Archangel's Viper Release & Interviews

Venom and Holly are hitting shelves, mailboxes, and e-readers around the world!!!!!

I hope you fall in love with their story.

Also, I have a couple of new interviews that have just gone up.

Gravetells Interview

&

Interview at USA Today HEA Blog

And, if you haven't yet got your hands on Archangel's Viper, you can read a new excerpt over at Under the Covers.

Guest Author: Kaily Hart

Winner:  Thanks for your comments everyone. The random winner is Scarly
 Please contact Ashwini at naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom with your mailing address.


I'm delighted to have Kaily Hart visiting us today! I've spoken about Rise of Hope, the start to her intriguing new Fabric of Fate series on the blog, and now Kaily's going to tell us about her journey to publication.

Please welcome Kaily to the blog everyone, and don't forget to enter her contest!

I’m a writer! Wait…I’m a writer? 

Kaily Hart

I met Nalini last year at a small writing conference in the US when we both happened to be breakfasting with Lori Foster ;). We also had an opportunity to get together again at the Romantic Times convention in Chicago earlier this year. Nalini is gracious, friendly and just…well…super nice. It might seem such a bland description, but I can’t honestly say that about a lot of people, especially one as successful as Nalini. It might also have helped that we’re from the same hemisphere and slice of the world :-). I was a huge fan of her work before we met and I don’t know…knowing the creator of those books is a nice person has made subsequent reading experiences that much richer. Does that seem weird?

That meeting was just one of many surreal moments I’ve had since I started on this particular journey. I’m a writer. An author. A published author. Many of the writers I know or meet always knew they wanted to be writers. Many talk about making up characters and crafting stories from the time they could hold a pencil. They often mention it being a ‘calling’, something that pulled at them throughout their lives so that not to write was never an option. A lot of them yearned for it, ached for it, felt as if there was no other option for them. Me? Nah. I never, ever would have guessed I’d end up a writer.

I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up and I cycled through many options—artist, psychiatrist, scientist, fashion designer, accountant. See a trend? Yeah, I didn’t either LOL. Many of my friends knew their path, knew from an early age what it was they wanted their career to be. Not me, so I ended up doing a business degree (because it seemed like a good idea) and I majored in Information Technology for goodness sakes LOL! I landed a spot in a prestigious graduate development program. I was recruited by a company from NY and moved to the US. I had a successful career as an independent consultant, I created and built my own IT services company, worked at the highest levels of corporate America. I was the mega type A over-achiever :-), on my way to take over the world. Well, not quite, but I was on a very different path and a lucrative one at that. Oh and along the way I’d also managed to have 4 kids. I said over-achiever, right?

So what happened? I decided I needed to spend more time with my kids. Yep. I was going to get more involved at the kid’s schools. I was going to take time for myself—get fit, take some classes, relax. Only…I couldn’t LOL. I needed to do something…more. I’d always read, all different things, but I had a secret preference for romance. And one day I just decided ‘I was going to write one’. And if you knew me, you’d know that once I set my mind to do something, I just do it. So I wrote that book. And then another. And another. And…gulp…before I knew it, I was a writer. Huh.

I’m often asked where I get my ideas. My first thought? I. Have. No. Idea. Not anything I can specifically put my finger on, anyway. As with most writers, I can make up a story about anything, anytime, anywhere. Inspiration is everywhere and it’s all a constant stream going in. I probably forget 90% of the ideas I get before I have an opportunity to capture them (and sometimes that’s a scribble on the back of a used snow cone wrapper I’ve found in the car from a kid’s birthday party). Don’t laugh. I did that once LOL.

The funny thing is…now? If I had the choice to do anything, be anything, it would be a writer J. I’ve found my niche, my groove, the thing I think I might have been meant to be. I’ve enjoyed all the things I’ve done professionally, but I love being a writer. Some people think writers are born. That might be true for some, but I’m thinking for most of us, it’s a long, hard road to make ourselves into writers. At least a writer someone would want to read! And the exciting thing? I’ve just started this amazing journey and have so many more books and stories to tell so stay tuned.

So…what about you? Are you doing the ‘thing of your heart’? If not, what would it be if you could choose? Or are you like I was, still wondering, searching? A random commenter will win their choice of my ebook backlist.

Link to Kaily's Website

The fine print: To enter the draw, just leave a comment with your answer to Kaily's questions on this post (on the main blog rather than the Goodreads feed), before noon Saturday 6th October, New Zealand time. Make sure you either leave a way for me to contact you, or check the blog on Sunday to see if you've won.  

One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name posted on this blog by or on Sunday 8th October 2012. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Andrea Brokaw - Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks

Winner:  Thanks for your comments everyone. The random winner is Serena S. T.
 Please contact Ashwini at naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom with your mailing address.

I love Pride & Prejudice, so when I saw this Dear Author review about a book that retells P&P in the world of curling, I knew I had to give it a go. I'm so glad I did! I loved the originality of the retelling, and read through the book in one sitting.

Here's the blurb and the link to the excerpt on the author's website:

All Darcy Bennet wants is to make it to the regional curling championships while finding some way to stop Jean, her best friend and team skipper, from moving across the country for college.

Darcy's thrilled when Jean sets her heart on a boy destined for a local university. Maybe hooking them up will keep Jean closer to home. Unfortunately, she hits a roadblock in the form of Lucas Fitzwilliam, who doesn't think it's such a hot idea for his friend to date Jean and soon convinces his friend to feel the same. 

Darcy has no hope of matchmaking while Lucas is working against her in his mistaken belief that Jean “deserves better,” so when he offers to stop trying to keep the couple apart if she'll stop trying to push them together, she agrees. But when upholding her noninterference pact with Lucas means denying Jean help getting a date to the winter formal, the resulting argument leaves the girls' friendship in jeopardy.

Now Darcy has to repair her relationship with Jean so their team can regain the solidarity they'll need to win the tournament that would qualify them for Regionals. And she really has to resist the temptation to kill Lucas, because she's pretty sure there's no curling in prison.

I'm delighted to have Andrea Brokaw here to talk about her writing journey to Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks. Please welcome Andrea to the blog everyone, and don't forget to enter her contest!

Andrea Brokaw on Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks

A few weeks ago, I checked my email and saw something from Nalini Singh. I assumed I'd signed up for her mailing list, then forgotten about it, but while I was wondering if she had something new due out, I realized the subject of the email she'd sent was “Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks.” I stared at that for a moment as it clicked in my head that Nalini Singh had sent me an email with the title of my novel as the subject line.

If someone had told me last year that my first fan letter from a complete stranger was going to be from someone whose name has repeatedly graced the New York Times Bestseller List, I would have laughed at this person and assumed they were drunk or stoned or something. But that's what had happened! Nalini said that not only had she heard of my book, she'd read my book and enjoyed it! And she wanted to know if I'd be interested in doing a guest spot on her blog.

I stared at that message for long enough that my son asked me what was wrong. He was a little freaked out when my response was to laugh.

So, to make a long story short (Too late!), yes, Nalini, I would love to do a spot on your blog and it really and truly means the world to me that you've asked!

~

A very common thing for people to ask me about is why I decided to retell Pride and Prejudice through a curling story.  The mainstream wants to know “Why curling?” and curlers are all, “Why Austen?”
There was never a point in time when I thought out of the blue, “I need to introduce Lizzie Bennett to winter sports!” Rather, the idea evolved on its own.

I've been a fan of curling since I noticed during the 2002 Olympics that my newborn would stare captivated and quiet at curling for hours straight. That February, I had curling on the TV every second I could and cursed the fact that I didn't live in Canada where I could continue watching it after the Olympics.

By 2010, my son was no longer bespelled by the sport, but I still enjoyed it immensely. I also enjoyed Twitter and spent a great deal of time Tweeting about the Vancouver Olympics curling matches I was watching. I'm sure  a lot of people didn't care for the sudden sports Tweeting, but there were quite a few people who really seemed to appreciate it. Some of them even wrote to tell me that I'd made the game much more understandable to them and that they were enjoying it for the first time ever.

Andrea at a curling rink!

Somewhere in all this, it occurred to me that I could write a novel about curlers. Before that point in time, everything I'd written had been some form of fantasy, either traditional or urban, but there was something appealing in the notion that I could create a contemporary romance if it had a background of something I enjoyed as much as curling.

I spent the last week of the Games alternating between Tweeting and outlining a novel. I was really excited about the idea, although there were two slight problems. One was that I didn't feel I knew enough about curling because all I'd ever done was watch it on TV. That was easily fixed thanks to the Granite Curling Club in Seattle. Sure it was over two hours from where I was living, but they let me join anyway and my uber-fabulous husband drove me over the mountains and through the city every week so we could pick up the sport. The other problem was harder though. There was something “off” about my outline and I couldn't figure out what it was.

I did the only thing I could think of and let the outline sit for a bit. When I picked it up with fresh eyes, I realized my issue. “Huh,” I said to myself. “You outlined Pride and Prejudice.”

I honestly hadn't meant to do that, but looking at the plot, it was inescapably the same basic story.

It took me a week or two of internal debate, but eventually I decided that rather than trying to edit my outline to make it stand out more from Pride and Prejudice, it would be more fun to tweak it to be closer. So my names changed and a couple of new characters wandered in and a few points were nudged around until I had something that I felt was perfect for the title Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks.

When I told Twitter, the response was great. One friend immediately asked, “What position does Mr Darcy play?” With a grin, I wrote back, “Mr Darcy does not curl. He plays hockey. This is just one of his many flaws.” And my friend declared that I'd nailed it.

Now I'm working (far too slowly) on a curling version of Much Ado About Nothing, because Beatrice and Benedick are one of my favorite couples of all time. My mom thinks it should have ghosts in it. Or vampires. Maybe angels. I told her she should write that then. (Or perhaps Nalini should? ;)

But what about you guys? What unusual retelling would you create? 

Giveaway: Andrea is giving away a copy of Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks. Giveaway open internationally. To enter the draw, just leave a comment on this post (on the main blog rather than the Goodreads feed), before noon Sunday 30th September, New Zealand time. Make sure you either leave a way for me to contact you, or check the blog on Monday to see if you've won.

The fine print: One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name posted on this blog on Monday 1st October 2012. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Kristen Callihan

WINNER: Thanks for all the comments everyone! The random winner of the copy of Firelight is Stephanie Samphire. Congratulations! Please send your mailing address to: naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom and we'll pass it on to Kristen.

_______________________

I'm delighted to have Kristen Callihan on the blog today. I had a chance to have an early read of her darkly romantic and atmospheric debut, Firelight, and utterly enjoyed it. You can check out an excerpt of the book here. Please welcome Kristen to the blog everyone!

Kristen Callihan on Firelight

Thank you, Nalini for having me here! I’m a huge fangirl, which goes without saying, but even more so, I admire your generosity and kindness to both readers and fellow authors. And, really, how cool is it that I get to hang out with you and your readers?  (pssstt, hey readers, I don’t want anyone to get too excited but, on my way in, I happened to find this lovely feather, brilliant blue and silver tipped. I’m just saying… Nalini might not have *made up* her angels… But you didn’t hear that from me.)

Ahem…

Lately, I’ve been asked why did I decide to mix historical romance with paranormal. It seems that the two don’t often mix, much like second cousins meeting up once a year for the holidays.

This notion hadn’t occurred to me. I’d been spoon-fed on paranormal through such writers as Anne Rice, Stoker, and Shelley. Stories such as Dracula, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray fired my young imagination and started a life-long love affair with the paranormal.

But why Victorian London? For me, Victorian London is as much a character as my hero and heroine. This is a place of narrow, dank alleyways, shrouded in fog. It’s the shrill cry of the constable’s whistle when murder is afoot. Footsteps scuffing over the cobbles in the dark of night. It is also the seductive clasp of a lady’s corset, her bustled skirts swaying in enticingly, all but begging for a man to discover what lies beneath.

And it is a place in which my hero, Lord Benjamin Archer, becomes a mystery unto himself. In the modern age, a fellow with something to hide about his appearance might easily turn to cosmetics, hell, with the internet and good take-out, he might never need leave his house. In our world, a masked man might be looked upon as strange, but we’d chalk it up to yet another bit of weirdness and go on our way.  In Victorian London, however, there would be talk. What does he hide? Rumors and speculation will grow. Especially when lofty peers of the realm begin to be murdered, and witness point to one suspect, a masked man.

Sex, murder, mystery and magic, they all fit quite well within Victorian London. How then could I resist?

In Firelight, my heroine, Miranda must navigate the twisting avenues of speculation and fear, and learn to trust her heart. The payoff just might be wining the love of a lifetime.

So how about the rest of you? Is there an era or place that sets your imagination on fire? Had you the ability to go back in time, where would you go? What would you do?

Giveaway: Kristen is giving away a copy of Firelight  - to enter the draw, just leave a comment on this post (on the main blog rather than the Goodreads feed) with your answer to one of her questions above, before 5pm Thursday 2nd Februrary 2012, New Zealand time.

The fine print: Contest is open internationally. One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name posted on this blog on Friday February 3rd, 2012. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Leslie Parrish

Winners: The random winners of Leslie's contest are Scrapper and Jill. Congratulations! Please email your mailing addresses to naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom so we can pass them on to Leslie.


You all know how much I enjoyed Cold Sight. I'm absolutely delighted to have the author, Leslie Parrish, here today, chatting to us. Please welcome Leslie to the blog everyone! (And don't forget to enter her contest.)

A Happy Ending…Mostly
by
Leslie Parrish

First—thank you so much Nalini, for inviting me to be your guest here. I’m such a fangirl and was absolutely shocked to see a note from you in my in-box, telling me you’d enjoyed Cold Sight. That really made my day, so thanks again.

I’m a long-time romance reader. I started with Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Flame and The Flower when I was twelve years old and have stuck with the genre, through thick and thin, ever since. Okay, I occasionally cheat and go on a horror, mystery or classics glom, but I always know that when I’m in the mood to have my emotions twisted and tangled and dragged along on a roller coaster ride, romance novels are my standby.

The thing I love most about romance novels is the one non-romance-readers like to sneer at: The happy ending. Some people scoff at the HEA as unrealistic. Sorry, I am living my happily-ever-after with my husband of 25 years, so I firmly believe they are possible. Meaning I am one of those people who really likes that HEA in my romance novels, and woe to any author who doesn’t give it to me.

 But here’s the thing—I like to be surprised. I really like to be surprised. I am one of those annoying people who can always see the twist coming in the first ten minutes of a movie, and I almost always guess the killer when I’m reading suspense. So if a book or movie can really stump me, I’m much more inclined to love it.

In romance, when the biggest story question is answered before you ever open the book—ie: Will the hero and heroine end up together?—you have to find other ways to surprise your reader. I am ever mindful of that when I’m writing, which is why I have not pulled many punches in my dark romantic thrillers. Aside from promising readers that they’ll get a happily-ever-after for the hero and heroine, I want them to understand—and hopefully appreciate—that just about anyone and anything else is fair game.

That’s not to say I like to throw-in shocking deaths or horrible surprise twists just for the sake of having them there. If they don’t fit and further the story, I won’t do it. But if a beloved secondary character needs to die, I have to let them, even if it breaks the reader’s (and my own) heart. 

So what about you—do you open a romance novel wanting everyone you like to have a happily-ever-after? Or are you okay with letting the chips fall where they may, as long as the romantic relationship ends happily? 

____________

Giveaway: Leslie is giving away one copy of Cold Sight and one of Cold Touch.  

Leave a comment on this post (if you're reading this on Goodreads, please comment on the original post on the main blog) by 5pm, Sunday 21 August 2011, New Zealand time, to go into the random draw. 

Winners will be picked using random.org and their names announced on the blog the following Monday. If you don't leave a way for us to get in touch with you, please check the blog to see if you've won and contact us within 72 hours. International entries welcome. One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited.


Contest Now Closed

Guest Author: Anne Gracie

Winner: Thank you all for your comments! The random winner of the book given away by Anne is LaniM. Congratulations! Lani, please e-mail my assistant with your mailing details, so we can pass them onto Anne. (nalini DOT assistant AT gmail DOT com).

You've all heard me raving about Anne Gracie's books. I think her historicals are witty and romantic and just wonderful! So I'm very excited to have Anne on the blog today. Please welcome Anne to the blog everyone! (And don't forget to enter her contest)

Anne Gracie

Hi, I'm Anne Gracie, and I'm delighted to be here — thanks for inviting me, Nalini. Now, before I start, I must make a terrible confession — for years I wouldn't even pick up a paranormal romance. (Hush those boos and hisses! Would I be here if I still hadn't touched them? And yes, I know I write historicals so if you really must boo and hiss, go ahead. (waits for booing and hissing to die down, then proceeds.)

A dozen or so years ago, in my first ever critique group, I met my first ever paranormal writer and the conversation went like this:

Keri (unpublished writer) "What sort of books do you write?"

Anne: (unpublished writer) "Regency historicals."

Keri (pulling a face): "Historicals? How boring."

Anne (narrowing eyes): "Why what do you write?"

Keri: "Vampire romances."

Anne: "Vampires? How creepy."

That was Keri Arthur, and even though we each had no interest in what the other wrote, she and I became friends. We both got published. I bought her books and they sat unread on the shelf. They were paranormals so I knew I wouldn't like them.

Then a few years ago, a friend lent me the first of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and insisted I read it. It sat on my shelf untouched for an embarrassingly long time, because I didn't like paranormals, did I? In fact the only reason I ended up opening it was so I could honestly say to my friend "I read the first 50 pages, but it's not my thing." Only it was my thing. By the end of the weekend I'd bought and read the whole

series.

So I read my Keri Arthur books and then I read Nalini's Psy Changeling series and of course I'm now a huge paranormal reader, because what's not to love about gorgeous heroes, strong heroines and exciting stories?

It was my own preconceived notions of what they were that kept me from paranormals for a long time. Prejudice. I was so sure I wouldn't like them. But the thing is, a good story is a good story, and unforgettable characters leap off a page whether the book is a paranormal or a historical or a contemporary.

People often think the same thing about historicals. "Historicals? Why would I want to read them? Everyone in them is dead," another writer friend of mine once told me. Of course, being a friend, she forced herself to read one of mine and she shocked herself silly when she actually enjoyed it.

She was sure she wouldn't like historicals because she hated history at school. As if somehow a historical romance was a dusty old tome filled with boring facts.

But history is just a setting, atmosphere, a world to escape into in the same way you can enter into the world of a paranormal. History provides the background, the texture, some of the detail. But if a historical romance is doing its job, you shouldn't even notice the history - you'll be reading for the story, for the characters, the thrills and spills. Just like any other book.

I love writing historicals. They're not all ballroom stories. I can do what I want; I can pair an elegant lady with a bad-boy rake (Perfect Rake), I can send a cool, controlled Regency dude after a girl/boy living on the streets of Cairo (To Catch a Bride), I can send my heroine on a journey across France with a stranger she met by chance on a beach (Perfect Stranger), I can write love at first sight (His Captive Lady) or I can make a soldier make a marriage-in-name to a young Spanish girl and then eight years later find out the annulment he planned on was not possible (Bride By Mistake coming in January 2012.)

And I love getting emails from readers that say things like: "Yours was the first historical I ever read, and now I can't get enough of them."

A couple of years ago Keri Arthur started reading regency historicals. She read my books, Eloisa James's, Julia Quinn's... "Why didn't anyone tell me historicals were so much fun?" she complained. And we had a laugh about our attitude change.

So what about you? Have you been blind like I was? Are there any subgenres you haven't given a fair go to? Haven't really tried out? Given up after one bad experience? And what about a recommendation for someone that's new to your favorite subgenre?

I'll give one of my books to someone who leaves a comment.* The winner can choose any book of mine (except the old Harlequins, which are out of print): http://www.annegracie.com/books/books.htm

*Rules: Contest closes Friday 5th August 2011, 9am New Zealand time. Open internationally. One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name(s) posted on this blog on Saturday 6th August 2011. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Thea Harrison - Dragon Bound

Contest now closed.

Winner: The random numbers have spoken and the winner is Kam Luen. Congratulations!  An email is on the way to you.

I'm delighted to host Thea Harrison on the blog today. I absolutely adored her debut paranormal romance, Dragon Bound (out now), when I read it for a quote last year. Since then, I've also read an early copy of the next book in the series, Storm's Heart, and fallen in love all over again.

Thea has several excerpts available on her website that you can check out. She's also giving away a copy of Dragon Bound to a commenter on this blog (Goodreads readers, swing by and enter on the main blog). Enter by 10 pm Thursday 5th May, New Zealand time, to go in the draw. 

Please welcome Thea to the blog everyone!

Thea Harrison

I was thrilled when Nalini approached me and asked if I would write a guest blog for her, but because I classify myself as “blog challenged” I asked her for a little guidance about what to focus on.  She wrote back quickly with a few ideas.  How did Dragon Bound come to be? What do I love about the hero and heroine? Why did I decide to write a paranormal romance? What great questions!

Dragon Bound came into being when the economy hit the skids.  My job was not going well.  I worked for a nonprofit, and a large part of my responsibility was to research grant opportunities and write grants.  Large grant making institutions that we had relied upon for funding for our programs were rerouting money to go to urgent needs like foodbanks. 

Not only that, but their financial portfolios were suffering huge losses.  One program officer told me their charitable trust was “fortunate” that they had lost only a third of their assets.  I found myself in the unfortunate position of having to recommend the termination of my own job to my boss.  As I was phased down, like so many others, I began to job search… and I decided it was also a perfect opportunity to try my hand at writing again.

Years ago I had published sixteen Harlequin Presents titles under the name Amanda Carpenter.  Single parenthood and school pulled me away from writing, and I always knew I wanted to return to it someday when the opportunity presented itself.  Images and ideas had floated around in the back of my mind for years.  I fiddled with a project or two but could never really get it off the ground.  When I finally sat down to write Dragon Bound, I knew the story would be a paranormal romance.  I had been reading science fiction and fantasy all my life.  Writing a paranormal romance seemed the perfect match for me, as it combined romance, which I had also read and written for years, with the fantasy elements I loved so well.

When I started Dragon Bound, the story exploded onto the page.  I had a complete draft written in 44 days.  I giggled and snorted the whole time I was writing it.  If anyone had witnessed me as I worked, I’m sure they would have thought I was a total nut-job.  The hero and heroine, Dragos and Pia, kept surprising me.  When I say that something “fell out of Pia’s mouth” that’s exactly how it felt inside—what she said was as much of a surprise to me as it was to her.  And Dragos simply didn’t have any of the normal brakes we humans have on our behavior.  They were a constant delight, and I loved every minute of it.

I was also putting out hundreds of job applications during the worst of the recession.  As discouraging as the job hunt was, I found revising the story as enjoyable as writing the rough draft.  I went through the query process in searching for an agent, approached seventeen agencies, had several nibbles of interest, and ended up with my wonderful agent Amy Boggs at the Donald Maass Literary Agency.  Together we ironed out more wrinkles in the manuscript, and she began the submission process.

Other aspects of my life continued to be increasingly painful.  Congress had stalled on passing an emergency extension on unemployment. I had exhausted all of my resources. I kept telling myself, wow, this could be like one of those stories where someone with $2 in their pocket wins the lottery.  Something good has got to happen sometime.

Then something good did indeed happen.  In March, 2010, Amy called with a multi-book offer from Berkley, and the Elder Races series was born!  Following the release of Dragon Bound on May 3rd is Storm’s Heart on August 2nd and Serpent’s Kiss on October 4th.  As for me, I’m feeling like I won the lottery and I’m still mopping my brow!

And if I can just emit a high-pitched fan-girl squee for a moment, Nalini is one of my favorite authors!  I was very excited when she invited me to guest blog.  Nalini, thank you very much for having me!  It’s been a pleasure.

So who are your favorite authors, and why?  Do any of them make you laugh out loud?  I would love to give away a signed copy of Dragon Bound to someone who comments!

Contest now closed.

Guest Author: Marcella Burnard

I'm delighted to have Marcella Burnard on the blog today! I had a chance to read an early copy of her debut science fiction romance Enemy Within (out November 2nd) and thought it was fantastic. Dark and gritty and intensely emotional. Very much recommended if you like sf romance.

Please welcome Marcella to the blog everyone!!

Marcella Burnard

Monday morning, I opened my email and had to look twice. Was that..? Holy lima beans. It was an email from Nalini Singh with my book title, Enemy Within, as the subject line. I’d read Ms. Singh’s book, Mine to Possess and enjoyed it so much, I went right out and snapped up Hostage to Pleasure and Angel’s Blood. Devoured them…then deadlines hit and reading for pleasure came to a screeching (and it had better be temporary) halt. My point is that when Berkley bought Enemy Within, I was thrilled to be writing for the same house and even the same imprint, Berkley Sensation, as one of my new favorite authors. Little did I know that my sainted editor (who hasn’t been bribed with chocolate, I swear!) would send an advance reader copy of Enemy Within to Ms. Singh, who would then read it, like it well enough to email me to say so, and then graciously ask if I’d like to guest blog. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough. Thank you for the invitation.

I’m Marcella Burnard. I write science fiction romance (SFR) for Berkley Sensation. The whole writing thing started when I was twelve, I think. I’d seen a B-grade pirate/adventure film and decided it had been done all wrong. I borrowed my mother’s Selectric typewriter, set it up in my bedroom even though I didn’t know how to type, and went to work on The Definitive Pirate story. The heroine was twelve. She had a black panther named Scott as a pet. And she was an expert swordswoman. Yeah. The seven seas were never the same. Neither was my school work, but that’s another issue.

So when I set out to write a slightly more grown up pirate story, I kept the swordswoman heroine, ditched the panther, and aged my gal up a bit so she could reasonably be a military captain in her own right. I handed her a handsome pirate who might know a thing or two about swordplay himself and who needed her space ship to save himself and his crew. Good times. I had the makings of a rollicking bit of fun in space.

Yes, Ari did start the book with a case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from having been a prisoner of war. That didn’t have to change my light, fluffy, action-adventure, did it? I remained wrapped in my state of denial right up to the last fight – you know the one at the very end of your favorite movies – Indiana Jones where everyone’s faces melt, or Luke in an x-wing making the last shot that destroys the Death Star and saves everyone. My characters whispered to me at night time when I couldn’t drown out their voices with activity. “You know what has to happen,” they’d say.

I did know. So I stalled.

One of my critique partners finally threw my manuscript pages on the table one day, turned to me, gave me *that* look and said, “What is your problem? This is horrible, awful and wonderful! Don’t come back without the ending! And make it worse!” I wanted to slit my wrists with my pen, but it was a felt tip and all it did was make a mess.

I went home, swallowed a huge lump of fear, and wrote the final quarter of the book in all of its bloody, gross nastiness. No one would want to read it. How could they? I hadn’t wanted to write it. But something happened as I did. The book started living and breathing on its own. It was a little frightening at first, then exhilarating, to have my story escape my control like that. It really had grown up and it wasn’t my pre-teen pirate story anymore, though I tried to fool myself that it was still light. Fun.

Until the day my fabulous agent, Emmanuelle Morgen, said, “No one writes grim scifi the way you do!”

Grim? Really? Even with pirates and swordfights? Dang. Should have kept that black panther sidekick…

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Backcover Blurb of Enemy Within

After a stint in an alien prison, Captain Ari Rose wonders why she even bothered to survive. Stripped of her command and banished to her father's scientific expedition to finish a Ph.D. she doesn't want, Ari never planned to languish quietly behind a desk. She wasn't built for it, either. But when pirates commandeer her father's ship, Ari once again becomes a prisoner.

As far as pirate leader Cullin is concerned, Ari's past imprisonment puts her dead center in Cullin's sights. If she hasn't been brainwashed and returned as a spy, then he's convinced she must be part of a traitorous alliance endangering billions of lives. Cullin can't afford the desire she fires within him and he'll stop at nothing, including destroying her, to uncover the truth.

Link to Marcella's Blog

Guest Author: Laura Wright

Winners: Thank you for all your wonderful comments everyone, and thanks Laura for visiting. The random numbers have spoken and the winners of the two signed copies of Eternal Hunger are:

Jen (comment left at 12:54pm)
Valerie (from Germany)

Congratulations! Valerie, I have your email. Jen could you please drop me a note at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com so I can forward your info onto Laura? Thanks!

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I'm delighted to welcome Laura Wright to the blog today. Laura and I first knew each other while writing for Silhouette Desire. She's now come over to the dark side with a new vampire series.

I had a chance to read the first book, Eternal Hunger early and enjoyed it so much I gave it a cover blurb - I believe the words "Dark, delicious and sinfully good" might've been used. If you're looking for a dark and sexy vampire romance, this one is very much recommended!

Please welcome Laura to the blog everyone, and don't forget to enter her contest.

The Birth of the Roman Brothers
Laura Wright

First of all I want to say thank you to Nalini for having me over for a romance writer playdate today. Nalini is such a genius and an incredibly generous person, and it’s an honor to be guest blogging here. :-)

When I was brainstorming blog topics for today, I came up with all sorts of ideas around the vampire theme. The appeal of vamps, fangs, bites, blood consumption...But there was one thought that stood out – a question actually, that I’ve started getting lately.

‘How did you come up with the idea for the series?’

This is such a great question and, I hope, kind of a cool answer. I had actually intended for ETERNAL HUNGER to be a category novel, even pitched it to my wonderful editor at Silhouette with hopes we could do a trilogy for Desire. But something happened.
HE showed up in my mind.
Who is HE?
Lol..
That would be the illustrious and sexually gifted Breeding Male.

**For those of you who haven’t read HUNGER yet, the Breeding Male is a vampire of purest blood who, many centuries ago, was taken by the rulers of the breed and genetically transformed into a ferocious, aggressive breeding machine. He is able to not only impregnate at will, but decide the sex of the child. This was very useful in times of war, when one sex or the other was being wiped out. The Breeding Male would be called upon to repopulate the species. Problem was, many of the females he mated with were forced to lay with him by their families. He became an animal, rutting with any female that crossed his path, and soon had to be caged and controlled.**

Yes, so this horribly awesome creature came into my head, and like a seed in the dirt, it sat there for a while getting water and fertilizers (aka, questions - lots of questions.) Like - who were the children of the Breeding Male – and the females who were forced to lay with him. When they became mothers...how did they treat their young? What was the family dynamic? Would these children run away from their home? Their communities? Would they themselves live in fear that one day they too would become a Breeding Male?

I knew this would be a big story with really dark histories and graphic love scenes, and I didn’t want to hold anything back. So, I set out working on the world and the beginning chapters. I had (for starters) three sons of the Breeding Male, Purebloods and Impures living together in communities called, credentis. I had those who escaped and started a life in the human world, I had a ruling class - and I had a threat of a villain who was going to force the rulers and the rebels to work together.

It became a world I was not only fascinated by, but one I wished I could enter. Well, for a few weeks anyway. Just so I could meet those Roman brothers face to face. Or should I say Fang to Fang :-)

What about you? Is there a world an author, or authors, has created that you’d love to jump into for a few weeks?

I’m giving away 2 signed copies of ETERNAL HUNGER today. Leave a comment by 12 noon Thursday 7 October 2010 New Zealand time and you’ll be entered to win* :)

Link to excerpt of ETERNAL HUNGER
Link to Laura's Author Page on Facebook

*Winners to be picked by random.org and their names posted in the comments and at the top of this post. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Emily Gee

Winner: Thank you for the fantastic discussion everyone. The random winner of Emily's giveaway is: Stephanie

Congratulations! I've forwarded your email onto Emily.

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I'm so happy to host the talented and lovely Emily Gee on the blog today! Please give Emily a warm welcome everyone.

Emily Gee

Hi everyone! I’m delighted to be here on the fabulous Nalini Singh’s blog!

Since I’m wrestling with titles at the moment, I thought I’d talk about the process of finding the right title for a book. Titles are tricky and elusive things! Sometimes the perfect title just appears out of nowhere – but just as often it doesn’t.

As an example, I’ll use a book of mine that came out in 2009 – a dark and romantic fantasy novel about a young woman (named Saliel) who is a spy. We’ll call it Saliel’s book, for now.

Saliel’s book started life as MASQUERADE, because both Saliel and the hero are spies and are (obviously) masquerading as people they’re not – in this case, nobles in the decadent and oppressive Corhonase court. The title fitted, but it was so generic that it had to go! (Visit amazon.com and see how many books have the title MASQUERADE. Lots!)

Next came the title WALK IN SHADOWS, which I still like for a number of reasons: Saliel and the hero are often in the catacombs below the Corhonase citadel (which are obviously dark and shadowy places); when they’re above ground in the Corhonase court, they’re constantly under the shadowy threat of capture and torture and death; and Saliel comes from the worst of her homeland’s slums, a taint that will forever be a shadow over her head. But that title was too like the title of my previous fantasy novel (THIEF WITH NO SHADOW). It made the two books sound like they were part of a series, which they weren’t – different worlds, different magic.

So Saliel’s book then became EYE SPY, which again fitted very well. The main characters are spies, and both Saliel and the sadistic spycatcher possess a form of magic called witch-eye. However, EYE SPY has a very contemporary and almost humorous ring to it, and Saliel’s book has a dark tone and is set in an oppressive Elizabethan world. So that title had to go.

Finally, my agent came up with THE LAURENTINE SPY, which is the title we went with. The title tells us that the book is about a spy, the fabulous cover shows Saliel and the hero in the catacombs, and while there’s no hint of magic in the title, the backcover blurb deals with that: Saliel has many secrets; her spying is one, her past as a pickpocket in Laurent’s slums is another, but her most deeply guarded secret is the magic she possesses. She walks a narrow path between discovery as a spy and being burned as a witch. Etc, etc.

So, there you have it: the evolution of a title! Any opinions? Did we go with the title you would have chosen for this book? Do you hate them all? Would you have chosen something completely different? Or do titles really have no importance on your book-buying and book-reading habits? (All commenters will go in a draw to win a copy of THE LAURENTINE SPY.*)

Emily's Website

*Contest closes midnight Friday 24th September 2010, New Zealand time. Winner will be chosen randomly via the random number generator at random.org and his or her name posted in the comments and on the top of this post. Void where prohibited.

Guest Author: Jaci Burton

Winner: The random numbers have spoken and the winner of Jaci's giveaway is Chelsea B! Congratulations! Please email me at nalinisinghwritesATgmailDOTcom so I can pass your details onto Jaci.

I'm so delighted to have Jaci back on the blog, talking about her smoking hot Wild Riders! Please give her a warm welcome everyone!

Jaci Burton on her Wild Riders

First, I want to thank Nalini for letting me guest blog. My first thought was…hey, let’s all talk about Nalini’s books. I could talk for hours about Nalini’s books. I could fill up my entire blog post, in fact, talking about my love for Nalini’s Psy/Changeling series. It’s one of my top five all time favorite series ever. Nalini knows I stalk her for her books. It’s a love thing, really.

But I guess instead of waxing poetic about my love for all things Nalini, I should probably talk about my own series, since that’s why Nalini asked me here. My Wild Riders series, specifically, since the 5th book in the series, RIDING THE NIGHT, released last Tuesday.

It’s no secret I have serious mad love for my bad boy bikers on Harleys. It’s also no secret that I don’t tend to write one and out kind of books. Even when I try to write a single title, I can’t help but give my main characters brothers or sisters or best friends, and those brothers and sisters or best friends can’t help but stick their noses in the book I’m writing, interfering with my main characters with their larger than life personalities, and coming up with some of their own back story and demanding that their own stories be told. And my Wild Riders? Well, those guys pop up in each others’ books all the time, and making them wait for their own books was nothing short of impossible. My guys don’t know the meaning of the word patience. But I can’t tell you how excited I am that the final book has been released.

I knew starting out that there would be six Wild Riders—Mac, Diaz, Spence, Rick, Pax and AJ. I figured I’d write six books. What I hadn’t figured was that Pax and AJ would end up in the same book, which meant there are only going to be five Wild Rider books. Best laid plans and all that. But after a few books in, I figured out that Pax and AJ shared their women, and then I thought, well, no problem. I’d just write AJ’s book, give him his happily ever after, then write Pax’s book.

Yeah, the guys weren’t having any of that. You see, Pax and AJ are best friends, and they decided that once they found the woman of their dreams—and notice I said ‘woman’, not ‘women’, that was going to be it for them. One woman forever for the both of them.

Sometimes characters don’t make it easy on a writer.

And then they had to go and choose a woman with a lot of issues. Okay, one big issue. And it was a difficult one for her to overcome.

Good thing she had a couple remarkable men on her side to help her out.

I hope you give Pax and AJ, and all my Wild Riders a try.

Can we talk about Nalini now? ;-)

Talk to me about your favorite secondary characters in books you’ve read, and which ones you couldn’t wait for their books to come out.

I’d love to give away one of my Wild Rider backlist books. Winner’s choice—Riding The Night not included. Contest is open internationally.*

You can read about all my Wild Riders books here - http://www.jaciburton.com/berkley.html#wildriders

*Contest closes Monday 20th September 2010, midnight New Zealand time. Void where prohibited

N: This is not a Wild Riders book but I couldn't resist posting the cover. No need to thank me *g*

The Perfect Play releases in February 2011.

Guest Author: Shiloh Walker - Veil of Shadows

Contest Closed

Thank you for all your great comments everyone, and thanks to Shiloh for such a fun post!

I've run the random numbers and the winner of Shiloh's giveaway is: Mary Frazier! Congratulations! An email is on the way to you.

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I'm delighted to have Shiloh back on the blog to talk about her new book, the intense and emotional Veil of Shadows, set in the same intriguing world as Through the Veil. I'm really looking forward to seeing where she'll take her world next.

Please give a warm welcome to Shiloh everyone!

INSPIRATION-LESS
Shiloh Walker

You know, when it comes to thinking up a book, I've got a million ideas. Or at least it seems that way--and they usually pounce on at the worst time--like when I'm in the middle of three other projects with no time for others. And talking to friends? I never run out of things to talk about.

But thinking up a thing to guest blog about… that always leaves me…empty. I can't wax eloquently about what inspires me, I can't get all deep and pensive--I'm best at being weird and/or rambling.

I reckon I should talk about Veil of Shadows, my September release, but the thing is…I never know what to really say about any of my books, and this one isn't much different.

It's a book. I wrote it. It's got a pretty cover. I really dig the guy's sword (and stop thinking dirty thoughts) the hero is holding a sword…. See? And it's not even exactly positioned in a manner so it looks sexual. Not thrusting up from the pelvic area or anything. Just holding it down, by ready to use it if he needs to.

If anybody is wondering why there's a guy with a sword standing in front of the ruin of a city…well, it's a war-torn sort of world, and although they've got some serious tech, they can't always rely on it. Good, old-fashioned steel, though? Different story.

The guy, by the way, his name's Xan--pronounced with a Z sound. He heads into the base one day, takes one look at Laisyn AKA Syn, the second in command and…well, for him, that's all she wrote. All I wrote--his first, last, only thought was want. Eventually want turned to need and need turned to love, but then all sorts of problems came up because he's got things he hasn't told the pretty Captain.

The pretty Captain, AKA Syn, has enough problems him getting all secretive--a gift for magic that she can't use, demons tearing things up around her home, food and supplies are running thin, too many refugees pouring into the camp. Xan is the last thing she planned on. Actually, she never planned on him.

But there he is. There they both are, and like it or not, they are stuck with each other, because the voices in my head say so. And once I actually got the story rolling, I kind of liked what the voices in my head had to say about these two.

And hey…whaddya know? I managed to ramble somewhat coherently…about the book, even. To wrap it up, I guess I can mention what the book is about a little more formally.

With demons running amok throughout the forests and mountains, a rebel army has been established to win back the land--and a new soldier has appeared out of nowhere to join them.

His name is Xan, and his past is a mystery to everyone, including Laisyn Caar--a beautiful captain in the rebel army--who is shocked by the powerful, all-consuming desire she feels in his presence.

But now isn't the time for distraction. The future of her land--and of her people--is in her hands. On top of that, she's been stripped of her magic--and without it she feels like part of her soul has been stolen away.

But when she discovers the dark secrets of Xan's agenda, it will be up to her to determine whether the man she's starting to love is a friend of her people--or a dreaded enemy…

There you go… a blurb to go with the pretty, nifty cover.

And just because you were so patient listening…um… reading my ramble, I'm going to do a giveaway. But since I didn't do much of anything awe… or commenting… inspiring...instead of asking you a question somehow related to my non-sensical ramble, how about this? We'll relate to the nifty cover.

Xan looks like he's either A) looking at something or B) thinking really hard. Which do you think and telling either what he's looking at or what's he's thinking. One random commenter wins a $20 GC to the online bookstore of their choice--open across the globe*, but I do have to be able to buy the GC from the US, though, due to geographical restrictions and all that. (Contest closes midnight, Friday 10 September 2010, New Zealand time).

Shiloh Walker
http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/

*Void where prohibited

Guest Author: Robin D. Owens

I'm delighted to host the lovely and talented Robin D. Owens on the blog today! Please give Robin a warm welcome everyone!

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Celta – And Telepathic Animal Companions

Hi, I’m Robin D. Owens and I write futuristic/fantasy romance for Berkley and women’s fantasy with romantic subplot for Luna.

I’m best known for the "Heart" series set on a planet colonized by Earth people with psi powers. After 400 years, those psi powers are more like magic – in any event, the Celtans call it Flair. Animals, too, have evolved, enough that they are telepathic to their companions. I use the Fam companions mostly as comic relief, but also as mentors and friends.

Why "Celta"? Well, the name is Owens. My ancestors came from Wales. Celtic music was big when I started writing HeartMate, and no one had done something like Celta.

As for why I set the stories on another planet, there are a couple of reasons. My second and third manuscripts (let’s forget about book 1), were romantic suspenses set in the Regency time period of England. They didn’t sell. I was discouraged and just began fooling around for myself and my critique buddies.

I had a macho hero throw divination dice. And I had him BELIEVING the prophecy..."Today you will meet your HeartMate." Now this is not something that I felt would occur in the here and now...and as I wrote, T’Ash and Zanth, his FamCat (Familiar Cat, though of course Zanth believes T’Ash is HIS FamMan), and Celta evolved...

Why HeartMates? HeartMates are fated mates, soul mate stories. When you bond with your HeartMate (the actual bond comes during sex and is a choice), you become so close that should one person die, the other will follow in a year. I’m not sure why I did this. Again, just messing around. I certainly wasn’t thinking that I’d have a whole series! So HeartMate rules evolved, too. Like the magic Flair, the Fams...the intelligent houses....

Since it IS a fated mate series, I’ve tried very hard to make it fresh every book, with new twists as to why the hero and heroine have problems and may not actually end up together. Usually one of the pair knows who their partner/HeartMate is and either woos or avoids her/him. It is illegal to tell your HeartMate that they are yours because it can take away freedom of choice for them.

Why Fams? One day I was talking to my cat Maddox as he lurked in the Main Strategic Point of the house – the hallway between stairs, office, bedroom and bathroom. "Maddox, please don’t pounce on Muse when she walks by...." As if 1) he could understand me 2) he would listen to me and 3) he would do what I wanted anyway. Maddox was the template for Zanth, and I’m sure Zanth sold the book. I’ve since written bunnies (housefluffs), cats, a puppy, cats, a Noble Hound, cats, foxes, cats, the occasional mole, and...cats.

You can find excerpts of all my work (Zanth appears on page 2 of HeartMate as he strolls in complaining of the chef) on my READS page on my website http://www.robindowens.com/reads/reads.htm . I have some cut scenes, etc. My WORLDS page has interviews with my characters – T’Ash before and after he had the tatt that the art dept put on the front cover of the reissue – maps, pics that inspired me.

Many thanks for letting me burble about Celta at you. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again,

Robin

Guest Author: Jess Granger

I'm delighted to host Jess Granger on the blog today.

As I mentioned in Friday's Book Club post, I read Jess Granger's Beyond the Rain while traveling. I absolutely loved it - the world was complex and intriguing, the characters beautifully realized, and the story just sucked me in and didn't let go. It's a book I highly recommend. Follow this link if you'd like to read an excerpt.

Please give Jess a warm welcome everyone!

The Joy of a Good Series

Hi everyone,

I am so thrilled to be here on Nalini’s blog. I’ve got a confession. I’m hugely addicted to the Psy/Changeling series. I think my addiction is getting a little out of hand. I picked up BONDS OF JUSTICE at the Berkley Book Signing at the RWA National convention, and by the end of the day, I was on chapter seven. The next morning instead of getting out of bed at the alarm and taking a shower so I could meet my editor, I picked up the book.

A half an hour later, my booty was numb from sitting on the floor of the bathroom so the light wouldn’t bother my roommate, and I still hadn’t gotten my shower. I knew I had to put it down. Fifteen minutes later, the shower went right out the window. I’d taken one the night before and my hair looked okay, right?

I rushed out the door, book in hand, only to resume reading as I waited for my editor by the fountain. That’s addiction.

So why am I so addicted? I think it’s in the nature of a series. (Or it could just be Nalini.)

The thing I love about series is that they give an author room to get complicated. In romance, so much of the arc of the story is rightly filled by the romance. A series gives an author room to flesh out the background and give you more of the world.

I had so much fun returning to Azra for BEYOND THE SHADOWS.

Here’s the blurb:

His renegade wit. Her rigid code of honor. And a betrayal so deep it could tear their world apart.

Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.

Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.

In the first book, I didn’t have much time to go into detail about the hows and whys of Azralen culture. I was able to explore the nature of Azra in greater depth in the second book. It was fun, and I find I still have more I’d like to reveal if the publishing gods let me.

So I’m afraid I’m always going to be a series reader. I’m already looking forward to Nalini’s next book. I can’t wait to see what happens. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite series? Happy reading! Jess Granger

Links:
http://www.jessgranger.com
http://www.jessgranger.com/books/beyondtheshadows

Nalini: As I was at the RWA Conference, I was able to stalk meet Jess in person. Here's a photo from the night of the RITA Ceremony (Angie Fox, Jess & Me).

Now, let's talk series! As you might guess, I adore them :)