Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of the Australian contemporary romance series Peters Junction. So far, I have published 3 books, with a 4th due for release in the next few months and the 5th a work in progress. Set in both rural and urban environments, my books showcase the best of Australia and reflect my love of travelling this vast country.
I have always been a daydreamer, and even though it took some time for me to work up the courage to put my fingers to the keyboard and actually commit my stories to the page, I rarely went a day without dreaming about my characters. Whenever I wasn’t working (and sometimes when I was!) I would get lost in my thoughts, dreaming up new characters and plotting the twists and turns of their lives.
My reading tastes are widely varied, ranging from fantasy to crime to romance, and drifting from poetry to biographies to non-fiction texts.
On a personal level, I am a wife, mother to four children, and I live with my family in a small rural town on the outskirts of Adelaide, South Australia. I love animals and although I currently only have two dogs, we are building up our property in preparation for chickens, alpacas and goats.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Redemption (Peters Junction Series Book 3)
This book actually came about because my primary beta reader requested it. The hero of the story is the “bad guy” in another book (Promise – Peters Junction Series Book 2) and I never intended to give him his own story. Even when the idea was suggested to me I didn’t take it seriously. My subconscious however, had other ideas and I kept thinking of more and more ways that I could give this guy his own “happily-ever-after” love story.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Every story starts with a daydream. I spend hours imagining every scene before I ever actually put my words on the page.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson. I think they write real characters while at the same time incorporating humour and fun into their stories.
What are you working on now?
Cosmic Glitch – the first book in my new Stonebridge series.
When an accident unexpectedly leaves Jessie Hawthorn with an injury that ends her ballet career, she tries to rebuild her life by focusing on running the Stonebridge Foundation, a family owned charity. Shane Taylor, best friend of Jessie’s older brother Derek, has been in love with Jessie for years, but she’s never really noticed him before, until one day when suddenly she does.
As their relationship builds, Jessie continues to recover. When Jessie sees an opportunity to revive her ballet aspirations, she is faced with the choice of following her childhood dreams or embracing her new life with the man she loves.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Give away your first book for free! When you first start out, you’re competing against so many other new and established authors that you really do have to offer people a glimpse of what they can expect. I published my first three books all at once—because I had been a bit shy about publishing them earlier—so I decided to give away the first book, Secret, in the hopes that people would then go ahead and purchase Promise and Redemption. So far, the response has been positive.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It takes time to get going. It’s unlikely you’re going to be a success overnight. But you’re not alone, there are so many resources out there (like awesomegang.com) who want to help you promote your book. All you have to do is search for them.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best way to sell books, is to keep writing them. The more you publish, the more you’ll sell. The best form of promotion is to keep bringing out new, fresh stories to keep your readers interested.
What are you reading now?
The Blinding Light by Renae Kaye
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have just started work on my new series Stonebridge, and have been hard at work on the first two books. Cosmic Glitch is almost a complete first draft, while the second book in the series – as yet unnamed – has the outline written.
I also intend to return to the Peters Junction series in the near future. I’m not done with it yet.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only 3 or 4? What if I packed my kindle and a solar charging kit, would that be allowed? That would only take the place of about 2 books but I’d be able to load thousands!
Seriously though, I would definitely take:
Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Man Drought by Rachael Johns
Avery by Charlotte McConaghy
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Author Websites and Profiles
Nicola Sinclair Website
Nicola Sinclair Amazon Profile
Nicola Sinclair Author Profile on Smashwords
Nicola Sinclair’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account