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In the Author SpotlightN. D. Hansen-Hill/Melody Knight
AL: Hi Norah! Thanks for being In the Author Spotlight this week.
NH: Thank you so much for having me this week, Ann!
AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.
NH: I'm working, study postgrad archeology, plus spending as much time as I can with my teenage daughter. She and I are sci-fi buffs, and spend a lot of hours watching DVDs of TV shows such as Doctor Who and Stargate Atlantis. Last weekend I went on a behind-the-scenes tour at the zoo, and had an opportunity to feed a hippo, pet a rhinoceros, and get roared at by a lion (and was nearly sprayed - lucky I'm a fast runner!).
AL: Do you have a current or upcoming release you’d like to tell us about.
NH: I've had three releases so far this year: Artifact, Gray Beginnings, and Bane of his Existence. Artifact and Bane are written by Melody Knight (my romance side), and are quite hot novellas. Artifact is about a woman who gave up on love when the man she adored died, only to find that he is not deceased after all. Bane is a werewolf story, very spicy. Gray Beginnings is written by my N. D. Hansen-Hill side, and tells of a dowser with an out-of-control "gift".
AL: You write under two pen names, Norah Hansen-Hill & Melody Knight. Does it ever get overwhelming trying to keep up with both?
NH: I think I've given up keeping them separate, LOL! I even have some new books coming out under both names. Basically, if it's written by Melody, it's a romance, and may be quite sexy. If it's written by N. D., it's much more mainstream sci-fi/fantasy/horror, with little or no romance (or if there is romance, it's not the focus).
AL: You also write several different genres. What is your favorite genre to write in and why?
NH: That actually varies from book to book. Recently, I've begun writing historicals, which goes with my love of time travel novels. Most of mine end up having paranormal and sci-fi elements, so perhaps one of those? The problem is, I get bored easily. If I write too much in any one genre, it's time to move on to another.
AL: What was the first piece you ever wrote?
NH: Trees. It was a fantasy novel, and I followed it with 5 sequels (after rewriting it 13 times, LOL!).
AL: So, now for the important questions. Sometimes people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. I like to set them straight, so tell us what’s the most unglamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?
NH: Dishes. I hate dishes. Laundry. Going to work on the bus.
AL: Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter?
NH: Harry Potter, though LOTR is right up there, too. How can it not be? It was filmed here, and some people I knew made armor for it, were extras, and so on, LOL.
AL: You are told you have to meet one paranormal creature, no safeguards, what do you choose? What do you bring with you?
NH: A wood nymph, just so that I could confirm for myself that fantastic beings really exist. I'd bring a smile…and a camera.
AL: Besides reading and writing, what’s something else you enjoy doing?
NH: Archeology. Research. Painting. Watching DVDs.
AL: Describe yourself in 3 sentences or less?
NH: happy, dreamer, sometimes workaholic
AL: Please share a favorite quote with us.
NH: You never know what you can do until you try!
AL: Thank you so much Norah for sharing on Blog Bites. I hope the questions were fun.
NH: They were great fun, and different from any others I've had before. Thanks so much, Ann!
NH: Thank you so much for having me this week, Ann!
AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.
NH: I'm working, study postgrad archeology, plus spending as much time as I can with my teenage daughter. She and I are sci-fi buffs, and spend a lot of hours watching DVDs of TV shows such as Doctor Who and Stargate Atlantis. Last weekend I went on a behind-the-scenes tour at the zoo, and had an opportunity to feed a hippo, pet a rhinoceros, and get roared at by a lion (and was nearly sprayed - lucky I'm a fast runner!).
AL: Do you have a current or upcoming release you’d like to tell us about.
NH: I've had three releases so far this year: Artifact, Gray Beginnings, and Bane of his Existence. Artifact and Bane are written by Melody Knight (my romance side), and are quite hot novellas. Artifact is about a woman who gave up on love when the man she adored died, only to find that he is not deceased after all. Bane is a werewolf story, very spicy. Gray Beginnings is written by my N. D. Hansen-Hill side, and tells of a dowser with an out-of-control "gift".
AL: You write under two pen names, Norah Hansen-Hill & Melody Knight. Does it ever get overwhelming trying to keep up with both?
NH: I think I've given up keeping them separate, LOL! I even have some new books coming out under both names. Basically, if it's written by Melody, it's a romance, and may be quite sexy. If it's written by N. D., it's much more mainstream sci-fi/fantasy/horror, with little or no romance (or if there is romance, it's not the focus).
AL: You also write several different genres. What is your favorite genre to write in and why?
NH: That actually varies from book to book. Recently, I've begun writing historicals, which goes with my love of time travel novels. Most of mine end up having paranormal and sci-fi elements, so perhaps one of those? The problem is, I get bored easily. If I write too much in any one genre, it's time to move on to another.
AL: What was the first piece you ever wrote?
NH: Trees. It was a fantasy novel, and I followed it with 5 sequels (after rewriting it 13 times, LOL!).
AL: So, now for the important questions. Sometimes people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. I like to set them straight, so tell us what’s the most unglamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?
NH: Dishes. I hate dishes. Laundry. Going to work on the bus.
AL: Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter?
NH: Harry Potter, though LOTR is right up there, too. How can it not be? It was filmed here, and some people I knew made armor for it, were extras, and so on, LOL.
AL: You are told you have to meet one paranormal creature, no safeguards, what do you choose? What do you bring with you?
NH: A wood nymph, just so that I could confirm for myself that fantastic beings really exist. I'd bring a smile…and a camera.
AL: Besides reading and writing, what’s something else you enjoy doing?
NH: Archeology. Research. Painting. Watching DVDs.
AL: Describe yourself in 3 sentences or less?
NH: happy, dreamer, sometimes workaholic
AL: Please share a favorite quote with us.
NH: You never know what you can do until you try!
AL: Thank you so much Norah for sharing on Blog Bites. I hope the questions were fun.
NH: They were great fun, and different from any others I've had before. Thanks so much, Ann!
AL: If you'd like to find out more about about Norah and her books please visit:
www. MelodyKnight.com
FEATURED TITLE:
BLURB:
Claudia has it all—a long-awaited opportunity to work in Berenike, the ancient Egyptian Emerald City; a colleague interested in pursuing their relationship further; the thrill of ancient artifacts mingled with new discoveries. Her paranormal episodes may even be an advantage here, offering her some insight into past events.
There's part of her paranormal peculiarities that she'd like to leave behind, but he doesn't seem to be willing. Nigel, her spectral lover, has much more carnal interests that one would normally expect from the deceased. He's been visiting Claudia for six years, but Claudia wants a fresh start, particularly after meeting Carlton CT Sheffield. CT is an expert on Egypt, but he'd clearly like to become an expert on Claudia, too.
Now, Claudia must contend with two lovers vying for her favors—one living, and the other—unfortunately—dead.
EXCERPT:
Loving, lustful...living?Egypt...Archeology...Romance
Sir Julius Vogel Award Finalist
It was midday on the second day when it happened. According to her map, and her sources, there was a small town a mile or so off-road, which the mine workers had once inhabited. No one had done much more than note its existence, and Claudia felt the thrill of discovery. Who knew what a place like that might hold? Other Mons Smaragdus towns had yielded pottery and metals, low grade gemstones, and a variety of other, more homely items. There were sure to be buildings, if the place had been impressive enough to be noted on the map. Gooseflesh danced down her back. The wadi region was laden with small piles of rubble -- the remnants of ancient huts. This township held the promise of oh, so much more.
Sir Julius Vogel Award Finalist
It was midday on the second day when it happened. According to her map, and her sources, there was a small town a mile or so off-road, which the mine workers had once inhabited. No one had done much more than note its existence, and Claudia felt the thrill of discovery. Who knew what a place like that might hold? Other Mons Smaragdus towns had yielded pottery and metals, low grade gemstones, and a variety of other, more homely items. There were sure to be buildings, if the place had been impressive enough to be noted on the map. Gooseflesh danced down her back. The wadi region was laden with small piles of rubble -- the remnants of ancient huts. This township held the promise of oh, so much more.
She readjusted her hat, conscious of her thirst. It seemed she was always conscious of her thirst in this wretched heat! She sucked on her canteen then mustered ahead. No track, so she'd just have to make her way. A couple of times she glanced back at the truck, even climbing one of the little hills to make sure it was still within sight. It was only on the last check that she saw it had disappeared, but that was what she expected. This was hilly country, after all, and the town should be just ahead.
Only, it wasn't, nor could she find the truck. She tried tracing her own footsteps, but this area was rock, rather than sand, and it was no use. Her compass was erratic, due to magnetic deposits, leading her nowhere. Two hours later, dragging her body through the heat, Claudia had to admit it -- I'm lost. Lost in the damned desert. Her water bottle was dry, but she refused to panic. If I don't check in, they'll come looking.
The sun had never been so hot, and Claudia knew she should have been resting midday away instead of hiking. But it was too late -- too late for anything. She rooted around in one of those piles of rocky debris, picking up rocks that burned her hands to pile them into a wall that might offer her partial shade -- if it didn't fall on her head first. She didn't possess the building secrets of the ancient Romans or the Bedouin. And her blistered hands were shaking so badly she didn't know how she'd survive the next few hours.
It was then an icy chill came on her, colder than death.
Nigel!
She didn't speak -- she didn't have to. He was there…for her.
3 comments:
Hi Norah and J.K.
Love your work, Norah. I am a huge fan of your sci-fi genre. So keep them coming. :) And I have to say I am so envious of you having to go behind the scenes at a Zoo. What fun that must have been, despite the near sprayage. LOL
Ah, I recall those behind-the-scene zoo tours from when I worked for the Zoological Society of Florida in Miami. We used to bring groups through to the tiger nighthouse, and you had to walk past the tapir enclosure to get there.
Teachers are the WORST at following directions -- we'd tell them not to veer from the center of the path, but did they listen? Nope. And when the tapir sprayed one of them, mostly we'd laugh.
AWESOME, CAT AND ND'S BOOKS JUST ROCK!!
LINDA B
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