Venturing to Other Worlds

My guest today is the author of the Letting Go series. In fiction, she imagines. In friendship, she inspires. Comment below for a chance to win an e-book copy of All Who Dream. Meet my dear friend, Nicole Deese…

Hi Nicole! Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

1. I could eat Nutella at every meal and still crave it.
2. After finishing my first novel, All for Anna, I went on a reading binge for thirty days. I buddy-read 35 novels with my good friend, Rebekah. (See, I’m not the only crazy reader out there!)
3. Because I have two sons, I was never able to use the “girl names” I’d picked out while I was pregnant…until I became an author. Now, most of my books have at least one character named after a favorite “girl name” of mine. It’s fun being an author mommy!

Wow! Thirty-five novels in thirty days. I’m jealous. Which author do you most admire? Why?

My favorite author is Tahereh Mafi. She writes YA dystopian/romance with an element of fantasy. Her writing is lyrical, moving, and very deep. I’ve never read anything like her, and that’s pretty impressive since I could make a career out of reading fiction.

Tahereh Mafi is a great author. Now, what is your favorite genre to read? And to write?

I often joke that I could read ANYTHING… as long as there’s a splash of romance in the storyline. I’m a sucker for romance, and that is precisely why I write in the romance genre. I believe a great love story has the power to stir hearts toward truth, forgiveness, and faith. We are all drawn toward love because of the One who first loved us.

That may be the best reason for reading and writing romance I’ve ever heard. Where did you get the idea, as well as continued inspiration, for your novel?

I’ve served in a recovery program at my church for the last couple of years. The ministry has challenged me, shaped me, and inspired me to share the message of hope that I’ve watched transform so many lives, including my own. Each of my books have an aspect of recovery—everything from past hurts, addiction, heartache, and loss.

Recovery is a tough issue for many people. Who does your intended audience include? Believers and nonbelievers? In what ways do you believe your story reaches each?

I would say my readership is split 50/50. And I LOVE that! I have received many emails, messages, and comments from women who were searching for answers while reading my stories. Though I never know how a character or scene will lead someone to a place of healing and truth, God does. Writing the Letting Go Series has created such an awesome platform for me to share my heart, as well as my faith. My goal in contemporary romance has been the same since the day I decided to write my first novel: To be relevant, relatable, and real.

What message do you hope your readers will take away after reading your novel?

That even in our darkest moments, there is a Light who can lead us out. No person or circumstance is too far to be seen, or too unreachable to be saved.

Well, now I’m inspired to go straight to my to-be-read list and grab all of your books! Before we finish, please share your favorite Bible verse and the ways in which it impacts your writing.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us! I love this verse so much that last year I had the word “imagine” tattooed on my left wrist. It serves as a constant reminder that God is bigger than even my wildest imagination. His plans for us are immeasurable. What an amazing truth!

Angela Flores is a survivor. 

Struggling to rebuild her life after she was brutally attacked and left her for dead six years ago, Angie takes comfort in the quiet life she’s created with her son Cody in the suburbs of Dallas. It’s a simple existence: managing a florist shop, leading a weekly recovery group, and blogging about the joys and challenges of being a single mom. But simple just became a lot more complicated. 

When Angie’s blog goes viral, the unexpected begins to happen. Suddenly, she’s signing with a publicist and heading to New
York City for the summer, where she meets brooding bachelor Jackson Ross. Though she is drawn to the mysterious CEO of Pinkerton Press, her instincts are as unreliable as her heart. 

She won’t fall victim to a man ever again. 

Jackson is well-versed in the art of denial. His perfect facade has been nearly impenetrable—until now. When the details of
Angie’s past are targeted by scandal, Jackson urges her to confront her fear despite his refusal to do the same. But neither of them can move forward without first uncovering one vital truth… 

That while some keep fighting to survive, all who dream will find the courage to live.

To get to Nicole’s characters better, check out All Who Dream, released December 2013 and available for purchase here.

Nicole Deese is a lover of fiction. When she’s not writing (or listening to the voices in her head), she can be found curled up on the sofa, reading. She often fantasizes about reading escapes, which look a lot like kid-free, laundry-free, and cooking-free vacations. A girl can dream, right? Her debut novel, a contemporary romance, All for Anna, was released in January 2013 and has hit multiple milestones, including a 4.6 star rating on Amazon and over 150,000 downloads on Kindle. She has since completed the Letting Go series, and a Christmas novella, A Cliché Christmas, which will be released in November 2014. Nicole lives in Frisco, Texas with her hunk-of-a-husband Tim, and two rowdy boys, Preston and Lincoln.

Follow Nicole at www.nicoledeese.com, www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor, and on Twitter @NicoleDeese.

Congratulations to last week’s giveaway winner, Shirlynn Buck!

As always, than you for hithering and venturing to another world with me. Please visit again next week for a guest post with Lisa Godfrees.