I'm not on Holly's level - the main character in Skating at Somerset House - nowhere close, but I can ice skate, and I love it. I can do a three hundred and sixty degree spin, though not very fast, and come to a spinning stop. It all comes from going to the local ice rink every Saturday for a while when I was about 12. At 4 'o' clock they'd put disco lights and music on and pump dry ice onto the rink - it was great fun! Nowadays I take my nine year old son skating at the local rink [see pic] - it's pretty tiny, but he loves it, and is pretty good himself... I've always had a yearning to be on Dancing on Ice - I would love to learn to figure skate!
I am SO jealous. I always wanted to learn how to skate, but our nearest rink was over an hour away. We had the odd family trip, but no lessons. Still the ballet world was richer for having had me in it, I'm sure! LOL
Like Holly, I love Christmas. I really enjoy the build up to it; all the festive decorations and songs, the fact most people are in good spirits, the shopping, parties, carol services and spending time with my family, especially my kids - they still bring magic to this time of year.
You're killing me!
However, I'm also a bit like Noel in some ways. I am slightly resentful when Christmas merchandise and decorations start appearing in shops in September, and I definitely lose patience with people who forget their manners in shops, so they can get their shopping done. In my eyes, there's no excuse for being rude! I also don't get on with the cold that well; I'm definitely a sun worshipper ... on the other hand if there's snow, nothing can stop me getting out in it!
Do you read a lot around Christmas, Nikki?
For me, one of the best things about Christmas is being bought books, and having the time to sit around and read them, although I never seem to have as much time as I think I'm going to, as we go and visit different parts of the family over the Christmas period. I'm a big reader - though recently that's been limited, between the day job, writing deadlines and Christmas shopping - so I'm looking forward to finishing work on Christmas Eve for a couple of weeks. Currently I have a few festive stories on my e-reader...
So tell us about your book, Nikki...
There’s nothing Holly Winterlake loves more than Christmas and skating, so working as an Ice Marshall at London's Somerset House is a dream come true.
Noel Summerford hates the festive season and is a disaster on the ice, so taking his godson to Somerset House is his idea of the nightmare before Christmas!
Things are bound to get interesting when these two collide…
With a forty foot Christmas tree, an assortment of well meaning friends and relatives, and a mad chocolate Labrador, will this festive season be one to remember … or forget?
Available to buy now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skating-Somerset-House-Love-London-ebook/dp/B00P5V4T4C
And if you like the sound of that, there are more books in the #LoveLondon series to come! Releasing from December 14 to May 15 by HarperImpulse;
Bk 2, New Year at The Ritz (Short Story)
Bk 3, Valentine's on Primrose Hill (Short Story)
Bk 4, Cocktails in Chelsea (Short Story)
Bk 5, Strawberries at Wimbledon (Short Story)
Bk 6, Picnics in Hyde Park, (Novel)
Good luck, Nikki. You'd better get back to your writing!
:-) Thanks for having me on your blog, Wendy. x