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Kate Willoughby

USA Today Bestselling Author

  • USA Today Bestselling Author

02.18.2016 Carina Press, In The Zone Series, Tropes

Square One

On Tuesday, I got my assignment from The Most Amazing Editor In the World, Kerri. Send her In the Zone book 5 by mid-May. The next day, I begin to plot. I know I want it to be Booth MacDonald’s story. I decide Elliot Fleming is going to buy the team a plane, so I think, why not have Booth fall in love with one of the flight crew? It’ll be a “forbidden love” story. Here are the initial notes I made.

Then, I started with the Post-its. I write scene descriptions down and move them around as needed. I got about half the book plotted, but hit a bit of a wall, so I decided to just start writing.

I wrote about 700 words. It was fun. Then around nine o’clock, I thought, “This story sucks.” I also thought, “Kate, this is the end of your hockey series. You have no more ideas.” I rarely get these self-doubt attacks, but there it was.

Enter Jennifer Lazaris, a fellow hockey romance writer and friend. With her help, I find some tropes that sound interesting and all apply to the heroine.

  • She’s the sister of one of Booth’s teammates.
  • She’s a virgin.
  • She’s a big, beautiful woman, but with shaky self-confidence.

Together, we start brainstorming what Booth’s heroine is like. Why is she a virgin? Who’s sister is she? When we finally said good night (or when Jen finally said, “I must go make pancakes now”), I was excited about the new heroine. I had also killed off Phoebe Sugarman and her daughter Sam. Booth’s physically handicapped dad might also have gotten cut. That remains to be seen.

Today, I am revitalized. I jotted down two pages of notes about the new heroine.She doesn’t have a name yet, but she will soon because I can’t write unless there are names. I got a bit more nailed down about who Booth is and what happened to him before he became a Barracuda.

This book is taking off and I’m really excited.

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08.11.2014 Across the Line, Carina Press, In The Zone Series, On The Surface, Reviews, San Diego Barracudas

The Big Day for Across the Line

It’s Release Day for Across the Line, book two of my In the Zone hockey romance series! It’s been so encouraging to see the book being pre-ordered. It makes me grateful for that anonymous back cover copy writer at Carina and the artist who gave me this sexier than sin cover. I am so excited.

Here are snippets from some early reviews:

“Willoughby’s second In the Zone contemporary sports romance (after On the Surface) is a real charmer.”
-Publishers Weekly


“With this second book in the series, this author just made my “auto-buy author” list!!” 
5 stars, Christi of Smitten With Reading

“As long as Kate Willoughby keeps writing, I will keep reading her wonderful books.”
– 4.5 stars, Steffi from Swept Away by Romance.

“Kate Willoughby’s writing is fantastic, her story is fast paced, fun and throws in a few laughs. I find myself not wanting the story to end…”
-4 stars, Jac of For Love and Books

“I enjoyed the book so much that I have gone back and purchased the first book in the series…”
-5 stars, Christine Mize

All you readers who pre-ordered, you should have already received the book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting I would tell you a good story. (Is the bird thing a stretch? Sorry. LOL)

Today, Tim Hollander will no longer be the only Barracuda swimming in the literary seas. (Sorry for the horrible metaphor. I’m a little tired from trying to make my deadline for book three.) He has a brother standing beside him. My plan is to keep writing hockey romances as long as it’s fun and I have new stories to tell. (Here are four guys from the LA Kings who are/were like brothers: Mike Richards, Drew Doughty, Dustin Penner who sadly is no longer a King, and Jeff Carter, recently married.)

In the pipeline is Alex Sullivan’s story, OUT OF THE GAME, book 3 of my In the Zone series. After that, I have ideas jotted down about Jason Locke’s story, and a few thousand words written about Dustin DeVries.

In the meantime, check out Calder Griffin and see how he makes it work (any Tim Gunn fans out there?) with Becca Chen. She’s an Asian restauranteur. He’s an NHL player returning to the ice after being injured. Committed to their jobs and with thousands of miles between them, they don’t stand a chance.

Photo credit: Tatiana Gerus and Prayitno via Wikimedia Commons

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04.11.2014 Carina Press, In The Zone Series, On The Surface, Reviews, Sports Romance

Harlequin Junkie Review – FIVE STARS and a TOP PICK!!!

I cannot express how excited I am that Heather at Harlequin Junkie gave On the Surface five stars! Not only that, they chose it as an HJ Top Pick. Thank you, Heather. I’m so glad you’re a Barracuda fan!

Here’s the last line of the review:

“If you are a sport romance fan then I highly recommend this series. I’ll be on the Barracuda bench – cheering them on.”

And check out the cool little banner she pasted on my book cover! I love it.

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02.26.2014 Carina Press, Hockey Book, On The Surface

Cover Reveal for On the Surface

It’s here! The cover! I love it so much. It’s so clean and bright. It’s got a very cool ice font!

The arrival of the cover means that the release day is fast approaching. Well, maybe not fast, because time has been dragging for me. It’s going to be like Christmas when it the big day finally arrives.

Have you pre-ordered yet?

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Kate Willoughby

USA Today Bestselling Author Kate Willoughby happily writes her contemporary hockey romances in Southern California. She is married and has two sons and a Chihuahua. When she’s not writing, she’s watching hockey. When it’s not hockey season, she whines a lot.

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