Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 84

In recovery

Trying to recover from 8 parties in 2 weeks.

Will resume normal transmission tomorrow!

Weekend Book Club: Spirit Bound

I reviewed another Vampire Academy book last month but SPIRIT BOUND demanded a review all of its own!

Here's the blurb:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

The 5th book in this page turning series, I absolutely loved this instalment.

Each book builds up in the series and this one is by far the best.

Every page is filled with tension and the character development...wow!

While action-packed throughout, it's the emotional aspect that catches you unawares.

Loved every heart-stopping page and can't wait for the final VA book, LAST SACRIFICE, coming in December.

What are you reading this week?

Years flying by

For some reason, blogger won't let me post any pics here today. Too bad, because I had a pic filled with cake and pressies because...yep, I'm another year older.

Have no idea how I got to this age.
Feels like I'm still a teenager half the time.
How did I end up with a mortgage & kids & hubby?

I blinked somewhere along the way and it just happened!

Off to enjoy my day: preschooler to doctor, kidlet's school swimming, preschooler playgroup...who knows, might squeeze in some indulgent me-time later on tonight :)

Getting lost in a book

Parking at my kidlet's school is atrocious so I go early every morning (and afternoon) and read.

Never have I got so swept up in a book that I missed the school bell but that happened this morning.
I'm only 3 chapters into DANCING BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS but I'm thoroughly captivated.

Maybe because I can identify with so many emotions the heroine goes through, I'm finding it riveting and can't wait to devour the rest.

And in another first, I drove home with a lump in my throat!

Promise to do a review for Weekend Book Club once I'm done.



ROB campaign week 2

Exercise this week: zumba, body jam, tummy, tail & thighs
Weight loss: 1kg
Total lost: 2kg

Agent expectations

Rachelle Gardner has a link to a great series of blog posts by Wendy Lawton, an agent at Books & Such, about the way agents don't live up to expectations of themselves and writers.

Really worth a look here.

Newbie writing mistakes

Found this great post by Georgia McBride (of YALitChat fame) via my lovely agent Suzie Townsend.

Go have a read as Georgia outlines the mistakes newbie writers make.
Really good stuff.

THE WRITE WHISPER: The greatest gift

I love receiving fan mail.It's such a thrill to discover people read and enjoy the stories I create.
I also love it when people take the time to comment here. The interaction and feedback is great.
Every author has regulars, lovely people who read our books and take time out of their busy days to let us know. You have no idea how uplifting it can be when you're having a tough day and the WIP isn't zooming along and the PC crashed and the dog ate your synopsis...you get the general idea.
Feedback is important.Positive feedback also sells books.
So what's the greatest gift you can give an author? (apart from a six figure advance on a 5 book contract?)
Word of mouth.
If you love a book, tell people. Loud and proud.
Post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Shelfari, Twitter, your blogs, wherever people will see them.If you don't have time to post a review, 'star' the book.
Every little bit helps and the more sales an author makes from word of mouth, the more contracts they'll be offered and the more books you'll get to read from your fave authors.
Sounds self-serving coming from an author? Maybe, but I love recommending good books and my favourite authors, because readers buying books keeps the publishing industry alive and in the long run, that's a bonus for us all.
Plus I want you to enjoy curling up with a good book as much as I do :)

Weekend Book Club: Copycat

I've been picking up a lot of 'new to me' authors recently and Erica Spindler is one of them.

I love a good thriller and this one delivered.

Here's the blurb:

Five years ago, three young victims were found murdered, posed like little angels. No witnesses, no evidence left behind. The Sleeping Angel Killer called his despicable acts 'the perfect crimes.' The case nearly destroyed homicide detective Kitt Lundgren's career-- because she let the killer get away.
Now the Sleeping Angel Killer is back.
But Kitt notices something different about this new rash of killings-- a tiny variation that suggests a copycat killer may be re-creating the original 'perfect crimes.' Then the unthinkable happens. The Sleeping Angel Killer himself approaches Kitt with a bizarre offer: he will help her catch his copycat.
Kitt must decide whether to place her trust in a murderer-- or risk falling victim to a fiend who has taken the art of the perfect murder to horrific new heights.

Really enjoyed this book. The liberal use of red herrings throughout kept the pages turning and the main character, Kitt Lundgren, is so real, so down to earth, you instantly sympathise with her.
I love strong characterisation in a book and this one had it in spades.
Copycat certainly won't be my last Erica Spindler novel.

What are you reading this week?

Word

This tickled my funny bone recently.

The R.O.B campaign

Last week, I commenced my ROB campaign.

ROB= Regaining Old Body

I used to be a size 10 pre-kids.
I'm now a 14 and weigh the same as I did after giving birth to my last baby...3 years ago!

Because I have a small waist and curves in proportion, some people don't think I'm overweight.
Considering I can't wear lots of my favourite clothes, trust me, I am!
And that thing that follows behind about a minute later than I do...that's my butt!

With the bone tumour in my left foot last year and the lymphodema in my right leg worsening this year, I haven't exercised (walked) for 2 years.
In this time, I've continued to indulge my passion for chocolate and icecream.
The weight has crept up.
I've had 3 bouts of shingles in a year. Another excuse to not exercise.

Last week, I'd had enough.

The ROB campaign commenced.

I tried zumba Monday. Could walk the next day. Good sign.
Did a short walk on Thursday. Boring.
Tried zumba again this Monday. Loved it.
Yesterday, took the momentous step of setting foot inside a local gym to check out exercise classes (gym workouts aren't for me.)
Last night, tried first bodyjam class. Not as much fun as zumba.

Diet-wise, I've continued my normal healthy eating but cut out the choc and icecream completely.
I've lost just over 1kg in a week.
Ideally, I have another 14 to go but if I lose 10 I'll be ecstatic.

So why am I telling you all this?

Because "writer's butt" exists.
Because over the last week I've had more energy than I have in years and I feel good.
Because feeling good boosts creativity and we all want that.

I'll post weekly ROB updates.
Anyone care to share any miracle weight loss secrets that don't involve foregoing my passion for chocolate?