Nichole Christoff in The Dungeon

Hello, my Darlings!  I’m thrilled to introduce you all to the talented NICHOLE CHRISTOFF today.  I was extremely lucky to receive one of her books (The Kill Box) as an entry last year when I was judging for RWA’s RITA Awards.  But even though I had to read it, it actually turned out to be the one book I absolutely loved & could not put down.  Which is how I knew I had to reach out & invite Nichole to play in The Dungeon! :leafjump:

Nichole is a writer, broadcaster, & military spouse who owes Jane Austen, James Thurber, and Raymond Chandler for her taste in fiction. She is also the award-winning author of The Kill List, The Kill Shot, The Kill Box, & The Kill Sign starring army brat and private-eye-turned-security-specialist, Jamie Sinclair.

So please join me, my Darlings, in welcoming Nichole to our little playpen & making her feel at home while we put her up on The Rack & ask her a few of Mistress Heidi‘s favorite questions…

What is your favorite color?  Green

Favorite song?  Music from the Big Band Era keeps me company when I’m writing, or even just relaxing.

Favorite movie?  Oh, so many! You can’t beat a classic screwball comedy and The Awful Truth with Irene Dunn and Cary Grant just might be the screwiest. I have to watch The Mummy with Rachel Weisz and Brendan Frazer nearly every time it’s on because Weisz’s Evie is a bookworm who means business. And can I give a shout-out to my fellow awesome nerds? I totally relate to Anna Kendrick’s Becca in Pitch Perfect. Also, there’s just something about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that always makes me feel like a kid again.

And of course, favorite book?  Ack! Where do I start? Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Karen Rose’s Count to Ten, Tami Hoag’s Dark Horse, Deanna Raybourn’s “Lady Julia” series, and William Gibson’s Pattern Recognition are all on my Keeper Shelf.

What was the first book in your chosen genre that you remember reading, or that made you want to write the same?  Golly! I was always drawn to anything with a mystery in it. Combine that with a little romance and look out. When I was about seven, I found an old Nancy Drew novel in a box in the attic. We’re talking one of the original novels from the 1920s. Nancy entered a golf tournament, kept her eyes peeled for clues as she played, and went to a fancy dance with Ned at night. I read that and it was off to the races for me!

What do you think of Heidi?  She’s great, right?  She is! She’s a fabulous dungeon-mistress, too!  (Note from Mistress Heidi:  Why thank you, I do try. )

How did you get started writing?  Oh, I’ve always written. I can’t remember learning to write the letters of the alphabet, but as soon as I did, I used to leave little notes for my mom. Of course, usually, I’d have to come back and interpret them for her. My entire working life had some writing component to it, whether that was writing commercials for clients or scripts for the morning news.

Tell us a little bit about The Call—i.e. your first sale.  Sure! My fabulous agent, Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein of McIntosh and Otis, called me one April afternoon and said, “Have you checked your e-mail?” Well, I’d just walked in the door, so I hadn’t. Turns out, she’d been trying to let me know all morning that we had an offer from Random House’s Kate Miciak. Kate has edited half the books on my keeper shelf, and she first acquired and still edits the “Jack Reacher” series by Lee Child. Turns out, she loved my soft-on-the-inside, tough-on-the-outside army brat protagonist. She’s a private-eye-turned-security-specialist named Jamie Sinclair, and Kate wanted to give her a go through Random House’s digital-original imprint, Alibi. I jumped at the chance to work with Kate. And the fourth book in the Jamie Sinclair series will hit the virtual bookshelves this December 6th! :turkeyrun:

Fill in the blank—If you like [blank], you’ll love Nichole Christoff!  If you like the salty-sweet goodness of Peanut M&Ms, you’ll love Nichole Christoff and her books!

If your plane crashed in the Andes, would you convince the other survivors to eat Heidi first or last?  Last. For dessert. Because she’s so sweet! (Note from Heidi: Awww…I’m going to take this as a compliment. I think. :blackcat: )

Tell us about your latest release and why we’ll love every word.  In THE KILL SIGN, the stakes couldn’t be higher. My security-specialist-turned-PI Jamie Sinclair finds herself in deadly waters off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast when she joins her would-be boyfriend, military police officer Adam Barrett, aboard a restored riverboat for an annual army tradition called Dining Out. Barrett is currently stationed in the same Gulf Coast town where Jamie got her start as a private investigator, so she’s equally excited to reconnect with her old mentor, Ray Walther, and his pregnant wife, Corinne. But all hopes for a relaxing and romantic weekend are shattered when a dirty bomb explodes on the riverboat, killing dozens of soldiers and nearly taking Jamie and Barrett down with it. In the chaotic aftermath, Jamie spots the bomber—and recognizes him from her past. But as Barrett and Jamie race to catch the terrorist before he strikes again, Ray and Corinne become targets themselves. In the end, Jamie won’t let a little thing like the law keep her from protecting the people she loves most—no matter the cost.

If you could write anything—whether in the same genre/sub-genre as you’re writing now or another—what would it be?  I’ve got a real soft spot for high fantasy and fractured fairy tales. In fact, I have one in my desk drawer. But it’ll probably never see the light of day! :raking:

What are you currently working on? I’m neck deep in a new project, and I love every minute of it. Plus, my tough-as-nails protagonist, Jamie Sinclair, and that handsome military police officer of hers will be back in two new adventures in 2017. So, I’m a busy gal these days, and I couldn’t be happier about it. :juggle:

LIGHTNING-FAST LASHES:

Leather or lace?  Lace

Devil or angel?  Angel  

Angel food or devil’s food?  Oh, Devil’s Food. Definitely!  

Hemlock or arsenic?  Hemlock

Blood, sweat, or tears?  Blood

Boxers, briefs…or commando?  Boxers

Cowgirl or missionary? That’s top secret! 

Thank you so much, Nichole, that was fabulous! 

And if you enjoyed Nichole’s interview, My Darlings, you’re going to love her giveaway!

Nichole has generously offered to gift a digital copy of The Kill Box (for Kindle or Nook) to one lucky reader of today’s visit!  (U.S. residents only, please, but everyone’s welcome to chat. :smokesignals: )

(Further intrusive note from Heidi:  The Kill Box is the first book of Nichole’s I read, & I an attest that it’s great! :leafjump: )

If the above weren’t exciting enough, Nichole wants you to know that The Kill List (Jamie Sinclair #1) will be on sale for only $.99 at Barnes & Noble and other ebook retailers tomorrow, November 15th!

So everyone please stick around to chat with Nichole—ask her questions, let her know if you’ve already read one (or more!) of her books or how great you think they sound just from what she’s said about them here :pie: —& take advantage of both tomorrow’s sale & her giveaway here in The Dungeon.

You can also visit NicholeChristoff.com anytime to find out about all of her books—past, present, & future! :cornicopia:

Comments

27 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Nichole Christoff says:

    Thanks so much for inviting me to play in your dungeon, Heidi!

    On November 14, 2016 at 9:37 am

    • Heidi says:

      So thrilled to have you, Nichole! Sorry I’ve been MIA all day…& you’ve only had two visitors—I’m so embarrassed. :raking: My Darlings are usually a lot more talkative, so I’ll bet it’s school or holiday stuff keeping them away. But never fear…I’m still beating the bushes & am hopeful you’ll get more comments tonight & tomorrow. :smokesignals:

      On November 14, 2016 at 9:23 pm

      • Nichole Christoff says:

        Heidi, it’s such a pleasure to be here. But I’ve wondered if I chased away your Darlings! I hope I haven’t scared them away!

        (Maybe they’re all in the back, taking turns feeding Peanut M&Ms to Tom.)

        On November 14, 2016 at 9:31 pm

        • Heidi says:

          Okay, first—no one feeds M&Ms to Tom but moi. :cornicopia:

          And I don’t think you chased anyone away, it just sometimes takes them a little while to rally after drooling so hard over the rest of the Dungeon Hotties. There are a lot of yummy distractions around here…what can I say? :pie:

          On November 15, 2016 at 12:39 pm

  2. Kathleen O says:

    Nichole, I love Peanut M&Ms too… So I know I am going to love your books… I love a good Mystery/Thriller..
    Thanks for taking time to join in the fun in the Dungeon with Mistress Heidi and us.

    On November 14, 2016 at 10:42 am

  3. Dee says:

    What genres do you prefer reading? I’ve gotten into mysteries/thrillers myself and your books sound really intriguing!

    On November 14, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    • Nichole Christoff says:

      Hi, Dee! Thanks for visiting!

      I confess I love mysteries and thrillers, too. I’ve been catching up on my Harlan Coben over the weekend, as a matter of fact! I’ve always gone for the Detective Fiction style, but often they didn’t have enough Romance in them for me, so that’s one of the reasons I started writing my own while on a break between producing television shows. (But that’s a whole other story!)

      I’m sure you’ll agree there’s all kinds of awesome YA out there these days, too. I love Maureen Johnson’s THE NAME OF THE STAR because it is fun, is quite the mystery, and has a bit of romance, too.

      I first discovered Heidi because her Chicks with Sticks books are such a blast. When it comes to Romance, I like light-hearted Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, and maybe once in awhile, a Historical. If that Historical Romance can have a mystery element to it, I’m there!

      What’s on your reading list these days, Dee?

      On November 14, 2016 at 9:29 pm

      • Dee says:

        Well, I’m also a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries addict and love the movies they air. Because of the Hannah Swenson movies, I read a few of them on my Kindle on vacation and got a bulk of the paperbacks from ebay. So right now I’m in the middle of “Cherry Cheesecake Murder”.

        I also love the shows “Bones” and “Rizzoli and Isles” and started collecting those books too.

        On November 14, 2016 at 11:41 pm

        • Nichole Christoff says:

          I’m with you, Dee. I’ve been known to curl up on the couch and enjoy a Hallmark movie marathon now and again!

          I’m behind on “Bones” these days, but I love it and I love Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan books, too. They have a completely different feel than the TV show, but both are pretty awesome.

          On November 15, 2016 at 9:29 am

          • Dee says:

            Do you have a favorite character on Bones? I must say Hodgins is a favorite because of his sarcasm plus the infectious love for what he does. I of course love Brennan and Booth too.

            Are you enjoying the 2016 movies too?

            On November 15, 2016 at 2:13 pm

            • Nichole Christoff says:

              Hi Dee,

              I’d have to say Brennan and Booth are really my favorites because of that dynamic between them. I love a great couple working their way toward a solid relationship. For me, that’s so much fun to watch…and so much fun to write!

              I’m behind on my 2016 movies. Any suggestions?

              On November 15, 2016 at 2:22 pm

            • Dee says:

              Mistletoe Promise and Every Christmas Has a Story are two favorites of this year’s crop.

              On November 15, 2016 at 11:28 pm

  4. Sarah says:

    I’m a devil’s food cake person too, especially if my Dad (retired) baker makes it as he makes the best cakes. Looking forward to reading your books. 🙂

    On November 14, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    • Nichole Christoff says:

      Sarah, devil’s food cake made by your dad sounds amazing! I bet you had the best birthday cakes growing up. Did you inherit his baking skills or did he teach you the tricks of the trade? (If so, can you email me some cake?) What’s your speciality?

      On November 14, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    • Heidi says:

      No fair…MMD made me a chocolate cake for my birthday, but you’re still making me hungry because I doubt it’s as good as your baker-dad’s!

      P.S. Don’t tell MMD I said that, okay? :running:

      On November 15, 2016 at 5:07 pm

  5. Jeanne says:

    Just bought The Kill List and looking forward to reading it!

    On November 15, 2016 at 8:11 am

  6. Nancy Northcott says:

    Hi, Nichole and Heidi–

    What a fun interview! I love Jamie Sinclair and can’t wait for the Kill Sign, which I’ve ordered.

    Nichole, what was your inspiration for Jamie?

    On November 15, 2016 at 11:26 am

    • Nichole Christoff says:

      Hi, Nancy! It’s awesome to see you here! Thanks so much for ordering THE KILL SIGN, and for asking such a great question.

      Personally, I love strong female protagonists and I always have. For me as a reader, a big part of a heroine I can believe in is that she’s strong, but she also has to have some personal hurdles to overcome. In other words, a great heroine may triumph at the end of the day, but if she doesn’t have some soul-searching to do, or if she doesn’t make a mistake or two along the way, that doesn’t feel authentic to me.

      So, when I started thinking about writing a story featuring a heroine I could believe in, I knew she’d need to be strong and capable, but also I’d need to be honest about her flaws and I’d need to push her to work through them. Couple that with a crime that had been in the back of my mind, and Jamie Sinclair was born.

      Part of that first crime in THE KILL LIST came from my own personal experience, by the way. Jamie takes on a stalker who’s after a TV news anchorwoman. When I was a TV news producer, one of my anchorwomen had a stalker…and in the parking lot one day he mistook me for her. All’s well that ends well, but that was the starting point for Jamie’s journey.

      Nancy, what do you like to see in a heroine? What do you write into your own?

      On November 15, 2016 at 11:43 am

    • Heidi says:

      Hi, Nancy! Thanks for dropping by to chat with Nichole. I’ve been wanting her to visit for a while now, & am so glad she finally made it. :leafjump:

      On November 15, 2016 at 5:05 pm

  7. Nichole Christoff says:

    Heidi, I want to thank you and your Darlings for not only letting me spend one day with you, but for letting me stay for two!

    Ladies, I had a ton of fun chatting about books, movies, and Peanut M&Ms with you. Tomorrow, I’ll fire up my random generator and let the gizmo choose a commenter at random to receive a free copy of the ebook that put Heidi and me in touch, THE KILL BOX. Be on the lookout for notification in the coming days!

    XOXO,

    -Nichole

    On November 15, 2016 at 9:25 pm

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