Nicky
Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and
the girl next door. She recently signed
her work with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing. Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating
lobsters. When she’s not writing, Nicky
is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant. Originally born in
Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in
Lincoln with her husband and their two boys.
In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and
project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in
London and Washington, D.C.
Take it away Nicky!
It’s
an honour and a pleasure to visit Janice’s fabulous and Scottish blog as part
of my launch tour for my rock star romance, Sophie’s Turn. I’m bringing you a
piece today that was inspired by a feature Janice wrote as part of her launch
for Reaching for the Stars. I remember reading it and thinking ‘wow, I wish’.
You
see, Janice wrote a fabulous piece about her love for shoes, from wellies to
heels and back. Now, wellies I can do. Heels, I cannot - and neither it seems can
the heroine of my novel, Sophie’s Turn!
This
is Sophie at her engagement party to Tim, having just discovered that Rachel
has been telling Tim all manner of home truths about the delectable Dan Hunter,
rock star extraordinaire and Sophie’s not-quite-but-would-like-to-be boyfriend.
‘I blundered back downstairs, racing
quite unladylike in my high heels, and skidded to a halt in the lounge.’ When I
was writing this scene, I was imagining Sophie clattering over polished wooden
floors in her stiletto heels, ankles wobbling wildly, arms flailing, breathless,
slightly red in the face, and quite unsteady. And that would be me.
See,
sadly, I don’t do high heels. The first time I ever wore a pair was age
thirteen, with my confirmation outfit. I was tall for my age, and I was wearing
a long flouncy, formal skirt. Well, yes, it was the 1980s! Anyway, said outfit required
high heels, I was informed by the women in my family, and so a pair of shiny
black patent stilettos was duly acquired for me. Nobody paused to check whether
I could walk in them. I couldn’t.
I
reckon Sophie’s racing-and-skidding experience is partly influenced by my
experience of trying to walk regally on that slippery flag-stoned church floor.
It was like an ice-rink, and I had to concentrate so hard on keeping my balance
that parts of the ceremony just passed me by. And the walk from the church to
the restaurant… let’s not talk about that.
Of
course I have been known to wear high heels of some description in my lifetime.
Bless the resurgence of the block heel in the 1990s, which meant that I could
wear a decent height of heel with my wedding dress! But when stylish women like
Janice, or the one-and-only Carrie Bradshaw reveal glimpses into their
well-heeled lifestyles - I can only hang my head in shame. Sisters, I am
failing on the heel-front. But at least I’ve saved myself from broken ankles.
And
Sophie…? Well, she’ll have to wear heels on a few occasions. She’s not always
as clumsy as me. And the beauty of a fictional life is that I get to make her better.
She’ll learn to walk tall and graciously, and maybe… just maybe… one day, I’ll
give her a shoe cupboard just like Janice’s. Or Carrie’s!
Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find
articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an update on her work in
progress, the second and third parts of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook. Nicky is a featured author on the innovative
reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the
Romantic
Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire
Star Publishing
and, of course, Goodreads.
