Look who's visiting me today!

I'm excited to today to have Nancy Jardine with me on my blog as my guest. I love all things Celtic, Scottish and Irish and getting to know Nancy is a real pleasure. Find out more about her today as she tells us some interesting facts about her and her recent releast, Topaz Eyes.

Hi Lisa, it’s grand of you to be inviting me to visit today. I’ve answered some lovely questions for you so that your readers can get to know me a bit better.

Where do you hail from?

I’m a Scot, originally born in Glasgow, but I now live in the gorgeous ‘castle country’ of Aberdeenshire. I only have to walk less than a mile to reach the ruined Hallforest Castle, built in the 1400s, but there are also many castles which are still lived in today that are also a short drive away. The visitor to Aberdeenshire has so many castles to choose from that it’s almost an impossible choice.

I've always wanted to go to Scotland and visit the historic ruins of the castles that would, no doubt fill me with more story ideas. What a great place to be!

Are there other exciting things to view in your vicinity? Absolutely – especially for the history buff. History abounds all around me. About 400 yards from my house there were Roman marching camps, and that means around 10000 soldiers might have been tramping over my garden! The camps were during the eras of Agricola A.D. 83 and the Roman Emperor Severus A.D. 210. Standing stones litter the nearby countryside, too. The Grampian Mountain Range isn’t too far away and tourists can do lots of exciting outdoor sporting activities there.

Tell me 6 things about yourself.

I’m an ex-primary school teacher who taught 11-12 year olds for decades. I finally gave up teaching in 2011, a few years before retirement, when my hearing became a problem. Since then I’ve focused on my writing and have now had 4 novels published. I live with my husband of 38 years, who is lovely man and a great cook. I have two daughters- both married and living around an hours’ drive away from me – but in opposite directions! I have one fantastic toddler granddaughter that I child mind two full days a week, to help my elder daughter who has gone back to work.

How would your spouse describe you? (Up to 10 adjectives)

Scatty for personal issues, forgetful regarding information from phone calls and emails, selectively deaf, hardworking, easy to please, loyal, dedicated, reliable for work issues.

You want to change your lifestyle. What would you change first?

I’d stop sleeping the 8, or so, hours I seem to need, and maybe drop back to 5. That would give me lots more time to write. I’d also make a huge effort to NOT waste valuable time doing cleaning and household and gardening chores…which are becoming more of a chore as I get older!

What leisure pursuits would you want to take up in 2013? I want to get back to regular swimming. I stopped because of ear problems, but want to return since it’s a great way to keep fit.

What’s your most favorite way to travel? I like any kind of traveling but love trains. I can settle down comfortably and read or laptop type; I can look out onto the view for an eye-break which I can’t do on a flight. I hardly ever take a train ride, though, as it’s more common for me to return to the area of my roots by car, or by coach.  

I've never been on a train, but can imagine the romance of riding through historic landscapes, sipping tea and imagining all the people and their stories that took place outside those windows.

What kinds of novels do you like to read?

For years I only seemed to read category romance, to get to know what it would take to get published in the genre, but now I’m reading lots of different fiction sub-genres. I’ve latterly read: YA (bullying and self-harm issues); fantasy/ paranormal; fantasy fairy tale style; psychological dramas; crime fiction and cosy crimes. I’m published by The Wild Rose Press who only publish sub-genres of romance. Though my other publisher-Crooked Cat Publishing – publishes in many different fiction genres.

What would be your ideal place to stay for a month? I spent a very short break at a fantastic hotel in Oman, in the Middle East, and would love to return there. A month might be just a little too long though. Most of my holidays now are short, 7- 10 days, as I get a bit antsy about being away from

home.

What would you do there?

If I went back to Oman I’d do a lot of reading, a lot of writing, sunbathe (Not often done in Scotland!), and do more water sports. There would be superb eating in the hotel restaurants, and ‘tailor-made’ cocktail drinking by the Tikki bars on the private beach. I did a little sand dune driving (exhilarating stuff) in other Middle East places and would do that again, and I’d explore the oases by camel (though I hate it when they spit at you!) I didn’t see much of Muscat so I’d really explore there too and the surrounding areas.

I would never have imagined that the Middle East would hold much appeal, but I do remember old movies such as Lawrence of Arabia and some action adventure films made over there. I'm not a hot weather fan, so I doubt it would be for me, but very interesting to visit in short spurts. Wow!

Thank you, Lisa for hosting me today. It’s lovely to visit new places. 

You're very welcome and it's a pleasure having you here. Now tell us  more about your most recent release!

My most recent release is Topaz Eyes, a treasure hunt, ancestral mystery romance - published by Crooked Cat Publishing. 

Blurb for Topaz Eyes:

A peculiar invitation to Heidelberg embroils Keira Drummond in the search for a mysterious collection of extraordinary jewels once owned by a Mughal Emperor; a hoard that was last known to be in the possession of Amsterdam resident, Geertje Hoogeveen, in 1910.

Who among the progeny of Geertje – hitherto unfamiliar third cousins brought together for the quest – can Keira rely on? Distrust and suspicion among them is rife.

Which one is greedy, and determined enough, to hire thugs to tail her… and worse… as she travels to Vienna and Minnesota?  Can Keira even trust Teun Zeger - a Californian she is becoming very drawn to – as they pair up to unearth the jewellery?

As they follow a trail of clues, will they uncover the full collection before the hired gun kills them? Details remain furtive and undisclosed until danger and death forces their exposure. And who harbours the ultimate mystery item that is even more precious than the Mughal jewels?

Greed, suspicion and murder are balanced by growing family loyalty, trust, and love.

Excerpt: 

“Would you ditch the mystery, Jensen, and just enlighten me as to what you think I have that interests you? And tell me why you couldn’t have asked for it in the letter you sent to me? I came here of my own free will – granted – but I’m not hanging around any longer if you’re going to drag this out, for I’m damned sure I’ve no idea what you’re referring to.”

            Jensen’s reply lacked emotion, his face a blank screen, his gaze focused on Teun as Keira regarded the by-play.

            “Teun. It may come as a surprise to you, but you actually know more about this invitation than Keira. At least you knew from my letter I had something of family interest you might be glad to take back to the USA with you. Keira had no such suggestion made to her.”

            Tension rose in the room, which didn’t only radiate from Teun.

            Keira sat uneasy, also unwilling to be in the dark any longer. “Would you please explain why you think I may have something you want, Herr Amsel?” She found herself reluctant to use his first name, considering the antagonism now mounting.

            “All in good time, Keira. And please call me Jensen. I don’t set out to be anyone’s enemy. I believe each of you can provide access to items belonging to the collection. All the pieces are likely to vary in monetary value but, viewed as a complete entity, it will make an impressive display. It’s a historic set… and unique.”

Author and buy details: http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com   http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com    http://facebook.com/nancy.jardine.56    Twitter @nansjar   Goodreads, Google+, LinkedIn  -as Nancy Jardine

Topaz Eyes is available from:

Amazon  http://amzn.to/RhRWK1 

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/261511  

Waterstones e-books http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/search/crooked+cat+publishing/0/0/?pageNumber=0

Topaz Eyes

Book trailer YouTube video for Topaz Eyes can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgPf5kTAyi4&feature=channel&list=UL

Other books by Nancy Jardine can be seen at:

Amazon.com  http://amzn.to/wwaGCv  

The Wild Rose Press  http://bit.ly/WyaGGi

Barnes and Noble  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/take-me-now-nancy-jardine/1112379887?ean=2940014937641

Smashwords

My Next Big Thing

Welcome to this blog hop.

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way that readers can discover new authors, because with bookstores closing and publishers not promoting new authors as much, we need to find a way to introduce readers to authors they may not see in their local bookstore.

Here you have the chance to find many new authors. Here you’ll find information about me and the book I currently have out.  Also see links below to other authors you might like to check out.

I’d like to thank fellow author Mimi Barbour for tagging me to participate. Click the link below to find out about her latest book Vegas Rift

In this particular hop, I and my fellow authors, in their respective blogs, have answered 10 questions where you get to learn about our current work in progress as well as some insights into our process, from characters and inspirations to plotting and cover decisions. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. 

Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the title of your book..  BE STILL MY LOVER'S HEART

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

I originally wrote it as a short story for a contest for another publisher. My husband liked it and I sent it to another and just lengthened it to a full novel.

3: What genre does your book come under?

It falls under the Paranormal Romance genre but has Science Fiction and Futuristic elements as well. There are two lines at The Wild Rose Press and mine fits under the Black Rose Line.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Erin Sanders as Shea, Gage Golightly as Cami, Ian Somerhalder as Tempest, Jackson Rathbone as Rivera and Landon Liboiron as Aveal. Good guys anyway.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

One woman with nothing to lose joins a Universal Military to fight whether or not it causes her death until she meets the one man, an alien, who claims she is his bondmate and have been meant to be together from time preordained even though they have to fight a madman in order to keep all they hold dear, including their future.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by    

an agency? THE WILD ROSE PRESS an independent publisher.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  6Weeks

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I'm not quite sure as there are many different elements to this story.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?  I love to be challenged to write different types of stories and I hadn't written a futuristic space one at that point and decided to try it.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? It is the first book in a five book series. Also, the term "Vatamp" or "Atrisvazhamp" means "Memory Makers." This allows each member the unique ability to draw on the memories of his or her relatives who have passed on before them to solve unusual problems.

You can find my book at Amazon.com   Barnes&Noble.com & most online booksellers.  

Below you will find authors who will be joining me by blog, next Wednesday. Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

  Jennifer Barry  www.jennifermbarry.com
 

 

AN UNUSUAL SOLUTION TO UNLOCK THE MUSE

Most authors write because it's what we love to do. Most of us have been doing so from a very young age, or at the very least, have been telling stories throughout most our lifetimes. If you've ever sat down and actually talked to one of us, even a group of us together, you'd swear we were destined for a sanitarium at some point and probably wonder why we weren't already there. You might wonder what kind of medications we were taking and then wonder why they weren't working. Unless you've ever sat down in front of a blank page and had at least one voice tell you what to write, (this voice being in your head), there's really no way of understanding the how of what we do. The why of what we do, is because we are driven to it by a love for the characters that speak to us out of, literally nowhere.

Our inspirations come from many different places. For some of us, it's a favorite restaurant where we go each week to get coffee and or lunch or a favorite treat, for others, it's sitting in a crowded mall on a Saturday afternoon and watching the many people come and go. Sometimes, a line in a song can inspire an entire novel or a single painting, or color in that painting, a series of novels. Many of us tend to dream in full technicolor with digital Dolby surround sound. One single dream can turn into an epic series. The muse as we like to call it, comes from anything, place, sound, sight, touch or smell. Perhaps, even the even cadence of a pleasant voice.  That's the easy part.

The hard part, and it doesn't happen often, is when that muse freezes. When you end up staring at the page, whether it be a blank one or at the last sentence where you left off a few days ago and can't write another word. You know how the story ends, your characters are screaming at you to finish because most of us are working on more than one thing at a time and they don't want to be left hanging, and yet there you are, hands ready to type, and there is nothing flowing through you. It goes by another name, too. Writer's Block. When this occurs, it's physically painful, causing heart palpitations because time is moving on and you know you have to get the work done.  That's called a deadline. For me, a deadline often means a flat line, as in heart monitor flat line.  Once I figured out what was happening, I discovered a simple solution.

As writer's we all deal with this at one point or other. For me, and for others I suspect as well, freelance work is my "Waiting tables until my big Hollywood Star Break."  Sometimes these projects require a deadline, some don't. Recently, my biggest one asked for a deadline and then it happened. I was in pure writer's block.  I couldn't write word one on any project, mine or anyone else's.  I ended up talking to my client and we came to an understanding that caused the jump start to my heart monitor flat line. I have normal sinus rhythm again, but have to take it easy for a day or two to recover completely. 

The solution? Remove the deadline! By doing that, I am able to finish everything I am working on without further worry. That's not to say that I won't still have to face deadlines again. That's a hazard of this job. Hopefully, when that time comes again, I will be working on only one project; mine.

STARTING THE NEW YEAR GENEROUSLY

Sometimes I feel a little bit overwhelmed. As a freelance editor, proofreader and ghostwriter, not to mention freelance screenplay writer, it is hard to meet the demands of everyone I work with on a daily basis.  Then, there are those stories, poems and other little writing projects for myself. One of which, I hope you are currently enjoying.   I do have goals for this year, but am not into resolutions. I have outgrown those thank heavens!  My goals?  1) To finish the projects I am working on for other people, 2) To score three contracts for my own works, (this is a big one) and 3) To host other authors and to help promote their works and learn more from the wonderful group of ROSES at The Wild Rose Press at how to become better at what I love to do, which is the business of writing.  My heart and soul! My Joy! Well, you get it! 

Now, the part of being generous?  I've always wanted to do things for others and make that my mantra and have for many years.  This year I've taken a book that has reverted back to me and uploaded it at Goodreads for a free download.  That's right, one of my own.  Here's the link.

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17206886-queen-of-hearts

The book is called Queen of Hearts. It was given a 5 star review and nominated for best Paranormal Romance of the Year in 2007.  For those of you who love vampires, your going to really love this one. It's a look, a different glimpse into my imagination. A look at the world of my vampires.  I hope that one of the contracts I intend to score this year is another of my vampire novels, one that was originally planned for this series.

I hope you let me know how you like it! I would love to hear from you.  Enjoy!