Great Ways to Procrastinate » Picture This!

What I did this summer–got married in a castle in Scotland!

Kathryn — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:05:47 +0000

So, when a romance author (who absolutely adores Scottish heroes) gets married, where does she tie the knot? In Scotland, of course! On August 11th, I married my kilted hero in the chapel at Dalhousie Castle in Scotland. The rings were delivered by a little owl to my daughter who gave them to the minister to be blessed. Check out a few photos (more to come–including a few of “Ted” the owl.)

Kathryn’s “on dit” column from the Inaugural Ball

Kathryn — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:44:16 +0000

Research is important, and so when a bit of luck landed me four sought-after tickets to one of the official inaugural balls in Washington, DC, I jumped at the chance to slip into a ball gown and dance the night away in arms of a handsome man.

Only the night didn’t turn out the way I had imagined. An inaugural ball is not a Cinderella event, as I was soon to learn. First off, I broke the zipper on my gown and had to switch to a gown I wore to an event last summer. Normally, the sleeveless gown would be fine, except it was freezing. No, it was below freezing (I think it was 7 degrees). It was so cold, we actually put hand warmer packets in our coat pockets AND in our shoes.

There were no limos (unless you were Oprah)–or gleaming carriages, because all of the streets near the ball location had been completely closed to traffic for security. So, like nearly everyone else, we, in our ball gowns and my hero in his tux, took the Metro into DC. **Hint: if your gown has a train, take the stairs and skip the escalator. Not kidding. Battle the thousands coming down the stairs if you must, but do NOT take the escalator. Lesson learned.** I wore boots under my gown and my hero put my Manolos in his coat pockets. This worked out great, until we passed through the second security stop and he was pulled out of line and manually searched. “What do you have in your pockets, sir?” My daughters’ eyes were huge as they watched men-in-black surround him. ”High heels–for her.” This got him a sympathetic look from the security guard. After a nice long pat down, they let him and my Manolos through. Such a sweetheart, eh?

Here is where things turned around. Because so many other ball-goers were caught in the parade-goers exodus, we were one of the very first people to arrive in the ballroom. We claimed four chairs (there were only about 100 chairs and there would be thousands of guests), dropped our coats–put on my Manolos– and then my daughters rushed the stage where Sheryl Crow was doing a sound check and rehearsing the songs she would perform later. She said she had hadn’t slept in four nights and looked exhausted.

The crowds quickly filled the ballroom. We snapped a few pictures, drank champagne and I danced to a Motown band in the arms of my hero (sigh) until my feet were aching and my Manolos had to take a break. Who would notice if I put black boots back on? No one could see them under my gown anyway. By then it was too crowded to see my feet anyway. My hero brought me another glass of champagne, while my youngest daughter jockeyed for prime real estate in front of the stage and my eldest daughter decided to give her red pumps a rest by sitting down to text her boyfriend for the next hour. Ah, young romance.

Sheryl Crow took the stage at ten p.m., and, now dressed in heels, a black skirt and white sleeveless top with a slit back, she sang every hit song–including A Change Will Do You Good. Not sure it that is the title, but it is the chorus and perfect for the night, right? She was given the hook close to eleven, when VP Biden and his wife (her bright red gown was gorgeous and I thought much prettier than Michelle Obama’s confection.) His short speech was entertaining and then they danced. About half an hour later, a Coast Guard band played Barack and Michelle into the ball. His speech was short, and their dance to At Last (one of my favorite songs) was completely adorable, especially when Michelle had to keep to whisking aside her train so Barack didn’t step on it again.

After the balls ended, tens of thousands in silk and satin excited the convention center and walked down the center of the closed streets through DC toward the Metro. It was the oddest sight, like an end of the world scene in a movie–except apparantly the end of the world was a black tie event.

We made it home by 2 a.m. and then were up by six a.m.–the girls had mid-term exams! But they didn’t complain. The inauguration was an historic event and something we all will always remember. My readers might see glimpses of the night at the ball in some of my upcoming books. Because when you are an author, everything is research.

Cheers!

On the Road Again…

Kathryn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:28:15 +0000

Recently, 27 authors and I (Kathryn) participated in the Levy Home Entertainment Read This! Author Bus Tour. Nine Meijer stores in Michigan in three days. Whew!

Sure, the book tour was a bit exhausting but it was also the most fun I have had in ages. And, with Levy crew at the helm and the Meijer staff in the stores, the tour was hands-down the best organized signing event I have ever attended.

Now, usually, when bands go on tour there are souvenir t-shirts to be had. Levy and Meijer did one better–we were given very cool stocked bags with the tour name printed on it (because, I think, it was too long to print on t-shirts without going around the back.) By the end of the tour, the bag was filled with books from the other authors. You should see my To Be Read pile now! I can’t wait to dig in.

Ever wanted to see what a book tour is really like? Here’s a little peek (I admit, I left out all of the pictures of us standing in line a Starbucks).

Kathryn and Sophia Nash waiting to board the bus.

Kathryn signing How To Propose to a Prince and How to Engage an Earl.

Kathryn Caskie, Chip St. Clair (on the Oprah short list!) and Allison Brennan trying to hide our assorted caffeine choices behind the books.

Cherry Adair, Jessica Andersen, Kathryn & Leslie Langtry resisting all the Halloween candy behind us.

Kathryn and Susan Mallery

Victoria Rowell and Kathryn

Kristin Higgins, Deanna Gist, Tom Grace, Kathryn, Victoria Rowell (writer, soap and television star) and Chip St. Clair. Kathryn’s favorite question: “So, who do YOU play on the Young and Restless?

Kathryn and Jordan Dane propping each other at the end of the day.

How to meet your favorite author in person

Kathryn — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:37:23 +0000

A number of readers have asked me if all romance authors know each other. The answer is well, yes. Authors are readers first, after all, and we love to meet our favorite authors too!

How do authors get to know each other? The same way readers get to know authors. We go to book signings (and we do have a bit of an advantage here…we go to a lot of book signings).

The most time efficient way to meet your favorite authors is to attend the annual literacy signing at the Romance Writers of America conference. If you went this year, you could have met several hundred authors at just one signing! This year, the conference was held in San Francisco. ( Tip~ The 2009 conference is scheduled for July 15-18 in Washington, DC. Plan ahead.)

Here are a few pictures from the recent 2008 conference.

Christopher Moore and Kathryn (aka fangirl)

Teresa Medeiros and Connie Brockway at a tea given by our friend John Charles.

Jill Marie Landis, Kathryn and Liz Carlyle enjoying scones and tea.

Julia Quinn and Carrie Ferron wearing their fab nearly matching shawls.

Avon publisher, Liate Stehlik, Suzanne Enoch and Kathryn at the HarperCollins reception.

Lucia Macro, Executive Editor Morrow/Avon and her adoring author Kathryn.

The Amazons~ Kathryn, Sophia Nash, Pam Jaffee (Avon uber publicist), Sue Grimshaw (romance buyer for Borders/Waldenbooks) and author Laura Lee Guhrke.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Sue Grimshaw at the Avon dinner.

Pamela Palmer, Mary Lenaburg, Diane Gaston and Kathryn from Washington Romance Writers.

At Nora Robert’s pre-RITA bash~ Sophia Nash, Elaine Fox, Kathryn and Hope Tarr.

Toni Blake (RITA finalist), Kathryn and Julie Anne Long in their awards night finery.

Kathryn and Susan Crandall at the literacy signing just before the doors opened.

Romance Writers of America 2007 national conference in Dallas, Texas

Kathryn — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:06:18 +0000

Did you know that authors can write off sexy suits, fab footwear and beautiful bags as business expenses (okay…and paper, ink, postage, staplers, etc.)? Kathryn didn’t. But looking at lovely author fashionistas at the RITA awards–most everyone else knew!

At the Romance Writers of America conference in Dallas, it was a Cinderella night for all, but especially for a few of Kathryn’s author friends.

The Norwegian basketball team, Sophia Nash, Alesia Holliday, Kathryn Caskie and Kresley Cole (winner of the RITA for Best Paranormal) with their mascot RITA winner Julia Quinn, for Best Long Historical.

Susan Crandall (RITA finalist) and Kathryn.

Kathryn and Sophia Nash with the talented Romance Vagabonds ~ Sara Lindsey, Élodie Michels and Manda Collins.

Kathryn with fellow Avon authors Jacquie D’Alessandro and Teresa Medeiros.

Kathryn with Elizabeth Boyle and Suzanne Enoch.

Tracy Anne Warren, Diane Gaston, Betina Krahn with her RITA for Best Long Historical, and Kathryn.

Jennifer St. Giles and Kathryn (another
Norwegian basketball team member!).

Everything IS bigger in Texas! (Note: Kathryn in high heels is 6′1″)

Teresa Medeiros and Kathryn at the Avon dinner.

Kathryn with Tracy Anne Warren who won the 2007 RITA for Best First Book.

An elegant tea at the Adolphis with Eileen Dryer, Tina St. John, Elizabeth Boyle, Sandy Van Winkle and Kristin Ramsdell (Library Journal).

Book Expo America, June 2007 ~ New York

Kathryn — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:44:57 +0000

More than 30,000 people attended the New York literary world’s hottest event, Book Expo America. While the days were filled with book signings and meetings (okay, a little shopping too), the nights belonged to publisher parties and events jam packed with famous faces, corporate brass, booksellers, and the media. See who Kathryn chatted with at the expo.

Kathryn with Dave Barry.

Kathryn also caught up with Robby Benson.

Jane Friedman, President & CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, with Kathryn.

Kathryn with fellow romance author, Hope Tarr, and Frank McCourt (author of Angela’s Ashes).

Mitch Albom and Kathryn.

2006 National RWA conference

Kathryn — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:12:29 +0000

Kathryn with fellow authors, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn and Sophia Nash at the Avon dinner.

Sophia Nash, Nora Roberts, Kathryn and Pamela Palmer at the RWA awards ceremony.

Kathryn with Julia Quinn and Sophia Nash.

The Norwegian Basketball Team — Kathryn, Sophia Nash and RITA winner Alesia Holliday — all dolled up (but only Sophia can seem to find the camera.)

Kathryn at the Warner Signing.

Fabulous Avon authors Cathy Maxwell and Julianne MacLean with Kathryn.

Kathryn with Aussie mega-talent Anna Campbell (look for her first book in April 2007–she is going to be a star)

Kathryn and one of her all time favorite authors, Susan Carroll at RWA’s 2006 literacy signing in Atlanta.!

Romantic Times Book Fair in Daytona Beach

Kathryn — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:26:38 +0000

Hundreds of authors, Kathryn included, participated in the Romantic Times Book Fair in Daytona Beach.

Kathryn accepts Romantic Times BOOKreview Reviewers Choice Award for Best Historical Love and Laughter for Lady in Waiting.

Sophia Nash with Kathryn at the awards luncheon just after she accepted her award

Kathryn’s table mates at the huge RT booksigning were Tony and Lori Karayianni aka Tori Carrington, Check out their latest hardcover, Dirty Laundry (May 2006)–it’s as hilarious as Tony and Lori themselves.

Kathryn at Romantic Times Daytona Bookfair.

At Romantic Times Book Fair in Daytona: Sophia Nash, Kathryn and fellow Warner author Karen Rose (author of books that keep Kathryn up all night)!