Nadia Lee's Blog, page 26

Review: Carnal Secrets

Pearl of Pearl's World of Romance has written a lovely review of Carnal Secrets:

I really enjoyed reading CARNAL SECRETS. The start (first chapter) felt a lot like a category romance (Presents/Blaze-like), complete with the corporate setting and the revenge trope. As I went into this read fairly blank I was pleasantly surprised by this and was immediately curious about the rest.

And the rest absolutely did not disappoint. It was the perfect combination of pace, story and details/descriptions. Normally I'm not a fan of descriptive writing but the balance with the dialogues in CARNAL SECRETS was so good I really enjoyed it. Throughout the book, the back-stories of the main characters come across loud and clear without being intrusive with the romance and this is something not all authors that I read achieve easily.

The secondary characters were subtly portrayed and they all contributed to the story and the back-stories. Some I really liked as characters, others I disliked with gusto. There were a few very intriguing secondary characters of which I hope Nadia Lee will have the opportunity to write their story.

In conclusion, CARNAL SECRETS is a rich and layered read, subtle in the sexual scenes but intense in the romance and emotional parts.

(emphasis mine)

Read Excerpt »

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© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

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Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

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Published on March 19, 2011 03:25

Guest Blog: World Building and Keeping a "World Bible" by Vanessa Barger

Thanks Nadia, for letting me crash the blog today. I hope you all enjoy!

You've all heard it before -- when writing sci-fi/fantasy or paranormal you have to world build, and you have to do it well. Sadly, those voices are right.

Readers can sniff out a hitch in your world building like a bloodhound on the trail. They know. I love fantasy and paranormal, and whether writing adult or YA, there's always a little fantasy in there. I used to wing it. Then, after having to complete a massive edit several weeks after finishing a book, I realized I had written down nothing about the world the story was taking place in. I spent countless extra hours scouring through the manuscript for silly things like hair color and whether or not that building was where I thought it was.

Some people swear the first thing you should do is fill out a character questionnaire for each character in your book. While I do find those, with their millions of questions a little tedious, I have learned to keep a list of each character's physical traits (excellent when you're filling in a cover art form), as well as little things about them I think are important.

But world building goes deeper than that. With world building, you have to think about EVERYTHING. I'm starting a sci-fi set on another planet with a different social system and small town. I've gone through and named everyone in town. Each person. At first, I did it as an exercise in making myself fill up the slim moleskin notebook I bought to use as a "world diary." Then, after I finished, I realized that I had built family relationships into the different people, I had created a community in my head just by putting their names down on paper. While I don't expect everyone to do that -- name every person in their town -- it is something to think about. If your character interacts with them, no matter how small a part they play, they have to have a little depth, or they're little more an a dummy propped up in the corner for your character to speak to during the scene.

For this story it was also important to know the layout of the town. In the past, I'd just wing it and hope for the best. This time I sat down with a paper and pencil and sketched out the town. Amazing the difference it made. As I used my ruler and laid down the streets and footprints of the buildings, I could see each one.

Now when I sit down and make plot notes (for all that I'm telling you to do this, I despise outlines. They're too confining for me) I can see more clearly what's going on. There's a mine in my story, and I haven't done anything with that. I can already see that I will have to sit down and sketch out the mine, because the town is so clear to me that without that step, any reader will be able to notice the fact that I didn't plan the mine as well.

Is it more work? A little. But its strangely amusing too. I can make the shop keep my main character sees everyday from a distance be a peg-legged former pirate. The MC doesn't know, the reader doesn't know, but I do. And I think it's hilarious that he's given up sailing to take care of an obnoxious pet parrot who gets seasick in his old age.

It makes the story and world more real to me, which will give it more life to the reader.

Besides making your writing easier and more vibrant (I hope) the world bible also does one other very important thing -- as you're writing, when you have a question about something you've put in there, you can go back and check whether it fits like you think it does. You can check to see how far your hero has to run before turning left at the school. You know, because the map of town is right there in front of you. It makes putting in details easier, and helps keep you from making silly mistakes because you can't remember something.

So -- try it, even if its just once. Keep it in a spiral notebook, a moleskine, even a software program like OneNote (I love OneNote, but writing it down means I don't have to toggle between programs). I think you'll notice a difference. And enjoy it!

If you want to see what else I've got going on, check out my blog.

I also have a YA steampunk romance out from Astraea Press called Into the Ether.

As a Touch-Know, Genevieve has never been required to steal more than a few paltry coins. But when a powerful stranger requires their help, her family of street-wise thieves sends her to get the most important thing they've ever decided to liberate. It was supposed to be a simple overnight job. Instead, Genevieve is required to appear attached to her mark, the curator of the British Museum. For Genevieve it becomes more than an act, and her problems are far more significant than the possibility of her lies being discovered.

When her family betrays her, she must make an important choice -- turn to the man who has destroyed everything she holds dear, or strike out on her own.

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

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Published on March 16, 2011 05:30

"Creating a Cover Art with Non-White Characters" Is Up

I'm discussing the nervousness I felt at creating a cover with non-white characters, given the controversies over white-washed covers, etc. on Money Bear Reviews today. Please come check it out!

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

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Published on March 15, 2011 05:41

Authors for Japan

There are auctions for autographed books, critiques and other awesome items to help raise money for the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunamis in Japan.

Please go to http://authorsforjapan.wordpress.com/ to view items and bid.

Also Michelle Read and Carrie Ryan are auctioning their books (autographed of course) on eBay. According to the description, "100% of the proceeds go to either Save the Children or the American Red Cross, both of which are doing work in Japan to help disaster victims. (They also help other tsunami-affected regions)"

You can view their auction listings here.

FYI -- Michelle and Carrie's auction is open to U.S. residents only.

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

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Published on March 15, 2011 01:24

"Distribution: the Issues of DRM and Geo Restrictions" Is Up

I'm discussing the thorny problem called distribution, esp. DRM and geo restrictions, on Pearl's World of Romance today. Please come check it out!

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

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Published on March 14, 2011 00:31

My First Freelance Project: DESERT DESPERATE by Dana Mentink

I recently did my first freelance job converting a Word doc into .prc, .epub, .lit, .html and .pdf for the lovely . She's an inspirational romance writer, and I think you'll love the story if you enjoy inspirational romance novels.

Desert Desperate

The Arizona desert is lovely in August.

If you're a cactus.

If you're not green and prickly it's like standing in the bottom of a volcano hoping your SPF 15 will do the trick. So how does Simone Greevey, a twenty something e-zine editor from San Francisco wind up wearing a duck costume in sweltering Seepwillow, Arizona? In Desert Desperate, Simone loses her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop and runs to the arms of her eccentric aunt, owner of the Ruddy Duck trailer park, a hundred miles from nowhere.

There she meets Chaz Tagliola, a guy who doesn't know Jimmy Choo from Jiminy Cricket, a man with a passion for God and the one thing Simone has tried to forget about for the decade since her father's death. Before her suitcase is unpacked; Simone's aunt disappears, leaving Chaz and Simone to lead a five day junior high school Bible study camp. Bug lightings? Hot dog roasts? Cactus jam recipes? It's a whole new world for a San Francisco girl. Throw in a mysterious park tenant and a breathtaking natural discovery and the stage is set for Simone to learn a divine lesson that will rock her world in a big way.

You can request a free sample / excerpt from Amazon. Check it out!

P.S. My How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook has been updated with a brand new section on how to format for All Romance eBooks. Please re-download it if you bought a copy already so you can have the latest information. For those of you who haven't bought it yet, you can get a copy from Smashwords. (Note: You must have some knowledge of HTML and CSS. Also you must have a Windows system to run the freeware needed to create the .prc format for Kindle. Sorry, but I haven't found anything that works for MacIntoshes. If anyone knows of a good program that you can use to create .prc on Macs, please let me know.)

And if anyone out there just doesn't want to fool with the conversion at all (even using the manual), send me an email and I'll let you know my rates for such work.

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

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Published on March 13, 2011 05:24

Update #2: We're Still Safe (Post Fukushima Nuke Plant Explosion)

I'm sure many of you have seen the coverage of Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion. Again, Hero Material and I live far away from Fukushima, and our area remains unaffected.

Please send good vibes, prayers, etc. to the people in Fukushima and everyone else affected. Thank you!

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

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Published on March 12, 2011 04:15

Super Quick Update: We Are Safe

Hello everyone,

I really should've thought to update my blog, but totally spaced out yesterday.

Hero Material and I are safe. As of Saturday March 12th 12:30 p.m., my area remains unaffected -- no aftershocks or tsunamis. We have power, running water and Internet service, though the mobile network is spotty. We feel very grateful and lucky, and yet feel saddened by what's happening to others who are less fortunate.

If you have loved ones in Japan and have not been able to get in touch with them yet, please do not panic. Many areas are without power, and many people cannot make or receive calls easily even within Japan. I think international calls are even more difficult to make at this point.

If you're in the path of the tsunamis, please stay safe.

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.

Sign up for Nadia's newsletter for occasional news bites, free chapters, advance looks at works in progress and other cool stuff.

Carnal Secrets (Contemporary Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

Destiny Entwined (Erotic Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

A Happily Ever After of Her Own (Paranormal Romance) Buy: All Romance EBooks :: Kindle US :: Kindle UK :: Nook :: Smashwords

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook Buy: Smashwords

This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

View more on Nadia Lee's website »

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Published on March 11, 2011 19:28

"Small Press v. Self-Publication" Is Up

I'm discussing the advantages and disadvantages of having a publisher versus doing it all on your own on Love Romance Passion today. Please come check it out!