BookWenches

Interviewed by Bobby

This week, we welcome Nikki Duncan, author of Sounds to Die By. Thanks for stopping by, Nikki!

I recently had the chance to read your book Sounds to Die By and enjoyed it very much. In this story, your hero is blind but has extremely acute hearing that can almost be considered inhuman. What prompted you to write this book and to give your hero such a unique characteristic?

Crissy Brashear prompted me. We were all chatting one night at a social event, joking about one of my existing characters, and she made the comment that she wanted a blind hero who wasn't whiny about being blind and was maybe a listener for the CIA. I took it and thought about it and twisted it to suit the vision in my head. I couldn't be more thrilled with the end result.

Scenes told from Ian’s point of view in Sounds to Die By are very rich in sensory description to the point that we almost don’t realize that the descriptions aren’t visual. Tell me a little bit about how you planned those scenes to make them feel realistic.

Lol, those scenes were killer at times, but I was blessed to be surrounded by some great friends who were able to give me ideas on how to get past his lack of sight. One example was figuring out how to describe Kieralyn's looks without being in her POV. We came up with the bit about him hearing her hair brush her shirt and the smell of hair color in her hair. I do find myself forgetting what color her eyes are though. I think I handled that in book 2 of the series. lol

Did you have to do any special research in order to bring the various US security and intelligence agencies to life, such as the NSA, FBI, and CIA? Can you tell us about that, or is that classified information?

Not really. Most of my dealings with the agencies are covered in broad strokes, but I do try to be accurate in regards to things like the FBI handling kidnappings and in book 2 he isn't invited in to the case, but he's clearly worked with the cops to make sure he isn't stepping on their toes. The bit with Ian being a listener for the NSA, well, I took some leeway there. Sure they have lab techs to analyze sounds, but it's doubtful that the different agencies would contact one person at one agency for specialized help. It is fiction, so I do have some freedom as long as I make it believable within the scope of the story.

Sounds to Die By is Book 1 of your Sensory Ops series. Can you give us a peek into what you have planned for future books?

Well, I recently turned in the 2^nd book to my editor. We're planning 6 books. While Ian is the only character with a handicap each book will focus on a different sense. The next book centers on scent and until I hear more from my editor, I will only say that I had a great time with it. The next book I have planned has an empath. 

In your opinion, what makes for the “perfect” hero and heroine in a romantic novel? What about the villain?

Imperfections and inconsistencies. There need to be quirks and chinks in their armor. They need to do things out of character to make them real.

Your website indicates that you were a 2008 Golden Pen finalist. Congratulations! Will you tell me a little bit about this award and what it means to you?

That was my first contest final, so I was beyond thrilled to receive the news, but I'm a goal oriented person so it didn't take long before I'd set aside the excitement to work on the next target. I hear that I should take more time to celebrate those kinds of things.

Your website says that you have been writing since 2004. At what point did you decide to pursue professional publication? Will you share the story of your first “sale” of a story with us?

I decided to pursuer publication as soon as I finished that first story. It was bad. Really bad, but I knew after writing it that I wanted to do more, so I set out to hone my craft and see what I could do.

My first contract was for SOUNDS TO DIE BY. While it had been Crissy's story idea, I still had to wow an editor and Lindsey, who is now my editor, had passed on multiple projects before. It was a rare thing that I wasn't on my computer all weekend, but I'd been at a friend's booksigning all afternoon one day and skipped computer and emails that night. The next day I was reading through things and saw an email from Lindsey offering me a contract. I don't remember a lot, but I do remember yelling at my husband that I'd sold a book. Turkey asked me if I meant a real one or an ebook (I was subbing a print one at the same time – he just had his verbiage wrong). After I calmed myself, I sat down and emailed Lindsey back that heck yeah she could have it. The rest is...well, still going.

Your website has a wonderful page filled with resources for writers -- http://nikkiduncan.com/writerresources.  As well as offering tools and resources, you indicate that you co-teach a workshop on Marketing and Promotion along with Misa Ramirez. Will you tell me a little bit about this? What motivated you to develop this workshop and offer it to others?

Misa and I were working on a newsletter together and they needed an article that covered the topic of promo from the eBook viewpoint and print. Misa and I tackled it and it morphed into a workshop. We talk about different things that we've done and things we've seen others do and how they work. We also discuss the importance for an author to have fun with their promo and to do what is comfortable for them as well as finding ways to get more comfortable doing things.

Do you have any additional words of advice that you can offer other potential authors?

Know what you want and don't let anyone discourage you. I sat my goals early on and I've had several people try to squash me. Stay strong.

In your opinion, what makes for a great story? How do you instill this into your work?

Passion. By that I mean the writer's passion for the story. I can tell when someone is writing a book because they think they can sell it and when they are writing something they are passionate about. If I'm not emotionally invested in my own stories I can't expect readers to care.

Tell me a little bit about Nikki Duncan the person. What do you do when you’re not pounding the keys of a computer? Do you have family, pets, a “day job”, hobbies?

You know, I'm the same person in person that I am online. I like to have fun but I have a strong work ethic. My hobbies include spending time with my husband and two kids, while my animals seem to love harassing me while I work (I have 3 cats). Occasionally I will have a domestic streak and bake or make crafts, though that's rare.

What do you do for relaxation? If you had a day to spend pampering yourself, how would you spend that time?

Oooh, a long, hot bath and then a book and a nap and a massage and a facial. I love days like that. They are few and FAR between.

If you could sit down with anybody you wanted, real or fictitious, current or past, and have a discussion, what would you talk about? What questions would you ask them?

Simon Cowell. I'd love to know what goes on in his head. He may be seen as harsh, but he's honest with his opinion and artistic people reaching for high goals need someone who can be honest and constructive.

If I were to take a look at your bookshelves and music collection, what would I find? What authors, artists, and titles would jump out at me?

Multiple personalities. My music ranges from Christian to Instrumental to Irish to Hard Rock/Metal to Romantic to Latino. My fiction books are a little more honed in and are dominated by romance but I do have young adult and thrillers and suspense mixed in there. There there's the research books that range for historical to magical to serial killers to poisons to freemasons to Russia to writing to meditation to the Bible.

Building on the previous question, who is your favorite author and why?

I have a lot of favorites for different reasons, and I couldn't begin to name them all.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be, and what would you do while you were there?

Ireland and Scotland. Ireland - I would tour the counties and stay in a bunch of bed and breakfasts. Scotland – I have a friend whose family lives in a castle. I so want to start a journey there with her.

What are you working on right now? What can those of us who so enjoyed Sounds to Die By expect to see from you in the future?

I just turned in the 2^nd in the Sensory Ops series and am now working on one that is connected to the series but that is part of another series. Stay tuned to my website for the latest news.

Will you share with us how we can learn more about you and your work? Where can we buy your novel?

The best way to stay updated with what's happening is to join my newsletter or subscribe to my blog and read my website regularly. I update them all as I have news. If you visit my website http://www.nikkiduncan.com/, I have buy links for the book there.

Finally, will you share one thing about yourself that we wouldn’t think to ask?

Hmm...I used to ride Arabian horses competitively. I was in the Top 20 at Youth Nationals my last year to compete. Then I retired my horse, went to college, and started my family. Now my children are learning to ride.

Thanks for taking the time to answer our nosey and invasive questions, Nikki. Our very best to you!