Awesome Romance Author Joy Nash
My awesome romance author this week is USA Today bestselling author Joy Nash! Joy is the author of paranormal romances that feature tormented angels, an absolutely hilarious cupid and his demonic friend, and plenty of villainous Druids. Today, Joy shares some of things that inspired her work, gives beginning writers an important tip or two, and introduces her new series The Nephilim.
Here’s Joy…
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
Me? Let’s see… Reader of books, walker of dog, chiller of Netflix. Lover of romance, eater of chocolate, ignorer of laundry. Mother of dragons. I might be kidding about that last one.
What project are you working on now?
Demons and Angels, the second book in my Nephilim series. The Nephilim are a hybrid race mentioned briefly in the Bible—the demonic descendants of fallen angels and their human lovers. In my series, which takes place in modern day, the struggle for dominance among Nephil clans threatens to destroy the Earth. The series began in October with The Night Everything Fell Apart. Think Game of Thrones, except with angels, demons, magic, and possibly the end of the world. Oh, and sex. Lots of it. Can’t face an apocalypse without sex!
Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?
I’d probably say it’s the event that caused me to become a writer in the first place. In the fall of 2000, I came down with a week-long flu that morphed into more than a year of debilitating chronic fatigue. The doctors called it “Post-Viral Syndrome,” which is medical-speak for “We have no idea wtf is going on with you.” I couldn’t do much physically that year, so I stayed sane by reading. I read until the pages of print hurt my eyes. That’s when I decided to write instead. I got hooked. The result was Celtic Fire, a Golden Heart Finalist which was published in 2004.
How much research do you do for your books?
Ah, research. How I love thee. I disappear happily down your rabbit hole and discover all kinds of odd tidbits with which to fascinate and bore my family. Whether I’m searching for historical accuracy, reading myths and legend, or looking up what happens when you get stabbed in the chest, the Internet is my best friend.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you either growing up or as an adult?
I was in fourth grade when I read Jane Eyre for the first of many times. I credit Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece for establishing my obsession with gothic drama. Mysterious houses, torrid romance, midnight disturbances, tortured heroes, shocking plot twists—I love it all. My second biggest influence is Douglas Adams, master of wit and interesting sentence structure. Adams is best known for the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe series, but my favorite DA book is The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, which features holistic detective Dirk Gently, the Norse god Thor, and a very odd refrigerator. I am beyond thrilled that BBC America’s brought Dirk Gently to TV! Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is my absolute favorite show right now.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Write your first draft with all the feels—then banish those feels when you’re editing. Here’s why. A reader can’t access an author’s emotions: she only has the author’s words. When you edit, become that reader as much as you can. Feel only the emotion you’ve created on the page. I know it’s hard, but I promise your story will be stronger for it.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Um, don’t tell anyone, but it’s Pokémon Go! I’ve been playing with my husband and daughter since the app came out in July. According to my stats, I’ve walked almost 700 kilometers and caught more than 3000 Pokémon. How nerdy is that? But I’ve also lost six pounds. So there’s that, too. 🙂
The exciting new paranormal series from USA TODAY Bestselling Author JOY NASH
THE NIGHT EVERYTHING FELL APART
Book One: The Nephilim
In this fast-paced launch of Joy Nash’s Nephilim series, descendants of fallen angels battle for control of fractured Nephil magic and the mastery of the human race.
Arthur Camulus, heir to Merlin the Sorcerer, has inherited the vast and perilous magic of his ancestor. With gaps in his memory and blood on his hands, Arthur vows to wrest the leadership of the Druid clan from Mab, its beautiful and deadly alpha.
Cybele Herne joins Arthur’s quest though she knows defeat will bring death or enslavement. As the young lovers race to find the lost staff of Merlin—their one hope to defeat Mab—a second enemy surfaces: a rival Nephil who seeks to use Arthur to resurrect a deadly evil from the legendary sorcerer’s past.
One fateful night a beacon of hope shines. When Arthur reaches for it, the forces of Heaven and Hell collide.
And everything falls apart.
JoyNash Books
October 2016 / 370 pages
Paranormal Romance / Paranormal Fantasy
Paperback ISBN 978-1941017012 / $13.99
eBook ISBN 978-1941017029
eBook ASIN B01IRMBM68 / $5.99
Zara Recommends this book!
Find my Goodreads review here.
Buy links
Amazon Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Night-Everything-Fell-Apart-Nephilim/dp/1941017010
B&N Paperback http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-night-everything-fell-apart-joy-nash/1124684812
Amazon eBook https://www.amazon.com/Night-Everything-Fell-Apart-Nephilim-ebook/dp/B01IRMBM68
Learn more about Joy Nash
Website: www.joynash.com
Social Media
One of today’s commenters will win a free copy of The Night Everything Fell Apart! Comment below for a chance to win!!
Hi all! Glad to be here on Zara’s Awesome blog!!
Glad to have you too. I loved your book. I hope someone wins it!