N.R. Walker's Blog, page 11

Good Morning Monday ~ Merry Christmas, and an Excerpt from The Dichotomy of Angels

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Well, it’s almost Christmas, and that means it’s almost release day for The Dichotomy of Angels! So in the theme of giving, I thought I’d share an exclusive excerpt.

But first I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Holidays. I know this time of year can be hard for a lot of people, and I can honestly say it’s not my favourite so I do understand.  Let me say that I hope you have a great few days, filled with peace, some of your favourite food, and good books. Shut the world out if you need, and take care of yourself.

 

Secondly, Tallowwood comes out of KU today. It will begin appearing at the usual third party sites within the next few days – Smashwords, Apple, B&N, Kobo etc.

Okay, so now onto TDOA. I’m so excited for the world to meet these characters. I hope you love them as much as I do!

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EXCERPT

Please note it’s a little spoiler-ish (for the jobs Chasan and Nathaniel are given on their human assignment) so if you’d rather not know, please stop reading now.

 

Chapter One

The transfer to a human form was never easy. It felt confined and constricting, like an ill-fitting suit, and Nathaniel always hated the residual squeeze the morphing left in its wake. He shook himself out, rolling his shoulders and fisting his hands a few times until the discomforting buzz subsided.

The room Nathaniel found himself in was typical living quarters for twenty-first century humans. There was a sofa, a dining table, a kitchen, a fluffy white rug, all spacious and grand, and any human would have appreciated the apparent wealth and luxuriousness of it all. But not Nathaniel.

Human niceties weren’t something he much cared for.

He did, however, notice the skyline out the window. He’d seen it in reports and videos enough to recognize it, and it was apparent the apartment was high up and well-positioned because of the view.

“New York,” he grumbled.

Chasan walked to the window, inspecting the nearby buildings and the park across the road, then turned and smiled. “This city never gets old.”

Nathaniel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Chasan found beauty in everything. He had for thousands of years, and it had always been a burr in Nathaniel’s boot. Chasan would simply smile and nothing was ever an issue. He took everything in his stride, and everything was cheery and promising. His blessed cup forever runneth over.

Nathaniel was more of a chalice-half-empty kind of angel.

Chasan and he had worked together several times over the eons, not particularly well, Nathaniel could admit. They were too different. Like night and day: Chasan was sunshine and roses; Nathaniel was darkness and thorns. If you thought angels couldn’t have such vast and varied personalities, you’d be mistaken. They most certainly did. And with differing personalities came personality clashes.

And that’s what this was. Between Nathaniel and Chasan. Just a clash of personalities. The tension, the push and pull, that instant irritation Nathaniel felt from being anywhere remotely near Chasan could all be explained by a difference of personalities.

At least that’s what Nathaniel had convinced himself of since their last disastrous encounter. An encounter that might or might not have led Saint Peter to down most of the sacramental wine—actually, half of the heavens had taken a hit that day—so why Saint Peter had insisted they work together again now was as bold as it was stupid.

“Nathaniel?” Archangel Michael said, as though not for the first time.

Nathaniel blinked and focused. “Yes. Apologies.”

“How does the human modification feel?” Michael asked. “There can be a period of adjustment. It’s been a while for you, has it not? Since you’ve taken human form?”

Nathaniel rolled his shoulders again, noting the absence of his wings and the tightness of his skin, and shook off the unease. “It’ll pass, I’m sure.” Michael’s gaze darted to Chasan, then back to Nathaniel, and a smile played at the archangel’s lips. Nathaniel had always liked Michael—well, he hadn’t disliked him, so that was always a start—but Nathaniel knew this mission was going to be a rough one. Saint Peter had been behaving oddly and wouldn’t divulge any information, and that never boded well. And given he’d been partnered with Chasan . . .  “Michael, what is the emergency mission we have been sent here for?”

Michael smiled at them both, then gestured toward the sofa. “Please take a seat.”

Chasan sat, because of course Chasan sat. Chasan did everything he was told. Nathaniel did not. This mission wasn’t going to be good. Not good at all. “I’d rather stand.”

Michael gave Chasan a patient smile and ignored Nathaniel’s petulance. With a small flick of his wrist, in a flourish of sparkles, two files appeared in his hand. “Your missions,” he began, handing Chasan his file first. He held out Nathaniel’s file, but Nathaniel refused to take it. Michael pursed his lips and sighed, his annoyance clear. “This mission isn’t optional, Nathaniel. So quit the dramatics. We’re not here to pander to you.”

“Oh dear,” Chasan murmured, and when Nathaniel shot him a look, he saw that Chasan was reading his file.

“Oh dear, what?” Nathaniel demanded. He held his hand out to Michael for his file now, but this time it was Michael who ignored him. Instead, Michael opened the file and read out loud. Probably because if Nathaniel wanted to act like a child, Michael would treat him like one.

“Nathaniel Angelo.” Michael paused. “That’s your human name, by the way.”

“Angelo?” Nathaniel scoffed. “It means angel. Was the Creative Department off work that day?”

“Don’t complain,” Chasan said. “My surname’s Bellomo. That’s Italian for beautiful man.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes out loud that time. “Because of course it is.”

Michael ignored both of them. “Nathaniel, age thirty-one. Youngest of three children to Christian and Mary Angelo of Bethlehem, New York.”

Nathaniel blinked. “Christian and Mary of Bethlehem? Why did they stop short of calling my father Joseph? Is this someone’s idea of a joke?”

Michael just kept on reading. “The Angelos are a wealthy family, which explains this apartment.” He gestured to the room they were in. “So your parents weren’t overly impressed when you decided that being an early childhood development teacher was your true calling—”

“Wait, wait. What?” Nathaniel asked.

Michael looked up from the file, his expression serious. “A teacher. Preschool teacher to be more specific.”

~*~

The Dichotomy of Angels will be out December 27th. There are no pre-order links, and it will be exclusive to Amazon for the first 90 days.

 

I have a full house at the moment so my time for anything writing-related is almost nil. My current WIP is moving slowly (real-life interruptions – end of school, Christmas, visitors, etc) but it’s at 10K. I don’t have a title yet but it’s fun and cute, which I think is what the world can use right now.

That’s it for today. I’ll see everyone on release day with buy-links!! Until then…

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Good Morning Monday ~ Huge Christmas Giveaway!

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It’s been a crazy week in real life and not much in the way of writing. I have started my next book, though only barely. I can tell you it’s going to be fun, flirty, and maybe around 45K (though please note, I’ve never been able to gauge how long my books will be. What I *want* them to be and what they decide to turn into is anyone’s guess. LOL)

Still no update on when The Dichotomy of Angels will be out. I’m still aiming for Dec 27 but I’m thinking that might/will get pushed back a week or two. I will keep you all posted!

Now, about that giveaway….

Every Christmas I try and do a giveaway of some sort and this one is my biggest yet! There are 12 main prizes and the contest will run for one week when all winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter.

To be eligible to win, you MUST be a member of my Readers’ Group on Facebook (entry below). It’s that simple. 

 

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ENTER HERE

 

 

IMPORTANT: You MUST use the Rafflecopter link to access the Facebook Group for your entry to count.

That’s the only rule/hoop to jump through. I can’t stress this enough: If you do not use the Rafflecopter link, you have NO entry.  

 

That’s it for this week. I have MUCH to write because my kids will be off school for six weeks soon, and I need to be as productive as possible. Not easy when I’m planning/hosting Christmas this year. Pretty sure if I did a search on this blog for how many times I say the word BUSY it’d be a gazillion times. LOL

Until then…

 

Good Morning Monday!! Who’s up for a COVER REVEAL?

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I have finally wrangled the first draft into some kind of presentable shape, so I’d like to reward myself by showing off the amazing cover!!  Coming in at 82K words, The Dichotomy of Angels should be out at the end of December. I’m aiming for December 27th… BUT that is all things going well. Given the time of year, how busy it is, how real life gets in the way (not just mine, but that of my editor, proofreaders etc) if the release needs pushing back a week or two, I most certainly will.  I won’t jeopardise quality to make a self-imposed deadline.  I’m sure readers would prefer a polished product as well.

That being said…  the cover. OMG I love this cover so much!!

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Isn’t it just gorgeous??  Made by Creative Paramita, I just loved it as soon as I saw it!  It really captures Nathaniel and Chasan, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet them. I’ll post the blurb when I have it edited

Good Morning Monday ~ Upside Down Audio is OUT NOW!

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Another Monday already! Sorry for the lack of post last week – I didn’t have much to report and I was so busy with real life, so it got away from me. I do have some things to report this week though!

The first being…

Upside Down audio is FINALLY out now!!

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Buy Links:
Audible
Amazon

Aussie narrator Glen Lloyd has done a masterful job bringing Jordan and Hennessy to life. I can’t wait for you all to listen!

KINDLE  UNLIMITED TO  WIDE  DISTRIBUTION

Also for those of you who don’t have Kindle Unlimited, the entire Red Dirt Heart series will be going into wide distribution for a bit!  From Nov 12th, they’ll start appearing at all retailers, and will stay there for a month or two. I do like to switch my books in and out of KU cycles.

 

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The RDH Series KU link on Amazon is HERE

I’ll provide all the links to the other retailers when I have them.

WRITING UPDATE:

The WIP from hell is still plodding along. It’s slow going but at least it’s moving forward. Currently at 57,000 words but still a ways to go. I need to get the base of the first draft down this week. I have to. Or I’ll miss an editing deadline

Good Morning Monday ~ Reindeer Games Cover and Pre-Order, and SIR buy links for all retailers!

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A few things to talk about this week…

First, the pre-order link for Reindeer Games, plus the cover, plus the blurb!  Yay!! I’ve been sitting on this for months but I can finally share it with you all now!!

Check out this holy cover of gorgeousness!

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Like HOLY SHIZZBALLS is right! 

Sooo, what do you need to know?  Reindeer Games is Book 6 in the Ace’s Wild Series, but all books are stand-alone (more info at the end of the blurb, below.)

The pre-order is up now and the book goes live on the 29th October. It will be exclusive to KU/Amazon for that time. During the first 90 days, all profits go to my charity of choice, which is Twenty10, a centre in Sydney. Other authors involved in this amazing charity series so far are Christina Lee and Riley Hart, SE Jakes, Alice Winters, Devon McCormack, and Max Walker.

LINKS for REINDEER GAMES:

Universal Link: http://mybook.to/ReindeerGamesAcesWild

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZHYJ4JH

★★★

BLURB:

Reindeer Games Definition: activities to exclude outsiders

Industrial-art student Leif Caldwell and his best friend win tickets to the hottest party in town, the annual masquerade Christmas gala at the upmarket nightclub, Evoque. Not a gig they could ever afford to attend or buy costumes for, so Leif makes their masks. Given the holiday theme and the play on words, he makes a set of striking reindeer antlers and intends to have the night of his life.

Vintage Ridge’s resident millionaire and owner of Evoque, Russ Quarrington, hates the holiday season because it reminds him of everything he’s lost. All the money and success in the world can’t fill the void in his heart, and this year he’s particularly bereft. With the gala looming, his personal assistant insists Russ attends and that he wear a mask that offers anonymity, and hopefully find some festive cheer. Bored with the guys in town and tired of men only wanting him for his money, he reluctantly agrees.

But when Russ sees a mysterious man with a magnificent reindeer antlers and mask, he’s instantly intrigued. Even when their masks are removed, Leif has no idea who Russ really is, and what Russ discovers is a man who understands him. And for the first time ever, a man who doesn’t want what Russ has. This time, it’s Russ who wants what Leif has, what money can’t buy.

Russ and Leif are about to learn that sometimes Reindeer Games are the only games worth playing.

~~ Reindeer Games is a 42,000 word novella.

* * *

For the first 90 days of this title’s publication, all sales and page reads will be donated to Twenty10, Sydney.

REINDEER GAMES is part of a multi-author series of books that take place in the same fictional town. Each story can be read in any order. The connecting element in the Ace’s Wild series is an adult store owned by Ace and Wilder. The main characters from each book will make at least one visit to Ace’s Wild, where they’ll buy a toy to use in their story! The only characters who crossover to each book are Ace and Wilder. And with various heat levels, there’s sure to be something for everyone!

★★★

And this cover… OMG (by Sleepy Fox Studios)

Good Morning Monday!

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I missed last week’s blog post, sorry if anyone was expecting it. To be honest, I was completely out of headspace and just didn’t have it in me to try and be cheerful and excited. I also didn’t really much to talk about. I’ve been struggling to write (still) and that always puts me in a funk. The words still haven’t really been flowing this week either but I do feel better about it so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a more productive week. Even though this week is busy with other stuff…

On the 25th, Reindeer Games will have a cover reveal, and it will go up for pre-order!!

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Reindeer Games is part of the Ace’s Wild Series (each book is a stand-alone by a different author) and for the first 90 days of release, proceeds go to the author’s charity of choice.

I’ll have more details on my LGBTQIA+ charity of choice at that time, but I’m super excited for everyone to meet my two main characters, Leif and Russ 

Max Walker’s is the next story in the Ace’s Wild Series, and is up for pre-order now! You can find it at https://www.amazon.com/Loosen-Up-Aces-Wild-Book-ebook/dp/B07Z8LYSX1

Other amazing authors in this series so far is Riley Hart and Christina Lee, SE Jakes, Alice Winters, and Devon McCormack. You can find the series page at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YLZGFBT

I’m super excited to be a part of this, and will share all the details when the book goes up for pre-order on the 25th of October.

 

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If you have Kindle Unlimited and wanted to read SIR you need to grab it NOW! It’s going wide, to all retailers on the 21st, though it can take a few days to get to the likes of apple or b&n. I’ll post my author page links to those sites because I don’t have the buy-links yet (obviously lol).

If you follow me at the following retailers, you will/should be notified as soon as appears.

You can find me at the following profiles:

B&N

iBooks

Kobo

Smashwords

SIR will only be available at all retailers for a short time before it goes back into KU!

I’ll be back on Friday with the cover and pre-order link for Reindeer Games. Until then…

Good Morning Monday! News and Updates

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OMG this year is almost over. And can you believe it… this decade is almost over!  Craaaaazy, isn’t it? But with a new decade brings new things, new goals, new milestones. I’m excited but also a little scared, not gonna lie. The world’s political arena at the moment is a horrifying spectacle and I worry about what it means for my kids, and how the new normal is really rather depressing. BUT all doom and gloom aside, adversity brings about change and strength. 2020 will be a good year. I’m determined for it to be my best year yet!

Okay, so that was a deep and dark beginning LOL  On to brighter things…

So this week has been busy, but I say that a lot so it’s not anything new. I’ve been trying to get some writing done on my current WIP but man it’s slow-going. Currently at 10K words but I should have had it half done by now. I’m thinking it will be around 50-60K words long, so I have a LONG way to go. I’ll be mostly absent from social media this week as I try and crank out some words.

It was supposed to be a darker drama style story but one of the characters is kinda funny. Not intentionally funny like Jordan (Upside Down) or Henry (The Weight of It All) but more of a so-awkward-it-hurts kind of funny way. I don’t know… it’s still early days yet, so he might come into his own yet. I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll get to know him better as the book progresses

Good Morning Monday ~ FREE Deleted Scene from Tallowwood!

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What an amazing week it’s been! The release of Tallowwood has been FAB!  So many people have read and loved it. I’m so thrilled, and so proud of August and Jake!

With lots of #1 rankings all over the world, Tallowwood is still #1 in LGBT Mystery and #2 in Gay Romance in the US, and it’s still #1 in all LGBT categories in Germany and Australia. I’m so happy people are loving this book!

I’ve seen reviews like

“Best book of 2019!”

“N.R. Walker at her best”

With lots of words like powerful and lyrical and brilliant.

Guys, I can’t thank you enough for the response to this book!! It’s always a risk when an author tries something new, and I’m honoured that you guys took a chance on me!

The paperbacks are also available, and they are just gorgeous!!

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Now for that freebie… 

I’m part of an awesome group on Facebook with seven other authors, and together we are the M/M Daily Grind. We decided to give our readers a little something special for FREE!!  That’s right – there are EIGHT short scenes – completely FREE!  You can find them at this link…

BONUS CONTENT LINK

 

So what is my bonus freebie for you all??

A deleted scene from Tallowwood!! YES, that’s right!!!  But, please note, the deleted scene contains spoilers for the book, so if you haven’t read Tallowwood yet, by all means, grab the freebie while you can but maybe read the book first.

Tallowwood is OUT NOW!

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It’s release day for Tallowwood!

Universal Link: http://mybook.to/tallowwood

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YB6LCVK

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YB6LCVK

Amazon AUS:  https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YB6LCVK

Amazon DE:  https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07YB6LCVK

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YB6LCVK

 

Blurb:

Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.


Sydney Detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone—and that’s exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he’s convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia’s worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.

Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he’s the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer. 
When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake’s new case turns out to be linked to August’s cold cases, and Jake agrees they’re not suicides at all.

With Jacob now firmly in August’s corner, they face one hurdle after another. Even when more remains are found, they can’t seem to gain ground.
But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can’t be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.

 

Good Morning Monday ~ It’s Release Week for Tallowwood!

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Oh my GAWD it’s been a busy week, and this week will be even busier!  I’ve been travelling the last two weekends, trying to get things ready for Tallowwood release day, trying to start my next book, and working on some edits and proofing for a surprise for you guys later this week. It just neverrrrrr ends!!

But yay for release weeks!! It’s always an exciting, nerve-wracking process for me. I’m so excited for everyone to finally read the book and meet the characters, but OMG what if people don’t like it, or if it falls spectacularly short of expectations, or if Amazon decide not to upload it, or SOMETHING… The stress and anxiety over new releases will never get old, and I probably don’t want it to. Because maybe that wouldn’t mean I’d gotten used to the process but more that I didn’t care? I don’t know. I’m clearly overthinking things, because this is release week and that means stressing over every little thing haha

Anywhoooo, stay tuned for another blog update this week once Tallowwood goes live. I’ll be posting the links for you!

 

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What else is happening this week?

I have edits on next month’s new release (OMG don’t ever let me agree to moving releases a month forward ever again LOL) and edits on a surprise short story I’ll be doing as a freebie later this week. It’s part of a newsletter boost, and I’ll be posting more on that later as well.

I should just get my name changed to Busy… because seriously, I AM BUSY. haha

 

This gif is an accurate representation LOL.  See you all again on Thursday!