Debut Interview with Nikki from Book Lovin Mamas
1. Tell us 5 things that readers may not be able to find about you on the web.
• I lived in Russia for five years and worked at a diplomatic mission—an assignment very similar to that of my heroine, rising-star diplomat Alexis Castle, in The Russian Seduction.
• While living in Russia, I met the then-President of the United States and was alone in a room with him for exactly one minute.
• I’m one of very few Americans to have visited North Korea.
• My luggage was lost during travel in Asia, forcing me to hold official meetings in China wearing the denim overalls and combat boots I’d worn on the plane. I’ve never traveled since without a blazer in my carry-on.
• A former senior submarine officer consulted for me on The Russian Seduction. The details of my suspicious submarine accident are all his doing.
2. Tell us a little about "The Russian Seduction" and why readers should check it out?
Set in the edgy cosmopolitan world of contemporary Moscow, The Russian Seduction is smart, sexy romantic suspense with lots of glamour and international intrigue. Think secrets, champagne and seduction, with a James Bond flair. State secrets have never been this sexy!
Renegade Russian submarine captain Victor Kostenko was the golden boy of the Russian Navy—until he lost his command for an act of treason he didn’t commit. Now it’s rumored he’ll do anything to get back in his government’s good graces. Rising-star American diplomat Alexis Castle always plays by the rules. She’ll torpedo her career for sure if she falls for a bad-boy Russian who breaks every rule in the book. When a hardline Russian leader invades a country the U.S. has promised to protect, war can only be averted by one man who has everything to gain…and a woman who has everything to lose.
I set out to write a fast, fun, escapist read that’s hot and a little exotic, and to offer an insider’s look at the mazy world of diplomacy. The Russian Seduction is the first book in my Foreign Affairs series. The sequel is coming in 2013 from River Valley Publishing.
3. What kind of research did you do for this book?
Most of my research was of the real-life variety. Like my heroine Alexis, I worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, specialize in weapons of mass destruction issues, speak Russian and rub elbows with nuclear submariners on a regular basis.
4. What's a typical working day like for you?
Right now I’m juggling my fledgling career in romantic suspense with my not-so-secret identity as historical romance author Laura Navarre. So I’m writing the Foreign Affairs books for River Valley and a Tudor paranormal romance trilogy for Harlequin/Carina simultaneously, and I still consult full-time for government clients. Basically, I work and I sleep. I get up at 5 am, write for three hours, work a full day at my office, then write and market until 10 pm or so. Sleep and repeat. I’m incredibly fortunate to have an amazing husband, also a writer, who shares my work ethic and has a saint’s patience! He’s the one who keeps me sane.
5. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The Russian Seduction is the first contemporary novel I’ve written, so finding and experimenting with my modern-day voice was fun but challenging. Also, because I know the world of diplomacy, Russia and national security so well, I have to remind myself continually that most of my readers don’t have that background, and I need to slow down from time to time and explain things!
6. Do you have any advice for other writers?
My advice mirrors what many other writers have said. Write every day. Don’t wait for the muse. Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft—you can always fix it later. Choose your critique partners carefully. Finish the book before you start something new. And never, ever give up! I wrote for six years, completed three novels, and garnered 63 rejections before I sold.
7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
The Foreign Affairs books are a real departure from the dark medieval and Tudor romances I’ve been writing for many years. These books are hotter, sleeker and quite similar in setting to my unusual “real life.” I’m really curious to see how readers respond to them! At the same time, my alter ego Laura Navarre is excited about my first-ever historical paranormal series for Harlequin/Carina. The series launch Magick by Moonrise (March 2013) is a dark Tudor romance with elements of Arthurian legend and a fallen angel hero, so watch out for that one.
For now, don’t forget to enter my First Reads Giveaway on Goodreads for The Russian Seduction. On Oct. 3, I’m doing a Twitter Party on famous spies with prizes (@Nikki_Navarre), and you can also enter to win a free book by liking my Fan Page at www.facebook.com/NikkiNavarreAuthor. Hope to see you there!
Fun questions:
8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’ve traveled extensively through Europe, America, and the former Soviet Union. But I’ve barely done Africa or the Middle East. In North Africa, I’d love to explore Morocco and Tunisia. In East Africa, I’m dying to go on safari.
9. If you were stranded on an island, what 3 things would you not be able to survive without?
My brilliant, amazing, extraordinary husband Steven, who is the love of my life. My Siberian cats, Pandora & Delilah (I’m counting them as one!) And let’s say my Kindle, loaded up with a few hundred books.
This interview was first published at
http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/
• I lived in Russia for five years and worked at a diplomatic mission—an assignment very similar to that of my heroine, rising-star diplomat Alexis Castle, in The Russian Seduction.
• While living in Russia, I met the then-President of the United States and was alone in a room with him for exactly one minute.
• I’m one of very few Americans to have visited North Korea.
• My luggage was lost during travel in Asia, forcing me to hold official meetings in China wearing the denim overalls and combat boots I’d worn on the plane. I’ve never traveled since without a blazer in my carry-on.
• A former senior submarine officer consulted for me on The Russian Seduction. The details of my suspicious submarine accident are all his doing.
2. Tell us a little about "The Russian Seduction" and why readers should check it out?
Set in the edgy cosmopolitan world of contemporary Moscow, The Russian Seduction is smart, sexy romantic suspense with lots of glamour and international intrigue. Think secrets, champagne and seduction, with a James Bond flair. State secrets have never been this sexy!
Renegade Russian submarine captain Victor Kostenko was the golden boy of the Russian Navy—until he lost his command for an act of treason he didn’t commit. Now it’s rumored he’ll do anything to get back in his government’s good graces. Rising-star American diplomat Alexis Castle always plays by the rules. She’ll torpedo her career for sure if she falls for a bad-boy Russian who breaks every rule in the book. When a hardline Russian leader invades a country the U.S. has promised to protect, war can only be averted by one man who has everything to gain…and a woman who has everything to lose.
I set out to write a fast, fun, escapist read that’s hot and a little exotic, and to offer an insider’s look at the mazy world of diplomacy. The Russian Seduction is the first book in my Foreign Affairs series. The sequel is coming in 2013 from River Valley Publishing.
3. What kind of research did you do for this book?
Most of my research was of the real-life variety. Like my heroine Alexis, I worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, specialize in weapons of mass destruction issues, speak Russian and rub elbows with nuclear submariners on a regular basis.
4. What's a typical working day like for you?
Right now I’m juggling my fledgling career in romantic suspense with my not-so-secret identity as historical romance author Laura Navarre. So I’m writing the Foreign Affairs books for River Valley and a Tudor paranormal romance trilogy for Harlequin/Carina simultaneously, and I still consult full-time for government clients. Basically, I work and I sleep. I get up at 5 am, write for three hours, work a full day at my office, then write and market until 10 pm or so. Sleep and repeat. I’m incredibly fortunate to have an amazing husband, also a writer, who shares my work ethic and has a saint’s patience! He’s the one who keeps me sane.
5. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The Russian Seduction is the first contemporary novel I’ve written, so finding and experimenting with my modern-day voice was fun but challenging. Also, because I know the world of diplomacy, Russia and national security so well, I have to remind myself continually that most of my readers don’t have that background, and I need to slow down from time to time and explain things!
6. Do you have any advice for other writers?
My advice mirrors what many other writers have said. Write every day. Don’t wait for the muse. Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft—you can always fix it later. Choose your critique partners carefully. Finish the book before you start something new. And never, ever give up! I wrote for six years, completed three novels, and garnered 63 rejections before I sold.
7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
The Foreign Affairs books are a real departure from the dark medieval and Tudor romances I’ve been writing for many years. These books are hotter, sleeker and quite similar in setting to my unusual “real life.” I’m really curious to see how readers respond to them! At the same time, my alter ego Laura Navarre is excited about my first-ever historical paranormal series for Harlequin/Carina. The series launch Magick by Moonrise (March 2013) is a dark Tudor romance with elements of Arthurian legend and a fallen angel hero, so watch out for that one.
For now, don’t forget to enter my First Reads Giveaway on Goodreads for The Russian Seduction. On Oct. 3, I’m doing a Twitter Party on famous spies with prizes (@Nikki_Navarre), and you can also enter to win a free book by liking my Fan Page at www.facebook.com/NikkiNavarreAuthor. Hope to see you there!
Fun questions:
8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’ve traveled extensively through Europe, America, and the former Soviet Union. But I’ve barely done Africa or the Middle East. In North Africa, I’d love to explore Morocco and Tunisia. In East Africa, I’m dying to go on safari.
9. If you were stranded on an island, what 3 things would you not be able to survive without?
My brilliant, amazing, extraordinary husband Steven, who is the love of my life. My Siberian cats, Pandora & Delilah (I’m counting them as one!) And let’s say my Kindle, loaded up with a few hundred books.
This interview was first published at
http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/
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