Ask the Author: K.C. Bateman
Answered Questions (7)
K.C. Bateman
Hi Tom and yes, of course! In fact, the first book in my Secrets & Spies series, To Steal A Heart is actually being turned into a screenplay right now. It would be pretty amazing to see it turned into a film or series. Watch this space....!
K.C. Bateman
Hi Barb and thanks for your question - You're not the first to ask me that! Kit is definitely crying out for his own story. All I can say is - never say never! When I was writing the Secrets & Spies series a few years ago I DID sketch out a rough idea for Kit's story as an extra novella-length add-on to the series, but I've been so busy writing two other series for my publishers since then and I haven't managed to find the time. I really hope I'll be able to get to him at some point in the next year or so. (He has an excellent prison-break adventure or two in his backstory!)
If you're a member of my newsletter group, I'll definitely keep you posted! You can sign up to receive my newsletters here: https://bit.ly/JoinKatesMailingList
Happy Reading!
Kate
If you're a member of my newsletter group, I'll definitely keep you posted! You can sign up to receive my newsletters here: https://bit.ly/JoinKatesMailingList
Happy Reading!
Kate
K.C. Bateman
Hi Usha!
I've just started a new trilogy - still Regency Historicals - which will feature two eternally-feuding families, (the Danvers and the Wyldes) and my favorite feisty heroines with fabulous skills like cartographers and plant-hunters. Not sure on the release timeline yet, but I'll keep you posted!
I've also had quite a few people ask me if Kit (from the Secrets & Spies series) will ever get his own story . . . let's just say I have a couple of ideas for him percolating. Nothing concrete yet, but never say never, right?!
Better get back to actually writing now. . . Happy reading!
love,
Kate
I've just started a new trilogy - still Regency Historicals - which will feature two eternally-feuding families, (the Danvers and the Wyldes) and my favorite feisty heroines with fabulous skills like cartographers and plant-hunters. Not sure on the release timeline yet, but I'll keep you posted!
I've also had quite a few people ask me if Kit (from the Secrets & Spies series) will ever get his own story . . . let's just say I have a couple of ideas for him percolating. Nothing concrete yet, but never say never, right?!
Better get back to actually writing now. . . Happy reading!
love,
Kate
K.C. Bateman
There's a quote from A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens that always makes me sigh a little; "I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."
Because, really, who wouldn't want to be the last dream of someone's soul?
And, (if i'm forced to choose another!) there's an awesome moment in Georgette Heyer's These Old Shades where the Duke of Avon is asked by Leonie why he has helped her; was it purely for revenge?
“Is—is that why—why you made me your ward, and gave me so many, many things?” she asked in a small voice.
He rose, and went to the window, and stood looking out.
“Not entirely,” he said, and forgot to drawl.
I love that last line because it shows so perfectly how he's allowed her to get beneath his defenses, despite his resistance. The fact that he forgets to maintain his usual bored, cynical persona reveals his true feeling for her; he's emotionally naked and it's the precise moment he's bought to his knees by love. Fabulous!
Because, really, who wouldn't want to be the last dream of someone's soul?
And, (if i'm forced to choose another!) there's an awesome moment in Georgette Heyer's These Old Shades where the Duke of Avon is asked by Leonie why he has helped her; was it purely for revenge?
“Is—is that why—why you made me your ward, and gave me so many, many things?” she asked in a small voice.
He rose, and went to the window, and stood looking out.
“Not entirely,” he said, and forgot to drawl.
I love that last line because it shows so perfectly how he's allowed her to get beneath his defenses, despite his resistance. The fact that he forgets to maintain his usual bored, cynical persona reveals his true feeling for her; he's emotionally naked and it's the precise moment he's bought to his knees by love. Fabulous!
K.C. Bateman
Generally some chocolate and a nice glass of wine are extremely helpful!
I find inspiration all over the place. I love stories about lost treasures, such as the fabled Amber Room from the Catherine Palace in Russia, that was (maybe) destroyed during the bombing of Konigsberg in WWII, or the Caravaggio painting ‘St Matthew and the Angel’ that’s been lost for decades. I hate the thought of such incredible things being gone forever. My story-telling, mystery-loving soul wants them to come to light, having been smuggled away and secretly hidden for years in a grimy cellar! As an antiques valuer I’ve discovered (and sold) many real-life treasures hidden away in people’s attics and cellars – there are always amazing items being rediscovered and the stories behind them are equally fascinating. Just reading true stories like this can give you a spark of an idea.
Sometimes reading a great book is enough to give you a kick in the pants to start typing that next book, too. I’m an avid reader of both historical romance and general fiction – everything from Shakespeare to Machiavelli and Aristophanes! Some of my favorite authors (in no particular order) are Georgette Heyer, Mary Renault, Jane Austen, Phillip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Jean M Auel, Judith McNaught, Anne Stuart, E. M Forster, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Stella Gibbons, P. G Wodehouse, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Laura Kinsale, Stella Gibbons.
I also love films and stories that deal with historical adventuring and spies, such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, as well as more modern shows / movies that deal with spying and the art world such as The Thomas Crown Affair, White Collar, Spooks. Even historical fantasy shows like Game of Thrones can be inspiring – that’s based on real events in European History – George RR Martin used The Wars of The Roses for his inspiration. I adore witty, passionate, intelligent dialogue, too, so I’m addicted to anything written by Aaron Sorkin, like The West Wing and The Newsroom.
I find inspiration all over the place. I love stories about lost treasures, such as the fabled Amber Room from the Catherine Palace in Russia, that was (maybe) destroyed during the bombing of Konigsberg in WWII, or the Caravaggio painting ‘St Matthew and the Angel’ that’s been lost for decades. I hate the thought of such incredible things being gone forever. My story-telling, mystery-loving soul wants them to come to light, having been smuggled away and secretly hidden for years in a grimy cellar! As an antiques valuer I’ve discovered (and sold) many real-life treasures hidden away in people’s attics and cellars – there are always amazing items being rediscovered and the stories behind them are equally fascinating. Just reading true stories like this can give you a spark of an idea.
Sometimes reading a great book is enough to give you a kick in the pants to start typing that next book, too. I’m an avid reader of both historical romance and general fiction – everything from Shakespeare to Machiavelli and Aristophanes! Some of my favorite authors (in no particular order) are Georgette Heyer, Mary Renault, Jane Austen, Phillip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Jean M Auel, Judith McNaught, Anne Stuart, E. M Forster, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Stella Gibbons, P. G Wodehouse, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Laura Kinsale, Stella Gibbons.
I also love films and stories that deal with historical adventuring and spies, such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, as well as more modern shows / movies that deal with spying and the art world such as The Thomas Crown Affair, White Collar, Spooks. Even historical fantasy shows like Game of Thrones can be inspiring – that’s based on real events in European History – George RR Martin used The Wars of The Roses for his inspiration. I adore witty, passionate, intelligent dialogue, too, so I’m addicted to anything written by Aaron Sorkin, like The West Wing and The Newsroom.
K.C. Bateman
I’ve always loved antiques and history, hence my ‘other’ job as an auctioneer and appraiser. Every item that comes into my saleroom has a story behind it – a 'provenance', as we call it in the antiques trade. So it was a natural progression to begin writing my own fiction filled with the historical detail and unusual locations I love. So many of the items I’ve seen have contributed to my interest in this period of history – 18th century prisoner–of-war model ships, regency ivory fans, clothing and samplers, paintings, vintage wine, historical letters.
In the case of To Steal A Heart I drew particular inspiration from two tiny portrait miniatures that came in for valuation at my auction house - one of a Napoleonic–era British gentleman, and the other of a beautiful young woman. They were painted by the same artist, and in identical frames, but the seller had no idea who they were, - distant relations, perhaps? I thought that was a shame - so I made up my own story for them . Perhaps the man’s name was Nicolas Valette. And maybe the smiling woman was called Marianne de Beauvais . . .and I bet they had some amazing adventures . . .
There are several real-life people mentioned in the book – for example the inspiration for the escape from prison is based on an actual life of M. Latude: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_He... who wrote an account of his amazing escapes.
There’s also the story of the ‘lost prince’, Louis Charles de Bourbon. In all probability he died as a child in prison in Paris, (most of the documentary evidence points to this sad end) but some still argue that he could have escaped. I’ve taken a little artistic license and played the ‘what if’ game – and imagined him surviving into adulthood as a prisoner and getting a happy ending when he’s rescued by my hero and heroine!
The heroine’s name, Marianne, was chosen because Marianne is actually the name given to the woman who traditionally symbolises The French Republic in art.
So . . . I suppose my inspiration comes from all over the place!
In the case of To Steal A Heart I drew particular inspiration from two tiny portrait miniatures that came in for valuation at my auction house - one of a Napoleonic–era British gentleman, and the other of a beautiful young woman. They were painted by the same artist, and in identical frames, but the seller had no idea who they were, - distant relations, perhaps? I thought that was a shame - so I made up my own story for them . Perhaps the man’s name was Nicolas Valette. And maybe the smiling woman was called Marianne de Beauvais . . .and I bet they had some amazing adventures . . .
There are several real-life people mentioned in the book – for example the inspiration for the escape from prison is based on an actual life of M. Latude: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_He... who wrote an account of his amazing escapes.
There’s also the story of the ‘lost prince’, Louis Charles de Bourbon. In all probability he died as a child in prison in Paris, (most of the documentary evidence points to this sad end) but some still argue that he could have escaped. I’ve taken a little artistic license and played the ‘what if’ game – and imagined him surviving into adulthood as a prisoner and getting a happy ending when he’s rescued by my hero and heroine!
The heroine’s name, Marianne, was chosen because Marianne is actually the name given to the woman who traditionally symbolises The French Republic in art.
So . . . I suppose my inspiration comes from all over the place!
K.C. Bateman
At the moment I'm writing Book III in the Secrets and Spies trilogy. It's titled 'A Counterfeit Heart'. The heroine, Sabine de La Tour, is a brilliant forger who meets her match in aristocratic spy Richard Hampden. I'm having a lot of fun with these two. Sabine arrives in England with a suitcase full of counterfeit money. An honest woman would simply destroy the evidence of her crimes. But Sabine's never been all that good at being good . . . and she's always wanted to see London . . .
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more