Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

If you know Karen G, then you know Celery Tree. But just in case you haven't had the pleasure, let me introduce you to this exciting new website for writers and readers.  It's set to launch very, very soon.  The brains behind the concept can explain it better than me, so I've put together excerpts from the Celery Tree blog (along with links to the full posts) to help me out: The book world needs a vehicle to help overlooked but talented authors get discovered. The real judge of a book's worth should be made by the readers, not by the marketing dollars behind it. But how can readers find those books that don't have the big bucks behind them? That's where celerytree.com comes in. It's like a cozy neighborhood bookstore where you can feel comfortable browsing for hours and discover some hidden gems of your own. Read full post. * * * Authors helping authors, in an environment of books, blogs and reader reviews--similar to Goodreads but without th...

    Congratulations Alex J. Cavanaugh ! Today is the release of his debut novel, CassaStar , a Sci-Fi space opera adventure.  I'm rather eclectic in my reading tastes and haven't had nearly enough exposure to ths genre, so I'm looking forward to it.  Plus, this Byron character sounds rather intriguing... CassaStar can be purchased at: Amazon Barnes & Noble BAM Powells “…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.”  - Library Journal Even though I know Alex is extremely busy with a crazy blog tour schedule, I couldn't resist asking him my all time favorite author question: Moi: If you had to choose one song that best captures the essence of CassaStar, what would it be? Alex: Guilt Machine's "Green and...

Great news!  Through July 31. 2012, Seers of Light - the first book in the Light Series is on sale for only $2.99 in Kindle ! Jennifer DeLucy is a highly creative, wonderfully genuine person whom I had the pleasure of working with when I was assigned as Developmental Editor on her debut novel, Seers of Light.  Seers of Light is the first book in The Light Series , a paranormal journey of self-discovery, adventure, and romance. Jennifer was inspired to tell this story after a personal exploration of various paths of philosophy and spirituality, including near death experiences.  All of these things come together in Seers of Light in a remarkably accessible, engaging, can't-put-it-down way.  Not only is Jennifer a gifted writer, she is also a talented musician and actually wrote the song for the Seers of Light trailer: I recently asked Jennifer about some of my favorite aspects of Seers of Light, and she was kind enough to answer.  Thanks Jen!...

Welcome to Monday! It's time for the Meet an Author Monday blog hop.  To meet new authors and discover  great reads, simply visit any of the author links below.  Look for our  "Meet an Author Monday" icon at any of these blogs to keep on hoppin. Authors! Have a book out?  Are you under contract for publication?  Join in the hop for a great way to network your blog and let readers know who you are! Happy Labor day to all!

I always think it's cool when a story extends beyond the pages it's written on.  When it becomes more than a book; it becomes an experience . Like Harry Potter. It was about the story, but it was also about so much more. People didn't just show up at the store for the book release, they showed up in full wizard garb, declaring their House. They wanted to immerse in the atmosphere. It wasn't enough for me to simply read the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series.  Oh no, I put on my son's Gryffindor robe and Harry glasses while reading.  I told my family it was because I kept getting interrupted and that was my signal for them to leave me alone, i.e. Respect the Robe.  But really...I just wanted to wear it. I wanted the full experience. I was ecstatic when I showed up to local book club meetings to discuss Three Daves and found that they'd immersed!  At one they'd pulled out the 80s fashions---Izod, Keds, Sigma Chi-wear---and had my 80s New ...

What do you get when you cross the Book of Psalms, Jane Austen, dating, and the 80s?  Three Daves .  At least that's how Alli Denning from Like Totally 80s sees it.  She recently read the book and asked me some great questions. What was fun about this interview was that Alli asked me some things that I've rarely, if ever, been asked, so I got a chance to give away some insider secrets, as well as look at my own story from a fresh angle.       LT80s Interviews Nicki Elson, Author of Three Daves

In celebration of me finally landing on a description for this blog, Ruminations on the 80s and writing , I'd like to point you in the direction of two wonderful websites that make the 80s and writing even more fun.  First up Goodreads .  My first thought about Goodreads was that it's sort of like Facebook for writers and readers.  But different.  Like Facebook, you friend people and get a feed on their Goodreads activity, but everything here is focused on literature.  You  fill bookshelves with all the books you've read, are reading, and want to read, and you can rate and review them all.  Also, there's space on your profile for a blog, for samples of your writing, for videos, and for exhibiting your favorite quotes from an enormous searchable quote library. If you like, you can become a fan of your favorite authors and join various groups to engage with readers/writers with similar interests. Additionally for writers, you can list your books and pub...