Kathleen Givens

Kathleen Givens

Kathleen Givens was born in New York City, but spent her early years living in the Northeast and Georgia before landing in Southern California. As a result, she is fluent in Valley Girl, Steel Magnolia, and Manhattanite. She travels extensively and has often served as a translator between American English and U.K. English, a derivative language. Her services have reached diplomatic levels. Or rather, she tries to be diplomatic.

She made her writing debut at the age of ten with a rewrite of Little Women, in which Jo marries Laurie and no one dies. Surprisingly, it is not in print. In high school she and a friend wrote a dreadful 250-page play about an English rock group. Even more surprisingly, it is also not in print. Her official writing career began in 1999, and she continues to write strong, heroic women who face all that life throws at them - and get cute guys in kilts.

Kathleen lives with His Majesty in California, in a tragically flawed house with the neurotic and dictatorial cat Formerly Known as Miss Lily. As the oldest of the Whine Sisters, she has the unsought responsibility of correcting her siblings, which has cut into her writing time. She is hoping that they will eventually mature and share her vision of the world.

Astrological Sign: Virgo

Favorite Leading Man: His Majesty

Favorite Food: Chocolate. Or chocolate.

Check out more about me and my books at www.kathleengivens.com

Recent posts by Kathleen Givens:

Rivals for the Crown

by Kathleen Givens
Rivals For The Crown

Two childhood friends are caught in a web of intrigue, conspiracies and love as a valiant nation’s freedom hangs in the balance. 1290: Turmoil erupts when Scotland’s child queen perishes en route to claim the crown. Two bitter foes – John Balliol and Robert Bruce – emerge at possible successor, but England’s Edward I has [...]

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I Know What I’m Doing

by Kathleen Givens

And it’s not shopping today.  Y’all go ahead without me.  Just looking at the news reports and pictures like this one reconvince me that I’m better off staying out of the fray.  I can’t think of anything I need badly enough to brave crowds like that.  Just finding a parking space would send me into [...]

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It’s Fashion Friday!

by Kathleen Givens
empty purse

It’s time to review our favorite fashion trends of  the waning year.   Several looks dominated the world of fashion in the last 12 months, most notable among them the empty purse look.     In 2009,  empty purses were everywhere.  We like to think of this as a fashion statement, a rejection of the hedonistic lifestyles of the past [...]

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How Perfect is This for Weird and Whiny Wednesday?

by Kathleen Givens
Tiger Woods

It’s that time of year again!  Yes, it’s time to open nominations for the Whine Sisters 2009 Person of the Year.  Nominate are open to all, but there are some requirements.  The nominee must have been in the news or gossip rags and sites frequently during 2009.  And the nominess must be exceptional in some way  Exceptionally good is [...]

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Thanks for Whining on Wednesday! And the Winner Is . . .

by Kathleen Givens
highlandshore_sm

 I promised to choose a winner from all of you who commented on our first Whiny Wednesday post, and I did.  As always, I use the same reliable method to pick my winners:  the stock pot.  Yep, it’s that high tech.  Names on pieces of paper tossed into the stock pot.  The winner is chosen just [...]

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Welcome to Whiny Wednesday.

by Kathleen Givens
Christmas Presents

Wednesdays have a whole new agenda at the new Whine Sisters.  We’ve set this day aside to talk about weird things we’ve found in the news or in life, or to whine.  Sometimes both.  Sometimes about the same thing.  I’m going to start the Wednesday madness with a whine (now really, are you surprised?).    But along [...]

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One Million Hits and Climbing!

by Kathleen Givens
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No, I’m not talking about an oldies collection.  Or the World Series collective stats.  I’m talking The Whine Sisters!  And it’s way over a million hits – like 200,000 over.  We rarely track that, but maybe we should.  So thanks to all of you who visit and read our madness, and an even bigger thanks [...]

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SHE DID IT AGAIN!!!

by Kathleen Givens
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Julia’s hit the New York Times Bestseller list for her eighth time with A COURTESAN’S SCANDAL!!!  Congratulations, Julia!  Share this:

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Things You Should Know About Jacquie

by Kathleen Givens
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Jacquie is our champagne sister.  While the three of us are enthralled with a deep red wine, a fabulous pinot or cote du rhone, Jacquie will have a glass of champagne.  While the three of us are enraptured with our latest round of Cosmos, Jacquie will have a glass of champagne. I wear way too [...]

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The Wait Is Over!  Announcing Our New Sister, Jacquie D!

by Kathleen Givens
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Woohoo!  Yes, it’s true!  Jacquie D’Alessandro – shown above with The Man of Her Dreams – is now officially a Whine Sister!  We’re so happy she’s agreed to join us.  Jacquie has been a good friend for years and has visited us here often.  Many of you will remember her son Chris’s very informative guest [...]

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It’s Time to Tell You Our Big News

by Kathleen Givens
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Well, part of it.  The Sisterhood is growing!  Yep, we’re adding another Whine Sister to the mix.  But who, you ask?  Well . . . IT COULD BE A BLONDE! Christina Applegate!  Wouldn’t she be great to have join us? Or Florence Henderson.  She could sing us all to sleep.  Or maybe Madonna. She’d be [...]

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Happy Birthday, Sherri!

by Kathleen Givens
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHERRI! Now that your house is clean and you look fabulous, celebrate your birthday in style!  Here’s hoping your day is marvelous!  We love you, man! Share this:

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Almost here!

by Kathleen Givens
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OK, it’s time to start giving you hints.  Our big news is . . . bigger than a breadbox.  Often turquiose.  Kind of fluffy and sometimes nutty.  Fun. Familiar. Figured it out yet? Share this:

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It Must Have Been Something in the Air

by Kathleen Givens
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Talk about a weekend of bad behavior!  What was up with that?  Michael Jordan’s nasty speech as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame might have made him cry, but it made a lot more of us cringe at his boorishness.  Apparently there is not a gracious bone in that man’s body.  And Serena [...]

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Ch-ch-ch-changes . . .

by Kathleen Givens
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Change is coming to the Whine Sisters!  What?  Not saying. When?  Soon. Why?  Why not? Where?  Here, baby! How?  Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. Who?  Uh huh. Keep checking back, y’all. Share this:

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My New Website Is Here!

by Kathleen Givens
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I’ve been threatening to revamp my website for ages and have finally done just that.  Check it out at http://www.kathleengivens.com I’ve added links to my Facebook page, and Twitter – my latest Tweets can be seen at the bottom of the page.  And there’s a brand new feature called “Behind the Scenes”, in which I’ll [...]

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Happy Labor Day!!!

by Kathleen Givens
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A long time ago, I had my first child 45 minutes after Labor Day ended.  Which meant – you got it – that I was in labor on Labor Day.  How hokey is that?  But I wouldn’t trade my girl for anything, and now I have the world’s most perfect grandson, whose birthday is today!  [...]

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Really?

by Kathleen Givens
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Well, yet another Jane Austen spinoff has arrived – Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Huh?  But yes, reader, it’s a real book. And a real phenomenon.  Amazing.  And there’s another new one:  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim.  Zombies, Sea Monsters.  I can’t wait to see what’s next:  Gone with the Zombies.  [...]

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Just for Leslie

by Kathleen Givens
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Here you go, Leslie, wedding day pic for me and His Majesty.  We look SO young!!!  Oh, wait, we were so young.  It was a happy day.  And here’s one of the resulting family, His Majesty, the Princesses, and me.  That was taken on another happy day.  Share this:

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Yeah, That Howard Hunt

by Kathleen Givens
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I went to see my uncle in New York over the weekend.  His health is not good and he spends a lot of time reading.  Mysteries, mostly, which he devours.  I always bring him a bunch of books, but nothing I brought could top the one he was already reading, HOUSE DICK, by E. Howard [...]

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Fashion Week Is Back!!!  The Guys are Thrilled!  Or not.

by Kathleen Givens
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Yes, Fashion Week in Paris has arrived, and with it, the perfect everyday clothing for a man on the go.  Each year Jack London, Mr. Right, and His Majesty, eagerly await the unveiling of the clothes they just have to have for the fall season.  I can see why men everywhere flock to these events, [...]

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