Author Archives: Nina Soden

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About Nina Soden

Wife, Mommy, Urban Fantasy Author, Artist, Actress, Director... I'm only as old as I feel and I try to see the good in everyone. I take life one day at a time and focus only on the moment I'm in without fear or worry about the past or the future.

Behind Locked Doors: Beauty of the Night

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The streets were crowded. Elbow to elbow people pushed past each other as they tried to get a glimpse of what was up ahead. Standing high above the crowd a beauty like no other was atop the distant building wall. Long dark hair glistening in the sunlight. Her silky white skin sparkled as the rain started to fall.

Looking up into the sky then down at the onlookers she gracefully stepped off the edge. As if moving in slow motion she floated to the ground. Without a sound she landed and was instantly gone. Confusion filled the crowd, but within seconds people were talking of the beauty, power, and magic that they had just witnessed.

No one noticed the young couple that had fallen victim to this deadly beauty, or the young man who disappeared now standing by her side in the shadows of the night.

Together they will rule the night, together they can’t be stopped. But boys don’t you worry he won’t last long for her temper is hot and she is bound to be looking for a new love soon. Just watch what you say and watch what you do! For she is sharp around the edges and she’s not afraid to cut you!

(c) Soden, Nina 2014

Progress!

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Progress means different things to different people.

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The dictionary defines progress in the following way:

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prog·ress [n. prog-res, -ruhs or, esp. British, proh-gres; v. pruh-gres]  Show IPA 

noun

  1. a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
  2. developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.
  3. advancement in general.
  4. growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
  5. the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.

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For the purpose of this post I am going to talk about progress as referenced in #1 above.

In my post titled 2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!! I stated that one of my new year’s resolutions was to publish my third book; Revenge – the 3rd book in the Blood Angel Series. Well, today I got one step further in that process.

Let me explain.

What steps do I take when writing a book, well… since I am only on book 3 I haven’t really figured all of that out, but here is my basic process:

  • Decide on a topic
  • Map out a basic outline (I don’t write this down – I just want to know where I think the story will go)
  • Start writing… This is when I find out that my characters were laughing at me when I was thinking through the story line, and that they actually have a much different story in store for me.
  • Once the first draft has been finished I send it off to editor #1
  • Re-writes
  • Send it off to editor #2
  • Re-writes
  • Send it off to editor #3
  • Re-writes
  • Reread (I normally go through the book cover to cover two or three more times to see if I catch any more edits that need to be made or to make final rewrite changes that I feel are important).
  • Publish

Okay… where am I in the process now? The answer is PROGRESS!!! I just did the re-writes after receiving my edits from editor #2. Now I am just waiting for the edits from editor #3 so that I can do the final re-writes, read through two or three times, and then publish.

I know it doesn’t seem like I’m almost done, but trust me I am. That makes me a very happy girl… BUT…

After getting the edits back from Editor #2 I am seeing a trend… so far 2 out of 3 editors have told me that there now needs to be a BOOK 4 in the Blood Angel Series. When I started this series the plan was to write a trilogy… it looks like, unless some major changes happen, the trilogy isn’t going to be a trilogy any more. I guess I have some thinking to do before I get the book back from Editor #3.

What do you think? Have you read books 1 and 2? If you have I would love to know your thoughts… Where would you like to see the story go? Do you want it to continue or do you like the idea of a trilogy?

Either way… progress is progress  and I have made movement toward my goal – I AM A HAPPY GIRL!

Behind Locked Doors: The Southern Girl

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It’s been a year – no, not a year – one year two months three days and six hours since she saw him last. It was a special ops top-secret mission that took him away. 3 months his commander had said, but still no word – not a call, not a letter, not even an email.

Not a day goes by that she doesn’t cry, scream, pray, curse, ache, hope, long, need, want…

Counting the days he feels his life slipping out of reach as each day passes. He has no idea how long it’s been and can’t grasp the concept of time with the tortures he has survived over the past year. He escapes into his mind dreaming of the beautiful southern girl waiting back home for him. Praying she’ll still be there if ever he returns!!!

Two years five months and ten days have past when he walks in the front door a different man. Rushing into his arms fear, love, horror, lust, anger, need, sadness, pain and hatred hit her all at once. He feels it too. Knows what being gone has done to her, to them, but he can’t explain. How could he?

He takes her in his arms, holding her tight. With a loving touch and a gentle hold he asks her, “do you trust me?”

“Always.”

He  tilts her head back. With teeth as sharp as blades he drains her softly, smoothly! She drifts to sleep until awakened by the sweet taste of his own blood flowing into her mouth. She couldn’t get enough – lust, wanting, needing, feeding, craving!

One hundred and twenty years have past and they are still in love and fighting for love with the night all around them!

(c) Soden, Nina 2014

LENT 2014 – What will you do?

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What is Lent?

Lent is a time for those of Christian belief to prepare for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Easter Sunday. The purpose of lent is to set aside some time for religious reflection. Time to think about Jesus’ suffering, his sacrifice, his life, his death, his burial and of course his resurrection. Many people do this through fasting, repentance, abstaining from things, and through spiritual discipline. Although depriving yourself of the things you love isn’t the only way to observe lent. You don’t have to suffer yourself in order to experience religious reflection.

For many people, even those that don’t attend church on a regular basis, or even at all, lent is still a wonderful time to reflect on life and what we want our lives to be like and mean.

How I plan to celebrate lent? With inspiration. I am going to post via Facebook and Twitter a daily inspirational quote. Something that means something to me or has touched my heart. Maybe I can touch someone else’s heart too. Then at the end of lent I will post all of the daily quotes here on my blog for everyone to see.

Here are a just a few ways you can celebrate the season of lent, and it doesn’t matter if you are religious or just seeking to reflect on the meaning of life in general.

  1. Write a letter (not email – a real letter with paper and pen) to a different person in your life, each day during lent, and tell them what they mean to you and how they have been a blessing in your life.
  2. Parents, write in a journal, one for each of your children, each day. Use the journal to tell your kids what they mean to you, how they encourage and inspire you, and all the ways they improve your life. On Easter give the completed journal to your kids to treasure.
  3. Add more prayer to your life.
  4. Give… each day or once a week find someone in need and share what you have in an effort to help improve their life.
  5. Listen more… devote a portion of your day to just listening to others around you; your spouse, your child(ren), your parents, your siblings, etc.
  6. Focus on your body… devote time each day to exercise, meditate, relax…

If you are one of those people who wants to experience suffering, by giving up something you hold dear, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Give up your bed for lent and sleep on the couch or even the floor.
  2. Give up your pillow, if the bed is not an option.
  3. Fasting, eating only one meal a day.
  4. Give up all drinks except water.
  5. Have a sweet tooth? Give up candy, cakes, ice cream… whatever your taste buds desire.

There are so many ways to celebrate Lent. What will you do?

 

 

EPIC FAIL… or ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS?

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Okay, so at the start of the new year I set myself up for either an EPIC FAIL or a huge success. What road have I started down? Not sure yet.

I laid out 6 New Year’s Resolutions for 2014 that I was hoping to stick with. Its March 3rd… lets see how I’m doing so far:

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions:

  1. Run a 5K – SUCCESS!!! I ran my first 5k on February 8th and finished with a time of 28:31. I was so proud of myself and so excited that I have continued to run. I haven’t done another organized 5k again, YET, but I run just about every other day (outside, treadmill, or elliptical depending on the weather and how my knees are holding up) and never less than 5.1 miles (5k). My time keeps getting better, and just the other day I ran it in 28 minutes flat. I will register for another organized 5k again this year… maybe when the weather gets a little better.
  2. Run a 10K – IN PROGRESS!!! I still have time… just not there yet. 🙂
  3. Publish my 3rd book… IN PROGRESS!!! Okay, well the third book is still going through the editing process, so this isn’t done yet, but I do see it coming out in the next couple of months. I have already been told I need to start on book 4, but I’m not really sure if that is in the cards for this series yet. I have to see how book three ends after all the edits/rewrites first.
  4. 6 Week Ab Workout – SUCCESS!!! Yes, I completed it AGAIN… But, I’m only doing it the once this year, or at least this time. I might do it again later, but with all the running I’m doing right now – my abs are looking better than ever. I think the 6 Week Ab Workout is great for those people just beginning to push themselves into a regular workout routine but for me… the running is doing what I need. I’m back down to my pre-baby weight, as in before both kids… before marriage… Heck, I’m back to my college weight. Very proud of that fact, and as I said before my abs haven’t looked better. Gotta keep running!
  5. Join a gym – SUCCESS!!! So, I decided to add going to the gym to my list of New Year’s Resolutions not to keep losing weight, but to tone, feel better about myself, and gain a little extra energy. They say a healthy body makes for a healthier person… I wanted to see if that is true! Well, I haven’t been lifting weights or anything, but I do visit the gym on a regular basis… as in I run every other day… and most of the time it is at the gym. I do want to start doing a bit of the weights, but that will come with time. For now, I am just happy to be on a regular schedule and feeling good about the exercising I’m doing and even better about the body I see in the mirror now.
  6. Blog a little more – FAIL!!! Okay, so this is the one area I have pretty much failed. I first published my New Year’s Resolutions on January 2, 2014 – Since that blog I have only blogged 4 times (not including this one). I think I can do better. I guess this isn’t really a FAIL yet, because there are 12 months in a year, and we are only at the beginning of March. I will continue to try harder to post more regularly… I promise that, to myself!

All in all, I have to say I’m doing pretty good on my 2014 New Year’s Resolutions. I still have work to do… but having a SUCCESS rating in 3 out of 6 areas, an IN PROGRESS rating in 2 out of 6 areas, and only 1 FAIL so far… yeah, I’m proud of myself.

 

What about you? How have you been doing on your New Year’s Resolutions? Have you kept them or thrown them to the curb?

Get your copy of The Blood Angel Series HERE!

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The Blood Angel Series is now available in paperback!

Awaken (Book 1)

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Awaken is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee Moyer isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood it will take the death of her father for the truth of her true bloodline to come out. Even if it means losing her life, or at least her identity she won’t be able to escape her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality and the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline, Alee will struggle to find herself and her purpose.

Part horror thriller – part tender romance, Awaken will leave readers wanting more!

Beginnings (Book 2)

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Having lost her family Alee has been thrown into a new life and new world. Camouflaged by the mundane happenings of a high school existence she would never have guessed what was happening below the surface in, “The Underground”. She’s a Dhampir, the first in history, but with that power also comes danger. Will Alee be able to survive her destiny or will it prove more powerful than she?

Filled with magic and paranormal delights, Beginnings will leave readers wanting more!

Interviewed by Marie Lavendar: Who is Nina Soden

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Read the interview I had with Marie Lavendar on her blog ‘Writing in the Modern Age’:

http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-nina-soden.html

Find out a little about me, what inspires me to write, and of course my latest book Beginnings! 

Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere and in paperback via www.amazon.com!

Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden
NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere and in paperback via http://www.amazon.com!

Author Interview – Wendy VanHatten

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Wendy

Author Wendy VanHatten

What is your name and where do you call home? Wendy VanHatten; Vacaville, CA

Do you have a pen name? no

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Champagne Lies; From dead bodies to stolen jewels…can it get any worse?

Is the above book part of a series? No

What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I started writing travel journals at a young age. That morphed into becoming an internationally published travel writer for magazines…then books. My dad always encouraged me to write.

How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? This was a collaboration between my interior designer for the book and me; Ginger Marks did the cover

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Not really

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? Again, a collaboration between my editor, someone who reviewed my manuscript, Ginger, and me

Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? No but I do have a blog book tour. The link is http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/10/09/virtual-book-tour-pump-up-your-book-presents-champagne-lies-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I still prefer paperbacks

Are you a self-published/Indie author? I have a few books including a series of children’s books that are self-published

If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I believe it was easier for the books I wanted to publish

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I read many books more than once. Some are fiction and some are non-fiction.

What is your opinion of novellas? They definitely have their place and I encourage people to write them

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Yes

What is your favorite film based on a book? Gone With the Wind

What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Mystery

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Mostly travel and cookbooks lately! Relish by Daphne Oz, The Chew cookbook, Speaking Italian

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts in hardback (it was loaned to me!)

If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? John Wayne…just because; Mario Batali…I love his cooking; Julia Childs…love everything about her; Brad Pitt…just because

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Keep writing and never give up on myself

Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Traveling, cooking, wine tasting and learning more about wines

Where can your readers follow you?

www.wendyvanhatten.com; www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com; www.crazygirlscookies.com; www.forkscorksandbrews.com;

Blog: www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wendyvanhatten

Goodreads author page: www.goodreads.com/wendyvanhatten

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyVH

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/wendy-vanhatten/3/25b/297

Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/wenvan-20

 

I would like to thank Wendy for giving us her time and for sharing her thoughts on being a writer and a reader.

If you enjoyed this interview, please check out Wendy’s links above.

I’ve Been Featured

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I was featured this morning at http://rai29bookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2014/01/author-interview-nina-soden.html Please check out the interview and let me know what you think.

You can also check out the book promotions for both Awaken and Beginnings at: http://rai29bookreadnreview.blogspot.com/

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This is my news for today, what is yours?

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!!

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Yup, like everyone else I am jumping into 2014 with a full list of New Year’s Resolutions. I figure why not make them public… that way maybe one or two will stick. lol Yeah right. Every year I set out on a great new adventure with a list of resolutions and by April I’ve forgotten what they even were. So, this year my resolutions are short-term goals instead of long-term life changing events!

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions:

  1. Run a 5K – Yup, I’ve purchased some new workout clothes, got a brand new pair of running shoes, and have verbally committed to running my first 5K (in 15 years) on February 8th. Now I just need to get into the gym and start running so that come February 8th I can cross the finish line 🙂 I don’t expect to do great – BELIEVE ME!!! I am hoping to finish in 45 minutes. Okay, yeah that is slow, but seriously… it has been 15 years since I have run that far. 15 YEARS!!! Why so long, you ask. Well, many years ago… I ran every day. I actually ran twice a day, once in the early morning hours and once in the mid-late afternoon. I would run anywhere from 5 – 10 miles each time. Yup, I LOVED to run. Then one day I hit a pothole the wrong way – I guess I wasn’t watching what I was doing – and I hurt my knee… I continued to run on it for weeks because I was stubborn and well – my commanding officer told me I had to! Anyway… after a few weeks my knee got worse and worse. After that for years… whenever I would run more than two or three miles my knee would swell and be in pain for a week or two. I gave up running because it wasn’t fun any more. I am hoping that this many years later has given it enough time to heal so that doesn’t happen any more… we shall see!!!
  2. Run a 10K – Yeah right… this is the one I probably won’t do, but I’m putting it on the list anyway because if I do the 5K successfully then I plan to fun a few more and work my way up to the 10K. However, I do recognize that if the 5K doesn’t go well and if my knee doesn’t hold up then the 10K is out of the picture. Maybe at that point I’ll take up bike riding or swimming… maybe not.
  3. Publish my 3rd book… Yup… As you know I’ve already published 2 books and I have a 3rd on the way. Okay, this New Year’s Resolution doesn’t seem to off kilter. I will get it done and probably in the first few months of the year. The book is already written and with the editors. I am just waiting to get it back so that I can make edits and send it back for another round of edits. That cycle goes on for a while… then the book will become public. Want to purchase a copy of my first two books? You can get them on Kindle or in paper back at http://www.amazon.com just follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nina%20soden&sprefix=nina+sod%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Anina%20soden
  4. 6 Week Ab Workout – What is the 6 Week Ab Workout? Well, I started it this past Monday so I am on day 4! Basically it is a series of exercises (sit-ups or crunches, flutter-kicks, squats, calf raises, lateral leg lifts, and knee raises) that you do each day. The first week you do 40 every day, the second week you do 55 every day, the third week you do 70 every day, etc. Each week increases by 15 reps until finally during week six you are doing 115 of each of the exercises every day. It is painful… but in the end VERY REWARDING! I did it twice in a row (12 straight weeks) last year (2013)… I would love to be able to say I did it straight through 2014, but I’m not going to get crazy… I’m shooting for 3 times in a row this year. If I could do it twice last year why not shoot for a little more this year?!
  5. Join a gym – Okay so I actually already did this, but I haven’t really used it. So, although I hate the “A New Year – A New Me” attitude I’ve decided to subscribe to it this year. The thing is I think to many people do it for the wrong reason. They do it because they feel like that is what society says they should do. You eat a lot at the holidays… gain a little weight… the new year comes and you feel bad or guilty so you vow to lose all the weight. But, here is the thing – I’m the “Thin Bitch” right? Okay, wait – you might not know that… check out my other blog at http://www.thinbitch.wordpress.com So, I actually weighed myself the other day and I, without knowing it, have finished loosing all the “baby weight” from both of my pregnancies. That’s right… I AM BACK TO MY PRE-PREGNANCY WEIGHT!!! So, I don’t actually want to lose any weight. In fact, if I gained a few pounds (muscle of course) I wouldn’t be upset. So, I’m going to go to the gym – not for society – but for me!!! Not to lose weight but just to tone and feel better about myself and gain a little extra energy. They say a healthy body makes for a healthier person… I want to see if that is true!
  6. Blog a little more – I’m gonna shoot for once a week. Yup… It’s been a while so once a week is going to be hard, but I’m gonna try.

Okay, so there you have it… my 6 New Year’s Resolutions. I’m sure I could think of others I might want to list… but these are my top 6!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?