Across the Beer Bar with Nina Pierce
Today I welcome the prolific and talented NINA PIERCE to my bar….
Welcome to my bar Nina, what can I pour for you to start?Hmmm, *leans over bar to check out the taps* Oh, that light colored beer looks really good. Could I have some of that?
Sure, but for the record, you chose a "Kolsch," one of my very favorite ale styles ever.
We "met" a while back, as members of a romance authors "yahoo group." You were one of those members who was (and still is) very supportive of we newbies, as annoying as we can be...did you have a mentor when you decided to turn your love for reading romance novels into a career?LOL! This has more to do with my tendency to fall back on my teaching skills than emulating a mentor. I learned a long time ago that I’m an instructor to the very core of my being. It doesn’t matter if I’m standing in front of a group of 5th graders (the job of my heart), teaching a teenager how to do laundry or looking into the glazed eyes of a writer new to the publishing industry … I just start sharing what I know.
Writing and publishing is a tough gig. Everyone needs encouragement along the rocky road and nothing makes me happier than helping others succeed in this crazy business.
Your novel, A Touch of Lilly, is a departure for you in some ways. What made you decide to go the sci-fi route? (I'll include the bundle link here)Another one of my loves. I’m a science fiction geek from waaaaay back. I cut my teeth on television series like Star Trek (should I mention it was the original series?) and Stargate SG1. I found amazing authors like Isaac Asimov and Anne McCaffrey whose world building skills suck a reader into their stories from page 1.
A TOUCH OF LILLY is just my science geek finding a hot story she wanted to tell.
uh oh, empty glass, what can I pour for you next?Wow, that was delicious. Anything light that will go with these corn chips and guar?
Ok, how about this lovely Oberon, from Bell's Brewing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You can find it in just about every corner of the U.S. now. It's a wheat ale.
I read and have provided a review below for your book called "Blind her with Bliss." Tell me a little about how you came up with the idea for this book.First, thanks so much for reviewing the book, Liz! It’s so wonderful when readers take time to post reviews for books they’ve read … authors appreciate it soooo much more than most people realize!
BLIND HER WITH BLISS is the first book in my “Dangerous Affairs” romantic suspense series. I come from a big family of 4 rowdy and slightly crazy siblings. Our family get-togethers are full of love, arguments … er, I mean discussions and food. I wanted a chance to put all of that into a story and the Dangerous Affairs series was born.
How many books have you published? are you self-published, if so, why did you decide to go that route?The number of published books sort of fluctuates as I get rights back from publishers, re-write, re-edit and re-release. But it’s somewhere around a dozen.
When I first started publishing seven years ago, I had only the option of traditional print publishing houses or the new wave of smaller digital publishers. Fortunately for me I found a wonderful small digital publishing house with great editors who helped me hone my writing chops.
When self-publishing became available I saw it as a great avenue to finally have total control over my stories—from story content to cover design to pricing, As the rights to my books are being reverted back to me, I’m re-releasing under my Seaside Publications imprint. It’s a lot of work, but I’m finding a lot more financial success as a self-published author (but please don’t read that as I’m getting rich by any means). I’m just saying I can actually pay a bill or two with my monthly royalty checks from my self-published books. ;~)
That is really exciting. And I get you 100% with the "total control" thing. While I would never have had the nerve to go "full indie" were it not for my experiences with my 3 small publishers, I am finding the experience of preparing for my first self-pub series to be very satisfying!
If you were reaching for a book to read, who are your "go-to" authors?For me it’s less about the author and more about the genre. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading a good paranormal suspense. I don’t care if it’s witches, vampires or werewolves (though I have drawn the line at zombies). Nothing thrills me more than finding a new author with a great new series that I can sink my teeth into.
And finally, what is coming up next from Nina Pierce, Author?September is going to be a pretty busy month for me. BLIND HER WITH BLISS is actually going to be re-released in a boxed set of romantic suspense novels coming the middle of the month.
And I’m currently in the editing stage of a re-release of my sexy futuristic suspense romance, GARDEN OF SERENITY, which hopefully will be available by mid-September as well.
As for new writing, well, life has been throwing Mr. Nina and me a few curveballs over the last few years. It’s completely thrown my muse into a tailspin. We just keep plugging along at the keyboard in hopes that one of the stories were playing with will actually turn into a finished novel. J
And a nightcap? what's your poison?I love sipping on a full-bodied red wine before bed … oh, wait did you mean beer? Guess you’ll have to surprise me.
Well, actually, I can highly recommend The Poet, it's a rich Oatmeal stout from New Holland brewing in Holland Michigan (they also have distribution up and down the east coast.) I love red wine myself and have found that those of us with that palate preference are drawn to rich, creamy stouts like this one.
Tell us where to find you:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
website: http://www.ninapierce.comblog: http://www.ninapierce.com/blogfacebook: http://www.facebook.com/nina.pierce
Author Bio: USA Todaybestselling author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.
Eventually, reading about fated loves and soul mates wasn’t enough. She now spends her days at the keyboard writing her own stories, blissfully creating chaos for her characters by throwing in a villain or two, a little murder and a whole lot of mayhem as they struggle toward their happy-ever-afters.
Nina resides in New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of thirty-something years and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her three grown children, one love-sick son-in-law and a heart-melting grandson.
Amazon BUY links:A Touch of Lilly: http://amzn.com/B00CR4I522WTRAFSOG #2: http://amzn.com/B00KUTGATGBlind Her With Bliss: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W9BX7Y
****************************************
and now my review of Blind Her With Bliss:
Blurb: She's trying to find herself. He's attempting to hide. Together they'll discover a truth that threatens them both...
Investigating the death of her best friend, uptight accountant, JULIE TILLING, discovers a world of adult nightclubs and Internet intrigue. When shock jock DAMON COREY rocks her world in a wild night of lust, she wonders if she's found love...or the key to solving a murder.
Liz's Review:The main characters in this novel seem pretty standard romance formula…at first. But I was pleased to find real growth and maturity for them both as they hook up (and fair warning, it's hot stuff) and then connect emotionally over the shared goal of solving the mysterious murder. Julie's sadness over her friend's death is handled in a very realistic way, which is important for me as a reader. And Damon's willingness to succumb to his feelings for her is also presented in a way that doesn't seem contrived in the least--something that could easily have been done in a heavy-handed way.
It's the mark of a great storyteller that even though this not very lengthy book is chock full of plot Ms. Pierce handles the myriad connections and twists with skill. My preference would be for a longer exploration of certain aspects within the Julie/Damon story and even more so with Jason's backstory and motivation. However, that's just me. This book is expertly crafted and comes to a somewhat surprising yet well-executed conclusion.
If you're seeking a quick, steamy yet emotionally satisfying read, you should pull this one to the top of your TBR list.
Four Lagers to BLIND HER WITH BLISS by Nina Pierce!
Welcome to my bar Nina, what can I pour for you to start?Hmmm, *leans over bar to check out the taps* Oh, that light colored beer looks really good. Could I have some of that?
Sure, but for the record, you chose a "Kolsch," one of my very favorite ale styles ever.
We "met" a while back, as members of a romance authors "yahoo group." You were one of those members who was (and still is) very supportive of we newbies, as annoying as we can be...did you have a mentor when you decided to turn your love for reading romance novels into a career?LOL! This has more to do with my tendency to fall back on my teaching skills than emulating a mentor. I learned a long time ago that I’m an instructor to the very core of my being. It doesn’t matter if I’m standing in front of a group of 5th graders (the job of my heart), teaching a teenager how to do laundry or looking into the glazed eyes of a writer new to the publishing industry … I just start sharing what I know.
Writing and publishing is a tough gig. Everyone needs encouragement along the rocky road and nothing makes me happier than helping others succeed in this crazy business.
Your novel, A Touch of Lilly, is a departure for you in some ways. What made you decide to go the sci-fi route? (I'll include the bundle link here)Another one of my loves. I’m a science fiction geek from waaaaay back. I cut my teeth on television series like Star Trek (should I mention it was the original series?) and Stargate SG1. I found amazing authors like Isaac Asimov and Anne McCaffrey whose world building skills suck a reader into their stories from page 1.
A TOUCH OF LILLY is just my science geek finding a hot story she wanted to tell.
uh oh, empty glass, what can I pour for you next?Wow, that was delicious. Anything light that will go with these corn chips and guar?
Ok, how about this lovely Oberon, from Bell's Brewing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You can find it in just about every corner of the U.S. now. It's a wheat ale.
I read and have provided a review below for your book called "Blind her with Bliss." Tell me a little about how you came up with the idea for this book.First, thanks so much for reviewing the book, Liz! It’s so wonderful when readers take time to post reviews for books they’ve read … authors appreciate it soooo much more than most people realize!
BLIND HER WITH BLISS is the first book in my “Dangerous Affairs” romantic suspense series. I come from a big family of 4 rowdy and slightly crazy siblings. Our family get-togethers are full of love, arguments … er, I mean discussions and food. I wanted a chance to put all of that into a story and the Dangerous Affairs series was born.
How many books have you published? are you self-published, if so, why did you decide to go that route?The number of published books sort of fluctuates as I get rights back from publishers, re-write, re-edit and re-release. But it’s somewhere around a dozen.
When I first started publishing seven years ago, I had only the option of traditional print publishing houses or the new wave of smaller digital publishers. Fortunately for me I found a wonderful small digital publishing house with great editors who helped me hone my writing chops.
When self-publishing became available I saw it as a great avenue to finally have total control over my stories—from story content to cover design to pricing, As the rights to my books are being reverted back to me, I’m re-releasing under my Seaside Publications imprint. It’s a lot of work, but I’m finding a lot more financial success as a self-published author (but please don’t read that as I’m getting rich by any means). I’m just saying I can actually pay a bill or two with my monthly royalty checks from my self-published books. ;~)
That is really exciting. And I get you 100% with the "total control" thing. While I would never have had the nerve to go "full indie" were it not for my experiences with my 3 small publishers, I am finding the experience of preparing for my first self-pub series to be very satisfying!
If you were reaching for a book to read, who are your "go-to" authors?For me it’s less about the author and more about the genre. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading a good paranormal suspense. I don’t care if it’s witches, vampires or werewolves (though I have drawn the line at zombies). Nothing thrills me more than finding a new author with a great new series that I can sink my teeth into.
And finally, what is coming up next from Nina Pierce, Author?September is going to be a pretty busy month for me. BLIND HER WITH BLISS is actually going to be re-released in a boxed set of romantic suspense novels coming the middle of the month.
And I’m currently in the editing stage of a re-release of my sexy futuristic suspense romance, GARDEN OF SERENITY, which hopefully will be available by mid-September as well.
As for new writing, well, life has been throwing Mr. Nina and me a few curveballs over the last few years. It’s completely thrown my muse into a tailspin. We just keep plugging along at the keyboard in hopes that one of the stories were playing with will actually turn into a finished novel. J
And a nightcap? what's your poison?I love sipping on a full-bodied red wine before bed … oh, wait did you mean beer? Guess you’ll have to surprise me.
Well, actually, I can highly recommend The Poet, it's a rich Oatmeal stout from New Holland brewing in Holland Michigan (they also have distribution up and down the east coast.) I love red wine myself and have found that those of us with that palate preference are drawn to rich, creamy stouts like this one.
Tell us where to find you:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
website: http://www.ninapierce.comblog: http://www.ninapierce.com/blogfacebook: http://www.facebook.com/nina.pierce
Author Bio: USA Todaybestselling author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.
Eventually, reading about fated loves and soul mates wasn’t enough. She now spends her days at the keyboard writing her own stories, blissfully creating chaos for her characters by throwing in a villain or two, a little murder and a whole lot of mayhem as they struggle toward their happy-ever-afters.
Nina resides in New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of thirty-something years and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her three grown children, one love-sick son-in-law and a heart-melting grandson.
Amazon BUY links:A Touch of Lilly: http://amzn.com/B00CR4I522WTRAFSOG #2: http://amzn.com/B00KUTGATGBlind Her With Bliss: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W9BX7Y
****************************************
and now my review of Blind Her With Bliss:
Blurb: She's trying to find herself. He's attempting to hide. Together they'll discover a truth that threatens them both...
Investigating the death of her best friend, uptight accountant, JULIE TILLING, discovers a world of adult nightclubs and Internet intrigue. When shock jock DAMON COREY rocks her world in a wild night of lust, she wonders if she's found love...or the key to solving a murder.
Liz's Review:The main characters in this novel seem pretty standard romance formula…at first. But I was pleased to find real growth and maturity for them both as they hook up (and fair warning, it's hot stuff) and then connect emotionally over the shared goal of solving the mysterious murder. Julie's sadness over her friend's death is handled in a very realistic way, which is important for me as a reader. And Damon's willingness to succumb to his feelings for her is also presented in a way that doesn't seem contrived in the least--something that could easily have been done in a heavy-handed way.
It's the mark of a great storyteller that even though this not very lengthy book is chock full of plot Ms. Pierce handles the myriad connections and twists with skill. My preference would be for a longer exploration of certain aspects within the Julie/Damon story and even more so with Jason's backstory and motivation. However, that's just me. This book is expertly crafted and comes to a somewhat surprising yet well-executed conclusion.
If you're seeking a quick, steamy yet emotionally satisfying read, you should pull this one to the top of your TBR list.
Four Lagers to BLIND HER WITH BLISS by Nina Pierce!
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