The editor of local magazine, The Bristol Nine, was intrigued by the idea of a local author self-publishing her first book. He manfully tackled all manner of technological challenges (such as, not owning a Kindle at the time) to read my masterpiece. Here’s what he thinks:
Posted in Reviews
Tagged chick lit, Happy Ending, Nicky Wells, Review, rock star, Sophie's Turn
I don’t call Sophie’s Turn a rock star romance without reason. After all, the male lead character is a rock star! And the plot was born from and spiced with my love for all things rock. I’ve always been a big fan of rock music, and I’ve always had (and still do have) a bit of a soft spot for rock musicians. Not just lead singers… There’s the odd yummy guitarist, gorgeous drummer and delectable bassist in the mix as well!
On my rock shelf, you will find the likes of: AC/DC, Bon Jovi, The Darkness, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Europe, John Norum, Heart, Creed, Dare, FM, Aerosmith, Nirvana, Muse, Nickelback, Kings of Leon, Evanescence, Foreigner and Guns’n’Roses… among others.
Imagine my delight as I’m discovering a whole host of new (to me, at least) and extremely exciting rock bands through Twitter! So I thought I’d take a moment to take stock and introduce you all to some fantastic talent. And then I thought… hang on! Why not make this a new feature on my blog? After all, Sophie’s Turn combines chick lit with rock extremely successfully… why not carry the theme through? And thus was born (drumroll, please!):
***NICKY REVIEWS ROCK***
Every once in a week or two, I will feature right here on my blog one of the exciting bands I’m finding through Twitter, Facebook, and friends–or indeed through recommendations, if you have any. And who knows, occasionally I might even feature some old favourites, too! I hope to bring you album reviews, a little bit of history and, over time and if the rockers concerned are interested, perhaps even interviews and more. Some of the bands are signed, others are brand-new raw talent. Some have re-formed after a few years of being absent from the scene. Anything goes! I am not an expert music critic, but I am a huge rock fan and I know what I like. And that’s exactly what I’ll bring you: my honest opinion on the music I encounter on my review journey.
Here is a little taster of the bands I plan to feature in
Nicky Reviews Rock, Series 1:
Deep Cast hails from Sydney, Australia, and is made up of Jake Savich (Lead Guitar), Sasa Vitanovic (Guitar/Vocals) and James Brant (Drums). Their influences include Pearl Jam, Creed, Steve Vai and… Elvis Presley! I can definitely hear Creed-like undertones, folks! You can find Deep Cast and links to some of their music on You Tube via their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deep-Cast/202088903151932?sk=wall#!/pages/Deep-Cast/202088903151932?sk=wall. My favourites to date: Blue Heart (classic!), Ice Breaker… and the Creed cover, With Arms Wide Open (one of my all time favourite ballads!)
The Hunting Accident is based in Los Angeles. Band members are Nate Greely, Aaron Stuart, Travis Shettel, Pete Beeman and Paul The Guy. Influences include Joe Jackson, The Soft Boys and The Fall. The band likes existential phenomenonolgy and tennis. Listen to some cool, cool tracks here: http://thehuntingaccident.com/?page_id=5. Check out “Hot Drum”–it’s hoppin’! Makes you want to get up and mosh away.
Ultradrive is Jay Henderson (lead vocals), Tommy Thompson (guitar and vocals), Derrick Dickey (drums and percussion) and Anthony Holcombe (Bass/Keys/Vocals). Ultradrive are based in Atlanta, Ga. You can find out more about Ultradrive on their website at http://www.ultradrivemusic.com/home#!__home and listen to some tracks on their Facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/ultradrive. Be sure to check out “Crush” or “From the Outside”–fantastic, classic, Nicky-likes rock!
House of Leaf is a jewel to behold! Dig this (from the official House of Leaf site): House of Leaf marks the ”solo” debut of one of Sweden’s most talented singers, songwriters and musicians, Leif Sundin. Expect great songs, organic playing, and a timeless sound, steeped in Americana.
Well, I love his music; it’s ‘gentle’ rock, if you will–mellow but with bite. Even listening to it first time, it’s got the kind of ‘known it all my life’ feel to it. A classic in the making–check out “Someday Somewhere” and “Wash Away Yesterday” here: http://www.houseofleaf.com/listen.
Iron Claw is the latest addition to my rock revelations. And my, they blow me away! Iron Claw were an early 70s’ heavy rock band from Dumfries who managed to build quite a following before they split up in 1974. Sadly, I am personally a little too young to remember them first time round (I was only two when they split!) BUT now they are back and about to release newly recorded album, A Different Game. Iron Claw is Ian McDougall (Drums), Alex Wilson (Bass) and Jimmy Ronnie (Guitar), plus new vocalist Gordon Brown from Annan. Find a sample track here: http://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/track/what-love-left (be sure to turn the volume down if, like me, you have sleeping kids upstairs! That was a close esacpe!). Wow, guys: classic, hard, melodious: just what I like. x
I have ordered the albums (where available) and in the next week or so, I will post the first instalment of Nicky Reviews Rock… watch this space to find out who features first!
Sophie would be absolutely DELIGHTED with meeting any and all of these bands… they are right up her street!
Rock on, everybody. 🙂
All pictures taken from artists’ official websites.
Hello chick lit lovers! Today, it is my great pleasure to post a guest-blog on the fabulous chick lit blog, Chick Lit Central. The wonderful people behind Chick Lit Central–especially the two Melissas–were among the very first to agree, way back in July, to help this here indie author promote her book, in the first instance through this guest blog (with give-away!) and also through a review later in the year. And, in fact, this is the very first guest blog I ever wrote (even though I’ve published a couple in the meantime)! So a big, fat, huuuuge, Thank You to Chick Lit Central for their encouragement and unfailing support. Guys, you really gave me courage when I first dipped my toes into the indie waters!
Right, enough of the prelims… What is this post all about then? Titled “Turning the Title,” this guest blog considers how Sophie’s Turn didn’t actually see the light of day being called Sophie’s Turn at all! So what happened? Find out all about the original title and its evolution here: http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/nicky-wells-teaches-us-trick-to-finding.html!
In addition, there is a give-away associated with my post on Chick Lit Central and there are TWO e-copies of Sophie’s Turn up for grabs. The competition is live now and ends on 25 September. Visit Chick Lit Central to find out how to enter. I see there is quite a bit of interest already: Rock on, folks! Good luck to all entrants.
Cheerio and take care… 🙂
Posted in Nicky's Guest Blogs Elsewhere
Tagged chick lit, give-away, Guest Blog, Nicky Wells, rock star, Romance, Virtual Book Tour
Rightly or wrongly, I feel like a celebrity right now with another interview going live on another website! This time, the wonderful Kim Nash has asked me a variety of interesting questions… She wanted to know about my life, why I write, and where… and also what I’m working on right now. The answer to that question will be obvious to anyone who’s read Sophie’s Turn: I’m writing the sequel. But visit Kim’s blog for a little bit of an idea what might happen in the sequel!
Find the full interview at http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html.
Please do join me on Kim the Bookworm and leave me a comment!
Thanks very much, Kim, for this great opportunity and for hosting an interview on your blog as part of my virtual blog tour. Thank you also for your guidance, advice and encouragement in every other way (you know what I mean!). 🙂
Rock on!
Posted in Interviews
Tagged Interview, Nicky Wells, rock star, Sophie's Turn, Virtual Book Tour
Good morning again!
Things are continuing apace this week, with another of my interviews taking place–this time by the lovely Kristin at Kritters Ramblings. Kristin asked me all kinds of interesting questions. Find out what I ramble on about (and ramble I can!), whether there’s anything of me in the wonderful Sophie, and what part of the writing process I enjoy most…
Join me at http://www.krittersramblings.com/ and feel free to comment and discuss: I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks very much to Kristin for hosting an interview (and yesterday’s review, of course) as part of my virtual book tour. I have really enjoyed answering the questions and really appreciate stopping by on Kritters Ramblings today.
Posted in Interviews
Tagged Happy Ending, Interview, Nicky Wells, rock star, Sophie's Turn
Hooray! Another astounding review for Sophie’s Turn, this one from Kristin at Kritters Ramblings. Kristin absolutely fell in love with this book… what fantastic news! I won’t give away any more, but check out the full review here.
Thanks very much to Kristin for taking the time to read and review Sophie’s Turn, and for spreading the luuuurve! 🙂
PS: …and of course, the sequel is very much in the making! It’s so wonderful to make someone’s wish come true. Watch this space, although it’ll be a few more months yet….
Posted in Reviews
Tagged chick lit, Happy Ending, Nicky Wells, Review, rock star, Romance, Sophie's Turn
Good morning, readers, bloggers and world in general!
Another exciting event in the virtual book tour for Sophie’s Turn came live late last night UK time. You’ve read some interviews with me (and there are more to come) but check out this, my first Guest Blog. Jonita Fex of The Book Chick very kindly invited me to share some views, insights and anecdotes regarding my procrastination habits while writing. Of course, I don’t have any! So find out what it is I do do when I need to distract myself…
http://book-chic.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-post-by-nikki-wells-author-of.html
Thanks to Jonita for inviting me to stop on her blog. We look forward to seeing you all there! x
Posted in Nicky's Guest Blogs Elsewhere
Tagged Guest Blog, Nicky Wells, rock star, Virtual Book Tour
Hello again! To accompany Jonita Fex’s review of Sophie’s Turn at The Book Chick, I am giving away ONE Kindle copy of Sophie’s Turn to one lucky reader of The Book Chick blog.
Please visit http://book-chic.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-giveaway-sophies-turn-by-nikki.html to find out how to enter. This give-away contest is open internationally and runs until 20 September. I look forward to seeing you all there and wish Good Luck to all entrants. 🙂
Jonita Fex at the Book Chick just loves chick lit, and especially all things British. So when I contacted her for a review, I felt a little bit nervous. Would Sophie’s Turn live up to Jonita’s very high expectations….?
Well, I think it did! Jonita gave Sophie’s Turn four out of five stars and concludes: I loved the British charm that was evident on every page, as well as the plot that kept me reading well past my bedtime. This is a must-read that does the chick lit genre proud.
To read the full review, please visit Jonita’s blog at http://book-chic.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-giveaway-sophies-turn-by-nikki.html
A great big thank you to Jonita for taking the time to read Sophie’s Turn… and for writing the review on one of the busiest days of the school year, and overcoming all sorts of technical hitches to post it. You are a rock star, Jonita! 🙂
Posted in Reviews
Tagged chick lit, Happy Ending, Nicky Wells, Review, rock star, Sophie's Turn, Virtual Book Tour
Check out Nikki Bywater’s blog for yet another FOUR star review of Sophie’s Turn. Nikki particularly enjoyed the storyline which she says is interesting, entertaining and fun. The full review is available at http://nikkis-books4u.blogspot.com/.
Thank you to Nikki for reviewing my debut novel in record time! I really appreciate Nikki’s thoughts and consideration.
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The Sophie's Encore Review Tour, 26 August until 24 September 2013
Check out 50+ stops here!
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Nicky Wells: Love & Thrills 