Hello Everybody!

First off, I am stunned (and rather embarrassed) at how long it has been since I posted on this blog. For those who may have thought I fell off the planet, um…I didn’t. The problem is that I have been caught in a whirlwind of sorts.

Between my first priority — ‘family’, then writing, meetings, travel, book signings and conferences, I must admit finding the discipline to blog on a regular basis has been difficult. I feel guilty about making excuses, especially since I have many writer friends who are able to juggle very impressively, family, work, career and ‘blogging’. Alas, not me.

Here are some things you should know about me. I’m boring! lol Actually, the most interesting thing that has happened to me recently is getting hooked on adding freshly ground cinnamon to my coffee each morning (courtesy of my adorable sister-in-law). I don’t like traffic or crowds. I prefer looking at mountains and trees rather than towering pillars of concrete in some fast-paced metropolis. I’m not the ‘let’s go shopping and have lunch” type. Okay, meeting for lunch is fun. But shopping is tedious and boring to me. I am the one who goes shopping only when I HAVE to get something specific.   I especially hate shopping for shoes, which is akin to cleaning bathrooms to me. I cannot understand the giddy delight some of my friends get at just looking at a pair of designer shoes (that look painful as hell to me). And if perchance I should agree and think a pair of shoes are ever so lovely, looking at the astronomical price tag is sufficient cause for my frugal Scots blood to surface.  But I digress….

I guess what I’m trying to say is the internet is a great medium for communication, but it can be time-consuming. If you are like me, you enter a time warp when you connect to the worldwide web, start checking emails, get distracted, and lose all track of time. And don’t even get me started on instant messaging and chatting! Egads! You know it’s bad when you have to hide from your friends to check their emails to you. But please believe me, I truly appreciate the continued support of my readers and their interest in my writing.

So, in a sincere effort to keep everyone informed, I have this blog on WordPress (which is linked to my local writing group (Yellow Rose RWA). Then there is another Timeless Romance blog on BLOGGER, my official website, http://www.ashleykathbilsky.com, MySpace and Facebook page(s), book promo videos on Youtube and Veoh.  And let’s not forget that I am also the owner/admistrator of a Gerard Butler group called THE BUTLER DID IT, which has an international website, official pages on MySpace and Facebook, and a private administrative group on Yahoo.

So, there are times when I don’t know where I am on the net, and more often than not get so distracted it takes time away from what I should be doing — writing.

In any event, I wanted to wish ALL of you a safe and happy holiday season. And I also wanted to thank you for your continued support and ‘patience’ of my writing. Many of you are on my mailing list and should have received the newsletter this month with details on how you can win a special Gift Basket. For those who did not, you can sign up on my website.

The Sense of Honor continues to do well with readers and critics. In addition, I am happy to say it has garnered more awards since publication, including being named a finalist in the 2008 Daphne du Maurier Contest for Excellence in Romantic Mystery and Suspense – Pubilshed Historical category, and a 2008 Holt Medallion Award of Merit recipient.

Right now, I am finising up my second historical romance, which combines two of my favorite elements in the plot – gothic/mystery and paranormal.  Entitled Between the Shadows, this romance novel takes place in Scotland and England during the Regency period. I am also working on a series of Historical Paranormals set in Scotland, and a screenplay based on a mainstream adventure/fantasy book I wrote several years ago.

I will try to post more often.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays!!!

 AKB

Hello Bloggers,

I am going to start by saying that I am not a good blogger, but will try to post as often as I can — provided I have something interesting to say (or that I think you might find interesting). 

To start off, I am a novelist of historical romance, with either gothic/suspense and/or paranormal influences.   Growing up, I loved the writings of Daphne du Maurier and Victoria Holt, and I don’t think I would be a writer today if not for them.   My first novel, The Sense of Honor is now available from Highland Press.  Rather than tell you myself a little bit about the book, please let me quote a reviewer from Coffee Time Romance: 

“The Sense of Honor is riddled with secrets, clues and finally, love.  The author is a master with words and at creating just the right scenes while leading the reader through a maze of secrets, lies, and clues until the reader reaches the long awaited conclusion.  Ms. Bilsky has outdone herself with this story and I look forward to reading more books by this author when they are available.”  

Voted the “Best Single Title Romance Book in Print for 2007 by readers on the Cata Romance Network, SingleTitles.com,  The Sense of Honor  has also received an Award of Merit from the Virginia Romance Writers 2008 Holt Medallion Contest, and is a finalist for the prestigious 2008 Daphne du Maurier Award for Exellence in Mystery and Romantic Suspense – Published Historical. 

If you’d like to see the video promo of the book, here it is:

So, that’s it for my first blog post.  If you’ve not read my first novel, I hope you will.  I am now working on my second book, which I am very excited about.   If you’d like to learn more about me and my writing, please visit my website at: http:///www.ashleykathbilsky.com.

Thanks for stopping by.

AKB