Today the spotlight shines on the author partnership of Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman, who sent me information about how they work together. Take it away, Kim!
I was recently asked what author I’d LOVE to write a book with if I could. I didn’t even have to think about it – this dream has already come true! I recently had the privilege and honor to write an amazing Regency Romance titled A LOT LIKE A LADY with Kay Springsteen! And to make that even sweeter – we’re working on a sequel and have at least three other books planned together! Talk about a writer’s heaven.
So what made Kay the person I most wanted to write a story with? Well, besides the fact that she’s extremely talented and I knew I’d learn a lot. 
I wanted (needed) someone whose strengths were my weaknesses and vice versa, so that we complimented one another. We also have very similar writing styles, which is extremely important or it would be very obvious that the story was written by two different people
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When we combined our areas of expertise, magic happened! Our new Regency Romance, A LOT LIKE A LADY, is spectacular. It is high-quality all the way around. Strong characters, strong use of all five senses, very well developed three-dimensional characters, wonderful plot and sub plot, and amazing dialog.
One problem a lot of writers have is that they “lose their steam” and put their writing on the back burner. If you pick the right partner, you WILL stay motivated to see the project through to the end. You will be excited to see what your partner is contributing to the project and how you can add to it. You will write because someone else is depending on you for his/her success.
It will also motivate you to try genres, time periods, plots, and topics you might not have on your own alone. I know this is one endeavor Kay and I are both happy we tried! We hope you’ll check out A LOT LIKE A LADY! Here’s a brief excerpt:
“Look, there’s another!” Juliet danced in a circle and pointed at the carriage, drawn by two dark brown horses, as it crested the distant hill. “It’s coming right here… right to the castle!”
From his seat on the low stone wall along the lane, Juliet’s new friend laughed softly. “Castle, eh? What makes you call Wyndham Green a castle?”
Juliet giggled. The answer was so obvious, surely even an adult would know it. “Why, because it’s the biggest house I’ve ever seen, and Mummy says a duke lives there. He married Lady Regina so now she’s a duchess and we must always say ‘her grace’ when we speak of her.”
A light breeze played with the ends of the man’s graying brown hair as he studied Juliet for a long time. She bit the inside of her cheek. Perhaps she had said too much. Mummy said she sometimes said the wrong things to the wrong people. The plop-plop of the approaching hoofbeats grew louder and Juliet shifted from foot to foot.
Her new friend bent, plucked a blade of long grass, and wound it around his finger. “And what do you think of her grace?” he finally asked.
“Oh, she’s very nice,” answered Juliet, grinning. “She smiles at me when she sees me and she doesn’t mind when I help Mummy in the house sometimes.”
The carriage slowed and turned onto the road that led to the big house. Sweat darkened the horses’ sides and glistened in the strong sunlight.
“Oh, the poor horses,” cried Juliet. “They must have come a long way.”
The man nodded. “That they did. Does your mum work in the house then?”
“Yes.” Juliet stood up straighter, proud of the hard work her mum did. “Her name’s Patricia. She works for La — her grace.”
“Ah, I see. What might your name be?”
“I’m Juliet.” She held out her hand with the back tipped up the way she’d seen ladies do when they met gentlemen. She’d practiced for hours and hours in the barn, giggling when Alfred, her favorite horse, snuffled at her skin seeking a bit of apple or a carrot. When her new friend inclined his head and nodded in approval, she knew she’d gotten it right.
The man accepted her hand and lifted it up. Then, fixing his clear blue gaze on her eyes, he bent his head and brushed a gentle kiss behind her knuckles before releasing his grasp. “Juliet. What a beautiful name. ‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night.‘“
The skin along the back of her hand tingled and Juliet giggled. “What does that mean?”
“Why, ‘tis from Romeo and Juliet. Mr. William Shakespeare wrote it. And one day, perhaps you’ll find out what it means for yourself.”
“Someday, I want to marry a duke like Lady — I mean her grace. And I want to live in a castle like this one.”
“One day, maybe you will.”
Another carriage rolled along the lane, heading toward the main house — a big one this time, shiny and black, all closed in with doors and windows, and drawn by four matched bay horses. Juliet squinted, just able to make out a coat of arms emblazoned on the side — a red and white shield bearing a lit torch and flanked by two crested white doves. Awestruck at the splendor, she drew in a deep breath and turned back to her companion.
A pleased expression settled over the man’s face. “Ah, I must go now. That carriage is bringing my son.” He stood and began walking across the field toward the house.
“Wait!” cried Juliet. “I told you my name. What is yours?”
The man turned and smiled at her. It was a kind smile and it made Juliet miss her father just a tiny bit less. “Most people call me the Duke of Wyndham. But you, my dear, may call me Alexander.”
As he strode away, his shiny black boots sweeping through the waving grass, Juliet stared with widened eyes at his retreating form. A frisson of awareness tickled along her spine and she knew something extraordinary had just occurred…
BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes & Noble Astraea Press
AUTHOR LINKS — Go check out Kay and Kim’s other books!!
