Nicola Palmer's Blog

Book 1 of 'Alice Parker's Adventures' is free this weekend, 22nd & 23rd December as a little Christmas gift. As featured on http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/ this morning!

'Alice Parker's Metamorphosis' takes place at Christmas time, making it an ideal holiday read for children aged 9+.

If you're looking for a Christmas story for younger children, or if you're a big kid at heart who can't resist a festive read, don't forget my latest book 'One Strange Christmas!' Happy reading :)
http://www.amazon.com/One-Strange-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00A4EWS4S 

Meet Ngaire Elder, author of 'The Adventures of Cecilia Spark' series for children.  Last week she kindly sat still long enough to answer some questions and munch on a slice of banana bread from Finwip Village.  Here's what we found out!

 
What inspired you to write for the 5-8 age group?  What do you love most about it? I think this age group is at such a magical stage in their life for discovering books, and defining their reading habits and genre. I love the step children take towards beginning to read by themselves. Having 4 children I was a major part of their ‘reading with mum to reading on their own’ transition. The books we read were amazing and I think I was captured by the juvenile fiction category … it seemed a natural place to start my writing.

Who is the first person you allow to read one of your completed stories? My daughter and then my editor.

How many Cecilia Spark books are you hoping to write? I hope to write at least 2 or 3 more in the series. I published book 2, The Mystical Mountains of Terra, as paperback in October and I’ve started book 3 which I hope to publish in 2013.

Do you have set working hours or a ‘whenever, wherever’ approach?I’m definitely a ‘whenever, wherever’ writer. M y family come first. If there is an hour or so in between the chores and the school-run then I’ll try and do a bit of writing … sometimes it isn’t always possible other duties call, for example, promoting, marketing, replies to emails, etc.

Describe your writing environment – what do you need to be able to concentrate? My working environment … let me see. Ah, perhaps a house empty of other humans, coffee, biscuits, a supply of sharp pencils and ‘The Last Samurai’ soundtrack playing softly. Don’t think that’s too much to expect …. do you (laughing)?

What keeps you motivated to write? Reader comments and feedback.  One reader took the time to tell me that her daughter had started writing her own stories after reading one of my books. That is the best kind of motivation. Also, my children, god love them, always ask me ‘How’s your book coming on, Mum?’




















What kind of books do you enjoy reading for relaxation – and when do you find the time?! Gosh, I love to read a wide range of books … I’ve become a great fan on Mark Barry’s books (Carla, Hollywood Shakedown). The surge in YA titles, I’m afraid I’ve become a sucker for them.  And also, contemporary fiction, such as Wendy Steele’s Destiny of Angels, I love her writing it is so inspiring and exciting. My favourite classical writer at the moment is Charles Dickens; I’d say he was the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. As you can see a wide range of books … and the list doesn’t end there. I tend to read at night, once the kids are in bed, my way of relaxing and switching off! Tell us one thing that you would like for Christmas this year! That’s super easy, world peace, sleep and lots of it and if Santa Claus thinks I’ve been extra, special good maybe a couple of paperbacks from The IndieLit Catalogue (link attached) and  Snow White and the Huntsman dvd. Thank you Ngaire!  Hope you, your family, and Cecilia Spark have a wonderful Christmas!  www.ceciliaspark.com http://www.amazon.com/Ngaire-Elder/e/B006VXOUN8    Amazon Author Central Link US http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ngaire-Elder/e/B006VXOUN8  Amazon Author Central link UK http://adventuresofceciliaspark.blogspot.co.uk/ http://www.scribd.com/doc/110901547/Indielit-Scrapbook-Version-2  IndieLit Catalogue     

'One Strange Christmas' is out now!  A festive story for children aged 7+ and big kids too.

Jake had been expecting a very ordinary Christmas - until he opened the curtains and saw it. All he had wished for was some snow and a bit of excitement!
Christmas Day brings news reporters, mysterious messages, a magical gift from an unknown friend – and all this before lunch!
A spectacular surprise awaits at the bottom of the garden, and before night falls, Jake makes a startling discovery about his future.
Christmas will never be the same again! View it here on amazon!

'One Strange Christmas' is out now!  A festive story for children aged 7+ and big kids too.

Jake had been expecting a very ordinary Christmas - until he opened the curtains and saw it. All he had wished for was some snow and a bit of excitement!
Christmas Day brings news reporters, mysterious messages, a magical gift from an unknown friend – and all this before lunch!
A spectacular surprise awaits at the bottom of the garden, and before night falls, Jake makes a startling discovery about his future.
Christmas will never be the same again! View it here on amazon!

I'll start with an apology, for not posting to my blog in over a month.  Autumn has been and gone, now it seems winter has arrived.  Halloween for us was a cold, wet affair.  We only saw two 'trick or treaters,' aged approximately three and four.  Great little dracula outfits teamed with warm coats and woolly hats!

Over the last few weeks I've been working on another book.  It's not part of 'Alice Parker's Adventures.'  The Parker family is going to enjoy a well-earned rest this winter.  It's a short Christmas story, for children and adults alike, full of festive fun, magic and ... yes, you've guessed it ... strangeness!  Well, it wouldn't be one of my stories otherwise, would it?

When the cover is ready - hopefully in a few days - all will be revealed!  Until then, I'll leave you guessing.  Ho ho ho ...

 

Book 3 is now over a month old!  Have you read it yet?
New discoveries.  New creatures.  New mystery.
Things are never what they seem...

Book 3 is now over a month old!  Have you read it yet?
New discoveries.  New creatures.  New mystery.
Things are never what they seem...

Book 1 is free this weekend 21st & 22nd July!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alice-Parkers-Metamorphosis-ebook/dp/B006NOC7PI

Please call in at Linda Ulleseit's wonderful blog for middle grade readers.  There you will find a summary of 'Alice Parker's Metamorphosis' and a brief author biography!

Don't forget to drop by again tomorrow, 4th July, to catch my 'author interview.'  See you there!

http://ulleseit.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/nicola-palmer-author-bio/

So...Book 3 of 'Alice Parker's Adventures' is well underway so I thought it was time to reveal the title:

'Alice Parker & The Secret of Arcanum Cove.'

Cover preview and hints coming soon ;)