Cover reveal for Interview with the Daredevil

Courtesy of my lovely ed at M&B London, here's the cover for INTERVIEW WITH THE DAREDEVIL, releasing in December in the UK.

What do you think?

(and yes, if you click on the link to the book, you will see naked George Clooney in a swimming pool!)

Another Goodreads giveaway

SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL hits US shelves in 2 weeks and to celebrate, I'm giving away 2 signed copies over at Goodreads.

No questions to answer, no websites to check out, just hit the button.
Easy!

Publishing information at your fingertips

Agent Rachelle Gardner has a fantastic post with extensive lists to publishing information including:

-how to get published
-freelance editors
-what do say if an agent calls
-agent blogroll
-query letters

and much more!

Check it out here.

Weekend Book Club: Abby & the Bachelor Cop

I've been on a real category romance kick recently and have just finished another of Marion Lennox's heartwarming books.

Here's the blurb:

Bride-to-be Abigail Callahan has her life mapped out. Good career, wealthy fiancé—it's perfect…too perfect. Then sexy bad-boy-turned-cop Raff Finn reenters Abby's life, landing her with an adorable homeless dog called Kleppy and a whole lot of trouble….
Raff's teenage recklessness once broke them apart, but he's not about to let his childhood sweetheart marry the wrong guy. With help from Kleppy and some Banksia Bay magic, Raff plans to reawaken the Abby he's always loved.

Curling up with a Marion Lennox book is like curling up with a cup of hot cocoa: warm, comforting and oh so sweet.

She has a way of creating realistic, flawed characters and bringing them together with seamless ease.

And this book has a hint of mystery as well as a cute kleptomaniac dog!

An immensely satisfying read.

What are you reading this weekend?

Calling bookbloggers!

I have some news!

The cover reveal for BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD is imminent and I want you to be a part of it!

So if you're a book blogger, and you're interested in participating in a simultaneous cover reveal (so yeah, that means you get to see it first before anyone else!) email me and I'll tee it up.

Can't wait!

Foreign rights deal!

I'm thrilled to announce that Entangled Publishing (publishers of my BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD, releasing December) have made their first foreign rights deal.

To read about releases in Turkey, check out here.

With the publisher's foreign rights director (a 20 year veteran with Bloomsbury USA & Houghton) heading to the Frankfurt Book Fair next month, the future is bright!

Would be great to see Entangled's list hitting bookshops worldwide.

New Voices writing comp

All you budding category romance writers out there, Mills and Boon have just launched another New Voices competition.

They bought several authors from last year's comp, so go check it out here.

Good luck!

Life's curve balls

Life has a way of throwing you curve balls when you least expect it.

Saturday night, I'd had a ball at a party, get in the car to drive home and see little flashes of light out of the corner of my left eye (not UFOs, flashes in my eyes!)

Took a couple of Panadol, went to bed.
Sunday morning, flashes eased but blurry spots floating in my eye constantly.
Monday, more of the same, so this morning I went to an optometrist.

Turns out I have a PVD in my left eye.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment, where the jelly-like vitreous detaches from part of the retina at the back of the eye. The floaters are bits of jelly.

No cure, just have to live with it.

Yeah, it's a major pain, but could've been worse.
If the flashing lights come back, could be sign of retinal detachment and that's instant surgery to minimise loss of vision.
Pretty scary stuff!

No reason it happens, idiopathic, but it tends to happen in older people over 60! Hello! Not there for a quite a while yet! The joys of getting older...

In the meantime, I'll still be writing and reading and doing my best to ignore the blurry bits.
Interestingly, it's worse in brighter light, so if you see me swanning around in sunglasses permanently, it's not an ego thing, it's a necessity. :)

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Friends to Forever

I adore the Harlequin Romance series for its varied voices.


Some readers think the series is too 'sweet' and avoid it but let me tell you, as an author who writes for the series and who reads widely across it, these romances are packed with sizzle, sexual tension adding to the page turning quality of the books.


Some books in the series are lighter (eg. The Fun Factor mini series most of my books appear in) and some are emotional heart-wrenchers.


Nikki Logan's Friends to Forever is the latter.
Here's the blurb:


She was the high school princess. He was the high school nobody.
But Marc Duncannon and Beth Hughes were the best of friends—until a heated kiss exposed secrets and ruined everything….
Ten years later Beth seeks out Marc, and finds him battling to save a stranded whale. Together on a lonely Australian beach, they face exhaustion, the elements and their own personal demons—for Beth and Marc need to save each other, too. They discover that their friendship is worth fighting for—but between them might be something even stronger…perhaps a love that could last a lifetime…?

I remember reading Nikki Logan's debut and being blown away.
This book hasn't changed my opinion of her writing style.

Friends to Forever is character driven all the way.

An alcoholic heroine battling her demons and an emotionally scarred hero in desperate need of loving.

The poignant and realistic way in which they deal with their past is truly magical to read.


And I love how Nikki layers nature into all her books (this one features saving a stranded whale.)

An excellent, emotional read.

What are you reading this weekend?

READER REVIEW: Girl in a Vintage Dress

I love it when readers 'get' me.
When they can tell what has gone into the book by reading it.
This is one of those readers.

Just stumbled across this review for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS on Goodreads:

Oh, how I adored this book, I really did.

Everything about it feels beautiful.

I am into vintage and retro myself (I really do wear my hair and makeup like my avatar!) and I could tell that Nicola Marsh had not only done her research very thoroughly but also enjoyed it!
The descriptions of Lola's shop, clothes, accessories, hair, make up etc are fantastic, I could really visualise everything.

The story is really good too! Chase and Lola are two wonderful characters; perfectly matched yet totally different, which makes for some really delicious tension.

What I like most about this book is the balance between the snappy, casual and fun writing and the tenderness of the romance.

Nicola Marsh's characters are always likeable and, more importantly, relatable and this is certainly the case with Chase and Lola (love that name!).

If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be 'Gorgeous'. Because it really is!
Recommended.

The thing that struck me about this review is the reader picked up on how much I loved researching the vintage aspect. I spent hours pouring over vintage fashions and accessories and blogs, having an absolute ball, and I'm thrilled readers are getting a feel for my fun through the book.

Here's the full review.

Are you a follower?

Only a few days left to enter the BACK TO THE BOOKS giveaway hop.

I'm thrilled to welcome so many new followers to my blog. Stay tuned for more giveaways & competitions!

Check here for full details of this hop.

Branding

Timely post by Nathan Bransford on branding today.

He says there's no such thing as branding on the internet, only you, and I have to agree.

Because I've always wanted to write mainstream fiction alongside my Harlequin romances, I deliberately chose a generalised tagline "Flirty Fiction with Flair."

With the upcoming release of BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD, I've been toying with the idea of a separate blog, until I realised something.
I have a loyal following here. I look forward to interacting with those people daily.
I don't want to branch off somewhere else where I may miss out on those interactions.

Then there's Facebook & Twitter & Goodreads, where I chat daily too.
And I'm totally with Nathan. What you see on those media sites is ME. I chat life, books, kids, footy, food, Bollywood, publishing stuff.
I'm the brand.
Not a tagline, not what I write.
Me.

So that's what you're going to get.
Sure, there'll be loads of new Bollywood goodness here (stay tuned for some exciting reveals!) but what you see is what you get.

Nathan Bransford's post is reiterating this. Worth reading.

Don't forget the BACK TO THE BOOKS giveaway is running for another few days!
Check out my 3 book giveaway HERE.

READER REVIEW: Tag Team

My reading time has been seriously curtailed this week while working on BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD edits and uploading my very first short story to Amazon & Smashwords!

(So Weekend Book Club will return next weekend.)

I'm thrilled to see 3 ripper reviews up on Amazon in the first 2 days:

"a super fast paced awesome short story packed with tension and sexual sizzle amidst the International police drama, action and espionage...I've always enjoyed Nicola Marsh's contemporary romances and this short story delivers a powerful punch! The dialogue and action scenes felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading!"

"Hot, potent and riveting! Amidst a life or death situation these two really spark, through dialogue, tension and emotion. When they finally get it on it feels so real, deep and exciting. Nicola Marsh is a whizz with words, creating such wonderful, fresh, lively characters. My only wish? That there had been more to this story!"

"Tag Team by Nicola Marsh oozes sizzlin heat... short and steamy, but wafting with goodness..."

Thanks to Nas, Kerrin & Katrina. Read their full reviews here.

And snap up the story for 0.99 cents!
Available at Smashwords too

Don't forget my 3 book giveaway running all this week!

My first ebook short story release!

I'm thrilled to announce my romantic suspense special ops short story, TAG TEAM, is now available on Amazon & Smashwords.

Here's a snippet:

The woman had balls.
Big, brass cojones according to rumour circulating the ADF, though the technical terms in Coralee Keaton’s Australian Defence Force file read “brave, brilliant, resourceful.”
Garcia Diaz—Fox to anyone who wanted to walk out of his office without a permanent limp—had witnessed her demonstrate those admirable qualities first hand.
Now she was back.
To muscle in on his operation.
Again.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered, squeezing his eyes shut, pressing the pads of his thumbs into them, wishing he could obliterate the memory of this woman and what he knew about her.
It didn’t work.
Her file was embedded in his brain: Coralee Keaton—Lee if you didn’t want a Remington 870 shotgun aimed at your head—thirty-four, joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) after six years Army service, and became part of the embedded Tactical Assault Group (TAG) after 9/11.
An integral part of TAG if her results were anything to go by. This, on top of her leadership in 4 RAR (Special Forces Commandos).
Was there anything the ball-breaking wonder woman couldn’t do?
A brief pounding on the door had his eyes snapping open in time to see her stride into his office, her expression a study in polite professionalism, her eyes eerily blank, as if she didn’t know him.
Intimately.
“You cut your hair,” he said, throwing his pen on the stack of monotonous paperwork in front of him, pissed at her intrusion yet glad for the distraction.
Coralee Keaton might be a pain in the ass to work with but her taut body, long legs and impressive D cup more than compensated for the grief.
“You cut your surveillance on the Ebola job.”
She slammed her palms on his desk, loomed over him. “It nearly botched the whole operation.”
“But it didn’t.”
Leaning back in his chair, he locked hands behind his head, thrust his chin up, his smug smile guaranteed to grate.
She reared back, her blue eyes frigid as the Yarra River on a winter’s day as she stared him down.
“You better not make the same mistake on the ricin job.”
He’d had enough of this crap. Balling his hands into fists, he stood so fast his chair slammed into the filing cabinet behind him.
“I don’t make mistakes, Coralee.”
He deliberately used her full first name, hoping to get a rise.
It worked.
“Then what the hell am I doing here?”
“Wasting tax payers’ money?”
Stalking around the desk, he stopped a foot in front of her, invading her personal space, daring her to make an issue of it.
With a toss of her glorious shoulder-length black bob, she met his taunting gaze head on.
“I’m the best there is.”
Jabbing his chest for good measure, she smirked. “And don’t you forget it.”
Like he ever could.
He’d tried to forget, dammit, tried with every rebellious cell in his body, but the memory of the last time they’d hooked up on a job was burned into his brain.

Want to read the rest?
Grab it here for only 0.99 cents!
Or here at Smashwords.

And don't forget my 3 book giveaway in the post below!

Back to the Books

Blog hops are fun and the BACK TO THE BOOKS giveaway hop, hosted by I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER & BURIED IN BOOKS offers a huge range of prizes.

If you love reading, love books, love winning stuff, check out the link here.

So what am I giving away?























A 3 book pack of my latest releases!


-GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS

-HER BAD, BAD BOSS

-DESERTED ISLAND, DREAMY EX!

To be in the running, here's what you have to do:

-Follow my blog

For optional bonus entries:

+1 'Like' my Facebook author page (Link in the sidebar)

+1 Follow me on Twitter (link in sidebar)

+1 Have a confirmed newsletter subscription (sign up by emailing me, link in sidebar)

Easy!

(Please leave a comment with your name if you opt for bonus entries. Thanks!)

The contest runs until 7th September.
Good luck!

Changing landscape in publishing

As an interesting follow on from the Joe Konrath blog post yesterday, here's one from my favourite publishing guru, Bob Mayer.

I love his clarity and bluntness.

Well worth reading about the changing landscape of publishing.

Power in publishing

I love hearing the daily developments in publishing at the moment and here's another one.

Joe Konrath and Blake Crouch discussing who has the power in publishing.

Fascinating reading.

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The S Before Ex

I'm on a category romance roll at the moment.

And I'm picking up some beauties to read!

Sorry to say this is my first Mira Lyn Kelly read but won't be my last!

I adore reunion stories, probably because I don't have to suspend disbelief much to understand two people falling in love, something going wrong to drive them apart, yet finding their way back to each other.

This is a passionate reunion story, filled with emotion and poignancy and sizzle.

Loads of sizzle!

Ryan and Claire are finalising their divorce, but through mutual disclosures and building trust they grow closer.

I loved the practicality of this novel. No trite or miracle endings.

Just two people working hard to find their way back to one another.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

What are you reading this week?

Another big book giveaway!

I'm a featured author over at Small Blogs, Big Giveaways today.

Go check out my interview for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

And yes, I'm giving away books!
(check out the other books on offer too!)

In addition, I'm giving away 2 signed copies of Girl in a Vintage Dress right here!

To be in the running:

-Follow my blog

-For a bonus entry, 'like' my Facebook author page (link in sidebar.)

Good luck!

THE WRITE WHISPER: Writing processes

I'm fascinated by writing processes.

How other writers bring their stories to life.

At the RWAus conference, I had an enlightening, informal chat at afternoon tea on Sunday with Stephanie Laurens, Anna Campbell, Barbara Hannay and Annie West.

Fabulously talented mainstream and category romance authors whose books I've read and enjoyed.

What intrigued me about our conversation was our different writing processes.

Some are linear (start the book and right straight through), others write snippets of dialogue or separate scenes, then weave it all together at the end.

I'm always a little in awe of this second group. How do you make it all fit together so seamlessly? And make it look like you wrote it in one go? Amazing.

Me? I'm linear all the way. From the moment I write Chapter One on a blank document, I write the rest of the story straight through. No jumping. No editing. Just write.

Luckily, I write a fairly clean first draft so mainly need to tweak and layer a tad as I go through the next time before sending off to my editor.

Interestingly, I've heard from readers who can pick I write the book in one go.

Yet here's the thing. I heard another gem at the conference that piqued my interest and I'm tempted to try.

In Bob Mayer's "POV & VOICE" session, he mentioned this:

"don't worry about the opening scene. Write the book. The climactic scene should mirror the opening scene therefore you can come back and write/rewrite the opening scene."

Fascinating stuff for a linear writer like me.

Have to admit, I tend to do this unconciously, ensuring the climactic scene ties in to the opening scene but actually mirroring it? Not so much.

While I have to nail my opening chapter every time to set up the rest of the book, maybe next time I'll go back and see how closely it mirrors the last.

Now, you know what's coming next...all you writers out there, I'm dying to know your writing processes. Please share!

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Dating & Other Dangers

I've been lucky this year. The few category roms I've read have all been crackers and this one is no exception.

Natalie Anderson's Dating and Other Dangers is a snappy, modern read I didn't want to put down.

Here's the blurb:

Nadia Keenan's first date Dos and Don'ts:
1. Do boost your confidence by looking hot
2. Don't put out until at least date two
3. If the man is trouble (however sexy!) do report all on www.WomanBWarned.com

After being trashed on Nadia's website, serial dater-and-dumper Ethan Rush is about to put Nadia's rules to the test! He's determined to change her mind about him.
She's determined to prove him for the cad he is.
Let the battle of the dates begin...

The sparks generated between Nadia and Ethan are super hot! Sexual chemistry at its best.

Loved the one-upmanship between them as much as their banter.
Loved the pacing of the novel.
Loved the contemporary website angle.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

What are you reading this week?

CONFERENCE GOLD: Characterisation

This is a very brief summary of Bob Mayer's session on 'Writing your story in 3 dimensions: Characterisation.'

I stress brief because Bob provided copious helpful notes and I'm picking out a few main points I jotted down too.

-Everyone has a core motivation. Victor Frankl called this the 'One Thing'.
When a character reaches a moment of crisis, we discover their 'one thing'.

-Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
-What do you want?
-What do you really want?
-What do you need?

-Don't pitch plot, pitch character.

-Give the character an anomaly.

-In your first scene, what your character is doing sets your character.

-In your last scene, we need to see character doing something emotional they weren't capable of at the start. This demonstrates arc growth.

CONFERENCE GOLD: Picking up the pace

Here's a brief summary of Kelley Armstrong's 'Picking up the Pace' session:

-AIM: you want the reader to not be able to put the book down

-HOW to do this:

-shorter chapters (between 10-12 pages)

-end chapter at a point where something about to happen naturally (don't need to invent cliffhangers, let the events happen naturally.)

-'go in late, get out early'. (look for the soonest moment to end a scene and stop there.)

-avoid repetition
eg. Action scenes
1) Set up
2) Action
3) Aftermath
Don't labor the point.

-Taking care of business (eg. starting car, climbing stairs, etc...) CUT these to increase pace UNLESS building suspense.

-RUE (Resist the Urge to Explain.)

-Don't write parts that readers skip (eg. scenery, description, backstory, repetition of character, technical info.)
If need to convey, use in small chunks broken up by action, dialogue, etc...

-Dialogue: if conveying info only & nothing revealed, get away with a couple lines of narrative instead.

-Look at the pulse beat of your story (go back through your story after written, analyse each scene for conflict/interest/high stakes. Rate 1-5. 1=low, 5=high. Should have a good mix.)

CONFERENCE GOLD: Plotting

Here is a brief summary of my notes taken at Susan Wiggs fabulous session, PLOTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

The plotting/pre-writing phase.

-Find your 'white' space. (eg. long walk)

-Make a collage (not an avoidance technique, is part of your 'white' space, being the architect of your story.)

-Make a playlist ('white' space again, even if you don't listen to it while writing it can spark ideas.)

-Focus on a powerful emotion you're experiencing (you don't need a big plot if your character has a big issue/problem)

-Couple an image with that emotion (may lead to something you can hang your story on.)

-Sociogram (what I refer to as mind maps-see previous post on this blog.)

After all this pre-writing, you should have an idea of your main character.
For Susan, this pre-writing phase can take up to 2 weeks, less if tight deadline.

For me, hearing her describe how she uses collaging, etc...(may do it then not look at it again while writing) resonated with how I do my pre-writing. Loads of research, may collage, then don't look at it while writing!

-Go through this process with every main character in your book.

-Take your main character to the point of decision in her life.
(Open blank document, start writing in 1st person present tense, fast writing, where character unloads her baggage/burden she's carrying-great internal problems!)
Also encourages the character's natural voice rather than the author's (about 500 words.)

-Start each day's writing with your character DOING THE NEXT INDICATED THING.

-Self help books also a great source for giving arc of growth for real issues.

Tomorrow, a summary of Kelley Armstrong's workshop, Picking up the Pace.

CONFERENCE GOLD: Snippets

Here are the stand-out quotes from RWAus11 that resonated with me:

-"Park your brain & write from the heart. Write from love, fear, anger. Tap into those emotions." (Susan Wiggs.)

-"We write because we have to write, not because we want to write." (Susan Wiggs)

-"Which channel you choose to publish with isn't important, reaching your readers is." (Stephanie Laurens.)

-"Take a risk, the known quantity is dying." (Bob Mayer)

-"Content is king. Promo is queen." (Bob Mayer)

Tomorrow, a summary of Susan Wiggs' workshop, "Plotting from the Inside Out."

CONFERENCE GOLD: The Fangirl

All this week, I'm doing a wrap-up of the RWAUS conference right here.

Snippets of conference gold I heard.
Recap of workshops.
Enlightening moments from plenary sessions.

To start, I have to gush like a fangirl.

Several months ago, I emailed Susan Wiggs for a favour. Her gracious reply blew me away.
Then I met her in person on Saturday, when the conference organisers asked me to intro her session.
She instantly recognized my name, enveloped me in a big hug and insisted someone take a photo of us which she emailed me the next morning with a lovely message.

Her books are amazing and so is she.

Next fangirl moment: Bob Mayer.

Quite possibly the smartest guy in publishing at the moment.
He's informed and savvy and ahead of the game.
If you're not following his blog, do so!

Stay tuned for the conference lowdown.

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Tempest

Julie Cross is my agency sister and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Tempest via my fab agent, top 10 YA seller on Publisher's Marketplace, Suzie Townsend!

TEMPEST has huge raps. To be released in January 2011, it has already been optioned for film with Summit (makers of Twilight), and has a first print run of over 250K!

Here's the blurb:

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time.

But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps.
Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future. Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

This book made my head spin (in a good way!) with its breakneck pace.

Loved Jackson (and loved a YA from male POV) and his romance with Holly, his feelings for her a major motivator throughout the book for his actions.

I like a book grounded in solid conflict.
I also like interesting, layered secondary characters and Tempest had that in spades.

From an author's perspective, I'm in awe of how Julie Cross kept the plot timeline fluid in this book.
Would've been a huge challenge to write! Kudos.

And it's definitely a 'film' book, one I can see playing out on the big screen.

While I'm away at conference this weekend, what are you reading?

From Here to Eternity

This is where I'll be today, the beautiful city of Melbourne, for RWAustralia's 20th conference, 'From Here to Eternity.'

I love learning about the craft of writing.
I love networking.
I love catching up with writer buddies from interstate and overseas.
It's going to be a blast!

If you're at the Hilton over the weekend, come up and say hi!

I'm in the news...

Following an interview I did with uber journalist Neil McMahon recently, his article FEEL THE LOVE is in THE AGE newspaper today.

It's a positive look at romantic fiction.
Well worth a read.

And here's the result of my 90 minute shoot with the photographer.
(Photo: Craig Sillitoe, The Age, 7/8/11)

Deserted island in Germany

I'm flat chat with deadlines so my reading this week has been slow, hence no Weekend Book Club post (am hoping to rectify that next week because I'm reading a cracker YA book!)

Instead, I bring you DESERTED ISLAND, DREAMY EX! out now in Germany.


Aren't the cover colours striking?

3 book giveaway!

If you're on Goodreads, you may want to check out this.

I'm giving away 3 copies of GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

And all you have to do to enter is click a button!

Marketing your book

Check out this extensive list of blog posts on how to market your books via agent Rachelle Gardner.

Entangled Publishing launches!

Happy launch day to the fabulous folk at Entangled Publishing.


They've been labelled as a "boutique publisher bridging the gap between traditional and indie publishing" and from my experience with them, I can't speak highly enough.


Their professionalism, transparency and dedication to producing the best books possible has been amazing.

I've revised my manuscript BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD 3 times with the help of an extremely astute and enthusiastic editor, who has helped me take this book to the next level. And I have a publicist working behind the scenes to ensure my book has the best possible launch.

I'm thrilled to be a part of Entangled!


To join in the launch activities and be in the running to win a Kobo, check out their blog.
(which also has a list of what they're looking to acquire in August.)

New release: Girl in a Vintage Dress

If you're in Australia & NZ, GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS is on shelves now!

The reviews for this book have been fab so grab it for yourself and see why :)

Here's the latest review, from the lovely Julie at CATAROMANCE:

"Nicola Marsh specializes in writing classic romances with a modern twist and Girl in a Vintage Dress is the latest fun and fabulous romance by this talented USA Today best-selling author...

A fantastic tale full of sassiness and spirit, Girl in a Vintage Dress is a fast-paced contemporary sprinkled with red-hot repartee, witty one-liners, sizzling chemistry and feel-good romance.

Lola Lombard is a real and believable heroine we can all relate to and Chase is a sexy hero whose vulnerability and generous nature makes him all the more irresistible.

A wonderful summer read sure to make you smile and wipe away a tear or two, Girl in a Vintage Dress is another keeper from Nicola Marsh’s outstanding pen!"

Read the full review here.

The book will also be available at ROMANCE WRITERS OF AUSTRALIA 'From Here to Eternity' conference in 2 weeks and I'll be there to sign copies, yay!
Hope to see you at the Hilton!

Poor prose

Heard of the Bulwer-Lytton annual contest for poor prose?

If not, go check out the results for a good laugh.

Sue Fondrie won with this gem:

“Cheryl’s mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of forgotten memories.”

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Hotwire

I love Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series and eagerly await new releases.

HOTWIRE is the 9th book in the series and is packed with intrigue: cattle mutilations, teen deaths, electrocution, food poisoning in schools, UFO conspiracy theories.

The mystery aspects kept me turning pages rapidly as the multi-layered plot unfolded but being a romance gal at heart, I would've liked more character development between Maggie and Benjamin Platt.
These two have danced around each other for a while now, time to give the anxious readers (ok, probably just me) more please!

What are you reading this week?

(If you're a book reviewer, my October release, SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL, is available for review on NetGalley here now!)

READER REVIEW: The Boss's Bedroom Agenda

A positive review can give an author a boost for the entire day and this one, from Desere in South Africa, is no exception.

Ever hear the one rule guys stick to no matter what .... Never mix business with pleasure YEAH RIGHT ! But that is exactly what to die for sexy as sin Aiden Voss "The Boss" strives to do. Enter Beth "Fancy Feet" Walker.

Beth knocks Aiden for a six well and truly off his feet. She knows the rule her new boss obides by but what she doesn't know is that Aiden has decided to make her the exception to the rule he must have her anyway he can !

Enter Nicola Marsh's wonderful mix of intrigue and pure downright sexy style of writing!!

Beth have two choices one leave the life she knows behind to follow Aiden the man she has fallen for or loose him forever. Aiden also has two choices give up his dreams to be with the woman who has become his one and only exception or "die" of a broken heart? Now the question remains can they come to a compromise to allow them to be together or do they simply part ways ? Sounds like the normal romance book you know the story line and read it before THINK AGAIN !!

In The Boss's Bedroom Agenda you get to travel through the journey of Aiden and and Beth as they both learn the valuable lesson of love and true passion in each others arms. Beth and Aiden both have to make some of the hardest decisions of their lives in this delicious tale of magic by Nicola Marsh and no one proves that life has some very delicious unexpected turns like Nicola does. Nicola takes you on a ride of pure delight and gorgeous romance with a sexy twist that you'll never see coming !

Now I bet I have intrigued you just enough to make sure you read the book, of course I can't give it all away but I can tell you this , GO OUT AND GET IT NOW you will never regret it.

I am hooked on many brilliant Australian authors work and Nicola's is right up there with the very best romance has to offer!

Love a satisfied reader :)

Attention book reviewers!

SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL is available for review on NetGalley here.

It's my first time on NetGalley, be gentle :)

Rookie mistakes

The fab folks at STORYFIX have a great post on rookie mistakes writers make.

The condensed version:

1. Multiple dialogue paragraphs

2. Your first writing teacher is obsolete.

3. The 2 legit choices of manuscript font.

4. The name game.

5. Don't belabor the backstory.

Go check out the full article here.

And the winner is...

Huge congrats to Kat, who has won my prize pack of:

-GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS
-SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL
-WILD NIGHTS WITH HER WICKED BOSS
-OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED
-THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID
-DESERTED ISLAND, DREAMY EX!
-MARRIAGE: FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?
-passport holder
-luggage tag
-address book

If you didn't win this time, don't despair. I'm doing random spot giveaways over the next week and have several BIG contests lined up over the next few months.
It's going to be a blast!

How long is a piece of string?

Last day to win 7 books!

Be in it to win it!

Details here

In publishing news, anyone who's ever been on submission with a manuscript knows how draining/frustrating/exciting it can be.

Here's a fab post by Nathan Bransford on why the process takes so long!

Win 7 books!

Only 2 more days for the chance to win this, my current release, plus 6 other recent releases!

Check out the details here!

The end in sight

Doing final read-through of BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD today.

I've added almost 5000 words in 2nd pass edits.
And yes, more yummy Indian food!

I didn't use pics to inspire me when I wrote this book but if I did, (Akshay Kumar, Bollywood star!) would've inspired the ditched fiance, Rakesh Rama.

Free online workshop!

Publisher and editor Liz Pelletier (the lovely ed at Entangled that I got 'the call' from acquiring Busted in Bollywood) is running a free online workshop starting today at RWA Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapter.

WHY DID THAT EDITOR REJECT ME? will dissect sample submissions so you can see an editor's throught process, as well as a whole heap of other informative stuff!

More info here.

20 year anniversary blog party!

The lovely, talented Liz Fielding is celebrating 20 years in this business and I'm thrilled to be a part of her celebrations.

Later today, the fab Anna Campbell, Jessica Hart and moi are partying with Liz here.

And I'm giving away a signed copy of my current release, GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

So put on your best frock, grab the champers and come party!

(if you don't win my current release with Liz, you can still do so by entering my 7 book giveaway, running until the end of this week!)

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Cupcakes & Killer Heels

With a fun title like CUPCAKES & KILLER HEELS, you know this book is going to be flirty and feel-good.
And boy, does it deliver!

Sadly, I haven't read too many category romances this year but the ones I've been lucky enough to pick up have been crackers!

This one is no exception. Heidi Rice has a fabulously snappy voice and the heat between her characters Ruby and Callum is amazing! Sparks galore.
A seriously sexy read that will keep you turning pages.

I love a feisty, strong-willed heroine and Ruby delivers in spades, more than a match for the alpha Cal.

Really enjoyed this.

What are you reading this weekend?

Don't forget my 7 book prize pack giveaway!
You have 6 days left to enter so hop to it!
Details here.

READER REVIEWS; Sex, Gossip & Rock & Roll

Asking an author to choose their favourite book is like asking a mum to choose her favourite child! Impossible.

For me, while I have several favourites, this one is my standout.

I adore this book.

Had a ball writing it, love the characters, the way they spark off each other and I'm beyond thrilled readers are enjoying it as much as I did creating it.

Here are 2 brand spanking new reviews:

"This is such a fun book, but it certainly doesn't lack for emotional moments either. The characters are well developed and written flawlessly...

Reading this book, I could really feel that Nicola Marsh enjoyed writing it...the dialogue sparkles, the passion is hot, and the emotional moments are gripping...Oh, and fantastic ending!

Nicola Marsh really shows she has a great range of writing skills, whereas the last book of hers I reviewed (Deserted Island, Dreamy Ex) was aimed at the Romance side of the RIVA line, this one is aimed more for Presents/Modern side and therefore more steamy. Nicola switches flawlessly between to the two styles. Definitely recommend this book."

(Read the full review here.)

And another:

"I loved the dialogue and the sparring between Luca and Charli. The author’s use of witty dialogue is astounding. It’s a truly magical read and a keeper for your shelf...

an outstanding story with great tension, good fast pace and a fabulous plot.

Nicola Marsh once again delivered a super romance with a strong spirited heroine, a deliciously breath-taking hero and woven a tale which is filled with emotion and sizzle with a very nice happy ever after!"

(Full review here.)

In the USA and can't wait until October to read this?

Well...enter my 7 book giveaway!

Details in post below.

Prize pack giveaway!

Here is the much promised book giveaway, featuring current & recent releases:

-GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS
-SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL
-WILD NIGHTS WITH HER WICKED BOSS
-OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED
-THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID
-DESERTED ISLAND, DREAMY EX!
-MARRIAGE: FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?

Yes, that's 7 books!

Plus goodies:
-passport holder
-luggage tag
-address book

To be in the running to win, here's how you enter:

-click on my 'like' Facebook author page (link in sidebar) 1 entry

-follow my blog (link in sidebar) 2 entries

(do both, a bonus entry!)

-follow me on Twitter 1 entry

-link to this contest on your blog or Twitter 2 entries

-dedicated post with link to my contest on your website/blog 3 entries

Old blog followers who 'like' me on FB: 3 entries
Current 'like' fans on FB who follow my blog: 3 entries

Whatever you choose to do to enter, please comment on this post by Friday 22nd July (a quick hi is fine, nothing fancy!) with your email details.
The contest will close by midnight Friday 22nd July.

(Contest is open internationally.)

Good luck!

Publishing information you need

A brilliant post over at agent Rachelle Gardner's blog with loads of links to submission details, an agent blogroll, query tips and more.

Check it out!

Win a KOBO!

Check out ENTANGLED PUBLISHING launch events at COFFEE TIME ROMANCE.

Going to be a blast!

Weekend Book Club: Witch in the House

I recently did an online workshop on Witchcraft for the Paranormal Author, which I found immensely helpful and intriguing.

The facilitator recommended many books and this was one of them, accurately portraying a witch.

Thanks to a speedy Book Depository delivery, I dived into WITCH IN THE HOUSE (Avon books, 2007).

Here's the blurb:

Jade Delarue is determined to find the man of her dreams, so the sexy witch casts a spell that brings a gorgeous man to her door. But private detective Mason Kincaid isn't looking for love. Jilted by his last girlfriend, Mason's thrown himself into his work. He's visiting Jade on official business, and not even the blizzard raging outside her house—or her spellbinding beauty—can distract him.

Then Jade realizes the mistake she's made in her spell, and she wants him gone. But there are charms to spare in Mystic Manor, showing Mason that the witch in the house might be the woman he's been waiting for. Convincing her, though, means coming up with a little magic of his own.

This book is purely character driven.
Jade and Mason are wonderful characters that made me keep reading through a trite, sluggish plot.

I adored the banter between them, really smashing dialogue.

And the heat these two generated...phew!

The witchcraft angle was superb throughout and very informative.

What are you reading this weekend?

(** giant book giveaway is coming this week, 6 books plus goodie pack**)

Book 29 sold!

After much hair-pulling during revisions, WHO WANTS TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE? is sold!

The book will be releases as RIVA in the UK in Jan, and simultaneously as a Harlequin Romance in the USA.

Excerpt &'under the covers' action coming soon!

READER REVIEW: Girl in a Vintage Dress

Another 5 star review for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

Here's a snippet:

"I really enjoyed this one and tore through it in one sitting...

As the back cover says about the fun factor "Warm and Witty stories of falling in love".

This one's definitely a keeper."

Thanks Lynne!
Read the review here.

(Coming up this weekend, MONSTER book giveaway!)

COVER LOVE: Girl in a Vintage Dress

Check out the Australian/NZ version of GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

Isn't it positively dreamy?

(The book hits shelves in August or available online now!)

Release day in USA

Release day in the USA for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

With my dreamiest Harlequin Romance cover yet, you have to buy a copy!

Here's the blurb:

Fashions change

Chase Etheridge is organizing the most challenging event of his career—his sister's bachelorette party. Normally cool under pressure, the situation has Chase hot under the collar, and he knows exactly who to blame: Lola Lombard, party organizer, queen of all things vintage, and absolute bombshell!

But true love is timeless!

Behind Lola's pin curls and red lipstick hides a girl who's never believed she amounts to much. It's up to Chase to convince her that he loves her just the way she is, whether dressed in old-style glamour or as his brand-new bride!

For free worldwide postage, order here.

The new midlist

Check out this great article on Publishing Perspectives.

The New Midlist: Self-published e-book Authors Who Earn a Living.

Fascinating reading.

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Linger

I adored SHIVER, the first in the Wolves of Mercy Falls YA series by Maggie Stiefvater.

Sam and Grace's love story was riveting so I couldn't wait to read the follow up, LINGER.

From Goodreads:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being.
For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future.
Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Once again, the love story between Sam and Grace sucked me in. The author's poignant mood-setting is a feature, making it totally believable these teens belong together.

Forget every preconception you ever had about werewolves. The wolves in this series are special.

I enjoyed delving into Cole & Isabel's psyche too, but have to admit the frequent changes in POV (the entire book is first person, told from Sam, Grace, Cole & Isabel's POV) tore me out of the story.

I would've loved more focus on Sam and Grace and their amazing connection.

Can't wait to read FOREVER, the 3rd and final instalment in this series.

What are you reading this week?

READER REVIEW: Girl in a Vintage Dress

Launch day for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS in the UK and here's another fab reader review.

This is another example of why Ms Marsh is one of my favorite authors.

This was a laugh out loud story, it was fun and flirty, it was poignant and sensual.

Chase Etheridge likes to keep women at an emotional distance. Lola wants the whole vintage picture of HEA. But once they meet sparks fly. How are they going to find a way to meet both their needs and expectations?

Thanks to Nancy at eharlequin.

Dissecting the rumours

Still on the topic of Harlequin's move to NET royalties on e-books, check out agent Kristin Nelson's figures.

Interesting reading.

Rumours

No, not an old Fleetwood Mac release but the kind that are flying around the Internet at the moment regarding Harlequin's new contract amendments on e-book royalty rates.

For Harlequin's latest response, check out DEAR AUTHOR today.

Marc of the Beast

I love when Google Alerts drops something fun into my inbox and this is one of those.

MARC of the Beast, a blog 'celebrating ridiculously awesome titles', featured GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS.

This is a snippet of what they had to say:

"here’s an example of a cute title and concept that doesn’t cause an involuntary eyeroll (unlike 90% of series romance).
Also, she is not pregnant, he isn’t her boss, and she likes vintage clothing. Win-win-win."

Check it out here.

(thanks for all your well wishes. Hoping preschooler's asthma eases soon. As for my heart symptoms, I don't have time to have a heart attack so you'll be stuck with me for a while longer!)

Double book giveaway

I'm guest blogging at the fabulous Romance from Paradise in the Pacific today.

Come visit to discover the inspiration behind my upcoming release GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS, plus an excerpt.

Also doing a book giveaway, 2 signed copies of a recent release!

New cover reveal

I'm always excited to see a new cover and considering SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL is one of my favourite books, I was extra angsty to see this one!

What do you think?

I love the tag too: 'Secrets of the VIP area revealed!'

If you're in the US, this book hits shelves in October.

In OZ/NZ, it's on shelves now.

Or it's available with free worldwide postage at the BookDepository.

READER REVIEW: Girl in a Vintage Dress

Sorry for being absent the last few days but I have a sick kidlet who's worsening as the week progresses: hacking cough, sore throat, sore tummy, fever. Winter lurgies are the worst!

But this brightened my day, the first reader review for GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS (releasing simultaneously in the UK & USA in 2 weeks!)

Here's a snippet:

GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS is a wonderfully tender romance that I found charming, absorbing and moving. Nicola Marsh is a terrific writer who creates likeable characters readers are sure to take to their hearts. I found Lola to be a realistic, flawed yet resilient heroine who seriously lacks self confidence and is constantly under-selling herself and Chase was a strong, charismatic and turned out to be a sensitive hero, I absolutely adored. Even the secondary characters, the four B’s, are to be loved.

I liked author Nicola Marsh’s style. It seemed like she is writing about real people in situations that could happen. Scenarios come alive as do the people with her use of witty dialogue and situation that helps us know them better.

GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS is well worth reading!

Thanks to Nas (from beautiful Fiji) for taking the time to review on Goodreads and other book sites. It's a huge plus for an author to have readers do this.
You can read the full review here.

Weekend Book Club: Live to Tell

Lisa Gardner is one of few authors guaranteed to make me lose sleep (as in I can't put her book down.)

Live to Tell is book 4 in the D.D. Warren series and another ripping good yarn.

Here's the blurb:

He knows everything about you—including the first place you’ll hide.

On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working-class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father—and possible suspect—now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D. D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Danielle Burton is a survivor, a dedicated nurse whose passion is to help children at a locked-down pediatric psych ward. But she remains haunted by a family tragedy that shattered her life nearly twenty-five years ago. The dark anniversary is approaching, and when D. D. Warren and her partner show up at the facility, Danielle immediately realizes: It has started again.

A devoted mother, Victoria Oliver has a hard time remembering what normalcy is like. But she will do anything to ensure that her troubled son has some semblance of a childhood. She will love him no matter what. Nurture him. Keep him safe. Protect him. Even when the threat comes from within her own house.

I enjoyed the changing POVs in this one, allowed me to really get inside the heads of the 3 protagonists: tough female cop D.D. Warren, psychologically scarred paediatric psych nurse Danielle and mother of a special needs kid, Victoria.

I challenge any parent to read this book and not be moved.

You'll want to go and hug your kids more than usual throughout.

Lisa Gardner's thorough research is mind-blowing and her books shine because of it.

I could hardly put this one down, a stellar five star read, until the end where the villain's motivation becomes tangled and the reader is left unsure what really drove him to commit such acts of mind-blowing violence. It pained me to take off a star but the ending detracted from an otherwise stirling story.

What are you reading this week?

Entangled Publishing website live

The fabulous folk at ENTANGLED PUBLISHING who bought my Bollywood book have launched their website. Check it out!

Dear Lucky Agent contest

The fab 'GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS' blog is running their 9th 'Dear Lucky Agent' contest.

And it's free!

This contest is for women's/upmarket fiction so check out the details here.

Great opportunity!

EXCERPT: Girl in a Vintage Dress

GIRL IN A VINTAGE DRESS releases simultaneously in the UK & USA in 21 days!

To celebrate, the Book Depository are offering it at 25% off here.

Here's a snippet of Lola:

Lola didn’t take kindly to being bossed around. She’d had enough of it growing up from her Miss Australia finalist mother and catwalk model sister.
Wear the boot cut jeans, not the slim fit.
Don’t wear the A line skirt, it makes your bum look big.
Use the coral lipstick, not the pink, you look washed out.
Bossiness never failed to raise her hackles and the moment Mr Tall, Dark and Domineering had strutted into her domain, ignoring house rules, she’d been primed for battle.
Mobile phones didn’t belong in Go Retro for a reason. Trying to recreate a vintage ambiance was imperative to her business and considering those infernal devices weren’t invented back then, she’d made it a house rule to not have them used in her pride and joy.
She also hated their constant buzzing and ringing and clattering as people tapped at those miniature keypads like their lives depended on it.
How anyone could be glued to a phone when surrounded by all this beauty…she trailed a hand over a velvet 1940s vermillion ball gown, savouring the plush-ness, the timeless elegance, let her fingers skim a floral silk scarf she bet could tell a few stories about the necks it had been knotted around over the years.
She glanced at the diamante shoe clips, the crimson lipsticks in different brands, the fascinators at jaunty angles on the classically dressed mannequins.
Every item had been lovingly chosen in the hope it would bring joy to its next owner in the same way it had brought her joy to discover it. Surrounded by all these wonderful treasures of the past, how could anyone not be tempted?
“I need an answer.”
Just like that she snapped out of her reverie and glared at the philistine who wouldn’t appreciate vintage at its finest if it slithered off a mannequin and onto his rather impressive frame.

READER REVIEWS: Sex, Gossip & Rock & Roll

Thanks to trusty Google I stumbled across a great review for SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL.

"Nicola Marsh has written a spectacular, light, fun and sexy romance with Sex, Gossip and Rock and Roll...

From the time Luca opened the door to Charli I just laughed because it was obvious there would be sensual tension of seismic power. Oh was I spot on, it was amazing....

There was intense emotion in Sex, Gossip and Rock and Roll, add to the mix the comeback rock star, his son, the sexual attraction, the sex, it all had me smiling and crying because they had both lost so much in their youth...

a splendid reunion an incredible ending to a perfect love story."

Thanks to Marilyn! Here's the full review.

(If you're in Australia & NZ you can grab this book off shelves now!)