Promo for Diamonds for the Devil

Today, my novel Diamonds for the Devil (Medici Diamonds book one) was featured in Rogue Angel's blog. I've copied and pasted it:

A priceless string of diamonds is said to bring disaster to the one wearing it, so people say. DIAMONDS FOR THE DEVIL BY NICKIE FLEMING

Diamond for the Devil by Nickie Fleming

Excerpt Heat Level: 0

Book Heat Level: 3

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BLURB:

France, early 18^th century.

A priceless string of diamonds is said to bring disaster to the one wearing it, so people say. Young Marguerite de Vallencieux -- a runaway who must learn how to survive on the streets of Paris -- knows nothing of this reputation, but as soon as the diamonds are presented to her, a series of accidents befall her.

She seeks help. Unfortunately, some people are not whom they claim to be, and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. She can only rely on her cleverness of mind and her feelings.

Will she be able to fight off evil, and find her way to love and happiness through all this turmoil?

EXCERPT:

Traffic in Paris was in a mess once more. Small wonder, thought Marguerite, with this nice spring weather everyone wants to go out. 

"Madame la baronesse?" A face popped up next to the window of the carriage. "The coachman says we're probably stuck here for an hour or more. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?"

"I'm in no hurry, Henri." She sighed nevertheless. One hour could be a long time, and the coach would get hotter as the sun reached its zenith. Could she? The new idea became more attractive by the second.

"As it is, I've changed my mind," she announced. "I want to go for a walk. We are not far from the Pont Neuf, are we? I'd like to have a look around there. You can come along to protect me. Come, help me out."

While he offered her his hand, she saw the servant frown.

"It is my duty to warn Madame that the bridge is an unsafe place for people of quality, especially when they are so richly dressed. You'll be an open invitation to every pickpocket present."

Marguerite could not prevent a light smile. Henri had served the De Laneuil family for ages and had grown very protective towards its members. "I'm sure you're exaggerating, Henri. Besides, you'll be there to watch over me. Don't I notice a big gun between your belt?"

"I'll keep my eyes open", he swore, cursing under his breath for the folly his mistress displayed.

There were no ho-hum moments and I found myself going back to read again and again until I had finished.

A Scottish Lass for Rogue's Angels   5 Angel Wings

Going through the final edits of The Black Coach

This morning, my publisher sent me the galley proof for my new book. The Black Coach has been copy-edited and proofread, and now I have to check if there are any mistakes overlooked (can always happen)

When I have done my reading, I'll let the publisher know if any changes have to be made and then the manuscript is ready to go to the printer and to the reviewers.

Can't wait to see the finished product! It's like having a baby... guess I'm now the mum of 6 kids (nice, because I don't have any real ones).

Update on the cover design for The Black Coach

And this is how it should become:

What do you think of it?

First drafts of cover for The Black Coach

This morning, when I opened my mail, I found one from the creative department of my publisher. The artist working on my novel sent me the first drafts of what she made for the front and back cover of the novel.

I must say, it looks great! Just what I had in mind.

As soon as I received the final result, I'll try and put up a pic of it (will have to see if it's possible, not being a computer wizzard).

Authorgraph

Silly me! Because I got an authorgraph yesterday from T.R. Ragan (for her novel Furious), I remembered I've been listed on this site for nearly 5 years already...

What is Authorgraph? Well, it's a free service which sees to it that authors can sign e-books. You go to the site, www.authorgraph.com, and you request a signature from an author you like (and of course, who's listed). You can provide some info about yourself, so the authorgraph can be personalised. Cute, eh?

All my books are listed on Authorgraph and everyone can ask for an authorgraph. I'd gladly provide it!

The Medici Diamonds - book two

I've been quite busy these last few days. Only yesterday, I was cleaning up my attic room (we converted the attic into a spacious room, where I once slept, had a sitting corner to entertain friends and alo a work station) and by doing so, came across a bunch of old writings.

When I was a girl of 15-16 years old, I used to scribble into blue backed notebooks. The first ones were filled with short stories, but the older I got the more elaborate they became. Now I found 4 notebooks, filled with the story of one Julie Mercourt - inspired by the novels of Juliette Benzoni - which is set in the early stages of the 19th century....

Can you guess? It would be excellent fodder for the second installment of The Medici Diamonds, which is equally set in this period. I can't use every idea of these notebooks, but in it are great finds to turns in the plot. It will take some work, but now I'm sure this can become as good a story of Diamonds for the Devil.

Julie is a child of her time, forced into adventure beyond her will but of course she'll do everything she can to survive her dire circumstances.

Change of plan

Some time ago, I mentioned I thought of starting a new novel, named 'The House'. Well, I've changed my mind.

Actually, it's more than due I write the second instalment of The Medici Diamonds. For a long time, I really had no clue how to begin with Part Two. Originally, I thought of placing it somewhere around the middle of the 18th century, partly in France, Scotland, England and America. But that story could not have a happy ending, and I so dislike this in a novel!!! Because I knew the second one could not become the same great story of the first part, I just kept it off for a long time.

But now I've finally seen the light! I just skip this episode with the French countess, and work instead with her granddaughter. Now the story will begin during the Reign of Terror in late 18th century France. Much more adventure and action!

The book I wanted to write could be Part Three of the trilogy. It can remain gothic, but the red thread will be - once more - the priceless string of diamonds which once belonged to Maria De Medici.

I've made a start with the opening chapter of the new "Diamonds" book. I hope I can keep to it and the writing goes well enough. I'll keep you informed!

And for those who haven't got a clue:

Love reading: A Falcon for a Queen (Catherine Gaskin)

This is pure nostalgia! I don't know how many times I've read this wonderful tale of love and hate when I was much younger... But then at a given time, the book was not any more available in the local library. I now discovered it on Amazon Kindle and finally, after 30-35 years I was able to make back the trip to the Scottish Highlands.

Kirsty Howard, recently orphaned, leaves China where her father preached and travels to Scotland, to the house of her grandfather, Angus McDonald. The reason for this trip is she has received a letter from her dying brother, in which some words are penned in Mandarin: She has killed...

Nobody at Cluain seems to want Kirsty there. She gets a room, albeith reluctanly. And right from the first day, the housekeeper Mairi Sinclair, makes clear she doesn't want her presence. Also her grandfather deeply regrets the fact she is no younger brother of William who died in a tragic accident. Only the housemaid, Morag, is a little more welcoming.

But Kirsty get interested in the making of whisky and soon finds her place at Cluain. She meets the owner of the neighboring estate, Sir Gavin Campbell (soon to be Marquis of Rossmuir), his beautiful wife Margaret  and their son Jamie, but also Callum Sinclair, Mari's son. And he too makes obvious he doesn't want her love.

This is a tale like they don't write them anymore. The characters are well-worked out and you get to really know them. It is fulll of underlying tensions and threats.

I was barely able to put the book down!

The Black Coach to be published by February 2017

The contract is signed and my publisher sets the publication date of this my latest novel by February 2017.

I may expect to hear from the editor soon and also the cover artists will start work on the creation of the cover. Always thrilling, I find! How will it look? Does it capture the character of the story?

As soon as I get an imagine I'll post it here.

Contract signed

Today, I signed the contract for my latest novel, The Black Coach. The manuscript will now go to the editor and the cover image will be created by the cover artists. As soon as I have more to tell about this publication, I'll post the info.

My new website

Now it there, my new website! You can visit at http://www.nickiefleming.be and let me know what you think of it.

Remember, I did everything myself. I'm not very technical and don't know a thing about building websites. But SimpleSite made it rather easy. Of course, you have to work with the templates they offer but hey, that's not so important.

What counts for me is that I can keep the site up-to-date myself and add new books as they are published.

Creating a website

Perhaps some of you have wondered why I don't have a website?

Well, I had one (www.nickiefleming.com) but alas, I don't know a thing about building a website. So I had to depend on others to do it for me. My first webmaster, Sandra, got ill and could not do it anymore. Then I have Dave, but heaven knows where he's off to. I could not make any changes to the site he created, and then the domain name came up for renewal.... I decided to just leave it and then began my blogs.

But now that another novel is in the works, I thought the time had come to get another website. I found a site which allows you to build your own website and is fairly easy to use.

I'm busy making the site nice and practical, but of course it will take some time. I still have to figure some things out, as I'm not very technical (!).

But I'll be in full control of everything and that's most important to me. I'll keep you posted!

Working on a new novel

Now that the manuscript of The Black Coach is off to the publisher, I have time (and the willingness) to begin a new novel.

Lately, I'm very much interested in gothic romance, so the new book will be along that line too. The working title will be The House (subject to change). I've more or less a plot line developed, but I don't want to plan too much.

I cannot work that way. I always start with just an idea, and then let it grow while writing. When the flow is right, the book almost writes itself, I've often found.

Loosely, the story will be about a young (American) woman who marries an English gentleman who takes her to his home in Cornwall. There, at his mansion, all kind of strange things happen, and it's up to the heroine to find out what.

Final update on The Black Coach

Today, I finished the last chapter of this novel - only need to complete the epilogue, but that should be done tomorrow or during the weekend at the last.

Then I'll send it to the publisher. With a bit of luck, it can be published later this year. I'll keep you posted.

Love reading: The One That Got Away (Simon Wood)

Some time ago, I saw a message on Twitter, about a new book from author Simon Wood. I bought the book instantly - and I have not regretted my doing so!

The One That Got Away is a book you can't put down.

Zoë and Holli are friends who take a trip to Vegas after their exams at Uni. But then something happens... The two girls are taken by The Tally Man. However, the guy is a bit careless. While he's busy torturing Holli, Zoë has the means to escape.

The problem is, she doesn't remember exactly what happened because she was drugged. The also feels a lot of guilt about leaving Holli in the grip of the killer.

Fifteen months later, Zoë is a changed person. She sees a psychiatrist and takes self-defense classes. She learns how to deal with her PTSD. She has created a new life for herself in San Francisco.

And then a body is found, killed the same way as Holli was...

This novel keeps you in its grip until you turned the last page. It's one of the best thrillers I have read lately, so I can certainly recommend it.