Today, I’m pleased to welcome Nicole Zoltack to my blog. She’s a fellow Desert Breeze author and it’s been fun getting to know her better. Don’t forget to leave Nicole a comment so that you’ll be entered in my contest this week. Comments left on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday posts this week will be included. The winner gets to choose one of Nicole’s DBP books - any ebook format or Kindle edition. Her two titles are Woman of Honor and Knight of Glory. Both are great books. The drawing will be Friday evening.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy Nicole’s visit!

Can you tell us a little about your background?

Let’s see… I’m a wife, mother, and writer. I received my college degree in chemistry with a concentration in forensic science and a minor in biology, knowing that I would have to get another job in order to support myself because it can take years (if not decades if ever) before one can live off their writing. So I worked for two years as an organic chemist in an environmental laboratory (basically to pay for the Renaissance themed wedding). Once I found out I was pregnant, I worked until I was between 7 and 8 months pregnant, and I’ve been a stay-at-home mom and writer ever since.

I’m impressed with your science background and your former career, but I think it’s wonderful you made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom and to write. Tell us about your new book.

Knight of Glory is Book II in the Kingdom of Arnhem series and starts immediately after the events in Woman of Honor. Queen Aislinn asks Geoffrey to go on a secret mission for her. Along with some friends, Geoffrey treks all across the continent, finding allies and enemies, lies and deceit, around ever turn. Torn between two very different women, both of whom have secrets, Geoffrey has to struggle to survive the war between Arnhem and Speica while discovering which lady he truly loves.

You have a great imagination. I love the story line of Knight of Glory. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

It’s hard, a struggle every day. Nicholas just turned 17 months, and I’m in my second trimester. There are times when I just don’t have the energy to write. My writing time has to be on my own time, namely once hubby and baby are asleep. But I’m trying to get as much writing done as I can before the next baby is born, because it’s going to take me a long time before I can settle back into a routine with a writing routine again.

You have your hands full with an active little boy plus being pregnant. What are you working on and what’s next for you?

I’m currently reworking the beginning of a fantasy YA novel that I am going to shop around to agents. Then there’s Champion of Valor, Book III in the series. I’ve been thinking about a few short stories for anthologies that I have heard about, as well as other WIPs that are all begging for my attention. I’ll never have to worry about running out of story ideas. There are more stories that I can set in Terra, the planet of the Kingdom of Arnhem series. The history of the different races, especially. Those are dark times, though, and I don’t see them as romances. So that would be a little different for me, nearly all of my stories have at least a romantic subplot.

I’m sure you’ll get an agent. Your books are great reads and are getting the notice they should from readers and reviewers. Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m thinking about going to a local conference at the end of the month and I’m toying with the idea of going to the Lori Foster Reader and Writer Get Together in June. I won’t be able to make any conferences next year because of my two babies (the one being way too young to leave) so I might opt for more this year to compensate. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I hope you can go to Lori Foster’s Reader and Writer Get Together. I’m going to her event and it would be wonderful to meet you in person.

Where can readers find you on the internet?

Everywhere. *laughs*

My website: http://www.NicoleZoltack.com
My blog: http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Zoltack/93384618347
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/scarlett9284
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack

And I love to receive emails: Nicole.Zoltack AT gmail.com

Thanks so much for having me, Diane!

Nicole, thank you for visiting! It’s been fun! Readers, please read her blurb and visit Nicole’s website and blog to learn more about her writing!

Click here to buy Knight of Glory. To buy Woman of Honor, click here.

BLURB of KNIGHT OF GLORY:

Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.

Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey’s feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia’s secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna

Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 8:22 am and is filed under Author Interviews, Books/Short Stories, Contests, Diane's Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.