NINA SODEN – #TheRedheadedAuthor Speaks… I’ll be sharing readings of some of my micro-stories; talking about my experiences as an indie author; the writing process, self-publishing, marketing ins and outs, and my latest work(s) in progress. I’ll also be interviewing other guest authors to bring in a different perspective.
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She sat alone at the end of the hotel bar. Her lips as red as blood sparkled as she licked off the last drop of her vodka martini – extra dry. She looked around the dimly lit room and her dark hair glistened under the blue lights. Her deep brown eyes focused on her potential mates. Tall… Short… Thin… Large… Balding…
No one caught her eye. To the casual observer she would seem out-of-place in her skin-tight black dress and her thigh-high black boots. But she waited…
After about an hour as the bartender was bringing her last drink of the night she noticed a man seated at the opposite end of the bar. She hadn’t noticed him come in. It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere. Dressed in all black he stood out from the men and women around the room. His hair was perfect not a single piece out-of-place. His body was as tight as a board and she felt a strong desire to run her hands across his chest.
Silently, she waited for the right moment, she watched him from the corner of her eye. His eyes seemed to glow with an amber fire. His chin was that of a statue chiseled from stone. Women approached him eager for his attention, but he brushed them aside uninterested in their flirtatious conversations, and their drunken seductions. Every now and then he glanced at the beauty at the other end of the bar.
She just looked back showing no emotion… no care… All the while inside her heart was pounding in her chest… A rush of life was flowing throughout her body… Excitement made her want to run to him… Desire kept her where she was. There was something different and new about him. The way he talked… The way he moved… The way the whole room seemed centered on his energy.
The bar was about to close and all but maybe a handful of patrons had gone off to their rooms to sleep. She slowly sipped the last drop from her glass and popped the olive into her mouth, licking her finger clean as she glanced again to the other end of the bar.
But he was gone… She didn’t know where… She hadn’t seen him move… And no one else seemed to have noticed. Disappointed she slipped down from her bar stool, and threw her wrap around her shoulders.
Alone in the elevator she pressed the button for the penthouse suite, and as the doors closed she could feel someone slowly running their hand down her back. Scared and excited… She didn’t move. As he gently took her hand in his she turned to see his handsome face, and his amber eyes staring directly into hers. It felt like he was looking right through her and into her soul… Reading everything there was to know about her.
She took a step and closed the gap between them as he ran his fingers down her cheek and around the back of her neck. Her lips fell slightly open, she could almost taste him. He stopped the elevator as he pulled her body against his own. Every inch of her skin was tingling with excitement from his touch. Without warning he turned with her in his grasp… With her back against the wall and his body holding her in place she couldn’t move… Couldn’t scream – even if she had wanted to, but she didn’t.
His right hand slowly caressed her left thigh moving her dress up. He lifted her as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. She could feel his arousal as he touched her body. Warm and wet she wanted… Needed… Craved what she knew was about to happen. Then without warning his lips turned up and a wicked smile formed on this face unveiling fangs as white as snow and as sharp as blades.
She didn’t move, but smiled instead. And as quick as the lightning in the sky she pulled a sharp wooden stake out from under her dress where it had been strapped to the inside if her thigh all along. As he grabbed her neck and his teeth sank into her smooth flesh she plunged the stake through his back and deep into his heart. He drank from her… Trying to find a way to survive, yet knowing there was no chance.
His grip loosened and she slid her legs down and placed her feet back on the ground. His lifeless body slowly sank to the floor and turned to ash. She stood up casually wiped off her dress and pushed the penthouse button again. As the doors slowly opened she steps over his ashes and into the room. “It’s taken care of master. Anything else I can do for you?”
A tall muscular man more handsome than any mere human could dream to be, walked over to her and took her in his arms, “You have done well my dear. Now you must rest.” he kissed her softly on the hand and held her close as they disappeared deeper into the room.
(c) Copyright – Nina Soden 2014
Haven’t checked out the Blood Angel series on Facebook yet? Well, you should! www.facebook.com/BloodAngelSeries
Why is it that when I’m approaching a personal deadline my life gets crazy CRAZY busy?!
Tech week… performances… babysitter cancelling… work deadlines leading to me having to work LATE EVERY NIGHT… stress… StReSs… STRESS!!!
Wow… So I didn’t have much time to do anything this past week, but I did get the book uploaded to the online self-publishing software. Now I just need to make the final edits, error corrections, format adjustments, etc. and then hit send!
Okay, it feels crazy that I am this close to publishing book two. If someone would have asked me two years ago if I believed I would publish a novel I would have said, doubtful! I definitely would never have guessed that I would have two full-length novels published! But man does it feel good.
Okay so here is a recap…
Yes, it was short but sweet… Next week my update better say “PUBLISHED”. However, I am not going to get down on myself either way… Just going to think positive!
Now, off the subject… Sunday was Mother’s Day and mine was great! My kids and husband got me the prettiest charms for my favorite bracelet and we got to go out to dinner after a day at the theatre. Spending the day on stage with my hubby and being backstage with my kids at the theatre (because the babysitter cancelled) was actually very nice. They were very well-behaved and loved by everyone.
Okay… back to work.
When you get a chance tell me how your writing is coming along. I know I talk a lot about myself here, but I really do care how my readers are doing and what you are all up to. Please share!
Yes, I know it is Thursday (NOT MONDAY). I get it, I am three days late on my weekly review. Although I am not big on excuses (NOT), let me just throw this out there…
You get the picture right?
So… with that behind me I will say this; my goal for week three was to rewrite the book cover-to-cover!
Do you think I made my goal? YOU BEAT YOUR BUTT CHEEKS I DID!
That’s right, I did it, I rewrote the book cover-to-cover. I took into account all of the notes, edits, comments, and revisions my two editors put into it and I rearranged, deleted, added, and just plain improved my book. At least I think so. 🙂
Seeing as it is Thursday of week 4 I am sure you are probably wondering if I have already started my week 4 goal of rereading the book for content, timeline, and character motivation. The answer would be: yes, yes I did. Actually I kind of cheated. While I was rereading the book and all the editor’s notes in Week 1 I also took notes about timeline, content discrepancies, and character motivation. Yeah, that might have been why week one took a little longer than expected, but hey… I got the job done right?
Having already done that portion – I was able to utilize the notes I had taken during my week three goal while rewriting the book. So, in fact… although it is only week 4 right now I have begun the week 5 goal of rereading the book (AGAIN) for edits such as grammar, spelling, and word substitution (there instead of their, to vs. too, etc.).
AUTHOR DISCLAIMER: The Blood Angel Series are self-published books… I don’t promise that there are no editing errors (grammar, spelling, word substitutions [see above for description]) but I do promise to put my heart and soul into everything I write and to do my best to make my books as entertaining and exciting for my readers as I can. I don’t know if that is enough to make you want to buy my books, but I hope it is, and, if you do… I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing, editing, rewriting, and reading them over and over again.
Okay, so week 4 is almost over what more is there to do in my 6 week plan to go from edits to published?
So once again here is the plan:
Let me know how your writing goals are going…
Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel by Nina Soden
Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!
OMG… REWRITE HELL IS WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW!!! Yeah, I’m not really sure that is a thing, but right about now I am looking at my 6-week deadline/goal/challenge to get my book rewrites done and the e-book on the market… HAA HAA HAA! I seriously underestimated the extent to which my life would try to jump in and screw things up!
WORK | FAMILY | THEATRE | PETS | HOUSE WORK | GYMNASTICS | BIRTHDAY PARTIES | COOKING | THE LIST GOES ON….
These are just a few of the things that got in the way of me actually doing what I wanted and needed to do this week!
Okay, so here is my WEEK ONE IN REVIEW UPDATE:
Well, one week down and five to go! No, if you’re wondering, I don’t sound happy about that. Week one did not go at all like I had hoped. You see the task for week one was:
Did I complete week one’s task? NO! Am I going to give excuses and bitch and moun about why I didn’t complete my task? YOU BEAT I AM!
Well, for starters, work (my real job – and not just the fun pretending like I’m making a living as an author job) was CRAZY busy this week. I actually worked over my regular 8 hour shift EVERY DAY! Yes, and then I had theatre rehearsal Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday… not to mention there was one day when I was so sick/tired that I fell asleep on the couch sometime in the early evening and didn’t really wake up until the next morning (at some point I did wake up enough to talk to my husband, kiss the kids good night, and crawl into bed). Saturday was Up early – Cleaning – 1 Hour of Reading – Cooking Breakfast – Gymnastics – Birthday Party #1 – Cooking and Cleaning – Birthday Party #2 – Home to Bed!
So, over the course of the week I was able to put in a whooping total of 4 hours of reading in! Yup, you read that correctly – 4 HOURS! Did I finish the book? NO, I am an extremely SLOW reader – for pleasure and work! However, if I am honest with myself I am pretty impressed with the fact that I did get through 140 of the 250+ pages. So, I am over half way done, and not only did I read the first 140 pages I also was able to work through many of the editor notes (fixing issues, rewriting sentences, etc.) as I went along. So far there have been no major edits/editorial notes that will lead me to rearranging chapters (THANK YOU GOD!), and therefore I feel confident that moving into week 2 I can continue on the same path I am on now, and still end up right where I need to be for week 3!
Do I want to scream? YES
Why? Because today is the first day of week 2 and I had no time to read – none – nil – nought – zero – zilch – zip – You get the picture right? Yeah, if today is any indication as to how the rest of the week is going to be I just might be pulling my hair out by Sunday. And, trust me… my hair is my best feature – If I lose that, there will be little else to admire.
So once again here is the plan:
So, after week one – are you still ready to take this journey with me? Come on, it will be fun! Check in next Monday to see how wild and crazy week two gets!
Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel by Nina Soden
Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!
🙂
Okay… let me start by saying, I miss my husband! He recently started classes toward his masters program, and he attends classes every Tuesday and Thursday evening. I know what you’re thinking, “Tuesday and Thursday? Is that all?” and you’re right. It’s only two days a week, not bad at all. Yet, still… I miss him when he isn’t home with me and the kids. Although above even that I am incredibly proud of him! Going back for his masters isn’t going to be an easy road, by any stretch of the imagination, and the fact that he is doing it with a full-time job, two kids, and a sometimes needy wife, I commend him!
Now, as I sit here and sulk… I can do one of two things. I can literally eat the pan of brownies in the kitchen and watch television until he gets home – not a bad idea, or I can pull out my computer and get to work! I am choosing the second option. I am always struggling to find time to write, and now with him going back to school I have been given two evenings a week, after the kids are in bed of course, to do just that. So, take advantage of it I will.
My goal is to see significant progress by the end of this coming weekend… which is to say that I will finally get through chapter eleven!
I think that my creativity has maybe taken a brief vacation, and left me in somewhat of a stump or creative block. I shall hammer through it this week though, and come out victorious! lol… That actually sounded confident. This just may work. If not, I might just cry… I figure if I don’t get to work soon, then when I receive my editor’s notes next weekend I really will cry. I am expecting them to be detailed and extensive, because that is what everyone had told me editors like to do. I have mentally prepared, but who knows how much that will really help. Although, I do look forward to the suggestions. I am excited to get book one in the Blood Angel series ready for the publisher, and an editor is just one of the many steps so… BRING IT ON!!!
At the youthful age of 15 she was already a lady in the eyes of society. When her grandparents made the decision to move her to the new world she was frightened yet excited by this new adventure. The Titanic was a grand ship more beautiful than anything she had ever seen both inside and out. The moment she stepped aboard her life was changed forever.
Her heart skipped a beat as his cold hand gently brushed across hers and his piercing eyes seemed to reach into her soul stealing her love forever. He appeared to be her age, but something in his eyes gave away a wisdom far beyond her years. They were inseparable from the start. To her it felt like he was the piece of her heart she had always been missing.
As fear struck the hearts of everyone around them and the ship began to sink Eric offered her life after death. With just one kiss they would be together for all eternity. In her gutt she knew it was more than that, and still she didn’t care. Like a dagger his teeth slid into her throat, and she was out. She woke up laying in his arms, surrounded by nothing but sand and ocean.
Eternity was going to be a very long time…
(c) Copyright Soden, Nina 2011
He was alone in the room surrounded by the world… Paintings of his travels over the last one hundred and ninety-three years covered the walls. Some were massive in size others so small they could fit in the palm of your hand. He sat there silent… focused… determined.
Windows all around the room were black with the night sky. A distant moon pours light into the window as below on the street a loud crash and breaking glass is heard. He doesn’t move. The window to his back explodes in as four men in black burst through. He sits eyes closed without a hint of concern.
In moments they are upon him. Then it happens… without warning… his eyes open… burning red. With the strength of twenty, he flings the first attacker off with just a twist of his wrist. The second he throws back out the window and onto the street below.
The third faces him eye to eye before… without warning… he pulls him in and drains him with a quick bite of his neck. The fourth turns and runs before his friend even hits the floor. He sits back down in the middle of the destruction. Not winded… Not tired… Not a care in the world. He sits alone in the room surrounded by his world…
(c) Copyright Soden, Nina 2011
They found her there, lying in the large dark oak bed, black silk sheets flowing around her, her golden curls wet with passionate sweat, not a piece of clothing covering an inch of her milky smooth skin. She looked to be dead, no pulse, cold flesh, and not a breath to escape her open lips.
There was talk of bite marks, drained blood, tenth girl this week… The conversation went on. Little did they know this beauty was like no other. For she was merely lying in wait, under a spell, in a seductive trance, waiting for the right moment to…
For she gains her powers from those she feeds on, and giving them her blood gives her more pleasure than pain you see. Once she has been bitten she’s ready to fight, and at the right moment she leaps from the bed and in seconds is upon them. Four men down with just a turn of their necks on the last one she’ll feed for his bloods is clearly the most intoxicating. She could smell it the second he stepped into the room.
Warm and fresh she takes it all in, drops his lifeless body to the ground and turns to leave. As she walks out the door she grabs her long silk robe, and wrapping it around her body… it clings to her curves as she disappears into the night.
(c) Copyright Soden, Nina 2011
I have a two-week deadline looming overhead. By Saturday August 6th, I am to have book 2 to my editor, and although it is already written I have not yet gone back through it to do a final edit on my own, and the people I have reading it have not yet gotten back to me! AHHHHHH
I’m not dragging me feet, really I’m not. It’s just that with two kids, a husband, a full-time job, a part-time job, and a house to clean there really isn’t a whole lot of time on my plate to write. I try to squeeze in time whenever I can… kids weekend nap time (right now!!!), after the kids go to bed at night (when nothing good is on tv…), etc. But, still not a lot of time to devote just to my writing.
I am making myself a promise, here and now! I will pick up book two this weekend, and get through chapters one through ten! Okay, maybe that is a little ambitious considering when I do final edits I tend to rewrite large portions, insert completely new chapters, and/or delete large portions… Okay, I’m still going to aim for chapters one through ten, but I am not going to be too hard on myself if its more like one through five. LOL
Okay, today is almost over, with the babysitter soon to arrive, so… I better be off to work. Wish me luck and think of me often.
Nina Soden 