Nicki Elson's Blog, page 25

What am I supposed to do with this massive stick in my hands? #grogz

The Realms Faire and Joust, a blogstravaganza hosted by M. Pax and lots of other great bloggers, has begun, and this wayward knight needs your help!  I'm precariously perched on a pony with a reaallllly long stick in my hand, and I have no idea what to do with it. You can keep me from getting pummeled by getting thee to the daily Joust and leaving a comment that includes the words "three" and "divine".

When you leave a comment at M.Pax's post by 8pm EST, you'll be automatically entered to win that day's prize package. The joust is going on all week with a new prize each day. I'm one of Monday's featured knights (with a little story about how Lady Elson came to be), so Monday's prize includes a choice of eBooks from both me and Mary Waibel as well as what you see below (angel wing earrings, set of 4 chalice charms & beaded angel wing bookmark):


Huzzah! And thank you.
Also, happy Veterans Day!  Where would we be without all the courageous and selfless men and women who put themselves on the line for us every day?

IWSG: Picking up the Breadcrumbs

My mind went running in so many directions for this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group , but in the end, I think I'll piggyback on Crystal Collier's post about keeping the faith, which I'm so happy I didn't miss (thanks to D.L.'s Blog Blitz). You can go ahead and read that first. I'll wait.

Oh good, you came back. :) You see, I live my life based on the cues I get along the way. I tend to not ask a lot of questions when making life choices; a gut instinct is generally good enough for me. The danger in living on instinct, however, is that the Good Guy isn't the only one trying to get through to me. Lesser forces are whispering to us all. the. time. and it's often difficult to know the difference.

Sometimes I go skipping off down the wrong path, at times get pretty far along it, but at some point I've always hit a wall of resistance---and it grows barbs when I try smashing through it. That's how I know I've been listening to the wrong voice. So I lick my wounds and abort the mission. And the thing is...I've been waiting to crash into the wall on this writing thing. I feel like I almost want it to happen.

Because what am I doing? What in the hell am I doing spending all this time writing and polishing and marketing and dreaming and failing and trying and putting myself out there and failing again??  Why don't I just chuck it all and give more of that time to my kids, to my friends, to my day job, to my poor, poor garden and house?

I know what you're thinking---the failing, or at least what I perceive as failing (*ahem* sucky-ass Amazon sales), is the wall. Maybe my lack of topping the charts is telling me that I'm lost in Wonderland and better get back to Reality pronto. But here's the other thing...every time I start thinking this way, I'm given a breadcrumb, a little nugget of encouragement to let me know that I'm on the right path and am meant to stay on it. These nuggets come in the form of an unexpected and lovely review, an unsolicited and genuine compliment from someone who I didn't even know was reading what I'd written. It comes in the form of being asked to speak as an author at local events---and people actually showing up to listen.

Click on the image if you'd like to see more from the event
I just can't believe these bits of encouragement would come at the exact times that I need them if I was meant to abort this mission. So I won't. I guess I'll pick up these breadcrumbs when I get 'em and let them nourish me until...until I know not what. Just gotta have faith.

Does it ever feel that way to you---like just when you're ready to give up, you get a little nugget of encouragement that keeps you going?

Double Feature: Dragonfly Warrior Cover Reveal & Release of Seeing Past Sickness

First up, check out this super cool cover for Jay Noel's Dragonfly Warrior. It'll be released on January 6

Dragonfly Warrior Blurb: The Mechanica Wars: Savage Machines Are Afoot... At the age of twenty, Kanze Zenjiro's bloody footprints mark the bodies of those who stood in his way to protect the throne of Nihon. Now, the tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and they send their steam-powered giants and iron spiders against him. Zen embarks on a quest that takes him on the most dangerous journey of his life. To succeed, Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.
Book Information: Dragonfly Warrior is a steampunk adventure like no other. It's a dynamic mix of Asian and European mythology, the Wild West, martial arts, traditional fantasy, and high powered steam action that will keep you turning the pages.Dragonfly Warrior is the first book of The Mechanica Wars, and will debut on January 6, 2014.
Author Bio:After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging for over eight years, and even had a comedy podcast syndicated all over the internet. All of that was fun, but all the steampunk-inspired stories in his head just wouldn't leave him alone. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet. He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov. And Jay loves cookies.
Jay Noel's website: www.jaynoel.com - Visit him to see how to win a very cool steampunk bookmark! You can also find Jay on: Facebook & Twitter
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And next....

The community writing project, Scripting Change, is incredibly excited to announce the release of their inaugural project: Seeing Past Sickness !
Absolutely every piece of this e-book, from the coordination, to the contents, to the beautiful cover art, was volunteered, and 100% of proceeds will be donated to the MSTR Scholarship Foundation.  Read on to find out why!

About the Project:
Scripting Change is a new writing initiative that aims to bring together the vast community of writers and readers in support of responsible nonprofit organizations. 
The project accepts submissions from writers, relating to a theme that reflects the mission of a chosen nonprofit.  The selected pieces are combined in an anthology, which is published as an e-book, in this case: Seeing Past Sickness .  Proceeds from this and any future e-books' sales will be donated to the related organization.  Ideally, the project will be repeated, with each e-book supporting a unique nonprofit organization.
By focusing on the compelling words of writers, Scripting Change is able to raise not only funds but also awareness for the causes of the organizations they support.  The time and talents of everyone involved are offered freely, so the project has absolutely no overhead costs, which means every dollar raised is donated to positively impact our society!

About the Nonprofit:
Chronic illness doesn't disappear at age 18, but aid and understanding for those affected often do, despite the exorbitant and crippling costs of perpetual healthcare. In additional to the emotional and physical toll of chronic illness, those affected face significant challenges in seeking the personal and intellectual development afforded by continuing education.
The recipient organization for Seeing Past Sickness is the MSTR Scholarship Foundation, which aims to help those students affected by chronic illness, who nevertheless have the passion, drive, and determination to seek or continue their educations, by providing financial scholarships in recognition and support of their perseverance.  This decision was based on the impressive mission, fiscal responsibility, and enthusiasm for the project of the MSTR Foundation.

Now It's Your Turn!
Scripting Change depends entirely upon the support of the community as a whole.  The writers, and our cover designer, have done their part; the coordinators have brought it all together; the bloggers have graciously helped us spread the word – now it's up to the readers.  We hope you will enjoy the anthology!
Seeing Past Sickness is available through: 
Smashwords ~*~ Amazon: US; UK ~*~ Barnes & Noble

Learn more about this project at: ScriptingChange.blogspot.com 
Find them on Facebook or Tweet using: #ScriptingChange

Happy Halloweenie! (Heavy on the weenie)

Now that's what I call a treat. :)  Made extra special because it was sent to me by the absolutely fantabulous Girl Wizard, or as you may call her, Suze at Subliminal Coffee.

One of my goals in this life is to see David in person---sans the bag, of course. I was soooo very close once, but planes and trains didn't cooperate, so I was stranded in a darling string of villages on the Ligurian Sea *sigh* (poor, poor me, right). But until I finally meet him, this lovely card will get me through.

Also, apologies for not being around your places of late---October has pretty much wiped the floor with me schedule-wise, but I have high hopes for a lighter November.  Praise God I'm not doing NaNo! But right now, I must rush off to the next disaster.

Oh, but before I go---my words have been assigned for the Realms Faire to be held at M. Pax's place November 11-15. The magic words are Divine and Three, get used to saying them. ;) You can click here to see the super awesome badge she's made me.

Happy Halloweeeeeen, everybody!

A Novella to Kick Cancer's Bum

Today I get to tell you about something very cool. Author Debra Anastasia and all the people at Omnific Publishing who worked on her just-released novella, Late Night with Andres, did it as a labor of love so that 100% of the proceeds generated from sales of the book can be donated to assist in the battle against breast cancer.

I haven't read the story yet, but I know Debra well enough to know anyone who reads it is in for a wild, hilarious ride.  Here's the linkage:

Late Night with Andres at Amazon
Late Night with Andres at Goodreads
Deb's monstrous giveaway of books, goodies & gift cards (plus a teaser & book trailer)

Rising-star blogger Milla Kierce knows she's arrived when she sees the swag basket in her dressing room on the night of her late-night television debut. But before she can bite into the muffin that symbolizes her success, gunfire echoes through the TV studio. She's just hidden herself (mostly in plain sight) when the door flings open. Instead of a gunman, there stands one of the world's most popular rock stars, Gage Daxson, looking for his own way out of danger.
Thrown together, they'll battle a venomous man seeking revenge and his own sexual pleasure, but they may never leave the building again. Distracted by fear, fame, and infamy, can these two somehow find their way to each other?
Equal parts horrifying and hilarious, Debra Anastasia's Late Night With Andres offers more than a few twists and turns—and, of course, enough heat to keep things interesting.

Meet Isis Rushdan

Today I welcome author Isis Rushdan, who is celebrating release week of Protector of the Flame the sequel to Kindred of the Fallen .
Congratulations, Isis! During her busy, busy time, Isis stopped by to answer a few questions for me. Here's our mini-interview:

Me: You have such an interesting background with joining the U.S. Army right out of high school, moving on to be an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and then continuing in the Armed Forces in the reserves. What I'd love to know is whether any of your experiences in the Armed Forces have made their way into your writing and how.

Isis: The sense of camaraderie I felt around other troops and the immediate bond whenever I’ve relocated has definitely translated into my Kindred series. The Kindred species I created are all connected through a tragic history and when they’re within proximity also by their energy streams if they so desire. Duty and honor play crucial roles for the warriors as well. Something I comprehended on a deeper level once I joined the military.


Me: Very cool. I love having this background before reading. So, what is the world like in the Kindred Chronicles---how much realistic and how much fantasy? And did any of the many places you've lived influence your fictional world more than others?

Isis: The series is a contemporary fantasy. I wanted readers to instantly feel grounded in the world. Using an initial setting that felt realistic helped accomplish this. Showing the characters first as people with relatable problems and then as supernatural also enables readers to connect. My love of travel has a bigger influence in the second book, Protector of the Flame, as I drag my characters around the world.


Me: I adore being dragged around the world! I also adore your book covers. They're stunning, and I feel like I could stare at them for hours. What was the process like in creating them?

Isis: Thanks! I’m so happy you like them. Strong book covers are vital in this industry and I’m thrilled with mine.

My editor sent me a form I had to complete. My first step was to make a list of various covers on the market I liked and write down why. For some it was the use of color, for others the emotions conveyed in the poses of the characters, the overall feel and even the font used. Then I researched the cover artists at Samhain. Finally, I put as much detail as possible on the form, including a request for the artist who ended up doing my covers.


Me: You and your cover artist make a great team. I've never written a series, so here is something I always wonder about authors who do: while writing Protector of the Flame were there any elements of the previous book, Kindred of the Fallen, that you wished you could alter?

Isis: Oddly enough, no. As soon as I finished writing Kindred of the Fallen, I wrote Protector of the Flame and that was before I even had an agent. As I revised KOTF, I was able to make minor alterations and adjust timelines to fit the second book. Of course as I did this, I had the third book in the back of my mind.


Me: Aha, so it worked out well to get that next book written before securing an agent. And now for the question that I just can't resist asking any author who stops by: if you could pick one song that best captures the essence of Protector of the Flame, what would it be and why?

Isis: A lot of the music I listen to comes from soundtracks. For Protector of the Flame it’s tough to pick just one because the scenes vary widely across the spectrum of emotion and type of action. If I could only pick one it would be "Burn My Shadow" by U.N.K.L.E. from the Repo Men soundtrack. It was perfect as I wrote some of the fight scenes, and the lyrics couldn’t suit this book overall any better:


I have burned my tomorrows
And I stand inside today
At the edge of the future
And my dreams all fade away

I faced my destroyer
I was ambushed by a lie
And you judged me once for falling
This wounded heart will rise


Me: Cool song!  It has sort of a Doors-ish feel to it, and I can see why it was good inspiration for the fight scenes.  


Isis: Thank you so much for having me on, Nicki! I really appreciate it.

Me: Thank you for being here and for answering all my questions.  Best of luck on the new release!
Here are links to Isis' website & Protector of the Flame.
Author WebsiteAmazonBarnes & Noble

So, have any of you got questions for Isis? 

How would you like to be my knave?

From November 11-15, I shall be known as Lady Elson, a knight in M. Pax's annual Realms Faire & Joust. It's totally like cosplay...on the internet! To win the joust (or at least put up a respectable fight) I need loyal blogger friends to visit M's blog throughout the week of the Faire and use my Word of Valor (TBA)---that's where you come in...

Your comments will get you entered to win tons of PRIZES at M's blog, and I'm offering up a BONUS PRIZE to my knaves (prize to be revealed in my first e-mail). I'm dangerously close to unvirtualling the cosplay and putting together an actual costume, so who knows---you may also get to see Lady Elson, herself.
If you sign up to be one of my knaves, you'll receive an e-mail prior to Nov. 11 letting you know my Word of Valor, and then I'll send an e-mail each morning during the week of the fair (Nov. 11-15) with an easy-peasy link to that day's post where you can leave a comment using my Word of Valor. It's unbelievably amusing to speak Medieval, so I hope you have as much fun with this as I plan to!

Become one of Nicki's Knaves, the merriest men and women this side of Far Far Away* indicates requiredEmail Address * Email Format
htmltextmobile '+msg+'.

Also, I owe a HUGE Thank You to everyone who's voted for Hans & Greta on lists at Goodreads. Just look what you've done for this crazy zombie fairy tale:

Thanks. :)

What's More Spooktacular than a Treat for your Kindle?

Welcome to Spooktacular 2013, a massive giveaway hop hosted by I am a Reader, not a Writer. Each and every blog in the hop features a giveaway with a minimum value of $10.




I have a treat for everyone! Through Halloween Hans & Greta, a Twisted Zombie/Fairy Tale Novella will be specially priced at only 99 cents on Kindle. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! (If you don't have a Kindle, you can download free reading apps for your phone, tablet or computer right here.)

TRICK OR TREAT? HANS & GRETA IS A BIT OF BOTH.
Only 99 cents ON KINDLE FOR A LIMITED TIME


You can also enter my Spooktacular giveaway below. The prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or Barnes & Noble, if you prefer) plus an eBook of your choice of one of my novels. Choose either flirty New Adult chick lit  Three Daves  or contemporary Adult supernatural romance Divine Temptation .  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's More Spooktacular than a FREE Treat for your Kindle?

Welcome to Spooktacular 2013, a massive giveaway hop hosted by I am a Reader, not a Writer. Each and every blog in the hop features a giveaway with a minimum value of $10.




For the first 5 days of this event, I have a treat for everyone! From October 15-19,  Hans & Greta, a Twisted Zombie/Fairy Tale Novella is absolutely, positively FREE on Kindle. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! (If you don't have a Kindle, you can download free reading apps for your phone, tablet or computer right here.)

TRICK OR TREAT? HANS & GRETA IS A BIT OF BOTH.
FREE ON KINDLE FOR A LIMITED TIME


Download Hans & Greta FREE right here

And from now through Halloween, you can enter my Spooktacular giveaway below. The prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or Barnes & Noble, if you prefer) plus an eBook of your choice of one of my novels. Choose either flirty New Adult chick lit  Three Daves  or contemporary Adult supernatural romance Divine Temptation .  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flash Interview with M.Pax & #grogz

Please take a moment to simply gaze at the cover for M. Pax's just released Beyond the Edge, the 4th and final in her Backworlds series, and get lost in its awesomeness. I'll be here when you get back...

Mary is busy bopping around the blogosphere with the good news, so I went easy on her with one, simple question:
Nicki:  What was the theme music to Beyond the Edge?

M. Pax:  None. I don’t listen to music when writing unless you count yowling cats [my two girls learned to howl from the dog next door] and traffic. Since I wrote some of it over the summer, there would have been A/C humming, too. My favorite crooners:  Elvis Costello, Radiohead, and Muse.
Back to Nicki: It's customary for me to include a video of the song, so...

Still Nicki: But how can I resist tossing in Mr. Costello? Answer: I can't.

Beyond the Edge
Some truths are better left unfound.

For two years Craze’s dear friend, Lepsi, has been missing. The murmurings of a haunted spaceship might be a message and may mean his old pal isn’t dead. The possibility spurs Craze and Captain Talos to travel to uncharted worlds, searching. Out there, in an unfamiliar region of the galaxy beyond the Backworlds, they stumble upon a terrible truth.

Meanwhile, Rainly remains on Pardeep Station as acting planetlord, dealing with the discovery of her lover’s dark and brutal past. Alone and questioning her judgment, her introspection unlocks more than heartache. Latent protocols in her cybernetics activate, forcing her to face a sinister secret of her own.

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendents to survive in a harsh universe. This is the fourth book in the science fiction series, The Backworlds. A space opera adventure.

Amazon / AmazonUK / Nook / Smashwords / Kobo / Other Outlets

About M. Pax:  Inspiring the words she writes, she spends her summers as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory in stunning Central Oregon where she lives with the Husband Unit and two demanding cats. She writes science fiction and fantasy mostly. You can find out more by visiting her at:

Website / FB / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest / Wattpad


If you haven't heard yet, M. Pax & Co. are planning what promises to be an all-out bloganza this coming November. I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it---Role Playing...on the internet! There are tons of ways for writers and bloggers to participate and promo opportunities galore. You can read all about it and sign up here. In the meantime, get used to calling me Lady Elson. ;)


So how about you---what do you listen to when you write?