Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Nia Farrell is the alter ego of author Anita Quick, who’s written three nonfiction books and a children’s book about deployment called WHEN MOMMY GOES A-MARCHING.
Anita has been writing for pleasure since junior high. Now that her naughty side Nia writes about pleasure, she can share the fantasy worlds she visits and introduce readers to characters who remain with her long after their tales are told.
When crafting a story, Nia draws upon a rich diversity of life experiences, which include singer/songwriter, prize winning needle artist, private pilot, Reiki Master/Teacher, crystal healer, psychic fair reader, jewelry maker, physician’s assistant, factory worker, waitress, genealogist, period reenactor, and children’s author. If this life isn’t enough, there are plenty of others to choose from. Otherwise, she devotes hours of research to subjects outside her realm, determined that her stories ring true.
Nia lives on a farm in Southern Illinois (far, far from Chicago, in the heart of “Little Egypt”). A seventh generation Illinoisan, she is descended from Mayflower Pilgrims, American soldiers from the Revolutionary War to World War II, and Scottish nobility. She enjoys playing in the past and visits Ren fairs and historical reenactments in period attire, sharing her love of history and her passion for music. While her husband and two grown daughters may only read her nonfiction work, she appreciates their support in pursuing her dreams, one of which is being published in erotic romance.
When writing her Three Graces series, Nia Farrell drew extensively on personal experience.
For SOMETHING ELSE (The Three Graces Book One): Nia has done psychic readings at Irish festivals, remembers past lives, and has bathwater that defies the laws of gravity, like Grace. She’s vended at New Age fairs, done a sweat lodge, and co-written music like Nico. She knows veterans with PTSD and has ridden a horse at a therapeutic riding center like J.T.
For SOMETHING DIFFERENT (Book Two): Raising two gamer girls gave Nia an insight to Anna’s character, who communes with her instruments like a certain author/songwriter. And like Anna, Nia is related to Cynthia Ann Parker (the mother of Quanah Parker) through her Heath line.
SOMETHING MORE (Book Three) is special because of Hannah, Rachel’s three-year-old autistic daughter. Nia has two nephews with autism and a dear friend who struggles with post-rape PTSD. SOMETHING MORE (October 2015) touches on some of the challenges they face.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SOMETHING ELSE is Book One of the Three Graces Series and was inspired both by personal experience and by my many psychic, musician, and military friends. Like the heroine Grace Murphy, I remember a large number of my past lives (I included about 50 of them in my e-book RANNOCH MOOR – ONE SOUL’S JOURNEY OF REMEMBRANCE by Anita Quick). I share her Scots-Irish ancestry and have that genealogist aunt who’s ruthless in tracking down family lines. I’ve done readings at psychic and New Age fairs, and Tibetan tingshas are a favorite tool for clearing energy.
As a Reiki Master, I’ve done alternative forms of healing including sweat lodges, and have co-written music like Nico. J.T. might be last on the scene in the book, but his need for healing (both this-life and past-life) is the heart of the story. The setting is my mind’s version of an alternate reality Minnesota, bearing Illinois place names. We have the lakes and eagles here (but not the black bears) and are blessed to have a local therapeutic riding center which offers programs for veterans with PTSD and riders with special needs. You’ll see equine therapy again in SOMETHING MORE (Three Graces Series Book 3), coming in October.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think writers tend to “channel” during the creative process. As a clairsentient period reenactor, I routinely to attract spirits with stories to tell. Most of them are heard in dreams and expressed in the poetry and music that I write.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up loving history, myth and legend, fables, and world religions. As an adult, for enjoyment, I read erotica, historical romance, and science fiction/fantasy, with a special interest in Arthurian legend.
What are you working on now?
Current works in progress are a documentary screenplay on the Lincoln 150th funeral reenactment, an erotic historical set in 1868 (fiction inspired by true tales from the Civil War), and a paranormal romance with my first angel hero. I’m also working on another BDSM series, with three novellas completed and the fourth waiting its turn in the queue.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I network on Facebook, but an ad at Affaire de Coeur landed SOMETHING ELSE in the lead slot of their TBR bookshelf, thanks to Eden Connors’ gorgeous cover. http://affairedecoeur.com/theaffairedecoeurbookshelf.html#.Veh3NRHBzGe
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a professional writers group and learn everything you can from people who have the career that you want. I was blessed to get my start in the Missouri Chapter of Romance Writers of America and a critique group hosted by Loveswept author Joan Bramsch.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Author T. S. McKinney said that I needed to submit to her publisher Dark Hollows Press. I did, and the Three Graces found their home.
What are you reading now?
I’m neck deep in Lincoln and Civil War research. My most recent treasure finds were a reproduction TRAVELERS OFFICIAL RAILWAY GUIDE TO THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA (originally published in June 1868) and an out-of-print book on the 1868 Democratic National Convention.
What’s next for you as a writer?
SOMETHING DIFFERENT is due out September 29th. I do a monthly local radio show, but my first internet radio is scheduled for November 2 at Hummingbird Place at 6:45 pm Central Time.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s like asking for a favorite song. I will say that the movie I’ve watched more than any other is THE WIZARD OF OZ, but my favorite screenplay is SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. Favorite adaptation is GETTYSBURG, from THE KILLER ANGELS. I have to limit my television watching time, but VIKINGS, OUTLANDER, DEADWOOD, ROME, and FIREFLY are among my favorite series, past and present.
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