A very big welcome from all of us at The Hot Pink Typewriter to USA TODAY Bestselling author, Nicola Marsh!
USA
TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with
flair.
She’s
had 32 books published with Harlequin Romance and Presents series, a
fun, flirty contemporary mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD with
Entangled Publishing (nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012)
and sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
Her
first category romance for Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence
series, NOT THE MARRYING KIND, releases July 2012, with another
category contemporary romance FALLING FOR FLYNN releasing with
Crimson Romance October 2012.
Her
urban fantasy young adult novel SCION OF THE SUN releases November
2013 with Month9Books.
She’s
also a Waldenbooks and Bookscan bestseller, has finaled in a number
of awards, including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award,
HOLT, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath,
More
than Magic and has won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice
Awards.
A
physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time,
raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and
friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!
Now, I can't start this interview without first listing the jaw-dropping list of publishers/books Nicola has been writing for...Nicola currently has a mainstream contemporary romance out with Entangled Publishing (BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD) and NOT THE MARRYING KIND her first category romance for Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence series just released. She also writes for Harlequin Romance & Harlequin Presents (has published 32 books with them), has another category romance releasing with Crimson Romance in October and her Young Adult urban fantasy series launching with SCION OF THE SUN released Nov 2013 with Month9Books.
She's also a mother to two young children and a wife...Nicola, please tell me you drink lots of coffee?
Nicola: Don’t hate me but I’m not a regular coffee drinker! I started writing just before my first child was born and was working full time as a physiotherapist, so my writing time was confined to night. With limited writing time, I got used to writing fast, and thankfully that habit has stuck with me. While raising my kids I’ve stuck to the nightly writing routine and it has served me well. Caffeine-free!
Q: Whenever I see your tweets or read your blog, I'm so inspired by your drive and energy. Seriously, if I did half of what you did, I'm sure I wouldn't ever have time to sleep. Ever. Do you have a daily routine that you follow? What is a typical work day like for you?
Nicola: Sadly, I don’t have enough sleep as I would like! I get 6 hours a night when I could do with 8 minimum (I had kids who didn’t sleep through the night until they were older so I need to catch up on a few years’ worth!) This is the first year my youngest is at full time kinder so my routine has changed. From 9-11am I check emails, update blogs and do general social media stuff. 11am-1pm is when I squeeze in writing or revisions. Then my best writing time kicks in between 8.30-10.30pm. I squeeze this in around the rest of my life so I pretty much fall into bed around midnight!
Q: How do you balance writing, social media/promotion, and family?
Nicola: Family always comes first. Always. That said, I’ll be honest and say I’m guilty of plonking the kids in front of TV during school holidays at times to finish urgent galleys or a deadline book!
With the social
media, I love Twitter and my can be found tapping away at my phone
day and night!
Q: BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD has been a huge success, congratulations. What was the most challenging part in switching gears from category to single title?
Nicola: While I love the challenge of writing category romance, I found the switch to longer mainstream books quite liberating. Being able to expand on secondary characters and plotlines was fun!
Q: Self-promotion is so important now for authors, especially those just starting out. Do you have any advice or tips on what you think is essential for a published author?
Nicola: Be professional at all times. In whatever medium (Twitter, FB, Goodreads, blog, etc…) remember that once you say something it’s out there forever. So however much you hate that shoddy review, curb the impulse to vent. And don’t engage with unhappy readers. Be gracious. Class always shows.
Q: Can you tell us what you're busy working on now and what/when your next release will be?
Nicola: I’ve just started writing book 33 for Harlequin, featuring a WAG and a publishing CEO. Promises to be huge fun!
NOT THE MARRYING KIND ($2.99 e-book) released this week with Entangled Publishing and I’m super excited (I love this book!)
Next up is MARRYING THE ENEMY (Harlequin Presents Extra), releasing in September, closely followed by WEDDING DATE WITH MR. WRONG (Harlequin Romance) and FALLING FOR FLYNN (Crimson Romance) in October.
Thank you so much for taking time out
of your busy schedule to visit with us, Nicola and best of luck on
all your future books!
Nicola: Thanks again for having me. I’ve had fun!
Who
said marriage had to be convenient?
LA
party planner Poppy Collins has kept her side business—planning
divorce parties as the Divorce Diva—under wraps, but keeping her
sister's company afloat is proving tougher by the day. When a new
divorce party prospect gives Poppy the opportunity to save the day
and boost her bottom line, she can't pass it up. But this time, she's
about to get way more than she bargained for…
Vegas
golden boy Beck Blackwood knows Poppy's secret, and he's not afraid
to use it to get exactly what he wants—a wife. With his reputation
and corporate expansion plans on the line, the only way he can repair
the damage is by getting hitched, and fast. And if blackmail is the
only way to get Poppy to the altar, then so be it…
But
they're in the city of high stakes, and Poppy has a few aces up her
sleeve. Now it's time to find out if they're playing to win…or if
they're playing for keeps.
You can read an excerpt of Not The Marrying Kind here
Nicola loves interacting with readers so you can find her at:
Website:
www.nicolamarsh.com
Blog: www.nicolamarsh.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicolaMarshAuthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NicolaMarsh
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/Nicola_MarshBlog: www.nicolamarsh.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicolaMarshAuthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NicolaMarsh
Thanks again for being here today, Nicola! And congrats on Not The Marrying Kind-I see it's rocking its way up the charts :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled with how readers are responding to Not the Marrying Kind. Always nice when someone 'likes your baby'! :)
Love Nicola Marsh books. Not the Marrying Kind is on my TBR list! Having a structured writing routine is a great idea. Congrats on your success Nicola, amazed how you fit it all in and look so good too!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with "be professional at all times". I'm AMAZED at how many people use social media as a dumping ground for negative energy, general bashing and 'vaguebooking' for attention. Great interview ... that I read ... while drinking my 2nd cup of coffee *sigh* If you could bottle your energy Nicola, you'd have a WHOLE second career in the making :) Continued success to you both.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Nicola! Thanks so much for stopping by the HPT. I wish I had half of your energry (says a woman waiting desperately for her morning tea *g*). I can't even imagine writing for so many publishers all at once. Yay for you being able to keep it all straight and on deadline. You are an amazing powerhouse. I have one of your books coming up in my HQ Romance TBR pile. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteYou're an inspiration, Nicola, talk about prolific! I loved Not The Marrying Kind and it's deservedly scorching up the charts. I'll be looking out fr your next release too. ;0)
ReplyDeleteWow Tracey, what a lovely thing to say, I'm rapt you love my books!
ReplyDeleteAs for looking good...hmm... if you saw me in my writing 'outfit' at night I doubt you'd say that! :)
Absolutely Short Stack Foodie.
ReplyDeleteI see some pretty amazing stuff on social media.
People need to remember, once it's out there it's out there for life.
Negativity just not worth it.
Thanks Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI'm crazy busy but sometimes I like it that way :)
(notice I said 'sometimes'...!)
Thanks so much, Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI still have your waiting patiently on my kindle...
It's incredibly inspiring to hear about another writer who has succeeded while raising children and working a full-time job. I squeeze in writing during naps and bedtime, and hearing stories like yours motivates me to keep going despite the exhaustion. Alas, I confess to being a coffee addict.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all of your hard-earned success, and thank you so much for stopping by to share! :-)