Monday, August 10, 2015

Welcome to Guest Author Nicole Kimberling!



So this morning we are having a little blog surprise! Nicole Kimberling is here talking about her new audio book -- and giving away a copy to some lucky commenter below! 


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Hey Everybody! I know it’s been a while, but I’m so happy to be back here hanging around at Josh’s. For those of you who do not know me, I am writer of speculative fiction, mysteries and spec-fic mysteries. I’m here today giving away some free copies of my brand new audiobook, Cherries Worth Getting.

This story originally appeared in the Irregulars anthology, which was put out by Blind Eye Books a few years ago. It detailed the exploits of four agents of NIAD, an international governmental agency set up to police and protect the extra-human citizens of the earthly realm. The stories featured demons, goblins with guns, guys with giant swords and at least one kimchi burrito.

Irregulars also featured stories by Astrid Amara, Ginn Hale and our delightful host, Josh Lanyon. The project was generally considered to be a fun time for all of us who worked on it. So the question is—why make an audiobook now, three years later? Well, it was the result of a strange synchronicity. I happened to learn that my brother-in-law, who is a filmmaker, was coming to town for a few weeks on the exact day that I ran into my friend Tommy Jordan, indie rap artist, former merchant marine and audiobook enthusiast. As I was bragging about how my brother-in-law was going to make me a book trailer, I realized that Tommy looked and sounded more or less exactly like my main character, Special Agent Keith Curry. 
Sometimes vid star, Nicole Kimberling

I asked him to be in my book trailer and he agreed on the spot. In a frenzy of creative euphoria, I asked if he would be willing to record and audiobook for me as well and he said yes. Joy burst through me at having made two huge scores in the space of five minutes. I would have a book trailer! And an audiobook! Then, once my feet hit the ground again I realized that neither of us had any idea how to do either of those things.

So for the next two months, practically glued to each other, we learned. We created what my wife called a “tiny little multi-media empire.” And that’s what I’m here to present today.

To win a copy of Cherries Worth Getting, please tell me what your favorite imaginary creature is in the comments below.

Good Luck!

Nicole Kimberling

PS—For those of you who already know and (hopefully) enjoy Special Agent Keith Curry, you’ll be happy to know that he’ll be making an appearance in the new Charmed and Dangerous anthology, put out by JCP Books to be released on August 25.

PPS—Tommy Jordan is also the front man of a pop band called Urban Fantasy. He and my brother-in-law liked each other so much they made a second film together—the music video for Urban Fantasy’s second single, “HolySh!t, Mom.” See if you can spot me in my guest appearance as “Mean Drunk Boss Who Fires Connor.”



56 comments:

  1. Yay for the awesome audiobook! :-)
    That is a tough question... Dragons (good dragons), phoenixes, elf's ears (the whole elf really, if it's a nice elf), Ginn's trolls, griffins, gargoyles. Oh! And hobbits, of course.

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    1. I'm not actually sure what mine is... I do really like the fire lizards from Anne MacCaffrey's books, but that's probably because they are so obviously based in...Kitties!

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  2. Yay for doing new things! And ever since I looked up what they are, wendigos have been my favorite imaginary creatures.

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    1. I remember that X-files episode too, but I had to go back and look up wendigo again. That is an extremely appropriate creature for this story. :)

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  3. I was talking about this with a friend this morning, by coincidence. We are agreed that we are bored by shifters and vampires, but still love ghosts, demons, witches. :-)

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    1. And Goblins were a master stroke.

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    2. It's hard not to like a rockin' witch. I especially enjoy all the potions, talismans (basically gadgets) that are associated with witchcraft.

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  4. Happy Monday and hello! Isn't it great when something like this comes together? 'Strange synchronicity' has such a nice ring to it. One of my favorite imaginary creatures are elves, be it the Hot Abercrombie and Fitch Christmas variety or the little Elf of the Shelf!

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    1. Hi Steve! For some reason I imagine the Hot Abercrombie and Fitch Christmas elf to sort of be--like an outcast among actual elves. Like the other, more fey, whispy elves are like, "O.M.G. What is wrong with his abs? Why are they so....big?" (Then some Sir Mix-a-lot-type elf makes a song about it...LOL)

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    2. That's the kind of elf I'd like on MY shelf!!

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  5. Unicorns. There is just so graceful about them.

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    1. So nice to see you, Jacquie! Unicorns are a classic. I re-watched that animated film The Last Unicorn when it was re-released a while back. I'd forgotten how cool that story is.

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  6. Dragons. And the Norwegian water sprite called Nøkken :)

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    1. Hello Anne! I just googled Nokken. What beautiful art comes up when you do that. I've been trying to think of new (to me) creatures to write stories about. Do you think it would be possible for a relationship between a water-dweller and non-water dweller to really work? I mean the water sprites can usually come up on land, but wouldn't they be lonely for the ocean?

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    2. Nøkken lives in inland lakes, so they could probably meet in the dark mysterious woods I guess. But the water sprite would eventually have to return to the water, at least from time to time, I think :)

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    3. The non-water dweller would probably need to get a paddleboard. :)

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  7. Give me a nice dark Wizard with a soft spot for hairy men. Nothing beats a dapper man who can pop you both off to Paris for dinner, fight the evil in the world and still whisper dirty things in dead languages in your ear at night. So done with were-anything and shifting clones. For some reason though, fairies and elves still intrigue me.

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    1. Wow Mike, you've supplied me with a whole narrative! So, dark, hairy wizard who looks good in a suit and can whisper dirty things..... Could it be Beast from the X-men?

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    2. Sure, it could be him. But left in caring hands, he could be wholly original and completely non-sparkly.

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  8. I read your story in Charmed and dangerous and loved it! I did not read the Irregulars, but I am fixing that. I have a copy for my flight to Germany :)

    -Andy Slayde

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    1. Hello there, Andy! Thank you so much. I'm excited that you're going to try out the other stories too. We all worked so hard on them.

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    2. I loved the Charmed & Dangerous story, so now I have to read the Irregular one :) I just hope I won't be craving Lucky Charms while stuck on a plane.

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  10. Sorry, lost myself on the previous post.
    Hey, Nicole!
    Absolutely loved the the book trailer so the audible should be excellent. The voice is perfect.
    I have a definite thing for dragons

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    1. Hi Haldis! No worries, that happens to me all the time. :) I'm so happy you liked the book trailer. It was a hoot to make--though that motel room smelled unbelievably bad...

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  11. I like dragons and fairies and the one or other demon. As child I liked Heinzelmännchen (brownies).

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    1. I love the name heinzelmannchen! My German son-in-law is here helping me pronounce that right now!

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  12. Purchased Cherries Worth Getting last week and am enjoying listening to it, got a soft spot for a well written Zombie book.

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    1. Thank you so much Kim! I'm hoping that maybe I can convince my narrator to come back to do the sequel as well. :)

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  13. Thought now, it would be nice if I say hello!
    Hello Nicole, hello Josh!

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    1. Hello Sabine! I'm happy to be visiting here at Josh's to see everybody again. :)

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  14. Hey Nicole and Josh. I LOVE that book trailer and I already have the audio book waiting to be listened. So cool that you happened :-) to make both of these. It sounds like you've been busy with fun, creative, challenging things, Nicole! It's so much fun to learn new things, new ways to tell stories in different art forms. I never get tired of it.

    Oh, and I *think* my favorite imaginary creatures are fairies.

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    1. Greetings, Johanna! I have been so fortunate to have great collaborators more or less fall into the palm of my hand. (Including Josh!) It really recharges the batteries. :)

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  15. Hm, favorite imaginary creature? Can I go with Binky? *please* He's just too good to be true. Definitely belongs in the realm of elves and fairies. ;-)

    Congrats on the audiobook release, Nicole! Funny how such projects sometimes come into being, just because the right people are in the right place at the right time.
    Are you going to start a side career in music videos now? You were a quite convincing evil boss. ;-)

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    1. Calathea, you are such a charmer! I never considered the fact that Binky might be a fairy...it would make so much more sense!

      I wish I got to start a side career in music videos! They are so much fun to make. I could play an evil boss all day long--LOL.

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  16. I've loved Dragons since the Pern books back in the day. They are still a favorite, though I don't read about them much.

    I'm excited to see this audiobook come out. I loved the Irregulars stories and I was able to get my paperback signed at GRNW by three of the four authors. Josh, I'm lookin' at you...

    It'll be nice to see Agent Curry come back in Charmed and Dangerous!

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    1. Hi Susan! Ditto on the dragons and fire lizards!


      Will you be at GRNW again this year? I think a whole bunch of the Charmed and Dangerous authors are going to be on hand.

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    2. Yes, I'll be there. Looking forward to it again.

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  17. Hi, Nicole and Josh! Thanks to the Pern books, I've always had a soft spot for dragons. I'm fond of unicorns and demons. But for some reason, I love gargoyles, they're so misunderstood and shunned. Just like dragons are becoming more mainstream, it only takes a few fabulous authors *hint, hint* to help them take their rightful place next to dragons and unicorns and demons. Oops, now I sound like a nutcase with an agenda.
    The IRREGULARS are one of my favorite books, and I have print and eBook versions. Nicole, the CHERRIES WORTH GETTING audiobook trailer was great and it's on my wishlist. CHARMED AND DANGEROUS is pre-ordered.
    Thank you for appearing on Josh's blog today.
    --Judy Stone
    j dot stonewright at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Judy!

      Dragons, you say? Jeez, I don't know if I could ever top the Pern dragons. It's such a tall order right? They're psychic and you can ride on them but they act like cats PLUS when they mate you gets the horny for the other dragonrider....

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  18. Gryphons!

    Loved Irregulars ( like Petit Morts, where each writer's take on the theme so artfully adds to the story ). Cant wait to read Charmed.

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    1. Hey there, wsinonds, welcome! I liked the Petit Morts too. Jordan does a really awesome job of doing these anthologies and series. I felt so flattered when she asked me to participate.

      Having read the other authors in Charmed and Dangerous, I have to say that readers will absolutely not be disappointed. I'm really stoked for the release. :)

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  19. I'd like to say that my favorite magical creature right now is Tommy Jordan, just because WOW what a lot you two accomplished.

    As far as traditional mythic creatures go I'm torn between selkies and tanuki.

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  20. Hey Ginn! For some reason I can't make that there reply button up there work for you comment but yeah, Tommy Jordan is kind of a mythical creature isn't he?

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  21. Well i have a toss up, I can't go past the good old dragon (Pern dragon not Hobbit dragon.) Or a magic horse (Unicorns, Pegasus...Pegasi? )

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    1. Hello, Lestweship!

      What if the Pern dragon had Benedict Cumberbatch's voice though?

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  22. ....do Pokemon count as imaginary creatures?

    Okay, okay, my top one is the Copper Dragon from D&D. They are four legged with separated wings, intelligent, and very social. They love practical jokes. I mean, look at these cuties: http://www.draconika.com/types/images/copper-dragon.jpg

    Second favorite are probably mermaids. I have a love of marine biology, Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my FAVORITE places, and kelp forests are magical.

    Last but not least, Legend of Zelda fairies. Little balls of light with insect wings. I have a fondness.

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  23. Dragons have always been my favorite and I do love the Fae. Just don't ask my favorite dragon cause it is just too many to pick just 1.

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  24. Silly humans. I see no mythical creatures listed here. There is only one mythical creature; a sentient being of pure heart. I just finished 'Cherries Worth Getting' in audio & loved it.

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