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

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.

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.

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.

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*

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.

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!!

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.

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.