Addicted to Writing: Christine Young Presents -- The Arrival by author Nicole Mac Donald

Monday, December 31, 2012

Christine Young Presents -- The Arrival by author Nicole Mac Donald

Please welcome Nicole MacDonald author of The Arrival.

Nicole will be awarding a $50.00 gift card – Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winners choice, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

This book is free everywhere!

Amazon US - free: http://www.amazon.com/The-Arrival-BirthRight-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004HD5WAE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347750674&sr=8-3&keywords=the+arrival

Itunes US - free: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-arrival/id431517784?mt=11

Itunes UK - free: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-arrival/id431517784?mt=11

Kobo - free: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Arrival/book-fW1uiT1a2U27zweXd_D9jw/page1.html?s=m6zvEHUwuU6GCa6fCqs70A&r=1

Sony ereader store - free: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/nicole-macdonald/the-arrival/_/R-400000000000000340919

Smashwords (any format) - free: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34874

BN/Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arrival-nicole-macdonald/1100093005?ean=2940011169434

Please leave a comment for the author.

The Arrival

by Nicole MacDonald

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERVIEW:

1.What or who inspired you to start writing?

An intense storm over the Wellington harbor in New Zealand inspired the idea. I love action movies, especially the ones with the female characters I can relate to, so I wrote a story that I can relate to – and it turns out, other people can too!

2.How did you come up with ideas for your books?

Most of what I write is inspired by my life. My friends, family, pets and surroundings. Real events turned on their heads in a fantastical setting and I just let my imagination loose.

3.As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

A steampunk series, it will be quite dark even though the protagonist is 17 but I’m quite sick of the timid Young Adult books that are coming out now. I want to write something that I as a 15-20yr old would love to read. After that (or at the same time, knowing me) I have an exciting concept for another YA series and a standalone novel – a black comedy about crazy old cat ladies…

4.If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

Cat, because I based her on me. I’ve always daydreamed about the things that the girls get to do in the Trilogy and by writing it I get to do it.

5.Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

No, I did originally get feedback from many bloggers/writers but I found that it actually hindered me in the first book. So for the second I cut down the numbers involved in the book and kept it low for those involved in the third book too. Too many cooks really do spoil the broth!

6.When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

I decided to do it after reading J.A.Konrath’s blog. I had sent The Arrival out to 30 agents and got a good response, but after discovering the ‘benefits’ of being published with a publishing house, I decided to take it in my own hands and do it myself. It does create quite a bit more work, but at least I know its mine the whole way through.

7.What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The best – write a little every day. The worst – that traditional publishing is the only way to make any money from your books.

8.Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I often start with a scene that’s inspired me and then outline from there. Sometimes I will write a bunch of sporadic scenes and then utilize them to help in creating different ideas for the outline.

9.Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you've gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

I began sword fighting – long sword – so that I could accurately describe how to use a sword. After my first lesson I went home and re-wrote five pages of my draft as I had it all wrong *lol*. I also sew and that shows in the books and I have a great love of the outdoors and tramping and that too shows in the books.

10.         Do you have an all time favorite book?

Oh wow. I love soooo many books, but one that I do enjoy re-reading is The Other Boleyn Girl – hated the movie though! So disappointing.

11.         Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

I had a phenomenal dream with a real steampunk feel to it. The machines I saw and the colors had me awake for hours trying to remember it all. I never really intended to write a steampunk novel, but the idea of a series is brewing and I’m very excited about it.

12.         What is your favorite reality show?

Ice loves Coco. I think they’re an adorable couple and I love bulldogs!

13.         Who is your favorite actor and actress?

I think Emma Stone is amazing and swoon over Chris Hemsworth *blush*

14.         Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?

It is based on a really hard time in my own life, when I couldn’t see the trees for the forest and the only one to pull me out from it was my partner. He inspires me in so many ways.

15.         If you were a casting director for the film version of your book, who would play your lead roles?

Alek – Sean Farris

Cat – Scarlett Johansson

I actually have a whole page on my blog devoted to the characters with pictures of possible actors for the different roles.

BLURB:

Four friends in the midst of a man drought cast a love spell on a whim, unexpectedly landing them on another planet.

Oops.

On a foreign and often hostile world, love teeters on the horizon while the threat of civil war looms thanks to the girls' surprising gifts. Will the girls master these gifts in time to survive a war in which not only are they the ultimate weapons, but also the ultimate prize?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Introduction

'Cat’s down!' hollered Sensei as he tracked the grappling pairs in the room.

I wrapped my legs around Nathan’s hips. The look of shock on his face amused me, even more so when I gave him a suggestive smile, arching my eyebrow.

Cheap shot? Not if he fell for it. He didn’t register what I was up to until his head connected with the mat. I smirked down at him.

Sensei had a wide smile as he called, 'Catherine wins.'

Nathan scowled at me.

'Get off, would you?'

I stood and sauntered to the side, joining Kassie as we watched the final pairs fight. Tonight I’d won all three of my fights.

Not quite as good as Loi. I watched as she brought Daniel down to the mat hard enough that he yelped in pain. Sometimes the two inch mats didn’t feel that thick. I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

'Laura wins, making her this evening’s champion,' Sensei crowed in triumph. Kassie and I hollered, clapping for Loi as she stood, ever graceful, and walked our way. Most of the guys in the room had rueful smiles as they joined in the applause.

'I can’t believe you’re letting yourselves get beaten by girls,' Sensei shook his head in mock distress. 'What will I tell the other sensei at the meet?'

'That you train Amazons,' Jason, the class smart ass, quipped back.

Actually that was a good description for Laura, though I didn’t think you’d see many Amazons with Scottish accents. Five foot eight, with a figure like a pin-up girl and thick black hair to her waist, Loi made most people look twice.

'What’s the magic word?' demanded a saccharin sweet voice, interrupting my thoughts.

The three of us, along with those sitting out, turned to look. There was Sian, the fourth of our quartet, with Grant beneath her tiny thighs.

For some reason Grant felt the need to be stubborn when tapping out with Sian. It may be due to her dainty appearance. Sian was the blond in our group and just adorable to look at. Dainty and precious, more like precocious, truth be told, she scraped in at just five foot like Kassie. But while Kassie had a curvy busty figure, Sian was petite in every sense of the word; except personality.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Nicole MacDonald is the Independent author of The Arrival, and, Awakening, the first two books in the BirthRight Trilogy. Writing had never been a lifelong dream for her until she began The Arrival, but it now is an all-consuming passion.

A proud Kiwi (New Zealander) Nicole dreams that one day Peter Jackson will be in touch to option the film rights for the BirthRight Trilogy. When she's not daydreaming about that she's working on book three in the trilogy - Feel the Burn, available December 2012 - and planning future works.

Blog: www.damselinadirtydress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBirthRightTrilogy

Twitter: @DmslinaDrtyDrss

Youtube link to book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKcn9LMrK30&list=WL994280763A299228&feature=mh_lolz