Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Nicki Rae

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Another Indiana author is visiting today! Nicki Rae is here to share a peek at her book Damaged Perfection and tell us about her writing process. Be sure to comment for a chance to win a copy!

Blurb:

Guilt.
It rules my life.
I am riddled with it.
After fifteen years, you would think it would lessen.
It hasn’t.
Drugs numb it.
Women relieve it.
But it always comes back.
Always.
The light.
I keep reaching for it.
But it is always just out of my grasp.

Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00P6KULUI
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00P6KULUI
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00P6KULUI
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00P6KULUI

Interview:
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Nicki: I have always loved books and have always wanted to write one of my own. It wasn’t until this year that I finally decided to just do it and I am so glad that I made that leap. With a tiny nudge from my aunt and the support of my family, I began writing my first novel, Lather, in January. On November 3rd, I released my second novel, Damaged Perfection. If you would have asked me this time last year if I would be a published author, I would probably have laughed at the idea. I love words and figuring out how to manipulate them into describing the scene that I see in my head.

Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Nicki: I can definitely see writing being a great career for me. I do have a day job, but whatever book I am working on at the time is constantly on my mind. Every new situation that I encounter is a potential story. Long story short, I am not a very good 9-5 employee as my mind is always going.

Me: This book is the first in a series. Do you prefer to write single title or series? Why?
Nicki: Damaged Perfection is Part One of The Perfection Series. Although I LOVE to read series, I have decided that after I finished this series and put an end to my Moore series (The first series I wrote) I will be concentrating more on single titles. I am not saying that I will never write a series again but they are a lot of commitment and at this point I believe I want to concentrate on a single book at a time.

Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Nicki: Damaged Perfection is told from dual points of view; Piper and Fenton share the spotlight in this one. Piper is a strong female lead. While she is trying to find her way in her brand new career, she has strong morals and not much can make her stray. Fenton has some issues and doesn’t handle them very well. Although he wants to change, it is just too difficult for him. I believe he has good instincts about people; he reciprocates the treatment he is given. It is very evident from the moment you meet him that he has demons and I think throughout the book he grows with each new situation that he faces.

Me: Is there a message in your novel you hope to convey to your readers?
Nicki: There are a couple messages that I wanted to portray. I don’t want to give too much away but the main focus is how much drugs can not only affect the addict’s life but also their family. This brings me to my second message: family. It is important that each person in a family unit know their role and how devastating it can be if you do not follow through. You have to understand how quickly a bad situation can snowball if you sit back and just watch.

Me: I love a good conflict. What draws your main characters to each other and keeps them apart?
Nicki: Chemistry draws Piper and Fenton together, even when they both fight it. What keeps them together is how much they are able to help each other when one or both of them weren’t even aware they needed it.

Me: How did you come up with the title?
Nicki: Damaged Perfection was initially Flawed Perfection. I just happened to be searching Amazon one day and found another novel with the same title so I had to change it. Although at first I thought flawed fit Fenton better, once I finished the novel, it was very evident to me that he was much more damaged. Thus the title, Damaged Perfection, was born.

Me: I usually get plot ideas in the shower and while driving. When/where does inspiration strike you?
Nicki: I think the shower and driving are two very good places to think through your plots. I almost always have a notebook on my nightstand because I wake up at all hours of the night with a new plot twist or some new kind of drama that will make the read better.

Me: What new stories are you working on?
Nicki: Currently, I am working on Part Two in The Perfection Series. I also have a few stand-alone titles that I am anxious to get started. I love action along with my drama as I am a suspense junkie. So, I have been researching and plotting out a book about a super hot sniper. I cannot wait to get to that one!

Author Bio:

Nicki is the author of Lather, the first book in The Moore Series and Damaged Perfection Part One of the Perfection Series. She is a born Buckeye turned Hoosier who loves to spend time with her family. Along with being an avid reader, she also loves her animals and the Indianapolis Colts!



Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicki-Rae/513751432069691?ref=hl
Twitter: @authornickirae
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/102638192147361865899/posts
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Nicki-Rae/e/B00L776A9A/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1416164658&sr=8-1

Thanks for visiting with me, Nicki, and thanks to the readers who stopped by! Be sure to comment by midnight (EST) on Wednesday, November 26, for a chance to win a copy of Damaged Perfection!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!