This evening I tried on the 18th century-style dress I’ve had made for the Historical Romance Retreat in Riverside next month . . .and decided it would be funny to recreate Fragonard’s painting ‘The Swing’!
As you do, on a boring Wednesday night.
What do you think?! The kids think I’ve lost may marbles! I’ve added a picture of Fragonard’s original, for comparison. I couldn’t find any handsome chaps to lie on the ground or give me a push, sadly. And the dismount was rather inelegant!

Like books? Like wine? Then this is the event for you! Next week I’ll be taking part in the 6th annual Once Upon a Wine book signing event at Sunset Lake Vineyards Carlock, Illinois. If you’re in the area 5-7pm come and join me and fellow authors R.T Wolfe, M.J Schiller and T.M Cromer for live readings, book signing, giveaways and, of course, a little vino! Cheers! I’ll have copies of my new release The Devil To Pay. . .

It’s ALIIIVE! The Devil To Pay, my new Italian Renaissance historical is up for preorder on all the online platforms! Hurray! Fancy a snarky mercenary hero, a determined tomboy heiress, and a Devilishly sexy bargain? This is the book for you!
$1.99 until August 28th release. Welcome to the world little book!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AMGKSn
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2vGOq2z
Ibooks: https://apple.co/2vpck3l
Kobo: bit.ly/2Oe9kxK

Bargain Ahoy! To Steal A Heart is ON SALE for only 99c! This is the first time it’s ever been on sale, so grab yourself a copy if you haven’t already got one. You’re going to love the slow-burn snarky romance between Nic and Marianne! It’s available for 99c until August 2nd 2018 (or 99 pence for my lovely UK readers!) and is available from all the usual suspects: Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. Here are the links:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Heart-Secrets-Spies-ebook/dp/B00Y6QF12Q/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-steal-a-heart-kate-bateman/

Kobo

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/to-steal-a-heart-1

iBooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/to-steal-a-heart/id1044031733?mt=11

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/K_C_Bateman_To_Steal_a_Heart?id=SZGmCQAAQBAJ

Tea and Romance: This week yours truly, plus three of my romance writing besties —USA Today Bestsellers Genevieve Jack, Suzan Tisdale, and Tara Cromer—got together for lunch and were interviewed by Pam Adams of the PJ Star. We talk romance writing, empowering women, and hot men in kilts over a nice English afternoon tea and some cakes! Here’s a link to the article.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/20180523/women-have-power-peoria-area-romance-writers-bust-stereotypeshttp://www.pjstar.com/news/20180523/women-have-power-peoria-area-romance-writers-bust-stereotypes …

A Counterfeit Heart is one whole year old today, so I though I’d set up an Amazon giveaway to celebrate. Hurrah! Happy book birthday Richard and Sabine!

If you’d like to enter this drawing, here are the details:

See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: A Counterfeit Heart: A Secrets and Spies Novel (Kindle Edition). https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/e1fa7155b788b6d5 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of May 30, 2018 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

Good luck!

Kate

May 2018 Giveaway!

This month’s newsletter giveaway features FIVE fabulous romances plus a tote bag and swag, including books by Carrie Lofty, Susan Wiggs, Sarah E Ladd and Cobyn Carr. To enter, all you have to do is follow me on one (or all!) of the social media platforms such as Amazon, Bookbub, iBooks, Facebook or Twitter, and then leave me a comment below. That’s it! Links to follow me and to the blog post are below. Winner will be chosen at random next month. Open worldwide. Good Luck!

Morning, my fellow history geeks (and tea-lovers!)

I thought I’d share with you this amusing satirical 19^thcentury print I bought at auction recently. As you can see, it shows a lovely interior scene with classic Regency-style furniture, and a family and guest taking tea. It’s entitled “ A Tea-Party or English Manners and French Politeness” and the inscription below the illustration says: “A Frenchman not aware of the custom constantly returned his cup without the spoon in it – which being immediately replenished by the Lady of the house, he though I t a point of politeness to drink the contents which he continued to do, to the great surprise of the company until he perceived the Lady pouring out the 14^thcup, when he rose in great agony and cried Ah! Madame, excuse me I can take no more.”

I wasn’t aware of this tea-time custom, but I suppose we should infer that in 1835 (so during the Reign of William IV, which came directly after the Regency and George IV’s reign) it was recognized that if you returned your cup to your hostess WITH a spoon, it meant you were finished with your tea. If you returned it WITHOUT the spoon, it was a signal that you wanted a refill!

The R.C. and Anchor is for the artist Isaac Robert Cruickshank, (printmaker; painter/draughtsman; British; Male; 1789 – 1856) who is the brother of the more famous George Cruickshank.

Time to put the kettle on!

I’ll be attending the Spring Fling conference in Chicago this weekend #CNSF18 and I can’t wait to meet all you readers of Historical Romance. I’ll be signing books and giving away swag and excerpt booklets at the public book signing on Saturday morning, so if you’re in the Chicago area come and say hi!

Bonjour all! Here’s the lovely cover for the new French translation of A Raven’s Heart (Secrets & Spies #2). In French the title is ‘Decoded Love’, which is perfect for my feisty codebreaker heroine Heloise. What do you think? Moi, je pense que c’est fantastique!