OK. I'm not really giving away wedding dresses. But I've got the lovely South African author Kathy Bosman to my blog today as she launches her new sweet contemporary romance Wedding Gown Girl published by Astraea Press. She's also giving away a digital copy to one lucky commenter. So please make her feel welcome. I've also got some photos of wedding dresses from my favourite designer, Yemi Osunkoya at Kosibah. He designed my wedding dress. Over to you, Kathy.
~*~
Thank you Kiru, for hosting me on your blog today. I love
your books – they are full of passion, deep emotion, and exotic settings and
cultures. It’s a privilege to be on your blog.
Designer: Kosibah |
I’ve had quite a tumultuous journey to get to where I am
today. I’ve been writing romance for several years, and have received many
rejection letters and quite a few setbacks, like publishing a novel with a
vanity publisher who let me down in so many ways. It was also quite a challenge
to discover a genre that worked well with my writing style. I’ve tried women’s
fiction, inspirational romance, historical romance, and even erotic romance,
but know that sweet contemporary is perfect for me – for now.
Designer: Kosibah |
So when I received my contract from Astraea Press in June
this year, I was over the moon!
Wedding Gown Girl was such fun to write, and I have to admit
that, although I suffer from the dreaded writer’s block, I didn’t get it when
writing this book. I think I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and
the naughtiness of my heroine, yet her vulnerability. I enjoyed how the hero
couldn’t help falling for her when everything in his logic screamed against it.
I enjoyed the parts about their pets as they make the characters empathetic to
the readers. The book was character-driven, so I think that’s why it was so
much fun to write.
Honestly, though, it wasn’t always easy, and there were
times when I doubted the book. I don’t think publishing a book takes away all
that self-doubt – it just magnifies it.
Wedding Gown Girl is about wedding dresses. Doesn’t every
woman love them? I do.
Kienna works at a bridal boutique, helping brides choose
their dream dresses. Secretly, she designs evening gowns at home which no-one
knows about. A couple come in one day and Kienna thinks the groom is perfect,
but she’s sworn to singleness because of a bitter divorce, and she would never
go after a client. Then the bride confides in her that she’s not marrying for
love. Kienna can’t bear for that wonderful groom not to know – he can’t go
through what she went through. At first, he thinks she’s just flirting with
him, until he’s jilted at the altar on his wedding day. They meet again and the
spark between them ignites, but Kienna holds back. Will Kienna and Blake realise
that they were meant for each other and that their love can last forever?
I’m giving away a PDF version of my e-book to one commenter
on this blog.
Here’s an excerpt from my first chapter:
Chapter One
“Rachelle,
I think you’ll love this one.” Kienna held up an empire--‐‑style wedding dress with layers
of satin and snow--‐‑white chiffon.
“This style will accentuate your curves and make you look taller.”
“That’s
just perfect. It’s so beautiful!” Rachelle’s eyes lit up.
She
pursed her pouty lips and fingered a small diamante line below the bustline.
“I’m sure Blake will love it. Shall I try it on?”
“Of
course!” Kienna removed it from the hanger and draped it over her arm
gracefully. “All yours for a few minutes.” It was easy to pretend eagerness
with a customer. Not like she pretended often – she normally loved playing
dress--‐‑up. This time, however, she
didn’t want the bride to look beautiful.
“And
the price?”
Kienna
shook her head. “Well below budget.”
Rachelle
popped into the fitting room, and Kienna flitted to the adjoining chamber to
find Olivia.
“Did
you see my couple?” she asked Olivia.
Olivia
nodded, a small smile curving her caramel mouth.
“Sure
did. They came to my room by accident.”
“He’s
waiting for her in the other room. You should see how besotted he is. And
handsome. Of all the grooms I’ve seen, none matches him. I would scoop him up
any day.”
“Kieeenaa!
So unlike you. But he was quite handsome.”
“Fairy--‐‑tale prince kind of handsome.
The type of man dreams are made of.” She placed her hand on her chest and
sighed.
Olivia
chuckled. “He’s better than the one I have. This guy is balding and has a mole
on his nose.”
“If he
wasn’t marrying someone else…” Kienna sighed and twirled a strand of her short
hair, which bounced back into her eye. When was she going to remember that she
couldn’t do that with her new, tight, pixie hairstyle? And that she wasn’t ever
going to get married again nor did she look at men?
“You
don’t even date, and now, you’re talking about marriage?”
Kienna
winked at Olivia. “It’s fun to dream sometimes. I’d better go – my client will
be waiting for me.”
Kienna
was back to her client in a moment.
“Ms.
Worndell, I’ve put it on. Please, will you do up the buttons at the back? And
it fits me perfectly. I love those mirrors in the fitting room – like the whole
wall is covered in mirrors. You can see yourself from every angle.”
“Aren’t
they marvellous?” Kienna smiled as she pressed the pearly buttons through the
tight buttonholes. She’d suggested the mirrors to management, and they’d put
them in a few months back. How proud she was that they’d agreed to her idea and
that a client
appreciated
them too.
“Now
for the true test – to see if your future groom likes the
dress.
It’s good that you’ve decided to let him see beforehand. Very few women take
that chance to break tradition.”
Rachelle
shrugged. “Blake insisted. He’s paying for it.”
Kienna
stared at the petite brunette standing before her. She had a perfect hourglass
figure, dark enchanting eyes, and the sleekest hair she’d ever seen. Kienna bit
her lip. Why was she
jealous
of this bride? Very unlike her.
“Well,
what are you waiting for? Let’s show him how gorgeous you look.” The chiffon
swished as Rachelle walked through the door onto the little modelling platform.
Blake’s
expression
turned from boredom to pure rapture in a moment. His eyes brushed Rachelle up
and down, and his straight mouth formed a wide smile, creating long dimples at
the edges.
“You
look absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. You’ve looked beautiful in every dress
you’ve tried on, but this one looks perfect.”
He
walked up to her and took her hands. “Let’s forget the ceremony and get married
right now.”
Rachelle
laughed dryly. “After all the money you’ve spent on this wedding? Forget it.”
That
wasn’t a sneer on Rachelle’s pretty mouth, was it?
Kienna
blinked. Maybe she was imagining it. But anything was possible with what she’d
experienced. She’d even watched a couple break--‐‑up
right before her eyes, with the future bride in her wedding gown, bawling her
eyes out.
“Of
course, dearest. I want you to have that dream wedding with all the bells and
whistles.” His face was tender. Tough and tender mixed. A perfect combination.
Rachelle
nodded, a false smile plastering her face.
Out of
ten, this one is definitely a two. How sad! That handsome and sweet man
deserved a nine or ten. Not that many got that score. She led Rachelle to the
back room.
“You
may take the gown off. I suggest that you make another appointment for a
fitting.”
“Not
today?” asked Rachelle. “The ceremony is in a month’s time.”
“Oh,
yes, Anna did inform me that you had little time, and that I should arrange a
fitting ASAP. Let me check my weekly planner, and I’ll set up something for
this week.”
“Thanks
so much.”
Kienna
ran to the desk which she shared with Olivia.
“How
much?” Olivia asked, her brown eyes twinkling at her.
“Two.”
“You’re
kidding, right? With that sexy hunk of a man?”
“It’s
her. There’s something wrong there.”
“You’re
just jealous.”
Kienna
shook her head. “How could I be jealous when the last thing I want is a man in
my life right now? No, there’s no connection between them. I don’t think it
will last.”
Olivia
sighed. “You’re way too cynical. There were more eights and nines before you
divorced Ridge.”
“I’m a
realist through and through.”
“Not a
romantic bone left in your body.” Olivia sniggered.
“I’d
give my couple at least a seven. There were plenty of stars in their eyes.”
“As
long as they weren’t falling stars,” giggled Kienna. She left with a spin and,
when her hair didn’t bounce against her cheek, was momentarily reminded of her
radical haircut the day before.
She
wouldn’t tell Olivia that she had to watch at least three romantic movies a
week. She didn’t need to confess how much of a softy she still was.
Wedding Gown Girl can be found on the publisher’s website at
Astraea Press or on Amazon. Here are the links to purchase:
I never wore a real wedding dress, always wondered what it would be like though. Love the premise and can't wait to read a happy ending. I wonder how many other women marry for the ceremony rather than the forever after.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your book launch!
Thank you! That's so true. My wedding day wasn't great, not because my father didn't splash out for me, but for other reasons. It's no reflection on the marriage, and it's only one day in your life. Maybe that's why I'm so dreamy about weddings because I didn't feel like it happened for me.
ReplyDeleteKathy
I love..love wedding dresses. I spent hours on end trying to find the perfect one and the one I settled for is almost as you described. I am glad that you found out what works for you in terms of writing. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathy, welcome to my blog. I'm really glad that despite the rejections you persisted and finally found the writing niche for you.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone ever has the 'perfect' wedding. I had the most gorgeous dress and the day went largely as planned but there are still things I would like to have changed. I guess that's the perfectionist in me. :)
Hey Kiru and Kathy :)
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you, writing never gets easier!
And oh, I love weddings and wedding gowns and everything to do with weddings and I don't even have to know you to cry at your wedding - it's my thing :)
I just bought my copy of Wedding Gown Girl and 30% in and I hate, hate, hate to have to put it down to do life stuff! Can't wait to get back to it, I'm loving it :)
Huge congrats and lots of luck!
Hugs
April
Ooh, thanks April. You just gave me some goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Ghastly bride. Even I want to take her man away. Far away.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm married.
To all you wonderful commenters, thank you. My daughter chose the winner out of a hat. Well done, Igbophilia, you've won a PDF copy of Wedding Gown Girl.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhh! I am so happy! Thank you, thank you Kathy! Finally I get to see what happened. Rubbing hands in glee. How do i receive this?
ReplyDelete