Insecurity Goes Well with Cookies

I'm multi-tasking today and at the end of this post you'll get cookies!  First up is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group, brainchild of Mr. Alex J. Cavanaugh, whom we'll incidentally be roasting...I mean honoring...next week during the Cheers Cavanaugh Blogfest (brainchild of Mark Koopman, Morgan Shamy, Stephen Tremp, and David Powers King). Is not too late to get in on the fun.

My next The Next Big Thing question conveniently ties in w/ an insecurity, or really, more of a frustration: #8  What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I don't understand this question.  Don't we write because we have stories in us that no one else is telling?  So how then, am I supposed to identify a book that mine is like? If I'd found one like it, I would've just read that one instead of writing this one and saved myself a whole lot of time and trouble.

But when something's hot, people seem to just want more, more, more of the same. So although I don't understand this thirst for monotony, I'll soon have a new book to market and should probably come up with a short list of best-selling novels that I can twist into a comparison with mine. Help me out?  I'm looking for something that combines realistic, contemporary romance and women's fiction with supernatural elements and spirituality. Throw in some dark mystery too. Got anything?

Quinn's Cookie Exchange

To celebrate the release of Angela Felsted's novel, Chaste, she's hosting a cookie recipe exchange throughout December, and I'm honored to be one of the stops. Below is the beautiful book cover and intriguing blurb, then my recipe for three-ingredient shortrbread. That's right folks, only THREE ingredients.

When he steps into his physics class on the first day of senior year, Quinn Walker is too exhausted from staying up all night with his three-month-old nephew to deal with moral dilemmas. As a devout Mormon who has vowed to wait until marriage for sex, the last thing he needs is a very hot and very sexy Katarina Jackson as his physics partner. Regrettably, he has no choice.

Kat feels invisible in her mansion of a home six months after losing her older brother in a fatal car crash and will do anything to get her parents’ attention. Since her pastor father has no love for Quinn’s “fake” religion and her ex-boyfriend refuses to leave her alone, she makes an impulsive bet with her friends to seduce her holier-than-thou lab partner by Christmas.

Um, while you were reading about Angela's book, I got a sneaking feeling that I'd already shared that recipe, so I checked the Bueller...Bueller, and yep, I posted it last Christmas! Now you know: these are the only cookies I've made for, like, the last five years, ehe. But when you discover something this easy and this good, why bake anything else? They'll be the perfect thing to munch on while enjoying Angela's story.


 Congratulations, Angela!!!


Comments

Anne Gallagher said…
Congratulations to you! And to Angela. Sounds like a wild book.

And yes, it has been an age since we talked. Hope you're well.
COOKIES! (Cookie Monster voice over)

When it's good, it's good! Insecurity and cookies most definitely!
Angela said…
Thanks Nicki! And I love your cookie recipe. Easy sounds good to me.

I was thinking about your challenge of trying to match your story with someone elses. Would Beautiful Creatures be a good match?
Happy for Angela!
I started writing so I could read what I couldn't find anywhere else, so I'm with you on that one.
Johanna Garth said…
Big congratulations to both you and Angela. As to comparing your story, I think it's possible to do even if you're story is unique. It can fit in a genre or maybe a mood similar to something else.
Anonymous said…
Yes, I absolutely agree. It's very difficult to find comps for your book.
Tonja said…
Sorry - the only fantasy I'm really into is LOTR. Unless your characters are elves and dwarves, that's probably not going to help.
Anonymous said…
Congrats! to you and to Angela. And I prefer stories that are unique. Let other writers compare their works to yours.
Janie Junebug said…
I love shortbread. I'm sorry, but I don't know of a book to which I can compare yours. You are one of a kind, Nicki Elson.

Love,
Janie
Jennifer Lane said…
Hi Nicki! Sorry about that comment telling you to get off your butt and post for IWSG when your post has been here the whole time LOL. I cite user error with my new Macbook, duh!

Would Jen DeLucy's Seers of Light maybe be comparable to your novel? Maybe not since that's more about ghosts. Happy cookies!
dolorah said…
I know people who bake, and I like to eat cookies. Perfect match :)

......dhole
Great post Nicki, and I agree we write becuase we think we have something new and excting to tell the world. I do always find it to be a real compliment when I see someone recommend one of our books by saying "well if you liked that one, you should check out ...". I know it is a an ego stroke but those can be kind of fun once in a while.
F. Stone said…
Hmm, your new book sounds just a tad like The Guardian's Wildchild. I'm just trying to remember who wrote that awesome book, LOL.

I love cookies. At work, they called me the cookie lady, I think because I often shared my cookies. Or was it ....
Tara Tyler said…
great post!! i like the sound of Chaste! a different kind of daring love story!

mmm cookies!
and a kindle! wow!
Cherie Colyer said…
First, let me say I love the new look of your blog!

I'm with you on comparing my books to another book. I can say that if you like YA paranormal novels then I think you'll like mine. If someone wants to read a love story set in the 80's they definitely should read Three Daves. Your new books sounds intriguing. Can't wait to learn more about it!

Congrats to Angela on her new book!

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