The end...not quite!

As far as word counts, I find I'm usually just on the mark. Rarely do I go over which is why PICTURE PERFECT is proving to be such a surprise for me.

Last night, I hit the 60000 word mark, which would usually do me. However, my characters have loads more to say, an absolute first for me! I'm hoping to wind them up tonight before letting them rest and getting into the editing process.

Ally Blake has an amazing talent for writing over word count then doing slashing afterwards. I find it so hard to cut words that I hope I don't go too far over. Otherwise I'll be sending an SOS Ally's way!

So why the gorgeous island pic?

Because for this book I made another lovely collage but haven't used it half as much as the sheikh book, yet the words flowed anyway. Interesting?

That said, the collage gives me a really good feel for the story which I find important in the revising process, so maybe I'll get to stare at it a while longer. The weird thing is I loved my first collage so much I still haven't taken it down! So my entire pinboard is taken up with both collages. Then again, I haven't had revisions for the sheikh book yet so the collage might get another good workout yet.

When flying words come to a grinding halt

I got back into PICTURE PERFECT with a vengeance last night. Wrote over 5000 words in the blink of an eye.

Okay, so it's not quite as easy as that but sometimes those words just seem to fly and oh, do I love that feeling...

The interesting thing is I usually have a very clear idea of how my books will end, it's the middle stuff that's hardest. With this book, the middle scenes have flowed but I have no idea about the upcoming scenes!

Judd and Abby are on a plane leaving Sapphire Island bound for Sydney as we speak but Judd's game plan has changed and he's hanging around Sydney rather than travelling into the wild blue yonder as usual. He wants more than a friendship, Abby doesn't and they seem a bit stuck (read: the author is very stuck!!)

Will be interesting to see if inspiration strikes some time over the next few days. Usually, it happens at the oddest of times, like in the supermarket aisle or while dozing off for a nap, so here's hoping! The ending is so close...

A few days ago Ally Blake blogged about motifs in her writing, a piece I found fascinating. I've never noticed them in my own writing but strangely enough, frangipanis seem to be a recurring feature in PICTURE PERFECT. I adore frangipanis (they remind me of the many romantic trips I've done to Bali with hubby) and their fragrance is highly evocative for me.

Interesting how we have subtle themes running through our books sometimes without realising it...

I'm a Cataromance finalist again!

Thanks to Trish Wylie, I've just discovered I'm a Cataromance Reviewers' Choice finalist again! With more than 1 book in more than 1 category!! Woo hoo!!!

INHERITED: BABY is up for Best Harlequin Romance and FOUND: HIS FAMILY has been nominated twice, once for Best Silhouette Romance and Best Mills and Boon.

I'm thrilled!

Here's a list of all the finalists in those 2 categories. (Some huge names, with many of my buddies in there. Yay!)

BEST HARLEQUIN ROMANCE

Her Christmas Wedding Wish Judy Christenberry Harlequin Romance November 1, 2006
Inherited: Baby Nicola Marsh Mills & Boon December 1, 2006
Project: Parenthood Trish Wylie Harlequin Romance November 1, 2006
Long Lost Father Melissa James Harlequin Romance October 1, 2006
Wanted: Outback Wife Ally Blake Harlequin Romance October 1, 2006
The Sheikh's Guarded Heart Liz Fielding Mills and Boon September 1, 2006

BEST SILHOUETTE ROMANCE

How To Marry a Billionaire Ally Blake Silhouette Romance November 1, 2006
Blind-Date Marriage Fiona Harper Silhouette Romance December 1, 2006
Rescued by Mr. Right Shirley Jump Silhouette Romance October 1, 2006
The Rancher Takes a Wife Judy Christenberry Silhouette Romance September 1, 2006
Found: His Family Nicola Marsh Silhouette Romance October 1, 2006
The Cinderella Factor Sophie Weston Silhouette Romance September 1, 2006
Nanny and the Beast Donna Clayton Silhouette Romance August 1, 2006
Her Millionaire Boss Jennie Adams Mills & Boon October 1, 2006
Here With Me Holly Jacobs Silhouette Romance July 1, 2006
One Man and a Baby Susan Meier Silhouette Romance July 1, 2006
The Bride's Best Man Judy Christenberry Silhouette Romance July 1, 2006

Phew, a tough field or what!

(And a special mention goes to my buddy Fiona Lowe, who has triple finalled in the Best Medical category with her first 3 books! )

Sold! Book 12

I've just sold my 12th book!!
PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE is my 3rd Modern Extra sale, and my 3rd ModEx release for this year.
It will hit the shelves in October.
This book is special because it's one of my early books, the 4th I ever wrote.
Back then in 2002, I had no idea which line I was targetting. Temptation was my favourite to read so Male For Sale was aimed at them. After dashing off the partial and not letting it sit(!) I sent it off, only to receive a standard rejection.
In the meantime, The Tycoon's Dating Deal was under consideration with the Mills and Boon UK office and this turned out to be my first published book.
So, Male for Sale has been sitting around in my PC collecting cyber dust.
Thankfully, not any longer!
As I'm waxing lyrical about the whole writing process of a book from start to finish, pop back tomorrow and I'll go through the interesting learning curve for transforming an old book into a sale.
In the meantime, I'll leave you with Wentworth Miller, the inspiration behind Navy SEAL Tyler James in the new version, PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE. (I'll give you the lowdown of how he's 'purchased for pleasure' at a man auction tomorrow too!)

My first Sexy Sensation!

Hot off the press, here is the cover for my first Sexy Sensation BIG-SHOT BACHELOR!

So what do you think?

Don't they look perfectly natural and very, very happy?

The Sexy Sensation covers to date have been really hot! Loads of smooching, sexy clinches and bare flesh.

Mine feels almost tame in comparison ;)

This book is to be released in Australia in May so watch out for it.

For those who want a sneak peek, it's still available here.

In other Sexy Sensation news, I've just discovered TWO-WEEK MISTRESS will be released in Australia in July, the same month as my next Sweet release PRINCESS AUSTRALIA. Should be a busy month!

I'm planning on getting back into the writing tonight, seeing as I'm out tomorrow night doing the dinner thing with the physio girls. However, after doing kinder duty this morning, grocery shopping and cooking a lamb roast tonight, I'm bushed! Going to be one of those nights to force myself to sit in front of the computer, methinks....

Big boy

So who's a big boy now?

My 3 year old, that's who!

Yesterday was the first day of kinder. Actually, it's pre-kinder and we're doing one morning a week to start off with to see how we go. (Interpretation? To see how mummy copes without her darling little boy at home!)

He loved it!
And mummy wandered around the shops next door feeling a tad lost. Did some boring grocery shopping, went to the bank, bought a magazine and had a yummy choc mint ice chiller at Gloria Jean's. It was great!

Next week, I'll be prepared. Alphie will come with me and while I have another of those choc mint yummies, I'll see how many words I can do.
Though I haven't written in the daytime for a long, long time...but with a choc mint or two under my belt I'm sure I'll be inspired :)

How I write a book

Both my buddies Ally Blake and Trish Wylie are going through the writing process on their blogs at the moment, and it's really interesting to see how different authors tackle the writing process.

Considering I've just finished and handed in my next Romance, and have to start my next Modern Extra rather quickly to finish before baby arrives, I think I'll play along too.

So stay tuned for the start of a new book!

And the process from beginning to end though I warn you, I'm not a visual writer (so don't use loads of fab pics like Ally) and I'm not as elaborate with planning my characters as Trish, so this 'how I write a book' series might be short and sweet!!!

So far, I have a title: PICTURE PERFECT.

And a vague idea of characters, which I will begin to flesh out tomorrow...

The fun of author copies

Okay, I can't help but post this cover pic again, I love it so much!

The author copies for TWO-WEEK MISTRESS just arrived on my doorstep and the excitement of ripping open that cardboard box and holding my book in print for the first time never, ever wans.

I particularly enjoy reading the blurb and seeing what the eds have come up with. Here's what we have for this book:

Won over by a wombat, and one sexy guy...

Sexy, successful children's writer Bo Bradford prefers his life private and straightforward, with no complications-especially not pretty blonde ones like Tahnee Lewis, whom he's hired to illustrate his latest book.

But when he realises that Tahnee's undoubted artistic talents can bring to life his latest character Wally the Wombat, Bo does what any sensible bloke would and makes the most of the situation-by proposing a neat two-week affair with simple rules: no strings, no silly falling in love...

But when her fortnight's up can Tahnee forced herself to walk away from Wally and his impossible, infuriating, irresistible creator...?

I loved starting each chapter with an excerpt from author Bo's blog, and creating cute little Aussie critters like Wally the Wombat, Kaz the Kangaroo and Prue the Platypus to name a few. Did I mention this was another fave book of mine? :)

New cover!

I love the excitement of seeing a new cover.

And this one is no exception!

While my first Modern Extra, BIG-SHOT BACHELOR is currently on UK shelves, here's the cover for my next, TWO-WEEK MISTRESS, out in March.

Tahnee and Bo do have a picnic near Sydney Harbour and this kiss captures the mood of that picnic perfectly.

And I love the sun glinting through. Very evocative.

I know BIG-SHOT BACHELOR was a fave book, but I reckon this one equals it. It was so much fun writing a sparky heroine who delights in bringing the reclusive author out of his shell.

And starting each chapter with an excerpt from the hero's blog (featuring Wally the Wombat) was another bit of fun I couldn't resist!

First book syndrome...second time around!

My first Modern Extra, BIG-SHOT BACHELOR, has now hit the shelves in the UK and I'm going through the same feelings that every author goes through when their first book is released.

Uncertainty. Nerves. Panic.

Will people like this book?

Will they think I'm a fraud?

Or worse, will they think I'm a one-book wonder?

This book is my 9th release but my first in this line and the feelings are back. So far, I've had my editor read it and love it (she said I depicted boho Melbourne so well she wanted to jump on a plane and head down here straight away, and she loved Ariel so much she wanted to be her best friend) so that was high praise and soothed the nerves for a while.

I've also had a 4 and a 1/2 star review from Cataromance recently but that's it. I haven't heard from anyone else who has read it.

So the nerves are working overtime!

Better head off to brunch and soothe them :)

And the sex is...

In all the excitement/exhaustion of Christmas and the New Year, I think I forgot to reveal the teeny-weeny detail of what I'm having in May?
Due to the terrible morning sickness (that is such a misnomer when it lasts from when you open your eyes in the morning to when you close them last thing at night!) most people swore I was having a girl. I'd almost convinced myself too because no way was I this sick first time around.
So, what's the verdict?
Like I said, the doc isn't 100% sure as the glimpse was fleeting. For me, it was long enough to see something between those legs...
IT'S A BOY!!!!!!
I'm really thrilled, as some small insane part of me thinks boys are easier to raise than girls? I know, I know, leave me to my delusions till they hit the teenage years at least!
Mind you, I know of someone who was told they were definitely having a boy only to have a girl pop out at the business end. Apparently, it had been a hand they'd seen between the legs at ultrasound time!!!
So now you all know :)

Latest reviews

Here are a few snippets from the latest reviews of my current release, INHERITED: BABY and my upcoming first Modern Extra, BIG-SHOT BACHELOR. (Head on over to Cataromance to read the full reviews!)

Awe inspiring characters combined with an incredible story Inherited: Baby by Nicola Marsh tells the story of a woman whose inspirational spirit to live her life her way and is able to succeed in getting the man of her dreams. I really enjoyed Maya and Riley because they both were able to understand what was at stake and how to overcome their problems to make their relationship work. I loved how Riley was able to learn what was important to him, and have the guts to go after it. Ms. Marsh is an author I always enjoy reading and Inherited: Baby is another book that will stay with me long after I’ve finished it.

And more!

Nicola Marsh writes a down-to-earth romance that will appeal to everyone as Big-Shot Bachelor has for me. I loved reading how Ariel and Cooper connected, and how Cooper learnt that love comes in many forms and ways. I also enjoyed the relationship between Cooper and his father, the in-depth way Ms Marsh was able to delve with this father – son relationship gave the story a lot more personality. You need to read Big-Shot Bachelor because it gives you a romance that will stay with you.

Hoping to pop back in before the New Year but if I don't make it, I wish you all a wonderful start to 2007!

Editor interview!

Over at the Pink Heart Society, we've had a bit of a coup with Mills and Boon London editor Jenny Hutton doing an interview for us.
It really is enlightening and if you ever wanted to know about the road to publication from an editor's point of view, make sure you head on over and check it out!

In more mundane stuff, I went out last night for dinner with a group of old physio uni friends (for what seemed like the first time in months, and yes, I actually ate food and it stayed down!) and they were all chatting about the physio conference in Palm Cove next year. Then one of the girls asked me 'do you miss being a physio?' to which I responded with an instant, vehement, straight from the heart 'no way!'
Everyone laughed but it really made me think how I've had such a drastic job change and how much I love it. Writing is a passion. It's a part of me. It makes me happy. And it pays the bills.
What more could I ask for?

On sale now!

I just found out that my current release, INHERITED: BABY, out now in North America isn't on the shelves in the UK so if you want to grab a copy, you'll have to go via the Mills and Boon website.


And while you're there, pop across to the Modern Romance section and pick up an advanced copy of BIG-SHOT BACHELOR, my first Modern Extra, out next month!

Go on, spoil yourself for Christmas.

You know you want to!

Looking glam?

This is pretty funny so just had to share.

I meet with a group of really close writing buddies once every few months. We chat, we laugh and we eat! These gals are the best and I'm so lucky that our writing brought us together. Their friendship is precious.
I've missed our last get-together because of the morning sickness, so they all came to me on Saturday bearing food and pressies. Copious amounts of both, including birthday pressies for me from October.

With all the chatting and catching up, I didn't get to open my pressies till later. Being the good girl, I always open cards first so imagine my surprise when I opened the first to discover "HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY"! I had a good chuckle and wasn't going to say anything but when I opened the next card and it had the same...well, needless to say I had tears rolling down my face! ( of laughter!)

Now, I know I look pretty bad at the moment. Most people tell me how pale/exhausted/etc...I look, which I'm not surprised about considering this constant morning sickness.
However, my Nan's 82 and has barely a wrinkle, my mum's in her sixties and looks fabulous and I'm proud to say I don't have one single wrinkle (the greys are another story!) My web pic was taken last year (and yes, I'm wearing makeup) but I reckon I don't look too bad for my age?
Yes, 40 is my next major birthday coming all too quickly but I'm not there yet!!

Of course, this mistake (an honest one later explained by my friend) led to much hilarity for the rest of the lunch and hubby thought it was too funny!!! He always teases me about our 6 week age gap as is (apparently he's my toy boy.)

So thanks for the laughs, girls.
I'll remember to trowel on the make up next time! ;)

Diary of a page junkie

I admit it.

I'm a page junkie.

There's nothing better at the end of a working night than seeing how many pages I've written. I love seeing the pages and word count add up. It's addictive!

My, how all that has changed...

These days, I'm happy to get a couple of pages done a night though in all honesty, I don't look anymore. Too depressing for a speed freak like me.
That said, there is something infinitely satisfying about revisions when you chop great chunks out and add in two brand spanking new scenes as I did last night.
And the best bit?
I can see this story taking a new direction!
Which of course complicates matters for a little bit later when other scenes have to be chopped and changed but hey, isn't that the point of revising? Making the story better?

So for this page junkie, I'm currently at page 62 of The Pregnancy Surprise (an office/baby story for Romance.) That's after 3 nights work with tons of slashing and adding in the 2 new scenes.
Will keep the page count coming.

True confession Tuesday

While I've posted a blog over at the Pink Heart Society today for Temptation on Tuesday (think George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Joe Flanigan and you'll definitely have to check it out!) I've decided to make my own version, True Confession Tuesday here and out myself.

As many of you know, I've been absent or very, very quiet for the last few months. I've vanished from loops and my writing has slowed to a crawl (eg. so far, it has taken me as long to get partially through these current revisions as it took me to write my first 2 books this year!)

There are reasons, one fabulous, one not so great.

The bad news first: I had a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) or mini-stroke end of September, which affected my right arm and leg. Symptoms resolved fairly quickly but the never-ending tests and fear had me pretty worried for a while.
I'm not going to go on and on about this but only to say if you ever experience any weird symptoms, worth checking out.

Now, onto the good stuff.
I'm 14 weeks pregnant!!!!!!!!!
After baby dramas in May this year, I'm so thrilled by this pregnancy and treading gently through each day.
The only downside is the incredibly awful morning sickness, which lasts from the time I open my eyes to when I go to bed, hence the limited writing. Bit hard to keep hands on the keyboard when they're gripping the porcelain. (Oops, sorry, too much info!)

So if anyone has a miraculous cure for 'all day' sickness that works, let me know and I'll gladly give you as many of my backlist books as I can. Mind you, it has to work and I have to warn you, I've tried nearly everything already!

Creating memorable characters: in the first page!

Julie Cohen has issued an interesting challenge on her blog, where she asks people to post a first page excerpt and demonstrate how we create characters and conflict so early in a book.

So, as we've been chatting about INHERITED: BABY, here's the first page from the book with my two cents worth thrown in for good luck!

Maya Edison stood ram-rod straight, oblivious to the huge society crowd that had turned the funeral into a farce. She stared at the casket containing her dead fiancé as it was lowered into the ground, wishing she could cry.

(By her stiff posture and not caring about the crowd around her, we get the impression Maya is a strong woman.)

Wishing she could feel something other than the soul-deep weariness that had seeped into her bones around the time she’d had moved in with Joe Bourke, fallen pregnant with his child and bought his phoney lines about wanting to get married.

(She's had it tough. 'Soul-deep' implies more than your average grief.)

Wishing she didn’t feel the slightest hint of relief that her nightmare with Joe was over. Or the overwhelming guilt at her role in his death.

(What's this? She had something to do with Joe's death? Demonstrates our heroine is flawed and maybe isn't solely deserving of all our sympathy?)

Loving Joe had been a rush, a whirlwind romance that plucked her up and deposited her in the vortex of an emotional hurricane, leaving her to pick up the pieces eighteen months later.
“You okay?”
She turned at the light touch on her elbow, nodding mechanically, gaining some comfort from the genuine concern in Riley’s deep blue eyes.
Riley Bourke, Joe’s serious older brother, the only person at this funeral who had leant a helping hand after Joe’s death, the only person who seemed to care.

(Instantly, we get the feeling the hero is real. He has 'genuine' concern, has helped her and cares, three great qualities for a hero to have.)

Interesting, huh?
What do you think? Does this short intro give you a feel for the characters?

Great read!

I have to rave about this book!

Carmen Reid's "How Was it for You?" is a gritty, realistic tale of one woman's journey through desperately wanting a baby and beyond.

The heroine is deliciously flawed and while I cringed at some of her mistakes, I could identify with the heartbreak of wanting a child so badly you'd almost do anything for it. I have so many friends and family who have gone through the emotional wringer with IVF and/or miscarriage and this book really captured the emotions behind this rollercoaster ride.

I love discovering great authors and now that I've bought one of Carmen's books purely by chance I'll definitely be chasing up the rest.

Isn't it great when you pick up a book and discover it's truly wonderful? Entertaining, escapist but real at the same time?
One of those books you almost wish didn't have to end?
Sigh...

Labour of love

We've had lovely news of two new babies this week: my sister-in-law had a baby girl and my cousin had a baby boy.
Such a special time and brings back memories of my own 22 hour(!)labour, which actually wasn't as bad as I expected.
Then I bumped into a friend from Mum's Group yesterday with her new twins, who are absolutely gorgeous!
Me, clucky?
Babies are gorgeous and cuddly and grow so quickly, as I wrestle my almost 3 year old off my desk and away from pounding on the keyboard as I type!

Writing is another labour of love and on that front, I've completed the revisions on my next Romance (an office romance featuring an unexpected pregnancy.)
Mind you, they've been done in half hour bursts here and there, so I'm sure I'll have a bit of tidying up before it's ready to send back to my editor.
But at least they're done.
One down, one to go.