Come dine with Sophie and Dan: Today’s treat is… Extra Hot Rocking Pizza! Sophie’s Run Blogtour 2013 with Nicky Wells

Come dine with Sophie and Dan: Today’s treat is… Extra Hot Rocking Pizza!

Sophie’s Run Blogtour 2013

I love Nicky Wells.  No, seriously—adore her.  She’s a wonderful mum, fiercely loyal friend, makes me laugh when I need it most, and she’s convinced Sophie, from her smashing Rock Star Romance series, to make you my all-time favorite dish today.  No matter the language you speak, the word “pizza” is globally understood.  Grab your hot pepper flakes, and join us for the party! 

Sophie’s Run

You can purchase Sophie's Run here.

Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

Who says that the road towards true love is straight and even?  Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet.  But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy.  Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful.  A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change.  Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey and eventually gets her life back on track.

Hey, you! Yes, you, Jen Tucker! And friends! *waves*

It’s me, Sophie! Remember me? *blushes* You do? Aw, thank you! Yeah, well, I’m back again. My romance with Dan is continuing, in a roundabout way, and he very definitely remains my rock even while life takes me a on a little detour. It’s all in the second book, Sophie’s Run, and that’s why Jen’s invited me here today.

*blushes some more* Well, actually, I kinda invited myself. After Dan had such a great time on Princess with a Pen, I wanted to come by too. Plus I know Jen and I have a lot in common, not least a love of rock stars (albeit different ones, TG!) and of hot pepperoni pizza.

See, this latest book tour of my author, the lovely Nicky Wells, is all about taking YOU on tour with us to share some of the lovely food that we enjoy throughout the books. Pizza is very high on both mine and Nicky’s lists… Did you know there are twenty-two mentions of pizza in Sophie’s Run alone? I think it’s fair to say it’s my staple food, LOL. And I celebrate with pizza, too. Always. Even really big things!

We were greeted by the amazing smell of pizza, loud voices, and cheerful music. Balloons and banners had been strung criss-crossing the room, and there was a great centerpiece made up of pink and white heart-shaped balloons.

“Überraschung,” Greetje shouted when she spotted us and hastened across the room to say hello. “Surprise! We thought for a moment you weren’t coming.” She hugged me briefly and whispered in my ear, “I am so pleased for you, congratulations.”

She turned to Dan and Rachel. “Hi, good to see you again. Did you forget about all this?” She gestured loosely at the balloons and the party. Rachel had the grace to blush.

(Excerpt from Sophie’s Run)

Now this post wouldn’t be terribly interesting if I simply said, ‘go and buy a pizza from your local takeaway.’ (Although I’ll never say no to a Domino’s, Papa John’s or Pizza Hut delivery!). Instead, I have gone to the trouble of making pizza from scratch, just for you. It’s actually surprisingly easy, and I can pull this off, so can you. The biggest challenge is simply getting organized because both the dough and the sauce need some time to cook/stand/rise/simmer. Here goes!

To make your own extra-hot rocking pepperoni pizza, you need…

For the base:

~300 grams of good strong flour (this is really important; ordinary flour won’t do, it has to be flour for breadmaking!)

~½ teaspoon of dried yeast

~1 tablespoon of olive oil

~1 teaspoon of salt

~170 ml of water

For the sauce:

~two tins or cartons of chopped tomatoes

~two tablespoonfuls of tomato puree/concentrate

~one or two cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped

~herbs and seasoning to taste: parsley, thyme, chives, oregano, basil, a bay leaf, salt, pepper

~a dash of olive oil

Toppings

Anything you fancy really! I’m using today:

~pepperoni slices

~pickled chili

~sliced raw mushrooms

~heaps of mozzarella cheese

And here’s what you do…

First of all, get your tomato sauce going. Place all the ingredients in a medium size pot. For the herbs, use a good sprinkling of each, there are no hard and fast rules and you can always add more later if you think it needs more oomph. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down, cover the pot with a lid but take care to let some steam escape, otherwise the sauce won’t boil down; and leave to simmer for one to two hours. When it tastes good, turn off the heat and leave to cool. You can even make this the day before, and any leftovers you can freeze for next time!

 

 

My mouth is watering...

Next, you need to make the base. If you have a breadmaker, throw the ingredients in and follow your manufacturer’s instructions for making pizza dough. If you don’t have a breakmaker, pour the flour in a heap onto a smooth and cool work surface. Make a dent in the middle and add the yeast, olive oil and water. Combine by kneading inwards until you have a soft, smooth, springy dough. Place in a bowl, cover and leave to rise for at least an hour; the dough should double in size. (If you have a boiler cupboard or somewhere where it’s nice and warm, put the dough-in-bowl there). After an hour, knead again and then leave to prove again for another half hour or so.

Turn the oven on NOW! Turn it up as hot as it will go. Domestic ovens are nowhere near as hot as a pizza oven (my friend the pizza baker told me that your average pizza oven bakes at 260 centigrade/500 Fahrenheit plus, whereas your domestic oven stops at 220 centigrade/430 Fahrenheit), so crank it up and make it’s properly preheated when you put your pizza in!

To make the pizza base, divide your lump of dough into four equal balls. Roll out onto a tray using the heels of your hand. The dough will be quite bouncy and obstinate, but you’re in charge so keep going until you have a nice pizza shaped base. Be sure to make it quite thin ~ it will rise in the oven. But then again, don’t make it too thin. If you can see the tray through it, you’ve probably stretched it a bit too far!

Leave your pizza base to rest for about 20 mins. (I know, it takes time! But it’s worth it. You can prep your toppings while the bases rest).

The pizza ‘before’ it goes in the oven…

 Ladle on the sauce, add your toppings, cover with cheese and shove your pizza in the oven. It’ll probably take about five minutes, depending on the heat in your appliance, so keep an eye on it — you don’t want it to burn!

….and ‘after’ it comes out! YUM!

 

Happy eating! I hope my post today inspired you to try making your own pizza sometime and while you eat… well, why not perhaps join me, Dan and twenty-two mentions of pizza in Sophie’s Run? Rock on!

Thanks again to Jen for hosting me and… hang on, wait, there’s more!

Nicky Wells is giving away one delicious chocolate gift to a lucky winner in the UK or North America!

 

The small print: This Gift prize is a product of Unique Chocolate. The Gift prize is subject to availability in your country. If the Gift prize is not available in your country, Nicky Wells reserves the right to offer a substitute gift prize of a similar nature at her discretion. Nicky Wells will require the winner’s postal address for shipping purposes.

Click HERE for the Rafflecopter Link

2. Bonus Giveaway

Nicky Wells offers a giveaway of one Amazon gift voucher worth $20/£15 for one lucky winner. To enter, simply share your thoughts on Sophie’s Run with Nicky. Email your comment to nickywells@sapphirestarpublishing.com and your name will be entered into the draw. Competition closes 1 May 2013.

     Isn’t Nicky the best?  Good luck to you all!  If you win the chocolate, I think that’s up there with winning the lottery.  And you know what happens when a sudden windfall comes your way, right?  The people come out of the woodwork to share in your good fortune.  I will be one of them.

Thank you, as always, for stopping by.  Nicky and I appreciate you very much!

XOXO

Jen

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and the girl next door.  A signed author with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky is in the throes of publishing her Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters.  When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on her work in progress. You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook. Nicky is a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing, Amazon and, of course, Goodreads.

My Next Big Thing

Author Nicky Wells sent me an invitation to tell you about my Next Big Thing.  This chain of author blog posts was started to let readers know about the works in progress.  I’m so thankful she tagged me and asked me to share a little bit about what I’m working on.  She's the best!  

What is the title of your book?

Ashes to Ashes is the working title, unless lighting strikes and something else permeates my brain.

How did you come by the idea?

My husband, Mike, and I attended one too many funerals this past year.  Seeing our friend Aaron’s young life end too soon really got my gears turning.  Listening to his friends share eulogies for a man who lived large in his young thirties, I started thinking about the relationships that I have had during my life.  How they have ebbed and flowed; how they evolve and sometimes are severed.  I wanted to explore the relationships between three people who come together after a person they have in common dies, due to her unusual request of them.  It has taken on such interesting dynamics!

  
What genre does your book fall under?

Women’s Fiction, with a dash of Chick Lit.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters if it were a movie?

First, I have to tell you that I want actresses that are fabulous, and not twenty-something in the roles.  Now that I have spoken my peace, here we go… 

Samantha (the woman the town has come together to burry[so they think])- Rachel McAdams; Jack (Samantha’s first boyfriend and the former high school football star living a life he wishes was not his)-Bradley Cooper; Jenna (Samantha’s high school BFF [she’s not as sweet as you might think])-Diane Lane; Tabby (the high school nemesis of Samantha has her own secrets she wish would stay buried)-Maria Bello; Marnie (Jack’s bride who realizes the man she married will never be hers)-Idina Menzel; Jeff (Jenna’s husband who adores her through thick and thin waistlines)-Damien Lewis; Emma (Marnie and Jack’s only child)- G. Hannelius from the Disney television show, Good Luck Charlie; Molly Anderson (Tabby’s daughter, a twin, living life with a chip on her shoulder)- Jennifer Lawrence; Ally Anderson (Molly’s twin sister, light-hearted, close with her mother, Tabby)-Emma Stone.

*Did I just price my movie out of existence with that cast and their salaries?* 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The darkest of secrets unearthed from memories best left forgotten, rise from the ashes of the one who chose three people to grant her, her final resting place.

Will your book be self-published or traditional?

I will shop it around first to see if it is picked up.  If not I will be going indie with it.

 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m half way through writing it and will be finished with it by the end of November.  I used the inertia of NaNoWrimo to get it up and running from the story map it once was.  This is my first time participating in the event, and I’m so glad that I did.

What other authors, or author’s work, would you compare this story to within your genre?

There is a little bit of a Beth Harbison feel to the story (I adore her work).  I love the twisting of relationships, and things not revealed until time comes that she does so well.  I like providing that air of suspense for the readers, yet you are not uncomfortable with the loose ends while reading.  

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve been asked by people, other than my mom (God love her), to try my hand at writing fiction.  As I played with the idea and stretched the characters, I felt the story breathe itself onto my keyboard.  I know that sounds kooky, yet totally true.

 
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I wrote it while jacked up on M&M’s and Bottle Caps.  Some days I wrote in my pajamas.  Oh wait…you mean about the actual story, right?  The story takes place in my hometown of West Lafayette, Indiana.  You will see some of my favorite places pop up in the story.  As a salute to my friend, Trish, who died this spring from cancer, her store Collette is featured in the storyline.  Trish loved the stories about my daughter and her infatuation with Matt Lauer.  She couldn’t wait to hear what my daughter, Gracie, would say next.

Who’s on deck next week!  

You lucky ducks will be treated to hearing about The Next Big Thing from the fabulous Tonya Kappes and Erik Atwell.  Both wonderful authors,  cool cats, and lovers of karaoke, as far as you know.  Make sure you stop by their blogs and see what they are up to in the world of writing.

Bless and be blessed,

Jen

XOXO

The Final Countdown: Q&A with Nicky Wells

It is my honor on this lucky thirteenth day of November to welcome Nicky Wells back to Princess with a Pen on the official last stop of her blog tour for the rerelease of Sophie’s Turn.  *Jen breaks into slick dance moves yet is glad you cannot see her* I adore Nicky!  She’s so fine, she blows my mind!  So without further ado, here she is!        

Jen!! *Nicky squeals loudly and gives Jen a big hug* Thank you so much for having me on your blog AGAIN today. I am so happy to be here with you on Princess with a Pen and I hope we can spread some joy and sunshine today. Also, I sincerely hope you have those Margaritas ready because we have to celebrate: this interview marks the end of the blog tour for Sophie's Turn and I am delighted that you are the Grand Finale. We will have to have an after-party in true rock star style! But first... the questions:

You were born and raised in Germany?  Did I ever tell you that I spent time in Darmstadt as an exchange student in 1989?  We were so close yet so far from each other!

Darmstadt, wow! *Nicky hustles to Google maps quickly to check the location of Darmstadt relative to Essen, having become woefully ignorant on her native country's geography over the past 20 years* Yes, we were close then! And what an exciting time for you to be over there ~ did you get to witness the Wall coming down? Awesome!

Jen’s Sidebar (I’m fond of sidebars): I was a freshman in college, sitting in my dorm room with eyes glued to the TV and watching history as the wall fell.  I had tears in my eyes, and told my rommie, “You have no idea what this means for Germany.” It still gives me goose bumps!

But I digress. Yes, I was born and raised in Germany, in the town of Essen right in the industrial heartland of the Ruhr. I grew up in a green and leafy suburb and have memories of playing in small but wild woodlands, paddling in brooks, flying kites on fields and generally being a bit of a tom boy. I once sat high up in a cherry tree aiming cherry stones at hapless passers-by; I had terrible aim and missed every time, but it was a thrill-and-half! As a teenager, I appreciated the city delights my home town had to offer: discos and clubs and ice-cream parlours and dancing studios, cinemas and museums and shops. There was  a little bit of everything on offer and it was a great place to grow up. Alas, when I turned 20, I needed to leave. I just *had* to get away. I don't quite know why. I had fearful visions of a tombstone engraved with my name that read, 'Nicky Klippert, born in Essen 18 December 1972, lived in Essen all her life, died in Essen'. That was just too terrifying a prospect. So I upstick'ed and came to England instead.

I know the writing bug bit you at the age of 10.  Do you still have a copy of the little alien story you wrote back then?

*scratches head* Well. I ought to. I know I kept it. However, when my dad passed away in 2001, I had to return home to help my Mum deal with the fall out, including giving up the flat my parents had lived in for well over 30 years. The clear-out was manic and rushed, with furniture being sold, books being donated to the library (my entire collection of over 50 Enid Blyton books!) and boxes being packed with random belongings. We knew that Mum wouldn't have much storage space going forward, and I was limited in what I could take back with me on the plane to England. So ~ I would *like* to say I still have it. I can see it in front of my inner eye, and it is possible that it is languishing in one of the boxes in our attic. I haven't checked because it's been too painful to go into those boxes. BUT! It is well preserved in my head and I could easily write it again. The synopsis?

When the alien's year abroad goes horribly wrong, a group of young earthlings unwittingly but determinedly step in to save the day (and the planet ~ Jupiter, not Earth!)

 You know what?  My friend Cory Edwards has a new film coming out in February with The Weinstein Company called, Escape From Planet Earth.  I think he took your notes!  *Jen is totally kidding Cory*

You know that I have a HUGE crush on Grammy winning rock star, Seal.  Tell me about your celebrity crush and if you had a face-to-face moment, what have you rehearsed to say?

Oh God Jen, I couldn't possibly divulge this; since the writing of Sophie's Turn, this is classified information. Especially as Sophie's Turn is all fiction!!! **clears throat**

That is some SERIOUS hair!

Let's see what I can come up with. My biggest celebrity crush was probably a certain Joey Tempest of rock band, Europe. Remember The Final Countdown? *Jen sings: It’s the final countdown!!!* My God, I had it bad. I even had the hairstyle to match (see attached photo). I taught myself some basic Swedish so I could converse with my future husband in his native language, and I had our wedding all mapped out. (I was thirteen!!).

I did get to meet him for a fleeting moment at a concert in Bielefeld; I had a boyfriend in tow and all the conversation boiled down to was asking for an autograph. I remember Joey laughing but that's all. *sigh*

However. There is more. Not much more, but a little more. Nothing to do with Europe, but everything to do with a band I saw supporting Europe at that same concert in Bielefeld. They were outstanding live and they made a deep impression. They're not very famous, and I don't have a big crush on any of the band members; their music, yes, but not the individuals. Absence of full-on crush didn't stop me from going to see them again when they played near my home town in Germany. On that occasion, I was also in autograph hunting mood and I missed my opportunity because I got delayed at the merchandise desk by a very flirty roady. (LOL, it's all so predictable). When I jokingly complained that I'd missed the band for autographs, he looked at me, took me by the arm (yes, it was *right* as though from a movie) and said, totally deadpan: "Well, let me take you backstage."

Now I *was* supposed to be on my way home again. It was a school night (well, university night) and all that. Then again, I was nineteen and not subject to any kind of curfew. There was the small matter of the pesky boyfriend in attendance, of course. Why do these things happen to me? (I should say that our relationship was on the way out and we were just kinda hanging in there for old time's sake. Although as I write, certain Sophie-parallels can't escape my notice, hmmm!).

Anyhoo, I went along (and boyfriend too) and was introduced to the band. We had beers. I got my autographs. I was told that I was very pretty (*swoon*) and invited to sit down and chat (and boyfriend too). We hung out until the bar chucked us out at 3am!!!! What did we talk about? Anything and everything. Music. Touring. Equipment (musical and male; yes, conversation went the obligatory lewd way after a few too many beers had been had by some, but it was *way* over my head at the time).

It was AWESOME. I have a huge smile even thinking back to that night now. NOTHING happened, I hasten to add. Nothing at all. I went home (with boyfriend), reputation and innocence intact. No regrets. But it was great.

That is awesome!  My hubby, Mike, ounce went backstage to meet the guys from the 80’s band The Outfield.  Do you remember them?  “Josie’s on a vacation far away…”  I cannot believe how much signing we’ve done together already, Nick!  Ha!

You can purchase Nicky's book here

I am a huge fan of Sophie from your breakout novel, Sophie’s Turn.  I love that you are bringing her back for a second and third book too.  Can you give us a little tease of what to expect in the new book and maybe a hint at what you’re cooking up for the last installment?

*blushes* Thank you so much ~ I am so happy that you enjoyed Sophie's Turn! Book 2, Sophie's Run, takes Sophie and Dan on a little detour; well, it has to, otherwise there wouldn't be a book 3, right?  Sophie's Run is out on 7 February 2013 and here's the blurb:

Her famous star remains her rock as life takes her on a little detour

Who says that the road toward true love is straight and even? Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams. Well…she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet. When she misses her opportunity, her life goes crazy. Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful. A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal. And to top it all, her new boyfriend leaves her lying in the mud.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change. Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey that eventually gets her life back on track.

Book 3, Sophie's Encore... well, there's a hint in the title! Sophie's Encore comes in three parts: New Beginnings, Falling and Grand Finale. It starts with a ... big event and things progress from there... I can't give away too much as it'll spoil not only Book 3 but also your enjoyment of Book 2! I'm 30,000 words in and hope to have a full draft complete by end of March 2013. The book is due for release in September 2013!!

With the holidays quickly approaching, do you and your family have any traditions you keep going year after year.

Oooh, we certainly do! First of all, we light candles on an advent wreath, one on every one of the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Typically on a Sunday we will also bake cookies and then chat and eat and sing by candlelight in the evening. Doesn't always happen that way but we do try!

On 6 December, we celebrate St Nicholas day. Yes, St Nick ~ his feast day is 6 December! In Germany, the kids put their wellies outside their front door and hope that St Nick will fill them with sweets, nuts and a little treat overnight. I remember watching out of the window myself all night long waiting for the sleigh to appear! My kids put their wellies inside our fire place (as our local foxes are known to make off with abandoned footwear) and we sing songs and hope for the best. It usually works!

Christmas is an elaborate affair as we have to reconcile German and English customs. Here's how that goes. On 24 December, the 'big' day in Germany, we have lots of lovely special food; we light candles and reveal the Christmas tree and hang out stockings. In the afternoon, we usually go the children's service in our local church. Normally we let the children have one present each that night, brought by the Christ Child (uh-huh, in Germany it's usually the Christ Child who brings presents, although Father Christmas features too... it never occurred to me how many customs co-exist until we had kids of our own!), although we are experimenting with what works best and what honours the spirit of Christmas most fully.

On 25 December, the kids wake to a magically filled stocking and a pile of presents under the tree. We have a big breakfast and then we gather round the tree, opening one present at a time, trying it out straightaway. For example, if it's a game, we play it; if it's Lego, we build it; if it's a book we start reading. That way, the present side of things stretches out and we sometimes have to have lunch in the middle!

Nicky, thank you so much for stopping by! You can Find Nicky Wells on Twitter, Facebook, and purchase her book here.  Thank you too, to all you fabulous readers who pop by and spend time with me.  Have a wonderful week!

Bless and be blessed,

Jen 

Exclusive! Rock Legend Dan Hunter's Issues with Dandelions and Marshmallows. Nicky Wells Hunky Lead Singer Reveals All!

Happy Monday everyone!  It’s a great day to stop by Princess with a Pen, because boy oh boy, do I have a treat for you!  My friend Nicky Wells was booked to be here today.  She is the author of the fabulous novel, Sophie’s Turn, released by Sapphire Star Publishing.  I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced review copy, and it did not disappoint.  My lovely Nicky is caught up in the busy world of book touring, and asked her hunky rock star character, Dan Hunter, to take her place today.  Welcome Dan to the blog!

Hello! My name is Dan Hunter.  I am the lead singer of rock band, Tuscq, and newly minted romantic heroine in Nicky Wells’ rock star romance, Sophie’s Turn.  Sophie and Nicky feel that I haven’t been pulling my weight on this promotional blog tour for Sophie’s Turn and they’ve asked me to write a guest post for the lovely Jen Tucker.

Am I the only one who just heard Dan, from Tuscq, call me lovely?! 

*Jen swoons*

Now, hold on.  I’m a rock star, not a writer.   Although I do write my own lyrics, I suppose… Hmm, anyway.  This is tricky.  Nicky said, write what you know.  So I thought I’d tell you a few things about myself.  A few things you don’t know.  A few things nobody knows, as yet.

So here goes: Ten things you didn’t know about Dan Hunter!

1. I sometimes paint my toenails.  I know, weird, right?  But I think ladies toenails look so pretty when they’re painted, it always inspires me.  So when I’m stuck on a song or a lyric and there’s no lady there to help out with her foot on display... well, what’s a rock star to do?  I have a lovely selection of purple and blue nail varnishes in my studio. After all, I wear shoes and socks when I’m out and about so nobody will see my artwork. And if it tickles my muse…

2. I’m allergic to dandelions.  Get me near one, and I shall dissolve in sneezes and hay fever tears.  I once had to cancel a show because of this!  It was an open-air gig in the countryside, we weren’t terribly famous then and it was basically a field in someone’s farmyard.  Within minutes of arriving, I was wheezing and coughing, no chance of singing.  And no, it wasn’t Glastonbury—I’d learnt my lesson by then.  I always carry hay fever meds with me now, even in the winter.

3. Marshmallows creep me out.  Seriously.  How can you eat this stuff?  It’s all squidgy and gooey and slimy and … ugh.  No, not for me.

4. I don’t work out. I hate the gym.  What, you think I look lovely and fit?  Why, thank you.  I do like walking, not that I get much chance.  I have to confess that I do have a personal trainer, but not in the traditional sense.  He teaches me Pilates to keep those muscles supple, and he also makes me do star-jumps and other basic exercises to keep me fit for the stage.  But I don’t work out, as such.  And contrary to popular myth, I don’t have a home gym.

5. I can never, ever remember if I shut the fridge door.  I’ve learnt not to care when I get that weird ‘oh my God, did I leave the fridge open’ sinking feeling.  I’ve only ever left it open once and ok, it was messy and wasteful, but hey, not the end of the world.  So I make myself ignore my worries.  It’s a useful skill, actually, works for all sorts of things.

6. I’m afraid of daddy longlegs.  I shouldn’t really admit this in public, I know, but they just terrify me.  Spiders, I can deal with.  Bugs and insects of any kind, bring them on. Gnats and midgets, I squash them ruthlessly.  Wasps and bees I can take care of.  But daddy longlegs, with their long spindly legs and brittle wings and erratic flying patterns…I have to leave the room.  Quietly, of course.

7. I love women who eat.  Oh, shall I say that one again?  I love women who like their food.  There, that’s even better.  Believe me, I have spent a lot of time spending time with lots of you ladies, and there’s nothing more annoying than sharing a meal with a girl who picks at her food or, worse, orders a salad and then picks at it.  Now Sophie, she likes her food.  It’s a joy watching her tuck into her lobster ravioli or double pepperoni pizza.  And she looks great!  And she’s happy.  There, that’s what it’s all about.  They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—but only if you share in the meal!

8. I think I would quite enjoy opera.  I don’t really know, it’s not really my thing.  But Sophie likes classical music and she’s slowly bringing me round.  One day, she wants to take me to the opera.  Mozart’s Magic Flute is what she has planned for my opera debut. She swears I’ll love it.  I trust her.

9. I love my stereo.  As in, I love my old-fashioned record player with the big amplifier and the huge speakers.  I know, I know, that makes me a hypocrite seeing as that I use all the latest digital technology in my home studio.  But there’s something about an old vinyl record and the old, analogue amplifiers that is just… warmer.  More real, somehow.  So when I want to indulge in listening to music, that’s what I use.

10. I hate having my photo taken.  That’s a bit of a handicap when you’re a rock star, right?  But I just don’t like it.  I’m never happy with the result, and I always feel silly posing for the camera.  It feels so artificial, not real, not me.   I do it, of course.  One has to.  But I hate it.

There you go.  Ten things you didn’t know about me.  Which one surprised you most?  It was lovely being here today and actually, this guest post business isn’t so difficult after all.  I hope you enjoy Sophie and my story when you get round to reading it, and thank you again to the lovely Jen for having me here today.  Rock on!

Rock on Dan!  Thanks so much for stopping by Princess with a Pen!  Dan, I have to tell you that I adore you to bits.  Even more so after learning you paint your toe nails!  Seal does that as well!  That puts you right at the top of my rock star list.

You can Find Nicky Wells on Twitter, Facebook, and purchase her book here.

Have a wonderful day!

XOXO

Jen