My Interview on Vision Australia Radio's Emerging Writers Programme

This month I was interviewed for the Emerging Writers Programme on Vision Australia Radio (Adelaide). You can here the two parts of my interview below:

Part 1 - 14 December 2024

Part 2 - 21 December 2024

NJM Book Challenge 2021

Morning, one and all.

After completing my personal reading challenges for 2019 and 2020, I decided to set up a new one for 2021, and I'm inviting all of you to join me!

As with the 2019 & 2020 challenges, there are 25 items to tick off by year's end, and with some books likely to satisfy more than one category, it shouldn't be too difficult for most readers to accomplish.

If any of you decide to take part, do remember to use the hashtag #NJMBookChallenge2021 in any posts, and I look forward to following your progress throughout the year.

Got any questions? Pop them in the comments below, or DM me on Twitter (@NickiJMarkus), and I'll be happy to answer them.

Happy Reading! 

Writer Update - December 2019

Writing Update - September 2019

Welcome to my third writing update for 2019.

Nicki's New Watches - TV & Film Seen in June 2019

Time to share my thoughts on the TV shows and films I have watched during June.

Writing Update - June 2019

Welcome to my second writing update for 2019.

Blood Is Forever is out! My latest MM PNR novel released from NineStar Press last week, and you can find out more and hear me read a short excerpt on my YouTube channel HERE.

I continue to roll out fortnightly new chapters of For the Devil a Crown on Tablo (find it HERE). We have now reached the halfway point in this free-read novel-length tale, so what better time to catch up if you've not yet begun reading it? You can learn more about this story in my launch blog post.

In addition, I have just signed a contract with Dreamspinner Press for my MM contemporary short story, A Stitch in Time, to be included in this year's Advent Calendar.

Other than that, I have no submissions in and no other LGBT stories on the horizon at present, though I have several in first-draft stage on which I will continue working as we head into the second half of this year.

In the meantime, I am re-editing several of my previous MF works with the view to rereleasing them (all self-published) later this year/early 2020. My friend Alina is helping me with that and I hope to have more news for you in my next update. See you then!

Writing Update: March 2019

Welcome to my first writing update for 2019.

I actually don't have a lot to report as I am still trying to get back into things after 2018's writing slump. I talk a little more about that in this morning's short Writing Update Vlog if you wish to have a listen.

At present I am working on a short story for DSP's 2019 Advent Calendar call, so I hope to get that finished in time for the submission deadline. After that I will try to get going again with one of my four WIPs.

In the meantime, my MM PNR novel, Blood is Forever, is currently slated for release on 27 May. We are just starting edits, and I am really looking forward to sharing the story with you. I will have more news on that soon, so keep your eyes on my social media accounts to stay abreast of all the latest developments.

Finally, I am releasing a free-read novel! Chapter One of For the Devil a Crown is up now on Tablo (find it HERE), and I will be posting a new chapter every fortnight between now and the end of September. You can read more about this story in my launch blog post.

New Release Free-Read: For the Devil a Crown by Nicki J. Markus (Historical/Cogpunk/PNR)

Today I am thrilled to reveal my latest release!

For the Devil a Crown is a free-read available via my Tablo page. I will be releasing the work as a serial novel, with a new chapter posted every fortnight from now until the end of September. I will announce each posting on Twitter and Instagram, so do follow me on one of those platforms to get the latest updates on this work and more.

For now, let me tell you about For the Devil a Crown.

For the Devil a Crown
Nicki J. Markus
2 March-28 September 2019
56k Short Novel
MF/Historical Fiction/PNR/Cogpunk
Heat Rating: 1

A mechanist's daughter
A haunted spy
And a malevolent force that threatens all

London 1862

Clara, only child of Royal Mechanist Sir Miles Corvington, is not a young woman prone to jitters. However, she will need to draw on all her skill and fortitude in the dark days ahead.

Aided by the enigmatic but haunted Eldon Finch, she must find a way to combat the malevolent forces that threaten not only the queen but the entire world... before it's too late.

Read for Free on Tablo

Reading Recs: Six Books Based on Norse Myth

Welcome to the first of my Reading Recs posts!

Once a month from now until November, I will share an infographic featuring some of my top book recommendations in different categories.

Kicking us off today are books based on the stories from Norse mythology.

Of course, I wouldn't be much of a writer if I didn't mention my very own work, The Ragnarök Chronicles. In this story Norse myth comes crashing into the modern world, and into the life of unsuspecting human Cassandra.

Loki also appears in the modern age, trouble brewing in his wake, in C. Gockel's I Bring the Fire series.

Meanwhile, A.S. Byatt deals with the end of the world in Ragnarok.

The beautifully conceived The Hurricane Party by Klas Östergren takes a fresh look at the Lokasenna from a very different perspective.

Then Joanne M. Harris gives Loki a chance to explain his actions in The Gospel of Loki.

And finally Neil Gaiman's American Gods plunges us into a battle between the old gods and the new.

Writing Update - December 2018

Welcome to the last of my bimonthly writing updates for 2018.

Nicki J. Markus
I have zero to report on this pen name. Still debating what to do with a few finished pieces. I'm not keen to self-pub again, and I don't have a suitable publisher in mind, so I'm considering doing a few as freebies, perhaps in a serialised form. Watch this space as I will plan more on this in 2019!

Asta Idonea
I had a few releases in 2018, all of which did reasonably well review-wise. At present I have only one work contracted for release in 2019: a MM PNR novel coming from NineStar Press. Keep posted for more news on that as we head into 2019. I have four works currently in progress, so I hope to get at least a couple of those to submission stage during next year. I will also keep an eye on any anthology calls and maybe write some more shorts.

That's all for me for 2018, but I wish you all happy holidays and much joy and success in 2019.

The NJM Book Challenge 2019!

NJM Book Challenge 2019

Morning, one and all.

Every year I see reading challenges taking place; however, the only one I usually take part in is the Goodreads Challenge, setting myself a certain number of books to read.

I've decided to be more adventurous in 2019, and have come up with the following mini-challenge to complete.

And I'm inviting all of you to join me!

There are 25 items to tick off by year's end, and with some books likely to satisfy more than one category, it shouldn't be too difficult for most readers to accomplish.

If any of you decide to take part, do remember to use the hashtag #NJMBookChallenge2019 in any posts, and I look forward to following your progress throughout the year.

Got any questions? Pop them in the comments below, or DM me on Twitter (@NickiJMarkus), and I'll be happy to answer them.

I also discuss the challenge on my YouTube channel, and you can watch that video HERE.

Writing Update - October 2018

Welcome to the fifth of my bimonthly writing updates for 2018.

Nicki J. Markus
I still have nothing to report for this pen name. I am having some communication difficulties with one of my publishers (who hasn't sent me a royalty report since January), so I am skittish about submitting anything new to them at present. I think I will wait out this year and decide how to move forward in 2019.

Asta Idonea
I've been slack on the writing front over the last few months. I kind of lost my mojo there for a while. Luckily, I can sense the writing urge returning, so I hope to get back into it between now and year's end. I have four stories all in early stages, so I will press on with those as we head into 2019. In the meantime, I have a holiday short story out from Dreamspinner Press in December, and I signed with NineStar Press for my MM paranormal romance novel Blood is Forever. Publication of the latter will be in 2019. I will let you know when I have a firm date for release.

New and Forthcoming Publications

• Barbies and Beaches (MM Holiday Short Story) - Dreamspinner Press - 1 December
• Blood is Forever (Sanguis Est In Aeternum) (MM PNR novel) - NineStar Press - 2019

New Release: Beneath Yggdrasil's Shadow (Featuring A Handmaid's Purpose by Nicki J. Markus)

Today I am thrilled to share the Beneath Yggdrasil's Shadow anthology, which includes my short story 'A Handmaid's Purpose'.

Beneath Yggdrasil's Shadow
Anthology
Fantasia Divinity
26 August 2018
Fantasy/Short Stories 

Norse mythology has a fascinating take on the universe and a pantheon of amazing gods and goddesses. Although there are many stories that have survived the ages, there are several tales that were lost to time. 

This anthology focuses on stories about Norse goddesses that have been mostly forgotten. There are many goddesses that we now know very little about, their origins erased from history. Who are these barely mentioned goddesses? Where did they come from? These are the stories that history did not remember.

Featuring 23 stories about Norse goddesses such as Sigyn, Ran, Idun, Nott, Eir, Angrboda, and many more!

With stories by Cindar Harrell, Victor H. Rodriguez, Christine Morgan, Jade Black, Amelia Sirina, Jane Dougherty, R.A. Goli, Eddie D. Moore, Lisa M. Landreth, Tony Daly, Cassandra Schoeber, Aaron Hwang, Genevieve Gornichec, Matthew Wilson, Nicki J. Markus, Tahni J. Nikitins, DJ Tyrer, Kari Holloway, Claire Davon, Gerri Leen, Antonius M. Hogebrandt, David W. Landrum, and S. Locke.

Audio Excerpt / YouTube Excerpt

Fantasia Divinity / Amazon US / Amazon UK

Writing Update - August 2018

Welcome to the fourth of my bimonthly writing updates for 2018.

Nicki J. Markus

My short story 'A Handmaid's Purpose' just released in the Beneath Yggdrasil's Shadow anthology, but I have no further news for this pen name at present.

Asta Idonea

Super for You, Bad for Me released this week! Exciting!! I am still waiting to hear back from the publisher regarding a MM PNR novel I submitted, but I have signed a contract with Dreamspinner Press for my holiday short 'Barbies and Beaches', so I will have more news on that later in the year.

Writing Update - June 2018

Welcome to the third of my bimonthly writing updates for 2018.

Nicki J. Markus
I only have the one, small forthcoming publication as Nicki J. Markus at present. However, before the year's end, I do hope to finalise a couple of practically finished works and see if I can find a home for them.

Asta Idonea
At present I am getting ready to promote my July and August releases, waiting to hear back on two submissions, and starting first drafts of two MM PNR novels, one contemporary with witches and one historical with vampires.

Hear More On My Vlog!

New and Forthcoming Publications

• A Handmaid's Tale (Fantasy/Myth Short Story) - Fantasia Divinity - June (TBC)

• Beastly Businessmen & Guitar Gods (MM contemporary short story collection) - NineStar Press - 23 Jul

• Super for You, Bad For Me (MM fantasy/superhero novel) - Dreamspinner Press - 14 Aug

Vlog: Ask An Author - BuJo for Writers

Following on from yesterday's vlog, I discuss in more depth how I use my bullet journal to organise my writing.

Vlog: Ask An Author - Journey of a Story

In today's vlog, I consider the journey of a story, from conception to publication.

Vlog - Ask An Author: Authors Answer 55-60

In today's vlog I am sharing more of those author questions and answers. Hard to believe I'm nearing the end of the list. By August I will be done with these and will be moving on to some different content for you!

Vlog: Crash Course in the Classics - Introduction

Today I talk about my plans for my new monthly vlog series, Crash Course in the Classics.

Vlog: Ask An Author - Self-Publishing Stages

Today in my Ask An Author vlog, I look at the various stages you need to go through in order to self-publish your book.