Nicki Elson's Blog, page 40

Streamline Launch Partay!

'Ello!  If God's plans have aligned with mine, I'm in London right now...most likely sampling the local flavor at cozy British pub.  And I'm raising a pint to Jennifer Lane in celebration of her brand new YA novel, Streamline .

I now leave you in her capable hands for a peek into her book and her research process. And look!  She's including a super cool widget where you can enter to win prizes!  Cheers, Jennifer!


I'm uber-excited for the release of the YA Romantic Suspense Streamline. Nicki, thanks for being part of the Launch Party in absentia!
Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.

Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line . . . streamline.                        Streamline is a story about two US Navy families, taking place both at an air base in Pensacola, Florida and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Since I've never served in the military, I needed to research this fascinating world to increase the authenticity of my story.
My grad school roommate became a Navy psychologist, and she put me in touch with a commander who had attended and taught at the Academy. He kindly took the time to teach me about the traditions of "The Yard" such as chow calls in which plebes have to shout the menu for the next meal, events on campus, officers in charge, etc. in rapid-fire mode. He also explained the life of varsity athletes at USNA. I know what it's like to be a varsity athlete at an NCAA school—an exhausting, thrilling ride—and the Academy ramps up that experience times ten.
Others in the Navy taught me elements that weaved their way into the story, like "Tri-Care" (the health insurance company), psychotherapy confidentiality limitations in the military, and the chain of command. I lucked out when a current "firstie" (midshipman first class, or senior) at the USNA set me straight on training the first-year midshipmen known as "plebes."
The hot sun bounced off the sea of white uniforms as the plebesrepeatedly rehearsed proper saluting technique. Leo thought hislong-sleeved tunic and round "Dixie cup" hat looked rather dorkycompared to traditional whites worn by the upperclassmen. He knewAudrey would make fun of him when she visited in August — if hemade it until then.
After they'd practiced saluting and standing at attention for longerthan an invitational swim meet, their company commander explainedthe leadership structure of the Academy: the Superintendent wasa three-star Vice Admiral and beneath him, the Commandant ofMidshipman was Captain Sean Tracker. One of Captain Tracker'sstaff members served as the company officer for Second Company:Lt. Darnell Keaton.
That name sounded familiar to Leo, but he couldn't place it.Nevington told them they wouldn't interact with these officers unlessthey'd "screwed the pooch," so Leo determined never to meet them.Sour reviewed the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen.
"Offenses like stealing, lying, and cheating can result in separation from the Navy," he told them. "Midshipmen are persons of integrity. They stand for that which is right."
"Midshipmen are persons of integrity," the plebes repeated in unison. "They stand for that which is right."

Still, this is a work of fiction—undoubtedly replete with intentional and unintentional exaggerations or mistakes. (I'll take the credit for those!) A big thank you extends to the individuals who shored up my Navy knowledge. I hope you'll find Leo and Audrey's navigation through the stormy Navy seas every bit as captivating as I do!

Click here to visit other party hosts, and sign up below to win prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.

Cool Things About Being Published

My desire to be published stemmed primarily from a perceived need to justify my right to write. Getting published was a way to show that writing wasn't any more of a waste of time than oh, say, golfing, playing poker, or watching endless hours of TV while Brick Breakering. 

The ironic thing is, once my book was released to the world, all that glorious writing time I'd justified seemed to disappear amidst the 1001-ways-to-promote-your-book. I'll admit that there have been times when I've resented being published. I often long for the days of fewer distractions.  BUT there seems to be an endless string of happy surprises along the way---cool things that never would've happened if I hadn't come out of my writing closet---that cause me to figuratively slap my ungrateful self and take a moment to bask in the blessing of authorliness.

For example...
Getting to know other writers via the social networks.  Once in a while I even get to meet them in person---this is author Cherie Colyer and I at a local Starbucks, where we met to exchange books & talk up a storm.



And...  
I've been invited to speak at Booth Library on the campus of my alma mater, Eastern Illinois University (on which the fictional campus of Central Illinois University in Three Daves is based) as part of an exhibit on Building Memories: Creating a Campus Community. It remains to be seen whether anyone will show up to hear what I have to say, but still cool, right?


Furthermore...
Sometimes, people even ask my opinions on stuff, like love and intimacy.  Today at Janie Junebug's blog I deliver my incredibly deep and meaningful thoughts on the subject.  It's a private blog, so if you've already received a coveted invitation hop on over and be enlightened.  If you're not yet in the club, Janie has instructed me to tell you to "get off your duff and request an invitation" by e-mailing: dumpedfirstwife@gmail.com

So, what happy surprises have come your way after coming out of your writing closet?

 

80s Sighting and Squid

I've had a recurring 80s sighting during the last few weeks:

I know what you're thinking. "But...that's the brand new 2012 Chevy Sonic. How could that be 80s?" Let me explain -- it came with with free satellite radio for three months.  So guess who's been cranking the 1st Wave...and taking pictures of her car radio...



  Seriously, does it get any better than new car smell AND 80s new wave?  
And now I get to answer some questions about myself after being tagged by The Armchair Squid (a while ago, I know, but "Better late than never" has become my new motto.)
1. What is your dream vacation?

Hm, I'll say an extended stay in the Bavarian region of Germany.  Or maybe Tuscany.  Ooh, but what about Key West?  I reject this question - it's too hard.



2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead?

I'm a planner at heart, but I've become comfortable with winging it.


3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don't dare do it.

I'd like to tell you, really I would...but I don't dare.


4. What's your biggest phobia?

Being old.  I don't want to do it.  Maybe I should take up smoking.


5. If you were stranded on a desert island-what three things would you want with you? (Not including your laptop or family)

Sunglasses, a Bible, Jeff Probst


6. Name three blessings in your life.

Sunglasses, the Bible, Jeff Probst



7. What was your nickname in High School?

Veb.  Sadly, that's the only one I can think of.


8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?

"I have some ideas ..."


9. If you could be any literary character, who would you be?

Elizabeth Bennet Darcy.


10. What is your favorite quote?

"He didn't stop Christmas from coming. It came!"


Thanks, Squidward, that was fun!  And thanks, everyone, for stopping by for my nonsense.  It's Thursday, so time for the Author! Author! Blog Hop, hosted by Omnific Publishing.  The other authors probably have something worthwhile to say, so I encourage you to check them out.

IWSG - Triple Whammy

First off, thank you, Suze, for posting your IWSG early and thus reminding me!  Y'see, I've not been around the blogs much lately, only in sprinklings, cuz I been hit by the triple whammy (as defined by me):

Whammy #1:  New responsibilities at day job + Boss who believes wishing makes it so = It wouldn't be polite to say the combination of words that are the only way to describe it.

Whammy #2: Weekends chock full o' family gatherings are glorious and wonderful...and eat up any hope of catching up with blog friends or making progress on draft #2.

Whammy #3: The very best kind of whammy I can imagine---a trip overseas at the end of the month WITH my daughter to SEE my sister!!!  Nevertheless, it kicks up the pressure to get all my non-blogging, non-writing shite together.

I guess this is my way of saying...not sorry, because I think we all understand that blogging isn't an obligation and can't be a top priority, so how about...I miss you, and I'm so looking forward to getting to spend more time with y'all in April. :) 

For purposes of this here support group, I leave you with one question:What the hell is that in the background of the IWSG icon?Seriously...what is it?  Alex?  Anyone, anyone? 

.

Ahoy Maties!

Today author Feather Stone sets sail across the blogosphere to let you know more about her fantastic dystopian romance, The Guardian's Wildchild .  I read this book last year...a few times, actually, as I was the developmental editor...and fell in love with Feather's gorgeous writing and the spirit of this story.

I've read others' reviews and the consensus seems to be that The Guardian's Wildchild is a refreshingly unique book.  For myself I can say that it's not like anything else I've ever read and even several months later, this story resonates with me.

Below is an excerpt of my review on Goodreads, which you can click on to read the whole shebang.  And be sure to stop by Feather's blog today, where our cruise director has lots of fun planned for you.

Catch Fiyah!

Yay! It's release day for CassaFire , sequel to Amazon Top Ten best seller CassaStar.  Today author Alex J. Cavannaugh is taking over the internet to celebrate the big blast off.

The goal of the party is to help CassaFire "catch fire" on the best seller charts and achieve the success of CassaStar. A super fun package of prizes and books can be won during Alex's two week book tour---going on right now!  More details at Alex's blog.

In CassaFire, Byron's solitary space explorations lead him to alien ruins where he's forced to work with a new set of suspicious allies---including Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron's unique abilities.   
Available today!
Author's site
Book Trailer 
Buy at:
Barnes and NobleAmazon 
Amazon Kindle
And now, because Alex invited us all to make the posts our own, I give you who I imagine as 80s Byron...he went by Tom back then. ;)

Double Duty

In these crazy days that seem to be suddenly (or is it perpetually?) upon me, I just love it when I can accomplish two things with one post. :)  First up is Auntie Tara's Short Story Prompt.  And I'll admit it---I'm cheating.  Rather than write a complete 250-500 word story with the February theme "Secret Admirer,"  I put forth the first three paragraphs of something I've already written.  But it is a short story and it does entail a secret admirer.

I truly did intend to write up something new, but as my mind raced with all the different possible directions I could take, I realized I already had something.  And then a new development helped me know that was the way to go (said development is part B of this here post.)

Excerpt for dear Auntie Tara:
The first night Rose heard it, she thought hooligans were in her yard playing their music too loud. She reached for her hearing aid on the nightstand and turned the volume all the way up to see if she'd recognize any of the voices. But what she heard was music. She had no idea what genre the kids were into these days, but she could be fairly certain it wasn't the big band swing that leaked into her room through the closed window. These were the songs she and Henry used to dance to…back in the day. She turned the volume down a bit, but kept her hearing aid in that night and fell asleep with a smile.
The following evening, she sat up in her chair a bit longer than usual. She heard it again. She stood and directed her walker to the window and leaned tentatively forward to peer through the gauzy sheer, but she couldn't see anybody. She leaned forward more and more until her forehead pressed against the pane. It was cool despite the muggy night that hovered on the other side. She still couldn't see anything, but thought perhaps the next night she'd be brave enough to open the drape.
She was. Yet even still, she saw nothing. Her eyesight wasn't what it used to be. But she had a new realization that night. She didn't hear a band or an orchestra playing. It was just a voice—a rich, smooth, melodic voice. Strong and seductive. He was singing all her favorite songs. He was singing to her. She blushed immediately at the thought. Not to me, she told herself. And yet…he was outside her window. Who else could he be singing to?

I feel 99.84% confident when I say you'll never, never, ever be able to guess the identity of the mystery crooner before the moment of the big reveal---those of you who've already read the story, feel free to back me up in the comments. ;) But if you're feeling up to the challenge, here's part B:

My publisher has put my short story, Sway, as well as other wonderful short stories from the Summer Lovin' Anthologies up as FREE Singles!!!  You can download the Mobi, ePub, PDF zip file now, or hold out to see if Kindle & Nook versions come through.  Either way, I hope you enjoy the story and please do let me know your reaction to the identity of the "secret admirer."

P.S. An FYI for those who've experienced pages 60-72 of Three Daves---this one's rated G. ;)

Retro Recap

My smile from the Tumble 4 Ya blogfest still looms and I just can't help it---I want to share my summary observations from the fest. Think of it as an after party. ;)

The Guys:  The fellas' crushes seemed to be fairly evenly split between rocker chicks (like the girls from Heart, Stevie Nicks, and Cyndi Lauper) and the girl-next-door types.  My favorite quote from the fest is from the Armchair Squid, who said of Ally Sheedy's character in St. Elmo's Fire: "The eyes, the hair and the impish smile just made you want to gather her up in a blanket for the evening" Awww!

A notable lady missing from the guys' 80s crush list was Princess Leia:


Really boys, did ya not see Return of the Jedi?
The Girls:  I'd have to say the top ladies' choice is a tie between the boys of Duran Duran and, well, this isn't exactly a person, but...the Volleyball Scene in Top Gun.  Don't act like you don't know exactly what I'm talkin' about.  Here, Pk Hrezo has a lovely video at her place.

I was very happy to see some of my own 80s crushes show up---like John Cusak (I was a Sure Thing girl) and Adam Ant (and also a Goody Two Shoes gal)---but there were two boys who were quite special to me that didn't, so I feel I must give them tribute here: 


Michael Hutchence of INXS
Egads, how did I not pick him for my #1?!?Michael Hutchence was simply the sexiest man to ever swagger.


I was never  a big poster girl, but this guy was allowed to hang on the living room wall in the college apartment for two years:
Robert Smith of The CureIt wasn't so much the looks, but the angsty voice, the words, the freakin' Cure. *sigh*
(Perhaps it was also the modest, unrequited crush I had on the boy who made me the mix tape featuring Robert Smith et al...perhaps.)
Okay, NOW I think I'm done with this.  But if you have any overlooked 80s lovelies to add to the list, I'll be more than happy to hear all about them. :) 

And it's Thursday, so time for the Author! Author! Blog Hop hosted by Omnific Publishing.  It's an open invite so hop on over to sign yourself up. Also HAPPY 2 Year ANNIVERSARY, Omnific!  To celebrate, Omnific is offering FREE reads!  Short stories written by their authors.  New titles will be added throughout the day, so check-em out.

Origins

Before I start in on the next blogfest I want to say THANK YOU to all the Tumble 4 Ya participants!  I had way more fun than I should've reading about your 80s crushes and truly appreciate each post. I'll do a retro recap later this week, but for now...

Today is the Origins blogfest hosted by D.L. Hammons, Katie Mills, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish in which we explain how it is we got started on this writing thing.  Just like we've all got different writing styles/genres/etc., I'm sure we're all going to have varied Origins stories, so this is going to be interesting.

I've always been enthralled by words, and looking back, I see they've played an important role in my personal history, whether writing up quarterly reports in my former life as an investment consultant or drafting a memo for school parents in yet another former life as president of the parent-teacher organization. But creative writing didn't grab me by the throat and refuse to let go until a month or so after I finished reading the final installment of the Harry Potter series.

Rowling made it clear she wasn't going to give us more, but I needed more.  I couldn't stand the pathetic way Snape's story had ended, and I had to give him something happy in his mortal life. I only meant to scratch out a few thousand words, a scene or two...but I had to know more, and...well, as writers you know how that goes---before I fully understood what was happening, the other stuff of my life got relegated to bite-sized pieces of time so I could sneak away to my notepad or computer every chance I got.

Soon it wasn't just the story itself that held me captive, but the writing. The words, the flow, the editing, the reworking, the everysinglethingaboutit. I ended up with a complete novel-length fiction, but more important than that was the realization along the way that this writing thing wasn't just one of my fickle obsessions.  I'd found my missing piece.  And after finishing that story, I just kept going.
 
Not quite as exciting as getting bit by a radioactive spider, but I'll take it.To see what got other writers going, click on the big O. 

Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest

Welcome, welcome to the Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest!  I'm so excited to see which 80s faces are going to pop up in the blogworld today.  Thank you to all of you who signed up--and so many of you who mentioned the fest on your blogs. Tim Brannan even had a contest to guess his crush! You've all made this so fun. And HUGE thanks to my cohorts, Suze and M.Pax who've made setting up this fest, like, totally radical.

Right, onto my 80s crush...  I graduated high school in 1985, so I was of prime crushing age throughout the 80s.  As you can imagine, the list of my celebrity crushes from the 80s goes on and on and on.  And yet, picking just one ended up not being as difficult as I thought it would be.  Because as I scanned through pictures and videos of my top 80s men, there was only one who still made me all giggly the moment I saw him again.

He's the one who had me glued to MTV just waiting and waiting and waiting for him. I speak of Joe Elliot, lead singer of Def Leppard.  The odd thing is, he's not at at all like anything I've ever considered to be my type...but I don't know...for me he's got that somethin' somethin' that defies explanation.

Alas, all I ever had was a photograph...

What can I say? I'm apparently a sucker for pleather pants and red legwarmers. And that's to say nothing of the unnecessary terrycloth wristbands and sleeveless Union Jack tee w/ billowy scarf. But enough about Joey Bear, I'm off to see which 80s star makes you all giggly.