In her unique and unstoppable style, bestselling author (and all-around fun person to hang out with) KAREN HAWKINS, answers our perennial (or at least weekly) question: What ONE THING do you know now that you’d wish you’d known then…
I thought all writers sat by the pool in pink taffeta, sipping margaritas while my pool boy took dictation. But there is no pink taffeta (well, the old lady down the street who thinks she’s Elvis’s love child sometimes has a glob of it on her head). No margaritas (unless I want to rewrite the entire book). And no pool boy (sob!). It’s just me and my computer and NOTHING ELSE.
Wait…there are no pool boys???
I’m shocked!
But who wants pool boys anyway, when you can have this…
MUCH ADO ABOUT MARRIAGE
Fearless English earl Thomas Wentworth scoffs at failure, trusting in the legendary Wentworth luck to safeguard his spy mission to Scotland. But a single encounter with saucy Scotswoman Fia Maclean turns Thomas’s mission topsy-turvy. All-too-innocently entangling him in his enemy’s trap, the beautiful Fia gives Thomas no escape but to marry her. But Thomas doesn’t know just what he’s marrying into.
With an ancient amulet in Fia’s possession, she wields even more power than her sharp tongue and quick wit. Her cousin, Douglas Maclean stole the magical amulet from the White Witch, Maeve Hurst, and gave it to Fia for safekeeping. But now, with Fia in London with Thomas, the amulet falls into the hands of Queen Elizabeth. Thinking it will be safe in the queen’s hands, Fia leaves it be and focuses on bedeviling her newly betrothed!
Karen is generously giving away a copy of a backlist title (US shipping only) to one of the commenters today. So post away! And thank you, Karen, for your wonderful stories!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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I thought all the hot cover models came to live with you after they were done being put on the book. that’s not true??? bummer.
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Hey, Karen! I hear ya there! Wish someone had told me it wasn’t the Barbara Cartlandt life!
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I thought writers also had a pink or red boa around the neck too.
Gosh I love the cover of Much Ado about Marriage.
The model looks like Jonathan Rhys and the coat look like something from The Tudors show I love.
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Hi Karen – I absolutely loved Talk of the Town! It’s one of the rare books on my keeper shelf.
So…when we get our pool, there won’t be a hot cabana boy magically show up to take care of it? And me? That’s darned disappointing!
I might have to re-think this being-a-writer thing…
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Well hello, goddess Karen, welcome to the jungle. It is great having you here. So no margaritas, no pink taffeta, and no pool boys? That’s not fair! LOL!!!
“It’s just me and my computer and NOTHING ELSE.” How true, but I would also like to add to that. Other writers out there giving you support, and knowing you are not alone helps to ease that sense of loneliness. Thank you so much for dropping by. I am looking forward to picking up my copy of “Much Ado…” LOVE the cover, btw. Who needs a pool boy when you can have an English Earl or a HOT cop? Have fun in the jungle okay. It is a happening place. Will check back later.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Karen, I just love your historicals, and this new one sounds wonderful. The cover isn’t bad either!
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Welcome to the jungle Karen. I loved your book Talk of the Town. Hope your having a good weekend.
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Welcome to the jungle. You mean writers don’t actually live the life they are writing about? Sigh. LOL.
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Kris, alas, no. If only that were so! I could use a big hunky guy to clean out my garage. Oh, and I have some very heavy boxes of books that need moved, as well.
Carly, yeah. It was a bit of a let down, wasn’t it?
Gigi, that’s it! The Johnathan Rhys picture from The Tudors is the one I sent to the art department when we did our cover conference. I looooove that series!
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Alannah, thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed Talk of the Town. :) I hope to write Ethan’s story next. It’s on the To Do List. And no, no cabana boy. I should know because I’ve been sitting here at this pool, waiting . . . waiting . . . (turning over so I won’t burn) waiting … waiting … (drinking a margarita to kill the pain of disappointment) waiting … waiting … and still no cabana boy. Sigh.
Hellooooo, Paula R! Thank you for your warm welcome to the jungle! It’s a lovely place to be. And you’re right — I do get lots of excellent support from my fellow authors AND online connections. In fact, I don’t know how I’d do it without all of you!
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Well, I am grateful that you have those online connections too, Karen. Otherwise, ye olde fangirl reader here wouldn’t be able to connect with author faves like you. So…um…what’s the deadline on Ethan’s story again? I think I missed it…LOL!!! It is great seeing you here.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I don’t have a deadline yet, but I think it’s going to be March, which means it should be out next fall. I’ll let you know when I find out. I’m anxious to find out, too!
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I will rein in then. This is me being patient….
I love Glory and can’t wait to revisit.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Cheryl C, thank you so much! There’s just something cool about traveling in a book to another place and time. It’s very magical. And yes, Much Ado About Marriage has a hot cover, doesn’t it? YAY! I’m so tickled they gave my Elizabethan set book a nice, crisp Elizabethan feel; a bit darker and a bit more dramatic, which I think reflects the time period really well.
Elisa V, thank you! I hope to write Ethan’s story next for the contemporary series. I’ve been working on his future love-o-life, sort of getting her character set before I begin. He needs a really strong woman and by gosh, he’s going to get one!
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Katie, no. It’s a scam. They lure you in with promises of sexy men waving palm fronds and mixing you lovely drinks and then throw in the mix deadlines and hours of editing, copyedits who don’t know the difference between an earl and a duke, and oh, heavens, all sort of things. I was cheated, I tell ya! Cheated!
Ok, not really. It IS more work than I thought it would be — a lot more work, but it’s also even more fun than I’d imagined. Less luxurious and exciting, but more fulfilling. I’ll take that trade-off any day of the week. :)
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Welcome, Karen. Thanks for stopping by from Mt. Oly. Too bad about the pool boy. I really think you should be a bit looser with the margaritas, though.
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OMG
That is one of the most amazing covers I’ve seen in years! Can’t wait to read it.
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Welcome Karen,
Thanks for the laugh. Congrats on the upcoming release.
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That cover is eye catching! Loved the blurb… MUCH ADO ABOUT MARRIAGE sounds like a great read… have not had the pleasure of reading your books yet, have to change that!
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Just remember, we married women still have a bit of minds left especially after giving birth, raising our husbands
as well as our children 
and for me 25 years of marriage. 
I still can dream ! 
Boy do I love that cover! 
That cover could give me lots of great dream material! LOL! 
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GSM, you’re right. I should be spreading those around. I wish I knew how to do the graphic, or I’d post a line of them, but that’s ok, just imagine me handing you a whole pitcher of margaritas, because I would if I could! :)
Gillian, thank you! The art department at Pocket wow’d me with the cover. I sent them the Jonathan Rhys pose and they came up with this . . . I literally jumped with joy when I saw it.
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Colleen, I hope you enjoy my books! I write Regency (and now Elizabethan), as well as some contemporary, romances. My new website is about to launch and it has a printable booklist if that will help.
Lisa G, amen! I dream about that cover all of the time. He just looks so purposeful, striding toward you, like he knows exactly what he wants. Mmmmm!
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Went to walmart today hoping they’d have it out early as they tend to put out my favorite authors early but sadly no such luck this time around. I’m getting 2 books on wednesday when i get paid next week. yours and Susan Mallery’s latest. *hehehe*
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Kelly, you have to watch Ye Olde Budget. Believe me, I’m a slave to mine, too. I always end up with a list so that when pay day comes, off I go to the bookstore, ready to get exactly what I want. Ok, ok, and MAYBE a few extra if something catches my eye. It’s good to be budget-conscious!
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No pool boy? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
LOVE the cover to your book!
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I know. No pool boy. **sob!**
But this cover ALMOST makes up for it. ALMOST.
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Lol! Yeah, I want to get my hands on him, too. I mean, on the book.
Yeah. That’s what I meant.
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I love the cover!
To bad about the pool boy.
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Hi Karen,
Do you at least get to hang out with all of the hot cover models? I mean there has to be some perks for all that hard work.
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Nope. I’ve never hung out with a cover model. I did, however, see a few at a conference, though none of them had ever been on my books. I feel cheated somehow. I mean, SOMEONE is hanging out with them, right? Why couldn’t it be me?
Sigh.
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Thank you! :)
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What a great cover! And I love anything that mentions Scotland lol.
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Oh, I’m the same way — Scotland is magical. I’ve only been there once, but oh, it spoke to my soul. I hope to go back one day. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet this cover model wandering around in his leather coat?
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Sounds like a cool book.
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I think the lack of pool boys would be the saddest point for me!
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Not only are there no pool boys, but you don’t get to personally interview prospective cover models either? What a letdown!
Hm, I’d almost trade the cover model for the leather coat… almost… (both are rather great)
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Love this story line and love Scotland. Had the opportunity to visit for 1 wk in 2001 and want to go back. I love the kilts, that sexy brogue and the sexy men.
I can’t believe there are no pool boys. What is this world coming to…?
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Man that male is
Nice cover art.Got to love a good Loking cover model 
Your book sounds like a good one can’t wait to read it.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
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I can’t wait to read how Fia turns Thomas ‘s world upside down. Toss together magic, mystery, intrigue and romance WOW you’ve got it covered! Sounds wonderful!
I don’t think you’re missing out of anything since you’ve found your own romantic ideal in “Mr Hot Cop”!
Love the cover! He’s right in your face, coming right at ya!
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Love a man in a kilt with a smooth brogue and stories set in Scotland. This book sounds like a good one and I’m loving the great cover…
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Love the cover for Much Ado About Marriage!! Can he come to my house??LOL!
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Hi Karen, I love the cover!!