MamaWriters are excited to have Kimberly Killion here today, celebrating her latest release, HIGHLAND DRAGON.   RITA® nominee and award-winning author, Kimberly Killion writes sexy medieval romances for Zebra Books and has captivated readers with her adventurous stories.

Please help us welcome Kimberly Killion!

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Hello MamaWriters!!!

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today. After much debate, I finally settled on a topic: KIDS IN ROMANCE NOVELS.

You gotta love ‘em. They are the glue that binds love and laughter together. I don’t think I’ve written a book yet that didn’t have a handful of young characters. And let’s face it, the majority of women reading romance probably have kids and can relate one way or another to the chaos they bring into our lives.

So while researching HIGHLAND DRAGON, I decided I needed a crux for my heroine, Akira. She loves children. She wants a dozen of her own. Of course, Calin is eager to get started fulfilling that wish ASAP. Bluidy Scots are all horny. ;)
Without a doubt, the hero and heroine play the leading role, but sometimes I enjoy my secondary characters even more. So let me introduce you to Andrew…
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[EXCERPT from HIGHLAND DRAGON]

The incessant skirling of bagpipes was soon drowned out by the high-pitched screams of a brood of children racing for Akira’s skirt. Five in all, each one taller than the next, skirmished around her kirtle staring at her with anxious interest. Beneath the fighting elbows came a crop of pale blond hair that andrewframed the sweet cherub face of a little boy with giant blue eyes.

He raised his arms to Akira. “Choose me, m’lady.”

Not caring about the propriety of her new status, she bent to lift the young boy. Before she could stop him, he stretched his chubby arms around her neck, latched his fingers together, and embraced her with an affectionate hug.

“Welcome home, m’lady.” His sweet voice rang in her ear.

Her heart nearly exploded from the little innocent’s greeting. Her vision blurred with tears and a lump formed in her throat. This little boy could never know how powerful his words were. She refused to cry. Instead, she unveiled the smile she was determined not to share with Calin. She turned, knowing he studied her face. He seemed to want her approval. Had he granted her another day, she may have willingly given him that approval. As it stood, she decided to be stubborn and a wee bit selfish with her merriment. But the sweetling clutching her neck made being dismal difficult.

Alec, and a woman Akira guessed was Alec’s wife, Aileen, scurried after their children. Red-gold locks fell over her face when Aileen bowed. “A thousand pardons, m’lady. They dinnae know their manners.” Aileen attempted to peel the boy from Akira’s neck.

He wouldn’t let go. Wrinkling his nose, he gave his mother a sour expression and tightened his grasp.

highlanddragonwikiAileen apologized repeatedly. “Andrew, release m’lady this instant.”

“I cannae, Mammie. I love her.”

That did it.

Akira laughed outright while a blush burned her face to the tips of her ears. Aileen forcefully pulled Andrew off and dropped him to his feet beside her. “Ye can love her from a distance.”
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I’ve heard some editors don’t like children in romance. They say the wee bairns detract from the romance.

Do you agree?  Are you sometimes put off by the constant interruptions of children or do you enjoy a lush romance filled with characters both young and old?
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Hope you’ll all check out HIGHLAND DRAGON.
To learn more about Kimberly Killion’s second release, please visit her website:
www.kimberlykillion.com