Nicole MacDonald's Blog, page 9

I've been bitten…

 By that damn procrastination bug! I've been infected with a current inability to spend much more than twenty minutes of intense focus on Feel the Burn before I get the inexplicable urge to flee… or rather surf *hee* or read, or cuddle furry critters, bother my male creature, play with my jewelry box (yup - still love to play 'what's in my treasure chest' as well as dress-ups *lol*). Pretty much anything other than write. Which rather equals major fail *sigh* But, as long as I can get a couple of those intense twenty minute periods in a day (I work full time remember, no luxury of all day writing here!) then I'm doing well. I've been getting the odd email from readers who've enjoyed The Arrival and Awakening and some amusing/curious questions with those emails so I thought I'd openly respond to some of the common questions I get.
When is Feel the Burn available? - This always makes me chuckle, cause if a reader has read Awakening then I know they've seen the page that clearly states - Feel the Burn, available Dec 2012. I suspect however they hope to hurry me along with the process. Sorry to disappoint, but when combined with a normal full time job (a girl's gotta eat! And feed those afore mentioned critters/male creature *grin*) writing a full length novel is a full-on task. Especially this particular one because it's the accumulation of the first two books and has A LOT to live up to. And I intend to make damn sure it does!
Where do you get your ideas? - From everywhere. Old stories I remember reading as a kid, TV shows, nature, documentaries, real life adventures. I'm a habitual daydreamer and writing is now my outlet for all those out-there ideas.
Are all of your characters based on people you know? - Pretty much. Even if they aren't originally based on anyone, as they develop in my mind I associate certain traits from different people with them. It helps me to figure out what the characters would do when confronted with different situations. It also makes the daydream process more 'real' in my head and thus easier to write. I'm a big people watcher.
Where do you write/where's your favorite place to write? - I have a few favorite spots. I love writing in a café at lunchtimes that's at the bottom of the building I work in. The people who work there are fabulous and know me far too well now *lol* And I love the manager's gorgeous French accent *swoon* The café is great for people watching and for the 'busy' scenes. I also love writing at my hut in the bush. It's great for when I need to write the really, awful sad scenes and don't want to be caught out when bawling my eyes out ;p And when I write the… intimate scenes… I like to be at home knowing Glenn is focused on something so he doesn't read over my shoulder cause that always equals major red face for both of us *lol*
Are you bringing the books out in paperback? - Yes. As soon as my paypal account reaches enough for me to pay someone to format them, because I don't have the time this year to stress over that! I'm hoping to use the person who formats J.A. Konrath's books.
OMG - your book is doing SO well, are you rich yet? - *Cackle* No, sadly not. While Awakening is doing well in the rankings, to be making squillions you ideally want to be in the top 100 overall, and I'm a little way from that (yet - but I'll get there!). Also, with the way you get paid from Amazon and due to being paid by international cheque, it means that, for example my December sales, won't reach my bank account until next month. There is nothing quick about the whole writing business *grin*. I live by the mantra 'write because you love the story, not the money'.
The above question is often followed by, 'When will you become a fulltime writer?' - I'm a cautious person when it comes to playing with money when it could affect my life in a serious way. So even if I was earning a monthly wage from my books, I wouldn't consider quitting my job and becoming a full time writer until all our bills were paid and there was a substantial nest egg built up. As well as an amount to cover my wages for the next couple of years. I know there are plenty of people who'll say, 'Oh don't worry, just go for it!' But for me I couldn't handle knowing that I HAD to make X amount a month. I'm pretty sure it would zap all my creative juices dry - and desperation is never nice *shudder*
Okay, there's a bit of insight into me. If you've been curious too feel free to pop any questions in the comments below. I still have probably another couple of posts to do with other Q's & A's if you found this interesting : )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!)

Extremes - they make you think

 As mentioned in my last post I was in Australia for a glorious and hot ten nights, eleven days. It was fabulous and the utter opposite of New Zealand. Right now I look out from my desk over the slate blue harbor and murky grey sky as the building sways gently in the 120km speed winds (temp, 12ºc). Oh yes, it's great to be home.Arriving in Australia and stepping out the terminals doors to a hot breeze was an absolute first for us. The breeze in Wellington is always cooling. We stood there, Glenn and I, with our mass loads of luggage just gaping at the difference. Now I'm wishing I could have bottled it *grin* I'm back to wearing my thin red leather gloves to keep my icy fingers warm and pondering which of the girls I'll write sticking her frozen fingers up the back of her nice warm guy's shirt *hee* An absolute favorite trick of mine on my own long-suffering male *grin*. He refers to me as a succubus in winter cause he can't get warm once I've had my icy mitts up his shirt *mwahahaha*. The extreme opposites in both weather and land though, make for some fantastic ideas with my writing. Going for a walk in the Lamington national park (mmmm, lamingtons *drool*) was fascinating as for the first time ever in both our lives, we were aware of a real sense of apprehension due to the fact that there are creatures in the Aussie bush that can do you some serious damage.
  It's such a foreign concept to us! New Zealand has no natural or introduced predators that are of any danger to a human. Sure, there's always the chance of getting gored by a pig - but really the chances of that are very slim. It possibly explains to some of the readers out there as to why the girls in the BirthRight trilogy can seem a little casual about going for a stroll in the woods. Here in NZ it's perfectly safe. The most dangerous thing in NZ is other humans and our sudden weather changes. I think I'm going to have to watch a stack load of documentaries as I work on book three, to keep all these extremes of nature in my mind. Writing - it really does make you think!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'm back!

We arrived back in New Zealand in the early hours of Monday morning after a fabulous ten nights in Brisbane. And now I'm freezing ;p After been a bit worried as to whether or not we would handle the heat (yeah, laugh it up all those natives in Aussie, I know it's Autumn by your standards) we were pleasantly surprised. So after our first 3hr flight with minimal turbulence (to Glenn's disappointment) we dragged our heavy ass bags to the outer door. Stepping out into a hot breeze was an absolute first for us! I know people have described it to me as 'like having a hair dryer in the face' but coming from NZ Wellington and our forever cool breeze, it was a shock. We stood there for five minutes, marveling at it. Then promptly returned to the air-conditioned airport to a toilet and changed into something lighter *lol*Driving in Australia had been a concern. As is driving anywhere that you don't know, but oh wow, were the roads awesome! We had to get to Ipswich to Pixie's for the first night and that was a bit of an adventure. The motorway's were super easy - until all the lights went out that is… The new section of motorway that we did actually need to take was fully out of lights and that makes it damn hard to check the map. It also makes you feel like you're driving out into the middle of absolutely no where… So Glenn bailed on my directions and took the next exit before we ended up in the middle of Aussie making a call to Pixie along the lines of 'Help!' Thankfully that small dip in the drive only took a brief stop at a petrol station to fix it (yes, when the male takes the early turn off then he gets to ask for directions ;p). Five minutes later and we were off toward Pixie's, waving at a family who appeared to have gathered for the momentous event (until they realized that we weren't who they meant to wave at *lol*) and there was Pixie, bemused expression and all as we parked our sick little rental car on her almost vertical drive.Ahh the rental car. One of those eency weency 3 door things that coughed and wheezed its way into third and then tentatively fourth gear on the motorway with both of us leaning forward chanting 'go little car, go!'Catching up with Pixie and Chris, in the flesh instead of via Skype was great fun. We stayed up way late considering our already big adventure, laughing, drinking and eating a delicious roast dinner courtesy of Pixie and a yummy cake baked by Chris. The next morning we were up early and given the grand tour of Ipswich with Pixie - including checking out the Uni library complete with a creek running through it *grin* Very cool idea! Then I got to drive us to Broadbeach, where we'd booked the apartment for a week.This long week in Aussie has taught us one valuable lesson. I suck as the navigator but ace as the driver and Glenn, vice versa.We arrived at Broadbeach by lunchtime, hot, hungry and grouchy. It didn't improve when we dragged those massive bags to the tiny 1 bedroom apartment and discovered no air-con…Yeah, that wasn't going to work!After a low-blood sugar spat (you know, when you growl and snap at each other with excessive gesturing then one of you storms off while the other spends the next hour feeling guilty for being a brat ;p) Glenn returned super excited and dragged me and our copious amounts of luggage to a new apartment. And with fumbling hands (hunger & excitement) he flung open the door to heaven.Or rather a two bedroom, totally done up with gorgeous leather couches, huge flat screen TV's, BIG kitchen and two bathrooms and of course AIR-CON, super apartment. *swoon*Suddenly we were loving the resort *grin* and after a quick unpack and scramble for swimwear, we were neck deep in the enormous pool, complete with two spas. Yup, we'd died and gone to heaven (and back at home, there had been a massive storm with trees down and horrible under 10°c temps). The next ten days were a full on tourist bash of the Gold Coast. Dream World, Movie World, the Zoo, the National Park, Surfers Paradise and of course shopping! Swimming at least twice a day - it was more swimming in those ten days than I've done all of the summer here in NZ. We ate far too much rich food (I put on nearly 2kgs, Glenn nearly 1… I hate how that works!) We also had to return our sad little car and get another after a major hiccup with it. As we were driving to Dracula's (best night out ever!), I commented on how economical the car was with petrol. Then all of two seconds later I glance down and notice the petrol light blinking! When just the moment before it was on three quarters full. It was a tense drive to Coolangata to switch the car over the next day. The next little car we had was fantastic and made up for it fully as we tackled three theme parks, the national park and Surfers in the next 9 days. *whew* Okay, I'm falling asleep as I type this (still recovering ;p) and I'm going bush with Dad tomorrow so I better wrap it up. In short, great to be back, had some awesome planning sessions of creatures with Glenn (he's fantastic for brain storming with, even though he hasn't read either book and constantly declares I should kill everyone off ;p) so back in to writing! Also, I'm rather chuffed to report that the sales of Awakening in Feb were just shy of 1000 as opposed to 550 in Jan and they look to be in track to beating those sales this month (and this is just for US Amazon) so it's awesome to know there are lots of happy (and now impatient ;p) readers out there.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 of the BirthRight Trilogy - Introducing Gredel & Citaan

I decided to do this as a joint one seeing that Gredel and Citaan are married. It also has just occurred to me that I probably should do the phonetic spelling for the names too, in-case anyone is unsure.Gredel—like Hansel & Gretel, just Gredel instead (no, that's not where I devised the name from ;p)Citaan—Kih - thhan —Most of the names I create tend to have soft 'h' sounds to them and rolled r's too. I don't know why, it's just always sounded instinctively right to me *grin* And while we're doing pronunciation, here's how to say Gar'nyse, the name of the world the BirthRight Trilogy is set on.Gar'nyse—Gahr (that's meant to be a soft h and rolled r sound)- nice (like the city in France—niece—not the word nice)Gredel is the second in command in the Griffon Guard and rides a stunning griffon named Phroma. Phroma is a female griffon and has beautiful violet undertones to her fur and feathers. She is also the mother to a young male griffon pup named Ageip (or, re-arrange the letters and you get Paige, the name of my niece in real life *grin* and no, she doesn't mind being a boy in the story ;p). Gredel is the oldest of the Griffon Guard at thirty five and was originally the leader. It wasn't until a couple of years ago, when Alek saved him and Phroma from a very unfortunate end, that he passed the title to Alek. Gredel is of a solid build and solid in personality, in fact the only thing that ever really made him flustered was when he first met Citaan. He met the beautiful water sprite/human woman when she was summoned by Elena, the sorceress of Elion, to do some research in the Scrodian Mountains. Gredel was the one to fly her deep into the mountain range and the trip that was meant to take only a couple of days, somehow, stretched to a week! They were married a mere five months later and after some stern recommendations (more like the old 'I've got a shotgun and a shovel' line) from Citaan's father, Gredel is a little wary of flirtations of other women. Citaan's father is one of the few men who would genuinely be able to take Gredel on and quite possibly win (and of course dealing to your wife's father is never going to get you in the good books). Gredel is tall and muscular with strawberry blond hair and a ruddy complexion.I'm not sure how much more to say as I know there are many readers out there who have yet to read book two, so I'll stick to the first book stuff!Citaan, as mentioned has water sprite heritage and consequently has beautiful light gold eyes and gorgeous turquoise hair. Rather like Katy Perry, but natural and with a much nicer 'depth' of colour. Citaan has studied flora and fauna in Elion for years and helps Elena with her more unusual requests, such as her current task of finding and tracking the arachnid fae who spin beautiful silk which is highly favored by the nobles of Gar'nyse.
Ideas for playing Gredel and Citaan  Dash Mihok and Zooey DeschanelAnd just a wee note for those of you that like to chat with me on Facebook/this blog/Amazon forums/email. I am going on holiday to the Gold coast for 10 nights so I probably won't be in touch as quickly, but I promise that I will be in touch when I can.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!)

Character of the BirthRight Trilogy - Introducing Daron

Daron is thirty two and a member of the Griffon Guard. He rides Nesha, a male griffon with blue undertones. Daron is a little quieter than some of the other guys and can appear a bit standoffish because of it. He has a rather imposing figure and look, being 6'5 and built like a line backer, with a thoughtful frown that tends to look like a scowl. Daron has brown eyes and short brown hair and tends to wear nondescript colors so he 'blends' with the background. This is possibly due to being the middle child and often getting blamed for things as a kid. He's very good at seeing straight to the centre of an issue and has excellent judgment. Daron isn't afraid of speaking up, when he deems it necessary, but has no desire to leap into things so will let the others make the first move. A thinker, he often withdraws when concerned, or worried, which can be hard on those close to him. Daron loves the ocean as his family home was close to it, and he and Nesha have several favorite spots on the coasts where they go to fish and camp.Daron is very easy to talk to and has quite an enamoring smile that draws people to him (when he's not doing his thoughtful, scary frown ;p). This has always made him popular with girls, young or old, and while he's had a few infatuations over the years, no one's really grabbed his heart.
My suggestion for who could play Daron has always been, Dwayne Johnson! The scary scowl but charismatic smile is Daron to a T.
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!)

Be grateful of those low reviews and I'm looking for something different…

That's right, be grateful! Why? Because those low reviews act as gatekeepers, keeping those readers that really wouldn't enjoy your book from reading it. With The Arrival on the free list again I'm now privy to understanding just how valuable those negative reviews are. When you look at The Arrival's page on Amazon, the most popular reviews are three low ranked ones, all complaining about the style. Which is GREAT! Because it stops the click happy greedy people from downloading it willy nilly. Instead, readers are having a read of the sample and then downloading the book. This in turn means more readers who will genuinely enjoy your book. So don't take those bad reviews to heart, because in the long run they're often more valuable than the good reviews—not that you, as the author will feel that way (I don't know an author who doesn't like to hear that a reader loved their book *grin*). Now, I'm looking for something different. Writers of unusual styles and topics. Having written a book that can often receive polar opposite reviews, due to the different style it was written in (to all those scratching your head over this, apparently writing in 1st & 3rd person in the way I do isn't done ;p) I know how frustrating it can be to have to explain your writing again and again. I think the short and skinny of it really is, if you enjoy it—great! If you don't, then don't worry and read something else.So all you writers out there with unusual and not-popular topics seeking a spot to tell everyone about your work get in touch! I should specify, this is for indie, fictional works only. Use my contact form and let me know you're interested in having a guest spot on this blog. Basically I'll require a blog post from you explaining a bit about yourself, your style and your current available works. I would also love your favorite good AND bad review and why (and you're welcome to be as honest as you like here *grin*).  I'll put up whatever links you provide and I'm even considering creating a page on the blog where I can store these interviews so others will have an easy spot to find them later on.So get in touch! And spread the word if you know of a writer like this trying to get their works noticed.
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!)

Something really different!

Spreading the Steampunk Love The Lost Treasures of Steampunk program gives back to artists of the Steampunk community


With the Steampunk genres infiltration of mainstream media, many artists of the movement are seeing their work lost in the explosion of new Steampunk art. The Lost Treasures of Steampunk, the newest program initiated by the Steampunk World's Fair, is designed to prevent these works from being overlooked by sharing them with the greater Steampunk community. Steampunk creators are seeking to gain legitimacy as artists and the Lost Treasures will work to prove that legitimacy. Selected applicants will have their work featured at the Steampunk World's Fair this coming May, and more will be awarded scholarships to further their artistic endeavors.
Event organizers are devoted to bringing this program to life by utilizing fundraising and a portion of the fairs budget for its success. Event creator Jeff Mach explains, "We'd like to prove that Steampunk is not only a legitimate artistic genre, but an intensely creative one, as well." As head of an event that attracts the attention of Steampunks nationwide, he has witnessed innumerable creative endeavors that don't get the attention they deserve. This inspired Mach to put together the Lost Treasures of Steampunk, for which creators of all steampunk art, from fashion to literature, are urged to apply.
Besides the Lost Treasures of Steampunk to look forward to, this year's Steampunk World's Fair will be packed with pleasures. Steampunk is a genre best described by author K.W. Jeter as "mad Victorian fantasy". Over 3,000 Steampunk enthusiasts are brought together at the World's Fair each year along with hundreds of performers, artisans, writers, and creators from across the country. But the fair is not solely reserved for the loudest fans; anyone with the least bit of interest in Steampunk is invited to pop on a top hat and join the masses in celebration of steampunk and its artistic culture.


A intern for this fair got in touch and asked if I'd like to do a blog post on it—and who could resist! I'm just bummed that there's no way I'll be going *grin*. Steampunk along with Dystopian novels are the new up & coming styles in writing, so have a peek at their site (click on the picture, it links right through) and if anyone gets to go I'd love to hear about it!

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!)

How could I not be a writer?

As I sit here, in my family's cabin in the Orongorongo Valley; listening to the rain and the only AM radio channel I can stand; I realise that in many ways, I was fated to write. Pictures on the walls of the cabin show flooded rivers and a white Land Rover driving off a section of riverbed, nose disappearing under the white capped, brown torrent of water. I remember that time and feel an instant thrill of adrenaline and pride. That's our white Land Rover, and my dad driving. It was a bank to banker that weekend; which means the Valley flooded to the point that the water ran from one side to the other. We couldn't reach our cabin that weekend and had to stay at our friends' cabin. It felt like such an adventure.There have been so many adventures up here. Some little, some huge, but all exciting and all inspiring as I watched my parents leap into action. Calm, controlled and ready to act. So many times that I felt a fierce pride in them both. They acted when others stood by, gaping, unsure of what to do. They seemed like the ultimate action heroes to me, as a child with an enormous imagination.Even now, the sound of the rain on the tin roof of the cabin, gives me a thrill. Because at certain times of the year, rain on the roof on the day you intend to go out can spell a longer stay at the cabin, due to flooding. There is no electricity here, no way of telling anyone you're stuck. You just warn them before you leave that if you don't come out it's probably due to flooding.But in reality it could be any number of reasons. It's a two hour trek to any form of civilisation here and even then, no guarantee that you'll find someone. I know, right now as I type this at the old battered farm-style table, that if it's raining at home Glenn will be anxiously watching the skies.Hoping I can get out, debating what to do if I can't.It's silly really. There's nothing you can do if someone is stuck, but you still want to try. I remember, vividly, one of the first times I bought Glenn up here. It hosed down and we quickly realised we were going to be stuck for a few extra days. On the second extra night of our stay, we were playing cards when heavy footsteps sounded on the veranda. Glenn and I exchanged a confused look, especially as a glance at the clock revealed it was after 10pm.'Nicky,' Glenn said with a bemused frown. 'It's either an axe-murderer or your father.'It was Dad (well either that or I've killed and buried an axe-murdered up there... I'll leave you to decide *mwahahaha*).'Your mum was really worried!' Was Dad's explanation when we both shook our heads at him. When I questioned Mum, when we eventually got out the next day (exciting river crossings – deep and swift! Made me very glad to have Dad on one side and Glenn on the other), she smirked at me.'I was not! I knew you would be fine and get out eventually. Your dad, however, couldn't sit still once the rain started. Had to go check on his baby girl.'It made Glenn laugh when I told him once we got to home. Truth be told, as cynical as my mother likes to pretend to be, it was just as likely her idea as his...Parents–doesn't matter how old your kids get, you'll always worry!With so many rich, exciting times to reflect on, as well as a place like this cabin; which I just wish I could really show you; it's all a recipe for writing. And I love it. If you're reading this on Sunday night (or Saturday eve for those in the Northern Hemisphere) then I got out fine *grin* And I promise I got actual writing, for Feel the Burn, done too! Hope you all had/have a great weekend.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!)

A need for solitude - to embrace the darkness

An ominous title, no? *grin* Nobody panic! Nothing awful has happened in 'real' life but I've decided that to write the horrible dark scenes in Feel the Burn, I need absolute solitude. Solitude where things such as my lovely partner, the internet, TV etc etc aren't there to distract me.

So me and my furry critter Sable (known to readers of the BirthRight Trilogy as Audrey) are going bush for a couple of nights. To the cabin my family has in a forest park not too far from our home. And by that I mean a half hour drive and then a two hour tramp (hike, for those in the US ;p) to the cabin. But it will be worth it!
I have my laptop all charged so that should give me 5-6 hours of writing time. No, there is no electricity OR cell phone coverage at the cabin. And I'm not about to hike up the mountain our cabin is near just to do a bit of internet surfing *grin* I'm pretty sure a two hour hike straight up would put anyone off that!
Glenn will stay at home and be terrorized by our demanding cat, Griffin. And by that I mean she'll take absolute delight in insisting on being let in so she can eat two bites of food and then demand to be let out the back door. Then she'll wait on the picnic table so that when he goes toilet she can 'yowl' anxiously, right outside the bathroom window, until he scrambles off to let her in again. At which point she'll regard the now open sliding door suspiciously and saunter off to scratch one of the posts on the deck while Glenn splutters and curses her. Then, once he's done, she'll come cozying up, purring furiously around his legs and when he bends to pat her, dart off like he's the grim reaper.
*hee* Oh I love that cat!
And while Griffin is showcasing exactly how well trained she has her human, I'll be (hopefully) bawling my eyes out and typing. All the while hoping like hell that no intrepid trekker comes across the cabin. I really need to immerse myself in the characters as fully as possible for the current part of Feel the Burn and that means crying/yelling/fury/stomping and I'll probably scare any wanna-be axe murderers far, far away (oh yeah, and you think YOU'RE crazy - you ain't seen nuttin yet!).
*sigh* But it will all be worth it. I just need to get to certain plot points and then I'll be able to relax the awful tension a bit and I can't wait to get there! We have our Aussie trip on the 1st of March and I'd really like to be past these current plot points by then as they really don't equal the laid back holiday mood I intend on adopting once we're on the plane.
Work hard, play hard!


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 of the BirthRight Trilogy - Introducing Alek

Alek is the head of the Griffon Guard at just twenty five years old. It wasn't a role that was simply handed to him and he's proved his worth several times over, even as the youngest of the Guard. Life on Gar'nyse can be hard and Alek began training as part of the Griffon Guard when he was just ten years old, when he first linked with Loushka; a gorgeous tan griffon with red undertones in her mane and wings. Alek was made head of the Griffon Guard when he was twenty three, after he made a dramatic rescue of other members of the Guard from an exceptionally volatile situation. While neither a straight up good/bad boy, Alek does have a strong sense of honor and justice. But his training and personality makes him far from a pushover and he isn't afraid to offend people when necessary. While he can be quite diplomatic, as his role requires, he won't hesitate to act on instinct.At 6'3 tall with a broad, strong figure he stands out in a crowd and his handsome face with striking dark blue eyes and black hair, makes most women he meets go rather fluttery ;p He is aware of it and was a bit of a player for a few years there, happily catching up with 'friends' in different towns. Alek's heritage has always meant he's expected to make an arranged marriage—but as many of you know, a certain red-head throws a spanner into those plans.A bit of a loner in life, Alek's close friends are those of the Griffon Guard and Loushka. He is of course well known and liked through out Elion but enjoys his solitude and makes the most of escaping to a cabin in the mountains when he has time.
I haven't yet found one actor I want absolutely to play Alek and the best I can do is show a selection of those who have a similar look to him. Currently the selection is: Tom Welling Chris Hemsworth (I photo shopped the hair/eyes ;p) Chase Crawford (a bit too boyish for my liking, but hey! By the time this gets turned into a movie he may have improved ;p) Chris Pine (this guy got Glenn's approval cause he was Capt. Kirk—he's growling at all the other suggestions ;p)
Tell me your thoughts or suggestions *grin* I'd love to hear them!
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!)