Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Editors Lost and Found

This month brought me sad news: my editor, Deborah Nemeth, left Samhain Publishing. She accepted a marvelous opportunity to work for another publishing house.

I am excited for her, but of course, a little sad for me.

Deborah was the first editor who said “Yes!” to me and then said “Yes!”again. She taught me how to dig deeper to get to the emotional core of my stories. Through the rewrites (and there were many, trust me), Deb reminded me exactly why she bought my books in the first place—because she loved them. I learned to get my authorself out of the way in order to stretch and improve my writing. We became the Deb and Kimberley team—two professionals passionate about making stories come alive.

What happens now?

I am thrilled to say that I have a new editor—the super fabulous Lindsey Faber. (Plug your ears, I’m going to squeal here) I met Lindsey at the RWA Nationals conference in San Francisco and loved her. She is an energetic, enthusiastic, hardworking editor. The best part? She loves my books too. I can’t wait to see how my new stories will take shape and breathe in Lindsey’s hands. We’ll become a great Lindsey and Kimberley team. I just know it.

So I’m a little sad, but I’m excited for me too. I’m looking forward to a wonderful 2010 at Samhain.

Have you ever “lost” and editor and “found” a new one?

Kimberley Troutte
Samhain Author Page
My Website

Conquering Fear, One Hiss at a Time

Okay, I’m just going to admit it: I don’t hate snakes. I know, sounds weird coming from a girlie-girl, but I actually find them intriguing, sometimes even beautiful. I will hold a non-venomous snake provided some know-what-he’s-doing male has a nice strong grip on the snake’s business-end. But do I love snakes? Um, no. Do I have a healthy fear of them? Darn tootin’.

Here’s the thing, I married the kind of man who rescues all creatures from harm’s way. It’s one of the many things I love about him. But it does keep me guessing—is he going to bring home an injured falcon? Or a tarantula that was crossing the road? Between the man and our two sons I had to expect that there would one day be a reptile aquarium in my house. Do I like it? Not really, but again, I’m okay with the snakes as long as I don’t have to reach my hand inside their cage. Especially since one of the gopher snakes is cranky, hissy and strikes at anything that goes near the glass.

A few weeks ago, while I was in the Samhain Café celebrating the release of my second book, my eldest yelled, “Come quick! One of the snakes laid eggs!”

Catch Me In Castile

Catch Me in Castile, is released today.

Twenty years ago my husband and I were love-struck newlyweds joyfully sightseeing in Spain. As we wandered around inside one of the amazing Castilian castles, a guide told us the horrifying legend of a nursemaid who dropped (accidentally?) a baby out the tower window and then jumped to her death.

The legend stuck with me long after we returned home.

My writer’s mind turned the story over and created a “what if?” scenario. What if for five hundred years people believed a nursemaid jumped to her death, but in truth, she didn’t go willingly. And it was no accident. (Play evil music here) Would she still haunt the tower searching for someone to solve her mysterious death? And what if the only person who can see her is an American woman suffering a nervous breakdown and about to become a murder victim herself? Add to the mix a yummy Spanish doctor with ghosts in his own closet and…voila! Catch Me In Castile is born.

I hope you enjoy it!

Soul Stealer

Happy St. Patty’s Day.

I’m feeling the luck of the Irish. I went to bed last night as Kim, mother of two, wife of one, housecleaner (cough sometimes cough), pet caretaker, laundress, toilet scrubber…

This morning I rolled out of bed and fell into a pot of gold. After twenty odd years of chasing my rainbow, I’m Kimberley Troutte, the published author. Man, that has a nice ring to it.

Soul Stealer, my debut novella hits the cyber-streets today. And me? Well, the sometimes housecleaner is putting her feet up, sipping a mocha java and savoring her bliss. Those darn dishes can wait.

click for link to author page

Soul Stealer: When Death falls in love with a saint, there’s holy hell to pay.

Sara Lane expects to die young, but when the time comes, she’s not ready. She needs two more weeks to finish a homeless shelter before winter sets in and people die on the streets. Who does a girl have to sleep with to live a few extra days?

How about the sexiest, most dangerous of all bad boys—Death himself?