Dark Fantasy Writer

First bit of Nano

2007-10-31T13:45:05Z

Jeremy.

'In the event of the Rapture, this car will be unoccupied.'

It was printed on a bumper sticker on the back of a faded blue Toyota in the street. I remember finding it vaguely funny the first time I walked past and read it. Now I'm sitting across the road, and I watch as three hooligans go up to it, with mutterings of "Wazzat say?" as they come closer. At least their baggy windsheeters are made of soft enough fabric that they won't scratch the paint job just by their proximity. Not that I should care about this. Not that I should care about any of this.

The words of the bumper sticker seem less funny now.

One of them, the persistent hooligan, has already got most of that sticker off the car now. Another kicks the right back hubcap, then looks annoyed when it doesn't fall off on the road in front of him. They're grunting to each other like a bunch of Neanderthals. I've had enough of this. Stubbing out my cigarette on the park bench that I'm sitting on, I stand, which inadvertently makes enough movement to be seen by them.

"Hey! Whad are you lookin' at then?"

I'm impressed by the broad scope of their language. So impressed, in fact, that I don't falter in my step that'll take me from here.

"Oi, you! Yeah, I'm talkin' to you! Don't just walk away!"

I stop. The side of my right hand has picked up a couple of callouses from somewhere, which I only notice when I rub my left hand against the skin. It is in the middle of this contemplative moment when the first of the boys attack me. He's on the asphalt that covers the ground in the time it takes me to turn around. Of course, seeing that, his two friends don't follow far behind.

The lighter and cigarette packet are kept both in the same pocket, whether it's jeans I'm wearing, or the jacket that I hardly ever take off. It's these things I pull out. Flicking on the lighter, the end of the cigarette flares to a bright red for a moment as I walk away. Three boys are on the road, groaning.

I hate fights.

I didn't used to. Time was, fighting was as much a part of my nature as smoking has become now, and it was a lucky thing that I was good at it. There are a few scrapes that come to mind where I wouldn't have gotten the hell out of dodge without the strength of my fists to back up the rest I had going for me.

But all of that's like another life. Now I avoid any sort of fighting whenever I can.

Those boys are still on the ground. When the wind shifts, it brings a sound of one of them groaning to my ear, reminding me that I haven't walked far enough away from them yet.

Reminds me too that sometimes, even now, there are situations when the fighting is still inescapable.

**

Cassie

It was always around this time of year that struck Cassie as the very best time of the year. Of course, that was a fact that none of the rest of her friends seemed to agree with her on. It didn't seem to matter that the smell of spring was in the air, nor that the daylight savings had just hit, which granted them an extra hour of light into their day (not to mention extended Cassie's curfew of 'not home after dark' for that extra whole hour). What counted was the number of essays that were due, and the hours of study required in the study week they had 'off' before exams started.

Of course, most of that work was stuff that Cassie had had way in hand months ago. That was why, when most of the people she talked to in school went to the library after their last classes of the day, Cassie piled her school books into her locker and closed it with an air of finality. She was going to take this beautiful day by the very sunlight that made it so beautiful, and by golly, she was going to enjoy it.

There was a very definite bounce to her step -one that definitely made the school bag on her back bounce along with her- as she rounded the end of the corridors and headed towards the school gate.

And of course, Red was out there waiting for her. She could see him, just beyond the school gate, across the road, and leaning against a tree. The wisps of his red, shoulder length hair -hair that gave him his name, Red- floated across his face. He was the only person she knew who didn't seem to care when the wind affected his hair. Unlike everyone else, he didn't make a big fuss about it, never tied it back, and never even went so far as to brush it out of his face. But Red was weird in a lot of ways. After four years of talking to each other almost every day, Cassie didn't know anything more about Red's real name, other than that 'it was embarrassing'.

She didn't know how he did it, but he always seemed to know when to wait for her and when she would come out with other friends that she'd made plans with. It wasn't something she was about to complain about today. She didn't even care that she was still in school uniform, or rather, the bastardisation of uniform that girls were continually trying to stretch further to their liking.

"Hang on a second!" She dropped her bag at Red's feet, then shrugged out of the button up shirt that was only half tucked in and hanging over the pleated uniform skirt. Underneath was an off the shoulder top. She shrugged her shoulders and shook out her hair, before bending down to grab her bag and tie her discarded school shirt loosely around her waist. "Don't give me that," she told Red, when she caught him looking at her appreciatively.

Red's eyes widened with innocence. Instead of verbally proclaiming that innocence, however, his face relaxed into a smile. "So where are we going today?" he asked.

"I was thinking, the scenic route. Gets me back to my place... eventually." She grinned at him mischievously.

Red fell into step beside her. "Uh huh," he uttered, doubtfully, but he followed her all the same.

"Well it's your choice to follow me," Cassie informed him.

"That it is," Red agreed.

Cassie gave him a sideways glance as though to see if he was making fun of her, then she tilted her head back. Blonde hair cascaded to around midway down her back. She grinned up towards the sky, up at the thin white clouds that moved across the sky. It was such a crime to be stuck inside for classes for so many days out of the week. So many of these lovely, lovely days already lost. Thank god it was almost the end of term already, and with that, freedom!

"So what did you get up to today?" she asked of Red, lifting her head before she did something stupid like walk into a telephone pole she didn't see in front of her because her head was tilted backwards.

"I got some stuff done," Red said, as though he suspected Cassie of thinking him lazy. "Caught up with some friends. Caught up on a bit of news. I'll probably be sent out on errands because of what I found out today."

"Oh?" Cassie said, though she knew he wouldn't tell her more beyond that, despite how she fished. What errands he went on were always classified. Way back when she'd first met him, Cassie remembered having all these fancies that he was part of some government conspiracy, and that it would endanger her life if he told her about anything that she shouldn't know about, which was why, of course, he never did. Since then, however, she'd grown up. And over the years, the whole question answer thing had managed to become a kind of joke between them.

"Very private errands. Top secret stuff," Red told her, with the usual grin and waggle of the eyebrows that totally undercut the sincerity of his statements.

"Of course," Cassie said, at least keeping some appearance of gravity between them.

They shared a comfortable silence for a while, between the time when her high school disappeared from view and when they reached this scenic park of Cassie's. It ended up being a walking trail. The trees had seen less than their usual share of rain in the winter just gone, and were looking dryer for it. Still, Cassie seemed to pick up her enjoyment just from walking amongst those trees and yellowed grasses.

"I love this season. Don't you just love this season?" She turned to him, still smiling. "Of course you love this season. And you know I do. I've certainly told you enough times."

Red cracked a smile at that. While he didn't gain the same enjoyment from the plantlife around them, he did get pleasure from being in Cassie's presence while she basked in it. "Yes, I like the season," he said.

"It's not enough to like it," she reminded him, shaking her head as she continued her stride forward. "You have to love it."

Nano, cough 2007 cough

2007-10-31T09:25:10Z

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!

First Edits!!

2007-10-23T01:57:15Z

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*

On Online fans

2007-10-03T04:45:16Z

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.

unity_of_hours @ 2007-08-15T22:11:00

2007-08-15T12:12:38Z

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

Oh look, it's another Masq 2 review! ^_^

2007-06-22T05:20:44Z

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.

Collaborative project and review.

2007-06-20T03:38:33Z

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

I got a reply from New Concepts today.

2007-06-15T07:14:19Z

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.

Music and work

2007-06-10T12:51:26Z

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. :)

New Concepts Publishing!

2007-06-05T01:21:27Z

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.

Second Review for Regency Romp!!

2007-04-23T02:40:55Z

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.

Busy busy, but now I think it's time to lay down for a while...

2007-04-17T00:38:52Z

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.

Another Review for Masq 2!

2007-04-14T02:42:47Z

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.

MASQUERADE is an amazing collection of Greek mythology with a modern day twist. These four stories are sure to capture your heart. You will definitely recapture an interest in Greek mythology when you’re done reading. However, the old boys of lore won’t begin to measure up to these amazing author’s takes on them. Strap in for an amazing thrill ride of orgasmic proportions. You’ll definitely want to cuddle up close to someone after reading these hot stories.

Island of Fantasies by Jude Mason

Using an invitation meant for her best friend, Syne arrives at The Isle of Arcadia for the annual masquerade ball held there. However, almost as soon as she arrives, strange things begin happening. Syne is achingly attracted to Ares, an exotically handsome black man that causes Syne to melt whenever she’s near him. For some reason, Syne is drawn to both the island and Ares. She just needs to discover how and why. However, Ares is hiding something from Syne, as is someone else very close to her. The only way for Syne to unlock her memories that have long been forgotten of this mystery island, is to show Ares exactly who is in charge in their relationship.

Hot dang this story is sizzling! What a great mix of mystery, romance, erotica and a little dominance and submission. Syne and Ares were mind-blowing together. They made the pages smoke. I was drawn in from the very first page and fell in love with all the characters. ISLAND OF FANTASIES had a great plot, wonderful characters and extremely well written sex scenes. I was so shocked at the outcome of this story. Jude Mason is truly a master at the art of surprise. I’ll definitely be reading more of her stories soon.

http://www.my-haven2001.com/

Pomegranate by Nikki Watson

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.

http://unity-of-hours.livejournal.com/profile

Blindsided by CJ England

Emma, arriving at the Isle of Arcadia, under the guise of her best friend, encounters Apollo. Emma doesn’t really believe that Apollo is actually a God, she thinks he’s just part of the festivities, a character actor, sent to make all the guests feel welcome and to get into the theme of the weekend. Of course, the other Gods and Goddesses are also there, which makes her sure in her conviction. However, when Apollo sets his sites on Emma, he is not about to let anything or anyone get in his way. Unfortunately, Emma has a condition that keeps her from truly realizing who Apollo is, and only with the help of Apollo, a wish, and some of the other deities, will Emma finally realize her hearts true desire and that maybe, together, she and Apollo can accomplish her dream.

Great Gods and Goddesses! What a fun, witty and quirky tale of love, acceptance, and orgasmic sex. BLINDSIDED was outstanding. I loved Apollo both in the story and in the stories I grew up in. He was always my favorite deity. I loved CJ England’s modern day spin on his life with Emma. I am so happy that Apollo got another chance at love and life. Emma was perfect for him. She was so sweet, and humble. I’m not denying that there were some times that Emma was a little too proud, she knew the story of Apollo and she should’ve accepted him for who he was. But that’s love for you; love is never easy or perfect. And CJ sure knows how to make her characters grow and bloom together.

http://www.cjengland.com/

Worshipped by Michelle Houston

On a recommendation by Athena to attend the Isle of Arcadia, Alicia takes her advice to start living again. Arriving at the island, Alicia encounters Pothos. Pothos is sweet, charming, gentle and understanding of the brutal pain in Alicia’s past. Instead of pushing her to join in the main festivities in the main house, he suggests they take a walk in the maze and just get to know each other. However, once in the maze things start heating up, and not just between Pothos and Alicia. Drawn into the maze because of the attraction between Pothos and Alicia, Himeros joins the couple. Will these two Gods be the cure for Alicia’s haunted past and be able to help her move on?

Two Gods who are known for their powers of sexual desire? How lucky can one woman get? WORSHIPPED left me tingly long after I finished this book. I want to be Alicia. What a great read. WORSHIPPED had wonderful sex, very well written plot that never faltered and amazing characters. Pothos and Himeros were hot, hot, hot! They were written so well, I could actually see them in the maze with Alicia. Alicia was very sweet, gentle and emotionally scarred. I was happy to see Pothos and Himeros with the help of Athena give Alicia her life back.

http://www.eroticpen.net/

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.

excited

2007-04-03T02:14:17Z

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!

Wow, another review, this time by Two Lips. Go me!!

2007-03-12T06:03:11Z

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*

Raven Guest Blog

2007-03-06T02:32:59Z

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!

Another Review! - Masquerade Vol. 3

2007-02-21T04:02:21Z

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.

New Happy-Making Review!

2007-02-14T03:24:24Z

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!!

On Emotions

2007-01-27T01:20:57Z

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.

On Sci-fi & Romance genre bleeding.

2007-01-26T00:16:59Z

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*

I know you've been waiting for this! :)

2007-01-14T23:18:33Z

Well, it's finally come. It feels like it's been no time at all, and ages at the same time, but this morning I got an email signaling that the page for my first ever novel is pretty much up, and everyone, this is what it looks like:

http://www.aphroditesapples.com/spiral.htm

The release date isn't until the 1st February, so people must sadly hold their horses *grins*. I'm very excited about this. Please have a look and tell me what you think!

Review Number 3 dacnes

2007-01-14T07:47:03Z

Here is the third review that Masquerade 2 (which has the first short story I ever wrote) in it. It's over at Euro-Reviews, but there is this strange pop-up that I can't get rid of is obscuring it on my screen. Perhaps it'll be better on yours.

Either way, this is what the reviewer said about my short story, Pomegranate:

POMEGRANATE by Nikki Watson, is a unique story than the other 3 within this volume, that is a light dark fantasy fiction story. With a ending that doesn't portray a HEA (Happily Ever After) is does give a very creative story surrounding a forbidden fruit, three headed creatures, darker parts of the underground and scenes between the characters that would await their outcome. Very unique characters were also introduced that were new to this reviewer as well as danger and suspenseful scenes. Two college students, Aaron and Patrick are smoking pot and Patrick begins to hear stories from the walls about the Greek gods. An invitation to the Masquerade ball was given to him by Hermes, who is a messenger for the gods. Patrick, then called Patroclus, is taken through the underworld meeting with Persephone and waking up also with another character Hades. Through a story of fantasy, Patroclus eats the forbidden fruit of pomegranate, and an attempt to rescue him by his roommate is made. The author Nikki Watson, gives a very fascinating fantasy story with some darkness to it but one too that the reader will enjoy if they read some light dark fantasy stories.

This is really important.

2007-01-08T23:54:36Z

I need peoples' opinions on which is the better cover to go from. They are concepts so far, but what are some suggestions that would add to these images?

In other news, the final edits of Laundanum are done, and now watch as I get excited by the fact that I feature in three of the books on the Coming Soon page at Aphrodites Apples! *bounces*

I am working on a fantasty title well and truly now; getting back to what I know. *nods* Hopefully it will be just as good.

Edit:
Thank you everyone who helped me make the choice with my cover today. *smiles* It was wonderful to see how everyone interpreted the covers.

And now I feel very functional, after my lovely author chat which followed the last of the costuming for Absence, which we will start shooting in two days time! Eek!

Ho hum, yay and oh.

2007-01-02T23:03:28Z

Whoo hoo, review number two, right over here!

Pomegranate by Nikki Watson

Patrick has read stories of the goddess of the underworld, Persephone and her husband Hades. Yet he’s never quite believed in all the Greek mythology. Hermes might be a god but it’s going to take a lot of persuasion from Hades and his wife to lure Patrick to be what he’s always wanted to be. Can one pomegranate satisfy all his wishes and desires?

I'm really dispondent because my hard drive failed on New Year's Day, and until I get a computer that has Word on it again, I can't finish Laudanum for Regency Romp, and it's just so close! :(

I am writing on Wordpad, though, the beginnings of what may end up being my next novel.

Short Story Number -3-

2006-11-04T02:34:20Z

Beth stood outside of “Absence”, watching the people who came past and thought they were so much more pretentious by just being here than they had any right to be. Ultimately, Beth was largely unimpressed. She was having a laugh at a particular young brunette with freckles all over her face, who walked in the stilettos she had obviously bought just for the occasion, as though she was balancing on stilts or something.

‘Someone needs to get that girl some fashion sense,’ Annalise said from beside her. Beth laughed.

‘Can you actually buy the stuff?’ she asked, with a derogative grin.

It looked like it was going to be a busy night tonight. Must be the crowd Ronin’s band Resonance was responsible for bringing in. That would either work really well, or there would be a lot of people in attendance that Beth really couldn’t be bothered with. Speaking of couldn’t be bothered, Beth eye-spied a familiar brunette walking towards them.

‘Uh oh, Anna. Don’t look now, but…’

Annalise did look now, turning her blonde head to see Marca approaching them, and stopping so that she was standing between Annalise and Ronin, and opposite Beth. Beth sighed; this girl was a breath of foul air. Which was okay, because Marca couldn’t stand her either.

‘Shannon showing up tonight?’ Marca turned to ask Annalise, while Ronin pulled funny faces behind her back that made Beth have to bite back her grin.

‘How should I know?’ Annalise asked, lifting her brows at their undesirable companion. ‘I don’t have a tagging system for him.’

‘Well, he’s your brother,’ Marca said, jutting her hip out and placing a nail polished hand on it.

‘Yes, Shannon is my step brother,’ Annalise replied, nodding slowly as though Marca was very, very slow, and with a very fake smile to go with the nod. ‘And still, I don’t have a tagging system for him. Fancy that.’ Her gaze slid to Beth’s at the insincerity coming out of those last words.

Marca huffed and she shook her hair over her shoulders in annoyance. She only glanced at Beth for a moment as she lifted her head high and stalked into “Absence”, no doubt looking for someone else to make utterly miserable.

‘It’s always a pleasure!’ Ronin called out, waving a hand and twiddling fingers until Annalise grabbed it and dragged it down to his side with a laugh.

Beth grinned, turning her head to keep an eye out for any more potentially amusing arrivals, as she rolled and lifted a cigarette to her lips between her fingers. Her interest piqued as she recognized Tobey, and co., approaching the front of “Absence”. It appeared Shannon would be here tonight after all.

‘Well hello. It’s been a long time.’ She smiled and waved, then leaned forward and put her arm around his waist to kiss him on the side of the lips in greeting. She didn’t really have a lot of time for Shannon, but the redhead with him was pretty. Dimly, she was aware that Annalise started up a conversation with Shannon while her attention was on Tobey.

‘Marca’s looking for you.’

Shannon looked pleased. ‘Marca’s always looking for me,’ he said with a little inclination of his head.

‘Well then,’ Annalise remarked sternly. ‘Why don’t you go find her and sooth her craving before she irritates everyone in the club trying to find you?’

Grinning sneakily, Shannon replied easily. ‘But where would the fun in that be, Anna?’

‘Pardoning your fun, but the fun would be in the rest of us not having to deal with her.’ Annalise said it with a sugary sweet smile, but there was steel beneath it. Shannon reached forward to chuck her under the chin, and her eye narrowed minutely.

‘Hey man, while you’re here, I got a friend of mine, a band mate, looking to score some stuff of you tonight, if you’re carrying,’ Ronin cut in calmly.

‘Always,’ Shannon nodded, back to business. ‘Send him upstairs between your sets. You know where I work from.’

Ronin nodded back to Shannon, as Annalise sighed and put an elbow on Ronin’s shoulder that she leaned her head against. Shannon noted the movement without saying anything, just wondering silently for now, how close the two of them really were.

Beth licked her lips as Shannon’s gaze reached Tobey’s again, and Janet looked in another direction. ‘What do you say we catch up tomorrow?’ Beth asked Tobey.

He nodded. ‘I’d like that. Your place?’

‘Not before midday,’ she told him smartly.

‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ Tobey replied smoothly.

Beth’s eyes turned to Janet with a friendly smile, just in case she thought she was trying to steal her man from under her. ‘It was nice to meet you, Janet.’

Janet smiled, her arm still linked loosely in Tobey’s. ‘You too,’ she said.

Beth’s eyes glazed from Tobey to Shannon briefly. Shannon raised his eye brows at her, and Beth looked away. With guys like Shannon around, was it any surprise, really, that the cock didn’t really do that much for her? No.

After Tobey and co. walked past her, Beth considered wandering inside after them. It had been a while since she’d had quality time with Tobey socially, even if they had just made plans to see each other the next day. But then something else caught her attention, while Ronin and Annalise were still talking.

‘I really should get back inside. Michelle’s gonna have my ass if I’m late just from standing around out here talking to you lovely ladies.’ Ronin tipped his hat at them. Annalise tilted her face up towards him. He wiggled his brows at her with a grin, and kissed the tip of her nose, darting out his tongue at the last second, so that she wrinkled up her face at him in displeasure when he backed away. ‘Later chicas.’

‘Later, rockstar,’ Annalise called out after him, as Ronin turned his head to show the stamp on the side of his neck to Mam, and she waved him through with a tap on the butt to tell him not to be stupid; of course she remembered him.

Annalise turned back to Beth. ‘What’s got you staring so carefully, my sweet?’ she asked, arching her head over Beth’s shoulder to see if she could see what Beth was seeing.

A short girl with dark hair and red streaks walk walking towards them, in a group of other black clad friends heading for “Absence”. Beth disregarded the rest of the group. They were unimportant. The slight bounce in the girl’s hair, and the confident way she walked in flat shoes was captivating to Beth. She wanted to know this girl.

On her shoulder, Annalise whistled softly. ‘She’s a cutie, Beth. You gonna go get her tonight?’

‘Thinking about it,’ Beth returned softly.

‘How long did it take you to get those streaks in your hair, Andrea? I can’t believe you didn’t just go get them done in a hairdresser!’ One of the girl’s friends stole a glance at Annalise and Beth by the door, as she opened it and stepped inside, paying her money and awaiting Mam’s stamp. Beth’s girl didn’t notice her. In front of Mam, she received a stamp on her collarbone, when most of her friends were happy to receive one on the back of the hand or their forearms.

‘Andrea,’ Beth murmured quietly, rolling the word on her tongue quietly. Annalise touched her arm softly, and encouraged that they step inside as the first starting notes of a Resonance song started up inside.