Current release: Maria Gonzalez coming Feb. 1, 2009 (the previous release being a Dutch one)
Favorite book: Um... difficult! I like to read a lot, so have many favorite books & authors. One of the books I remember from my early youth was "Mara, Daughter of the Nile" by Eloise McGraw. Recently, I kind of prefer books John Connolly, Christopher Fowler, Paul Doherty, Val McDermid, Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, Clive Cussler, Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Tami Hoag, .... probably forget one or two, but you get the drift!
Favorite holiday: The most beautiful place I ever visited was Machu Picchu in Peru, old city of the Inca's. Made a trip through Peru and Bolivia that was quite unforgettable. Also have fond memories of our safari through Kenya, our trip to Thailand (all in the 1980's) and more recently, the many trips to the USA. Also have seen most of Europe, including Russia and Turkey.
Fondest memory: Of my parents and greatparents
What's on my wish list: First of all, remain healthy for a long time to come, and then have a bestseller.
10 comments:
Please welcome our Day 3 guest author, Nickie Fleming!
Nickie lives in Belgium and is fluent in several languages. She has had five novels published--three in English and two in Dutch. Her first novel from Rogue Phoenix Press, "Maria Gonzalez," will be released February 1, 2009.
Nickie said Belgium time is nine hours ahead of the West Coast of the United States. It's just a little past midnight where I am, so it's morning already in Belgium and Nickie is probably at her day job.
Nickie, thank you for being my guest author. When you get a chance to stop by, please tell us a little more about yourself and why you decided to seek out a publisher in the U.S.
Happy Holidays,
Favorite book, well that would have to be the one I'm reading at the time. I used to think I had to finish every book I started. I don't believe that anymore. There are too many books that I enjoy to waste my time reading one that doesn't work for me. I have accepted the fact that because I don't like a book, doesn't mean the book isn't good, only that it doesn't meet my like-ability scale. It's not a slam on the author. For every book I don't like there's no doubt two readers who do like it. During the holidays I love reading seasonal books. Donna
Hello everyone!
I'm Nickie from Belgium and I live there in a town called Dendermonde. The town is very old, probably founded even before the Romans arrived in our parts. Dendermonde gots its town charter in 1234, by Count Robert de Béthune (believe it or not, one of my ancestors, although from an illegal child).
I've lived my entire life (52 years) in the same town, in the same house. My grandparents came to live here in 1930. My grandfather got a commission as commander of the garrison and had to move to Dendermonde. They bought this house. My parents remained living with them, and my sister and I were born and lived together with parents and grandparents. It was a very nice, cosy family and we kids couldn't have wished for better folk!
Nowadays, it's only Christine and I who remain. The grandparents died, dad died in 1993 and our mother last October.
Both my sister and I are teachers and we work in education. We both have full time jobs there.
I've been fascinated by books ever since I was 2. My grandmother took me with her to the library. I could read before I went to primary school, and started writing my first story in the 1st form.
Since then, the stories have grown longer and longer, until they reached full lenght for a novel.
I'm still making up stories, and hope to publish more books in the days to come!
Hi, Donna! So good to hear from you again!
I found your comment very interesting about your favorite book being the one you are reading at the time. I've heard authors say the same about books they are writing, and that's true for me also.
That said, I also tend to write books with characters from a previous book, so I guess I don't leave those friends behind. :)
Well, my doggies are up now and insisting on breakfast, so I'll check back in later!
Just a quick hello, Nickie, before I go feed my doggies!
Thank you so much for being the guest author today! I find your background and the continuity of your family in one place very interesting.
I'll be back later...
Hello again!
Nickie, though it's just getting to be mid-day here on the West Coast of the States, it must be evening there in Belgium.
Before you wind down for the day, would you comment on the differences (and similarities) in getting a book published in Belgium and getting one published in the U.S. Has electronic publishing caught on much yet in Belgium or do most people still prefer a "paper" book they can hold in their hands?
Well Genene, publishing in Belgium is quite different. For starters, people here are only interested in reading thrillers. So publishers don't accept many other genres.
In fact, there are not many publishers around. We have Manteau (only thrillers) and Borgerhoff (life stories of sport heroes). That's about it.
Holland has a few POD publishers.
The part of the world in which Dutch is spoken is very small, and an author (even of thrillers) cannot live from writing alone. There's only one author, as far as I know, who lives of his writing: Pieter Aspe. His novels sell also in France, Germany, Poland and Italy.
Because I write in English first, it was obvious that I'd chose a publisher in the UK or USA.
About electronic publishing, it's not big stuff here. Some people start to read e-books, but they are still few. Most of them still read paper novels - just watch the people on the train!
Hooray! Mara, Daughter of the Nile was my favorite book as a kid too! Some copies of the original 1953 edition are now selling for over $100, and it has been re-printed a number of times.
Nickie,
Thanks once again for being my guest and for taking the time to answer questions.
Belgians only want thrillers, huh? Interesting! Well, I hope your historical fiction stories find a willing fan base here in the States!
Hi, Delle!
So glad you dropped by! Maybe our books will be treasured classics some day!
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