Random Q&A: Answers

Okay, I randomly picked ten of the posted questions (plus a couple of related ones) and answered them below. If you snuck in two or three questions at once, I picked only one to answer. 

Don't worry if your question didn't get answered. We'll do this again sometime.

1. Will we get to know if Vivek gets made soon or at all?

You'll find out the answer in the GH book after ARCHANGEL'S STORM.

2. Do you plan to write another series or book beside PsyChangeling and Guild Hunter like what you do last year with Harlequin Nocturne?

No, not at this stage. I really want to focus on the GH and Psy/Ch series.

3.(a) Do you see yourself writing a story about Kit or any of the juveniles? or any of the younger characters (Keenan/ Noor, Ben/Marlee)?

(b) Have you considered or are you going to write a YA series based on the Psy/Changeling young?

(c) Are we going to get a story about Kit of the Psy/Changeling universe? I thought he was awesome in Kiss of Snow and I'd love to see about him!

These three are related, so I thought I'd answer them together.

I currently have no plans to do a stand-alone YA series based on the Psy/Changeling young. I prefer not to separate out characters into different series (which is not to say you might not see storylines featuring the younger characters within the books).

I also don't like doing big time jumps, and since everyone  mentioned above (except for Kit), is currently very young, I don't have any plans to write separate stories for them yet.

As for Kit - he's a possibility, but he's got some growing up to do yet .

4. When an angel becomes an Arcangel how does that new person gain a territory? Do they have to fight or does the Cadre meet and realign boundaries?

The latter. It's part of the angelic "political system" so to speak, that a new archangel is assigned territory and given a certain period of time to settle in (approx a hundred years) before any of the other archangels can challenge him or her.

This is referenced a little bit in ANGELS' DANCE.

5. Hi there, how do you find managing your career from NZ? I know you do travel approx how often a year do you find that happens?

With the internet, it truly doesn't matter where you're based, either in terms of the writing/editing/publishing side of things, or when it comes to connecting with readers (hi everyone!).

I travel a lot because I enjoy it, but you don't necessarily need to travel at all.

6. How long do we have to wait to find out who the Ghost is?

Only another twenty books.

*Muwahaha*

Sorry, couldn't resist. It won't be toooooo long - it's a tough secret to keep!!

7. Will you ever write a story focusing on a changeling pack other than SnowDancer or DarkRiver?

Yes. I've been thinking about a book featuring the falcons for a while. In terms of when that'll happen, I'm fairly certain it'll be after the completion of the main series arc.

8. Oh and is Venom after Jason?

No. We're going to back to Elena and Raphael. :-)

9. Will you ever write a book that shares a little of each of the Psy/Changeling couples HEA's?

I'd love to do this, but the timing isn't right yet.

10. How many more books in the Psy/Changeling series do you think you will write?

I see approx 2-4 more books until the end of this story arc. So if you're reading for that arc, you will get a satisfying conclusion.

After that, I'd like to explore aspects of the world and its characters that we haven't seen as much to date. The world is so vibrant and alive, that so long as there are stories to tell within it, I'll happily continue to write them.

Random Q&A

Questions closed. 

I'm opening the floor to questions. I promise to randomly choose and answer at least ten of the questions that come in. 

I'll close this post to questions in an hour or two depending on how many questions come in, and the answers will go up in a second post. 

Also, before you post your question, make sure it hasn't been answered in FAQ post.

Ready, set, go!

Friday Book Club

It's time to talk books! What are you reading and loving at the moment?
 

Excerpt: Tangle of Need

Last week I posted an intense excerpt from Tangle of Need. This week, I've got a fun piece that takes place during a meeting of the senior soldiers.

I hope you enjoy! (Less than a month to go till release day!)

Excerpt from Tangle of Need

“Okay, now that that’s sorted,” Elias said, glancing once again at the board on which he’d scribbled his notes. “We need to talk about—”

“Hey, Eli,” Kieran interrupted, gray-green eyes wicked with mischief. “Is that one of those scratch-and-write boards they use at elementary school?”

“What?” Unfazed, Elias continued to write on the pink slate. “You just noticed?”

Adria laughed, wondering if Sakura had given the board to her father. From beside her, Simran said, “I think it’s great.”

“You’re a girl,” Kieran pointed out. “It’s pink. Manly men spit on pink.”

Roundly booed by the females in the room, Kieran threw out his arms. “Hey, hey, I like girls.” Pure charm. “A lot.”

“Quiet,” Elias said in his no-nonsense way, “or we’ll be here all day. Next thing we need to sort out are some new training modules. We now have a climber with Level 4 certification in the group, so she’ll be doing a lesson tomorrow for those of you who climb like bears after hibernation.”

It took Adria a second—and Elias’s amused look—to realize she’d been volunteered.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Nalini Singh

Photos From Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Back in March, I went down to Flaxmere for a great evening event. As my flight came in a little early, one of the lovely staff members from the Hastings Libraries, Carla, drove me around the area. 

Since it was a beautiful day, I got some great shots. I hope you enjoy!

You can just see a vineyard at the bottom of the mountains.

Closer shot of the vineyard.

Part of the ceiling of the Hawke's Bay Opera House. It's a stunning building - if you ever get a chance to visit, definitely check it out!

Friday Book Club

Book club time!

I finished reading Salmon Fishing In the Yemen by Paul Torday earlier this week - it's definitely not a romance, but I found it a compelling read. It's comic in a very sardonic, dark way. Have any of you read it? What did you think?

Okay, your turn. What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Excerpt: Tangle of Need

Never say I don't listen to you. As requested, here's another small excerpt from Tangle of Need. I had the choice between an intense one and a fun one, and I chose intense. I'll put up the other one late next week. 

This takes place during Hawke and Sienna's mating ceremony, and yep, you do get to see the entire ceremony in the book.

Hope you enjoy!

Excerpt from Tangle of Need

Matthias’s jaw brushed her hair. “No pressure, darling.” They danced in warm silence until Adria caught a scent that made her spine lock—right before Matthias said, “I think someone’s about to steal you away.”

Not wanting to make a scene and mar the celebration, she didn’t protest when Matthias stepped back. “Take care of my girl,” he warned.

Riaz muttered something pithy in Spanish that made Matthias laugh, but all Adria could hear as he took her into his arms was the frantic beat of her pulse, thudding in time to his own. Too fast, both of them, their skin too hot. 

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered, her voice stripped bare.

Riaz’s answer sounded torn out of him. “I can’t stop myself.” 

He shifted her closer, the move so unexpected, she didn’t resist—and found herself plastered to the hard strength of him. His arousal pushed into her abdomen, the hot male scent of him seeping into her veins until she could taste the dark forests and biting citrus of him against her tongue.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Nalini Singh
 

Archangel's Storm

I'm currently going over the copy-edited manuscript of Archangel's Storm. I should have an excerpt for you with the next set of website updates! If you haven't seen the backcover blurb, you can check it out here.

How's your week going?

German Book Tour

I'm super excited to share details of the book tour I'll be doing in Germany in June this year, together with author Lara Adrian. I hope to see some of you at the convention and/or signings! :-)

June 2nd-3rd

Berlin

Love Letter Convention

June 4th, 6PM

Mannheim

Thalia Mannheim

P7, Auf den Planken

68161 Mannheim

June 5th, 5PM

Trier

Thalia Trier

Grabenstraße 14

54290 Trier

June 8th, 3PM

Limburg

Thalia Limburg                                  

Neumarkt 3-5

65549 Limburg

June 9th, 3PM

Dortmund

MayerscheBuchhandlung

Westenhellweg 37-41

44137 Dortmund

Egmont Lyx Facebook Events Page

Podcast!

I did an impromptu interview with Sarah Wendell at RT and the podcast is now up! We had so much fun with this, and I think it shows. ;-) I hope you enjoy listening to it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday Book Club

The Friday Book Club is now open! What are you reading and loving at the moment?

I've been on a historical kick and really need to post about some of the wonderful books I've recently devoured, including Blame It On Bath by Caroline Linden. If you like marriage of convenience stories, this is a great one!

RT Roundup

I'm home! We had such a stunning view coming in to land yesterday morning - I think the approach to Auckland Airport (above) is one of the most beautiful in the world. Once, I even saw horses running in the paddock below!

My first RT Convention was a wonderful experience. It's a very friendly, laid-back convention, and all the readers I spoke to - whether they were newbies like me, or regular attendees - said they'd loved it. So it's definitely something to check out if it'll be in your neck of the woods, even if you only go to the book signing on Saturday. I believe next year's location is Kansas City.

This year, of course, it was in Chicago - and here's a shot of the Chicago skyline from my hotel room.

I saw so many people over the week, old friends and new, and when I was downloading the photos, I realized I took hardly any. Like at the Aussie/Kiwi dinner I attended the night I got there, and at the breakfast I had with several of the other Berkley authors the next day - it was a fantastic start to the convention. So apologies to anyone I forget to mention - there was so much happening, it's all a bit of a blur.

Onto the photos I did actually take!

This one's from when I had lunch with Ilona and Gordon Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, and the camera-shy Shiloh Walker. I'd met Jeaniene before, but it was my first time meeting Ilona and Gordon. While I always knew Ilona was from Russia, I never quite thought about the fact that she might have a Russian accent. She does! And it's adorable!

After lunch, Jeaniene and I were on a panel with Charlaine Frost (who is incredibly nice). We had a blast, and I think the audience did, too - so many people attended that the hotel staff had to enlarge the room by folding back a wall. So as someone said, we literally brought down the wall! The moderator Morgan Doremus, was brilliant. You can read a detailed writeup of the panel on the RT blog.

Not that day, but the day prior, I also had a chance to talk to the great group of booksellers and librarians attending RT. It was a fun chat, and the Q&A session went by super fast.

This shot was taken in the Red Bar which was meeting central for pretty much everyone. I met this fantastic group of readers in there and had a wonderful time chatting with them. 

 

This is a picture of Julie James' divine chocolate cake. I have no photo of Julie, but really, it's all about the cake. Julie found out she hit the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists while at the convention, so it was awesome being able to celebrate with her. (I split a chocolate ice-cream bar with Sarah from SBTB and it was delish.)

What is this you say? It's the light fixture above the elevator bank at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare! How fabulous is it?!

I took the above shot before the Giant Book Fair started on Saturday. That's why you can see all that space. Trust me, it wasn't there after the doors opened! I was placed between JR Ward and James Rollins. I had a chance to chat to JR Ward before the signing and she was just lovely. Her mom was also there, and she's a wonderful lady to talk to - especially since she loved the red shoes I wore to the RT Awards Ceremony. ;-)

The signing itself was insanity! Of the best kind! I heard from readers that some of them had been in line since six a.m. (the signing started at 10.45am) to make sure they got to the front of the queue and met their favorite authors. I have been told my line was just a wee bit crazy, but I couldn't actually see it as I was sitting down, signing. I appreciated every one of you who came! I had a brilliant time talking with you all.

Here is a photo from the signing that RT tweeted. I am obviously in very intense conversation (probably about the Ghost!). Talking of the Ghost, that was the topic I was quizzed on the entire convention. One reader sprung the question on me without warning at the signing - I think she was hoping I would just spit it out. Lol!

I have to give a special shout out to all around cool person Angela James who stayed with me for two hours, helping to manage the line. She handed out sticky-notes to everyone to make sure I spelled names correctly...and I still managed to get one wrong (gah!). However, that book is now one of a kind, because I drew a brilliant artistic picture to cover up my error. *grin*

I saw this board toward the end of the convention, and thought it was such a fun idea. If you click on the shot, you can enlarge it. Basically, it asked people to share the names of their favorite characters.

And last but very much not least, at the RT Awards, I was honored to be presented with a Career Achievement Award for Paranormal Romance. Kiss of Snow also won the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance.

There is so much I haven't mentioned *cough-shopping spree with Angela and Jane-cough* so if you were there, feel free to jump in!

Oh, one more thing - lots of people asked me how long it took to fly to Chicago, so here it is: from Auckland to Los Angeles, it's approx 13 hours. From Los Angeles to Chicago, it's about 4. So 17-18 hours actual flight time. Add in the layovers and travel time to get to and from the airport, and we're talking well over twenty-four hours. 

However, there is an upside to all the traveling. I've had Cooper and Grace's story in my head for a while now, and I wrote some scenes during the convention, but yesterday and today, while I was waiting for flights, and during the trip itself, I started working on it in earnest and did something like seventeen thousand words. It's all very rough, but I'm fairly certain this is going to be a courtship story - let's just say Coop's got some moves.

Friday Book Club

...coming to you from another timezone today! What are you reading and loving at the moment?

My most recent read was a reread - Anne Gracie's The Perfect Waltz. It was my plane book, and I loved it just as much as the first time I read it.

RT

Like all conventions and conferences, this one is turning out to be centered around food - I've had coffee dates and dinners and next I've got a lunch date (with Gordon & Ilona Andrews). I shall have trouble fitting into my clothes at this rate. ;-)

After lunch, I'm on a panel with Charlaine Harris and Jeaniene Frost, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

I hope you're all having a good day...and eating as much as I am!!

p.s. I have taken some pictures, but I'm having some difficulties posting them, so I'll do that when I'm back in NZ.

Chicago: RT Convention

Greetings from Chicago! I'm currently sitting in my hotel room looking out at the sunny view of the city in the distance. The hotel is buzzing with people here for the RT Convention - I had dinner last night with a group of Aussies and Kiwis (both real and honorary), and it was a great way to start things off. This morning, I'm off to breakfast with the other Berkley/Jove authors.

If you're attending the convention or the book fair, I look forward to seeing you. If you're not, never fear - I'll keep you updated!

FAQ: Ashwini & Janvier

Continuing the FAQ series:

Will Ashwini and Janvier from "Angels' Pawn" get a book?

I love these two! I would very much like to write a book about them, but there is also the chance that their story will be told through the series. We shall see how things develop. As it is, you'll see more of both of them, since Janvier is relocating to New York.

Blog Comments & Friday Book Club

Before we jump into the book club, I have a quick request. If you've had trouble commenting on the blog, please email Gabrielle (gabrielle AT gabrielleluthy DOT com), and let her know how you were trying to sign in - as anonymous, name/URL, or another type of login, and what happened when you tried to post.

Also, if you commented on last week's book club post without problem, please also email her with the same information, so she knows where there aren't any issues. 

Thank you!

Now, onto the book club. What are you reading and loving this week? 

Excerpt: Tangle of Need

Less than two months till Tangle of Need hits the shelves! It's a bit too early to begin the countdown, but I thought I'd post up another small bite of book in the meantime. Enjoy!

Excerpt from Tangle of Need

(The characters are just leaving the area being replanted).

Laughing, the three of them headed for the truck. Hawke jumped into the flatbed at the back, alongside Riaz. As they were the final three to leave, it was a peaceful if yet barren view that drew away from them when Felix started the engine and began the journey home.

Back propped against the cab of the truck, Riaz let the wind rifle through his hair, grunting when the ride turned bumpy. “Doesn’t this thing have hover facility?”

“I’d answer but I think I just lost a tooth.”

The hydraulics sounded on the heels of Hawke’s words, creaking and groaning before they successfully lifted the truck off the ground.

“It’s well past time we replaced this,” the alpha said, patting the side of the truck. “But Eli was the one who originally bought it for the pack, and he’s attached to the rust bucket. I think he calls it Sheila.”

“Sheila?” Riaz grinned. This was why he’d come home, heart-bruised and licking his wounds, wary of the solitude that had always been so integral to his nature. No one could fix the hurt, but his pack . . . they gave him the gift of laughter, wrapped him in warmth, and kept him busy.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Nalini Singh

p.s. We have a temporary fix in place so everyone should be able to comment. Fingers crossed!

Julie James - About That Night

Julie James is one of my go-to authors for smart, sexy contemporary romance and About That Night was no exception. I raced through Kyle and Rylann's story - and spent much of the book with a smile on my face.

If you're looking for a great contemporary romance, definitely check out Julie's books.

Here's the blurb for About That Night:

He’s playing games.

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

But she’s making the rules.

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten. 

You can also read an excerpt on Julie's site.

We often talk about paranormal authors on the blog - how about discussing your favorite contemporary romance authors/books today? Which authors do you love?

p.s. I know there's an issue with some of you being unable to comment - we're working on it, and hope to have it sorted soon!

FAQ: Elena & Raphael

I get certain questions multiple times a week (sometimes several times a day!), so I thought I'd answer some of them on the blog for easy reference.

Will there be another Elena/Raphael book?

Yes, absolutely. At this stage, I can't confirm in which book they'll take center stage again, but it won't be too far off.

Will Elena and Raphael be having a baby?

There is no baby in their near future. Quite aside from the fact that the angels have a lower birth rate, you have to remember that Elena has only been an angel for a number of months according to the timeline of the books. She needs time to grow and settle into her new life.

Current and next year's release dates

(Edited to update for 2015 & 2016)
 
I've had a few questions about release dates for next year, so here are all the dates I have at present.

2014

Shield of Winter - June 2014 / paperback December 30th

There was a man standing on the path between the snow-kissed trees. No, not a man. A soldier. Over six feet tall with broad shoulders, his posture was unyielding, his stillness absolute, his eyes a chill gray, and his hair black.

- from Shield of Winter

Archangel's Shadows - October 28, 2014

"Secrets at Midnight" in the Night Shift Anthology - November 25, 2014

2015

Rock Hard - March 10th

Shards of Hope - June
Post with more info: What's Next for the Psy/Changeling Series

Archangel's Enigma - September

Untitled Rock Kiss book - featuring Noah

2016

Untitled Psy-Changeling #15

(This page is continually updated, so check back later in the year for updated information!)

Tangle of Need ARC Contest Winners

Thanks for all the entries in the ARC contest everyone! The random numbers have been run and the winners of the Tangle of Need ARCs are:

Malgorzata R.

Megan B.

CF (Caitlin) - (catydi...@...)

Congratulations! Official confirmation emails will be heading out to you within the next hour.

 

Friday Book Club

Hi everyone! I know I've been AWOL on the blog these past few weeks, but I'll be back with more posts in the coming week.

Now, it's time to talk about your current reads. What are you loving at the moment? 

 

B&N Feature

I'm currently the featured author at Barnes&Noble, talking about a few of my favorite books/series. Swing by and have a peek if you're looking for recommendations. You might find something new to read. :-)

I hope you all had a great weekend. What are your plans for the week?

Friday Book Club

...coming to you on Saturday. :)

What are you reading and loving at the moment? I'm all about Archangel's Storm!

Tangle of Need ARC contest

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

If you'd like to go in the random draw to win one of three Advanced Reading/Review Copies of Tangle of Need, send an e-mail to naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom with "Tangle of Need ARC Contest" in the subject line by 7pm Friday March 30th, 2012, New Zealand time.

Please follow the correct format for entry re the subject line, so your e-mail goes into the right in-box. Thanks!

(Your e-mail will only be used to contact you should you win.)

Since these are Advanced Reading/Review Copies, if you win, I'd ask that you please post a review somewhere, on or before the release date (May 29th, 2012) - on a blog, on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads...it's up to you, but it would be much appreciated if you'd post your thoughts somewhere. The contents of the review are, of course, totally up to you, but I would request that you not share any major spoilers until after the book is out.

A note about the ARC - it's substantially the same as the final book, but since ARCs are printed prior to the final round of edits, there are some errors in the text that aren't in the final book.

I'll give each winner 48 hours to respond to the email indicating they've won. If I don't hear back within that time, I'll redraw. By entering, you give me permission to post your name on the blog should you win.

The fine print: Contest is open internationally. One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name(s) posted on this blog on Saturday, March 31st, 2012. Void where prohibited.

International Cover: Beat of Temptation - Thai

Isn't this just lovely? The book actually also includes "Stroke of Enticement". Releasing late March.

Friday Book Club

Book club time! What are you reading and loving this week?

p.s. I suppose this is technically a Saturday book club this week since it's just past midnight in NZ as I post this!

Trash talking Kiwis and an Aussie

Since I have a book due verra soon, I don't plan to campaign for the DABWAHA this year. Instead, I'm going to sit back and enjoy the show.

HOWEVER, when I was called out in a scurrilous fashion by a certain Ms. Bliss and Ms. Mayberry, I did feel duty bound to respond. Here's just a sample of their trash talk: 

"Hey Singh! Hawke's father was a cat and his mother rolled in DarkRiver mud."

Follow the link to see my response to this declaration of war. (And to think I considered them friends!)

Archangel's Storm & RT

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know that I always work on at least one printed out draft of a manuscript. At the moment, I'm entering the changes I made to the printed out draft of Archangel's Storm, into the computer file. Once that's done, I'll start another edit from page one. 

No excerpts yet - I might be able to post something in April.

Talking of April, I'll be at the RT Convention in Chicago in April. Even if you're not attending the convention, you can attend the giant bookfair on Saturday April 14th for a small entry fee (I think it's $5). Looks like there'll be several hundred authors there. This is going to be my first RT and I'm really looking forward to it.

Hope you're all having a good start to the week!

Friday Book Club

It's book club time! What are you reading and loving at the moment?

My most recent reads have been Fair Game by Patricia Briggs, and a reread of Absolutely, Positively by Jayne Ann Krentz. Both were fantastic!

Okay, your turn. :)
 

Checking In

Fly by post today! How are you all? I hope March is treating you kindly.

Some linkage:

Friend and fellow author Yvonne Lindsay is giving away a copy of Archangel's Blade on her blog.

DABWAHA has kicked off. The voting hasn't yet started, but the the site is open for you to add your nominations to those already listed. Follow this link to read all about it. 

Check out this amazing collection of images created by Russian artist Vladimir Manyuhin of his vision of the post-apocalyptic world.

Seen anything else interesting on the web lately? Leave the link in the comments. :-)

Friday Book Club

...coming to you on a stormy New Zealand Saturday. What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Cover Love: Archangel's Storm!!

What an awesome day it is today - Angels' Flight is now out (woohoo!) and I can share the amazing cover for Archangel's Storm (out September).

My heart stopped when I saw this cover, it's so beautiful. I love it to pieces!!!! The hair, the wings, the background, the sword, it has everything I wanted! I'm not sure if you can see the facial tattoo on this size image (click the cover for a larger image), but trust me, it's there! 

Huge thanks to artist Tony Mauro and the Berkley Art Department!

Interview, Hawke's Bay, & Tangle of Need

Hey everyone! Hope you had a great weekend and the week's getting off to a good start.

First up, I have an interview up at the Book Pushers today, talking about the Guild Hunter series.

Also, a reminder about my appearance March 1st at the Flaxmere Library for those of you in the lower North Island.

I'm shifting focus from Archangel's Storm to Tangle of Need today as the typeset pages have just landed. This is the final time an author sees the book before publication - time to catch any sneaky typos or other errors that might have slipped in. Plus, it's a chance to read the book again!

And last but definitely not least, only one more day to go until Angels' Flight hits the stores!

Friday Book Club

Time to talk books!  What are you reading and loving at the moment? I recently reread Jayne Ann Krentz's Sweet Fortune - got to love Hatch!

And here are couple of quotes to take you into the weekend (5 days to go till the release date!)

"You pinned his wings to a wall with seven crossbow bolts."

 ~ from "Angels' Pawn" part of the ANGELS' FLIGHT Anthology

He said, "It's more comfortable here," in a low purr of a tone.

It was a dare, no doubt about it.

~ from "Angels' Dance" part of the ANGELS' FLIGHT Anthology

JD Robb Giveaway Winners

The random numbers have been run and these are the winners of the copies of JD Robb's Celebrity In Death. 

1. Liz. C
2. Sarah
3. Maris
4. Anneela
5. Occam's Firefly

Congratulations! Please email your mailing address to naliniDOTassistantATgmailDOTcom within the next 72 hours to claim your book. :-)

 

Writing

Had a wonderful insight into one of the characters in ARCHANGEL'S STORM earlier tonight - it colors everything in the book to date, so I'll need to do another run through the draft, but it's totally worth it!

Here's today's countdown quote:

He didn't budge.
"Release me."
"It's an insult you've given me, Jessamy." 

~ Galen and Jessamy in "Angels' Dance" part of the ANGELS' FLIGHT Anthology (8 days to go!)

Angels' Flight - 9 Days to Go!

Pushing off the door, she walked very quietly to the bed and sat down on the edge. "I thought they made you up. Like the bogeyman."

"The Guild recruits and trains some of the deadliest men and women in the world. We need a bogeyman."

~ Sara and Deacon in "Angels' Judgment" part of the ANGELS' FLIGHT Anthology

p.s. The JD Robb giveaway closes tomorrow, so don't forget to enter if you haven't already.

Angels' Flight Countdown

ANGELS' FLIGHT releases Feb 28th! Woohoo! I thought I'd do a countdown to the release date by sharing short pieces from the novellas. Here's the first one!

She stepped out of reach. "Go put on a shirt and get your mind out of bed."
"Impossible with you around."
"Pretend I'm holding a rifle. In fact, pretend I have you in the crosshairs."
Janvier sighed, rubbing at a jaw shadowed by morning stubble. "I love it when you talk dirty."

~ Ashwini and Janvier in "Angels' Pawn", part of the ANGELS' FLIGHT Anthology
 (An "Angels' Pawn" excerpt is also available on the website).

Friday Book Club

The book club is now open! What have you been reading and enjoying this week?

 

JD Robb - Celebrity In Death

It's no secret that I'm a huge, huge fan of JD Robb, so when my New Zealand publisher, Hachette, which publishes the In Death series here under its Piatkus imprint, asked me if I'd like some extra copies to give away as part of their release week celebrations, I jumped at the chance to share my JD Robb love with you all. 

I cannot wait to read this myself, but I promise I won't steal one of these five giveaway copies! ;-)

Here's the blurb:

The latest novel in J.D Robb's addictive 'In Death' series, where Eve Dallas specialises in tracking down those who break the law – including the ones sworn to uphold it.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no party girl, but she's managing to have a reasonably good time at the celebrity‐packed bash celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of her famous cases. It's a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long‐lost twin. Not as unsettling, though, as seeing the actress who plays Peabody drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director's luxury building.

Talented but rude and widely disliked, K.T. Harris had made an embarrassing scene during dinner. Now she's at the centre of a crime scene and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster, to step into the role she was born to play: cop.

To enter the random draw, leave a comment on this post on the main blog (rather than the Goodreads feed), with your answer to one of these questions, by 5pm Tuesday Feb 21st 2012, New Zealand time.

If you're a JD Robb fan, what do you love about these books?

If you're new to the In Death books, are you tempted to give them a go?

The fine print: Contest is open internationally. One entry per household. No purchase necessary to enter. Winner(s) will be chosen randomly using random.org and his or her name(s) posted on this blog on Wednesday Feb 22nd, 2012. Winner(s) will have 72 hours to contact us at the email given in the announcement in order to claim their book. Void where prohibited.

(p.s. The author of this post didn't receive any compensation for raving about the series - she's a crazy, mad fan happy to talk about these books to anyone who'll listen!

p.p.s. Roarke is mine.)

Happy Valentine's Day

It's Feb 14th in NZ so Happy Valentine's Day from me to you! Whether you're head over heels for someone or fabulously single, whether you love the day or not so much, I hope you have a wonderful one. :-)

If you like these chibi, you can check out more on the Fan page of the website, under the Fan Art section: http://nalinisingh.com/fan.php

Friday Book Club

It's time to talk books! What're you reading and loving at the moment?
 

A Bit of Bollywood

There was a comment on one of the earlier posts requesting more Bollywood, so here you go! I haven't actually seen the movie this is from, but the song is very romantic. Enjoy! 

(Actors are John Abraham & Genelia D'Souza).

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Event

When: March 1st 2012, 5.30pm - doors open 5.20pm 

Where: Flaxmere Library, Swansea Road, Flaxmere (behind Waterworld) 

Tickets: Entry is free but this is a ticketed event. Limited seats. Tickets available from the Flaxmere, Hastings or Havelock North Libraries. Book sales will be available.

Hope to see some of you there! It'll be a relaxed evening and I'll be taking questions from the audience, as well as chatting about books, works in progress and more.

Italian Cover: Archangel's Kiss

Isn't this gorgeous?! Released Feb 2nd, publisher Nord. :-)

Friday Book Club

Wow, it's Friday already! What have you been reading this week? 

I recently read The Bro Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, after seeing this review on Dear Author (complete with a few snippets from the book), and I'm so glad I did. I absolutely loved it! I was reading it on the treadmill and laughed so hard at one stage, I almost fell off. 

The story is about Johnny Smith - he's the kind of guy other guys love. He's been best man eight times and random strangers love his speeches so much, they ask him to be best man for them, too.

But women? They don't love Johnny so much, and all Johnny really wants is to find a woman who doesn't hate him, fall in love, and get married. So he decides to become a "better" version of himself, complete with throw pillows and a love of opera.

This book left me with such a good feeling at the end. I thought Johnny was a wonderful hero, and the story is as sweet as it is funny. Totally recommended.

Your turn! 

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.