2024 COVERS

2024 covers

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We are writers mainly from Australia and New Zealand who write speculative fiction with romantic elements. Be it fantasy, paranormal, dark urban fantasy, futuristic and everything in between.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Magic Thursday ... Mimosa Black

When nature rules your head, can you follow your heart?    

"Mimosa Black" is my third release with Eternal Press and I'm giving away an e-copy to a commenter today.

I can't really remember what inspired me to write "Mimosa Black", but I think it had something to do with the somewhat unfair reputation my hometown has.
It's set in Rockingham WA, which has the dubious honour of being called "Bogan-ville" West Australia (for those of you who don't know what a bogan is, this is the wiki entry to explain). As there is high number of 'cashed up bogans' in this area, I wondered how I could translate this into a paranormal creature... Enter the Harpy - uncouth, loud and opinionated - a perfect addition to my fictional world. In "Mimosa Black", Rockingham is the home to the largest flock of Harpies in the Southern hemisphere and my character, Mimosa, is one of them.


One of my favourite things about paranormal writing is thinking about how mythological/magical beings would fit into modern life. The fact is, they'd probably fit in pretty badly.

Mimosa Black is a hybrid Harpy, unlike the "True Harpy" image (see left) Mimosa has the body of an ordinary woman with the addition of glossy black wings - and this makes her something of a disappointment to her flock and to herself as well, as Mimosa's wings are mostly useless. Combining her Harpy nature and Human body makes Mimosa an unusual heroine, and one that's far from perfect. Unable to control her basal instincts, Mimosa finds herself literally in some very sticky positions. 
I had a blast writing this novella, and for anyone local, you'll probably get a smile from some of the scenes.

Here's the blurb;
    
"In a world where magical creatures are as rare as a spotty teen at a supermarket checkout, being one quarter Harpy shouldn’t be a problem.
Unfortunately for Mimosa Black, this is not the case. Combining her failed marriage, inability to fly, and unrequited crush on her childhood friend, Bo Elliot – Mimosa’s existence is less than idyllic.

Things however, are rarely as they seem. Bo has a secret and when Mimosa falters, his secret is revealed.  Yet in their darkest moments, where bad magic lurks, love is never far away. Mimosa and Bo do have a chance at happiness, if they're selfless enough to find it...

Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy...and have a lovely Christmas!

10 comments:

  1. Hi Nicola,
    Mimosa Black sounds fantastic, imperfect heroines are my favourite kind! They always make for the best read.
    To all the darksiders -- have a merry christmas and safe/happy new year! 2012 is going to be a blast (hopefully not literally... you know with that whole Mayan-Calender thing... :D )
    Jess.

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  2. Hi Nicola,
    I love hearing how other writers' minds work. Everyone is so different.

    Your blurb sounds great. How long did it take for you to come up with those 2 paragraphs?

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  3. Heroines paranormal romance and all set in my old home town what more could a reader ask for and reading this email on my birthday was an added bonus even if i don't get this I will be buying it. Have a great christmas and prosperous new year to all darksiders

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  4. Thanks Jess! Have a great Christmas too!

    Sandy - Thanks. I hate writing blurbs! However, I've got to say that one came pretty quickly and I'll confess, I was pretty happy with it!

    Ruatha - another one from the 'Ham hey? Good to see you and happy birthday - hope you have a great Christmas and New Year too.

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  5. Sounds like a fantastic story Nicola and I have to agree with Sandy, brilliant blurb. I love your interpretation as a harpy being the bogan of the paranormal world LOL. I must have a whole colony of them up the road from me :-)

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  6. Thanks for telling us about Mimosa Black and setting it in Rockhampton. I never knew about it's reputation. Though 'cashed up' and 'bogan' sounds like an oxymoron.

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  7. Thanks ladies. Eleni, Rockingham - not Rockhampton! All I know about Rockhampton are the statues of big bulls with big balls! Lol. WA there are loads of people who work fly-in-fly out in the mines and subsequently have money to burn.

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  8. Oh goodness, Nicola. Shows that I shouldn't be commenting at 2 in the morning! Now money to burn would be handy at this time of year. :)

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  9. Wow, this story sounds so intriguing and unique. Haven't had the pleasure of reading about a Harpy before and this book seems like it would be a good place to start!

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