Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 93

Weekend Book Club: The Darkest Kiss

I'm ashamed to say, this is the first Gena Showalter book I've read. I know, I know, but I read a lot and widely across genres, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I grabbed this book on a quick mission to a new bookstore, with toddler grumbling for food, so I added it to a pile of 9 books in my arms and ran for the checkout.Only later did I discover it's actually book 2 in the Lord of the Underworld series. But I didn't want to wait to read book 1 so I dove straight in. And loved...

THE WRITE WHISPER: The question you must answer

We've all heard the terms 'premise' and 'theme' bandied around.

And if you're anything like me, having to label my story kinda freaks me out.

If I had to do it, I'd say many of my contemporary romances have been stories of second chances.

But there's something more important than figuring out theme while you're actually writing. Answering the all important STORY QUESTION.

So what is a story question?
It's the question that drives a reader to finish the book or watch a movie.

eg. Will Bella and...

Dirty dancing

Here's another snapshot of Callum and Starr in OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED:

"Let's dance."
Just one quick spin around the floor. She couldn't stand much more of the tension, nor the constant nagging inner voice that continually whispered 'you're in too deep'.
He stopped dead, his serious expression belied by the naughty gleam in his eyes.
"I lied to you."
"About?"
He bumped her gently with his hip, pointed to his shoes. "I don't have two left feet."
"Proof of the pudding and all that."
"I was...

Latest OZ/NZ release

I've been so laid back since I got back from my week away, I forgot I have another release in Australia/NZ this month!
OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED is out now. Here's what a lovely reader on Amazon had to say: To me this is one of the best HQ books I ever read, truly different from the regular themes and plots. Very refreshing, extremely witty, deep, and it really touched my very romantic soul :) Highly reccomended! If you aren't in OZ/NZ and still want to grab a copy, order here from the...

Adult fiction contest-Twitter style!

If you're not following the QUERY TRACKER blog, you should be.

Loads of great publishing information and now, they're running a great contest in conjunction with my fabulous agent, Suzie Townsend .

The genres to be judged are:

Adult Science Fiction
Adult Fantasy
Adult Urban Fantasy
All subgenres of Adult Romance
Adult Thriller

For more information, visit here .

The Brazilian

TWO WEEKS IN THE MAGNATE'S BED is going Brazilian this month.

Can you believe we're already into July?
Half the year gone?
Have you achieved your goals? Set new ones in the lead up to 2011?

I'm not a goal setter as such. I just sit down at my keyboard and get the job done.
Which is kind of nice when I look back over a year and realise how much I've written.

While I've just started writing my next Modern Heat and another YA, I have a major idea bubbling away in the back of my brain.

Time to grab ...

Weekend Book Club: Untameable Rogue

While I write category romance, I don't read a lot of it these days.
I'd love to, but just don't have the time. When I do, some of my favourite category authors are Liz Fielding, Ally Blake, Trish Wylie, Natasha Oakley and Sarah Mayberry.

Kelly Hunter is another.
With good reason.

She has a unique voice which leaps off the page, her Asian settings are evocative and her heroes are the most gorgeous men on the planet!

She's currently nominated for a RITA (and was nominated 2 years ago).
If she does...

Toys and tears

When I recently saw loads of people tweeting about the tears they'd shed at Toy Story 3, I was more than a little surprised.

I mean, I've seen the first two movies and they were great, not a hint of sad stuff in sight. We're talking kid movie here so how sad can it be?

I found out yesterday.

Took the kidlets (toddler's first time at the movies!). While kidlet sat glued, toddler had to be drip-fed tasty treats constantly to sit in the one spot. So while I hoped he lasted the 90 minutes, I sat...

Strolling and scones

Last stop on the roadtrip was Echuca, a gorgeous old town nestled on the banks of the Murray River.

Highlights:

-catching up with my parents, who came up for the weekend and stayed in our apartment. (and brought copious amounts of delicious food so I didn't have to cook!)

-strolling through the Moama Market on Sunday morning and discovering a wooden toy kidlet had but toddler didn't (because it was purchased at Eumundi market in QLD years ago) and buying it.

-tasting and buying too much at the E...

Dragons and downpours

Second stop on our roadtrip: the delightful town of Bendigo.

Once again, the actual size of the town surprised me. I'd visited over 10 years ago and remember it being a lot smaller.
Not anymore.
Loads of intriguing stuff to do and see.

Highlights:

-visiting the Golden Dragon Museum, steeped in Chinese culture, and snaffling some printed material that has spurned a book series niggling in the back of my mind...

-antique tram ride around the town for kidlet and hubby while toddler and I cuddled up o...