tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post3140368442578398865..comments2023-10-18T11:39:48.998-04:00Comments on NADJA NOTARIANI : An Author's Adventures: Researching For Romance ~ Action SequencesNadja Notarianihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-45010549089981509812012-06-05T21:27:59.146-04:002012-06-05T21:27:59.146-04:00I always have a hard time writing action - researc...I always have a hard time writing action - research is a great idea! If I felt more comfortable with wrestling and fighting sequences, I bet the writing would come more easily.Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-45433797204089717162012-06-04T17:12:34.539-04:002012-06-04T17:12:34.539-04:00Absolutely! And thank you, Matt. It's awesom...Absolutely! And thank you, Matt. It's awesome to hear a man's perspective on the fight/training scenes, as MMA (and the world of physical contact sports) is primarily a male dominated realm. I've always been morbidly fascinated with 'blood-sport', as are the majority of my siblings and now my kids, and I attribute it to genetic makeup...lol.<br /><br />My oldest son played basketball in his elementary years, and was a good defensive player, but his lack of height (and basket-ball-sinking abilities) made that sport a bit 'far-fetched' for him...ha! You use what you've got, right? Ha!Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-59194735401748480592012-06-04T11:16:37.258-04:002012-06-04T11:16:37.258-04:00Speaking as typically a non-romance reader... the ...Speaking as typically a non-romance reader... the touch of reality and experience you brought to the fighting in Claiming the Prize was really one of my favorites parts of the read. Being a football coach, there are a lot of similarities when it comes to training and dedication and things like that (to whit, many of our players also wrestle, though I was a basketball player myself). <br /><br />Anyway, your book is a great example of "writing what you know." That is, you took the life experience you were going to get anyway and adapted it to fit into a wonderful story. It was super-interesting to get a look "beyond the mat" so to speak, and felt authentic to me.<br /><br />It's always nice to hear about our strengths, right? :-)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-1036064650393275602012-06-04T08:28:51.578-04:002012-06-04T08:28:51.578-04:00Yes. The fight/training scenes for Claiming The P...Yes. The fight/training scenes for Claiming The Prize came quite easily. And if I had a question....I yelled upstairs for my son to give me clarification ....'just how do you lock up a Rear Naked Choke??' Ha!Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-32000365013712671322012-06-04T08:26:28.276-04:002012-06-04T08:26:28.276-04:00That's neat. Two individuals (one a coach/ on...That's neat. Two individuals (one a coach/ one a former wrestler our son knew) now are fighting in more local venues UFC/MMA, and one has just been offered a contract. He's done well, and trains at the jujitsu/boxing gym our son sometimes trains at. (I say sometimes because it is $600 for 6 months(if you pay monthly it is much more) there and an additional $90 monthly for CrossFit; $40 for monthly access to a local off/season wrestling gym. We're not what you would call wealthy...so often he has to 'pick a skill to work on this month...lol.Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-19516852347073895092012-06-04T05:08:59.803-04:002012-06-04T05:08:59.803-04:00Great to be able to use so much of your real life ...Great to be able to use so much of your real life experience in your writing Nadja.<br /><br />Have a lovely week.xEmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069696625147455758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-87739397361119320212012-06-03T23:50:57.192-04:002012-06-03T23:50:57.192-04:00A good friend of our family is an MMA fighter. My...A good friend of our family is an MMA fighter. My brothers follow his career with much enthusiasm! <br /><br />I always say, write what you know (or could easily imagine) and it sounds like you did just that! This has turned out to be an interesting series. Eager to see what's next. :)Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593882598668421250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-56137850292513797362012-06-03T22:05:06.126-04:002012-06-03T22:05:06.126-04:00Great to see you, J.R.! Things are moving along n...Great to see you, J.R.! Things are moving along nicely, thanks. Calling it research was a little smudge...I picked it all up while sitting on those $%*#^ wooden bleachers. Ouch! haha.Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-26861867818358951002012-06-03T22:02:55.715-04:002012-06-03T22:02:55.715-04:00That's one of the great things about wrestling...That's one of the great things about wrestling, jujitsu, and MMA. All sizes of kids can compete seriously! My boys are on the small side, although the soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old (ACK! As of yet unregulated testosterone and driving!) is now about 5'9" and 150 lbs. Just a few months ago, he was making weight for 132 lbs. (Cutting weight is an aspect of wrestling that I sometimes struggle with)<br />High school brackets range from 105 lbs to heavyweight (280lbs). It provides a weight slot for lighter weights to compete as well as heavier kids. I like that. <br /><br />Are you back from vacation?? Hope you had a great time!Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-38585796351463363602012-06-03T18:17:01.415-04:002012-06-03T18:17:01.415-04:00Very cool to read how you came to know so much abo...Very cool to read how you came to know so much about wrestling & martial arts. Hope your latest WIP is going well. Good luck with the rest of the round!J.R. Pearse Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00163199989017556255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-53876751860249282212012-06-03T16:44:55.084-04:002012-06-03T16:44:55.084-04:00I've GOT to read that book! When I first met y...I've GOT to read that book! When I first met you, I think you had just released Her Dark Baron, and I didn't get back around to reading Claiming the Prize. My friend and cover artist, Anya, read it and really liked it. I need to put that next on my TBR list!<br /><br />Both my boys were band kids (drums and trumpet), although my oldest had a short stint with soccer. I'm sort of surprised my youngest never got into wrestling. He's a big, muscular guy. He would be in the heavy weight category. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-48940046511405581132012-06-03T14:29:03.006-04:002012-06-03T14:29:03.006-04:00Oh! Thanks, Claudia! Claiming The Prize will alw...Oh! Thanks, Claudia! Claiming The Prize will always hold a special place in my heart...it was my first novel and centers around a sport I've grown to love over the years. <br />Hope you're having a fantastic weekend! :}Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-88606817660201569902012-06-03T12:23:46.029-04:002012-06-03T12:23:46.029-04:00My hubby was a former HS wrestler and he loves wat...My hubby was a former HS wrestler and he loves watching MMA. I'll admit, I don't "get it" but I'm learning! Thanks for a glimpse of the research behind Claiming the Prize (it was a great book!)Claudia Lefevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591547986192202834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-49024400941047731292012-06-03T11:55:17.571-04:002012-06-03T11:55:17.571-04:00We are subjected to the love/hate relationship bet...We are subjected to the love/hate relationship between brothers here, too. Ha! Most often, they are thick-as-theives, but once in awhile, tempers flare and punches are thrown...sigh. The joys of rearing boys...lol. <br /><br />The two youngest are only 19 months apart, and they are in constant competition. Each wants to assert themselves...who is faster, stronger, tougher. It makes me tired some days...lol. But it drives them; and to channel that desire in the right direction...ahhhh, sublime. :}Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-29423446232537292932012-06-03T11:45:06.201-04:002012-06-03T11:45:06.201-04:00Thus far none of the wee beasties have shown an in...Thus far none of the wee beasties have shown an interest in wrestling aside from the natural 'I'm gonna kill you' of brothers, LOL. Fascinating research though.<br /><br />Hope you have a fab week Nadja!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-89692908096953073102012-06-03T11:18:25.891-04:002012-06-03T11:18:25.891-04:00Ha! It is, at times, quite difficult to watch. T...Ha! It is, at times, quite difficult to watch. The first time I watched my son get his 'bell-rung'...I nearly suffered apoplexy! But he stayed in there and never gave up. Pride supplanted all apprehension.<br /><br />I've watched him win; I've watched him lose. I've seen him celebrate in abandoned joy, and sob after a tough loss. It is a powerful thing to witness. <br /><br />We (the other moms and I) joke that we sould have 'buns-of-steel' as throughout our kids' matches butt-cheeks are 'fully-engaged'. Ha! And after six minutes of non-stop-butt-tenseness, you know it. Ha!Nadja Notarianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339595239944177531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6889983057537109989.post-21496132519368139132012-06-03T10:54:55.480-04:002012-06-03T10:54:55.480-04:00Wow, I don't know if I could stand watching m...Wow, I don't know if I could stand watching my son (though I have only one daughter) getting pummeled LOLJuliana Haygerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028869545185578038noreply@blogger.com