In The Hot Seat With H.C. : Auth Imogene Nix

Joining me in the Hot Seat today is author,    Imogene Nix  

            

Thanks for having me over to visit HC!  Just one thing, the seat is quite hot! **grins impishly** Just kidding of course.

HC: Just leave the weapons outside my dungeon....okay?

Bio:

Wife, mother and nutty bookstore owner all describe Imogene Nix, but the real secret is Science Fiction, Paranormal Romance with a hefty dose of Romantic Suspense is what she adores.

She is dedicated to high quality romance, with a dollop of erotic interactions, and has dipped her toes into Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance featuring feisty headstrong female leads and the odd   Romantic Suspense.

She lives in Rural Queensland where she happily raises 2 daughters, lots of chickens a couple of cats and her super pup Teddy. When she isn’t writing or reading, she’s hanging out with her husband, acting like a techno-geek or cooking and making wine.

Q:  Can you tell our readers a little about your writing? What genres do you enjoy writing?

I describe myself and my writing as Genre Slut, because I jump from genre to genre. I have written contemporary and romantic suspense, really rock futuristic and scifi.  But my current genres are paranormal and historical.  See what I mean?  Just can't help myself.

I'm also called prolific, with 12 releases in 2013... and already started booking up 2014.  (But I do have a lot of fun.)

Q:  Do you write on a schedule or when the Muse decides?

I'm a lister and a scheduler.  I tend to head into my office anytime from around 7am (but 8 is closer to my winter starting time) and power through the day until about 3pm (just in time for school run) and then, depending on how it's rolling, I'll work until 6 - 6.30pm.

But having said that, if it's not there then I won't push. I might take a day off and read a book.

Q: Can you tell us about your writing process, for example, do you write an outline first?

Process for me is to let it roll out as I write. Usually I go in with a vague idea, the characters and some small idea that the story will revolve around. The rest of it just comes as it writes. The only drawback is that I don't have a clue what's going to happen until it does.

Oh and research happens on the run!

Q:  What qualities do you instill in your heroes?

They must be strong, and I don't mean muscular. They have to be able to deal with women who tend to get themselves into trouble and some sticky situations.

They have to have soft moments. They have to want to make the relationship last, committed to the one woman until the end of time, in some cases.

And they have to be leaders in some way.

Q. Coffee or tea?

Coffee!

Q. Beach or countryside?

Since I live in the countryside... give me the beach!

Q. Do you write about the places you know or prefer to take your readers to exotic places?

For me it's mostly exotic locations and time. (And some less exotic too!)

Q: Where do you get your inspiration?

Sometimes I'll be reading a book and an idea strikes, sometimes it just happens in car, the shower or the shopping centre!  So they are all in my mind, in some form before I start writing.

Q: Would you change anything in your life to make writing easier.

Probably my desk. It's very cluttered, but it also doubles for my office! So there are two computers, 3 printers and a multitude of other things on it... leaving not a lot of room!

Q: We have all suffered submission rejections. How do you cope? Do you have any advice to other writers on coping with rejection?

You have to remember that a rejection (often, but not all the time) is because the story doesn't speak to one house/one line.

And it's a badge of honour! It means you've had enough belief in your book to send it out into the big wide world.

Coping means looking at the feedback you've received. See what they have suggested could be strengthened or improved.

Maybe it wasn't the right home for your story... check the books they are receiving... was it a good match?

Q: What do you like to read and who are your favourite authors?

Funny enough, I rarely read historical, but that's what I'm writing at the moment.  Could be that last Stephanie Laurens that did it for me!

All jokes aside, my current "must buy" list includes Julia Spencer-Fleming, Kalayna Price, Chloe Neil, JD Robb and Cynthia Eden.

Q: Do you write one novel at a time or do you move between works in progress?

Depends on whether I'm working on series or stand alones. Lately I've had 2 or 3 on the go at once. I'd dearly like to get back to writing one book at a time, though!

Q: Do you have times when the Muse is away on holiday?

Oh yes!  Either it's an enforced break (like when we go on family holiday) or something has happened to slow her down. She needs as much of a break as I do!

Q. What motivates you to write?

Me. Because I'm my own worst critic, so I feel like I have to keep going. Creating, learning and planning. It's not so much not being satisfied as always thinking that could be the last idea, the last book... the last thing.

Q. What advice would you give to unpublished authors approaching an e publisher?

They are human too! Don't be afraid. March boldly forward and tell them your plan. What's the worst they can say? No? Well you wouldn't even have that if you hadn't approached them first!

Q: Is there anything you would like to share with us about upcoming releases?

Gosh, upcoming releases. I have 2 - one is called A Bar In Paris and focuses on the thoughts of an Aussie girl living in London and going to Paris on her 30th. She's alone (well, I don't think B.O.B counts) But that sexy weekend becomes something entirely different!

Then there is a sequel to Blame The Wine!  More details will be coming on that soon.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current novel? What inspired you to write this story?

Hesparia's Tears. It's a near futuristic tale, set in Australia (just for something completely different, of course!)

Inspiration? It just happened. One minute there was the seed of an idea, the next it was written.

Oh, can I also say, it was "as seen in USA Today?"

Blurb:

What will happen when the past catches up?

Galan is from Hesparia, where the females are dying out on his pacific agrarian planet.

Jessa has a past, one she hasn’t earned but cannot escape from.

What will happen when opportunity knocks?

Galan travels to earth, hoping to plead the case for Hesparia. He doesn’t expect Jessa or The Quickening.

Can he make the case for women to migrate to Hesparia and arrange a Diplomatic Alliance? Can they trust one another with their hearts. And can Jessa really escape her past?

Hesparia’s Tears.

Excerpt:

The spaceship entered orbit and Jessa watched the tracking on the television. Since learning of the existence of extraterrestrials, it was about all she wanted to do. See where they were and where they planned to land.

The reporter came back on the screen. “We believe they will make their landing somewhere on the continent of Australia. There have been no further radio communications from the craft, however. So it is, at best, an educated guess right now.”

Jessa giggled at the sober face of the young, twenty-something reporter standing outside the Parkes Observatory and the inane follow up comment made by the thirtyish female news anchor.

“Jessa, it’s time for bed!” her mother yelled again.

She sighed dramatically. At twenty-four she was no longer a child, even though her parents seemed to struggle with that small fact.

Maybe it’s time to move out. As quickly as the thought had crossed her mind, she dismissed it. Leaving home meant more expense than she could possibly afford. The thing that really irked her was paying an outstanding legal bill for something she hadn’t even done. It was a refrain that had played through her mind over and over again since the event had taken place. It may have happened years ago, but she continued to pay for her youthful indiscretion. One she had long regretted.

Jessa stood, before heading down the old hallway to the bathroom. Living at home meant sharing a bathroom with her little brother, Ben. Of course, being a boy of sixteen, he was disgusting. There were used razor blades, splashes of water, foam from his recent shaving experience and hairs in the sink. Knowing it would make no difference complaining about it she carefully picked up the discarded detritus and placed it in the bin beside the vanity unit, wiped away the mess and began her own night-time ritual.

Emerging from the bathroom, she spied her mother, standing at the end of the hall in her fluffy blue dressing gown with matching slippers, and her blonde hair sitting high on her head in soft curlers. It was the same scene every night. “Night, Jessa.”

“Night, Mum.” What else was there to say? In a funk, Jessa entered her room, before closing the door then sat down on her single bed. She breathed deeply, letting the oxygen flow through her system, before slowly levering herself down across the mattress. Her blinds were open so she had an excellent view of the star-studded sky. It was a major positive to living on the edge of town, the absence of bright lights.

“Whoever you are, I certainly hope you’re friendly,” Jessa muttered, before closing her eyes, rolling onto her side and willing herself to sleep. For some reason, an excited thrill ran through her system.

Finally, visitors from the stars. No longer was it a figment of someone’s imagination or something from a science fiction novel. The time had come for them to have contact with another species. That was a sobering thought. The Prime Minister had sent a radio message to the ship. God, I hope the Prime Minister didn’t act like a pompous dick. Jessa snuggled down under the covers, waiting for the touch of sleep. Her mind wandered and she drowsed.

Her mobile, sitting on the bedside table buzzed and vibrated. Jessa muttered in the dark, groping for the device. She reached out and found the red leather covered item and dragged it to her ears.

“’lo?”

“Jessa, it’s me. Seth. Can you come to the office at the telescope? I need you.” His voice was excited.

She squinted. “I was asleep, Seth. Besides which, I’m off duty until Saturday.” The room was gloomy and she screwed her face up into a scowl, knowing sleep would probably elude her now. “What could be so important that I need to come in right now?” Jessa pushed back the covers, swung her legs over the side then slipped her feet into her old grey slippers beside the bed.

“I can’t tell you over the phone.”

“What?” Something was happening. An agitated thrill filled her chest and for an instant her mind warred with the interest that spiked.

“Jessa…”

He didn’t need to plead. Jessa was already getting up to hunt out clothes. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks. You really won’t regret it.” The delight in his voice was contagious.

Jessa hurriedly tapped the end call button.

* * * *

The land, so alien with hues of blue and green, grew larger as the craft descended. “Captain, do you really intend to land here? After those transmissions?”

Galan sat in his chair, watching the view-screen, hearing the concern and horror in the voice of his second-in-command. “I do, Joras. We must remember our primary objective.” He knew his words sounded unconcerned, yet he too had reservations after the tone of the communications he had received from the…what did they call themselves? Oh right, yes, Earthlings… “It‘s obvious they had no imagination, calling themselves Earthlings. Especially the woman who had called herself the Prime Minister, whatever that is.” He shook his head. “But what did pique my interest was the other transmission I received—the young man, who had called himself Seth. He sounded like he might be a possible go-between for us. Something our people had always found helpful in the past when dealing with new planets.”

Frustration pulled at him as he rose from his seat, making his way to the navigator’s position. “How long until landing?”

“Sir, on our current course, I estimate no more than three horanas.” Galan nodded absently. Three horanas to prepare. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. “Joras, have your security team ready and fully briefed. We’ll have to treat this as an ambassadorial meeting. I will prepare a communiqué for our Liege, concerning our position and plans.” Galan turned back to his friend, rubbing a hand absently along his hairless jaw. “Joras, when we land, I need you to remain here.”

Buy Link:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFB82A0

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hesparias-tears-imogene-nix/1116344550?ean=9781781844120

All Romance EBooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hesparia039stears-1266346-340.html

TotalEBound http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2240

Author’s links:

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Don't forget to pop along to the Not A Release Day Party 9 September 2013.

http://www.facebook.com/events/1404732399743476/?fref=ts