Ruth Kaufman - Award-Winning Author and Romance Writer

Ruth Kaufman is the author of My Life as a Star, My Life as an Extra, My Once & Future Love, The Bride Tournament, Follow Your Heart, At His Command and other books.

New Year’s Resolutions of the Gainfully Unemployed

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At this time of year, most of us look back before we move forward. I like to prepare for the new year by doing the following:

1) Asking questions, such as:

  • What went well in my freelancing life?
  • What do I have control over that I could improve?
  • How do my revenues and time spent compare to previous years, and where is most of my revenue coming from?
  • What changes occurred with my client base?
  • How can I grow my business next year?
2) Going through my physical and virtual filing cabinets, removing/shredding/recycling documents I no longer need. This morning I painstakingly created a new template for my acting resume, which over the years has become such a mishmosh of styles that it was difficult to edit and update.
3) Reviewing the tools of my trade. To improve my home recording setup, I just bought new, comfy headphones and more soundproofing. Not long ago, I updated my acting and voiceover site, www.ruthtalks.com. New headshots are next.

[Read more…] about New Year’s Resolutions of the Gainfully Unemployed

A Royal Christmas 12 Author Hop

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Hello! Thank you for stopping by my blog as you follow A Royal Christmas 12 Author Hop. I hope you’re enjoying your journey.

I’ve released four medievals and a medieval novella, and over the years have collected hundreds of books about 15th century England. My favorites (such as Private Life in the Fifteenth Century and the medieval craftsmen series offer fascinating details about castles, knights and and life during that time period, which I love learning about. Something else I love is when sources say, “No one knows what happened,” because I think it’s fun to combine actual history with imagination. 

What do you love about historicals and why? [Read more…] about A Royal Christmas 12 Author Hop

Cravings

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What makes us want what we want…what blend of genetics and environment makes some people love to play or watch sports and others subscribe to the opera, while others don’t understand the allure of either? There’s wanting…then there’s craving, defined by thefreedictionary.com as “A consuming desire, a yearning.”

Look how far many people go to get tickets to the World Series or Hamilton…. How much they’re willing to pay beyond the norm. I’d call that craving. Because, for the Cubs, it’s probably once in a lifetime? Because Hamilton is a truly great show supported by extensive hype (it seems every day a Facebook friend posts the now-requisite Hamilton selfie)?

I crave something not once in a lifetime, not on occasion, but almost every hour of every day. It’s legal, affordable, and almost everywhere I go: sweets. The craving is strong, demanding, making me fight it many times a day. Such as, but not limited to, whenever I:

  • pass donut shops near me. Their neon signs shout, “Yummy!” (One nemesis is Stan’s pretzel-shaped donut )
  • see candy in any checkout line or store, especially if it’s on sale
  • am near a brownie, especially if combined with ice cream and bittersweet hot fudge
  • eat ice cream or candy that I’ve bought. How do I stop at one serving (defined as a half-cup for most ice creams, a mere dollop)?

[Read more…] about Cravings

Clear your closets & clear your mind?

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Lately, I’ve been avoiding making a few life and career decisions. One is whether or not to move. I’m leery of making the wrong choice and/or making a mistake…especially after spending significant time and effort. Yes, I know that no decision is a decision in itself. And that wrong choices/mistakes can often be corrected.

In case I do decide to move, I’ve embarked on a project: going through all of my stuff. I don’t consider my place cluttered, but do have hundreds of books and many closets. Being a writer, I love my research books and those on keeper shelf. Then there’s the to-be-read shelf. It hurts to donate any of them, but some must go. Being an actor, I never know what I might need to wear for an audition or a booking, so I have a wide variety of options. Yet surely some things can be added to the pile.

This morning I worked on my coat closet, organizing bins holding hats and gloves. I came across this pair of green leather gloves with gold and metal decoration. I don’t know where I got them or if they were a gift. I’ve never worn them, because they’re that nice, and enjoy admiring them from time to time. Keep? Try to sell them on e-Bay? (I’ve been looking up a few items and am surprised by the low prices. How does an individual make enough money to make it worth the time to take pictures, post and follow the sale, and pack and ship the item?) Or actually wear them? [Read more…] about Clear your closets & clear your mind?

My Enemy, My Love releases today in Kathryn LeVeque’s Kindle World!

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I’m excited to announce that my novella My Enemy, My Love is now available as part of Kathryn LeVeque’s Kindle World, World of de Wolfe Pack!

Kathryn asked me to tell the story of her hero Sir William de Wolfe’s best friend Paris de Norville’s parents. Her book introducing Paris, The Wolfe, starts at the end of 1231 AD. So to make him the right age, my novella needed to be set around 1200 AD. I like to incorporate some real history, so I searched for events around that time. And chose King Philip II’s 1203-4 siege of Chateau Gaillard. [Read more…] about My Enemy, My Love releases today in Kathryn LeVeque’s Kindle World!

Prioritizing when your schedule isn’t in your control

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In addition to writing romance novels, I’m an actor. Because I usually don’t get more than 24-hour notice of auditions or sometimes even VO and OC bookings, I don’t always have control over my schedule.

I might set aside an afternoon for my work-in-progress only to learn I have an audition for, say, a national TV commercial, at 2:55 the next day, and may have lines and/or specific wardrobe and/or hair to prepare. Often the specs and storyboard or copy don’t arrive until the end of the day. Of course I’m thrilled for every opportunity to practice my craft. [Read more…] about Prioritizing when your schedule isn’t in your control

AT HIS COMMAND: Double Booksellers’ Best Award winner!?

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I’m honored to announce that AT HIS COMMAND  won BOTH the Best Historical and Best First Book 2016 Booksellers’ Best Awards.

And this week a reader wrote, “I started reading ‘At His Command’ and didn’t stop until I was 20% in. Wow, what a wonderful story!!! I was actually angry at the clock for passing so quickly.  I can’t wait to return to it but wanted you to know I LOVE it so far!!”

Yet despite such wonderful accolades and praise, and though I’ve (temporarily?) reduced the price to .99, I’ll share that sales have dwindled to a trickle. [Read more…] about AT HIS COMMAND: Double Booksellers’ Best Award winner!?

Another new boxed set: Medieval Hearts

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My third book, The Bride Tournament, is now part of the boxed set Medieval Hearts: Four Epic Tales of Romance and Passion. It’s on preorder for .99 on Amazon and will be available in Kindle Unlimited when it releases July 12! 

In TBT, The Gone with the Wind love triangle meets The Bachelor in late medieval England. The king wants her to marry the new earl, but she wants to marry her betrothed. So she holds a bride tournament to find the earl a better, more willing bride. Who will win his hand in marriage…and his love?

Also in the set are:

Enthralled by Amazon All-Star Emma Prince

When raiding Northumbria’s holy houses to help his village, Eirik meets Laurel, who stirs him like no other. In an attempt to protect her, he breaks his oath never to claim possession of another person, and claims her as his thrall. But can he claim her heart, or will Laurel fall prey to his enemies’ devious schemes?
Torn between securing her freedom or giving herself to her Viking master, will fate decide for Laurel—and rip them apart forever?

Lady of the Mist by bestseller Elizabeth Rose

Echo, daughter of the infamous pirate, Captain Powell ap Llyr, tries to live up to his expectations of being the son he never had. But when handsome lord Garret is trapped aboard her ship, she can’t let him die at the hands of her father and the crew. Love and honor clash as a nobleman and a pirate fall in love and face the most difficult challenge of their lives.

Knight Storm by Ria Cantrell

Respected as a Healer, Rhianna du Montefort turns a deaf ear to hurtful whispers of “witch” and vows not to marry. Sir Erik Ragnorsen is commanded to marry her, but despite his reputation for honor doesn’t wish to marry a witch. Will love be strong enough to weather the storm that threatens to tear them apart?

Hope you enjoy the set, and, if you’re so inclined, leave an honest review.

Enchanting Knights! New Boxed Set with

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I’m excited to announce that My Once & Future Love, which RT Book Reviews calls a “fantastic blend of romance and Arthurian legend,” will be part of the boxed set Enchanting Knights: Medieval Romances of Legend and Lore with books by Allie Mackay (aka Sue-Ellen Welfonder), April Holthaus and Elizabeth Rose! The set releases 6/20 and is on preorder now! Available on Amazon for just .99 and free in Kindle Unlimited.

We love the cover! Do you? Here’s a bit more information about the books in the set:

SOME LIKE IT KILTED: Allie Mackay
If the roguish Bran doesn’t change Mindy’s mind about him and his bonnie homeland, neither will find peace. But unexpected passion can be the most powerful….
 
MY ONCE AND FUTURE LOVE: Ruth Kaufman
A lady on the run from her scheming uncle aids an imperiled knight. Desire and respect spark as he helps her in return, but secrets, danger and destiny thwart the power of love.
 
LEGEND OF THE FAE: April Holthaus
Returning home from battle, he stumbles upon a lass who can’t speak. While trying to solve the mystery behind who she is, Galen finds himself falling in love with a lass he knows nothing about.
 

THE DRAGON AND THE DREAMWALKER: Elizabeth Rose
She’s the Lady of Fire villagers call a witch. He’s the infamous Dragon’s Son. Can they work together to destroy the dragon, or their haunting pasts stop them as they realize they really fear themselves?


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Welcome! This stop is MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE (Unsung Knights of the Round Table #1) by Ruth Kaufman, which released May 26th.

Morgan ap Myrddin must rescue his father, Merlin, from imprisonment. But enemies have wounded him, draining his powers. Annora of Amberton flees her castle to seek proof that she’s not a lunatic as her uncle declared when claiming wardship over her so she can reclaim her home and lands.

Morgan stumbles upon Annora’s cottage and enlists her aid. As he helps her in return, respect and undeniable desire spark. But he won’t succumb to the lure of a mortal woman as his father did. She’s wary of caring for a man who won’t discuss his past. When he finally does, she fears he’s the lunatic. Secrets, danger and destiny thwart the power of love.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01DC8XXNM   Also available in KU.

~ ENTER TO WIN AN E-BOOK OF AT HIS COMMAND, double finalist in the 2016 Booksellers’ Best Awards: http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6

What’s a lady to do when the king commands her to marry a lord, but she’s falling for the knight sent to protect her from undesirable suitors and is a scribe for the king’s rival for the throne? Could she defy her king for love?

Q: What’s your favorite historical setting and why?
A: Leave your answer in the comments!

And please be sure to “like” this page so I can notify you if you ‪#‎win‬!‬

NEXT STOP: @Tammy Andresen https://www.facebook.com/authortammyandresen 

Thank you for participating in our blog hop! Winners will be drawn Monday, June 13, and announced on each post. ‪#‎NewReleaseHop‬‬  

(No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.)

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