Featured Author: Nico Rosso

 Today, our Featured Author is Nico Rosso. His ebook, Taken To The Limit, was our first review of 2011, and one of the first round of reads we were lucky enough to acquire when starting this new blog project. Please give Nico a warm welcome, and don't forget to leave a comment to have a chance at the wonderful giveaway Nico has kindly offered!

Tell us a little about yourself, Nico:

I’m a guy who likes to make things.  I’ll make dinner, build a cabinet or write a story.  I’ve been writing a long time, but recently, my wife, Zoë Archer brought me to the romance genre.  I love how the genre isn’t afraid of emotions and doesn’t treat them with irony.  Because I work in Sci-fi, I get to build things that are far beyond our technology or distant from Earth.  Then I get to explore these worlds with the characters, taking the reader along for the ride.

Could you give us the basics about your story?

Taken To The Limit is a Sci-Fi Romance, released by Liquid Silver on November 22^nd, 2010.

What is Taken To The Limit about?

Taken To The Limit is a Sci-fi romance that brings the intergalactic Limit War to Earth.  ER Doctor Korina Antonakis is swept into the conflict by Sergeant Morrow, an elite commando known as a Nightfighter.  He opens her eyes to the war and enlists her help in combating the Dusk, an evil alien race, before this threat consumes her Earth.  As Korina and Morrow fight the common enemy, they discover a bond between them and their passion grows, fueled by a fate that started nearly a universe apart.  But the danger escalates.  Not only is Korina and Morrow’s new-found love threatened, the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance.

How long have you been writing? Have you been at this for a while?

I’ve been writing as long as I remember.  Stories were always being written in notebooks, some with accompanying illustrations.  I come from a family of writers, so it has always been around me.  I’ve worked in different forms over the years, but was recently drawn to the romance genre by my wife, Zoë Archer.  

What inspired you to write Taken To The Limit?

I had been collecting many of the fragments for this story for a while, but they didn’t really come together until I decided to write it as a romance novel.  Then it all made sense.  I wanted to sweep the reader into the Limit War, so I chose an Earthling woman as my heroine and discover the conflict at the same time as the readers. 

What tools have you used in your journey to improve your writing? 

I think the best tool is writing itself.  I also do some basic carpentry (bookshelves, mostly) and find it’s very similar to writing.  Plotting and planning is important, but you never really know how to work with the piece until you get into the shop (or onto the computer) and do it.  Write and revise.  If it’s working, continue to polish the piece.  If it doesn’t work, learn why it didn’t and apply those lessons to the next project.

Are you a solitary writer, or do you utilize critique groups?

My wife is my sounding board.  We will talk plot and story for each other’s work, then hand each other chapters or complete works for comments and critiques.

How much of yourself is present in your writing? Do you look back and find that characters possess a little of your own self in them?

I try to find the aspects of myself in the characters I’m writing.  Even if I’m not completely like the person, I want to locate some commonality to draw from – that way there can be a sense of truth in them.  It’s also an opportunity for me to play out the roles (which explains the faces I make while I’m writing).

Tell us a little about you, the reader. What authors/genres do you love and why?

The most defining thing I can say about myself as a reader is that I’m behind.  There is a huge stack of books in all genres, fiction and non-fiction, waiting to be read.  Between writing, reading Zoë’s work and the demands of the day job, I don’t have a lot of time for other reading.  When I do, I find myself drawn to authors who create very interesting characters, then dissect them through the action.  Vladimir Nabakov and Graham Greene come to mind.  In genre fiction, I enjoy the early Noir (Spillane, Hammett) and of course, my favorite romance author is Zoë Archer.

Name one character in any book that you would like to share a cup of coffee with. What would you discuss?

I would love to sit and have a (Greek, medium sugar) coffee with Zorba, from Kazantzakis’ Zorba The Greek.  He lived a very full life and has a story for everything.  And, much like the main character from the book, I could use a little of Zorba’s ability to embrace chaos in my world.  

What is it about smaller-press ebook publishing that attracted you? What has your experience with it been like?

I was really attracted to smaller-press ebook publishers because they're much more willing to take risks than traditional print publishers.  There is much more room for new authors working in less marketable sub-genres, and I fit into both of those categories.  Sci-fi Romance doesn't have a very strong presence in print, but has a great following on-line.

The experience with Liquid Silver Books has been fantastic.  From the first moment you sign on with them, you really feel as if you're part of a community.  There really is a passion for the material and that energy comes through with every person I've dealt with over there.

What advice would you give authors going through the querying process that you wished you'd known when you started the process yourself?

I feel I was pretty prepared for the process of querying: the synopses, the cover letter, the long wait.  I think the best advice I can give is to always have another project in the works, no matter what stage.  Because it can take so long for some publishers to respond, you can go crazy hitting refresh on the e-mail.  Having a new project helps distract from that tension.  It's also great to have a solid answer if someone asks, "And what are you working on now?"

You mention that you turn to your wife often when it comes to the writing process. How do you two work together, and how do you overcome the possible pitfalls of someone who could be "too close" to your work?

Because Zoë and I are both writers, we understand each other's process and what it means to get words on the page.  We are very close and that actually helps in the critiquing.  We want each other to put our best work forward and know that just saying "That's nice" isn't going to help.  We are constantly talking about writing and story, so when we look at each other's work, there is a shorthand between us that conveys what we feel the work needs.  Having someone close can help your work because there is a trust already established; as long as they are not only skilled at reading and analyzing, but also at knowing how to give notes constructively.

For more information, visit Nico Rosso at http://nicorosso.com and follow himon Twitter and Facebook. Taken To The Limit can be purchased at Liquid Silver Books, Amazon, All Romance, and eBookwise http://www.ebookwise.com/ebooks/b117613/Taken-To-The-Limit/Nico--Rosso/?si=43.

And as a special bonus, Nico has generously offered to give a copy of Taken To The Limit to a random commenter on this post. A big thank you to Nico for taking the time to appear on the blog and good luck to those who enter this giveaway! Winner will be chosen on Sunday.