Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 29

Tickle my funny bone

While waiting at the doc's today, I sat opposite an elderly couple.

The guy would've been 80 at least.

He was wearing a T-shirt with this slogan on the front: HANDSOME IS A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT.



It made me smile.



Have you seen anything lately that made you smile?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The One That Got Away

For fans of the Harlequin Mills and Boon Modern Heat/Riva series (in the UK) and Presents Extra in the USA, you'll be aware that the fun, flirty books are now part of the newly launched Harlequin KISS series.



THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Kelly Hunter was part of the launch line up in Feb.



It's no secret I adore Kelly's books.



Here's the blurb for this one:



"The man who's always left her wanting more!"


Good job? "Tick." Newly purchased apartment? "Tick." Evie's life is on a pretty even keel at the moment. The only thing missing? A man with an edge to keep things interesting.

Enter Logan Black. Tortured, distant and sexy, Logan has edge written all over him. He's also the man who tipped Evie "over" the edge a few years back - she gave him everything, but he didn't know when to stop taking.

Leaving Logan was the hardest thing Evie's ever done. Until now. Because Logan's back, the chemistry is as blistering as ever and this time he's not going anywhere....

Here's my short and sweet review:

Like the finest chocolate, it's rich, intense and satisfying.

I love a bad boy tortured hero and Logan is one of the best.

Could barely put it down.

Is this book as light as the cover? No. There are some dark themes touched on and it makes the book all the more tempting.

I think readers know that authors don't have much say in covers and if you're anything like me, you buy by author not by cover. And this is one book definitely worth buying!

What are you reading this weekend?

'Net' V 'Cover': why royalty rates matter

If you're a writer, I highly recommend you read NYT bestselling author Laura Kaye's blog post on WHY ROYALTY RATES MATTER.



It's excellent!



And as an author with 10 years experience of varying contracts, I can tell you that 'net' versus 'cover' price makes a huge difference in your hip pocket!



Go read it now!

Scion of the Sun on Goodreads!

SCION OF THE SUN is now on Goodreads!



Please add it to your TBR pile.



And if inclined, vote for it in the 'Most Excited 2013 Releases.' It's currently #17 alongside amazing YA authors like Julie Kagawa, Richelle Mead, Lauren Oliver and Cassandra Clare.

(Yeah, I'm having serious fan girl moments!)



Check it out HERE to vote.

Her Deal with the Devil UK version

You've seen the new Kiss series cover for this book releasing May a few posts below.



Well, here's the UK version.



I like how it fits the jewellery theme of the book.

Would you do a deal with this guy?

Reckon I would!

Cover quote!

I received a great email this week from one of my publishers, MONTH9BOOKS, saying that USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout had read SCION OF THE SUN for a cover quote and this is what she had to say:



“Charmed and drawn in by Holly’s spunk and snark, Scion of the Sun will leave you spinning and falling for Joss right along with Holly. Marsh’s unique YA debut is packed with action, mystery, romance and suspense. This is not to be missed!”



I'm thrilled!



Here's a quick summary too:



A teenage supernatural misfit enters boarding school for the freakishly gifted, discovers she can teleport to a Druid parallel existence and battles coming of age issues while embarking on a quest to recover an icon that can change the world and her family as she knows it.



Releasing November this year, I can't wait!

New release: The War Bride Club

There are some stunning indie covers out there and this would have to be one of the best I've seen.



THE WAR BRIDE CLUB is a new release from Harlequin Romance author Soraya Lane and doesn't it look amazing?



Here's the blurb:



When Betty, Madeline, Alice and June depart London for New York at the end of 1945 they are complete strangers. But along with hundreds of other war brides, they are leaving home to be with their American husbands now the war is over. In the days they spend at sea, the four young women become firm friends, and vow to stay in touch no matter what their new lives bring. 

But life in a new country comes with many challenges…

Betty has no family, and she has no intention of being alone in her final stage of pregnancy. Her dashing pilot husband is the man of her dreams, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, but tragedy awaits her in America. 

Madeline never wanted to leave her family, but she was also in love. She is excited about the ranch her new husband has told her so much about, but the reality of life with his family is nothing like she could ever have imagined. 

Alice fell in love with her soldier husband while she was nursing him in London, but the strong, capable man who returned to sweep her off her feet seems to have disappeared. In his place is a man so haunted by what used to be before the war, that she has doubts their marriage will last. 

It seems that June is the only one of the four friends to find happiness in America. Her husband and his family welcome her with open arms, but her inability to get pregnant makes her feel like a failure. 

The only thing these four brave women can count on is their friendship, but Betty, Madeline, Alice and June didn’t move half way across the world to give up without a fight.





I'm really looking forward to reading this when I get on top of manic deadlines.



You can buy it here.

Cover reveal: HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

For readers who enjoyed MARRYING THE ENEMY, featuring Ruby and her sister Sapphire, the Melbourne sisters running an exclusive jewellery store in Armidale...here's Sapphie's story!



HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL is part of the new Harlequin KISS series and will release in May.



The story centres around Sapphire's deal with Patrick Fourde, CEO of a couture fashion house, and is set in Melbourne and Paris.



Patrick was inspired by Christian Bale and there are some suitably HOT scenes in the book! (available for pre-order now ...the book, not Patrick or Christian, sadly!)



So what do you think of my first KISS cover?

Guest author: SHANNON DUFFY

Today I'd like to welcome Middle Grade author Shannon Duffy to my blog.



Shannon is a fellow Month9Books author and her MG novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA released Feb 5th.






ABOUT GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA:


Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is a magical, fast-paced story that takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. It has enough mystery, intrigue and wonder to keep readers up, lamp lit, and reading into the night.




Month9Books, a new publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens, launches its inaugural list on January 1, 2013 with the release of GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA, a middle grade title from Canadian author, Shannon Duffy, whose first title, a young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL, was published in April 2012 from Tribute Books.




Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.




GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is perfect for the classroom. Reading and Teacher Guides are available. Contact Caroline Patty at:educationm9b@gmail.com to request guides. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA also makes a great gift for readers ages 9 and up who enjoy fantasy stories like THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE BRIDGE TO TARABITHIA.






ABOUT SHANNON DUFFY




Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. Shannon Duffy is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA. 




GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!


ABOUT MONTH9BOOKS:

Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is Month9Books’s first Middle Grade release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information.

LINKS:

Goodreads GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15841297-gabriel-stone-and-the-divinity-of-valta
Goodreads SHANNON DUFFY: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3873156.Shannon_Duffy
Shannon Duffy Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShannonDuffyLit
Shannon Duffy Website: http://www.shannonduffylit.com/
Goodreads Month9Books: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/67761-month9books
Month9Books Blogger Central: http://month9booksblog.com/?page_id=477 
Month9Books Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/month9books
Month9Books Twitter: http://twitter.com/Month9Books
Month9Books Publishing Website: http://www.Month9Books.com 

And now, over to Shannon:





















Top ten editing tricks every writer should know:




Okay, so I’m always hesitant to give
advice on these kinds of things cause it’s not like once you get a book
published you’re suddenly an expert. So, with that in mind, I’ll share what works
for me:




1. Read your writing aloud. I always
do this to see if I stumble or if something isn't quite clear enough. Or
sometimes a sentence is just way too long. If you can't finish it without
gasping for breath, try cutting it into two sentences. Sometimes I'll get my
husband to read my stuff aloud too, just to see if he stumbles or doesn't
understand something etc. This really helps with clarity.

2. Be consistent. Make sure your
characters are staying true to who they are. For example, if you say they hate
chocolate mint ice cream in chapter one, don't have them eating it in chapter
four--unless some evil wizard is bent on making them suffer and forcing them to
eat their hated treat. Same goes for anything like character description etc.

3. Check your tense. Make sure you
don't switch from past to present tense or vice versa. It happens, trust me.

4. Know when something isn't working
and when to cut it. It's not always fun to cut a scene that you love, but if
it's slowing down the plot or making the tension wan, cut it. You can always
save a scene you love and use it in another book--maybe the sequel!

5 Have critique partners check out
your writing too. Often, they pick up stuff you missed, whether a typo or a
plot hole. A good CP is invaluable.

6. Change your writing to a different
font while editing. Sometimes doing this will get you to notice errors more
clearly. PDF works for me.

7. Watch out for bad habits that you
use in your writing. The use of certain words like "just" or some
favorite phrase that you like to use repeatedly. Maybe you use emdashes too
much etc. I have my nemesis words too--we all do. You can do a search and find
if you suspect overuse of a word, then replace some of them with another word.

8. Try to stay away from using
passive voice. Example, you can change, "The house was burned down by the
blazing fire," to the more active, "The blazing fire burned down the
house."

9. Read from beginning to end without
stopping except to scribble notes as you go. Look for any plot holes or areas
that you could amp up the descriptions or tension. Look for a sagging middle.
Are all loose ends tied up? etc.

10. Put that bad boy away. Wait.
Repeat editing. Once you've done editing the first round, let your book sit for
a while and take a break at least a couple of weeks or so. Then go back at it
with fresh eyes. When querying agents, you get one shot. It's worth the wait
and the added look with a clear mind.

Thanks for inviting me to your blog
today!

~Shannon




Thanks for stopping by, Shannon.

I wish you many sales!

New release: BRASH

I'm thrilled to let you know that BRASH is now live on Amazon!



I adore this book and by the 5 star reviews within the first few hours, I'm hoping readers will too!



Here's the blurb:



Jess Harper is so tired of being good…

Thrust into the dazzle of Burlesque Bombshells, Vegas’s premier dance venue, the small town librarian has no option but to embrace her inner vixen.
Especially when blast from her past, sexy Aussie celebrity chef Jack McVeigh is still determined to keep their relationship strictly hands-off.

This time Jess isn’t surrendering without a fight and armed with her hot props and Bombshell moves, Jack doesn’t stand a chance.

When Jess and Jack are sequestered on an island to orchestrate the burlesque wedding of the year, sun, surf and sizzling sex are on the menu!

But will the fiery couple come back for seconds?



Buy BRASH here

Add to your GOODREADS shelf here



(And huge thanks to fabulous author Kelly Hunter for reading before publication and providing a cover quote. Much appreciated!)