A love of Story telling
I have participated in many interviews, and one of the main questions asked is Why do you write? My answer to that is because stories just keep popping in to my head. It isn’t always a complete story, most often it is just part of a story, and I have to wait to hear the rest of it.
What I love, though, is putting that story together, making it work so others can enjoy it. I’m not an expert writer, by any standards, lol, but I really just get a rush from each and every idea. It is what brings me joy, what makes me feel proud, and what lets me participate in the social community that is the writing world.
Some of my favorite story tellers are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, Charles Dickens, Barbara Pierce, and Garth Nix. I aspire to be as good as they are.
That said, thanks to all those who have read and enjoyed my work! Without you, I might have lost another important part to writing, having someone to show it to!
If you’d like to stay up to date on my contests and announcements, please consider joining my freewebs membership at http://tarasnichols.webs.com, or following my blog posts at myspace: www.myspace.com/tarasnichols, following my blogspot at: http://tarasnichols.blogspot.com, or request friendship on my goodreads profile. I also post on facebook, both on my fan page and my main profile. I LOVE to talk to fellow book aficionados!
A great big thanks goes out to Seriously Reviewed for hosting me, and for putting up with all of my initial questions. You’ve been kind, patient, and courteous!
Tara S. Nichols
Showing posts with label Tara Nichols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tara Nichols. Show all posts
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tara Nichols-Day 6
Books to come, or, my goals for books to come
I am a compulsive goal maker when it comes to my writing and my ambitions. In fact, it might be the only organized thing about me. The rest of my life is as freelance as it comes. But I like to know where I’m headed, what story I hope to finish next, what publisher I’m going to send it to, and when I plan to ship it off.
Most often I break my own rules, and my list starts to resemble a football game plan; arrows pointing up, things circled and redirected, numbers added, scratched out, and the whole line up shuffled again.
Not only do I make a goal list, I make dozens of them. It’s sort of fun to come across an old one and laugh at what I have, or more likely, have not finished.
I once compared my writing to a horse race, each story in competition with the others to reach the finish line, and it’s anybody’s guess as to who will win. (If you want to read that blog you can find it here: http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/06/15/to-the-finish/)
Anyway, how it currently stands is:
1.) I want, I really, really want to finish Tess’ Trio, the follow up story to my ménage amour at Siren Publishing titled Claiming Cullen. This was a different story for me, (one woman and five guys) but one of my best sellers. My new approach with some of the characters of Claiming Cullen, is to go further into my character’s lives and explain a little as to why one woman would want to bed five men. This is far from a psychological evaluation of course. Tess’ serious relationship with her two live in partners, Rael and Cullen is in turmoil, her career is on the rocks and her father has just reentered her life and meddled horribly. Throw in an extra man, and you’ve got drama, kinky drama.
Here’s a brief blurb from what I posted on Goodreads:
Erotica * m/f/m, m/m, m/m/f/m
Tess feels like a third wheel. Cullen and Rael are spending a lot more time together, and she just doesn't get their inside jokes. To make matters worse, her 30th birthday is right around the corner, and her father, the General himself, shows up at their door, uninvited.
He doesn't much approve of the way Tess lives her life, and tries to throw a wrench into their smooth operation.
Tess doesn't much approve of the way her dad lives his life either, but can she stay strong at the moment when she is feeling the most vulnerable, especially after she learns Gilles, her childhood crush is her father's Ace in the hole?
2.) Through the Forlorn Darkness - This will be the follow up story to Awakening the Blood, my erotic vampire novella available at Amira Press in e book format and now bound in print in the Wings Series. This story will pick up with Meara and D’iamonte as they outrun paranormal villains and try to uncover Meara’s past.
3.) A collection of erotic stories under one theme. (Ssh, it’s a secret)
4.) I always have short, anthology length stories on the go, ever ready for that anthology call. I love writing quickies.
I am a compulsive goal maker when it comes to my writing and my ambitions. In fact, it might be the only organized thing about me. The rest of my life is as freelance as it comes. But I like to know where I’m headed, what story I hope to finish next, what publisher I’m going to send it to, and when I plan to ship it off.
Most often I break my own rules, and my list starts to resemble a football game plan; arrows pointing up, things circled and redirected, numbers added, scratched out, and the whole line up shuffled again.
Not only do I make a goal list, I make dozens of them. It’s sort of fun to come across an old one and laugh at what I have, or more likely, have not finished.
I once compared my writing to a horse race, each story in competition with the others to reach the finish line, and it’s anybody’s guess as to who will win. (If you want to read that blog you can find it here: http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/06/15/to-the-finish/)
Anyway, how it currently stands is:
1.) I want, I really, really want to finish Tess’ Trio, the follow up story to my ménage amour at Siren Publishing titled Claiming Cullen. This was a different story for me, (one woman and five guys) but one of my best sellers. My new approach with some of the characters of Claiming Cullen, is to go further into my character’s lives and explain a little as to why one woman would want to bed five men. This is far from a psychological evaluation of course. Tess’ serious relationship with her two live in partners, Rael and Cullen is in turmoil, her career is on the rocks and her father has just reentered her life and meddled horribly. Throw in an extra man, and you’ve got drama, kinky drama.
Here’s a brief blurb from what I posted on Goodreads:
Erotica * m/f/m, m/m, m/m/f/m
Tess feels like a third wheel. Cullen and Rael are spending a lot more time together, and she just doesn't get their inside jokes. To make matters worse, her 30th birthday is right around the corner, and her father, the General himself, shows up at their door, uninvited.
He doesn't much approve of the way Tess lives her life, and tries to throw a wrench into their smooth operation.
Tess doesn't much approve of the way her dad lives his life either, but can she stay strong at the moment when she is feeling the most vulnerable, especially after she learns Gilles, her childhood crush is her father's Ace in the hole?
2.) Through the Forlorn Darkness - This will be the follow up story to Awakening the Blood, my erotic vampire novella available at Amira Press in e book format and now bound in print in the Wings Series. This story will pick up with Meara and D’iamonte as they outrun paranormal villains and try to uncover Meara’s past.
3.) A collection of erotic stories under one theme. (Ssh, it’s a secret)
4.) I always have short, anthology length stories on the go, ever ready for that anthology call. I love writing quickies.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tara Nichols-Day 5
I have another release this month, a short story in the Spank! Anthology, titled ‘Just Rewards’.
Here's an excerpt from my story in the Spank! anthology
Collecting his brief case, he carried it along with him, passed a lopsided oval mirror, a rug that had been bunched in a heap, a bookshelf with all of its contents facing spine in, and the seventeenth century portrait that hung upside down. The trail of organized destruction led him straight to the bedroom, but he bided his time getting to her, righting things as he went.
With his cock already hard, he hesitated once he reached their bedroom door. It wasn’t the fact that the doorknob had been unscrewed, and now lay on the bench to his left, that made him pause and take inventory, but more the fact that he wanted to draw out their fun, prolong their pleasure, and of course, make her yearn for the punishment she sought just a little longer.
With his libido barely under his control, he entered the dark, spacious room, and found her exactly where he imagined her, laying on her stomach, a pillow propped under hips, and her plump bottom thrust high in the air. A Black lacey bodice with matching panties stretched taut across her lissome figure, while a set of satin garters held a pair of black nylons in place. He groaned inwardly but otherwise didn’t make a sound.
He approached the bed slowly and she peered over her shoulder, greeting him with a mischievous smile. His heart swelled at the sight. After thirty years of marriage they had both thickened out, but he believed his wife had never looked more beautiful.
Moving with slow, deliberate actions, he set his briefcase down by the bed and, taking his time, rolled up each sleeve. He came to stand behind her, just out of her range of vision. A pang of loneliness and desire washed over him as he realized how much he’d missed her through the intensity of their working years.
“I don’t suppose you know anything about the mess out there, do you?” It was a struggle to keep his tone firm, and he managed only because he knew it was required of him.
His wife shook her head and then raised her bottom higher.
“And we’re undoubtedly going to miss our dinner reservation because of these shenanigans. You do realize that, don’t you?”
This time she nodded.
A broad smile spread across his face, and he wondered if she’d even bothered to make them.
“You know, you don’t have to go to so much trouble, love,” he said after a moment.
“Oh?” Her husky voice rose and fell. “Exactly how much trouble am I in?”
Pretending to mull it over, he finally said, “I’d say at least three spankings worth.”
“Three!” her brow knitted and she rose up higher on her elbows. Then, spying his pillow, she thrust one arm out and tossed it to the floor. “How about now?”
He shook his head and tried to hide his grin.
Lowering his body down beside her, he knelt on one knee and brought his lips close to her ear. “Well, now you’re in for at least ten.”
If spankings are your thing, follow along in the tour!
Spank!
Blog Tour Dates
9/1 D. L. King
9/2 Cervo Logical Lust
9/3 Sommer Marsden
9/4 Anna Black
9/5Jean Roberta
9/6 Tara S. Nichols
9/7 Maggie Morton Logical Lust
9/8 Kathleen Bradean
9/9 Lee Ash Logical Lust
9/10 Lisabet Sarai
9/11 Evan Mora Logical Lust
9/12 Allison Wonderland
9/13 Sean Meriwether Logical Lust
9/14 Roxy Katt
9/15 Donna George Storey
9/16 Beth Wylde
9/17 Sacchi Green Logical Lust
9/18 A.D.R. Forte
9/19 J. Z. Sharpe Logical Lust
9/20 Jessica Lennox
and, Cassandra Park, who wrote the introduction, will be blogging in the tour on September 21 - visit her blog here
Here's an excerpt from my story in the Spank! anthology
Collecting his brief case, he carried it along with him, passed a lopsided oval mirror, a rug that had been bunched in a heap, a bookshelf with all of its contents facing spine in, and the seventeenth century portrait that hung upside down. The trail of organized destruction led him straight to the bedroom, but he bided his time getting to her, righting things as he went.
With his cock already hard, he hesitated once he reached their bedroom door. It wasn’t the fact that the doorknob had been unscrewed, and now lay on the bench to his left, that made him pause and take inventory, but more the fact that he wanted to draw out their fun, prolong their pleasure, and of course, make her yearn for the punishment she sought just a little longer.
With his libido barely under his control, he entered the dark, spacious room, and found her exactly where he imagined her, laying on her stomach, a pillow propped under hips, and her plump bottom thrust high in the air. A Black lacey bodice with matching panties stretched taut across her lissome figure, while a set of satin garters held a pair of black nylons in place. He groaned inwardly but otherwise didn’t make a sound.
He approached the bed slowly and she peered over her shoulder, greeting him with a mischievous smile. His heart swelled at the sight. After thirty years of marriage they had both thickened out, but he believed his wife had never looked more beautiful.
Moving with slow, deliberate actions, he set his briefcase down by the bed and, taking his time, rolled up each sleeve. He came to stand behind her, just out of her range of vision. A pang of loneliness and desire washed over him as he realized how much he’d missed her through the intensity of their working years.
“I don’t suppose you know anything about the mess out there, do you?” It was a struggle to keep his tone firm, and he managed only because he knew it was required of him.
His wife shook her head and then raised her bottom higher.
“And we’re undoubtedly going to miss our dinner reservation because of these shenanigans. You do realize that, don’t you?”
This time she nodded.
A broad smile spread across his face, and he wondered if she’d even bothered to make them.
“You know, you don’t have to go to so much trouble, love,” he said after a moment.
“Oh?” Her husky voice rose and fell. “Exactly how much trouble am I in?”
Pretending to mull it over, he finally said, “I’d say at least three spankings worth.”
“Three!” her brow knitted and she rose up higher on her elbows. Then, spying his pillow, she thrust one arm out and tossed it to the floor. “How about now?”
He shook his head and tried to hide his grin.
Lowering his body down beside her, he knelt on one knee and brought his lips close to her ear. “Well, now you’re in for at least ten.”
If spankings are your thing, follow along in the tour!
Blog Tour Dates
9/1 D. L. King
9/2 Cervo Logical Lust
9/3 Sommer Marsden
9/4 Anna Black
9/5Jean Roberta
9/6 Tara S. Nichols
9/7 Maggie Morton Logical Lust
9/8 Kathleen Bradean
9/9 Lee Ash Logical Lust
9/10 Lisabet Sarai
9/11 Evan Mora Logical Lust
9/12 Allison Wonderland
9/13 Sean Meriwether Logical Lust
9/14 Roxy Katt
9/15 Donna George Storey
9/16 Beth Wylde
9/17 Sacchi Green Logical Lust
9/18 A.D.R. Forte
9/19 J. Z. Sharpe Logical Lust
9/20 Jessica Lennox
and, Cassandra Park, who wrote the introduction, will be blogging in the tour on September 21 - visit her blog here
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Who the heck is Tara S. Nichols?
Aside from a romance/erotica writer, I’m a mother, a wife, a graphic artist, a hermit, and a beekeeper. These things all go together well, I’ve found. Especially the hermit trait. And honey goes with everything.
I live in the countryside in the middle of Canada, where it’s flat, windy, snowy, hot and muggy. Not all at once, of course, but sometimes the weather is nuts out here. We have white outs which make for a cozy afternoon sitting in front of the woodstove. (Good thing I like chainsawing). Sometimes it’s handy to be snowed in too ;)
Most of my time is spent in front of the computer, writing, editing, creating images on photoshop, or blogging. It’s a far cry different from the way I used to write, which was in a fluster and involved a gross amount of scrap paper. I used to work at a bookstore, so when an idea struck me, I’d jot it down and stuff the note in my back pocket. Then, when I got home, I’d toss the wad onto my desk, planning to transcribe them all later. What actually happened is, I’d wind up transcribing months worth of notes! Secretarial duty is NOT my calling. I’m still sorting some of those notes, but I have at least forty stories worth.
My writing style is much like the way I blog, the way I run, the way I pack for a vacation, and oh woe is me, the way I do everything. It is spontaneous, in the moment, and rarely planned. Some people call that their muse, the inspiration or information that is delivered, but I don’t know what to call it. What ever it is, I don’t turn it away.
Now, I catch those inspirations on my ipod. It has cut down transcribing by 95% and probably saved a forest’s worth of trees. It’s quick too. I just email myself, then sort through blocks of writing, copying and pasting where ever it is supposed to fit. I recommend it. I still write fast and furious, believing what flows naturally is probably the right thing. After I have enough of a plot to work with, I print the story off, then take it to a coffee shop and using a pen ‘fix’ it.
I love sitting in a coffee shop with a functioning W.I.P., a tall cup of Joe, and my ipod pumping out the tunes. Being a hermit, I often forget where I am, and before I know it, I’m tapping my pen on the table and my leg is bouncing to the beat. I laugh out loud at my favorite parts and tsk tsk at the mistakes I’ve made. Hopefully the other patrons don’t mind.
Next, I go back to the computer and add in my notations, and then start at the beginning and do it all over again.
Ten Writing facts about me:
1.) I find humor sexy. A guy who will make me laugh, get goofy even if doesn’t look cool, or doesn’t make me feel bad when I do, is a guy I want to get to know. I try, when it works, to make my heroes as sweet, vulnerable, funny, and charming as I can, while still maintaining the expectations of a sexy alpha male.
2.) I over use exclamation marks and smileys in blogs and forums because I fret that the tone of what I’m trying to say doesn’t come across chipper enough.
3.) My favorite type of hero to read about is a renaissance man, yet I cannot, for the life of me, write about one.
4.) I write what I know. Most of my stories are situated in the great outdoors, the country side, or involve characters who come from the countryside. The exception to that rule seems to be the paranormal books I’ve written, and some of my shorter works. I’m not saying I grew up with burly shirtless farm boys shucking sheaves and tossing bales to the eaves of the barn, but I did have the wilderness experience nonetheless, rafting, climbing trees, chasing cows, shooting homemade arrows out of willow branch bows and pretending Tarzan was about to whisk me away on the next vine.
5.) I love writing anthologies! I have a dozen more short stories just waiting for anthology calls!
6.) I am convinced everything happens while I am away on vacation; guest blogs, edits, contracts, cover art, you name it, (what ever I can’t do without a computer). I have a running joke with my brother-in-law, that if I want publication action, all I need to do is go away.
7.) I prefer to write in a sunny corner, all by myself, rather than socialize with friends, classmates, or family (my husband and son not included. I always have time for them) But, when it comes to online friends, it’s a whole other story. I can chat for hours.
8.) If I’m in the writing zone and I have the house to myself, I often forget to eat until my husband gets home in the evening. Mostly I’ve been writing on Coffee fuel.
9.) I write whatever is the strongest on my mind, regardless of impending deadlines. I hate the feeling of a forgotten scene. I believe I write the best when I write in the moment.
10.) I type one handed, and fast. Basically it resembles ‘Thing’ from the Adams Family.
My style isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.
~Tara
I live in the countryside in the middle of Canada, where it’s flat, windy, snowy, hot and muggy. Not all at once, of course, but sometimes the weather is nuts out here. We have white outs which make for a cozy afternoon sitting in front of the woodstove. (Good thing I like chainsawing). Sometimes it’s handy to be snowed in too ;)
Most of my time is spent in front of the computer, writing, editing, creating images on photoshop, or blogging. It’s a far cry different from the way I used to write, which was in a fluster and involved a gross amount of scrap paper. I used to work at a bookstore, so when an idea struck me, I’d jot it down and stuff the note in my back pocket. Then, when I got home, I’d toss the wad onto my desk, planning to transcribe them all later. What actually happened is, I’d wind up transcribing months worth of notes! Secretarial duty is NOT my calling. I’m still sorting some of those notes, but I have at least forty stories worth.
My writing style is much like the way I blog, the way I run, the way I pack for a vacation, and oh woe is me, the way I do everything. It is spontaneous, in the moment, and rarely planned. Some people call that their muse, the inspiration or information that is delivered, but I don’t know what to call it. What ever it is, I don’t turn it away.
Now, I catch those inspirations on my ipod. It has cut down transcribing by 95% and probably saved a forest’s worth of trees. It’s quick too. I just email myself, then sort through blocks of writing, copying and pasting where ever it is supposed to fit. I recommend it. I still write fast and furious, believing what flows naturally is probably the right thing. After I have enough of a plot to work with, I print the story off, then take it to a coffee shop and using a pen ‘fix’ it.
I love sitting in a coffee shop with a functioning W.I.P., a tall cup of Joe, and my ipod pumping out the tunes. Being a hermit, I often forget where I am, and before I know it, I’m tapping my pen on the table and my leg is bouncing to the beat. I laugh out loud at my favorite parts and tsk tsk at the mistakes I’ve made. Hopefully the other patrons don’t mind.
Next, I go back to the computer and add in my notations, and then start at the beginning and do it all over again.
Ten Writing facts about me:
1.) I find humor sexy. A guy who will make me laugh, get goofy even if doesn’t look cool, or doesn’t make me feel bad when I do, is a guy I want to get to know. I try, when it works, to make my heroes as sweet, vulnerable, funny, and charming as I can, while still maintaining the expectations of a sexy alpha male.
2.) I over use exclamation marks and smileys in blogs and forums because I fret that the tone of what I’m trying to say doesn’t come across chipper enough.
3.) My favorite type of hero to read about is a renaissance man, yet I cannot, for the life of me, write about one.
4.) I write what I know. Most of my stories are situated in the great outdoors, the country side, or involve characters who come from the countryside. The exception to that rule seems to be the paranormal books I’ve written, and some of my shorter works. I’m not saying I grew up with burly shirtless farm boys shucking sheaves and tossing bales to the eaves of the barn, but I did have the wilderness experience nonetheless, rafting, climbing trees, chasing cows, shooting homemade arrows out of willow branch bows and pretending Tarzan was about to whisk me away on the next vine.
5.) I love writing anthologies! I have a dozen more short stories just waiting for anthology calls!
6.) I am convinced everything happens while I am away on vacation; guest blogs, edits, contracts, cover art, you name it, (what ever I can’t do without a computer). I have a running joke with my brother-in-law, that if I want publication action, all I need to do is go away.
7.) I prefer to write in a sunny corner, all by myself, rather than socialize with friends, classmates, or family (my husband and son not included. I always have time for them) But, when it comes to online friends, it’s a whole other story. I can chat for hours.
8.) If I’m in the writing zone and I have the house to myself, I often forget to eat until my husband gets home in the evening. Mostly I’ve been writing on Coffee fuel.
9.) I write whatever is the strongest on my mind, regardless of impending deadlines. I hate the feeling of a forgotten scene. I believe I write the best when I write in the moment.
10.) I type one handed, and fast. Basically it resembles ‘Thing’ from the Adams Family.
My style isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.
~Tara
Monday, September 6, 2010
Tara Nichols- Day 2
Hi everyone,
As I mentioned yesterday, I am featuring my newest book trailer. I love making book videos. I think they are a great way to capture interest, and it's an excuse to work with my favorite graphic art program.
I have four book trailers in total. Click here to see my you tube page.
And now, my newest, Island of Three!
Thanks for watching.
Tara S. Nichols
As I mentioned yesterday, I am featuring my newest book trailer. I love making book videos. I think they are a great way to capture interest, and it's an excuse to work with my favorite graphic art program.
I have four book trailers in total. Click here to see my you tube page.
And now, my newest, Island of Three!
Thanks for watching.
Tara S. Nichols
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