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a half. Her journey has barely begun and she's loving every minute of it. Every day of her life seems to bring new adventures, some bigger, better, shinier and prettier than others. She's still getting used to that new life smell she's experiencing, a combination of hope, love, and happiness. (The perfect scents to build a new life on...)
For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel. The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville. Two down! (Eleven to go?)
In addition to writing on Suddenly Single Journey, Nicki blogs at What Dreamers Do. Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on Your Wisdom as the relationship and dating expert. And she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.
Stormy Surrender Blurb:
Sometimes the life you planned isn’t the one you get to live. Sometimes the pain of the past overshadows the future. And sometimes to start over you have to go back to where it all began. That’s how it was for Joe Masters. That’s how he
ended up back in New Hope. And that’s why he was in his thirties and had nothing to show for his life. He needed a complete overhaul, just like his father’s old house. Instead of a fast track, he had slowed down and was on a ten year plan.
These days that was more his speed. And as much as he tried to fight the inevitable, he was learning to accept and surrender.
Martha had weathered her fair share of storms in Vermont, was accustomed to the cold, both the chill in the air and the cold shoulder in her marriage, but after the
miscarriage she felt like she would never get warm again. So she did the
research from the laptop while sitting in front of the fireplace. She knew what
she needed when she Googled ‘hope,’ she just never imagined that it would bring
her to New Hope, South Carolina. She never imagined that her husband would trick
her into leaving and never follow. She never imagined that a southern storm with
all its force and fury could be so destructive. But after the storm, the land is
washed clean. It’s perfect for a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new
love.
Sometimes the life you planned isn’t the one you get to live. Sometimes the pain of the past overshadows the future. And sometimes to start over you have to go back to where it all began. That’s how it was for Joe Masters. That’s how he
ended up back in New Hope. And that’s why he was in his thirties and had nothing to show for his life. He needed a complete overhaul, just like his father’s old house. Instead of a fast track, he had slowed down and was on a ten year plan.
These days that was more his speed. And as much as he tried to fight the inevitable, he was learning to accept and surrender.
Martha had weathered her fair share of storms in Vermont, was accustomed to the cold, both the chill in the air and the cold shoulder in her marriage, but after the
miscarriage she felt like she would never get warm again. So she did the
research from the laptop while sitting in front of the fireplace. She knew what
she needed when she Googled ‘hope,’ she just never imagined that it would bring
her to New Hope, South Carolina. She never imagined that her husband would trick
her into leaving and never follow. She never imagined that a southern storm with
all its force and fury could be so destructive. But after the storm, the land is
washed clean. It’s perfect for a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new
love.
Interview
Thank you for joining us on this interview.
Where are you from? I’m adopted, but I usually tell people I’m imported because it sounds so much more exotic. I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, but lived most of my life in the Adirondacks before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina about 12
years ago.
Tell us your latest New hope series? When Sam and I started dating about five years ago, he always encouraged me to become a writer, even though he is not a reader. He swore that if I wrote a book about us, he’d read it. Stormy Surrender began as The
Fixer-Upper. It was supposed to be one book, but the story was simply too big, so it became the first book in a series…really my first series. And after working with JB McGee on the cover, the book became Stormy Surrender.
When did you come up with the idea for the series? I had to have a way to tell our story that was fictitious enough for Sam to be comfortable with it. He is very private and I’m…not. It has been an adjustment for him.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I believe in hope. I believe in second chances. I believe that you can have the life of your dreams if you are simply willing to work for it. That’s what the New Hope series is about.
How much of the book is realistic, based on the experiences of your life? There’s a lot of truth in that book. One reader posted a review on Goodreads where she said that the first touch scene between Joey and Marti might be the best she’s ever read. And that feeling…is all true. When Sam and I touch, it always feels like home to me. There was a time that Sam used to leave all the lights on for me. We were neighbours, I lived four houses down, and that was his way of always being there for me. And we had tons of neighbours weighing in on whether or not we should be together. There’s more…but I’m not going to give anything away…
When will we hopefully see book two in this series? Book two, tentatively titled Tempest Torn, will be out at the end of June. That’s the plan anyway. Depends on how the writing goes, but I know this story. I love this story. So, I don’t anticipate any huge challenges other than writing time with a baby.
What was your biggest challenge with this Book? I didn’t know where to end it. I didn’t know how much story to tell. Finally I worked with the book whisperer, Katie Mac, and she told me to remember it was a series and that I didn’t have to cram everything into one book. So, that helped.
Who designed the covers? JB McGee has made all of my contemporary fiction covers. I love her work, her style, her process, and her price. We work well together. To hire her, visit http://indiepixelstudio.com
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? I learned not to stress so much, not to try to force it. I learned how to use writing sprints to move the story along. I learned to share and brainstorm with other writers. This was the first book I needed to do any of that with.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? I am writing as fast as I can. I’m publishing a book a month, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t have a reader ask me about the next book. I LOVE IT. I love hearing from readers. I try to find a balance between socializing and writing. They are both such enjoyable aspects of my life.
If you had to choice who to go out for dinner with out of Martha and Joe who would it be? Tough call. I am Marti, in some ways. So, I think the conversation would be rather dull. On the other hand, Joe is the best version of my husband. I tried to stay true to who he is and the reviews and feedback would suggest I’ve done a pretty good job. He is pretty rough around the edges. And there is a wonderful soft side that he really only lets a few people see. He tells me he’s let me in deeper than anyone. He is my dream man. And because I joke that I need to give Sam a script sometimes for our conversations, a dinner with Joe would be pretty perfect
Where are you from? I’m adopted, but I usually tell people I’m imported because it sounds so much more exotic. I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, but lived most of my life in the Adirondacks before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina about 12
years ago.
Tell us your latest New hope series? When Sam and I started dating about five years ago, he always encouraged me to become a writer, even though he is not a reader. He swore that if I wrote a book about us, he’d read it. Stormy Surrender began as The
Fixer-Upper. It was supposed to be one book, but the story was simply too big, so it became the first book in a series…really my first series. And after working with JB McGee on the cover, the book became Stormy Surrender.
When did you come up with the idea for the series? I had to have a way to tell our story that was fictitious enough for Sam to be comfortable with it. He is very private and I’m…not. It has been an adjustment for him.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I believe in hope. I believe in second chances. I believe that you can have the life of your dreams if you are simply willing to work for it. That’s what the New Hope series is about.
How much of the book is realistic, based on the experiences of your life? There’s a lot of truth in that book. One reader posted a review on Goodreads where she said that the first touch scene between Joey and Marti might be the best she’s ever read. And that feeling…is all true. When Sam and I touch, it always feels like home to me. There was a time that Sam used to leave all the lights on for me. We were neighbours, I lived four houses down, and that was his way of always being there for me. And we had tons of neighbours weighing in on whether or not we should be together. There’s more…but I’m not going to give anything away…
When will we hopefully see book two in this series? Book two, tentatively titled Tempest Torn, will be out at the end of June. That’s the plan anyway. Depends on how the writing goes, but I know this story. I love this story. So, I don’t anticipate any huge challenges other than writing time with a baby.
What was your biggest challenge with this Book? I didn’t know where to end it. I didn’t know how much story to tell. Finally I worked with the book whisperer, Katie Mac, and she told me to remember it was a series and that I didn’t have to cram everything into one book. So, that helped.
Who designed the covers? JB McGee has made all of my contemporary fiction covers. I love her work, her style, her process, and her price. We work well together. To hire her, visit http://indiepixelstudio.com
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? I learned not to stress so much, not to try to force it. I learned how to use writing sprints to move the story along. I learned to share and brainstorm with other writers. This was the first book I needed to do any of that with.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? I am writing as fast as I can. I’m publishing a book a month, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t have a reader ask me about the next book. I LOVE IT. I love hearing from readers. I try to find a balance between socializing and writing. They are both such enjoyable aspects of my life.
If you had to choice who to go out for dinner with out of Martha and Joe who would it be? Tough call. I am Marti, in some ways. So, I think the conversation would be rather dull. On the other hand, Joe is the best version of my husband. I tried to stay true to who he is and the reviews and feedback would suggest I’ve done a pretty good job. He is pretty rough around the edges. And there is a wonderful soft side that he really only lets a few people see. He tells me he’s let me in deeper than anyone. He is my dream man. And because I joke that I need to give Sam a script sometimes for our conversations, a dinner with Joe would be pretty perfect
Review
I am just going to say this straight out. No holding back; no playing games. This book is "Oh My Goodness" HOT!!! I love Nicole. I love Nicole's writing. But honestly, I think I love Joe and Marti more now.
That sweet disillusioned Martha...only she would think
that relocating with her husband to a new location would "fix" their
marriage...her miscarriage...his cheating heart. What I can't figure out is why she would even want it fixed! I think it's awesome that she googles just what she is looking for...HOPE. This search for HOPE brings her to New Hope, SC. I've gotta say, there is just something about the South that can mend a broken spirit and soothe a troubled soul.
And then there is Joe. He is such a slut, such a womanizer, such a fan of the one night stand. He is also very broken...incomplete...maybe a little bitter. Joe is a contractor. He makes his living repairing houses. When he meets Martha, they hit it
right off they clash like the Titans. (I just wanted them to hit it off right away!)
Those two bicker and fuss like 6 year old sisters with only one Barbie to share between them. But there is just something there that draws them back to each other. It was fun watching the town try to keep these two apart. It was entertaining to see Joe's senile neighbor mistake a bonfire for a house fire. I bet that water was cold!
This book started off with that tug on me and would not let go even at the very end. Oh, I still have questions, but I know that there are more answers waiting for
me in the second installment of the New Hope series
That sweet disillusioned Martha...only she would think
that relocating with her husband to a new location would "fix" their
marriage...her miscarriage...his cheating heart. What I can't figure out is why she would even want it fixed! I think it's awesome that she googles just what she is looking for...HOPE. This search for HOPE brings her to New Hope, SC. I've gotta say, there is just something about the South that can mend a broken spirit and soothe a troubled soul.
And then there is Joe. He is such a slut, such a womanizer, such a fan of the one night stand. He is also very broken...incomplete...maybe a little bitter. Joe is a contractor. He makes his living repairing houses. When he meets Martha, they hit it
right off they clash like the Titans. (I just wanted them to hit it off right away!)
Those two bicker and fuss like 6 year old sisters with only one Barbie to share between them. But there is just something there that draws them back to each other. It was fun watching the town try to keep these two apart. It was entertaining to see Joe's senile neighbor mistake a bonfire for a house fire. I bet that water was cold!
This book started off with that tug on me and would not let go even at the very end. Oh, I still have questions, but I know that there are more answers waiting for
me in the second installment of the New Hope series
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