Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Wednesday Promo- Nicole McCaffrey

Okay before I give this over to Nicole- since I haven't found a meter to put on my blog -yet- I have to confess to 4 1/2 miles so far this week, but I haven't walked today.


Back to our regularly scheduled blog:

Today it is my privilege to showcase a writer I've been friends with for many years. In fact, through both her son's births. However, we've only talked on the phone once and have never met in person. When I first found the internet, I found Nicole. Even though she's an easterner and I'm a westerner, we formed a bond through our love of westerns and struggle to become published. Over the years we've laughed, cried, and ranted together over writing, kids, and family.

Here's Nicole:

If it’s possible to be born a writer, then I certainly was. I’d probably have started sooner if there had been pen and paper available in the womb! But for as long as I can remember, I have heard voices in my head. Fortunately for me, they’re all characters—begging me to tell their stories. My first sale was a holiday novella, published by The Wild Rose Press in November, 2006. The Model Man, my first full length contemporary, was released in March, 2008 and I’m under contract with them for two more stories.
I’ve been married to Peter, my best friend, for ten years, and am a work-at-home mom with two busy boys ages six and eight. When I’m not working, writing, or buried nose-deep in a research book, chances are I’m baking, fussing over my many houseplants or just kicking back and hanging with my guys.

You write both contemporary and historical, which is your favorite to write and why?

Definitely historical. I love the idea of simpler times, simpler struggles. It seems so much more romantic than anything going on in the present day. I guess we could sum that up in one word: escapism! Now and then, though, I like to take a break from trying to remember all the historical "stuff" and write something contemporary-set, and that’s how Small Town Christmas and The Model Man came about.

You write hot heroes, what do you think helps you raise their heat factor?

LOL Well, I don't set out to create hot heroes on purpose, they just sort of pull up a chair in my brain and start talking to me. One thing my heroes all have in common, though, is a genuine love for women. Not just a sexual attraction, but a sense of appreciating everything about the opposite sex—a fascination with women and how they tick. Sure they're also the kind of guy who wants to promise you an unforgettable night in bed, but they also believe they can deliver on it. Add to that a healthy dose of arrogance (after all, he loves all women and all women love him!) and an overabundance of self confidence and charm, and you've pretty much described my ideal hero, LOL. Enter the feisty heroine who isn't interested in him, and you've got the makings for the kind of sparks I like to see fly.

Tell us about your releases.

Well it’s kind of interesting that my first two releases are contemporary set when I consider myself an historical writer, LOL. But in both instances, the story ideas came from dreams. Funny, I never seem to have historical dreams!

In The Model Man I really tried to explore the idea that sometimes, the person you thought was all wrong for you is the one person who turns out to be exactly right for you. Derek is a hot, successful young guy at the peak of his career—he’s not looking for excitement, but he is looking for something different. Kelly is an over-40 divorced mom who believes romance has passed her. She’s totally focused on being the best possible mom she can to her two teenagers. She has her hands full, she’s definitely not looking for love—and he isn’t looking for more than a one night stand. The fact that he’s a romance cover model and she’s a romance novelist just made it more interesting!. I had a lot of fun bringing these two characters together, and a lot of fun writing the story. I think it shows!

Small Town Christmas has a slightly different tone. In this instance, my heroine, Holly, has a run-in with not just the guy who got away—but the one she never really had. Tucker Callahan has just returned to their hometown, with his two young daughters, divorced and ready to embrace the small town values he grew up with. Holly is getting ready for a big change in her career, something she’s been working toward a long time, and is more than eager to shake the small-town dust from her feet. When love enters the picture, she has to choose between her dream guy and her dream career. Since it was a Christmas story with a Christmas Eve ending, I had to add a little nod to my favorite Christmas movie in the ending, LOL.

What are you working on now?

Recent months have seen a real return to my historical roots. I have a western historical in the hands of an editor as we speak, and am working on one of the two other stories that were inspired by that one. Northern Temptress, my Civil War story with TWRP should be out later this year. Additionally, I have a couple of short Civil War stories I hope to pitch to TWRP soon.

Thank you for stopping by Nicole! I can't wait to read your western historical, and we'll all be on the lookout for the Civil War stories.

www.nicolemccaffrey.com

15 comments:

Nicole McCaffrey said...

Thanks for having me, Paty. Who'd have believed all those years ago we'd have come this far together? my oldest is about to turn 9 and we met just before I gave birth to him! Time sure flies!

Isabel Roman said...

Great interview, Nic! I'm looking forward to your elusive western, I loved your first 2, contemporary though they were.

I've had dreams about stories, too, I've heard a lot of writers do. I gues it's another thing, along with a tendancy to talk with ourselves, writers have in common.

Susan Macatee said...

Great interview, Nic! Your two comtemps were great and I'm really looking forward to reading your historical stories, especially the Civil War ones and that western I got a tiny glimpse of way back when. LOL.

Helen Hardt said...

As you know, Nic, I've read both your contemporaries and enjoyed them. Looking forward to having you on my blog soon, to discuss hottie Derek!

Helen

Caroline said...

Great interview, Nicole, I enjoyed it very much. I, too, write westerns, and love the idea of a simpler life. Your Small Town Christmas sounds enchanting. Good luck with the new editor and your Western!

~Caroline

Hi Paty. Thanks for entering my caption contest.

Paty Jager said...

Nicole, you know I love sharing my friends successes. Having you on my blog is fun!

Hi Isabel. You and Nicole must be of like minds, I however never dream stories. In fact I'm lucky if I have a couple dreams a week. Not sure what that says about me....

Hi Susan! Welcome back. I'm waiting for more of Nicole's western too. LOL

Helen, Yeah! I would love to read about Derek on your blog. Get Nicole signed up ASAP!

HI Caroline, Your caption contest was fun!

Denise Eagan said...

Can't wait for your historicals as well, Nic! I've only had one "dream" story. One dream I had that I loved so much, I wrote an entire book around it. But it was just a scene, not the whole book. I had to come up with the plot and everything else (just so I could fit the scene in).

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

You know how I love your cowboy, Nic!! He's everything you said you like to see in your heros - and then some.

Anonymous said...

Nicole,

Great covers and the stories sound intriguing. I'm eager to read the historicals, though, as they're my favorite, too. Good luck.

Caroline

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Hi, Nicole. Like you, I'm a historical writer at heart, but published mostly in comtemporaries.

Congrats on your releases, the sound great, and best of luck with the historical.

Anna Kathryn

Debra St. John said...

Hi Nicole! I, too, write contemporaries but have a love of historical romance. I'll look forward to your Civil War romances. If I ever get brave enough to tackle a historical, that's the time period I would write in. Thanks for the interview, Paty.

Jennifer Ross said...

I agree with pretty much everyone else. I want to read more of that Western story I started!

And I loved both Small Town Christmas and The Model Man, so I know the ending won't disappoint.

Nicole McCaffrey said...

Ladies, thank you so much for the wonderful turn out today!

Isabel--LOL sorry to be so elusive about the western, I'm just afraid to jinx myself. *G*

Susan - I have a ways to go before I could write as confidently about the Civil War era as you do --or as well!

Helen -- looking forward to talking with you about those hot bad boys on the 26th!

Caroline - thanks so much for stopping by.

Dee - thanks for coming! LOL yeah, you don't get the full story in a dream, that's the hard part. Just enough to make you go "I gotta write that!!"

Paisley - my western sister at heart, LOL. Thanks for stopping by.

Caroline - thanks so much for stopping by. Gotta love those historicals!

Anna Kathryn - I've enjoyed your stories, thanks so much for your kind words! Best of luck with the upcoming release!

Debra - I hope you do try it one day!

Jenn -- Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. One day soon you'll get to read more, I promise, LOL.

Paty, thanks again for having me. It was fun hanging out with you today!

Lauri said...

Congrats on the miles, Paty!

Wonderful interview, Nic. Very intertaining!

I'm a historical romance nut, can't ever get enough of them!

Congrats on all your stories!

Paty Jager said...

It was awesome having so many of you come by and support Nicole! Thank you all and thank you Nicole for hanging out today!

Hey, Debra, anytime!

Anyone else who ever wants to blog here, just e-mail and let me know. I love introducing readers and new writers and characters.