Book Launch: Sophie's Run by Nicky Wells PLUS Giveaway

Today marks the launch of SOPHIE'S RUN by author Nicky Wells, released by Sapphire Star Publishing. Let's catch up with Nicky and find out about her new book.

Welcome back, Nicky! Tell us about what's been going on with your series since we last spoke.

Ah, Dorothy, the series is positively blooming! Sophie's Turn has been out since last September, when we last connected, and has received some fabulous reviews, some of which completely bowled me over. I get quite tearful when I get a fabulous review! Since then, I have been busy editing and polishing the second book, Sophie's Run, whose launch we're celebrating today. And I am also eighty percent through writing the final and concluding part of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Titled Sophie's Encore, the third book will be with you in September 2013.

As if that weren't enough, I have also been germinating ideas for book four, which will be a new start but still involve plenty of rock and roll, as you would expect from a 'rock lit' author.

Wow, sounds like an amazing series. How have the stakes been raised in the new book?

Sophie's Run has everything you want from a rocking romance, and I mean everything. Glamour, glitz, intrigue, romance, rock music, a couple of weddings, betrayal, travel, a fire, an exploding cake, a gorgeous rock star and a dashing male nurse. Have I captured your imagination yet? Brilliant! :-)

So, then. Sophie's Run continues the story of the romance between girl-next-door Sophie and rock star Dan. However, the path towards true love is never straight and even, as Sophie is about to discover. Luckily, Dan remains her rock while life takes her on... shall we say, a little detour?

Here's the blurb:

So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet. But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy. Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful. A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change. Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey and eventually gets her life back on track.

Do you read the same genre you write, or do you read other genres?

I'm a voracios reader, and always have been. I read almost everything, apart from Horror and Sci-Fi. Romance and chick lit are firm favourites, but I also read contemporary fiction, crime and historical fiction.

Right now, I'm also rediscovering the un-guilty pleasure of reading The Famous Five with my children. I love watching their faces when the story develops and the gold/treasure/papers/secret passageway is about to be discovered. Speaking also from an adult's and an author's perspective, I have a totally new-found respect for how Enid Blyton manages to develop plots so quickly with foreshadowing and a fair bit of dramatic irony at a level that is accessible to children and still interesting to adults. I'm fairly certain a modern editor would accuse her of head-hopping (Insights into Timmy-the-dog's head ~ yes, they happen!) but I am loving every minute of it. I am thrilled and grateful how these books are introducing my boys to the real, intense pleasure of reading. Writing a children's book with the same impact continues to be on my bucket list!

Remind our readers where we can find you and your books.

Visit me on my blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on my work in progress. You can also follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook. I am a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and have joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I also have author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing, Amazon and, of course, Goodreads.

Sophie’s Run is now available in Kindle edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and in Paperbackedition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. You can also get the paperback at Barnes & Noble, or downloadSophie’s Run onto your Nook (coming soon).

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Nicky. Best of luck with your awesome series!

Nicky Wells is giving away one delicious chocolate gift to a lucky winner in the UK or North America!

The small print: This Gift prize is a product of Unique Chocolate. The Gift prize is subject to availability in your country. If the Gift prize is not available in your country, Nicky Wells reserves the right to offer a substitute gift prize of a similar nature at her discretion. Nicky Wells will require the winner’s postal address for shipping purposes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OTI2ZmY2ZjlkMzQ0YzMxZGFhOTJkMzFjZjBhY2Q2OjA=/

Bonus Giveaway

Nicky Wells offers a giveaway of one Amazon gift voucher worth $20/£15 for one lucky winner. To enter, simply share your thoughts on Sophie’s Run with Nicky. Email your comment to nickywells@sapphirestarpublishing.com and your name will be entered into the draw. Competition closes 1 May 2013.

Author Update: Dead Heat by Lisa Nowak

It's so great when I can welcome back a guest on the blog to talk about new projects. Today we're catching up with author Lisa Nowak who's here to talk about her novel, DEAD HEAT.

Hi, Lisa! Welcome back to We Do Write. Tell us about your new book, DEAD HEAT. What's it about?

I’m feeling terribly lazy today, so I’ll just give you the Amazon book description:

Alex is a machine whisperer. He can tell what’s wrong with a broken-down car with a touch. But his gift can’t save him from the brutality of his meth-addict father. For two years, Alex experienced kindness through Cole, his mentor. Now Cole’s dead, and the violence in Alex’s life is escalating.

When Cole reappears as a ghost, Alex clings to the tenuous link. Then he learns Cole might’ve sacrificed his chance to cross over. Jade, the first girl to look beyond Alex’s past, assures him Cole can reach the Other Side—if Alex escapes from his dad. But a previous terrifying attempt has convinced Alex it’s impossible. Unless he can find the courage to try, his friend may be earthbound forever.

What inspired you to write this book?

That’s a funny story, actually. Dead Heat never would’ve come to be had it not been for an agent rejecting my book Driven because it “wasn’t edgy enough.” Teens, according to him, won’t buy a book unless it’s edgy. I reacted with an, “I’ll show you edgy, buster,” and Dead Heat was born. I still think his opinion was bogus, but I owe him one for shoving me in a direction I never would’ve taken on my own.

Without giving to much away, what's your favorite aspect of the book?

There are two. The first is that it deals with child abuse and that controversial topic of what to do when you think reporting it might result in more harm than good to a child. I know this isn't a popular subject, but I think it's realistic, and it was intriguing to me to explore it. I didn’t set out to do that, but the plot forced me to come up with a believable explanation for why a good man would allow such a thing to continue. Second, Dead Heat features a protagonist with a learning disability, and the story is told in first person through his slang and somewhat limited vocabulary. This is just Alex's voice (imagine a modern day Huck Finn) and I didn't think much about it until my editor told me how glad she was to see someone up-ending the stereotype about kids like Alex.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm ...

Messing around on Facebook. No, seriously, I have a small landscaping business, so except in the winter, running that is my “day job.” I’ve also been know to do a little welding, teach classes on indie publishing, and give yodeling lessons to cats. Okay, that last one might not be completely true.

Tell us where we can find DEAD HEAT.

http://bit.ly/DH-Amazon
http://bit.ly/DH-Smashwords
http://bit.ly/DH-BarnesandNoble


You can find me at:

Website: http://www.lisanowak.net/
Blog: http://lisanowak.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LisaNowakAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lisa_Nowak
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakNewsletter

Author Bio:

In addition to being a YA author, Lisa is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are.