Had a great time and sold out of my HIGHLAND DRAGON at the signing! Yay!

Then it was off to chilly Chicago to hang with the Chicago-North ladies. (Love those gals!) After that, I spent the weekend with my own chapter mates and sold out of all but one book!

I’m in Kansas now perfecting a presentation for the Kansas Writers Group. It turned into a long day, since I stopped at 7 books stores along the way and had lunch with an old college friend (who I hadn’t seen in nearly 20 years!)

It’s been so exciting seeing my book in the “New Romance” section. See me? Sitting right there beside Jan Kenny and Lisa Kleypas???

OK…off to make some edits to my WIP while I’m still awake…

Book of the week at LASR!

Thanks to all who voted for HIGHLAND DRAGON in Long and Short Review's "Book of the week" poll. It WON!!!

Here's the winning review:

Highland Dragon by Kimberly Killion
Publisher: Zebra Books (Kensington)
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (318 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 5 Books
Reviewed by Queen Anne’s Lace

Scotland 1502. Akira Neish has been raised as a peasant, her belly often empty and her family subject to the cruel whims of her clan's laird. To the clan’s children, the horned shaped birthmark she bears means she is a witch. But she is neither peasant nor witch—and now the man who knows the truth has returned to claim her for his own.

Calin MacLeod has kept Akira's secrets and to avenge his father, the sensual young laird must marry her. He is more than a match for the fiery nature of the woman he adores. Yet the passion they share—and truths that can no longer remain hidden—could rip all of Scotland apart.

Akira Neish can fight like any man, climb trees like a monkey – although getting down is another story – and swear in four languages. The only man who holds her loyalty, besides her family, is her benefactor, the man whom she will marry. But she’s never met him, and after being captured by the enemy, fears she may never.

Calin MacLeod, the laird of clan MacLeod, vowed as he witnessed his father’s murder that he would lead clan MacLeod and get revenge on his enemy. He saves baby Akira, his bride-to-be, but the day he comes to claim her she’s been kidnapped. Will he be able to save Akira and enact his revenge, or will an old secret destroy any chance he and Akira have at love?

Highland Dragon is brisk, fast-paced, witty and completely sexy. The writing is crisp and concise with characters any reader can easily love. The point of view never jumps, and the scenes are well described and packed with delicious adjectives.

Highland Dragon brings medieval Scotland to life better than any other work I’ve ever read, employing authentic language, terminology and imagery while maintaining the story flow and not confusing the reader. I must award the author “A+++” on a fantastic job!

Ms. Killion is a talented story-teller. I plan to read any other novels she writes. Wonderful job for a writer who is definitely a must keep in the business. Don’t miss out on this must-read, fabulous novel.