It’s a Mouthful! Back to Blog
Cynthia, thank you so much for opening your blog this summer. I’m very pleased to be hanging out here today sharing some blog time with some very talented authors.
I started reading for pleasure *mumble* *grumble* years ago in middle school. It was about that time my English teacher handed me a science fiction story about some kids on a travel through time trying to save the world. No, I don’t remember the title or the author, but I remember the thrill of sharing the journey with the main characters. I was hooked.
I started reading my way through the school library eating up all things fantasy and science fiction. My two favorite series continue to be “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’Engle and the “The Chronicles of Narnia” by CS Lewis.
I stuck with science fiction for a year or two until I snuck my mother’s copy of “The Thorn Birds” 
by Colleen McCullough *sigh* My eyes (and teenage GIRL heart) was open to the world of forbidden love. I abandoned everything futuristic and immersed myself in all things romance. Even my writing assignments centered around the world of happily-ever-afters. (Of course this probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was falling for my first serious boyfriend at the same time … but that’s another story.) For years I only picked up books by classic romance authors.
Until Sandra Brown. The first author who introduced me to romantic suspense. What’s not to love with mystery … a killing or two … complete with a ride into the proverbial sunset? Wow! I didn’t know all that could be wrapped up into an awesome story.
So it was no surprise when I decided to dip my pen into the world of writing that I went straight for the romantic suspense genre. I found my stride in the world of serial killers and the alphabet guys. But try as I might, I couldn’t find a publisher looking for another RS author. So I researched the genres that were really hawt (literally *g*) and found erotica. Hmmm I thought, I can write the same suspense story and instead of leaving the lovers to walk up the stairs … I could just keep the bedroom doors open. Voila! A published author was born.
And I found my original roots and tend to include either a paranormal or futuristic flavor to the stories. My newest release (if you include all the genres) is a futuristic erotic romantic suspense novel … whew, yep, quite a mouthful … titled “A Touch of Lilly”. I find it a challenge to strike a balance with all those elements. It’s like juggling balls and keeping them all in the air until the final scene. *rubs hands together* What could be more fun?
I hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter One:
Lilly D’Angelo could have been walking into any of the seedier establishments lining Forty-fifth and Wester on Chicago’s south side. Except for the clientele, the tavern’s owner had managed to replicate nearly every detail right down to the blue haze and the soft crooning of a jazz band on the corner stage. The acrid stench and gruff hum of a Friday night crowd tripped Lilly down memory lane-a place she had no desire to travel at the moment.
Lilly pushed the sour thoughts of home out of her mind and focused her energy on the patrons at the bar. Morphing her features into her sexiest vixen pout, she moved gracefully toward the long bar on the other side of the room. Her voluptuous breasts, spilling temptingly from her silk blouse, led the way. The eyes watching her ass sashay around the battered tables were clustered on various life forms-none of them human.
Yeah, definitely not Chicago. Shit, this wasn’t even Earth for chrissake.
“Regent’s ale, straight up, hold the brenic.” She spoke English, hoping the two-headed Xerick behind the bar had a cochlear translator in one of those eight holes that passed for ears. Satisfied when one head nodded, she settled on a stool, making sure her fur jacket and blouse parted enough to offer a seductive view of her cleavage. Lilly shifted just enough to let the black leather skirt ride up her thigh and expose a little more silky real estate. Surreptitiously checking her image in the mirrored glass behind the liquor bottles, she was pleased she looked every bit the part. She wasn’t trying to attract anyone in particular, perhaps something on the less offensive side that could offer her a bit of entertainment to help fritter away the next couple of hours.
Lilly wasn’t a xenophobic bigot by any stretch of the imagination. But six months in deep space, working these kinds of joints, wasn’t really long enough to become accustomed to the scenery. The Nebulae Galaxy’s spaceports overflowed with aliens of all sizes and genders. Only that wasn’t really a fair term here in deep space.
Alien inferred the life forms didn’t belong. On the contrary, it was humans who were invading their territory. The treaties of 2253, signed well over forty years ago, had guaranteed the safe travel of humans in deep space. After the snafu of ’34, which saw the first major space disaster since light travel had been discovered, humans had insisted on protection for their species. They’d formed some bullshit board of security, guaranteeing humans could run roughshod over the universe like everywhere else. Though most people referred to them as the QAL, Lilly nicknamed them the alphabet mafia. At one point she’d actually considered working for them until they’d discovered who she was-or more specifically what she was. It didn’t matter. They could all go fuck themselves if they didn’t appreciate her gifts. Lilly had found a way to use her talents and still bring down the bad guys.
Of course in deep space, bad was a relative term.
There was the kind of bad that got a person lost on the ice caps of Dallas Eight without a backup plan. Or the bad that forced someone to stow away in the engine room of a Drikspa alien tanker bound for unknown destinations, praying not to get caught. Or the bad that got a human female imprisoned as a sex slave on the mining colonies of Krystallos Three, hidden from even the long arm of the QAL. Lilly shivered at that one. Even her talents wouldn’t free her from that kind of torture.
She was just happy to be here on Garalon Five where bad meant nothing more than crossing paths with every brand of space pirate, ex-con or fugitive looking for a new start. As one of the more recent colonizations in the Nebulae Galaxy, the G-5 government turned their collective back on past offenses on other planets and allowed anyone to start a legitimate business. It’s what had brought her here.
Nina Pierce lives in northern Maine with that first serious boyfriend of hers, three adult children, and a menagerie of pets. You can follow her crazy life on Twitter and Facebook. Please check out her website to read excerpts from all her books.
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I always love to hear how authors got their start, and I’m so glad you realized you could add to your existing stories to make them sellable!
I love futuristic/paranormal books those are my favorite genre!
What is your favorite books to read now?
p.s. I’m up early waiting for my UPS delivery of I’ll Be Slaying You, finally the wait is over!!!
Hi, Nina! Great excerpt!! And I love that you found your perfect stride.
Denise – I’m currently reading alot of paranormal romance. I enjoy the darker side of paranormal. Glad you got your UPS delivery. Enjoy reading!
Cynthia – Thanks again for having me. It’s nice to figure out where my muse likes to play!
Hi Nina – Very interesting how you came to write. I hated reading when I was young. It wasn’t until the Kent Family Chronicles came out that I willingly read anything that wasn’t assigned by a teacher. Now I never read history, mostly paranormal.
Love how you just kind of blend it all together.
Viki – Someone told me that to raise readers you have to role model reading. My mom was one of those people that would bring STACKS of books home from the library. I’m sure that was how my love of reading began. My mom also wrote amazing letters. I have no doubt if she wanted, she could sit and write her own love stories.
Great excerpt. I really love the futuristic and paranomal genres.
Marlene – They really are a lot of fun to write. There’s so many ways to twist the plot. Thanks for stopping over.
Nina,
I can’t get over how much your “falling into writing” is like my experience. Always a reader and love the combo of romance and mystery/suspense. Wrote my first suspense when I noticed something mysterious in the woods. Heh, heh, heh.
Great blog and excerpt!
Nina – Totally agree with you on the leading by example, except for me. I was the only person in my family that didn’t read. I kind of embarrassed them. Now you can’t stop me from reading and both of my boys are avid readers. My 21 yr old is quite the writer as well.
Susan – There’s nothing better than ratcheting up that sexual tension with a little life-threatening crisis. You definitely know how to strike that balance! Thanks for stopping over.
Viki – I guess I should have come clean and said my parents raised three readers out of five children. Guess it doesn’t always take. LOL! Interesting how it came later in life for you. Hope that son of yours finds success with his writing.
So neat hearing how you got your start. Loved the excerpt. And yes I definitely agree that it’s important for parents to stress the importance of reading – my parents are both readers, I’m a book binger, and my daughter is developing my passion for books. Thanks for stopping by and telling your story.
Great post!! I really enjoy your books!! I am not sure where the love reading came for me, I know no one in my immediate family that reads.
I do have one grand daughter who loves reading and she writes stories also (she is 12). I encourage her all the time!!
Welcome Nina,
I didn’t start reading for pleasure until I was in high school and my cousin’s friend introduced me to romance.
Catherine – I’d never heard of the reading principle until a librarian shared that with me. Very cool. I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for stopping by.
Judy – I’m so glad you enjoy my books. Sounds like that granddaughter has both bugs … good for her.
Jane – LOL! Something about opening a woman’s world to romance seems to hook us every time!
Oh I disliked reading for school… never wanted to read until the end of High School… then I got my hands on some historical romances and was hooked… now I have to have a romance novel no matter the genre in hand…
Colleen – I remember some of those high school assignments blurred my eyes and I didn’t think I’d ever get through them! And historicals? I love ’em! I would never be able to write one though. History was my worst subject by faaaaar. And now there are paranormal historical romances and I’m eating them up!
I’ve always been a reader since I discovered that letters could be made into words. I fell in love with Narnia when I was 10 yrs old. My kids are all avid readers because I just have thousands of books around the house, they are surrounded by them…hehe!!!
I’m a late bloomer when it comes to the romance genre…but it didn’t take long for me to devour everything I could get my hands on!!!
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
Hi, Nina.
I read the excerpts and just loved them. I look forward in reading more of your works!
Valerie – It’s hard not to like to read when the books are everywhere! I did the same thing to my children. Tee hee. The romance reader isn’t for everyone, but the story of finding one’s true love just can’t be beat IMO. Thanks for stopping over.
Tracey – I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt. “A Touch of Lilly” is my favorite book. But of course I say that about all my new releases. LOL!
I come from a family of book readers. My grandmother was a grade school teacher at our country school–so yes, my grandmother was my school teacher for five years before she retired. She always had us reading and gave us books as gifts all the time.
Your books sound great! I’m particularly intrigued by the futuristics and love the storylines.
Hi, Nina! I loved sci-fi and fantasy as a teen, and am thrilled that there’s now romantic scifi and fantasy to enjoy now that I’m all grown up (well, that last part is arguable). Your latest sounds delicious–thanks for visiting with Cynthia today!
Joder- We live in a small town and several children have aunts and grandmoms that end up teaching them, though they do try to avoid moms … can’t always be helped. I was a teacher in my former life. I miss it. I loved working with kids. Thanks for stopping over.
Great excerpt! I’ve been through all the genres you mentioned too, and I remember reading Thorn Birds. I should read it again.
Fedora – Sci Fi and Fantasy stories definiely seem to be big in the market right now. Of course that means my wish list is bigger than my book budget. Glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Edie – Once a saw the Thorn Birds movie I know wouldn’t be able to read the story again without picturing Richard Chamberlain as the priest. But it might be worth reading again just for that visual. LOL!
Wow great excerpt! I’ll definietly go out and look for your books!
Casey – Thanks for stopping by. All the buy links for my books are on my website.
Hi! Great excerpt! I started learning how to read when I was three. It’s hard to find books for advanced readers that are age appropriate; I just didn’t get romance novels at age 8. Now, of course, I tease my niece about not learning to read until age 5 as slacking off. 🙂
Cories – Three? That is young! Now there are more age appropriate books for young readers. But that wasn’t always the case. And romance novels at 8? I can understand how you didn’t get them. LOL!
It’s been fun watching you grow as an author and catch your stride, as you said. I wish you all the best!
Adele
A Touch of Lilly looks so wonderful. And I’ll bet she has own “mouthful” in the story. ^_^ Good blog, Nina!
Adele – Thank you so very much.
Kayelle – Tee hee!
Great post, Nina. I guess it all comes back to writing what you love to read.