Dark Fantasy Writer [entries|friends|calendar] Nikki Watson [ website | Personal Journal ] [ userinfo | livejournal userinfo ] [ calendar | livejournal calendar ]

First bit of Nano [01 Nov 2007|12:00am] [ mood | thirsty ] [ music | 1,549 words ] ( In the event of the Rapture, this car will be unoccupied. ) 2 comments|post comment

Nano, *cough* 2007 *cough* [31 Oct 2007|08:22pm] Alright, let's brush this baby off and get ready for Nano again this year! :D Hoping for the eventual 50,000. Last year, I got to 48,000, went 'Meh, I know I could write another 2,000 words if I wanted to'. I also knew I didn't want to at the time, and guess what? I didn't. Now, I've finished the first draft of my manuscript Tidal Wave and sent the very edited sample chapters off to an editor at an actual paper publisher, got my edits for Changeling: Of Elves and Men back to NCP for an expected November release date, I have a nano plot, I have new icons for my various characters (:D) and I have less than four hours until I'm allowed to start writing! *bides time impatiently* I don't know about anyone else, but I'm considering sitting around, watching DVDs and eating junk food until midnight comes around. *grins* Many virtual seats for anyone who wishes to join me! 2 comments|post comment

First Edits!! [23 Oct 2007|11:52am] [ mood | bouncy ] I just got my first edit back from New Concepts Publishing for Changeling: Of Elves and Men (Squeee!!!) which is actually at least a week earlier than I expected it to come in. Very impressive. So I'm going to be going through that very soon and getting it back to them hopefully just as soon. In other news, I did intend to do NaNoWriMo this year, although I don't know how much going through edits is going to affect that. Either way, I set myself a goal for my novel called Tidal Wave. The goal set was to finish it before Nano started, IE: before the start of November, as I've been slowly chugging along on this one since February. And actually, that aim is going surprisingly well. I wrote 2,529 words on that today before I even checked my email, and on Friday, I caught my first glimpse of what I think is the possible finishing line. :D And finally, !!!!First edits!!!! *excitement* post comment

On Online fans [03 Oct 2007|04:37pm] [ mood | calm ] I've been thinking about people with online followings for a little while now. It's come to me more right now because I've finally gotten myself a copy of Tithe, by Holly Black, and read it through. The names Holly Black, Cassie Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan go together in my head not only because I am given to understand that they are friends in that scary place called Real Life (0.o) but a lot of the reputation of their writing names come from the world of fanfiction. These women are lucky enough to have a whole slew of fans behind them dating back to when they started writing fanfiction. I need to get me a steady online following. That would be very nice please. 6 comments|post comment

[15 Aug 2007|10:11pm] [ mood | happy ] [ music | Milk - Garbage ] After a month of silence and very little writing.... (which was actually nice for a change)... I've broken back into my writing with almost 10 pages of typed edits for works that I haven't paid attention to for far too long. Ahhh, it's good to be back. :D 2 comments|post comment

Oh look, it's another Masq 2 review! ^_^ [22 Jun 2007|03:16pm] [ mood | happy ] Wow, we are still getting reviews for Masquerade 2, which is great! This was the first thing I ever got published, and so it holds a special place in my heart. Here is what the latest from In the Library Reviews had to say about me! Pomegranate was a very interesting story to read. Author Nikki Watson has written a wonderful story showing the lengths a good friend will go to help/save another. This story was formatted quite differently than the others in this anthology. Different but not in a bad way. For the full review, go to: http://www.inthelibraryreviews.net/anthology12.html#masquerade2 The Masquerade Books can be bought at Aphrodite's Apples website here. 2 comments|post comment

Collaborative project and review. [20 Jun 2007|01:34pm] [ mood | working ] I'm going to be posting bits of writing from the collaborative project I'm working on with tq_kimber behind filtered posts. If you're not on the filter, or you've come over from Mr Tyree's journal, please reply here. I'm keeping this post open to requests. In other writing related news, Regency Romp has hit another review, this time from Love Romances and More. About my story Laudanum, they had to say: Frederick Barrington has it pretty easy in life. He is a regular patron at Madam Moon’s establishment and as an opium dealer, has cash a plenty on hand to pay for his whims. He just has one problem at Madam Moons: Selina. Juliana Williams ran away from home and ends up at Madam Moon's where she meets Frederick. When he buys her for an entire weekend, she doesn’t expect to find that love will grow in one single weekend. Ms. Watson writes an interesting tale of a man who has everything and a woman who lost everything dear to her. With flair and wit that surprised this reviewer, Ms. Watson delivers a tale that will leave you breathless and panting for more. Seamlessly told, this writer is one to watch out for in the future and be ready to be mesmerized by her writing style. *shines* For the rest of the review, just click the link!! http://www.loveromancesandmore.com/reviews/June2007/regencyromps_dawn.htm 2 comments|post comment

I got a reply from New Concepts today. [15 Jun 2007|05:09pm] [ mood | ... ] I just got my novel, Changeling accepted with New Concepts Publishing today!! OMGOMG, I think I'm in shock. I have no words for how great this is. 6 comments|post comment

Music and work [10 Jun 2007|10:42pm] [ mood | exhausted ] [ music | MC Honky - The Object ] List seven songs you are into right now, no matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your livejournal along with your seven songs. 1. Jason Webley - Entropy 2. Goodshirt - Fiji Baby 3. Negative - Still Alive 4. Apocalyptica - Bittersweet 6. Dresden Dolls - Delilah 6. Loreena McKennitt - Dante's Prayer 7. Nightwish - Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan Why seven? *shrugs* After another of those grueling weeks of several thousands of words writing a day, I feel like I have a full time job. In my humble opinion, the rewrite for Changeling should be finished by tomorrow evening, at somewhere between 43,000 words and 50,000 words. Congratulations and well wishes will be appreciated. :) 4 comments|post comment

New Concepts Publishing! [05 Jun 2007|11:16am] [ mood | nervous ] I just got a reply from New Concepts Publishing, whom I sent a query and synopsis to in early February. They are interested in seeing the entire manuscript in RTF or Word, and I'm so excited!! And nervous too. Because it's been four months since I last looked at that novel, and I think I've changed the title, and added a new subtext into the storyline. Ahem! No rest for the wicked! I will be spending the next few days revisiting it for sure. 18 comments|post comment

Second Review for Regency Romp!! [23 Apr 2007|12:25pm] [ mood | peaceful ] [ music | Jason Webley - Last Song ] Wow, Regency Romp is getting the best reviews yet, and as this was probably my favorite short to write so far, I'm actually very, very pleased to see it's continuing success with reviewers that it comes to. This is my second review from Kwips and Kritiques, the first one being my very first review I ever got, and that for Masquerade Vol 2 in October last year. Like that story, Laudanum is a dark narrative, not exactly a conventional romance, and diving straight into the BDSM lifestyle. This is what Jennifer had to say about it: Madam Moon’s establish seemed the perfect place for Juliana to hide, even if the situation is less than ideal. Still, allowing her body to be sold in Madam Moon’s establishment is infinitely better than the fate in store for her at the hands of her father’s associate upon her father’s death. But Juliana wasn’t at all prepared to deal with a man like Frederick Barrington – not for one night, and especially not for the entire weekend he has paid the Madam for. Nikki Watson’s entry in Regency Romp is a little different, to say the least. This is not your typical love story, but her characters find love together, nonetheless. Frederick and Juliana exhibit clearly that love comes in many flavors, and lovers of both historicals and BDSM will love this little nugget as much as I did. For the full review, go here. Meanwhile, I have started on my second Of Elves and Men novel, and the title came quickly to me this time: Haunted. So far, I have introduced a death, a love interest, a masked ball, and a character you are supposed to hate. Still, it is not coming along as quickly as the first one, but after the brain drain I found after finishing Ascent, I think, perhaps, this is a good thing. *smiles* If you want to buy Regency Romp, you can go to the Aphrodite's Apples website and buy it here. 12 comments|post comment

Busy busy, but now I think it's time to lay down for a while... [17 Apr 2007|10:31am] Wow, I have so many things happening right now. As expected, I did not stop fiddling with Ascent last night, and after only a few short hours going over it again this morning, the entire manuscript has been packed and sent over to the lovely ladies at AA. Phew. At least that temptation is all gone away now. I'm thinking I'm going to give myself a few days of rest and reward before jumping into the second novel of the series. If Ascent was partially based around the idea of the peasant revolutions in the late medieval period, the second book in the series will have more to do with witch hunts. Regency Romp has just gotten its first review over at Coffee Time Romance. This is what they said about me: Nikki Watson pens an erotic romance that captivates and interacts with alluring characters that dance within the pages. She engages the reader with a stunning journey that feels realistic at every turn. Juliana has heart and her emotions are believable in this story. Frederick has a certain enigma that keeps the reader spellbound especially when he is in the same room with Juliana and Isaac in this intriguing story. Read the whole review here. In addition to this, I'm appearing on Mandy and Michelle's Raven Blog this week. Regency Romp can be bought over at AA's website, here. 2 comments|post comment

Another Review for Masq 2! [14 Apr 2007|12:38pm] [ music | Your Heaven - Negative ] Hi all, I just received this review from Blue Ribbon reviews, saying: Waking from one heck of a hangover to a strange man in his bedroom, Patrick is flabbergasted when he is informed that the man is Hermes. Hermes explains that Patrick has been chosen to attend a Masquerade on the Isle of Arcadia. With not much of a choice in the matter, Patrick accompanies Hermes, only to be taken in by Hades and Persephone, for reasons more carnal than Patrick could ever imagine. However, when given the chance to leave the Underworld and return to his life on Earth with his roommate, will Patrick choose to stay with the woman he is convinced he loves, or will he return to the life he once knew? And will Persephone and Hades truly give Patrick an honest chance to leave? POMEGRANATE was very fast-paced and filled with adventure. Patrick was very funny, and Persephone and Hades were very manipulative. Although the sex scenes in POMEGRANATE weren’t as hot, they were still incredibly sweet and poignant. The plot was great, the characters witty and fun and I loved the fact that we get to read about Gods and Goddesses. I love mythology. Hermes was Hermes, always causing trouble wherever he goes, intentional or not. ( Full Review Under the Cut ) Masquerade 2 can obviously still be bought at the Aphrodite's Apples website, as well as Masquerade 3 where I also have a follow up to this story. post comment

*excited* [03 Apr 2007|10:36am] [ mood | bouncy ] [ music | Disarm - The Smashing Pumpkins ] Print dates for AA books have been set up tenuously for the summer. The US summer, which is only... well, it's not almost a year away like it is here. YAY!!! I'm going to have my own book. And I'll be able to hold it and go 'See? I'm an author.' *feels pride* Aphrodite's Apples Press has been going on strong for one year come July. Some time after that, their books will be distributed in Australia as well, fairly certainly I hear, which is good news for me, since that is exactly where I hail from! 5 comments|post comment

Wow, another review, this time by Two Lips. Go me!! [12 Mar 2007|05:02pm] [ mood | optimistic ] [ music | Watching 'When Harry Met Sally' ] I've been chatting away in Coffee Time's live chat room most of the afternoon, with the lovely Regina, who has already reviewed my first novel Spiral. She says such wonderful things about me, and has really helped me take the first steps away from the writer's block I have been suffering with Tidal Wave, as well as plugging me in the chat that wasn't even anything to do with me! *grins* Ahem, so I was already feeling in a pretty happy mood, when the wonderfully and fantastic Kitty Strauss sent me this review from TwoLips. Spiral's descriptive settings bring the continent of Australia, specifically the Melbourne region, and the island of Ireland, to vivid life. The characters are quite detailed as well, and their friendships and relationships evolved. The unexpected plot turns will catch the reader quite by surprise, as well. Nikki Watson demonstrates a grasp of her geographic settings and makes the reader feel as if she or he is right in the middle of the setting and events of the story. So thank you for today, I'm feeling overall as though it's been a very productive one after all. *smiles* 2 comments|post comment

Raven Guest Blog [06 Mar 2007|01:28pm] [ mood | bouncy ] I forgot to post this straight away, but it's no less exciting because of it! This week, my guest blog topic, which I posted to the lovely Michelle Pillow, has made its way onto the http://ravenvampireclub.blogspot.com/ For anybody who would like some free promo like this, Michelle says to write up a blog topic and send it in to http://ravenvampireclub.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-be-raven-guest-blogger.html Easy! For anybody who would like to reply or discuss my genre blending topic over at the blog, the link is right here. This is really exciting for me! Thank you Mandy M. Roth and Michelle Pillow for letting me appear on your blog, and lots of future prosperity to it! 2 comments|post comment

Another Review! - Masquerade Vol. 3 [21 Feb 2007|03:01pm] [ mood | pleased ] I am so loving the regularity with which these reviews keep coming in to me! I have here with me another stunning review to post for everyone (including my!) pleasure. This isn't a review for my novel Spiral, but rather, for the short story I put into the Masquerade 3 book. It isn't even officially released, and yet! This is what was said about me: Awakening Upon Arcadian Shores Between Full, Orange Moon and Shoreside Foam by Nikki Watson returns to see what happens to Aaron, first seen in Pomegranate (MASQUERADE VOLUME TWO). Aaron doesn’t expect to find himself caught between two Goddesses but his invitation to Arcadia Island has unexpected consequences. What choices will Aaron make this time with the Goddesses? Nikki Watson delves deeply into mythology with her tales of the MASQUERADE. Awakening Upon Arcadian Shores Between Full, Orange Moon and Shoreside Foam picks up where Pomegranate left off with Aaron but it is not necessary to read the first story to understand the events in this one. This reviewer suspects, however, that readers will want more of Nikki Watson after reading Awakening Upon Arcadian Shores Between Full, Orange Moon and Shoreside Foam! For the full review, please go here. post comment

New Happy-Making Review! [14 Feb 2007|02:11pm] [ mood | chipper ] I just got my second review for Spiral! *bounces with excitement* Spiral is a highly emotional coming of age novel. It is filled with descriptions of what true love is, both platonic and romantic. Ms. Watson pens a tale of despair, as well as love and what it can be like to experience loss. At times incredibly dark, I found myself with tears of commiseration running down my face for Elena’s pain, while at other times I wished she was right in front of me so I could smack her for some of the stupid decisions she was making. Spiral reads like a memoir, even though it is written in the third person, which made it very engaging. I look forward to reading more by this new author. For the rest of the review, please go here. And a happy Valentine's Day to me!! 6 comments|post comment

On Emotions [27 Jan 2007|12:04pm] I was on the train on my way home from a friend's house last night. There was a child who was crying, simply because she wanted to be sitting on the seat that her mother had sat down on. It took just that one child crying to make me think at adolescence, everything is life and death. We joke about it being the toughest time in our lives as adults, but could that be because we remember our teenage years with more clarity than our childhood ones? Oh, I'm not saying we cry over every seat that we want to sit on that's already taken, like our childhood counterparts were guilty of, but some of the things I look back on just weren't worth the emotional effort I went through back at 16. I remembering crying to my mum, for example, one night when she wouldn't let me go to a friend's house after I'd already been staying with that friend for almost a week and my mum just wanted me home for dinner on that particular night. As we get older, the emotions fine tune more again. It's very rare to see an older person cry. I remember only once growing up that I ever saw my mum cry. I am a very clumsy person. Myself and most of my friends make jokes about it now, but when I was about nine or ten, I broke a pottery bowl that she had made, or had made for her. I remember seeing her crying about it afterwards, and I remember how strange it was for me, the child, to see my mother crying. I'm sure I cried many times that week, or the next, and never thought anything of it. In writing, I know I draw on a lot of emotion to channel my writing through. I don't cry because I was tired and wasn't asleep, or because I've just found out that the boy I liked liked someone else, but the frustration or sense of loss can be just as much felt now as I assume it was then. 2 comments|post comment

On Sci-fi & Romance genre bleeding. [26 Jan 2007|11:14am] Based on this discussion. There are a few things I would like to say on this topic, and I'll try to say them quickly so that everyone doesn't lose interest before I'm done. ;) First off, one reason why I've decided to go back into fantasy writing of late is because I've come to realise that you don't necessarily need to create a world of 'fantasy' for your novel to be a 'fantasy novel'. Our world works quite fine; we have unlimited numbers of vampires and witches and general beasties that can be brought into our real world to make it a fantastical story. That seems to level the playing field out a little bit, between fantasy and romance, because suddenly, the world building is just a writing up the world that we ourselves already live in, in a slightly different light. I personally read lots of both romance and fantasy, so a story really grips me when the two genres mesh together nicely. If anyone wants a recommended writer who I think does this really fantastically, I would suggest Anne Bishop - her books are labeled as "Lavishly sensual... a richly detailed world based on a reversal of genre cliches." This author doesn't seem to let genre distinctions stop the story from being very character and plot based, quite the opposite in fact, and it is that very plots she writes and the characters in them that make her tales so erotic and romantic. Anne Rice has also been known to blur the distinctions between erotica and fantasy. I have no problem at all in following several characters with their romantic interests, in fact, this makes me feel like I am reading a far fuller story that has had many angles fleshed out. I'm not saying that this way of writing is for everyone, but that it works for some people, and that in my humble opinion, it is not lesser of a romantic novel when the fantasy elements are treated this way. There's a lot to be offered by genre bleeding. *gets off soap box and dusts it off for the next person* post comment

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