Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 66

By request

I have a few favourite books I've written and THE BOSS'S BEDROOM AGENDA is one of them.

Beth is the least likely person to work at Melbourne Museum but the sparks she creates with Aidan, the CEO archaeologist...!

This story is currently reprinted in a 'By Request' anthology, out now in the UK.

Or available here almost half price!

Release day in OZ & NZ

If you're in Australia or New Zealand, SEX, GOSSIP AND ROCK & ROLL is out now!
This is quite possibly my favourite book I've written so go check out why.

Here's a snippet:

Two sharp honks on a horn behind them had her cursing and shoving him away before she returned her hand to the gear stick and slid into first.
"Care to explain what that was about?"
Her tone had resumed its frostiness while he couldn't wipe the grin off his face.
"Not that I usually need to explain why I kiss a beautiful woman but we couldn't shake on the deal so I did the next best thing. Why, did I offend you?"
His silky tone garnered a snort in response. Better than an f-off.
"News flash. That out of line kiss rendered the deal null and void. New deal. We don't talk for the next fortnight. Capish?"
Oh yeah, that kiss had got to her.
"Where's the fun in that?"
"You're here to manage the finances, not have fun."
"Surely the two aren't mutually exclusive?"
She screeched into a side street, giving him momentary whiplash, before cutting the engine and turning to face him.
"Another news flash. I'm not one of your bimbos. I work for your grandfather. I take my job seriously. And I don't need some goof-off blow-in making trouble for me. Got it?"
She stopped just short of jabbing him in the chest. Pity, he would've liked to feel her hands on him again.
"Loud and clear."
Her shoulders sagged in relief, before he added, "Doesn't mean I'll play nice."
"You're a pain in the—"
"With all this talk of work, doesn't sound like you have much time for fun?"
"I have plenty of fun."
His snort deepened her indignant frown. "When's the last time you had a date?"
She clamped her lips shut.
"Had sex?"
Her legs followed suit and he laughed.
"Look, we can do this the hard way or the fun way. My mouth? Has a life of its own. Runs away all the time. I'll compliment you constantly. I'll tease you incessantly. I may even kiss you several times but it's harmless. All good, clean fun."
It was her turn to snort but not before he'd caught the gleam of excitement making the gold flecks in her green eyes glow.
"No kissing."
He paused for a moment, pretended to think. "Sorry, can't promise that."
"You're impossible!"
"But you like me anyway."
Their gazes locked and the car's tight confines shrunk further. He could smell her light floral perfume, could see the indecision warring with excitement in her eyes, could sense her capitulation as her shoulders relaxed and she leaned forward a fraction.
For once, he kept his big mouth shut, enjoying the electricity buzzing between them, savouring the promise of sparring, sparks and sex.
And there would be sex, he had no doubt. They had some serious chemistry going on, the kind you couldn't ignore.
Throw in the fact they'd be together twenty-four-seven and it was inevitable.
He could hardly wait.
"There's nothing I can say that'll make you back off, is there?"
"No."
With an exasperated sigh, she shook her head. "Having you tag along on this tour goes way beyond the call of duty. And I have to put up with grief to boot?"
She revved the engine, the firing cylinders a joy to a guy's heart.
"Go on, admit it."
"What?"
"You're having fun already."
With another neck twisting wrench on the steering wheel she pulled back onto the road.
"Does it look like I'm having fun?"
"Either you're trialling for the Grand Prix or you're driving like a maniac because you're ticked off."
She threw in another wheelie for good measure.
"Okay, got the message loud and clear. I'll shut up 'til we get to Ballarat."
Her hands instantly relaxed on the steering wheel.
"How long?"
"An hour, maybe ninety minutes in this traffic," she said, her tone smug.
He let her have her little victory for now.
She'd soon learn he didn't always do as he said.

And I love that I'm in a duo with Heidi Rice's 'Cupcakes and Killer Heels', a book I've heard raves about and can't wait to read.

Savvy Authors

If you're a writer, there is an abundance of resources available these days.

Some stand out more than others and I was lucky enough to stumble across SAVVY AUTHORS a few weeks ago and instantly joined up.

Basic membership is free, premium is US$30/year (AU$28 with current exchange rate, bargain!)

Go check out the website, you won't be disappointed.
The information available is amazing, as are their frequent online courses.

I'm currently doing a course on witchcraft which has been immensely helpful for my upcoming YA revisions.

But the website is worth a visit for the articles alone.

THE WRITE WHISPER: Free writing craft books!

Thanks to the fab folk at WRITER'S DIGEST, I stumbled across 5 free books for writers.


Yes, that's right, free!



1. 70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes by Bob Mayer.

A fabulous resource from an experienced novelist.


2. 279 Days to Overnight Success by Chris Guillebeau.

If you dream of being a full-time writer, this is the e-book for you! About 11,000 words of fabulous advice.


3. How to Write a Great Query Letter by literary agent Noah Lukeman.

Lukeman is the author of several fabulous how-to books, including The First Five Pages. This free one on queries will not disappoint.


4. What Publishers Want: An Author's Guide by Greenleaf Book Group.

The good people at Greenleaf have made this brief guide available to beginning writers who are just getting into the writing and publishing game.


5. Smashwords Book Marketing Guide: How to Market Any Book for Free.

This gem just came out this past month. An excellent starting resource.


(Note: I couldn't download the last one because I don't have a Kindle. It's via Amazon.)


Download the books via Writer's Digest here.


You can thank me later :)

Weekend Book Club: Before I Fall

Warning: this is one of those books that will stay with you long after you've finished.

Lauren Oliver's YA BEFORE I FALL weaves a powerful story around a popular girl you can't help but dislike, yet you empathise with totally.

Here's the blurb:

What if you only had one day to live?
What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot.
Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing

The character development in this story is brilliant.
The characters, particularly Sam, really 'talk' to you.
You won't want to put this down.

(As an aside, Fox 2000 has optioned the rights to this book. It's Oliver's second novel to be optioned for film, after her January 2011 release, Delirium, was picked up in June.)

What are you reading this weekend?

Never give up

Just spotted this in the New York Times: a 74 year old author who never gave up.

He submitted his novel for 25 years and gathered 162 rejections before finally having his book published.

That's persistence!

Encouraging words

If you're a writer, you have to check out the post over at StoryFix today.

These two gems are worth it alone:

'The Help", the novel that spent a year at #1 on NYT bestsellers list and is being released as a movie this August was rejected by 45 agents.

Yep, you read that right. 45!
(Moral of the story: hang in there & don't give up!)

Gem no. 2:
"Write something worth writing."

It'll make sense if you go read the full post here.

How to avoid over-writing

Here's a brilliant list of 15 steps to avoid overwriting by author/agent Lois Winston over at The Five Scribes.

Well worth reading.

Beneath the surface

My heroine Gemma in WHO WANTS TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE? is strong-willed, gutsy and independent.

She doesn't depend on anyone.
She doesn't get involved with anyone emotionally.

And now I have to add a little vulnerability to this tough girl while revising.

Something my editor suggested sparked a range of ideas: perhaps have her specialise in marine environments?

Bingo!

I've googled and printed out a load of research material. While it won't change the framework of the story, I'm going to enjoy layering through the marine stuff to show Gemma's soft spots beneath the tough exterior.

The working title for this book was Beneath the Surface and during the revision process, I can see how apt it is.
Both Rory and Gemma are about to discover there is loads more going on beneath the surface than they anticipated in the first draft!

New POV

I have a new editor at Mills and Boon.
She rang me last week and we had a lovely chat about expectations and favourite books of mine she's worked on and what's next.

What's next is revisions for the Harlequin Romance I recently handed in, WHO WANTS TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE?
They landed Saturday morning and as usual I printed them out, did a quick scan and left them on my desk while pretending not to mull for the next 24 hours.

Sunday, I re-read and my thoughts clarified and I'm now ready to tackle revisions.

The fact this guy is the inspiration behind my hero Rory should make the process entirely enjoyable.