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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
