Author Interview with Nalini Singh + Giveaway (INTL)

Good morning, friends! I have something super duper (yeah I said duper) exciting on the blog today. My friends all know that I am a huge Nalini Singh fan. Tomorrow is the release date for her newest book, Archangel's Storm. It's the fifth book in the awesome Guild Hunter series is about Jason, super spy master and Angel with shadow wings. I admit that I have always had a fascination with Jason (must be that whole dark and mysterious thing) and I cannot wait to read his book. To celebrate the release, we have an interview with Nalini Singh herself along with a fun giveaway at the end of the post. Let's get to it!

Hi, Nalini! Thank you so much for coming onto the blog today. We are huge, huge fans of your work. I was lucky enough to meet you recently at the RWA Autographing Session and let me just say that it was totally the highlight of the event for me. 

Thanks for inviting me here! Wasn’t the signing at RWA so much fun?!

Yes, it was super fun and I had amazing time meeting all of the authors, including you!

I've read that you have been interested in writing from a young age. Can you tell us a little bit about what some of your first stories were like? What books influenced you as a child?

I used to write about everything – I kept a journal and would jot down things in there as they came to me. Sometimes these were stories, other times descriptions of what I’d seen/experienced that day. My first full romance manuscript was a Mills&Boon Presents story that I wrote when I was about eighteen. I still have that manuscript. =)

As for influences – it’s hard to pick one or even a few books. I read so voraciously as a child and still do. I like to say that every book I’ve ever read has influenced me by helping develop my love of story.

Describe what your schedule is like on a typical day.

I usually do emails, interviews etc in the morning and write after lunch. Sometimes I’ll stop at eight, other times I’ll keep going till two or three in the morning. It just depends on deadlines and my personal goals for the day and week.

Your Guild Hunter series is very unique because of the relationship that the Angels and vampires have with each other. The Angels Make vampires and give them strength and immortality in return for 100 years of service. If you had a choice of becoming a vampire, would you, or would you choose to remain human and why?

Oooh, this is such a tough question. I constantly go back and forth. In fact, the question is so tough, I’m going to throw it out there for the readers of this blog! Vampire or human?

(p.s. Can’t angel be a choice, too? I would love to fly!)

I love your descriptions of each Angel's wings. They always seem to match their personality perfectly, from Illium's blue tips to Raphael's golden wings. So which comes first, the Angel or the wings? Do you already know the personality of the Angel before deciding what their wings will look like? Have you ever had an amazing idea for a pair of wings and create a character around them?

They tend to appear in my mind with their wings as they are – Illium has had his stunning wings from the very first time I met him. Sometimes, when a character is being secretive, it takes me a while, but I always know instinctively when I’ve found their wings.

This kind of leads me to your newest book, Archangel's Storm. I have always been fascinated by Jason. I really think it was his dark wings that blend into the shadows that initially piqued my interest. They're so different than the flashier wings of most Angels yet they suit Raphael's spymaster perfectly. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from Jason's story? And can you tell us a bit about his love interest, Mahiya, who we don't know much about?

Jason’s story very much suits the personalities of both our shadowy spymaster, and his heroine. On the surface, it’s quiet, but there’s so much intensity bubbling beneath the surface. I think this is a book that each time you read it, you’ll glimpse more and more – there’s so much that’s hidden between the lines, so much that only becomes apparent once you reach the end.

Mahiya is a unique angel, one who appears without power, and yet who has an unbelievable strength. She is perfect for Jason.

The setting is also amazing – I was inspired by the magnificent forts I saw during my trip to India, and you can see images of those forts on my website’s travel diary page on release date (www.nalinisingh.com/diary.php)

What are you working on now that Archangel's Storm is done? I know you couldn't say much at RWA, but can you give us any clues yet?

I’ve just handed in two Psy/Changeling novellas, one featuring Walker & Lara, the other Cooper & Grace. Now, my focus is on the next Psy/Changeling book…about which I can tell you nothing. ;-)

However, I can tell you that the next Guild Hunter book will feature Raphael and Elena as main characters.

Paranormal, historical, or contemporary romance?

I actually read all three! I tend to go in cycles – I’ll read a whole bunch in one genre, then do the same in another.

And our last, but very important question: Cake or pie (and what kind)?

Cake by a landslide. Chocolate fudge (chocolate anything really).

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, Nalini, and congrats on Archangel's Storm. It's been pre-ordered and I cannot wait for it to get here! :)

Remember to sign up for Nalini's newsletter for up to the minute news (no spam) as well as exclusive content. Nalini just announced that she will be releasing some short stories to her newsletter subscribers way before they will be available commercially. You can sign up here.

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Thank you again, Nalini! I hope you guys all enjoyed the interview. Now Nalini has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy of Angels' Blood for one lucky blog reader. Let me tell you I am really jealous about this and, if it wasn't totally against the rules, I would want to enter my own contest. But to make it even better, I am going to also be giving away 2 copies of Archangel's Storm as well. 

You have 3 chances to win. Only one person will get the signed copy of Angels' Blood from Nalini though. Giveaway is International as long as Book Depository will ship to your country. As usual, you do not have to be a follower to enter but it's always appreciated. Good luck!

Rules:

1. Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country. 
2. One set of entries per household please. 
3. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address. 
4. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget after the end of the day on Sept 13, 2012. 
5. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner. 
6. We are not responsible for lost or stole packages.
7. If you have any questions, feel free to email us. You can review our full contest policy here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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