Nancy Loyan
Cleveland, Ohio
U.S.A.
Good morning, Nancy, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and authors. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
What haven't I written! Through the years, I have written for trade and consumer publications, with a specialty in architecture and construction. I’m the author of a coffee table book: Cleveland, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait. My love has been penning “fairy tales for adults.” I was traditionally published (five novels) with Crimson Romance, a Division of Adam’s Media (Writers Digest Books). The line was sold to Simon and Schuster, and, basically eliminated. I had the rights reverted to my novels, and self-published them. I have continued to self-publish.
My novels are women’s fiction with a “happily ever after.” They are in multiple genres, as I prefer variety.
Here’s a list:
PARADISE FOUND (Contemporary, R) After being a woman of the world, Victoria returns home to the exotic Seychelles Islands, to reconcile her past. Island helicopter pilot, Daemon, isn’t expecting to meet a native with an agenda contrary to his own. Will they realize that no man or woman is an island, and that they need each other to begin anew?
LAB TEST … (Animal Attraction series, Paranormal, Comedy, PG) A curse turns a debutante into a dog. She is adopted by an automobile designer, and becomes a voyeur into his life. They find what they have both been missing in life.
PS: I was inspired by my Black Lab-Pointer, Ebony.
HORSE POWER … (Animal Attraction series, Contemporary, PG) A motorcyclist breaks down in front of a widow’s farm. He is the Director of Horsemanship at Culver Academies. She rescues horses. Horses bring them together, and help them overcome tragedy.
PS: My husband is a graduate of Culver.
MOUSE TRAPPED … (Animal Attraction series, Paranormal, Comedy, PG) A woman returns home to the family farm to settle her mother’s estate, only to find another inhabitant at the farmstead, a mutant mouse. Not just any animal, Michael is formidable and tempting as a desirable human male.
WISHES AND TEARS … (Time Travel, PG) My personal favorite. If you like “Somewhere in Time,” this is the novel for you. Faith goes back in time to the Great San Francisco earthquake to find herself in the Queen Ann mansion of a handsome doctor, the same home where she lived in the future. Love can transcend time.
HEARTS OF STEEL … (Contemporary, R) Can hell in high heels fall in love with a hot metal man? Jessica is a steel heiress, intent on closing the mill, that Quade manages. Can they overcome their opposing goals?
THE RIGHT COMBINATION … (Suspense, R) Someone is murdering the country’s legendary safe and vault technicians. F.B.I. Agent Raphael must find the killer before he strikes again. Is safe tech, Nalani, a suspect, or the pawn of a demented killer?
PS: I collect and have written about antique safes, so this novel is close to my heart.
CHAMPAGNE FOR BREAKFAST… (Historical, R) During the glamorous 1970’s, a model with lofty dreams falls in love with a famous architect with a mysterious past.
A KISS IN THE RAIN … (CHQ series, Suspense, PG) A “black widow” is stalking the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution looking for her next victim. F.B.I Agent Carter has to find her before she strikes again. Will old flame Katy be a distraction?
PS: I taught writing and dance at CHQ for a dozen years.
A CLOUD OVER THE SUN … (CHQ series, Suspense, PG) Patrol Officer, Fredericka and her K-9 partner are recovering from a shooting at the Chautauqua Institution. F.B.I. Agent Kilbane is on the grounds recovering from his own demons. Can he find her shooter-stalker before it’s too late?
AFTERLIFE … (Speculative Science Fiction, G) Kalden is an astronaut, who has lost all that he loved on Earth. On a one-way mission to find other life in the Universe, he lands on a mysterious planet, where his perception of life, death and the beyond, are challenged. He is returned to Earth, where he learns that faith cannot be proven, and that one person can make a difference.
DANCE TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER … (Pharaoh’s Daughters series, Contemporary, G) Mysterious belly dance instructor, Kemsit, transforms the lives of her students in the small town of Cairo. … Kemsit’s studio brings an unlikely pair together. Emily is a nerdy evangelical Christian and Jordan is an Egyptian Muslim co-worker and drummer. Will their differences bring them together, or tear them apart?
DANCING IN THE DARK … (Pharaoh’s Daughter’s series, Contemporary, G) Expectant single mother, Sara, overcomes tragedy by moving to Cairo. Belly dance with Kemsit gives her hope for the future. Will her future include, Lucas, the owner of the local auto repair garage? She makes him re-evaluate the meaning of family.
DANCING ON AIR … (Pharaoh’s Daughter’s series, Contemporary, G) Famous actress, Daphne, hides undercover as a waitress in Cairo. River is a billionaire tech guru, who is seeking a woman after his heart, not his bank account. Can two deceptive people succeed in love? With Kemsit’s help, anything may be possible.
PS: I have taught belly dance (even at CHQ), and have been a professional belly dancer for over thirty years. Finally, I’ve combined my love of dance with writing.
SPECIAL ANGEL (Suspense, PG) In the process of being re-published)
What is your favorite genre to write?
I like all genres, as is evidenced by my novels. I do tend to gravitate toward suspense.
Favorite food
I’ve been leaning toward being a vegetarian. I love Chinese and Thai, because they cannot be duplicated at home.
Tea or coffee?
I used to require flavored coffee. I woke up after having the flu a number of years ago, and found it revolting. Haven’t not had it, since. I now love tea. I’ve never felt more alert, after having kicked the caffeine habit.
Pizza or ice cream?
Yikes! I’d chose pizza.
Wine or beer or soda or what?
I don’t drink beer or soft drinks. I prefer flavored seltzer and an occasional glass of white wine.
Where would you like to visit?
Giraffe Manor in Kenya, Turkey, Spain, the Orient …
Favorite musical artist
I’m old school. Elton John, Tom Jones, Elvis, Barbra Streisand. I do like Lady Gaga.
Do you listen to music when you write? What?
It depends. Tom Jones and Julio Eglesias are great for writing love scenes. Marc Anthony inspired me, while penning The Right Combination.
What makes you laugh?
Romantic comedies.
This is an Art and Author Blog, so I am obligated to ask: Favorite work of art or sculpture.
That’s a hard one. I love classics like Monet, Michaelangelo, Van Gogh … anyone exhibited in the Louvre or Musee D’orsey.
How old were you when you started writing?
I’ve been writing since penning picture books for friends in elementary school. Writing is as necessary as breathing.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I am a “Pantser.” I usually have an idea of the ending, but I work my way to get there. Somehow, it works out.
Describe your perfect evening.
Sitting alone, just me and the dog (after the husband has gone to bed), at the computer … writing. Isn’t it SO romantic?
Where do you get your inspiration?
From life, world travel, experiences, people.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I get away from writing, and do something else, like dance, work out, walk the dog, practice the piano.
Who is your favorite author?
I’m going to duck. I don’t have one. If a book sounds interesting, and appealing, I read it. I love to read books that friends, who are also authors, write. I read multiple genres. I confess that I do like Nora Roberts.
Best book you ever read.
That’s hard. I still love Gone with the Wind, The Thorn Birds, Beloved Infidel … oldies.
Last book you read.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
In my previous life, I was in outside sales and marketing. My BSBA is in Marketing.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My husband, for believing in me, when no one else did. He still is my biggest cheerleader.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?Jesus. I would like to know the real reason for my existence, the secret and purpose of life, and what to expect in the hereafter. I’d like to hear his wisdom, like why bad things happen to good people, and why there is so much suffering and hate.
ETC: I love to travel. I also love to instruct writing (Writing Romance and Women’s Fiction, and Self-Publishing 101). I also instruct belly dance.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Don’t expect to be rich and famous. Study the craft. Write, and keep writing. Expect rejection. Keep writing. Don’t give up. Just write.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Website: www.nancyloyan.com
www.nailahdance.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nancy+loyan&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nancy-Loyan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com /NancyLoyanSchuemann
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NLSScribe
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/9nls
LinkledIn: NancyL.Schuemann@NLSScribe
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/nancyloyanschuemann
