Friday, November 22, 2013

Letter from St. Nick by Nicole S. Patrick : Interview and Giveaway


What inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always loved to read from the time I was a young child.  I remember in the third grade I was obsessed with hockey and the NY Rangers team (since I’m a born and bred New Yorker).  So, I decided to make a hockey book about this boy Bobby, and his goal of playing hockey.  It was a picture book­ too—my first foray at a novel!   Seriously though, I discovered romance novels in my late teens and I’ve been hooked every since.  Once I left the corporate world to raise my kids, I wanted to try my hand at putting all my crazy romantic story ideas and characters on a page.  The rest is still history in the making.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m a pretty fast writer, as my critique group (Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, and Emma Kaye, will attest to). And I do believe this pace translates into my writing style as well.  My characters are on the move, which helps since I write suspense!

Do you write in different genres?

I’m a contemporary time period writer for sure.  I write romantic suspense with military themes.  This story in Timeless Keepsakes, is a straight contemporary with no suspense aspect, but the hero is a Marine.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

To be honest, the title just came to me.  It sounds crazy, but the way my mind works sometimes is crazy. LOL.  I knew the hero would receive a letter from his uncle Nick and with the holiday theme I figured it would be appropriate to call him St. Nick. 


Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The message that rang true through this story was one of “home”.  I wanted the readers to realize how important that sense of home was to these two main characters. One is searching for a place to call home, and one is trying to keep that sense of home alive in the holidays.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

I love romantic suspense, and Suzanne Brockman has been a real influence on me finding my passion of writing stories with military themes.  Although my heroes are Marines, Suzanne’s Navy SEALs are just to die for.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Well, currently, I’d say my critique partners are my mentors.  Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, and Emma Kaye keep me going in my daily writing and help me through the rough spots.  And, Julie Rowe, the other author in our anthology was a great teacher to help me learn how to write a short story.

What book are you reading now?

I read a few at the same time. I just finished Kristan Higgins, The Perfect Match – love her!  And, I’m also reading JR Ward’s latest, Possession.  A crazy combination of paranormal angels and demons, and hometown comedy huh?

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

Currently, I’ve completed and hope to gain publication for a romantic suspense entitled A Matter of Honor, about a Marine Corps Captain and an investigative journalist. The setting is on the Marine Corps Training Depot at Parris Island, SC.

The second book in the series I am currently working on is entitled a Matter of Courage.  It’s about a bail bonds woman and a Marine Lieutenant who are searching for the same person but for different reasons. So far it’s been a hoot to write, since the characters are meshing together rather interestingly while running from the bad guys.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Ooh…tough question, since I read so many different authors. I will say that Diana Gabaldon is my all-time favorite author though.  I’ve read her Outlander series, all seven books, and they are rather long too, multiple times.  In fact, I nudged my husband to read them, and he finished all seven in a few months. I think Ms. Gabaldon makes her characters and settings come alive in her novels.  Since discovering them I so want to visit Scotland. She incorporates so much detail with incredible internal character development. She’s a master!  Plus, although I write military and suspense, there’s just something about those Scottish heroes in kilts I absolutely love!




Timeless Keepsakes:
A Collection of Christmas Stories

Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris,
Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, Julie Rowe

Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Time Travel,
Military, Medical Romances

Publisher: Timeless Scribes Publishing
Date of Publication: November 11, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-09910520-0-4

Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 65,000

Cover Artist: Alchemy Book Covers and Design

Book Description:

The magic of Christmas is in the memories we hold dear and those precious treasures that remind us of the past. Join us as our Timeless Keepsakes take us on five remarkable journeys that heal old wounds, remind us of days gone by, play matchmaker, sweep us back in time and prove that love can conquer all.
~~~~~~~
Mistletoe and Magick ~ Ruth A. Casie

She would give her last breath for him. He would give up everything to guard her well and love her more.

About Ruth A. Casie:

Ruth started reading romance books while traveling the world for business. Traveling alone can be daunting but she found a book in hand could see her through long waits at the airport as well as being good company at dinner for one. For some of her longer treks, she pared down what she packed to make room for books. Her favorite genres are romance and adventure.

A seasoned professional with more than twenty-five years of writing experience in communications and marketing for a large financial institution, she gave way to her inner muse and began writing a series of historical fantasy romance novels. Ruth is published by Carina Press and Harlequin Books.

When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross-stitch. Together with her husband, Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theater. Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren. They all thrive on spending time together. It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world.

You can read more about Ruth online at www.RuthACasie.com , on Twitter at twitter.com/RuthACasie, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RuthACasie  

Christmas Spirits ~ Lita Harris

A widow's everlasting love is renewed by the memories of the holiday season.

About Lita Harris:

Lita Harris spends her time between New Jersey and the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, where she writes most of her books. She also lived in Alaska for a short time just for fun. An avid crafter, unused supplies clutter her basement and attempts at making pottery, jewelry, and stained glass are proudly displayed in her house, usually behind a picture or holding a door open. She also makes candles and homemade soap. With enough books to stock a small library she may need to construct a building to store her literary obsessions.

She writes in multiple genres, including women’s fiction, contemporary romance, paranormal, and cozy mysteries. For more information about Lita, please visit her website at www.LitaHarris.com or at twitter.com/litaharris and facebook.com/litaharrisauthor.

Granting Her Wish ~ Emma Kaye

She doesn't belong in his time and he doesn't belong back home. Could they belong to each other?

About Emma Kaye:

Emma Kaye is married to her high school sweetheart and has two beautiful kids that she spends an insane amount of time driving around central New Jersey. Before ballet classes and tennis entered her life, she decided to try writing one of those romances she loved to read and discovered a new passion. She has been writing ever since. Add in a playful puppy and an extremely patient cat and she’s living her own happily ever after while making her characters work hard to reach theirs.

For more information on Emma, please visit her online at www.emma-kaye.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emmakayewrites, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/emmakayewrites.

Letter from St. Nick ~ Nicole S. Patrick

She’s trying to save her home and he’s never had one until now. Can an unexpected gift lead their hearts to the same place?

About Nicole S. Patrick:

Nicole S. Patrick has always loved to read, and in her teenage years, she “borrowed” her mom’s books to sneak away and become lost in the world of romance. After more than ten years in the corporate world of tech recruiting and HR management, she decided to stay home and raise children. But with so many romantic stories and characters floating around in her head, when the kids napped, she was compelled to put those words on a page and pursue this crazy dream of becoming published. Nicole writes romantic suspense and her heroes are those alpha males in uniform. She lives in New Jersey with her real-life hero, her husband, and her two sons.

For more information about Nicole, please visit her website at www.nicolespatrick.com

Secret Santa ~ Julie Rowe

A nurse grieving the death of her twin brother receives an usual gift at the staff secret Santa party: the bullet that killed him along with a message of hope and love.

About Julie Rowe:


Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” In addition to writing contemporary and historical medical romance, and fun romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing and Carina Press, Julie has a short story in The Mammoth Book of ER Romance (September 2013). Her book Saving the Rifleman (book one of the War Girls series) won the novella category of the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her writing has also appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), Canadian Living, and Romantic Times Magazine.

For more information about Julie, please visit her online at www.julieroweauthor.com, on Twitter @julieroweauthor, or at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JulieRoweAuthor.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 11 Group Day Focus on Entire Anthology

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Beverly @ The Wormhole

November 11 Spotlight
Musings and Ramblings   

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Roxanne’s Realm

November 13 Spotlight (review later)
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Pembroke Sinclair  

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Nov 14 and 21 Granting Her Wish ~ Emma Kaye

November 14 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books

November 14 review
Beverly @ The Wormhole

November 21 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm

November 21 Spotlight (review later)
Adrienne Woods books and reviews

Nov 15 and 22 Letter from St. Nick ~ Nicole S. Patrick

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for the interview, book description, and information on the authors! I added it to my TBL!

Jessica Lauryn said...

Great interview, Nicole! I enjoyed learning about your writing journey. I love military heroes, too!