I had the distinct pleasure of spending this weekend with the Paranormal Plumes Society. We had so much fun, I can barely hold my head up today! I was exhausted yesterday, but it was worth it. I will be posting more about our spectacular time in Savannah later this week (with pictures!). But, today I thought that I would share a short story with you that I wrote as part of a Halloween bash. It's flash fiction, in other words it had to be less that 1800 words, but I enjoyed writing it. I also think that this may be turned into a full fledged novel. (Maybe even a series, because that's the way my brain works...) So, without further ado, here is my contribution to Halloween. I hope you enjoy it.
Hauntingly
By Nichole Chase
Sooo... you might've noticed that there is no story here any longer. Yeah, sorry about that! But, there is good news too. Hauntingly is being turned into a full fledged novel! So, for those of you that read the short flash fiction piece I had posted for last October, you've gotten a sneak peak. ;)
Okay guys! It's time to announce the winner of the A Hidden Fire Giveaway! Drum roll, please....
(tat, tat, tat, tat-a-tat, tat-a-tat, tat-a-tat. Have I mentioned that I'm a dork? Eh, you've probably already guessed!)
CONGRATULATIONS SARAH!!!!!!
I will be passing your information along to the amazing Elizabeth Hunter and she will be in touch with you soon. You won't be dissappointed. This book is absolutely amazing and will leave you wanting more. And more. And more. Thank goodness we don't have to wait long! Book 2 will be out in December!
So, now for this weeks Tuesday teaser.
“Hunky Paden has two godly patrons?” Teagan pulled her feet down from the table and leaned towards Paden, her mouth curving into a sultry smile. “Now, that is interesting. Someone was planning ahead with you.”
So there you have it. Looks like Ree might need to watch her back ;)
So, now for some fun news... and speaking of news, I am going to be ON THE NEWS this Thursday. Laura Elliot and I will be appearing on Mid-Morning Live on WTOC to promote the Paranormal Plumes Indie Discussion and Book Signing this coming Saturday in Savannah. I'm excited and incredibly nervous! I will post the link for you to be able to watch the segment online later that night.
If you are in the area, we would LOVE for you to come out and meet us on Saturday! We're all going to talk a little about our creative process and the indie publishing industry. So, if you have questions about our books, how to publish your own books, or anything thing else, stop by the South West Chatham Library on October 29th at 10am. We may even have some free goodies to hand out. :)
The Authors:
M. Leighton
Tiffany King
Michelle Muto
Fisher Amelie
C.A. Kunz
Wren Emerson
Abbie Glines
Amy Maurer Jones
Laura Elliot
and of course, Me!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me on FB or through my website: www.nicholechase.com
We would also like to give a special thanks to Jody and Tim of Mid-Morning Live on WTOC! And of course, the wonderful South West Chatham Library for hosting our event. (And a big personal thank you to Daniel O. for all of his good ideas. You rock my sock, Daniel!)
So, my amazing cover designer has really out done herself this time. We sat down for hours and discussed how to use the photos I purchased, where to place the text, what colors to use and even more importantly, managed to not kill each other. For those of you that don't know, my mother in law does all of the heavy lifting when it comes to my book covers. Isn't that cool? She is one talented lady!
So, without further ado, here is the cover for Mortal Defiance!
Coming December 2011
And now, to complete the reveal, here is your Teaser Tuesday... on Friday!
“Why is it I never get a goodnight’s rest when you’re around?” Ree squinted at Roland and frowned.
“I'm sure we could come up with something to help you relax.” Raising an eyebrow he smiled at Ree, making her pulse race.
So many exciting and important things happen in Mortal Defiance. I can't wait for everyone to read the next part of Ree's story.
Today is the release day of A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter. I have had the distinct pleasure of reading an advance review copy and let me tell you, this book is something you don't want to miss. So with out further ado, here is a little about the author and the amazing book she has written,
Elizabeth Hunter is the author and publisher of the Elemental Mysteries Series.
She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College in the Department of English (Linguistics) and a former English teacher.
A native of Central California, she now lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and an assortment of dogs. She enjoys reading, writing, travel, and bowling (despite the fact that she’s not very good at it.)
Someday, she plans to learn how to scuba-dive.
And maybe hang-glide ... but that looks like a lot of running.
What was the inspiration for A Hidden Fire?
The inspiration for A Hidden Fire was really the character of Giovanni Vecchio himself. I started thinking one day about what I would do with my time if I could actually live forever. The first thing I came up with was reading! I love books. And I loved the idea of this immortal being that did, too. His character started to develop, and with that came the idea for the novel.
Are you a panster or a plotter?
PLOTTER! I am a big time plotter. Before I ever start taking notes I will let an idea stew in my brain for at least a month or two. Then I start character sketches. Then plotting. Then timelines. I build theme graphs and even plot the tension levels I want in each chapter. After all of that, I start the outlining and actual writing. Does it change as I write? Of course! But I had the basic outline for the Elementals series finished before I was done with the first book.
How did you develop your characters? Is there one that you enjoy writing the most?
I do a lot of sketching, research, and time-lining. All of my main characters and most supporting ones have detailed backstories. Much of the time that information is never included in the book, but it adds layers to how I write them, so I need to know.
There are so many characters that are fun to write. I love writing dialogue between Gio and Beatrice. Caspar is a hoot. I’d say the one character that is pure pleasure to write is Carwyn. He has a lot of my husband’s humor, so he’s pretty fun to spend time with!
How long does it typically take you to finish a novel?
It depends on if you including all the planning and plotting! If you don’t include that, it usually takes me two to three months to write the first draft. I started planning A Hidden Fire about a year ago. I finished the first draft in May or June. I’m working on the final editing for the second book right now, and I’m a little over half done with the first draft for book three. It may seem fast to some writers, but the actual writing part is one of the easiest steps for me. The planning and outlining are far more taxing.
There is a good bit of Hispanic culture in your book. Did you have to do a lot of research to make sure you got that part correct?
Well, I grew up in California and I went to university in Texas, so a lot of that is just mainstream culture in both places! I ate chile peppers when I was a baby, and I was as likely to hear Spanish as English in the market growing up. I’m really lucky to have lived in two places where there are such large and established Mexican-American and Chicano communities. I think so much of that culture is woven through the American Southwest. So I did a little research, but most of it was very familiar.
Speaking of research, history plays a very large roll in the book. Did you spend a great deal of time researching any one thing? Was it difficult to work in all of the details into your book?
I did a lot of research into the Italian Renaissance, which was fascinating, but very challenging. I don’t think I worked even a quarter of the research I did into the book, but I wanted to make sure the bits of it that were included were as accurate as I could make them. I hope I did the subject justice. It’s a fascinating period in history. As far as the research into the more ancient periods of history went, I’m a bit of a classical studies nerd, so that part was really enjoyable!
How did you start writing? Is this your debut novel?
I had been a technical writer for years, and I’ve done some journalism, as well. Obviously, I did a lot in school, but very little for fun. I was more of a reader. I started playing with the idea of a different novel a couple of years ago, and then I discovered fan fiction online! I loved it, and I loved the idea of writing for fun within a fan community. I started doing that and really discovered the pure joy of writing for pleasure and storytelling. It was a great experience and it taught me a lot about plotting and writing for an audience. I also made some incredible friends, a lot of whom are my sharpest pre-readers now.
It was after that time that original ideas started popping around in my brain. A Hidden Fire is my debut novel, but my first written novel (unrelated to the EM series) has been published for free on my writing website. I haven’t decided whether I will edit that one for publication. I might if there is enough interest.
What are you currently working on? How many novels will follow A Hidden Fire?
I am finishing book two right now, the title of which is This Same Earth, and I’m in the middle of writing book three, but I won’t release the title until I’m done with the first draft! The main storyline of the Elemental Mysteries will be finished in four books, but there may be stand-alone stories for some of the characters, and I’m also toying with the idea of writing a novella around Christmas if I have the time.
I have a very persistent idea for a second series working its way through my brain at the moment, but I’m not writing anything down yet. It needs a bit more time to percolate.
Do you have a favorite novel or author? What genre do you typically read the most?
I read a lot of different genres. I love good biographies. One of my favorite authors is Michael Ondaatje; The English Patient was a huge book for me. As a Californian, I love Steinbeck. As far as paranormal romance and mystery goes, I’m a huge fan of Charlaine Harris, Chloe Neill, and Jeaniene Frost. Those ladies and their worlds are amazing.
I love the soundtrack you have set up for A Hidden Fire. Do you have a song that fits the series overall?
I have to pick one? Music is huge for me. All of my stories have soundtracks that I listen to obsessively while I’m writing and editing. If I had to pick one for the series it would probably be Sarah Brightman’s song, “Anytime, Anywhere.” It’s a beautiful blend of modern and classic, which fits the books. I’ll leave readers to find the translation for the lyrics online.
Elizabeth has been kind enough to giveaway a free ecopy of her spectacular novel. All you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog, with your email address and answer this question:
What book will you always have in your personal library?
The contest ends next Tuesday October 25th.
If you can't wait to read this spectacular novel, here are the links where you can purchase a copy. (And really folks, this is one you do NOT want to miss out on.)
**Teaser Tuesday is moving to Thursday this week, but don't worry, it will be back and better than ever. I will also be releasing the cover for Mortal Defiance! And, I'm really in love with the new cover! I can't wait to share it with everyone.**
So! It's that time! Time to annouce who the lucky winners are of some cool Mortal Obligation swag!!! The lucky winners are Tee and Ifrah! Woot!!! Tee, you won the first prize pack so I have to know which keychain you want... though I think I can guess. ;)
I will be contacting the winners tonight and they will have seven days to respond. If I have had no response in the next seven days I will draw a new winner.
Now, on to...
TEASER TUESDAY #3!!!
“That’s me. The diligent student.” He reached out to tuck some of her hair out of her face.
“Hm. Diligent students wear their uniforms and bring backpacks full of paper and pens.” She pointed at his clothes and smiled. “I think your forgot the rest of your ‘Diligent Student’ disguise.”
“Don’t let my bad boy good-looks fool you. I came prepared.”He pulled a pen out of his jacket pocket with a flourish, making Ree laugh.
“I don't know," Ree said. She couldn't let the opportunity to pick on his pass her by. "I think you still might be ill-equipped.”
“Trust me, that definitely isn’t a problem.” Roland winked at her as heat rushed into her cheeks. “Besides, I'll just sit next to you and borrow whatever else I need.” His devilish smile made Ree's heart beat accelerate and she noticed some of the girls at lockers near the office make swooning motions.
Keep your eyes open for next Tuesday's teaser and a special interview with the amazing Elizabeth Hunter, the author of A Hidden Fire. She has written one of my favorite books of the year and I am very honored to be hosting her on the release day. She will giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter! So, don't miss out!
Also, before I skidaddle to write some more, I wanted to let you all know about the Paranormal Plumes Society Indie Discussion and Book Signing on October 29th. Eleven authors will be gathering here in Savannah at the Southwest Chatham Library to talk a little about the process and to answer any questions. I would love for everyone to come out and meet me, and to support all of these wonderful authors who are making the trip to our lovely town. Let's show them what Southern charm is all about!
If you would like to know a little more about the event, check out the amazing website Fisher Amelie and her husband put together: http://www.theplumessociety.com
We will also be doing a dinner and ghost tour, for those that are interested in joining us!
So, let's get the teaser out of the way first and then on to the giveaway!
“I see.” He was quiet as they neared the door. After a moment he asked, “And did you put her in her place?”
Ree looked up at him and couldn’t help the twitch at the corners of her mouth.“Something like that.”
Have I mentioned that I have a lot of favorite scenes in this book? Because, I do. Just so you know! ;)
and now for...
THE GIVEAWAY!
So, I have some swag that I have been DYING to give away. There will be two seperate swag-packs. (Is it just me, or does that sound weird?) The first package is a little larger, but the second one is still fun!
Without further ado, here is the first package:
This package includes: One mouse pad, one notebook, one signed postcard, and your choice of an I heart Paden or an I heart Roland keychain. (I am thrilled with how these products turned out!)
And for the second package:
This package includes: One notebook and one signed postcard.
So, if you're interested in getting some cool free stuff, you only have to do two small things. Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me what's your favorite scene from Mortal Obligation. **Try to keep it spoiler free for those that have not had a chance to read the book yet**
I will be choosing winners on Tuesday, October 11th through random.org. Entries after 12:01am on Tuesday will not be accepted, so make sure that you get your entry in early!
Thanks for stopping by and good luck! I appreciate my readers so very much. I wish I could send everyone something!
ETA: Please be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you. If the winners do not respond within 7 days, I will choose new ones.
