Welcome to FAKE Friday with AJ Nuest

I have soooo stolen this off Fern Cotton on Radio 1. Last Tuesday, during half-term and travelling to my mum's in sunny Surrey, Kiss FM started to crackle out of range, so I switched to Radio 1.

Tuesdays are a bit like Mondays. Meh! And Fern mentioned 'Fake Friday' was coming up. Unfortunately I didn't hear what she exactly did, as the kids demanded Gangnam Style on CD but it was a lightbulb moment. I thought what a good idea :)

So the idea is to try and blog on a Tuesday, and pretend it's Friday... or make it more interesting, like it is Friday! Today I have fellow HarperImpulse author, AJ Nuest from across the pond. Take it away, AJ!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

For me, there really wasn’t any “want” involved in my becoming a writer. It’s more like I just knew it was something I would eventually do. It’s weird. When I think back to my childhood, maybe when I was seven or eight, I can remember writing poetry, lots and lots of scribbly poetry. Around the time I reached puberty, I began writing stories which would now most likely fall into the YA genre. As I got older, all the way through high school, I kept a journal. So I’ve always had a close relationship with writing. It just comes naturally to me. That being said, I specifically remember walking to work one morning when I was in my twenties. I was sorta imagining how my life would unfold...when I’m this old, I’ll be married...when I’m this old, I’ll have kids, etc., etc. To this day, I remember part of my thought process was...when I’m this old, I’ll be a writer. LOL Sure enough, here I am.

Did you manage to get the first book you wrote published, or is it tucked in a drawer somewhere?

It was published, but the rights have since reverted back to me...which is good because I’ve grown so much as an author since that first book I don’t want anyone reading it. LOL I plan to rewrite the story at some point and submit it somewhere...or maybe self-publish it. Haven’t decided yet.

My Twitter style question: Describe your hero in 140 characters.

Oh, I love this. Okay great. Hmmm... How about “When the white sorceress of prophecy names Prince Caedmon as Rescinder of the Key, a battle for more than his heart threatens his kingdom.”

My Twitter style question: Describe your heroine in 140 characters.

“A magic mirror? A handsome prince? This must be a joke. Yet the golden key around her neck has Rowena second-guessing her place in history.”

What’s so special about… 
A) your hero that makes your heroine fall in love with him?

I think Rowena falls in love with Caedmon for a lot of reasons—he’s handsome, gracious and pure of heart. But, foremost, is the fact that he tells her the truth, regardless of what she asks him. Even though she doesn’t believe him at first, when she comes to realize he’s been completely honest with her, the epiphany she experiences confirms her growing connection to him...and the fact that her heart is his.

OR

B) your heroine that makes your hero fall in love with her?

Caedmon falls in love with Rowena because she’s so different from the other women in his realm. She’s strong, determined, and doesn’t beat around the bush. There is nothing false about her and he finds this quality a refreshing change from the women...heck, from everyone in his realm. She’s not at all what he expected, and this makes him appreciate her all the more.

Are you nervous about friends reading your book?

We-l-lll...yes and no. Of course I always hope my friends will like my stories, and I always hope for complimentary reviews, but my biggest “issue” is knowing my mom reads my work. I write steamy romance. Can’t help myself. I’ve always been a detailed writer and this eye for description translates into the bedroom. It’s sort of nerve wracking wondering what my mom thinks of my sex scenes. I don’t care how old a person is, that’s my MOM, you know? She always laughs when I bring it up and says she’s incredibly proud of my work, but still...it’s a bit...I don’t know, disconcerting? LOL

Do you love or hate Facebook?

Both. Social networking of any kind appeals to me because I’m social person by nature and the internet allows me to make friends all over the world. I love that. I’ve made so many dear, dear friends via the internet. True friends. Best friends I know I can count on through thick and thin. However, it’s also a complete distraction. It’s easy to spend hours chatting people up when I should be writing. 

Cocktail or shot? If so, what one?

Grey Goose vodka martini with three blue-cheese stuffed olives. I think that qualifies as both a cocktail and a shot. LOL

Tea or coffee?

Coffee with lots of hazelnut flavored creamer. If I could give it up, I’d probably lose ten pounds.

Starbucks or Costa?

I’ve no idea what Costa is, so I’m going with Starbucks.

That question must be more for us Brits, AJ ;-)

Chocolate or ice cream?

Why do I have to pick one or the other? Can’t I have chocolate with ice cream? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Dogs or cats?

I own two of each, so I guess that means both. 

Thank you for popping by AJ! Feels like Friday already. Good luck with your series! 

Rowena’s Key

Book One

The Golden Key Chronicles

Rowena’s Key releases November 7, 2013 through HarperImpulse UK. Pre-orders are available at Amazon and Amazon.uk.

The Golden Key Chronicles Release Schedule:

Rowena’s Key:  November 7, 2013

Candra’s Freedom: December 12, 2013

Caedmon’s Curse: January 9, 2014

Braedric’s Bane: February 13, 2014

Rowena’s Key:

Amazon Buy Link

Amazon.uk Buy Link 

About AJ Nuest

I am a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a cornfield in NW Indiana. My loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day and laundry service, tolerate my lunacy. While I spend most days happily ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup has been percolating. The dogs just informed me the cat is secretly vying for dictatorship. 

WEBSITE ~ BLOG ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ PINTEREST

Still Pinching Myself

A few days on and it still feels very surreal. I have a book published.

By Harper Collins!

I tell almost every customer I serve at my 'little shop' job that I'm an author.

My mum sent me a card which arrived on the day, then that night I had a couple of writery friends over - they are my friends but they too are writers. We met through a local writing group but sort of strayed from that to meet regularly under our own steam. I drank champagne, they had coffee (as they were driving). I'd also made mini Eton Mess for us. Yesterday I bought myself some flowers because every author has flowers to celebrate her publication, yes?

Now I'm in the process of putting together a press release, and I sent a letter to the editor of Writing Magazine. My little shop has its own 'staff' newspaper which I'm going to try and get into too. This is where my marketing qualification and my Writers' Bureau course are helping me - although still not sure I've written a great press release.
It's all about finding your angle. So far I've come up with HarperCollins signs Weston-super-Mum. Or is that too cheesy?

In the meantime, I'm over on Liz Fielding's blog here. Liz is one of my favourite Mills and Boon authors, with her sweet romances that sizzle. She's also part of my RNA Chapter group, so it's lovely to meet up with her every six weeks or so - I try not to have a fan girl moment and remain cool.

And if you want to read more about me, I am also on AJ Nuest's blog who is a fellow author.

Right, back to the press release and blog questionnaires...