Down Under Author Showcase – N.J. Nielsen

 

Meet N.J.  Nielsen

N J. Nielsen is the author of many series and novels (listed below).

To get to know N.J. Nielsen a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for her guest post below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt question and clue found somewhere within.

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NJ needs to write like she needs to breathe. It’s an addiction that she never intends to find a cure for. When you don’t find NJ arguing with Vlad, her muse or writing about the wonderful men in her stories, you’ll find her reading work by other authors she greatly admires. NJ lives in the SE of Qld, Australia with her family who all encourage her writing career even if she does occasionally call them by her character’s names. NJ thinks that anyone taking the time to read her stuff is totally awesome.

Contact/Follow N.J. Nielsen at:

Website: http://normanielsen.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://normanielsen.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Nielsen/793520884042153
Twitter: NJNielsen1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/njnielsen
Linkin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/n-j-nielsen/34/1a9/9ba
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108478475874292907770/posts

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Author’s Books, Series, and Stories:Available at MLRPress

EXPERIMENTALS
2013—Blessed With A Curse (fey/demon/human)
2015—Running Into Zero Tolerance (fey/demon/human)
(This Book is waiting to hear about contract)

LANCASTER’S WAY
2011—When Souls Collide (cowboy set in USA/Father’s Day)
2014—A Different Way Of Seeing (cowboy set in USA)

SONS OF EVENMORE
2013—The Crimson Grimoire (paranormal)
2014—Blood To Blood (paranormal)

THE LINES OF MARSDEN
2011—Rules Are Meant To Be Broken (paranormal)
2014—Living In Shadows (paranormal)
2015—You Make Me Die In Pieces (paranormal)
(This book is waiting to hear about contract)

TOOWOOMBA BOYS
2010—Angels On Top (contemporary)
2011—Hunting For Clay (contemporary)
2014—Dancing With Demons (contemporary)

SINGLES
2012—Christmastime At Papa Lee’s (contemporary/holiday)
2013—Bush Bashin’ (contemporary/Australia Day)
2015—Storming Love: Flash Flood—Adrian & Lockie (contemporary) Coming in April

Available at Totally Bound Publishing
THE CONNELLY CHRONICLES
2014—Family Connections (contemporary)

Available at Fireborn Publishing
MOON RUNNERS
2014—Heart-mate, Mine! (paranormal)

THE DIAMOND ROSE
Gateway To Kalethia (paranormal)
(This book is subbed and waiting to hear about contract)
Available at GOODREADS
FREE READS
2010—Shadows on the Heart (paranormal)
2013—By The Way (contemporary)
2014—Trying Not To Love You (contemporary)

Genre(s):
I added the info above

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Gay And Lesbian

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you,N.J. Nielsen) is an eBook copy of any of her stories from her backlist. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find Question or “Word”. Collect all the words/clues from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

N.J. Nielsen’s  Scavenger Hunt Question: Q: What is the name of my muse who keeps track of everything inside of my head?Find the answer somewhere on this post!

 

******************************************Now on to our Interview with N.J. Nielsen….

Q• When did you start writing?

I started writing when I was 12 years old so a very long time ago. Though my first attempt at getting published was back in 2010 when I wrote my free story for GoodReads—don’t read in the closet. My contribution was Shadows On The Heart. Then not long after Angels on Top, and then The Lines of Marsden 1: Rules are Meant to be Broken

Q• Were you a reader as a child?

Yes—my favourite book was called Beautiful Girl by Elisabeth Ogilvie. In fact I still have it.

Q• What books as a child has the most impact on you?

Paul Zindel’s: The Pigman.

Q• Did that impression carry over into adulthood when you started writing?

It always made me want to try my hand at writing YA—I totally suck at it and it frustrates me to no end.

Q• Where do you draw inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from song lyrics… people I see in the street… family—they are always a good source for borrowing antics from.

Q• Favorite genres to write in and why?

Paranormal—because I can make stuff up… I know everyone has a thought as to what a species should be like, but I like throwing people for a loop or having a species so out of character…plus less reference checking and research.

Q• Title or characters or plot?

Which comes first? Title—I’m not a plotter and I hate writing blurbs & synopsis.

Q• Do you have a favorite character that you have written?

Doyle Kerwin from The Lines of Marsden… I don’t know why I like him so much—all I know is that I changed my whole story to make him on of the main characters in books 2-6 in that series.

Q• Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source).

I can only please one person a day… Today is not your day & tomorrow isn’t looking good either.

Q• Favorite book/story you have read as an adult.

David Eddings his two series that revolve around the character Sparhawk (1) The Elenium, (2) The Tamuli.

Q• Do you have a certain regimen that you follow as a writer?

None I sit down and write whatever falls out of my head that day—sometimes I even surprise myself.

Q• What inspired you to write your first book?

Bored out of my brains and an overprotective mother who hated me going far from home (my dad had just died). My first planned published works TLOM my daughter was in hospital more than not (she has ITP) we were again bored and she got me to write her a vampire story. So Michael Marsden was born… in case you’re wondering Gypsy Marsden is totally based on my daughter.

Q• Do you have a specific writing style?

I usually work on three or more books at the same time so I don’t get bored and just write whichever one I feel like on any particular day.

Q• What’s the hardest part of writing your books?

Writing the synopsis for subbing – I suck at them.

Q• If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your first book?

Good God yes, I would so make Doyle the main guy right from the get go… I just didn’t realise how good he was until I started writing book two.

Q• If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor or has the biggest influence on you?

Carol Lynne—I asked her to read the first version of TLOM and she did and was great in talking publishers with me… she might not know it, but it’s true… If I could aspire to write like someone other than Carol it would be David Eddings.

Q• What book are you reading now?

At the moment I’m reading the entire works of Lynn Hagen.

Q• How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

To be honest I think we are more laid back as a people and our writing reflects that… sometimes I have to explain to my editors why I need to keep a certain phrase or word (especially if it’s slang).

Q• My first impression of AUS/NZ was from stories and novels like Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds or Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice as well as from movies like The Man from Snowy River, The Dish, Rabbit Proof Fence, Strictly Ballroom, and yes, Crocodile Dundee!  There are so many out there.  What is your favorite AUS/NZ stories and favorite Australian/New Zealand movies?

A Town Like Alice. I remember watching that over and over when it came out. And another favourite is Pricilla Queen of The Desert.

Q• If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

I personally would tell them to go to Port Arthur I’ve only been once but loved it. Actually Tassie (Tasmania) as a whole was a pretty awesome place to tour. So many beautiful sights and interesting places like The Penguin Markets… Gunns Plains Caves…The Nut.

Q• What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Melbourne… I don’t know why I like it… it could be the shopping.

Q• What are your current projects?

I’m finishing off the 3rd book in TLOM: You Make Me Die In Pieces.

Q• What’s next up for you?

The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes… also Sons of Evenmore 3: Fear The Scarlet Moon… Moon Runners 2: I Won’t Let You Go… Lancatser’s Way 3: Pre-Loved.