Guest Blogger: Author Nicola Marsh

Next up on the Romance Author Extravaganza is bestselling author, Nicola Marsh, who's given us over thirty delightfully sassy heroines to date. Go for it, Nicola!

Thanks for inviting me to blog, Libby, it’s great to be here.

Before I start writing a book, I must have the perfect title. Even though I know a publisher may change it, the words won’t flow for me unless the title I devise sums up the book perfectly.

Yesterday I had a similar experience with a song.

I know some authors use playlists while writing (me? I prefer silence) but with NOT THE MARRYING KIND, my new book just released, I knew the song for the book trailer had to be perfect too.

The song needed to encapsulate the fun, flirty feel of the book. I wanted fast and boppy and Vegas!

Must say, I discovered googling songs can become as addictive as googling hot heroes (purely for inspiration purposes, of course!)

I had a ball checking out Vegas songs on YouTube and like finding the perfect book title, I knew I’d found the perfect song within hearing the first few bars.

Johnny Ray’s ‘I’m Going to Vegas’ is everything I want NOT THE MARRYING KIND to be. Fast-paced. Fun. Racy.

So what do you think?

Click here to see the YouTube link.

USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair.

She’s had 31 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!

She loves interacting with readers so you can find her:

Website


Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

NOT THE MARRYING KIND BLURB:

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.

Link to excerpt

Buy links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Guest Blogger: Author Natalie Anderson

The next blog guest on my Romance Author Extravaganza is the super talented Natalie Anderson, who pens addictive, smokin' hot romances. Go for it, Natalie!

When you're a writer there are several milestones in your career that give you the most massive thrill - holding your first (and actually, any subsequent books) in your hands for the first time, seeing them on the shelf in a bookshop at the local mall, getting your first email from a reader who loved the story you wrote, getting your books in translation. It's a fabulous reward for those 'hard slog' days!

I've had a couple of lovely 'buzz' moments recently - getting copies of my books in Manga - I'm sooooo thrilled about that - check out the cover of this one, I love it!!! And I had another thrill this month with a book included in the Australian/New Zealand "Best Selling Authors Collection 2012".

The story of mine in the anthology is UNBUTTONED BY HER MAVERICK BOSS (in the US this was released as REBEL WITH A CAUST). I'm so thrilled this book is getting another outing as it is a particular favourite of mine. I love the hero, Lorenzo, for many reasons, but one of the biggies is the way he gives the heroine, Sophy, the time to reach for her dreams. Sophy is the kind of girl I think many of us can relate to - she's trying very hard to be all things to all people and she tends to shove her own dreams to the bottom of the 'to do' list. But Lorenzo pulls her up on this - realising that the root of Sophy's reason for being so busy, is fear - she doesn't want to fail in something that's so precious to her. But she's been given an opportunity and he's not going to let her self-sabogage it! He whisks her away for the weekend - and then pretty much abandons her, literally giving her the time and the space to get the work she needs to get done, done. Of course, he does come back later in the day and helps soothe her weary muscles (think massage and thermal pools...) ;) But thanks to him she got the work done, her confidence grew and she began to truly believe in her ability.

I think many people get bogged down in day to day 'busy'-ness and often don't take the time to give their creative selves a chance - and actually sometimes it takes courage to take the time for yourself and your own dreams. My husband, my real life hero (who is of course, inspiration for all my romance heroes) is the guy who gave me the time - literally - to start my own writing career. I was home with two small children and he'd take them off (to the park, via the cafe) so I could sit at the computer and try to 'write a book' - because I'd always said I wanted to. It was such a supportive thing - and still does - for me. Giving someone time (especially as a busy mum!) is the most fabulous gift!

Is finding time to fulfil your creative self a problem for you? If you got given some time, what would you do with it - write, paint, garden, dream? Would you create something yourself or enjoy the creations of someone else?! Tell me what would you do before enjoying the massage and thermal pools?!? ;)

USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled. With twenty books published, she's also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year). She lives in Chirstchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks. Sign up to her newsletter and find out more at her website on Twitter  and on Facebook.