AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five beautiful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
Website: www.nancyfraser.ca
Blog: http://nancyfraser.ca/wordpress/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor @nfraserauthor
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser
What's your favorite book you've
written?
It’s not
just a book, but a series of novellas. Called the Golden Decade of Rock and
Roll, the first 4 are already out and story #5 (Dream Lover), comes out in
December. The stories are set from 1955-1964 and the titles are all Rock and
Roll song titles from each of the ten years. The covers are beautifully vintage
and include a jukebox and record background. The stories themselves reflect the
romance of the time period.
What was the hardest book to write
and why?
Actually the
one I’m working on now has been an emotional rollercoaster and it’s taking me
far longer than it should. It’s the third book in a proposed five-book,
co-authored series of post-Civil War romances. What’s making it nearly
impossible to complete is that my writing partner passed away in May from
cancer. I want desperately to finish the book in her honor, as well as the rest
of the proposed series. However, sitting down and actually writing has been
difficult. I’m pretty sure Patti’s up
there teaching the angels how to write romance and cursing me out because I
haven’t finished the book!
What tips would you give a new
writer?
This is a
question I love to answer. First of all, develop a thick skin and do it
quickly. Also, accept the fact that there will be things you’ll need to let go.
It’s inevitable that your editor is going to ask you to change the one scene
you thought was perfect. Get good (and fast) at promotion even before your book
comes out. Social media is an absolute (we barely had email when I started
writing). However, it can also be a huge time-suck if you don’t learn how to
manage it before the book comes out. And, finally, organize everything. Develop
a separate “media” folder for every book so that everything you need (tweets,
FB posts, bio, buy links, blurb and excerpt) is in one document. Your bio
should also change slightly with each book. Keep the beginning the same but
tailor the ending to fit the book you’re promoting (e.g., if your story has a
family aspect talk about your children/grandchildren or pets; if your story is
historical talk about your love of travel or the timeperiod). It doesn’t have to
be a long drop in, just a sentence or two.
How much if any influence do you have
on cover art
It depends
on the publisher. I actively write for 4 different publishers at the moment.
They all use a “cover art” form and I do my best to be as detailed as possible,
including downloading images and including them when I turn in the paperwork.
The very sexy, award winning cover of my co-authored historical, The Lawman’s Agreement, was actually
created from an image I’d purchased through a stock company and included with
my form. I also worked with the same cover artist on a contemporary months
later and, again, she used my choice of photo. With my R&R novellas, I
worked with the cover artist to develop the recurring them (jukebox and record)
and then the artist chooses the character to add to the cover. The cover design
for The Muse was exactly as I’d
invisioned the characters. Then, on top of that, the cover artist blew me away
with the sepia tone and splash of red lipstick.
What are your current projects?
Obviously
finishing the third book in our post-Civil War series is first on my agenda.
I’ve also signed a contract with Decadent Publishing to do another 1920’s
erotic romance. The Mysterious Mrs.
Pennybaker is based on a true story of a woman who worked as a spy during
WW I with a lot of steamy sex (and two men) thrown in for good measure.
As well, the
sixth book in my R&R series is due soon. AND, I am also working on a vintage
historical/rework of a Grimm fairytale for Decadent Publishing’s Beyond
Fairytales line.
Describe your writing style in ten
words or less.
The
creativity black hole: Grandma’s “just” writing. She can babysit.
Personal Questions
What did you want to be when you grew
up?
Exactly what
I am, a published author. Dreams do come true if you’re patient and/or
stubborn.
Do you ever wish that you had an
entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?
Been there,
done that. I’ve done everything from waitressing to training customer service
agents for call centers. No thanks. I’ll take writing, even if it’s only a FB
post, any day!
If you came with a warning label,
what would it say?
Warning:
prone to fits of weirdness. May require straight jacket or laptop in order to
restore sanity.
What is your favorite comfort food?
Homemade
banana pudding.
If you could have three wishes
granted, what would you wish for?
Good health
for myself and my family. A NYT bestseller and a sexy, younger man who
appreciates a mature woman.
The Muse
by Nancy
Fraser
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Privileged
Hyde Park socialite, Susan Leland, wants more from life than being a rich man’s
daughter. She wants excitement, daring, but most of all, she wants to explore
her sexuality. A chance meeting with artist Evan Forrester, a man she’d met
purely by ‘accident’ months earlier, leads Susan on a journey of sensual
discovery that not only includes the handsome Evan, but also sultry torch
singer, Holly Winters. Together, the singer and the artist uncover Susan’s
utmost desires and unleash her inner vamp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
Susan tapped lightly on the solid oak door leading to Evan
Forrester’s downtown loft. The building was old, in parts dilapidated and
smelling of mold. The three-story climb to his studio had been precarious, with
more broken stairs than good ones. The urge to turn and flee ran rampant
through her thoughts. She still couldn’t believe she was actually taking him up
on his suggestion.
She hesitated. She hadn’t pictured him being destitute, a
starving artist unable to afford something better than this run-down building.
As hard as she tried to ignore her inner voice, she couldn’t hide her concern
for the safety of her situation. Eager to be out of the dark, damp hallway, she
knuckled the door a bit harder, stopping just short of actually using her
balled-up fist to pound the old wood.
From behind the barrier, she could hear the shuffle of
footsteps, and held her breath in anticipation. When the door opened, she let
her breath out on a sigh of relief.
“You’re here,” Evan said, his gaze flaring as if she’d
caught him by surprise.
“You said one o’clock,” Susan reminded him. She made a rather
deliberate show of staring at her bare wrist. “It’s five minutes of, according
to my watch.”
He stepped back and allowed her inside. Unlike the dark
entryway and corridors leading to the third floor, his loft was filled with
color, vivid splashes of paint adorning walls full of original artwork. Windows
rose from floor to ceiling, allowing the early afternoon sun to shine through,
unimpeded by draperies of any kind. Sparsely furnished with nothing more than a
few chairs and a small kitchen table. Susan wondered what lay behind each of
the three doors along the back wall.
“Truthfully, I didn’t think you’d show.” He waved his hand
in a circle, the arc encompassing the entire open living area. “I don’t get
many Hyde Park society girls in my studio.”
She raised her chin a notch. “Whether you realize it or not,
I’m not like most Hyde Park girls.” When he didn’t comment, she reminded him,
“You said I could make up for the accident by posing for you. I’m here to make
amends for—as you put it—the pain and suffering my recklessness caused.”
He chuckled, the teasing lilt of his voice drawing her
attention to where he stood. It was then she realized he was dressed in little
more than a pair of tight- fitting denim rousers and an unbuttoned shirt. A
sparse patch of short curls adorned his well-muscled chest, trailing downward
to disappear inside the waistband of his pants. His feet were bare and his dark
hair tousled, as if she’d awoken him from a sound sleep. His second laugh, this
one much heartier than the first, told her she’d been caught staring. A sudden
wave of heat rushed her cheeks. Her pulse raced.
“As I said last night, I don’t do formal portraits.”
His words drew her gaze back to his face, his mouth, the
fullness of his lips. She raised her head and nodded. “Let’s just get this over
with, please.”
He crooked his finger and motioned for her to follow.
“Bathroom’s through there, if you need the facilities.” He opened the door to
the middle room. “This is my bedroom. You can change in here, if you’d like.
There’s a dressing gown hanging on the back of the door.”
“Change into what?” she asked. Her throat suddenly as dry as
a pile of cotton batting, she slipped out of her lightweight coat and cloche
and laid them at the foot of the bed.
Evan shook his head; his eyebrows arched and wagged
teasingly. “Into as very little as you’re comfortable with, Miss Leland. I
prefer totally nude, but if you’d like to leave your fancy drawers on, I can
use my imagination.” He motioned toward the wooden table in the corner of the
room. “There are some props, jewelry and the sort, over there, if you’d like to
doll yourself up.”
“Anything else?” She did her best to put a sarcastic bent to
her question yet feared her voice trembled too much to make the right impression.
He lowered his gaze from her face, across her body, down her
legs, settling at last on her ankles. The intensity of his perusal made her
toes curl.
“Take off those shoes and put on a pair with ankle straps.
Preferably black. There should be a pair in the closet that will fit you.” He
turned toward the door, stopping to add, “My studio is in the next room over.
I’ll prepare a fresh canvas. Don’t take forever. I have someone coming at
three.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now on sale at for 99cents.
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=991&osCsid=esnmre25tve5vo15dqg3d0uu81
GIVEAWAY:
Nancy will be awarding a $15 GC to winner's choice of an online book retailer to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and another randomly drawn winner will be awarded a Reader's Coffee Mug (US/Canada - $5 GC for international winners). A $10 GC from the online book retailer ofthe host's choice will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Nancy will be awarding a $15 GC to winner's choice of an online book retailer to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and another randomly drawn winner will be awarded a Reader's Coffee Mug (US/Canada - $5 GC for international winners). A $10 GC from the online book retailer ofthe host's choice will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks Nancy and GoddessFish for stopping by,
