Saturday, September 01, 2012

50th party blog guest - Nicola Cornick

Nicola Cornick is another author I’ve known for so long that I can’t actually remember if we met first through the RNA or at an M&B party. She’s a historical author, so we talk a lot about history. And dogs (did you know she’s a guide dog puppy walker? See pic below of Nicola with the gorgeous Rochester). And cookery (I can indulge in the joy of historical recipes with Nicola). And she was kind enough to let me grill her about her trip to Spitzberg when I was writing my Northern Lights book, Temporary Boss, Permanent Mistress (she really earned that dedication, I can tell you! … and my editor should probably start worrying about what I’m going to sneak into a future book). I normally share a house or flat with her and Sarah Morgan at RNA conferences, which involves drinking very civilised cups of tea (oh, OK, so wine is sometimes involved) and talking and laughing until very late. Her books are total autobuys for me, and what I love (apart from her gorgeous heroes, and heroines you’d want to be friends with) is that I always learn something new from them (eg about the London Beer Flood of 1814 in Mistress by Midnight).

Over to Nicola:

It's such a huge pleasure to be here to join in the celebrations for Kate's 50th book! The blog party has been going on for a while now and I have been enjoying reading all the posts and seeing all these wonderful authors paying tribute to Kate's success. 50 books is a landmark and a great achievement as well as an inspiration to authors like me who still have a little way to go to their 50th. So all hail Kate and her amazing writing!

I've known Kate quite a while and she has been a wonderful friend and colleague to me. We've had so much fun at those RNA conferences! We share a love of history. I have quite a few of her 50 books on my keeper shelf as well but here are three that I particularly love:

The Italian GP's Bride for its utterly gorgeous hot hero; I adore him! Sold to the Highest Bidder because I love historic houses (as well as hot heroes!) and Temporary Boss, Permanent Mistress because Kate and I had such a fun time talking about ice hotels and the Northern Lights and all the other magical elements that make the setting of that story so very special.

Congratulations, Kate, and I look forward to adding many more of your books to my shelves!


To celebrate Kate's phenomenal blog party I'm giving away a copy of my latest UK release, Desired, and a copy of my latest US release, Forbidden, both of which are out this month. In Desired, society widow Tess Darent makes a convenient match with a man she thinks has no wish to consummate their marriage only to discover that they share a very inconvenient attraction. Forbidden is a rags-to-riches Cinderella story in which maidservant Margery Mallon discovers that she is the richest heiress in the country. If you would like to enter, just comment below and tell me what forbidden treats you like indulging in (I'm talking chocolates and wine here rather than anything else!)

You can find out more about Nicola and her books at her website www.nicolacornick.co.uk or her blog: www.nicolacornick.co.uk/blog; chat to her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicola.cornick and follow her on Twitter: @NicolaCornick

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome!!! I hope to read these books soon.I guess even at my again I enjoy fairytales.Hey 50 books is really AWESOME.Thanks for the intro to a new read.You are still the greatest!!!

Anonymous said...

I indulge in a well deserved and can't resist slice of turtle cheesecake once in a blue moon.

Caroline said...

Hi Nicola - great blog. It's been such fun celebrating Kate's 50th book blog party. I have a real sweet tooth - so anything that's naughty is my forbidden treat. Strawberry cheesecake is at the top of the list though! A case of "a moment on the lips a lifetime on the hips!" Caroline x

Alison said...

Congrats Kate by the way!

Hmm, well forbidden pleasures will always involve chocolate, but actually I spend far too much money buying books (who's counting I say) and probably far too much time reading, so that has to be my number one :)

Carol Hedges said...

Kate, I have nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you for being a bright and beautiful inspiration. The Rules for this award are as follows: Thank the person nominating you for the award and link back to them. List ten things about yourself (Here is the link to my previous acceptance: http://carolhedges.blogspot.com) Nominate 6 blogs you think deserve the Kreativ Blogger Award. x

Nicola Cornick said...

Hi everyone and thank you to Kate for inviting me to her Blog Party today. (And congrats on the Kreative Blogger award, Kate!)

With cheesecake and chocolate you hav already covered two of my own forbidden treats. Cannot resist a chocolate eclair!

Kate Hardy said...

Ohh, cheesecake! Dlynnpen - what's turtle cheesecake? (Intrigued... and there must be a story behind that!) Caroline - oh yessie. (We've got friends round for dinner tonight and I nearly bought an Eton Mess cheesecake from M&S - think raspberry and white chocolate - but instead we were good and hit the Hairy Bikers' diet recipes.) Alison - thank you - and oh yes on chocolate. Carol - wow, thank you! Nicola, lovely to have you guesting today :)

mk said...

Chocolate & toffee-covered almonds from Trader Joe's. Alas, we no longer live near a Trader Joe's, so we have to buy them when we're on trips and carefully hoard them. I wish I could just google them up without thinking about their scarcity!!

bn100 said...

Congrats on the books! Anything chocolate

Nicola Cornick said...

Wow, mk! Chocolate and toffee-covered almonds sounds delicious. I used to have quite a think for sugared almonds when I was younger.

And chocolate for you too, Bn100! Can't argue with that.

Jan Jones said...

For me it has to be Thorntons Alcoholic Truffles. Sadly, they are less of a temptation than they used to be as the Newmarket branch of Thorntons has closed!

This does mean that any time I'm visiting somewhere new and see that chocolate banner on a shop, I'm inside and wrenching my purse open WELL before I start counting the calories...

Unknown said...

hi kate and nicola, my favourite guilty pleasure is oreo chocolate cake that my sister often makes for me for my birthday:). aFTER ALL, it just happened once a year like once in a blue moon, so I am guiltily eat half of it :).

Nicola Cornick said...

LOL, Jan, I am exactly the same except that I love those Thorntons Alpinis! I know there is a Thorntons in a town 10 miles away so I make a special trip.

Aretha, half a cake? Wow! But it IS your birthday so you should be allowed to indulge.

girlygirlhoosier52 said...

50 books!! That's wonderful!! So many wonderful reads!! I love salted caramels!!

Unknown said...

The occasional pizza is source of great excitement to me these days...

Please put me into the draw - thank you xx

gholmes724 ((at)) gmail ((d0t)) com

Kate Hardy said...

First name drawn from the hat for Nicola's books 'Desired' and 'Forbidden' - Alison. Please contact me kate(dot)hardy(at)btinternet(dot)com with your details, and I'll get everything sorted :o) Thanks for taking part!

Jamie Leigh Martin said...

Chocolate covered sunflower seeds.. Shhh.

Alison said...

Woo hoo - thanks!