Stop the Presses! Unbound Release!

Hey everybody! I love hanging out here. I just wanted to stop in today and let you know my book, Unbound, is now available for purchase. Yay!!

Unbound is my first novel. I’m getting feedback from readers already this morning, and it’s such a fabulous feeling. Knowing somewhere out there a person is curled up with my book reading… I get chills. That could just be from sitting under the air conditioner vent though. :D

If you are currently reading a book and loving it, I recommend you send a message to the author. A short email, a comment on her blog, a simple line on her Facebook wall, even a quick review- anything to let the author know you’re loving what she worked to write. You have no idea how much it will mean to her.

I hope you have a wonderful day! I know I will. I’m going out with my girlfriends to celebrate Unbound‘s release!

July 16, 2012
Categories: Stop the Presses! . Tags: , , , . Author: nikkielockeauthor . Comments: 5 Comments

Meet the Ladies in Red- Interview with Morgan O’Neill

Hello readers! My name is Nikkie Locke. You might have read my introduction in an earlier post. Today, I’m interveiwing the writing team Morgan O’Neill. This team is made up of two really great ladies. The book Love, Eternally is available now from Crimson Romance. Let’s get started!

NL: First things first, tell us about your book.

Morgan O’Neill: Love, Eternally is the first book in our Roman time travel series. In it, a witch’s ancient curse propels our 21st century flute playing heroine, Gigi Perrin, back to A.D. 408, to the court of the depraved Emperor Honorius and his admirable sister, Princess Galla Placidia. Enslaved by Honorius, Gigi escapes with the help of a pagan military commander, Quintus Magnus, a man exotically different from anyone she has ever known. On the brink of a dark and war-torn age, Gigi joins forces with Magnus, battling to save a princess and her people, and ultimately finding love amid the ashes, before the fall of Rome.

NL: Morgan O’Neill is actually the name for a writing team made up of Deborah O’Neill Cordes and Cary Morgan Frates. How does your partnership work?

Morgan O’Niell: We met at a writers’ conference and discovered our mutual love of time travel and historical fiction. Our eventual collaboration necessitated the search for a pen name, since our given names were much too long for book covers. Our maiden names provided a great solution – and “Morgan O’Neill” was born.
From the start, we decided to write about pivotal historical events and unique locales. We find ways for our time traveling heroines to learn, or already speak, the foreign languages they encounter, allowing us to choose more exotic settings like ancient Rome and medieval Italy, without stretching credulity. In other words, our heroines can’t speak modern English and expect to be understood once they travel back in time. Our first attempts at writing together sounded foreign to our ears. We had different styles – and different ways of thinking! Our efforts at co-writing suffered from fits and starts, and it was a difficult transition for two individual brains to “merge” for the creation of something as intimate and personal as a novel. Our hard work ultimately paid off, and we’ve now co-authored several Morgan O’Neill books, with plots sparked by things as diverse as Deb’s discovery of a new ancestor through her genealogical research, or Cary’s study of and fondness for the prowess of a vibrant English queen.
Regarding the actual nitty-gritty of writing – although we write what has been characterized as historical fantasy, we weave our plots around actual history. Time travel fiction is intricate by its very nature, because one must create something akin to two separate plots: the present day and the past, which must be seamlessly woven together by the characters and their experiences. Deb’s MA in history and talent for research provide the historical framework for our novels, and Cary’s experiences while living in Europe, her language skills, and her knowledge of horses and seamanship give added layers of authenticity. That’s not to say Cary doesn’t provide historical information or Deb color commentary on European surroundings. It’s a definite give and take. As they say, two heads are better than one.
Once we’ve started on a novel, we get down to the basics and divvy up who will write what, then edit and reedit each other’s work, taking the time to hash things out if we disagree. Rarely do we come to blows over this, but if we’re nearing the edge of the precipice, coffee or tea, lots of chocolate, and a good chat usually settle the matter. We admit to having had a few great screaming matches, followed by periods of utter silence, but, so far, we have not drawn blood. The love of what we do – and our mutual admiration society – keeps us, and will continue to keep us, coming back for more. <grin>

NL: According to your website, you both have backgrounds excellently suited for writing time travel novels. How did you decide to use your knowledge to become writers?

Deb: I’ve always loved history, particularly books and movies of an epic sweep. I was the child with my nose stuck in historical novels like James Michener’s Hawaii, or James Clavell’s Shogun. I also adored watching movies such as “El Cid”, “Dr. Zhivago,” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” Sure I loved the kid things, too, but the epic always pulled my mind back, to dream of faraway periods and exotic locales. I guess that’s why I love the intricacy and challenge of writing time travel fiction. I would love to do what my characters do – but without the danger of trying to survive in the past!
Cary: History thrills me. I’ve always preferred really big books, that taught me something about history, while weaving a wonderful tale. Since early childhood, I’ve wished I could travel through time (always to the past) and have kept a mental check list of what I would take with me, given the chance. I love the ‘ancient-ness’ of Europe. I’m intrigued by those who lived before, who built and toiled and gave their lives to create all that we now enjoy. From the lowest slave, to the most powerful leaders, I honor them by telling the stories of their struggles and triumphs. 

NL: Tell us a little bit about each of you. Married? Children? Day job? Love where you live?

Deb: I’ve been married to the same wonderful guy, my dear “hubster,” for 36 years. I was a secondary school teacher (social studies) for fourteen years, and now I write novels and screenplays. I love walking my two Westies, beachcombing, and swimming – in Hawaii, preferably. The hubster and I happily call the Pacific Northwest home, although Kauai continues to beckon to us, with its emerald cliffs and turquoise waters. My genealogical research also causes travel longings in a different direction, Europe being another favorite destination. I do admit to merrily traipsing through graveyards and cathedrals, searching for the tombs of my ancestors, the hubster in tow (his reward for this is several pints of Guinness). Cary: I am a fifth-generation Washingtonian, which means my toes are webbed. My husband and I still live in the Pacific Northwest, and just celebrated our 24th anniversary. We have two children in college, two English Setters, two cats, and fifteen chickens. We love to combine sailing and travel as often as possible, and recently returned from our third visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a truly lovely part of the world, filled with truly lovely people. France is also a destination favorite. I lived there for five years and love to return as often as possible. On the last trip, my daughter and I worked the vendange – the grape harvest – in Provençe. When I have down time (never), I paint (oil on canvas), or work on stone sculpturing. 

NL: Sexiest Man Alive. Go!

Deb: Although he’s not living, Cary Grant is so iconic, gorgeous -and timeless. I am also quite taken with the very much alive Channing Tatum, who played the Roman warrior in the film “The Eagle.” I think he evokes everything I’ve come to know and envision about our hero, Quintus Magnus. Cary: Gregory Peck, bar none. I know he isn’t literally alive, but just watch a film of his, “Roman Holiday,” for instance, and he will live in your heart forever. Okay, alive: Hugh Jackman. Yum. I’m picturing him a day or two past his last shave, and he’s just come into our country home from chopping wood on a crisp October day…. Need I say more? He could do wonderful things in the role of Magnus in our Roman time travel series. Uh oh! Tatum vs. Jackman – sounds like we might have another screaming match in the offing!  No, wait, we’d be casting a film based on our novel.  Never mind.

NL: Why am I not surprised that the time travel author both picked dead men as the sexiest man alive? LOL!! :D

Two authors writing as one, Cary Morgan Frates and Deborah O’Neill Cordes specialize in recreating pivotal moments in history, epic adventure and romance- with a time travel twist. Love, Eternally, published by Crimson Romance, is the first novel in their Roman timeswept series. The sequels, After the Fall and Return to Me, will follow in October and December of 2012.

Connet with Cary and Deborah

Website: http://www.morganoneill.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/AuthorMONeill
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormorganoneill
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.oneill.books.12
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/authormoneill

July 14, 2012
Categories: Meet the Ladies in Red . Tags: , , . Author: nikkielockeauthor . Comments: 20 Comments

Meet the Ladies in Red: Nikkie Locke

I’m so excited to be finally introducing myself! This is such a wonderful group of ladies here, and I’m delighted to be able to include myself among them.

1. Introduce yourself, please. Is this a pen or personal name? Why did you make the choice to write under that name?

My name is Nikkie Locke. It is, in fact, a pen name. I’m planning on working as a high school English teacher and would prefer not to listen to high school boys read my love scenes aloud during class. What? You think that wouldn’t happen? As the girl who had the book she was reading stolen daily so the boys could do exactly that, I think it’s safe to say it will. :)

2. Let’s get the details out of the way: Single, married, divorced, widowed? Parent? Living where? Doing what, other than writing?

I’m engaged to the most brilliant man in the whole world. He’s also the handsomest. I like to have it all. :) Seriously though, my fiancé and I have been dating for the past five years and engaged for the last year. We’re high school sweethearts. We attended separate colleges for our undergraduate degrees and are currently attending different schools again while I work on my teacher certification and he attends physician assistant school.

Our only children are actually mine. Both of them have four legs and a tail. Well, actually, my cat doesn’t have a tail… But that is an entirely different story. I have a cat named Athena, affectionately called Ani and “Nikkie, I’m going to F’in kill your cat.” I have a dog named Perseus, affectionately called Percy, Perce, P, and “Sit.”

I live in Missouri and am currently splitting time between my house in my hometown and an apartment with some girlfriends where I attend school. Other than writing, I spend my time in classes or at home with my family.

3. What’s your secret passion?

My secret passion? I don’t keep secrets very well.

4. Tell us one thing about yourself you’d never change.

My wonderful, helpful girlfriends were not so helpful with this question. They suggested a physical attribute which I’ve decided not to share…

I think the one thing I’d never change about myself is my imagination. Even in the middle of the night, when I’m huddling under my blankie freaking out because there are monsters outside my window, I still value that sense of imagination.

5. If you didn’t live where you do, where would you live? Why?

I love living in a small town. It’s fantastic. If I had to choose somewhere else to live though, it would probably be New Orleans. The people, the atmosphere, the music—I love it all. Besides, that’s where all the paranormal creatures live, right?

6. Do you write about where you live or where you’d like to live?

I do write about where I live. My characters actually live in a fictional small town named Hartsville, but their small town is a lot like mine. Theirs is bigger than mine and probably prettier, but the atmosphere of the small town is still there.

7. Why do you write romance novels?

For me, my writing has always been romance. There are really great answers to this question- life is hard enough, the world is a better with love, happy ever after- and those are all true. I think in addition to that, I have to say, why not romance novels?

8. What did you cut from your book that felt like severing a body part?

I have always had a laid back attitude about editing and the editor’s opinion. They just want to make your book the best book it can be, right? Why wouldn’t you listen to them? When I received Unbound back for its first round of edits, I looked at all the red and panicked, though. I closed the file and didn’t look at again for several hours.

After lots of deep breathing and a long pep talk, I opened the file and read through all of her suggested edits. I was feeling okay, but not great. Then, I read one of the editor’s notes. She was questioning a character’s motivation and used the word “creeptastic” in her note. I laughed so hard and fell a little bit in love with a woman I didn’t know. I realized she was a person just like me, and her goal really was to make the book the best it could be.

I threw myself into edits after that. I cut most of the original four chapters even though some of my favorite dialogue was there. When I finished, I realized she was right. That soothed most of the ache. Besides, now I have deleted scenes to share. :)

9. The best part about my writing life is: There are no limits. You want to have a villain who chops people up and eats them? Go for it! A werewolf who is allergic to dog hair? Do it! You want to write about a woman with limitless powers who accidently turns her lover into a frog? Awesome! As long as your story follows some kind of logic and you can explain your characters’ motivations, there’s nothing you can’t do. Nothing.

10. The worst part about my writing life is: Not having enough time! It seems like everybody gives that answer. It’s so true though. There are nights I stay up late to write even though I know I’ll be tired the next day. Right this minute, I’m considering skipping a class to stay home and write. Of course, my mother will be reading this so that idea is shot. I promise I’ll go to class, Mom. Cross my heart.

11. Give us a hint about what the next book’s like.

The next book is still in the writing stage. It’s about some very minor secondary characters from Unbound. It’s about a writer and the high school sweetheart she dumped four years before. Ryleigh and Jonah have a lot of personal issues to overcome, but they are also in for some exciting suspense as well. :)

I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did! My first book, Unbound, comes out July 16th. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.

You can find me at my personal website, http://nikkielocke.weebly.com, or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/NikkieLocke.

June 27, 2012
Categories: Meet the Ladies in Red . Tags: , , , . Author: nikkielockeauthor . Comments: 27 Comments

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