Ooooh, it’s all turning romantic on the 30 Second Interview today.
Why?
Because
Mills & Boon author,
Nicola Marsh, has taken the plunge (all the way from Melbourne, Australia I might add), and answered the famous ten questions.
Okay, so as always, let us start at the beginning and find out how one can go from wanting nothing more than a career in Journalism – and ending as a physiotherapist.
During Nicola’s tenth school year, she embarked on some work experience in a physiotherapy department at a rehab hospital. A girl after my own heart, she admits to not even knowing what physiotherapy was up until that point. But she absolutely loved it. And after four years at university, she happily skipped into a career within the health industry…..where she remained for thirteen years.
“I’m going to write a book one day”. Ha! How many wannabe writers have that nagging voice sitting on their shoulder? Well, Nicola decided to do something about it.
Since then, Nicola has published a whopping 32 novels, selling over 3 million copies. I think it’s safe to say she is a firm favorite with Harlequin Mills and Boon Romance readers.
And it doesn’t stop there. Nicola has racked up a mountain of awards, including Bookscan, USA Today and Waldenbooks bestseller.
Now, I’ve done my maths. Okay, you guys know when I’m lying – I used a calculator, but I know that Nicola averages four novels a year. That’s a (wait while I hit a few more buttons) book written every three months! Heck, it takes me that long to plot my story and characters.
How on earth did this wife of one and mother of two find the time to answer these questions?
1. What is your favorite word? Mummy
2. What is your least favorite word? School-fees
3. What turns you on? Flirting
4. What turns you off? Sleaze
5. What sound do you love? Laughter
6. What sound do you hate? Alarm
7. What is your favorite curse word? Damn 😉
8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? Hairdressing
9. What profession would you not like to do? Politician
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Angel!”
You can purchase Top 5 Best South Asian Fiction 2011,
Busted In Bollywood here.
Special Ops short story
Tag Team is currently free at Amazon, Apple,
Barnes & Noble, all Romance Ebooks, and
Smashwords! If you like sparks, sizzle & suspense, this read is for you!
And, watch out for Not The Marrying Kind, a marriage of convenience story set in Vegas and featuring a desert bad boy made good. Release date to be confirmed shortly (will be within the next 6 months.)
Contact Information
For more information regarding Nicola Marsh, please check out her website, Facebook, twitter, blog.
If you want more of me, I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin
Very fun, Donna & Nnicola. Thanks for the interview!
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Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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A novel every three months? That’s what I’m talking about. That’s awesome. I want her secret. How does she do it. I’d love to know how! Great interview Donna and Nicola! Thanks! 🙂
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I must admit, unlike Nicola, I don’t usually write at night unless hubby is working late. But, I do write every day between 9am-2pm….well, when twitter and Facebook leave me alone 🙂
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HI Nicola! I LOVE this interview! I do this with my character’s from my books for fun – but I love the answers. Big congrats on the wonderful, and well deserved success – you rock!
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What an excellent way to ‘get to know’ your characters. I’ll have to try that too! Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer. 🙂
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Wow! Very inspiring! I’m off to check out her books 🙂
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Hi Ingrid. Let me know which ones you choose 🙂
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Thanks Jessi 🙂
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Thanks Jessi 🙂 And you’re welcome.
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No great secret, Karen. 🙂
This is my job now so I treat it as such. When kids are in bed, even though I’d rather be there too I sit down to write. And write solidly for several hours.
Do it daily too (except Sundays).
The more you write, the faster you become.
At least, that’s what I find works for me 🙂
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Thanks Jennifer.
That’s really interesting you do this for your characters? Must help bring them alive?
And right back at you on the success 🙂
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Thanks Ingrid, hope you enjoy 🙂
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Thanks for a great interview, Donna. I love how you created a story out of my bio, fantastic! 🙂
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Thanks for being a great subject to write about!:)
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I agree. Mummy is the best word ever and laughter is the most wonderful sound. Lovely interview, ladies. Thanks!
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Mummy is the best word when it isn’t followed by “I want……” 🙂
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Love this interview because I love Nicola Marsh, well done, Donna!
Nicola writes for HQ RIVA too, I have Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire and Tag Team on my TBR pile.
Yes, I write at night too and I write every single day because it is a job.
I agree, Mummy is the best word ever especially when ‘I love you’ is there first!
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Hi Donna
Nagging voices on my shoulder? Is that where they are. I always thought the voices were inside my head, just for me to hear …
I got to agree with Politician. I can’t imagine what makes anyone want to do that, even though I think most of them only do it for the money. I mean there have to be easier ways – writing, for example! Well … ok … where do I apply?
Cheers!
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You’re welcome, Sheila, glad you enjoyed it!
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Aww…CC, what a lovely thing to say!
The Harlequin Romance/Presents/Riva thing is confusing many readers. In the UK my Harlequin books are branded as Riva (I write 2 Romance & 2 Presents Extras a year).
In the US, they’re branded as Harlequin Romance and Harlequin Presents Extra.
So yeah, I write for Riva. And Rom & PE!
And fantastic to meet a fellow writing addict 🙂
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lol Nigel. Yeah, writing sure ain’t easy!
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I LOVE these 30 second author interviews. 🙂
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I truly am amazed at how quickly Nicola writes. However, it proves what I keep hearing again and again: writers have to write to get better! Nicola or Donna, (I don’t know if Nicola is still answering questions) does Nicola still enjoy writing her 32nd book as she did writing her her first five? Also, do you know how Nicola keeps her stories fresh and interesting instead of falling into a standard story line?
I wish I was here to read this post earlier in the week so I could have been here when Nicola was still answering questions. I have discovered that when I have my multiple sclerosis flair-ups and I can’t do writing for a day or 2, my writing feels rusty. It was the same when I used to run. I will have to read one of your books, Nicola; especially to fill-in my lack of a love-life!
Even though I was not able to write every day this week, I was able to write my second blog post. I would have been upset to miss writing days and not keep to my commitment.
Monique
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Monique,
I’m still here, popping in to answer any questions 🙂
I think I’m actually enjoying my writing more now, because at the start it’s all so ‘scary and new’, if that makes sense? Mind you, I still feel like a newbie most days but I’m more confident in the types of stories I write. My editors say I have a ‘fun, flirty voice’ and I have to agree. I have written ‘darker’ stories for Harlequin Romance but it didn’t quite ‘fit’ me.
I love dialogue. Snappy, sassy, characters who spark off each other. That’s what I really love writing and I think it flows through my work, whether for Harlequin or Entangled or my YA stuff.
And yes, like you, I feel rusty when I don’t write daily. Even taking Sundays off, it’s always harder to get back into it come Monday!
As for keeping stories fresh, I try and come up with a unique twist every time. Something modern, something topical, with a romance background. It’s fun coming up with new stories, love it! Writing them is the hard part 🙂
Continue enjoying your own writing, Monique 🙂
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The 30 second interview was fun, Jenny 🙂
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What an awesome interview Donna, and quite an exceptional guest. It’s lovely to get to know you Nicola, especially through the fun Inside the Actor’s Studio 30 second interview.
I’ll check some of your books out for sure as more and more romance authors are making their way into my blog reading. It must be a sign!
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