Posts Categorized: Nichole Giles

Descendant by Nichole Giles Blog Tour, Author Q & A plus Giveaway

09 May, 2013 by in giveaway, Heather Gardner Photography, Nichole Giles, rhemalda 1 comment

Fire and Ice is pleased to welcome author Nichole Giles on the Descendant Blog Tour.  I am particularly excited about this one because I just attended the release party at The King’s English this week and had a chance to see my author photo of Nichole in print! See photos of the event here.

Plus, keep reading to hear why she became and author. We also have an awesome giveaway to offer to those who enter.



Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.


Blessed-or cursed-with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.

Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not only Abby’s life at stake.




Fire and Ice: Can you tell us what myths or folklore tied into Descendant?

Nichole: Several years ago, I was in a bookstore, and came across a huge mythology book in the clearance section. It has all these beautiful pictures, and tells detailed, intricate stories to go with them. I bought it, and have used it as a reference book for my fantasy writing ever since. There’s a story in it about a mythological trio of goddesses who had their hands in all kinds of mischief, including love, war, and fertility issues. This trio is known as The Morrigana, and these ladies play a key role in Abby’s story.   

Fire and Ice: Do you have a playlist or music you listen to while writing?

Nichole: It depends on the day. Most often, I am more productive in the silence. But there are times when I need music. Usually, it’s to drown out other noise or distractions, and when I do turn on music, I have to be careful to listen to something that will not change the course of the story. For this particular story, I did have a playlist. Most of it was instrumental.  


Photo by Heather Zahn Gardner


Fire and Ice: We understand you’ve published more than one book, how did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Nichole: Believe it or not, being an author wasn’t a life-long dream for me. I have always loved the arts, and been a creative-type person, but writing a book seemed so out of reach. More difficult than becoming a famous actress—which really was my ambition when I was a teen. And then I got married and had kids, and life took over. After my kids were born, I rediscovered my love of reading. I read a book in which one of the main characters was an author, and he seemed so…normal. And I thought, “Hey, maybe I could do that.” Fast forward a few months, I took an online class, and then I attended a writer’s conference, after which I knew I was hooked for life. I found my direction, started writing, and have never looked back.


Fire and Ice: Who is your literary hero?

Nichole: Katniss Everdeen, Alina Starkov, and . Raine Hightower.

Fire and Ice: If you could travel anywhere to research your book where would you go?

Nichole: If I had a choice, I’d fly to Cancun to research the (still untitled, and not-quite-finished) sequel, because there are scenes set near there. When researching Descendant, obviously, I’d have loved to fly to New York. But, I have another book (unrelated) set in California, and would love to research that one too.

However, if I’m going to get to travel wherever I want to research my books, I will immediately begin planning a story set in Tahiti. And Europe. And Ireland. Yes, all of those. And, uh, on a cruise ship that goes around the world. YES!


Fire and Ice: What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish a book?

Nichole: If you’re going to dive into the publishing industry, there is no talent more important than patience, closely followed by persistence. But aside from those two things, the best advice I can give anyone wanting to be a writer is to read. Read widely and thoroughly. Read everything you can, and learn from those books and those authors. Just read.

Fire and Ice: Most inspiring movie you’ve seen lately?

Nichole: Not long ago, we rented the DVD of Red Dawn. I was surprised at how inspired I was by that movie. I know it’s fiction, but it’s the idea that inspires me. Those kids were just teenagers, but they managed to be such sharp thorns in the sides of some important military operatives that they sparked a complete rebellion. I came away thinking about how the right people doing the right thing at the right time really can make a difference, really can change things. I love that a fiction movie can make me feel that way.


Fire and Ice: What upcoming events and signings do you have?

Nichole: Unfortunately, not a lot right now. On top of my book being released, we are also moving into a new house this month, so I had to keep my signing schedule light. The official launch happened in Salt Lake City, UT on May 4th and was a huge success. I am also presenting at the LDStorymakers conference in UT this weekend (May 9-11), and will be signing books at the Provo Marriott the evening of the 10th. Then I have another signing at Barnes and Noble in Corpus Christi, TX on May 18th at 1:30 PM.  For now, these are the only signings I have scheduled, but I hope to add more throughout the summer as I am able to travel.


Fire and Ice: Which character do you feel you most resemble in your book and why?

Nichole: I think I have to go with Abby. Because if I resembled the male love interest—that would be weird, I think. Abby has this empathetic tendency, where she kind of feels like it’s her responsibility to take care of everyone around her, and I have been known *ahem* to be a little like that as well. Also, she moved around a lot as a kid, so I can totally identify with that.


Thanks for the interview! I hope you enjoy Descendant. 

Praise for DESCENDANT: “A hot new spin on paranormal, Descendant is refreshingly imaginative and powerful. I can’t decide which was best — piecing together Abby’s sinister past or keeping up with her heartbreaking future. If you like your YA laced with melt-my-heart romance and a good helping of heart-pounding suspense, you’ll love this book!” — Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of The Breakaway

“Nichole Giles has crafted a story that breathes from the pages. Her characters are authentic, the action intense, with powerful emotions that will keep Descendant on your mind long after the book ends. Open your eyes to another facet of our world in Descendant and you’ll be sucked into an adventure with Abby and Kye, that will explore the power of gifts, courage, and love. With top-notch writing, Giles has crafted a story that breathes from the pages.” –Rachelle J. Christensen, award-winning author of Wrong Number and Caller ID

“Nichole Giles brings a fresh new voice and flawless writing technique to the world of Young Adult fiction. I was swept away to another place and never wanted to come back.” –Tristi Pinkston, author of Turning Pages and the Secret Sisters mystery series

“This debut novel delivers in all the right ways, with heart-pounding action and a delicious romance that sweeps centuries. I loved it!” –Elana Johnson, author of Possession and Surrender


About Nichole Giles: Nichole Giles was born in Nevada, and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the West. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her husband and four children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.


Nichole is sponsoring a massive giveaway during the blog tour of DESCENDANT! To enter, fill out the form below. 

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Mormon Mishaps and Mischief Blog Tour

05 May, 2010 by in giveaway, mormon mishaps and mischief, Nichole Giles, your LDS radio 5 comments

published December 1st 2009 by Cedar Fort, Inc. (first published 2009)

details Paperback, 112 pages

isbn 1599552973
4 stars
Ward meetings have never been so funny!

This collection of humorous anecdotes from celebrated LDS authors shows off Church members at their finest. From primary pranks to cheeky comments made by Zion’s youth to high priests hijinx, no age group is immune to the potential for humor.

Though it may not be in the official Word of Wisdom, laughter really is the best medicine. Whether you’re a senior missionary, or an eight-year-old graduating to senior primary, you’re bound to get a kick out of these silly stories.

Read about:

*The preschooler who was afraid of being eaten by ‘Sunbeans

* Establishing Zion in Cougar Stadium

*The ‘oddmonition’ of Paul

*The 14th article of faith

*Doing battle with the “Laman Knights”

*A young women outing that almost landed the class behind bars…and lots more!

Perfect for those long Sunday afternoons, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief will keep your family laughing all week long!

I received a signed copy of this book for review after meeting the authors at Authorpalooza at Barnes and Noble. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints…and for some reason I think people visualize the Mormons as very serious people. We laugh and have fun laughing at ourselves just like everyone else! Life throws us many hilarious curve balls. And here they are all caught in one precious book. I loved this book because I could take it with me to soccer games or in the car when I had lulls. Each story is just a quick little blurb that can bring a snicker to your day. I have been there in so many of the situations, children taking off clothes during church or repeating something that ought not to be repeated. The authors did a wonderful compilation and I gave it four stars!



The Mormon Mishaps and Mischief Giveaway and Blog Tour!


In celebration of Mothers, and all they do for us, Mormon Mishaps authors C.L. Beck and D.N. Giles have put together a giveaway in conjunction with a week-long blog tour. If you aren’t interested in winning a fantastic advertising package valued at $150, you can stop reading now.

Wait, you’re still reading. That must mean you want to hear about our prize package, correct? Well. Okay then. First a little about our sponsors


yourLDSneighborhood.com is an online shopping mall which features innovative products and LDS-based services, and great ideas for your home, all without the worries of questionable content. Shopping categories include Clothing, Music, Preparedness, Family Entertainment, Scrapbooking, Books and Art, Health and Food, Travel and Recreation, Weddings and more! Visit yourLDSneighborhood.com today.


Your LDS Neighborhood Newsletter is a free online newsletter that comes three times a week right to your email inbox. It provides topical stories and insights that set the tone for your day. The newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources, and interviews from around the world, all with an LDS focus. Sign up today by clicking here!


YourLDSradio.com commits to bringing you the best in LDS Music – all day, every day and it is totally FREE to listen! Make them your web-surfing companion. It’s free and easy to use and makes for the perfect online companion. Listen for yourself at yourLDSradio.com!


Now for the prize!
Your LDS Neighborhood has offered a YEAR LONG advertising package which includes space on the Neighborhood website as well as tiles in the newsletter. Were you to purchase advertising with them, this package would cost $150.

Here’s the best part. You don’t have to be LDS to advertise with the Neighborhood. As long as the business, blog, or product you’re promoting is family friendly, this advertising package will benefit you. Neighborhood ads are viewed daily around the globe, and by thousands of people.

So how do you win?

Entries will be accepted between May 4th and midnight, MST, May 16th. On May 17th, (or as close there about as possible) the winners will be chosen and announced on the LDS Humor blog. Although it’s not required for entry, please take a minute to read the Mormon Mishaps and Mischief review/interview I’ve posted. Then, you must do the following four things to enter (but don’t worry, they aren’t hard):

1. Follow my blog, here.

2. Leave a comment here, at this blog.

3. Follow the LDS Humor blog.

4. Follow the Your LDS Neighborhood Newsletter blog.



Extra entries:


1. Blog about this contest, then come back and leave either a url address or a link in a comment.

2. Follow me on Twitter. (Bloggers, you can hyperlink this to your twitter page if you’d like, or include your twitter username.) And then tweet the contest. (Make sure to mention this in a comment.)

3. Facebook the contest. If your Facebook page is private, and I’m not your friend, I can’t see that you’ve done this, so you’ll need to friend me.(Same goes here.) Be sure to leave the link to where you’ve FB’d the contest in a comment.

All of these options can be mentioned in a single comment, and you can enter at all the participating blogs, as long as you follow and leave a comment for those bloggers so they know you love them.

You may enter this contest here, as well as on any of the tour posts at the following blogs:

May 4th Rachelle Christensen

May 4th Shirley Bahlmann

May 5th Karlene Browning

May 5th Heather Gardener, Fire and Ice Book Reviews

May 6th Kellie Buckner

May 6th Rachel Rager

May 7th Shauna Chambers

May 7th Heather Justesen

May 10th LDS Humor Blog

May 10th Keith Fisher

May 11th Tristi Pinkston

May 11th Rebecca Talley

May 12th Taffy Lovell

May 12th Kimberly Job

May 13th Connie Hall

May 13th Ali Cross

To purchase Mormon Mishaps and Mischief click here.

Review and Blog Tour-Sharp Edge of a Knife

30 Mar, 2010 by in Nichole Giles, utah authors 1 comment

Product Details
Paperback: 142 pages
Publisher: Golden Wings Enterprises (January 20, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979434025

Product Description from Amazon
Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn’t. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I’d go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn’t sure. When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn’t know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary. When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel’s throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance. Based on a true story, The Sharp Edge of a Knife follows Mel and his captors on an unforgettable ride that will have you questioning the depth of your faith and sitting on the edge of your seat as it grabs your attention from the first sentence and keeps you riveted until the very end.

About the Author
Nichole Petersen Giles is the daughter of Joseph Petersen, Mel and Jeneal’s second child and firstborn son. She was born in Nevada, and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and snatches of time in Texas. Her future aspirations include adding a tropical island to her growing list of locations. For now, she plans to travel to as many tropical locations as possible, scouting for her future home in paradise. Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along. Her first book Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, an anthology of humorous anecdotes, was released in December 2009 by Cedar Fort Inc. and can be found online and wherever LDS books are sold. Some of her other work has been published in Highlights for Children, The Friend, and Boys’ Quest, and she blogs regularly at http://www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com/. For more information about Nichole or her work, contact her at writenichole@gmail.com.

I was sent this book by Utah author Nichole Giles after meeting her at Utah Authorpalooza. The story really hits home for me. My grandfather’s brother was killed by a hitchhiker he picked up in Utah back when he was a young father. And, my great Uncle left behind a young wife and family. ” The Sharp edge of a Knife” is a story filled with faith and prayers. It is a wonderful tale of how one person’s belief can influence the life of even the most hardened criminal. I especially loved Nichole’s historical information and newspaper clippings in the the back of the book. She is an awesome person and this book is based on the story of her own grandfather. Pick it up, it’s a good read!

Sharp Edge of A Knife Super Giveaway

30 Mar, 2010 by in giveaway, Nichole Giles, The Sharp Edge of a Knife, utah authors 7 comments


The Sharp Edge of a Knife Giveaway!

Message from author Nichole Giles: To celebrate the release of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, I’ve put together an exciting giveaway, with several opportunities to win. Since the book deals a lot with making choices, the prizes all have something to do with choice.

Among prizes I’ve been collecting, Lisa at Watches by Lisa has agreed to sponsor the giveaway by donating a custom made beaded watch and face. Head on over to her blog and take a look at the incredible selection.

Watches by Lisa

So, choice number one: the winner gets to choose a watch band and face so that their watch is personalized to their tastes and fashion needs.

Yes, I realize that a beaded watch is not exactly a prize to be coveted by a bunch of masculine men (though it makes a great gift for the woman or girl in your life), which is why I’m also giving away more great stuff. Check out the following really cool prizes:

1. Choice between: An autographed copy of the New York Times number one bestselling novel, Wings by Aprilynne Pike—or—a non-autographed copy of The Darwin Awards, Intelligent Design by Wendy Northcutt—or—a numbered, autographed copy of Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright. Click here to learn more about Wings, here to read about The Darwin Awards, and here to find out about Recovering Charles.

2. Choice between: A $25 gift certificate to the Restaurant Morelia in Murray, UT (Sorry out-of-state peeps, this is local to Utah.) or $25 worth of vinyl lettering by Whaddayawannasay Vinyl Lettering—you choose your quote or phrase.

Bonus prize for author types
3. You may substitute any of the above selections with the following incredible opportunity: The chance to sit in on a critique session with my wonderful, amazing, incredible critique group. While there, you will be treated to not one, but six critiques on the first chapter of your work in progress. This is no ordinary group. We have in our midst some fabulous authors including Tristi Pinkston, acquisitions editor for Valor publishing and author of the Secret Sisters series, Danyelle Ferguson, freelance editor and author of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel—who will edit via internet, since she actually lives in Kansas—Heather Justesen, author of The Ball’s In Her Court and the upcoming release, Rebound, Kimberly Job, author of I’ll Know You By Heart, and Keith Fisher, up and coming author of women’s fiction and plotting genius, and Nichole Giles, also known as D.N. Giles.

**If you are not local to Utah, but would still like this option, we will still critique your chapter online.
**If enough people enter this contest, I reserve the right to choose extra winners and give away some, or all, of the prizes left after the top three winners have made their choices.
Entries will be accepted between March 15th and April 3rd. On April 5th Nichole will announce the contest winners on her blog.

Entry requirements:
1. You must be a follower of my blog.
2. You must leave a comment telling me which prize you want to win and why.
3. For those wishing to win the watch, you must go to
Watches by Lisa and become a follower, then come back and tell me which watch combination is your favorite.

Extra entries:
1. Blog about this contest, then come back and leave either a url address or a link in a comment.
2. Twitter this contest, tell me where to see your tweet in a comment.
3. Follow me on Twitter @FireIcePhotos
4. Follow Nichole on Twitter.
5. Facebook the contest. If your Facebook page is private, and I’m not your friend, I can’t see that you’ve done this, so you’ll need to friend me.
6. Become a fan of The Sharp Edge of a Knife on Facebook.
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Teaser Tuesday-Sharp Edge of A Knife

23 Mar, 2010 by in Nichole Giles, Teaser Tuesday, The Sharp Edge of a Knife Leave a comment


tEASER tUESDAYS IS A WEEKLY BOOKISH MEME, HOSTED BY MIZB OF SHOULD BE READING. ANYONE CAN PLAY ALONG! JUST DO THE FOLLOWING

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“Sweet music drifted through my thoughts, slowly comforting me and dissolving some of my tension.”

“That’s nice Gayle remarked, tipping his head to one side.” p.53
The Sharp Edge of a Knife (Based on a True Story) by D.N. Giles.

Watch for her giveaway and blog tour coming up on March 30th!

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