Tag: Talk Nerdy to Me series

Writing is Rewriting – An Update on My Work in Progress

On By authorarielstormIn Talk Nerdy to Me series, WritingLeave a comment

I think Elizabeth Gilbert put it best in her book Big Magic, when she described ideas as having a sort of consciousness. According to her theory, ideas float along tapping people on the shoulder trying to get them excited about an idea enough to incite them into action in order to bring the idea to life.

Obviously this line of thinking means that, as a creator, an idea isn’t so much yours, but something you’re being asked to do by some unseen force.

I’m currently working on book four in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, and I’ve hit a big wall, mainly because as I’ve tried to push forward with what I thought the plot should be, I’ve felt this huge resistance from my characters. They’re gently telling me that the ideas I have about who they are and the way they should act in this story aren’t aligning with who they are.

I know. It sounds bizarre to speak about fictional characters in this way, but if you’ve ever tried to force an idea, a project, or any creative endeavor, then you’ve probably experienced this from time to time. I’m not abandoning the idea, but I am reworking the outline, and tuning into my characters this time. And, that reworking takes time, so right now, I’m not projecting a publishing date, but I’ll be sure and share more when the time is right 🙂

Back in the Talk Nerdy to Me World – Writing Update

On By authorarielstormIn Talk Nerdy to Me series, WritingLeave a comment

I took most of the fall and winter off from writing, but just as the flowers and trees are starting to bloom, my writing is also blossoming. Last week I completed my outline for book four in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, called Nerdy Minds. I’ve gotten into the manuscript and even though it’s just the beginning I am loving creating this story!

It feels good not just to be writing again, but to be submerged in the Nerdvana world again.

If you’re new here, first, welcome! Second, I write contemporary romance and since 2020, I’ve been working hard on writing and releasing books in a series called Talk Nerdy to Me, a six book romance series set in a Pacific Northwest geek-themed bar.

Nerdy Minds is the story of bartender Sara and customer Derek. Sara is a fangirl who loves to ship her favorite characters and Derek works at video game company 1UP and is the host of his own podcast dedicated to geeky pop culture. You just know these two are an epic match, if they can overcome their obstacles and let love takeover.

Stay tuned for more writing updates, and in the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about the Nerdvana world, read the series blurb below!

Talk Nerdy to Me series blurb

Imagine a bar where the wait staff dress up like their favorite comic book characters, where drinks are served in chemical beakers, where patrons can play a round of Dungeons and Dragons or other table-top role-playing games. Picture how fun it would be to hang with friends in big booths and play video games while sipping on an awesome craft beer. Imagine watching people in a glass enclosed room acting out dramas from their favorite live action role playing story lines. Imagine there’s a space for the folks who want to enjoy a drink while perusing their favorite comic books. 

All of that and more await the patrons of the city of Cascade Falls, Washington’s newest watering hole, the ultra-hip, geek-themed bar called Nerdvana. Talk Nerdy to Me is a series set around the romances that blossom between sexy, geeky heroes and sassy, smart heroines who meet in the geek-themed bar.

Book one Nerdy Words , book two Nerdy Thoughts, and book three Nerdy Deeds, out now! Book four, Nerdy Minds, out late summer 2023!

Midweek Morsel – Nerdy Words – Meet Cute Scene

On By authorarielstormIn Books, Midweek MorselLeave a comment

It’s Wednesday, Hump Day, that midweek slump. Today I’m adding some zing to your week by sharing an excerpt from book one in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, Nerdy Words (which is on sale for 25% off at Smashwords until March 11!).

 Talk Nerdy to Me is a book series set in a nerd-themed bar in the Pacific Northwest where the staff and customers end up falling in love over drinks, larping, comic books, and video games.

Blurb

When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago. 

Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.

Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.

Excerpt

“Okay, I think I finally get why this place is called Nerdvana. It’s like a damn nerd wet dream in here.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

At the sound of the deep male voice close to me I jumped, nearly dropping my beaker in the process. I turned my head to address the speaker but had to drag my eyes up at least a foot to look him in the face. Once I met his stare, my mouth wouldn’t work anyway.

Momentarily stunned by his arresting pale blue irises, I opened and shut my mouth several times before any sound would finally come out. It’d been several years, but I’d never forget that face. I started to greet him, but he broke eye contact.

Before I could string together enough syllables to form a coherent sentence, he turned his attention to Jamie. It figured. Between her sparkling personality and brown almond-shaped eyes men—and women— constantly hit on Jamie. The fact that she was a D-cup probably didn’t hurt her chances either. But still, I wished the spark of recognition I’d felt when our eyes had connected had gone both ways. Of course, maybe he just didn’t recognize me. I’d changed a lot since that summer.

“Are you Jamie? My business partner let me know she gave you an impromptu interview earlier. I’m Dustin Bradshaw,” he told her and thrust his hand out toward her.

Dustin Bradshaw.

As if I could ever forget that name. I dropped my gaze to their clasped hands. It was only a professional handshake, nothing more, but I felt like an idiot, just standing on the sidelines watching the two of them. I shifted my gaze to the ink on the outside of Dustin’s right forearm. In what looked to be an homage to the original 1UP gaming system, he sported a tattoo of the gray square controller on his flesh. My brother was a gamer and I had to appreciate the details of Dustin’s tattoo. The depiction of the controller was accurate down to the twin green circles and blue cross-shaped button. Seeing it made memories come back in a rush.

I’d used my fingertip to trace the details of that tattoo on a warm summer night four years ago. God damn it, why was I thinking about what had happened between us when he hadn’t even bothered to spare a second glance at me? All this clearly one-sided reminiscing made me uncomfortable, like every inch of my skin was exposed under a microscope. The fact that Dustin hadn’t acknowledged me made it all that much worse. I wanted to run from this bar like the building was on fire. Of course, I wouldn’t.

Get Nerdy Words on sale exclusively at Smashwords until March 11, or find it at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Fangirling Over Yellowstone’s Angela Blue Thunder

On By authorarielstormIn Talk Nerdy to Me seriesLeave a comment

Where are my Yellowstone fans at? I know the show is on hiatus right now, but I’m a major fan, and I’m not looking forward to the long wait to get new episodes. I’ve watched the show since episode one dropped way back in the summer of 2018. At that time I’d already written books 1-3 of the Talk Nerdy to Me Series, but I hadn’t published anything yet, and I was purposefully consuming episodic shows to study story and world-building. As a fan of storytelling, and the iconic landscape found in the American west, I was instantly hooked on the show.

I also love the way Taylor Sheridan has included strong female characters in the show (I love ALL the ladies, except those Buckle Bunnies Mia and Laramie, they seem to bring trouble wherever they go). What has also hooked me on this show is the cinematic way certain things are filmed, like the landscape scenes, and how relevant cultural elements are incorporated into the storylines. Yellowstone isn’t just about ranchers and cowboys, but also follows the story of some members of a fictional tribe of indigenous people in Montana (called Broken Rock). And one particularly interesting tribe member is a lawyer named Angela…and she’s a vibe.

Can we just talk about how much I love Angela Blue Thunder? I love her soft, slow, subtle don’t F with me delivery, her nuanced pin-up style, and her sharp mind. When I first saw Angela on my screen, I had instant heart palpitations because it was like I was looking at a near mirror image of Quinn from Nerdy Deeds, book three of the Talk Nerdy to Me Series. While Angela tends to dress in a modern style, with more neutral and earth tones, her look is very similar to Quinn. And hello, her hair and makeup is always on point! If you have read my character interview with Quinn, or read Nerdy Deeds, then you know that Quinn’s pompadour and glam, pin-up makeup are part of her “armor” and something she draws power from. If you’re an Angela fan like me, and you haven’t yet met Quinn, then you need to read this interview, and if it intrigues you, read the blurb below for Nerdy Deeds.

Nerdy Deeds Blurb

Quinn Whiteeagle, Nerdvana co-owner and burlesque performer, is falling for Jonah Stavropoulos, and that’s a huge problem. Not just because Jonah’s a customer and is developing the bar’s app. There’s something else about Jonah that makes a future with him a non-negotiable. It’s his dominant nature.

When it comes to Quinn, Jonah can’t help himself. He’ll forgo his safety, put himself in harm’s way, and make any sacrifice in order to have her in his life. Quinn resists his pursuit and that just makes him more determined to win her over.

After several dangerous encounters with a stalker, Quinn puts her pride and reservations aside and runs to Jonah’s waiting arms. He offers Quinn a safe place to stay, but makes no qualms about wanting to give her more than just temporary safety and shelter. Every protective instinct he has is activated and Jonah will fight like hell to keep Quinn in his life and in his care forever.Nerdy Deeds is book three in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.

Get Nerdy Deeds at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Read My Books for Free or at a Discount – Smashwords End of Year Ebook Sale!

On By authorarielstormIn BooksLeave a comment

If you’re looking to load your e-reader up with books to get you through the winter, you will want to check out Smashwords End of Year Ebook Sale. All my titles are included in the sale, with my .99 book listed for FREE and all others discounted by 25%.

Hurry over to Smashwords and take advantage of this sale before it ends on January 1!

Fangirling Hard Mocktail Recipe from Nerdy Words

On By authorarielstormIn Talk Nerdy to Me seriesLeave a comment

When I set out to write the Talk Nerdy to Me series, I knew I wanted to include drink recipes in each book. But, as I thought about it further, I realized I didn’t know how to develop a cocktail recipe, since I don’t really consume liquor.

Then, I had a great idea that allowed me to create drink recipes, but that also made sense for the series. In the books, bartender extraordinaire, Jamie, talks about how she doesn’t drink because alcohol famously lowers inhibitions and her wild self needs no help in lowering inhibitions (I love her!). As a result, she creates a mocktail menu for Nerdvana that are not only alcohol free, but each drink has a moniker that’s fitting with the geek-theme of Nerdvana. Every one of Jamie’s mocktails are revealed in each book, and the recipes are dished here and on my social media.

Today, I’m excited to share another alcohol free drink recipe with you!

With the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to share the first mocktail recipe I created. It’s a great drink that’s familiar and perfect for celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve. I say it’s familiar, because really, it’s my take on a Shirley Temple. I chose to share this recipe at this time because cherries in a lemon-lime soda always remind me of Christmas and New Year’s. When I was a little girl, we tended to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s at my grandparents’ house. And while all the adults were celebrating with grown up drinks, my grandma always made me feel special by mixing 7Up with cherries for me to drink.

It was with that fond memory that I made this drink recipe that is simple, but oh-so-tasty.

Fangirling Hard (Cherry Lemon-Lime)  Book 1, Nerdy Words

INGREDIENTS

lemon-lime soda 

jarred maraschino cherries, plus the juice

DIRECTIONS

Drop 1-2 cherries in a glass (preferably a pretty one, like a champagne flute), then fill with desired amount of soda. Top off with a few drops of the juice from the jarred cherries.  Enjoy!

Excerpt from Nerdy Words

On By authorarielstormIn Talk Nerdy to Me seriesLeave a comment

If you haven’t read any of the books in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, you’re in luck, because I’m sharing an excerpt from book one, Nerdy Words on my blog today.

If you don’t know, Talk Nerdy to Me is a book series set in a nerd-themed bar in the Pacific Northwest where the staff and customers end up falling in love over drinks, larping, comic books, and video games. Read on for the blurb and excerpt!

Blurb

When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago. 

Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.

Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.

Excerpt

“Okay, I think I finally get why this place is called Nerdvana. It’s like a damn nerd wet dream in here.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

At the sound of the deep male voice close to me I jumped, nearly dropping my beaker in the process. I turned my head to address the speaker but had to drag my eyes up at least a foot to look him in the face. Once I met his stare, my mouth wouldn’t work anyway.

Momentarily stunned by his arresting pale blue irises, I opened and shut my mouth several times before any sound would finally come out. It’d been several years, but I’d never forget that face. I started to greet him, but he broke eye contact.

Before I could string together enough syllables to form a coherent sentence, he turned his attention to Jamie. It figured. Between her sparkling personality and brown almond-shaped eyes men—and women— constantly hit on Jamie. The fact that she was a D-cup probably didn’t hurt her chances either. But still, I wished the spark of recognition I’d felt when our eyes had connected had gone both ways. Of course, maybe he just didn’t recognize me. I’d changed a lot since that summer.

“Are you Jamie? My business partner let me know she gave you an impromptu interview earlier. I’m Dustin Bradshaw,” he told her and thrust his hand out toward her.

Dustin Bradshaw.

As if I could ever forget that name. I dropped my gaze to their clasped hands. It was only a professional handshake, nothing more, but I felt like an idiot, just standing on the sidelines watching the two of them. I shifted my gaze to the ink on the outside of Dustin’s right forearm. In what looked to be an homage to the original 1UP gaming system, he sported a tattoo of the gray square controller on his flesh. My brother was a gamer and I had to appreciate the details of Dustin’s tattoo. The depiction of the controller was accurate down to the twin green circles and blue cross-shaped button. Seeing it made memories come back in a rush.

I’d used my fingertip to trace the details of that tattoo on a warm summer night four years ago. God damn it, why was I thinking about what had happened between us when he hadn’t even bothered to spare a second glance at me? All this clearly one-sided reminiscing made me uncomfortable, like every inch of my skin was exposed under a microscope. The fact that Dustin hadn’t acknowledged me made it all that much worse. I wanted to run from this bar like the building was on fire. Of course, I wouldn’t.

Wanna keep reading? Get the book at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Talk Nerdy to Me Character Interview: Quinn

On By authorarielstormIn Books, Talk Nerdy to Me seriesLeave a comment

Nerdy Deeds Blurb

Quinn Whiteeagle, Nerdvana co-owner and burlesque performer, is falling for Jonah Stavropoulos, and that’s a huge problem. Not just because Jonah’s a customer and is developing the bar’s app. There’s something else about Jonah that makes a future with him a non-negotiable. It’s his dominant nature.

When it comes to Quinn, Jonah can’t help himself. He’ll forgo his safety, put himself in harm’s way, and make any sacrifice in order to have her in his life. Quinn resists his pursuit and that just makes him more determined to win her over.

After several dangerous encounters with a stalker, Quinn puts her pride and reservations aside and runs to Jonah’s waiting arms. He offers Quinn a safe place to stay, but makes no qualms about wanting to give her more than just temporary safety and shelter. Every protective instinct he has is activated and Jonah will fight like hell to keep Quinn in his life and in his care forever.Nerdy Deeds is book three in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.

Get Nerdy Deeds at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Now on to the interview!

How did you get into performing burlesque?

It was something I fell into, as weird as that may sound. My brother is a stage performer and he encouraged me to try burlesque, and by encourage, I mean he dared me to do it. I can never back down from a dare from my older brother, so I signed up for an amateur night at a club in Seattle. Once I was up there performing, it awakened something in me. I realized I was a natural performer, but also that by donning costumes I was able to embrace parts of myself that I never showed to anyone.

Sounds like an empowering experience. Speaking of dressing up, I love your look. Were you always drawn to the pin-up style?

I grew up idolizing the glamorous Hollywood icons from the 40s and 50s. Once I started dressing up on stage, I realized how much I needed to look that way all the time. The pin-up look is my calling card, but it’s more than that. I call it my armor. My pompadour, red lips, and vintage clothing make me feel strong, like a total badass. Like I could lift a car off a baby if I had to. (laughs)

Switching gears a bit, I want to talk more about Nerdvana. The nerd-themed concept is awesome. Coming from performing, how did you get into the bar business?

Yes, the concept is awesome, and I can’t take credit for that, it’s all Dustin’s, my business partner, creation. I worked as a bartender for years and when Dustin announced he was launching this project, he invited me to join him. I of course jumped at the chance, but really, bartending is just another way to perform. The bar’s it’s own special type of stage.

I can see that being true, especially at Nerdvana. Do you have a favorite area of the bar?

We’re working on a new space, the lower level is going to be amazing. We’ll have a special drink list, a DJ spinning a few nights and it’s a private gaming space for RPG and Dungeons & Dragons tournies and groups.

The lower level sounds super fun! Last question, and it’s a personal one. How are things going with Jonah?

It’s like a fairy tale. And I feel a little sappy saying that, but it’s true. It feels good to both in the same place, plus he finally stopped leaving carbs laying out around me (laughs). I really love him.

On that romantic note, if you want to know more about any of the other characters in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, keep your eye out here for more interviews. And, of course the best way to get to know everyone at Nerdvana is to grab the books!

Book one, Nerdy Words, is out now. Get it at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Find book two, Nerdy Thoughts, at Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, and Amazon UK, Apple books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo.

Get book three, Nerdy Deeds at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Apple, B&N, Kobo.

Nerdgasm Mocktail Recipe from Nerdy Thoughts

On By authorarielstormIn Mocktails, Talk Nerdy to Me seriesLeave a comment

When I set out to write the Talk Nerdy to Me series, I knew I wanted to include drink recipes in each book. But, as I thought about it further, I realized I didn’t know how to develop a cocktail recipe, since I don’t really consume liquor.

Then, I had a great idea that allowed me to create drink recipes, but that also made sense for the series. In the books, bartender extraordinaire, Jamie, talks about how she doesn’t drink because alcohol famously lowers inhibitions and her wild self needs no help in lowering inhibitions (I love her!). As a result, she creates a mocktail menu for Nerdvana. Every one of Jamie’s mocktails are revealed in each book, and the recipes are dished here and on my social media.

I first shared about the Nerdgasm, a cran-apple fizzy drink in an Instagram Reel last summer when I was heavily promoting the book it appeared in, book two, Nerdy Thoughts. In that version of the mocktail, I made it with cranberry juice and a pear apple zero calorie bubbly water. The summertime version is tasty and it goes well with the lower calorie, lower sugar things we tend to consume in the warmer weather.

I recently revised the recipe slightly, to be more fitting for fall and winter. Since this is the time of year where we gather with friends and loved ones and lift a glass or two, I thought the mocktails in the Talk Nerdy to Me series are perfect for the holidays. After all, just because you have a lot to celebrate doesn’t mean you have to imbibe alcohol if it’s not your thing. Also, these mocktails are a great way for underage folks at social gatherings to feel like they get to partake in something special.

For the fall version of the Nerdgasm, I combined cranberry juice with sparkling pear-apple cider. This iteration of the mocktail is obviously sweeter than the summer version, but the core flavors remain the same, cranberry, apple, and pear, three fruits that I think compliment each other so well.

Here’s the official recipe, if you’d like to try the fall version.

Nerdgasm (Cran Apple Fizz) From Nerdy Thoughts

In a glass of your choosing, (hopefully a fun, pretty one), combine two parts sparkling apple cider to one part cranberry juice. If you’d like to up the aesthetic appeal of the drink, toss in some frozen cranberries to keep it nice and chilled. Enjoy!

If you make the Nerdgasm, I’d love to know what you think of it and of course, I wanna see photos (pics, or it didn’t happen, right?). Comment below or tag me on Instagram @thearielstorm and let me know how the Nerdgasm treats you this holiday season.