The Arrival
by Nicole MacDonald
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BLURB:
Four friends in the midst of a man drought cast a love spell on a whim, unexpectedly landing them on another planet.
Oops.
On a foreign and often hostile world, love teeters on the horizon while the threat of civil war looms thanks to the girls’ surprising gifts. Will the girls master these gifts in time to survive a war in which not only are they the ultimate weapons, but also the ultimate prize?
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Today I’m pleased to welcome Nicole MacDonald, author of THE ARRIVAL, the first in the BirthRight Trilogy.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?
I am a thirty year old Kiwi receptionist who moonlights as a novelist. I’ve been writing for the last three years. Reading has been a life long obsession and while it occurred to me once, as an eleven year old, that I could write my own story and play the heroine, the actual thought of physically writing it all out scared the heck out of me. So I never started, until inspiration struck while watching a massive thunderstorm over the Wellington harbor. Then began my current obsession *grin*.
Can you share a little about your current projects with us?
I’ve just finished the last in the BirthRight trilogy, Feel the Burn, and now I’m working on a variety of plots I’ve noted down over the last three years. A paranormal teen series with a quirky sense of dark humor, a little like buffy but for the 10-15 year olds. A dystopian steam-punk inspired by an awesome dream and a standalone black comedy about little old ladies, as well as a sequel to the naughty short I wrote a couple of years ago.
Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?
Currently all my books are only in e-format, but I’m working on bringing them into paperback. However, seeing them on the various sites and the comments from delighted readers makes my heart have a little *squee* moment every time I peek. I love knowing others enjoy the world I’ve created as much as I do.
Has anything surprised you about your writing life?
How all consuming it is. Every time I read a good book now I experience a profound sense of awe at realizing just how much work went into it. Makes me feel like sending some authors gold medals.
Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?
Don’t take life too seriously; no one makes it out alive.
Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?
Watching a full on thunder storm from my desk at work and wishing I’d had a little more time as a singleton to enjoy life with my girlfriends (I met my soul mate a month before I turned 19 – was never my intention!). So I started writing an adventure just for us and then it took on a life of its own.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Most of it is inspired by life, but then my mind can twist things in interesting ways. The harpies scene in book two, Awakening, was inspired by the sparrows that flock to the trees around my work in winter. It’s funny how such little things can trigger ideas.
When you started your book, did you plan on writing it as a series, or did it just grow into one?
I intended to write a book just for my friends. I never ever imagined it would end up being a trilogy and enjoyed by thousands all over the world! Still surprises me now.
Do new characters just pop into your head while writing or do you build them first and then add them in?
They pop in and I develop them from there. I enjoy getting to know the characters and if they are based on people/creatures I know then I enjoy dragging out the certain nuances I want to show the reader. One person can inspire many different characters; we all have so many sides to us.
E-reader or print book?”
Both. E reader so I can carry it anywhere and so I never have to bend the beautiful spine and cover on the print book. I love real books and treasure them, they’re my form of collectables so most hardcovers I own I also have on my kindle *lol*
Nicole will be awarding a $50.00 gift card – Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winners choice, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so please leave a comment below and follow the tour by clicking on the icon at the right or this link. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Good luck.
THE ARRIVAL Excerpt:
Introduction
‘Cat’s down!’ hollered Sensei as he tracked the grappling pairs in the room.
I wrapped my legs around Nathan’s hips. The look of shock on his face amused me, even more so when I gave him a suggestive smile, arching my eyebrow.
Cheap shot? Not if he fell for it. He didn’t register what I was up to until his head connected with the mat. I smirked down at him.
Sensei had a wide smile as he called, ‘Catherine wins.’
Nathan scowled at me.
‘Get off, would you?’
I stood and sauntered to the side, joining Kassie as we watched the final pairs fight. Tonight I’d won all three of my fights.
Not quite as good as Loi. I watched as she brought Daniel down to the mat hard enough that he yelped in pain. Sometimes the two inch mats didn’t feel that thick. I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
‘Laura wins, making her this evening’s champion,’ Sensei crowed in triumph. Kassie and I hollered, clapping for Loi as she stood, ever graceful, and walked our way. Most of the guys in the room had rueful smiles as they joined in the applause.
‘I can’t believe you’re letting yourselves get beaten by girls,’ Sensei shook his head in mock distress. ‘What will I tell the other sensei at the meet?’
‘That you train Amazons,’ Jason, the class smart ass, quipped back.
Actually that was a good description for Laura, though I didn’t think you’d see many Amazons with Scottish accents. Five foot eight, with a figure like a pin-up girl and thick black hair to her waist, Loi made most people look twice.
‘What’s the magic word?’ demanded a saccharin sweet voice, interrupting my thoughts.
The three of us, along with those sitting out, turned to look. There was Sian, the fourth of our quartet, with Grant beneath her tiny thighs.
For some reason Grant felt the need to be stubborn when tapping out with Sian. It may be due to her dainty appearance. Sian was the blond in our group and just adorable to look at. Dainty and precious, more like precocious, truth be told, she scraped in at just five foot like Kassie. But while Kassie had a curvy busty figure, Sian was petite in every sense of the word; except personality.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Nicole MacDonald is the Independent author of The Arrival, and, Awakening, the first two books in the BirthRight Trilogy. Writing had never been a lifelong dream for her until she began The Arrival, but it now is an all-consuming passion.
A proud Kiwi (New Zealander) Nicole dreams that one day Peter Jackson will be in touch to option the film rights for the BirthRight Trilogy. When she’s not daydreaming about that she’s working on book three in the trilogy – Feel the Burn, available December 2012 – and planning future works.
Blog: www.damselinadirtydress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBirthRightTrilogy
Twitter: @DmslinaDrtyDrss
THE ARRIVAL Book Trailer:
BUY LINKS:
Amazon US – free:
7 comments
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Goddess Fish Promotions
02/11/2013 at 5:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you for hosting today
Nicole
02/11/2013 at 12:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you for hosting me today : )
momjane
02/11/2013 at 5:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love this book. I would recommend it highly.
Mary Preston
02/12/2013 at 9:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m so pleased you are bringing your books out in hard copies. I love to add to my ‘library’.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Kate l
02/26/2013 at 10:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
thanks for the chance to win
hense1kk At cmich DOT edu
Andra
02/26/2013 at 10:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s always exciting to make the jump from eBooks to hard copies! Congrats!
andralynn7@gmail.com
Hope
03/07/2013 at 2:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds quite exciting!
hopefull1978 At gmail Dot com