Friday, November 9, 2012
Going RENEGADE with Nancy Northcott!
Welcome to another Fabulous Interview with the Fabulous Captain Jack-
Bosun: Not today,
Jack.
CJS: Did you…
But… It's an interview day.
Bosun: Yes it is.
CJS: And I do the
interviews. It's in my contract.
Bosun: Jack, have
you ever known pirates to sign a contract?
CJS: *starts to
speak then screws up his face* But Hellie said-
Bosun: Hellie
lied.
CJS: She
wouldn't. *Bosun raises a brow* True. She would. And it was on a cocktail
napkin. *taps chin* But I've been washing the rum mugs for months now. She
tricked me?!
Bosun: *patting
Jack on the shoulder* Afraid so, buddy. But you don't want to do this one
anyway.
CJS: I don’t? Why
don't I?
Bosun: Nasty
creatures involved in this one. Ghouls, and not the cute Halloween type. These
things have claws, they stink, they fill people with venom, and feed off them.
CJS: *making a
puckered face* Now that you mention it, I do have somewhere else to be.
Bosun: Thought
so. *watches Jack prance off – turns to the audience* Hello, everyone! Today
we're welcoming a long time friend of the crew who is finally getting her turn
on the shelves. And it's about damn time if you ask us. Give a warm rum-soaked
welcome to Nancy Northcott!
*crowd hoops and hollars*
Nancy: Thanks for
having me on the Revenge today!
Bosun: Thanks for
joining us today, Nancy. I am so excited to chat about your debut novel
RENEGADE. First off, tell us about the book.
Nancy: Thank you, Bosun. The tagline for the book is She enforces the rules. He breaks them all. Now they are each other’s only hope.
I think the simplest way to give you specifics is to share
the blurb, so here it is:
As the mage council's sheriff for the southeastern United
States, Valeria Banning doesn't just take her job seriously, she takes it
personally. So when a notorious fugitive and supposed traitor risks his life to
save hers, she has to wonder why. To find the answer, she’ll have to put
everything on the line, starting with her heart.
As a mage, Griffin Dare is sworn to protect innocents from
dark magic, which is how he finds himself fighting side by side with the
beautiful Valeria Banning. But when the council finds out the two have been
working together, the pair must run for their lives--from the law, the threat
of a ghoul takeover, and a possible council mole.
Bosun: Talk about
opposites attracting! There's some gruesome stuff in this book, Nancy. I have
to tell you, that excerpt I read on your website made me cringe more than once.
Why ghouls?
Nancy: I wanted the book to be dark, and that meant
having antagonists who were a serious threat.
Using ghouls, which are not as well known as vampires or zombies, let me
adapt the concept to fit what I wanted.
Ghouls are dark magic users who can use their retractable talons to
siphon magic or life energy or to rip their prey’s flesh. They’re strong enough to pose
a threat to the mages, and I think the villain has to have enough power to pose
a true threat to the hero.
Bosun: Well, if
you're into that sort of thing. *shivers* (Kidding! I can't create villains so
go you!) Regardless of the foul creatures, the voice totally sucked me in. (No
ghoulish pun intended.) I know you've been a member of the Romance Bandits for
quite some time so I'm guessing this isn't your first manuscript? Have you
always written this kind of story?
Nancy: My first
manuscript was traditional fantasy, and I’ve written others featuring
characters with special gifts. I’ve
enjoyed writing straight historicals, and I read a lot of books that have no
paranormal elements, but I like the possibilities they offer for playing with
the story.
Bosun: Your
website shows another book coming in this series. Can you tell us about that
one?
Nancy: Guardian is a second chance at love
story. It revolves around mage physician Stefan Harper
from Renegade and Camellia “Mel” Wray, the Mundane (or non-mage) FBI
agent he once hoped to marry. They meet again when a friend of hers is
murdered and Stefan is called in to consult about a strange toxin in what’s
left of the victim’s blood. Their old attraction quickly rekindles, but his
secrets and her fears still stand in their way.
Guardian is scheduled
for May 2013. In March, though, is a
novella, Protector. It’s about wildland firefighter Edie Lang and
helicopter pilot Josh Campbell, who are both mages. They think their one-night stand three years
ago wrote “The End” to their mutual attraction until they meet again while
fighting a wildfire. Then they’re forced
to admit they feel more than mere attraction, but they have differences that
make them fear risking their hearts.
Bosun: You
certainly know how to create powerful stories. And I love that she's the firefighter. Has the process
of launching your first book turned out to be what you expected? Has there been
an element you didn't expect as a newly published author? Something you wish
you'd known going in?
Nancy: Being a blog
guest is a lot of fun, but I’ve been surprised to find that it isn’t as easy as
I assumed it was. Answering questions
clearly, but briefly, and choosing an excerpt are tougher than I expected.
Bosun: On that
note, let's do the fun stuff. Plotter or pantser?
Nancy: Plotter with a heavy dose of pantser.
Bosun: Alpha or
Beta? (In both writing and reading.)
Nancy: Depends which I’m reading or writing at the
time. I can go with either, depending on
the story’s circumstances.
Bosun: Rum or
vodka?
Nancy: Rum.
Bosun: Paper or
plastic. Wait, that's not right. I mean paper or digital (as in reading
preference?)
Nancy: Both. I enjoy the ebooks I own, but an electronic
reader always requires a recharge.
Having once spent two weeks without power after a hurricane, I want to
be sure I always have something new in a readable format.
Bosun: Excellent
and diplomatic answers all. Now let's turn the tables. Do you have a question
for the crew or should we just send drinks all round and let the party begin?
Nancy: What’s the most heart-wrenching moment in a
book or movie you love?
Thanks very much to
all the crew (and Cap’n Jack) for letting me celebrate Renegade’s launch with you.
Bosun: Excellent
question! Get on it, crew. And one lucky commenter will win a digital download
of RENEGADE. (Nook or Kindle (US/Canada only), your choice!)
I almost forgot! For fun, check out the book trailer for Renegade!
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Books by the Crew
42 comments:
Swinging aboard ship, from the Banditas' Lair - ahoy Revengers! Great to see you! Pass the rum!
So thrilled to see Nancy's book 'live' at last - it's fabulous (and I'm not just saying that because she's a friend and fellow Bandita!). Griffin is so yummy and Val is such a fab, strong heroine.
Hmmm heart-wrenching moment ... so hard to think of specifics, but Jessica Andersen's Nightkeepers series is full of them - usually involving Rabbit.
Oh - that sparked one - in Sliding Doors, one of my favourite movies - ***Spoiler Alert*** when Gwyneth Paltrow dies.
Anna, thanks! I have to agree about the Nightkeepers. A great series but wrenching.
Ever have one of those days? I'm having one of THOSE days. Bah!
Sorry I'm late. Welcome aboard, Nancy!!! So excited about this book. My Kindle is scheduled to deliver today so guess what I'll be reading over the weekend??? You're going to be my first real paranormal book and I'm oddly excited. That excerpt on your webpage is soooooo good.
For heart-wrenching in a movie I'd have to go with the cemetery scene in Steel Magnolias. I cry EVERY TIME! I'm sure there's another one.
As to books, in one of Eloisa James first books, one from the pleasure series, there's a moment that is heart BREAKING. Oh how I cried. (Don't want to be too specific as it would be a giant spoiler.)
Sangria! (thunder rumbles) not you goddess! Wow, so excited for you Nancy! I've read your excerpt too and agree...(shiver). Downloading RENEGADE and can't wait for Guardian. As to heart wrenching moments in a movie? Sally Field in Steel Magnolias in the cemetary after burying Shelby...then Claree grabs Wheezer and tells her to punch her...laugh and cry at the same time!
Permission to board? I'll assume that's an aye. Nancy, I am so excited your wonderful series is finally available to purchase and devour! I've been intrigued by the concept of mage protectors in the mundane world since I first heard you mention them. Like Terri, I'll be downloading it today and diving in very soon. Like, next week when we're on Grand Cayman Island (during the PIRATES WEEK FESTIVAL, btw!!) and my husband is scuba diving (2 days and a night).
As to heartbreaking scenes, I love heart-wrenching romantic movies so I have lots. One that always gets to me, though, is in Untamed Heart when ***SPOILER ALERT*** Christian Slater dies. Of course, Marisa Tomei is one of the best cryers EVER, so I always want to cry along with her. But poor Christian Slater was so misunderstood in that film and he was so incredibly sweet to Marisa's downtrodden character. I love that film!
I hope this series sells like hotcakes, Nancy. I think it will be HUGE!
Ahoy Nancy! I'm so excited about RENEGADE and absolutely know that you're going to seeing fan mail.
I just watched LOVE ACTUALLY the other day, and the scene when Emma Thompson opens her Christmas present (a CD), and realizes the beautiful necklace she found in her husband's pocket was for someone else - and she goes into the bedroom to quietly sob - gets me everytime. However, that moment is followed by so many great moments that are stacked heavily at the end of the movie that I finish watching with a big grin on my face.
Oh, Donna. That scene gets me too. I have the Joni Mitchell song that plays behind that scene on my iPod and just hearing makes me think of that scene and get all verklempt.
Loving the Bandita invasion! LOL! Welcome, all!!!
Caren - You must bring us back lots of (pirate) pictures!!!
Oh, man. I balled like a baby during Bolt, when he got back and saw his little girl with another dog...
What can I say, that really did cut me open!
Welcome aboard, Nancy! So glad you like the rum and since we scared Jack off, I can actually guarantee we won't run low on the stuff!
Congratulations!
Yay!!! I'm going to have to do some investigation into ghouls, but they sound better than zombies for me...so I'm on board.
Heartwrenching scene.
1.) When the Beast dies in Beauty & the Beast--sob city.
2.) Braveheart--when he dies at the end, shouting Freedom. Oh man.
Basically any scene where someone dies that I grew attached to--Marley, Bruce Willis, et al.--I'm a mess.
I've read Renegade, and even though I rarely read adult fantasy or paranormals, I loved the book. I found Val and Griff totally engaging, and it's all about character for me. But I know many of the pirates like their books action-filled, and I assure you this book meets that criterion excellently.
As for heart-wrenching scenes, I agree with Ter and Joan about Steel Magnolias. Come to think of it, many of my favorite movies--Finding Neverland, Miss Potter, Big Fish, Life Is Beautiful, Up, Amazing Grace, Shadowlands, and so on have scenes that leave me sobbing. With books, the scene Terri mentioned from Midnight Pleasures always makes me cry. Just typing the title of Linda Howard's Cry No More is enough to start the tears. It was so emotional for me that I've only read it once, and I'm a rereader. Sarah Mayberry's recent Within Reach is filled with heartwrenching moments.
I just read your starred review in Library Journal. "Genre fiction at its best"--wow! Congratulations, Nancy!
Hi Nancy.
World shattering début ... literally!
Ghouls don't sound very friendly ..... they would probably take off your arm at the elbow if you try to pat them. But mages need fearsome opponents to make it interesting. Thankfully Val and Griff have a HEA so I guess they prevailed against the forces of darkness. LOL
The book is nicely reviewed at http://justjanga.blogspot.co.uk/ and following the recommendation there I went to Amazon UK to download a sample. But alas the e-book isn't there. I'm going to have to wait .... and I hate waiting ... grrrrrr.
It sounds as though the likes of Robyn Hobb and Anne McCaffrey may soon have some competition!
My most heart wrenching moment: Davy Crocket getting killed at the Alamo.
Wow. Nice job, Nancy!
Ahoy Revenge!!! Rowing over from the Bandit Lair to cheer "our" lady Bandit Nancy! WOOOOHOOO!!!!
I cannot TELL you how excited I am aobut this book. I've loved it from first concept, even with the shivery/scary ghouls. There's a scene in IT that makes me weep - wrenches my heart and makes it moan - but thankfully, Nancy makes it all okay again. If she hadn't....well, let's just say there would have been consequences!
All of Anna Campbells book have something in them that wrench me - especially Untouched! - but I love them too. I'm with Janga in that Cry No More by Linda Howard is still a fav, but I've not re-read it for the exact same reason. (I too am a serial re-reader) There's a scene at the end of Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's Obsidian Trilogy that makes me just howl with grief, but they end up redeeming that too. Now THAT I've reread a dozen times or more. Brilliant.
Nancy, I adore this series and lucky me, I've read more of it, so I KNOW whwt's coming is equally superb. Grins. And I'll second Janga's WOOHOO on the Library Journal review! WOOT!!
Terri, thanks! I'm honored to be your first paranormal on your Kindle. I hope you enjoy the book.
I'm actually in GA now, to visit the Okefenokee Swamp and do some research. I'll need to leave soon and be away for a while but back in the evening.
Terri, I forgot to say I totally agree on Steel Magnolias. I haven't read the Eloisa James.
Hi, Joan--thank you! I'm glad you liked the excerpt and hope you think Renegade measures up. Yes, Steel Magnolias is heart wrenching.
Caren, thanks for the good wishes. I haven't seen Untamed Heart, but it sounds great.
Happy Early Anniversary! Your trip sounds wonderful.
Yay Nancy!!!! So pleased to see you here with the long term friends of the Banditas, Romance Revenge. Arrr. And congratulations on Renegade. You've worked so hard for this.
I know this is going to sound a little out of place among talk of ghouls but there's a part of Georgette Heyer's The Black Moth that always gets to me, where the hero can't tell the heroine why he has to leave without declaring his feelings for her or letting her declare hers. That has stayed with me for years and years. In a movie, it would have to be Cary Grant's face when he realizes Deborah Kerr can't walk. I'm sniffling just thinking about it!
Donna, thanks! I've heard other people refer to that moment in Love Actually, but that's another movie I haven't seen all the way through. I'm obviously way behind.
Thank you, Maureen. I'm excited to be here.
Kids and dogs are always heart wrenching. When the boy was little, he loved The Incredible Journey--partly, I suspect, because of the big golden retriever. We had a golden then.
Hope you're enjoying the swamp! (Words I never thought I'd type.)
Christina, you must stop. That moment in Affair to Remember is so painful to watch! And the animal thing reminds me that Kiddo loved to watch Black Beauty when she was little. I had to watch those horses be abused and one die over and over and she'd just say, "Watch it again!" Tough kid.
Hi, Hellion! I can guarantee there is no brain eating in this book. There's other sorta yucky stuff, but not too much, I hope, and no brain eating. :-)
That moment in Beauty and the Beast really grabbed me--I thought they were changing the story, totally forgetting I was watching a Disney movie!
I'm not so great with character death scenes, either. Like Spock in Star Trek II.
Janga, thank you for the shout-out here and below. I appreciate your taking the time to review Renegade. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Putting the book out there is a bit nerve-wracking, so it's very gratifying to have people like it. Especially people I know.
I'm way behind on movies, but I did see Finding Neverland. I wept at the end, and I'm not much of a weeper. The dh said Miss Potter was wonderful, but I haven't seen that, either. *sigh*
Y'all are giving me more books to check out!
Hi, Quantum--that's very nice of you! Thanks. I'm sorry the ebook isn't there. Maybe it soon will be. I have no idea where it's being released when. I appreciate your trying, though!
PS to Quantum, is that Alamo scene from a movie?
Terri, thanks!
Jeanne, thanks for the pats on the back. I hope it's not too evil to be really glad I made you cry. *g* I know you're not a weeper, either.
Yes, Anna Campbell just grabs the heartstrings and twists. In a good way. :-)
I haven't read the Linda Howard or the Obsidian Trilogy. More to check out! At least ebooks are invisble on the TBR list.
Whooo hooo, Nancy. Congratualtions again on the release of RENEGADE. I think this is the first fantasy book I've read since I was a girl. I'm really enjoying it, but finding the characters and their "powers" harder to keep track of than I thought. I supposed true fantasy readers get into a rhythm and learn the concepts. I'm looking forward to reading all of yours!
*skips in* SOrry I'm late folks!!
This looks wonderful. I love some paranormal and I've been looking for a new series. :)
As to the most heart-wrenching scene in a movie.... When Harry Potter walks into the forest in the last Harry Potter movie. And only because of the dynamic with his mom. As a mom, it made me sob like a baby.
Oh, and I admit I cried like a baby at the end of Titanic. And, I cried like a baby during the first scene in Saving Private Ryan, when all those young men are washing up on the shores? Cry cry cry.
Hiya Revenge Gals! Hiya stray pirates! Hiya stray Bandita Nancy! Great to see you here. Hmm, wish you hadn't brought the ghouls with you, though. They're seriously scary. Congratulations on the release of RENEGADE! As you know, in the lair, we've been desperately waiting for this one to hit the high seas. And I adore that trailer - one of the best I've seen. Bravo, you!
Jo, I'm glad you're enjoying the book. Thanks for giving it a try despite this not being your favorite genre.
Hi, Marnee--Thanks for your interest. If you decide to check out Renegade, I hope you like it.
That scene in Harry Potter got to me, too. I thought it was also very powerful in the book. I've never actually seen Titanic all the way through. I did see Saving Private Ryan, and I agree that beginning was very tough!
Hi, Anna--I see you've joined us strays. *g* We'll put up a magic shield to keep the ghouls out.
I'll pass on your comment about the trailer. I love it, too.
Sorry! I've been offline since I left work several hours ago. I received my Kindle today and the first book I put on it was indeed RENEGADE. Huzzah! I have a ton of writing to get done but plan to take a little time each night to dig in. (Should I read this with the lights on? LOL!)
Nice to see you back on the decks, Anna!
Hi, Terri--Congrats on the Kindle! I hope you like Renegade. I don't _think_ you need to leave the lights on--but isn't the Kindle backlit?
LOL! I meant is the book scary?
I know--I was trying to say I don't think it's all-lights-on scary. :-)
I knew that! *smacks forehead* Started reading last night and didn't want to put it down. And I'm only on chapter 2. LOL!
BTW - I'm already very happy to know Stefan is the next book. Liked him immediately.
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