Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 78
January 5, 2011
Toilet humour
The toilet was the focus of my entire day yesterday.Yes, finally bit the bullet and tackled preschooler's resistance to use it by commencing toilet training.
Had mop at the ready, chart hung in bathroom with copious reward stickers, many pairs of Toy Story & Thomas undies and a sturdy resolve.
4 accidents within the first 2 hours wasn't fun but amazingly, after that, he got it. In half a day.
Mind you, I think many of those trips were novelty value, as he ended the day with 15 stickers. Then again, I did ply him with non-stop fluids so he got the hang of it quickly so I guess he earned each and every one of those stickers.
So while I'm proud and relieved and hopeful he'll continue progressing tomorrow, a tiny part of me deep inside is sad I won't get to diaper cute little butts anymore. My 'baby' is offically growing up.
January 4, 2011
The company we keep
I received a New Year's email from a few friends, with loads of cute pics & captions, and one caught my eye.
May you find the perfect balance in the company you keep. In the first week of a new year, this really hit home.
People come and go in our lives.
We can make friends in the most unlikely places and find friends we've known for years drift out of our lives for unknown reasons.
I've given up trying to analyse people's motivations (unless it's my characters!)
Instead, I prefer to surround myself with friends who want to be there: friends who make me dream and laugh and natter like there's no tomorrow.
Friends who rejoice in my success and are happy for me.
Friends who will be there for me no matter what.
And this applies doubly to my writing.
If you're a writer, surround yourself with positive people.
You'll have enough of the other sort, the ones who snicker behind your back, the ones who rubbish what you write while smiling to your face, the ones who are condescending and superior and jealous. Nix these.
Creativity needs to be nurtured and negativity is an emotional time-suck.
As one wise sporting company once promoted: "life's short, play hard."
May you find the perfect balance in the company you keep. In the first week of a new year, this really hit home.
People come and go in our lives.
We can make friends in the most unlikely places and find friends we've known for years drift out of our lives for unknown reasons.
I've given up trying to analyse people's motivations (unless it's my characters!)
Instead, I prefer to surround myself with friends who want to be there: friends who make me dream and laugh and natter like there's no tomorrow.
Friends who rejoice in my success and are happy for me.
Friends who will be there for me no matter what.
And this applies doubly to my writing.
If you're a writer, surround yourself with positive people.
You'll have enough of the other sort, the ones who snicker behind your back, the ones who rubbish what you write while smiling to your face, the ones who are condescending and superior and jealous. Nix these.
Creativity needs to be nurtured and negativity is an emotional time-suck.
As one wise sporting company once promoted: "life's short, play hard."
January 3, 2011
Cool down in summer
While the summer temperatures heat up in Australia & NZ, you can cool down by visiting Alaska vicariously through WILD NIGHTS WITH HER WICKED BOSS.Remember Rhys, who cameo'd in OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED last year?
Well, the younger Cartwright brother has his own story to tell so go check it out (and yes, Callum does put in an appearance or two!)
(Also for those eagle eyes who've spotted the change on this cover, yes, the Sexy Sensations in OZ/NZ are now straight Harlequin Sexy. Now I'm Sweet & Sexy!)
January 2, 2011
New year, new releases!
Happy new year to you all!With the new year brings a brand new series to Mills & Boon in the UK, the fun, flirty RIVA! 
I'm thrilled that my DESERTED ISLAND, DREAMY EX is one of the launch titles, alongside the fabulous Jessica Hart, Kelly Hunter & Kimberly Lang.
Go check out these wonderful books.
And to clear up any confusion, as of this month in the UK, all my books will be released under the Riva series.
So if you're a previous fan of my M&B Romances, you'll find my books in Riva.
You'll also find my Modern Heat books in Riva, which is basically my Romance voice...with sex!
If in any doubt, or if you prefer the 'sweeter' side of Nicola Marsh, check my website for clear delineation between titles.
Tomorrow, my latest OZ/NZ release...
December 30, 2010
Weekend Book Club: Best YA reads of 2010
In no particular order, here are my favourite YA reads of 2010:
SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready is in this list too but I didn't have time to search for the cover, what with New Year's Eve preparations. I've reviewed each of these books this year and many more, my tally of books read in 2010 reaching around 90. So what have been your stand out books this year?
(I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy New Year. May 2011 bring you everything your heart desires and more! And a HUGE shout out to all my loyal readers. Thanks for buying my books and I love hearing from you!)
SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready is in this list too but I didn't have time to search for the cover, what with New Year's Eve preparations. I've reviewed each of these books this year and many more, my tally of books read in 2010 reaching around 90. So what have been your stand out books this year?
(I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy New Year. May 2011 bring you everything your heart desires and more! And a HUGE shout out to all my loyal readers. Thanks for buying my books and I love hearing from you!)
December 29, 2010
Gems for writers
Regulars here know how much I like Larry Brook's StoryFix blog.
Well, he's made a list of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers.
Go check out the rest.
Well, he's made a list of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers.
Go check out the rest.
December 28, 2010
Home truths from an agent
Go check out the interesting series by my fantabulous agent
Suzie Townsend
, where she discusses the truth about feedback and her time.
It's honest and revealing and interesting.
It's honest and revealing and interesting.
December 27, 2010
Enforced distance
Once a book is sold, there's usually several months of enforced distance, where you've moved onto writing a new book or taking a breather or whatever.
Then the proof edits land and you need to go over it again with a critical eye, picking up any mistakes, typos, etc...
I did this last night for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS (hence the Rob Lowe pic. He inspired the hero Chase Etheridge. Not gratuitous posting of hot guy pic at all!)
I always find it amazing what a little distance from a story can do. Blatant word repetition or phrasing a few sentences apart or words that just don't fit.
And while this book had quite a few changes I picked up (including a head hopping scene for a paragraph, something I didn't write in the original) overall I loved Chase and Lola as much as I did when writing them.
Their resolution scene is one of the most honest and heart-string-tugging I've ever written, I loved it!
Come July, I hope you do too.
Then the proof edits land and you need to go over it again with a critical eye, picking up any mistakes, typos, etc...
I did this last night for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS (hence the Rob Lowe pic. He inspired the hero Chase Etheridge. Not gratuitous posting of hot guy pic at all!)
I always find it amazing what a little distance from a story can do. Blatant word repetition or phrasing a few sentences apart or words that just don't fit.
And while this book had quite a few changes I picked up (including a head hopping scene for a paragraph, something I didn't write in the original) overall I loved Chase and Lola as much as I did when writing them.
Their resolution scene is one of the most honest and heart-string-tugging I've ever written, I loved it!
Come July, I hope you do too.
December 26, 2010
Christmas in summary
Here's how the last few days have panned out:
-Christmas Eve cleaning and cooking in preparation for THE day
-mass with the kids
-Christmas morning 6am wake up call
-few hours of assembling and playing with kids
-few hours preparation of food
-family arrive, much chatter, hugs and eating. Plenty of eating!
-family leave after 4, short rest before packing car and heading to visit inlaws 40 min drive away.
-more laughs and food and chatter and presents.
-arrive home after 11pm, exhausted and happy.
-Boxing Day brunch at fave cafe
-let the boys spend as long as they like at their fave park
-quick duck into Boxing Day sales: only bought FCUK shorts for hubby & 1 pair of shoes for me before kids wanted to head home (but not before mandatory stop at Max Brenners!)
-a relaxing arvo playing with the kids (not so much for hubby, who watched the Aussies get demolished in the Ashes)
-family movie night: Night at the Museum, followed by late night SATC re-runs for me.
After all that, I'm supposed to start work again tonight?
Bah humbug!
-Christmas Eve cleaning and cooking in preparation for THE day
-mass with the kids
-Christmas morning 6am wake up call
-few hours of assembling and playing with kids
-few hours preparation of food
-family arrive, much chatter, hugs and eating. Plenty of eating!
-family leave after 4, short rest before packing car and heading to visit inlaws 40 min drive away.
-more laughs and food and chatter and presents.
-arrive home after 11pm, exhausted and happy.
-Boxing Day brunch at fave cafe
-let the boys spend as long as they like at their fave park
-quick duck into Boxing Day sales: only bought FCUK shorts for hubby & 1 pair of shoes for me before kids wanted to head home (but not before mandatory stop at Max Brenners!)
-a relaxing arvo playing with the kids (not so much for hubby, who watched the Aussies get demolished in the Ashes)
-family movie night: Night at the Museum, followed by late night SATC re-runs for me.
After all that, I'm supposed to start work again tonight?
Bah humbug!
December 23, 2010
Christmas wishes
Wishing you all a merry Christmas.May Santa stuff your stockings with loads of fabulous books!
