Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 92

YA for boys

There has been a lot of discussion recently during YAlitchat and kidlitchat on Twitter about there not being enough YA books for boys.

And a concern that boys leap from MG books straight to adult, and are missing out on YA.

Agency-sister Hannah Moskowitz has a great post on this topic today.

Go check it out.

Makes for interesting reading (and she says it so much better than I ever could!)

The truth about titles

Last week, 'anonymous' posted this comment in relation to my post on book covers.

Could you come up with more interesting titles for the books. Most of the time they are variations on the same 5 words.

I've been asked the title question many times and every time I do a library talk and divulge the truth about Mills and Boon titles, people are genuinely surprised.

Listen up, people.

I don't choose the titles of my books.

Yes, I have a working title (something that absolutely must encapsulate the bo...

End of the line

Hey, if you're in OZ or NZ, my current release (along with Mira Lyn Kelly's debut) are the last SEXY SENSATIONS ever!

That's right, as of next month, the UK Modern Heat series will be released as straight SEXY in OZ/NZ, so go grab your bit of history today :)

Writing style

This was a bit of fun!


I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Weekend Book Club: Personal Demons

Thanks to the fabulous Book Fairy, an ARC of PERSONAL DEMONS arrived in the mail this week.

After hearing so much about this book on Twitter, I was dying to read it.

And read it I did, in 2 days! For a busy mum and writer, that's saying something.

Written by my lovely agency-sister Lisa Desrochers, here's the blurb:

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will...

Skin

Check out the sexy cover for MARRIAGE: FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE? out this month in Italy (in a duo with my buddy Ally Blake.)

According to a translation site, it reads 'Looks on the skin.'

Well, he's certainly doing that!

What makes you buy a book?

When I buy books, I go for author name over covers.I couldn't care less what's on the covers, it's what's between them that count. It got me thinking though.Here's my recent release, THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID, with several different covers. Which one would make you pick up the book?Which do you like best? And do you buy a book based on cover? Author name? Reviews?

Octopus showdown

I'm astounded at how Paul the Octopus became a cult figure during the World Cup.

I predicted Spain to win right at the start.

Does that make me Mystic Marsh?

(naming rights attributed to Joanne Coles via Twitter.)

Back to routine

I love the school holidays, I really do.
I love the playing, the constructing, the baking, the laughter, the cuddles, the outings, the fact toddler has big brother to play with full time.

But inevitably, I end up feeling like this.

So it's back to the routine for another semester before the next lot of hols.
Roll on September!

Short fiction contest

If you write short fiction, the 11th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is now open to entries.

1500 words or less
Open to writers all around the world.
Closing date: Dec 1st

And check out the prizes!

Full details here.