Nicole MacDonald's Blog, page 10

Explaining - why I blame Disney - and Disney Porn (seriously!)

As some of you will know I practice German long sword fighting, originally so to understand it better and now just cause it's damn good fun! After my first few lessons I confessed to the instructor my actual reasons for taking his classes (research!) and he in turn decided to read my book. The lesson after he read it we naturally discussed it. There were a few amusing points he'd had opinions on and then one which surprised me.Colin: 'I thought women didn't like 'big' guys?'Me: 'Eh?'Colin: 'Well the guys in your book, they're all big with muscles.'  Me: '…come again??'Colin: 'Well, I got told that women didn't like that.'Yeah, as you can well tell—not in my world! But it occurred to me last night, while watching Pocahontas, that I really have to blame Disney for my preference of muscular guys with strong jaws and nice big biceps…. And yes I'm drooling ;pCan you think of any scrawny Disney guy leads? I can't. And a life time of loving Disney movies has now left me with this very obvious preference. Perhaps I have to blame it too, for preferring black hair to blonde (which amuses my blonde haired, glacial eyed partner to no end ;p). Wow, the more I think about it the more conclusions I can draw *grin* but enough of that boring stuff - here's some eye candy, Disney style! ..Okay, I'm totally ROTFLMAO! But how awesome are these *chortle*Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Explaining - why I blame Disney

As some of you will know I practice German long sword fighting, originally so to understand it better and now just cause it's damn good fun! After my first few lessons I confessed to the instructor my actual reasons for taking his classes (research!) and he in turn decided to read my book. The lesson after he read it we naturally discussed it. There were a few amusing points he'd had opinions on and then one which surprised me.Colin: 'I thought women didn't like 'big' guys?'Me: 'Eh?'Colin: 'Well the guys in your book, they're all big with muscles.'  Me: '…come again??'Colin: 'Well, I got told that women didn't like that.'Yeah, as you can well tell—not in my world! But it occurred to me last night, while watching Pocahontas, that I really have to blame Disney for my preference of muscular guys with strong jaws and nice big biceps…. And yes I'm drooling ;pCan you think of any scrawny Disney guy leads? I can't. And a life time of loving Disney movies has now left me with this very obvious preference. Perhaps I have to blame it too, for preferring black hair to blonde (which amuses my blonde haired, glacial eyed partner to no end ;p). Wow, the more I think about it the more conclusions I can draw *grin* but enough of that boring stuff - here's some eye candy, Disney style! ..Okay, I'm totally ROTFLMAO! But how awesome are these *chortle*Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

I blame disney

But I'm too tired at the moment to explain ;p I'll go into my thoughts tomorrow. For now, the wonderful world of LOL cats in Disney theme! Happy Friday :)
[image error] Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Piracy

It's apparently a common issue for many Indie authors or ebook authors in general now. And I've just discovered both my books on a couple of torrent sites. Part of me is flattered that people think my books are good enough to go to this trouble for and the other part of me is just pissed off. My first book is already free pretty much everywhere on the internet. My second is all of $3.00 US which for a full length novel is damn cheap. I've reported the links to the site owners and whether or not they do anything remains to be seen but I am going to say this.The Arrival took 18 months of my life to write. Most of the characters are based on people I genuinely know and adore in real life. It took an IMMENSE amount of work to create the world, Gar'nyse, and an immense amount of work to get the story to where I wanted it.Awakening was 12 intense months of work. Again an enormous amount of my free time because being an ebook author doesn't pay well, not in the beginning that's for sure! Hell, if I get on the top 100 on Amazon and stay there for a year or so, maybe then I'll be able to quit my 9-5 job and take up writing full time. But until then, I'm a full time receptionist who's working her arse off in her free time, moonlighting as a novelist.I began writing The Arrival because I LOVE the story, not because I expect to be a millionaire (hence buying lotto this week ;p), but at the same time I don't open myself up to ridicule from readers/reviewers just for the hell of it. I published The Arrival because I thought others might enjoy it, and then I made it free because I wanted people to have an obligation free way of seeing whether or not they enjoy it. Charging for Awakening is a way for readers to essentially say they enjoy my story that much that they're willing to pay a fee (however small) for my hard work. And I am grateful for every single purchase. Because it means that person is a fan of the story and essentially me and mine. Unless you know me, or meet me, most of you won't realize how very personal this story is to me. Yes the setting is fantastical but the ideas and characters behind it are based on reality a fair whack of the time.Please do the right thing by hard working indie authors such as myself, and take the time to purchase our works. You wouldn't steal from me in the street, why do it online?
Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Characters from the Trilogy - introducing Laura

Laura
Laura, also known as Loi, is the youngest of the four friends at just 21, (Sian is 24, Cat, 25 and Kass, 27) but with being the tallest of the bunch at 5'8 she doesn't appear it. Loi has beautiful thick glossy black hair that reaches her waist. It's the first thing people notice before being caught by her large brown doe-like eyes. As the youngest in a family with three older brothers, Loi has always been a bit of a tomboy. For years she was the gawky girl in her class, over tall and all eyes, so she often forgets how she looks. Loi is a very confident equestrian, thanks to her parents owning a ranch when she lived in Scotland, and having only lived in New Zealand for four years, she misses the ranch lifestyle. Occasionally quiet and moody, Loi has eclectic music and reading tastes and like the others, loves to be amongst a crowd but also needs her solitude time. A big lover of animals, Loi loves to cuddle and play with Lucky and Audi as the apartment building she lives in doesn't allow pets. Loi, like the others, is a black belt in jujitsu and also practices Kenjutsu. While the other girls don't ever make anything of her age, Loi is aware of being the youngest and often won't speak up until she's certain of her point of view. She is a quiet thinker and is good at wearing a 'mask' so others can't read her. She's absolutely loyal to her friends and will support them unhesitatingly.
Who could potentially play Loi in a film [image error]Analeigh Tipton would be perfect! If you haven't seen 'Crazy stupid love' yet, you should watch it, she is just how I imagined Loi (obviously with adjustments to her hair/eye colour ;p)

Take care all! Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

It's nearly the end of the month

And I thought it might be amusing to do a blog post on the most random searches people have made this month, to reach my blog. I've decided the basic rules for this is that they have to have spent some time looking at the blog once they've found it. So here are the top 20 random search requests that have led people to my blog. And the spelling/phrasing is exactly as searched.
I feel sick Archery pin up cartwheel Centaur fantasy Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries cute kitten paw prents templates dark and die dog puncture abscess drawings sailor moon step stepdyslexia damsel extremely risque dress photos funny birthday animal pictures (this person spent 29+ minutes on my blog!)funny fat redhead babies i love people but i hate humans (I wonder if this is the same person as the next…)get the fuck out of my gene pool (this person, apparently, is a little angry…)lyrics what's the 411 hun the jeans fit her like a glove (seriously - how on earth did this get them to my blog??!)naked masquerade (you would have thought they'd be rather disappointed, but they spent 5+ minutes pottering around the blog)nike goddess tripping you will poke me for the last time картинки глубокая вода (and yeah, I have no idea what that says either…)
I have to say, it's fascinating to see what leads people to you! Of course there were lots of obvious searches (for the books etc) but these where the most random of the bunch ;p If you don't have google analytics set up to track your blog, you might want to consider it. It gives you a good idea of whether or not people are finding the stuff you want them to find. For example, I'm thinking I may need to set up a page explaining about downloading Awakening from this blog for those that have epub ereaders (Nook, Ipad, Sony ereaders) as it appears to be a very common request. I also can see what percentage of newbies are hopping on my blog and how long they're spending on it (even what pages they're looking at). It's a very useful tool. So that's my blogging tip for the week *grin* Do you have a blogging tip to share? Let me know in the comments!Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or download the Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Characters from the Trilogy - introducing Kassandra

Kassandra
Known as Kassie or Kass to her friends, Kassie is the absolute sweetheart of the group. Always ready to hug and comfort a friend and always ready to deal to any evil males who may have broken their hearts! Her favorite prescription is chocolate—and in her humble opinion, it cures everything. Kassie has an unusual accent thanks to her Malay mother and American father and living in New Zealand for five years. She also tends to speak rather fast—her friends don't even notice now but people new to meeting Kassie often end up nodding along with her smiles and obvious enthusiasm but understand nothing of what she said. It amuses her friends to no end. Kassie is a real tough nut. She often doesn't appear it, but when push comes to shove—don't get in her way! Just five foot like Sian, Kassie has a rather generous bust and it can make her appear a little top heavy. She tends to play down her bust for convenience sake most the time. She has pretty hazel eyes and crazy curly bronze hair that goes frizzy in the wrong weather and it never does as she wants it to, so most the time she just leaves it as is. Kassie loves to read and buying books means she has little left from her pay (but in her mind, she doesn't need to eat that much ;p). She also loves getting outdoors and often joins Cat on the excursions to the cabin. Kassie has a beautiful tortoiseshell cat called Lucky. Lucky has a sprightly/naughty personality and seems to delight in perplexing her mistress. From stealing random objects; to dashing out the back door and demanding to be let in at the front door moments later; to pushing things off shelves/tables for fun, Lucky keeps Kassie busy!
Who could potentially play Kass in a film Mila Kunis Natalie Portman (at my friend Sandra's—who inspired Kassie—personal request)Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Super cute review on a super cute blog!

I just got a gorgeous wee review from Di on the Sweet Tea & Book Reviews blog. Pop over and have a look if you like! I'm also combining this with my Friday Funnies (even though it's Sat now in NZ ;p) so have a read and a giggle if you like. This weeks theme is trolls!
[image error] [image error] Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Characters from the Trilogy - introducing Sian

Meet Sian
Sian is tiny and utterly adorable, but don't let that fool you! Butter wouldn't melt in this one's mouth. Sian is a Cancer and can be quite the ice queen when she wants to be. Her close friends, however, can see straight through the act but Sian absolutely believes she is ruthless. A scant five feet and a tiny size 2, she's very proud of having some 'junk in the trunk' and nice hips as unfortunately (in her mind—everyone else thinks she looks perfect the way she is) Mother Nature missed her bust. With blond hair and big blue eyes to boot, Sian has been rebelling against the 'doll/fairy' label from a young age and refuses to wear pink because of it (Ada's dress is her ONLY exception ;p). Not surprisingly she went through a Goth stage as a teen and delighted in black lipstick/nail polish and a semi permanent scowl. Now, however, as an adult she can see all the advantages her tinsy stature offers and delights in playing them up. Like the other girls, Sian is a black belt in ju-jitsu and never shy's away from an opportunity to best someone in training or real life. She also does archery and is an excellent marksman. Sian loves to sew and cook and absorbs information like a sponge. Her friends often use her as their walking reference manual. She is very organized and never one to panic under pressure.
Who could potentially play Sian in a film Ideally - Sarah Michelle Gellar would be perfect!
Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)

Watching Julie & Julia

I meant to put something vaguely entertaining on the computer while I worked on the draft for book three. But then I put Julie & Julia on. It's a film I adore—I love any films about beautiful food/houses/gardens/clothes but it's really not a background film. I should have put Marie Antoinette on... Anyway the film has me laughing with how both Julie and Julia are absolutely clueless in regards to how book publishing works. Listening as Julie moans how she has a novel hidden away because no one wants to publish it. But now of course you can. Just stick it into the appropriate web site and voila! Published.As strange as it may sound (to some of you) having two novels out in the big wide world doesn't seem as exciting as it should at times. Technically speaking, both novels are doing as well as many other traditionally published novels do. Better in fact.In some part, I think it's due to most of the people I converse with on blogs/facebook and even my friends, are writers—of one sort or another. It kind of feels like everyone's doing this from my POV. It surprises me when people are so surprised at what I'm doing.I didn't really think about it until my friend Chelsea—who inspired the character Leseach—in the midst of putting dates in her new calendar for the year made me realise I'm 30 this year (July 30 to be exact ;p) and she commented,'It's really awesome that you're turning thirty and already have two novels to your name.'It kind of stunned me. Yes, partly because I'm still pretty convinced I'm just twenty five but mainly because of the way she said 'novel'.It brought me straight back to being a thirteen year old, with just enough pocket money to buy one new book. At that stage, I loved The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High. My mum wasn't so thrilled with me reading Sweet Valley High (she didn't think it was age appropriate ;p) but as I'd been reading above my age since I was eight she couldn't complain too much.I remember the absolute joy I felt at walking into the bookstore. The gorgeous smell of new books wafting around me and all those glorious, glossy, beautiful new covers. Touching those crisp, stiff pages and being SO careful not to bend the spines. Even now, even my very favourite books that have been read hundreds of times (yes really! I'm a speed reader) look almost new.Then after hours of consideration (if I was lucky—it pays to have a mum who loves to read too) I would choose the book, pay for it and take it home. Then I'd promptly resent my parents (yeah, after spending the pocket money they gave me.. teenager ;p) as they asked me to do some task that prevented me from curling up with my new, precious, purchase.And when I finally got to reading it! Oh, the pages would just fly and before I knew it, the last page and final words would be done. I'd sit there, with a sense of absolute satisfaction at the read and then intense gratitude to the author who'd just provided me with the couple of hours entertainment. I would marvel at how a person could put together strings of words into another world and allow me, the reader, to experience it all. The mere concept of attempting such a task was beyond daunting to me.So now, to have a friend, a very honest friend mind you—one who warned me that if she didn't like my first book she'd tell me rather bluntly—point out to me that I'd done the same to her with my two books (and this from a girl who HATES fantasy novels *lol*), just stunned me actually.Sometimes I really need to take my own advice and be excited about what I've done and am doing. I keep setting the bar higher and higher and forgetting the original goals. The first goal was simple, to write a novel. The next was to self-publish it and then the next goal was to have at least one reader who genuinely loved it. I've reached all those goals and while I don't want to 'distract' myself with ego, I should, at some point, feel genuinely excited about my writing.It's weird, as I type this I get the flutter of tiny, excited butterflies and yet at the same time the rational voice in my mind is firmly stomping them back into place.Not yet, it says. Not until you've reached the next goal.*Sigh*One day I'll be excited...Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)