Author Nalini Singh Shares Her Secret to Staying Inspired

Today we have a visit from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Paranormal Romance author Nalini Singh. Super-Calli-fragilistic YAY! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

I was fortunate enough to meet Nalini earlier this year at Fresh Fiction's Boas & Tiaras event in Texas. Of course, I went total fan girl on her, gushed and asked innumerable story and writing questions. She handled me with utmost patience and graciousness. :)

(The gracious Nalini Singh)

However, I saved my most important question for her blog visit to share with y'all!

I love your productivity! (More NS stories to read!) So what keeps you inspired and writing?

 Here's Nalini's Answer:

"My inspiration comes from my love of writing. It is my passion, has always been my passion. I’ve written at bus stops, on trains, in a tent in the desert, while I’m the only person awake on an entire plane, on vacation…because writing is what gives me joy. 
I never ever want to lose that joy, so I nurture it – there are always parts of a project that get hard for example. When that happens, I give myself “play” time where I write things just for fun, like short stories or vignettes, or even a book that no one knows about. I’m usually itching to go back to my work in progress afterward, rejuvenated and excited to continue."

Thanks Nalini for a great answer! Play time and joy...what wonderful concepts and so key to creativity. It's important to remember them when we are stressing or hit a speed bump in our writing.

Speaking of writing, Nalini just released a new book. Yay! My reading self is super-duper-happy because I love her stories -- both the Psy-Changeling ones and her Guild Hunter series. Check out the awesome cover!



Here's the blurb:

Nalini Singh, the New York Times bestselling “alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) returns to an immortal world of violent passion and lethal power…on the brink of a deadly archangelic war.

Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.
Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

Want A Taste?

Visit Nalini's website for an excerpt by clicking on  http://www.nalinisingh.com/legion.php

Have More Questions?



Though Nalini’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the Highlands of Scotland, and the temples of Japan, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her the most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer. Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand.

GIVEAWAY!!!

 Share what you do to stay inspired in the comments & leave your email (so I can contact you if you win), and I'll pick a random winner to receive a digital copy of Nalini's latest -- Archangel's Legion. Winner will be announced Monday, Nov. 4, 2013.

 ***A Big Thanks goes to Nalini's lovely assistant and sister Ashwini for helping me with this blog post***


Posted by Rashda Khan at 8:14 AM
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16 comments:

  1. Stormy VixenOctober 30, 2013 at 9:05 AM

    Like Nalini, when doing something I love, it inspires me, but I find inspiration everywhere for my photography and crafts, but my real love is reading awesome books likes Mina's and Nalini's, and they inspire me a lot. Thanks for sharing the wonderful post and the giveaway. evamillien at gmail dot com

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  2. Stephanie QueenOctober 30, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    I stay inspired by reading great authors like Nalini Singh!
    stephaniequeen @ rocketmail

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  3. Rosanna LeoOctober 30, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    Excellent advice, Nalini. As writers, we have to take advantage of any time we get to write. I think I've done the "on the train" trick too. ;) As far as what keeps me inspired, I agree, it is the writing itself. I am moved by the craft of stringing words together and creating new worlds. Whip up a sexy book boyfriend, and everything else follows! Thanks for the post, Nina!
    rleoauthor@gmail.com

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  4. Teresa Reasor October 30, 2013 at 9:53 AM

    Beautiful Cover and fascinating blurb. I too have written everywhere. When you're driven to put words down on paper, you just can't escape the compulsion.
    I'm going to try your writing for play suggestion and see if it won't jump start me into the next book.

    The story sounds fantastic. Love Angels and Vampires.
    And Rashda I can understand your fan crush!!
    Teresa R.

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  5. Misty DietzOctober 30, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    Major coup to get Nalini, Mina, YAY! I love these archangel books! Music is what really keeps me inspired...and dancing. Basically other forms of creative expression. misty @ mistydietz.com Thank you! :)

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  6. Teri RiggsOctober 30, 2013 at 11:49 AM

    I really love all your covers. They are awesome! Thanks for sharing what inspires your writing.

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  7. UnknownOctober 30, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    I will go on reading binges to help inspire me. Staying away from the computer for days and not writing makes the need to write grow and reading great writing makes me want to add to it. I feel a special communion with other writers. If a conference isn't any time soon, I can still feel that through their books and it gets me writing again.

    jeanviola at violaryan dot com

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  8. Rashda KhanOctober 30, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    Thanks for visiting y'all! Love having you over :) Feel free to explore, and help yourself to some calorie-free cyber chocolate, angel food cake, tea or coffee! ;)

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  9. AnonymousOctober 30, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    Love that Nalini writes other short stories and vignettes to stay inspired because they'll most likely turn out to be the extra goodies in her newsletters for us Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter fans :)
    I also agree with Nalini that letting yourself have a break to do something else you enjoy doing is a great way to stay inspired and have fun at the same time!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. UnknownOctober 30, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    I read. I find that immersing myself in another world can sometimes refresh me and make me feel whole again. I read many different genres so I never tire of reading; it is always fresh. There are always new authors (to me) for me to discover who have created lovely works of art that allow me to refresh my soul and cleanse my spirit. I am always grateful to these people. michelle_willms(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. UnknownOctober 30, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    I love Nalini's books especially her Guild Hunter series.
    My boys inspire me to be the best i can be, As i want to be a role model for them.
    I am also a very visual person and tend to see things I like and get inspired by the color, feeling or even style of an object.
    Hubby says I have tons of "Hobbies" but I go where my muse takes me if it is crocheting, canning fruits, making jewelry, reading a great book, hitting up the museums & parks, or singing and dancing around the house like a nut. I always have something to keep her fed.

    j.m.platt83@gmail.com

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  12. AnonymousOctober 30, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    inspiration isn't forced. It comes out naturally because you love what you do and you want to do it well for yourself and for the people who matter to you. My passion is singing, reading and writing. I feel my greatest happiness when i do those things. To stay inspired, i don't get myself too stressed out doing these things. When you force yourself to do something, because that's what you think you should always do, you will eventually hate doing it. So to avoid this situation, i let myself rest and have a break when I'm tired. Eventually you will again find yourself looking forward to doing things that you love but feeling refreshed and inspired.

    chelssie_se7en@yahoo.com

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  13. Love Africa Book ClubOctober 31, 2013 at 5:21 AM

    Reading always inspires me, Also watching movies sometimes helps me rejuvenate.

    lovebitesandsilk at gmail dot com

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  14. UnknownOctober 31, 2013 at 9:24 PM

    Creativity inspires me, it is amazing what incredible ideas a single mind can create. I adore Nalini Singh's books mainly for how imaginative and original her stories are :)

    skittlezzify@gmail.com

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  15. UnknownNovember 1, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    What a fantastic cover, Nalini! I like to get away from hi-tech gadgets and get out into nature to replenish my muse. I enjoy making jewelry, working with beads soothes me. Sometimes lunch with a friend and a good laugh is all I need, other times I'll read a book in a day to visit "another world"... Living in New Zealand must be awesome. I was there many years ago and fell in love with it. gemmajuliana@yahoo.com

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  16. Rashda KhanNovember 4, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    Thanks everyone for visiting & sharing how you stay inspired...appreciate the words of wisdom! And we have a winner -- Winnie!
    Congrats! I'll be contacting you! :)

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