Series Spotlight: Kate Hardy on Becoming a Presents Author
28 Comments July 13th, 2009 in 60th anniversary, author, romance novel awards Posted by AmyKate Hardy went from a teenager scandalizing her mum with her Sara Craven-inspired romance to an award-winning novelist. Read about her journey to become a Harlequin Presents author in our latest Series Spotlight post!
by Kate Hardy, author of Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh (Harlequin Presents, July 2009)
I write for two Harlequin lines, so my call story comes in two parts.
Actually, no… it comes in three.
This is deep, dark confession time.
The first was way back in 1979, when I was 13 and first started reading Sara Craven’s books. I absolutely loved them. I’d known for years that I wanted to be a writer (wrote my first novel half a lifetime before — yes, really, and before that I was telling stories to my teddy bear), and I realised that these were the kind of books I wanted to write. Love stories with strong characters and good plots and happy endings.
So I sat down and wrote my first Harlequin novel, on an old manual typewriter. My mum read it, then she sat me down and asked me very gently where I had got the love scenes from. I explained I’d been reading Sara Craven, who was really good; my mum gave a huge sigh of relief, then explained to me that I should never borrow other people’s words, and maybe I should wait until I was a bit older until I tried writing a Harlequin. Needless to say, I still really enjoy reading Sara’s wonderful Presents novels, but my words are all my own!
The second part came in my mid-thirties. I’d had a string of raunchy romances published in my twenties, but I still really wanted to write Harlequins. In 2000, when I was pregnant with my daughter and working as a freelance health journalist, my husband suggested that I should combine my two big loves (romance and medicine) and try writing a Medical Romance. I read absolutely loads of them while I was pregnant and thoroughly enjoyed them; and I agreed with my husband that they’d be right up my street. I planned to make a start as soon as I’d finished maternity leave.
But then fate stepped in. A couple of days before Christmas, my seven-week-old daughter was taken into hospital with bronchiolitis. I spent the next week at her bedside, and that’s where I started writing my first Medical Romance, A Baby of Her Own. As with all good romances, the story has a happy ending. My agent loved the first three chapters, and so did Harlequin; they asked for the full. The book was accepted on my baby’s first birthday, and it was published on her second birthday. Ottakar’s (a national bookstore chain) gave me a wonderful launch party, with lots of balloons and flowers, and it really was a dream come true. Finally, I was a Harlequin author. I actually got to meet some of the authors whose books I’d loved for years… and they treated me as one of them. (Have I mentioned yet that Harlequin authors really are the nicest people? Liz Fielding, Sophie Weston and Kate Walker in particular took me under their wing, and I’d like to take a moment here to thank them for their kindness to a wet-behind-the-ears newbie.)
The third part proves that life really does begin at 40. In 2006, I was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romance Prize with my Medical Romance Where the Heart Is. (That has to be the coolest 40th birthday present ever! And it was also bittersweet — I’d dedicated the book to my mum, who sadly died when I was 21 and never got to share the joy of being published with me.)
And I also had a fantastic opportunity. My editor had also been talking to me about a new line which would be part of Presents, and asked me if I’d like to try writing for it as well as Medicals. I’d still get to keep the kind of hero I could fall in love with (what editor Tessa Shapcott called “the Kate Hardy strong, clever hero-with-a-heart”) and the kind of heroine I’d want to be best friends with, but I could have different environments. They wanted to me try writing something fresh and flirty and fun. And sexy.
I leaped at the chance, and really enjoyed the challenge of writing The Cinderella Project, which was one of the launch titles in the UK in 2006. And I discovered that I could play with the themes I really enjoyed in Presents and make them my own: strong heroes who are in charge of their worlds until they meet the heroine (I so enjoyed my lawyer being taught a lesson by my flaky vintage clothes dealer in Mistress on Trial), Italian heroes, and, um, sensuality. (Rooftop gardens, naked sleepwalkers, tornadoes… the love scenes have been such fun to write!)
I love the fact that I can give my characters really unusual jobs — luckily my editor is very indulgent and lets me satisfy my inner nerd. (Though I did have to compromise on the reindeer.) Through my heroes I’ve been an archaeologist, a architect, and a stormchaser; through my heroines, I’ve designed fireworks, been an archivist and worked on landscape archaeology by restoring a garden from several hundred hears before.) I love the fact that the heroes have freedom to follow their dreams because they’ve worked hard and are well on their way to the top — and because they’ve made it and have money behind them, they can afford to indulge the heroine. (The wedding and honeymoon in Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded would’ve melted me. Especially as the hero arranged everything. It’s not the cost: it’s the fact he noticed what her dreams were and made them happen.) I love being able to travel to all the places on my personal wish-list (including Pompeii and an ice hotel), thank to my hero and heroine — and avoid the real-life difficulties of arranging things to fit round school, having to put the dog in boarding kennels, or needing painful vaccinations! I love making my hero and heroine see the world through different eyes, and running the whole gamut from laughter to tears to back again. And I love waking them up with passion and filling their world with magic.
Harlequin has given me back that same magic in my career. Last year, Breakfast at Giovanni’s (the UK title of In Bed With Her Italian Boss) won the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romance Prize, and this year Sold to the Highest Bidder was shortlisted for the same prize. And my July Presents release, Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh, is my first ever Romantic Times Top Pick, something I’m really thrilled about: I’m so pleased that people are enjoying my sheikh with a difference. (Difference? Er. He’s strong, handsome and resourceful. But there are no robes. No sand. Most of the book takes place in England. But do watch out for the pomegranates and the volcanoes — yes, I do mean that — and Karim’s wet room. And Lily’s kitchen is to die for.)
Thirty years ago, I had big dreams of being a Harlequin author. I’m incredibly lucky because I’ve been able to live the dream. And I hope I’m able to spread a bit of the magic back to my readers through my stories.
Happy 60th birthday, Harlequin. And here’s to many more.
The hero from Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh, Karim al-Hassan, is also blogging on the eHarlequin Community as part of the “My Favorite Hero” blog. Click here to read what he has to say about his heroine, Lily!
Plus, read Chapter 1 of Kate’s book with the widget below:
Ah Kate, I’m just enjoying Karim and Lily’s story. Though I haven’t made it as far as the pomegranates or the volcanoes yet!
I love all your Modern Heat heroes! The Modern Heat guidelines call for a more Alpha type hero now. Is Karim an example of that or was he written before the guidelines changed?
I haven’t read any recent Modern Heats, but I sure enjoy ready
Kate Hardy’s Medicals and Modern Heats.
I really enjoy those yummy sexxy heroes and stong, quirky
alluring Modern Heat heroines.
Waiting for Modern Heat guidelines here so I can start seriously
writing and entering the Modern Present/ Heat Contest.
Jane
LOL Kate, I can only image what your mum must have thought when she read your story! Too funny
~Amy
Kate, your call story is as magical as your books. Anyone who reads your books knows how you pour your heart and soul into them. It was great to read the whole call story hear, and to hear about some of your earlier works. Raunchy stories in your twenties? Hmm. And loved how your mother handled your first attempts at writing love stories.
Keep up the fantastic work!
Hello Scary Kate! I love your call stories – yes, esp the bit about your mum – that’s so sweet.
And yes, I think so much of the fun about writing is being able to give our heroines the jobs we’d love, and get them to go to the places we dream of – fantasy fulfillment for the writer just as much for the reader huh?!
Spread a bit of magic back?? More than a bit I’d say Kate… And a fair bit of steam too!
Love your call story and your stories even more.
Lol Kate – I knew how you came to write medicals but the Sara Craven-esque sex scenes really cracked me up. Especially your Mum having to tell you about plagiarism.
You were obviously destined to be part of this wonderful family.
Your In The Gardner’s Bed stays with me to this day
Love,
Amy
Thank heavens for Sara Craven! I’m so glad they discovered you Kate, your books are a delight.
anna x
Kate, I really enjoyed this last one (as I have enjoyed all of them…) I am still trying to track down a copy of Charlie and Seb’s sister’s story her in the US.
Hi Kate
Love your MH’s. I have just read Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion and loved Luke and Sara’s story.
Hi Mulberry – so glad you’re enjoying the book. (And you have some, ahem, treats in store.
You might need a fan for the pomegranates, and the volcanoes might put a lump in your throat.)
Thanks for the compliments about the heroes. Karim was written last year so he’s pre-new guidelines. I’m too close to my heroes to say how alpha or not they are: I just write men I could fall in love with.
Hi Jane – thanks for the compliments
The guidelines are up at eHarlequin – if I get this link right, it’s here (and if I don’t get the link right, cut and paste http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1294&chapter=0 )
Hi Amy – now I have a daughter of my own (who presented me with a short story last night…) I know exactly where my mum was coming from!
Hi Lynne – thanks for the compliments
– and yes, I used to write Black Lace. (First advance cheque bought my DH his dream guitar, a Fender Stratocaster just like Ritchie Blackmore’s; mind you, he’d always believed in my dreams, so he deserved it.)
Hi Nat – I’m never going to live that nickname down, am I? (OK, so 40 books in 8 years might be a lot…) And absolutely on the fantasy fulfilment! (Dear ed. You know what I’m going to ask. Please can I have Antonio Banderas for my next cover model?) (For those of you not in the UK, that loud laughter you can hear is my editor… about to say no. But I keep trying…)
Hi Heidi – thanks for the compliment! You could say I generated a lot of steam with #40 as it’s set in a steam fairground museum…
Hi Amy – Sara Craven’s lovely and she thought my story was hilarious when I confessed it to her some years back. (And hey, I was only 13 at the time…)
I thought it was worth sharing, though, especially as the new comp is up, because it’s worth remembering that the eds are looking for new voices – so write the book for yourself rather than trying to make yourself similar to someone else. (And thanks for the compliment about my gardener!)
Hi Anna – thanks very much!
Hi Erin – thanks for the compliment. Vicky’s story (Charlie and Seb’s sister) is His Honorable Surgeon, which came out in the US in July 2006. Might be worth trying ABE or Amazon UK? I know there are plans afoot to release back catalogues in ebooks, but I’m not sure how far they’re going back and which lines are involved.
Hi Janette – thanks for the compliment. Glad you enjoyed Luke and Sara – I had huge fun writing that one, too. (The spaniel, by the way, was borrowed from real life and is currently snoring on his bed in my office. Lose a shoe in this house, and you know it’s either on his bed in my office, on his bed in the kitchen, or hidden under the trees at the bottom of the garden…)
PS Jane, in case you thought I was ignoring you, there’s a big fat note under my reply to you saying that the moderator is reviewing my comment. So as I’m in a different time zone, I guess it might not show up until late. Basically I said thanks for the compliment and that the guidelines are up at eHarl – I did put a link there too (so maybe that’s why it’s beng moderated?) – go into the Write Stuff and scroll down and you’ll see a post headed BULLETIN about the guidelines – they’re all there.
Hi Kate
I adored Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh (steamy stuff!) and Luke and Sara’s story is burning a hole in my TBR pile – am trying to resist until I’ve finished my current wip but my resistance is crumbling!
x Lucy
So writing runs in the family, eh Kate? I expect to be putting up blog posts by Kate Hardy Jr. in a decade or two!
~Amy
Lucy – thanks for the compliment (and sorry for being bad and tempting you away from your work! Cracking the whip here *g*)
Amy – sure does
… and I can see that, too!
Kate: I checked out the link.
Planning to purchased your new Harlequin Presents rromance Surrender to the Playboy Shriek.
Question: What other Modern Heats
author has a July 2009 Harlequin Presents USA
out?
Another question: Where can I find the list of
Modern Heat romances that will be released
as Harlequin Presents USA Augsut 09-12/09
and 2010?
Thank You
Jane
Kate: I checked out the link.
Planning to purchased your new Harlequin Presents rromance Surrender to the Playboy Shriek.
Question: What other Modern Heats
author has a July 2009 Harlequin Presents USA
out?
Another question: Where can I find the list of
Modern Heat romances that will be released
as Harlequin Presents USA Augsut 09-12/09
and 2010?
Thank You
Jane
Hi Jane – the other MH Presents book in July is Susan Stephens.
Re future releases – if you check out the MH authors’ website (http://sensationalromance.blogspot.com/) you’ll see the books released each month in the UK/US/Aussie – Heidi Rice is a superstar and updates the page on the first of each month. (We wouldn’t be mean enough to ask her to do future releases as well, because coding the pages is time-consuming and we all know what deadlines are like!)
My best suggestions are to check the eharlequin upcoming releases (you’ll know who we are from our website), or check the UK releases on our website and add three or four months for the US date. Or maybe an Amazon search (that’s how most of us find out our non-UK release dates and see our covers for the first time). Or check the booklists on the individual authors’ websites, maybe?
Cheers
Kate