Local author to release steamy tale
A farming accident five years ago may have physically injured Balzac resident Nancy Bell, but it only served to fuel her creativity.
The fiction author will release her latest fantasy-romance work, The Oak King’s Daughter, to the online market, Jan. 1. In a unique twist, Bell wrote the 10-and-a-half page story under the pseudonym Emily Pikkasso to mask her identity.
“Normally, I write young adult and middle grade books, which is why The Oak King’s Daughter is published under a different name,” she said. The pseudonym — Emily Pikkasso, is an amalgamation of her horses’ names.
The story is produced by MuseItHOT!, the erotic wing of Montreal-based MuseItUp Publishing and features a forbidden love.
The book is based on a Welsh fable where an Oak King ruled in the summer and a Holly King governed during the winter.
Caught in the middle of the duelling rulers are the Oak King’s Daughter, Dara, and the Holly King’s court mage, Tinne.
The inspiration for the book began last year when Bell participated in an online writers conference and noticed many publishing houses were after romance submissions.
“The market was huge so I thought, ‘well, let’s see if I can do this,’” said Bell. “I don’t read a whole bunch of romance and I would never have gone looking for those (publishing) houses.”
Other publishing houses declined her book but she found a home at MuseItUp.
“You get more rejects than you get (accepts),” she said.
“Some houses will basically give your manuscript to their editor and you don’t have any say… so you have to be real careful when you get your contract.”
Delilah K. Stephans provided the original cover art for the book and won an accolade from the Covey Awards, an awards website, for the design.
Bell’s husband Doug is encouraging, but isn’t her target audience.
“He’s read bits and pieces because I’ve forced him,” she said with a laugh.
“He’s very supportive of it and letting me take over the computer room.”
For more information on The Oak King’s Daughter, visit www.museituppublishing.com/musepub
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