Do you adore cats? Do you adore hot men? If so, you’re in luck today, because our guest can give you two-for-one between the covers of her books–and that’s just the tip of the tales. There’s so much in her books to discover, you’re guaranteed to read long past the end of your coffee break! (I know I did).
An author doesn’t get much more award-winning and best-selling than New Zealand romance diva Nalini Singh. We’re extremely honoured to have her here–and she’s giving away a great prize!
I was thinking about a topic for today’s blog post when I came across a meme that I’d been tagged with a while back (confession – I’m a very bad meme responder), and got an idea.
First, here’s the meme:
10 ways to tell if a book is written by me
1. The characters wear jeans. (Hey, they’re versatile!)
2 . There is feline imagery of some kind. (I picked up my very first published book, Desert Warrior the other day and what word did I associate with the hero? Panther. So obviously, I was meant to write about my gorgeous leopard changelings all along).
3. Verbal foreplay (‘nuff said).
4. Alpha men. 
Protective, possessive, and quite often, playful. 
5. Hero and heroine talk to each other. Even if it’s only to fight….or at least that’s what they tell themselves. *coughMercyandRileycough*
6. Emotion (And yet I write about emotionless Psy. Hmm…)
7. There are other people around aside from the main characters – family, Pack, friends, somebody.
8. Made-up stuff and places. You might think this applies only to the Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter series, but no, I created a whole sheikdom for Desert Warrior, and together with Sheree Whitefeather, made up an entire town for The Ashtons continuity (Kendall, Nebraska, population not-a-lot, accessible by car from Broken Arrow).
9. Sizzle. *GRIN*
10. Happy Ever After. 
Okay, now I’m tagging all of you. If you’re a writer, share your list. If you’re a reader, how about sharing one or two…or ten! things about your bookshelves—because each bookshelf is unique. Is yours filled with shapeshifters? Dog-eared keepers? Or maybe you’ve got a secret stash of guilty pleasures… You can tell us. It’ll be our secret.
Everyone who leaves a comment goes into a draw to win a signed copy of Caressed By Ice. If you win and you’ve already got the book, I’ll send you a Psy/Changeling series magnet instead. So comment away!
Website: www.nalinisingh.com
Blog: www.nalinisingh.blogspot.com
Subscribe to Posts 
Books featuring vampires, shape shifters, angels, demons & werewolves, are on one side of my bookshelf. The other side is romantic suspense, historical romance, contemporary fiction, & more. What my favorites have in common — great dialog, humor, Alpha males, and of course major chemistry between the main characters.
by Rose Miller July 7th, 2009 at 2:44 amI think what links my books is good writing that got to me in some way. And then there’s the hot cover category. *ahem* Mmmm… abs.
by Chris July 7th, 2009 at 7:12 amI’m a reader and I read all genres but my favorite is the Paranormal. Vampires series are my favorite but I’m always looking for new authors and series to read. I also enjoy thrillers, suspense and historicals.
by Teresa W. July 7th, 2009 at 9:01 amBooks don’t stay on my shelf for the most part because I like to pass them along, but I have a few guilty pleasures in the historical romance, paranormal, and urban fantasy genre. They’re all so good.
by Kiera Mcallister July 7th, 2009 at 9:25 amI’m definitely in the paranormal and erotic genre right now. So that’s what’s on the shelves that people can see. There are more bookshelves in both my walk-in closets that contain more books. Although they’ve been there so long I’ve forgotten what’s there.
by Jody F. July 7th, 2009 at 11:05 amMost of the books on my keeper shelf are sexy paranormals, the majority of which are shifter stories. Love wolves and the big cats, and the way you write them, Nalini, so works for me. Perfect combo of sexy alpha’s, wonderful love stories, with great suspense that keeps me guessing until the end.
by Cathy M July 7th, 2009 at 12:00 pmI like paranormal, timetravel, futuristic, shapeshifters, vampires….
by Minna July 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pmWelcome, Nalini! Thanks for joining us on Silk and Shadows today.
I’m a writer so I’ll give the ‘this story was written by me’ list a shot.
1. Humor
by Annette McCleave July 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm2. Hot, take-charge guys with a tortured past
3. Strong women — mentally strong, not necessarily physical
4. Swords…hmmm, can’t seem to shake the swords even though I’ve moved away from historicals
5. Magic
6. Mythology
7. Something Celtic, even if it’s only a brooch.
I’m into paranormal at the moment, especially shape shifters (feline preferred)
by Anne July 7th, 2009 at 2:42 pmI love suspense, paranormal and great characters that make you care about them.
by Jane July 7th, 2009 at 3:02 pmI have books galore, on shelves and in boxes because my shelves are packed. I love erotic romance, but especially paranormal, so there is more paranormal than anything.
by Melissa Conatser July 7th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Hi Nalini,
by Carol Luciano July 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pmI love your list. I love your writing. My bookshelves have an eclectic assortment from Vamps,werewolves,shifters,Immortals,Highlanders.sigh….,time travel romance.The Outlander series to date, all of Sherrilyn Kenyon and there is my Historical romance, regency,georgian etc. I love it all. Count me in .
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
My bookshelves contain only books that I would gladly (perhaps too gladly) read and re-read. Of course this crosses just about every genre… I read way too much for my own good.
Totally worth it, though I may need more shelf space soon…..
by Ley July 7th, 2009 at 4:52 pmHi Everyone! Thanks for the welcome to the blog. I’m loving reading everyone’s comments
by Nalini Singh July 7th, 2009 at 5:59 pmHi Nalini, welcome, welcome! It’s a book by me if the hero and heroine do it outside (or some other non-bedroom place) at least once! What can I say?
by Allison Chase July 7th, 2009 at 6:09 pmwould love to be en tered
im a keeper, my family is not appy about it LOL
and my range is all kinds of books, not just one genre
love your series!!!!!!!!!!!
by blackroze37@yahoo.com July 7th, 2009 at 6:21 pmGreat post, Nalini, and interesting how you had cats in mind from that first book.
I have shelves and boxes full of books, they are everywhere. Lots of historical, paranormals and fantasy of all kinds, along with some contemps and mystery thrillers. If it’s time travel or to do with pyschics, I’m interested no matter the genre.
Caress by Ice is my favorite of the series so far, just edged out Slave to Sensation. Would love the magnet.
by Pam P July 7th, 2009 at 6:31 pmI keep my romances and most paranormal books in my computer (ebooks!), so that if my mother ever went through my bookshelf, there wouldn’t be any embarrassing moments.
by Celia July 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pmThat said, my real bookshelves are a mix of fantasy, literature and YA (with a few travel and foodie non-fiction thrown in) and I have another different ‘area’/system for my academic/research books.
What can be found in great numbers on my bookshelf are Paranormal Romance books. Most of the time, there are alpha heroes in these books.
by Natascha July 7th, 2009 at 7:01 pmI love all kinds of books. Paranormal romance seems to make up the bulk of my purchases lately. My favorite authors all make their characters come alive and make me fell part of the story. Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nora Roberts, Laurell K Hamilton, just to name a few (and they’re all in alphabetical order). I’m just anal that way
I finished “Branded By Fire” Thursday and can’t wait for “Blaze of Memory”. November’s just too far away 
by Dawn July 7th, 2009 at 7:55 pmMy bookshelf has historical romance/fiction, mysteries and some paranomal too. I look for books that are well written and have an intriguing premise or setting.
by Lauren July 7th, 2009 at 8:28 pmMy bookshelves are beginning to overflow, because I am such a keeper/re-reader! The one thing that ties my private library together is that almost every book I have is part of a series. I rarely read a stand alone book, because I always fall for a supporting character and HAVE to read his or her story. Most of the books on my bookshelf have a lot of friends and family involved, because I love the interactions with the characters and their world, not just each other. As far as genre, I’m a futuristic/sci-fi romance and paranormal romance buff, with a really fun contemporary thrown in from time to time
by Darcy July 7th, 2009 at 8:49 pmMy bookshelves overflow onto chairs, dressers, the floor, plus tons of storage boxes. I have a very hard time giving books away! I read science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romances of all sorts, particularly paranormal, historical, regency, contemporary, etc. I read lots of children’s books, mostly middle-grade fantasy, but also historical and realistic, some YA too. I read a lot of books about the history of children’s literature too since that’s my passion. I read way too much!
by Jenny Schwartzberg July 7th, 2009 at 8:50 pmI love paranormal books, Urban fantasy, contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I also love many different authors taht write those genres. I have read all of Nalini’s Psy books and even her new series.
by Diane Sadler July 7th, 2009 at 9:39 pmHI Nalini and Sharon *waves*
The characters wear jeans.
And don’t we all just love that
Hmmm, my books (because they are currently all packed in boxes) are rather eclectic - contemporary, historical and paranormal romance, fantasy…it really depends on what ’speaks to me’ I guess
There are other people around aside from the main characters – family, Pack, friends, somebody.
And I realised while reading Branded By Fire (BBF) that those familial bonds are one of the things I adore about the Psy-Changeling books - that sense of loyalty and belonging. You’d never feel completely alone in the Pack.
All the best for the release of BBF Nalini!
by orannia July 7th, 2009 at 9:50 pmHi Nalini! I have two cats here and a hubby! Perfect reading for me! Love those top 10 of your books! I love those of the Emotion and Sizzle!
A couple things about my bookshelves
I got one area just for the keepers. They are always within reach. I love to pull out and read a bit here and there!
Too I can’t remember the times that I thought it was time to ‘clean my bookshelf’ and I thought I’d let go of some of my books and make room for more. Now I can’t remember the number of times I went and bought them again because I wanted to read again. Thats one thing I struggle with so I’m thinking about those second time getting them in ebooks so I can always have them with them not taking any room and I can pick up anytime!
by Caffey July 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pmWhat can be found in my books:
1. people with sharp teeth
by Sharon Ashwood July 7th, 2009 at 10:29 pm2. furry people
3. castles
4. occasional dragons
5. a smart-ass cop
6. demons
7. a lot of food-related scenes (which says more about me than anything else)
8. Alessandro’s T-bird
9. humour–because the darker you are, the funnier you need to be!
10. hot guys. Literally.
Thanks for joining us, Nalini. I’m bred from an engineer, left-brain dominant, so I very much relate to you Psy heroines. A friend of mine with similar personality traits says her emotional daughter calls her “the Spock bitch” when she’s in the zone
As for what makes my stories mine:
by Jessa Slade July 7th, 2009 at 11:18 pm10. Analogies
9. Men with issues
8. Women who have no sympathy for men with issues
7. Extended analogies
6. Similies (and sometimes smilies)
5. The word “teh” (hopefully not in printed versions)
4. Wondering
3. Action (because wondering is booooring)
2. Dark chocolate — usually the hero feeding the heroine
1. Happily Ever Afters
Hi Nalini - soooo looking forward to Branded By Fire which is winging it’s way to me as I type!
Hmmm . . on my bookshelves.
Shifters/Cats/Wolves
Demons
Magick
Alpha’s wearing denim/leather/or very little!
Dark, edgy stories
Romance/heat/sizzle
Kick butt heroines - who may not always start out that way but find their strength/s during the book
HEA
Ghost stories
Time travel
Westerns
And a sprinkling of thrillers!
Congratulations on the release of Branded by Fire
by Willa July 8th, 2009 at 4:07 amthis is “the books you can find in my shelves” list:
1. happily evber after… (I put it on place 1. because i really, really hate to read 400 pages to find out that the hot male main character will die, leaving his beloved alone and with child.(and me so sad..)
2 . comunications. (you know, there are book that could end in two pages if the main character actually spoke to each other. i read a book in which the hero spoke to his woman only in the last 20 pages.. previously, he watched her, insulted her with other people, but never ever spoke to her. so, if they ar eincapable of spiking to each others, how can they marry and live toghter?)
3. strong man (how can I love a hero, if he is a coward?or a traitor?)
4. loyal and faithful main characters (but i like devious antagonists or slippery man who can devise contort plans to conquer the heart of their women) I don’t like to read about heroine/heros jumping in bed with a different man each book. (sometimes , 2 or 3 men for books) I mean, you have caught the hero, he is strong, ironic, perfect for you, so why try someone else bed?
5. inteligent character. (i don’t like stupid people in reality, and even less in books!!!)
6. amusing, likeable characters. thay can be serious when they must, but they like to realax and “play”
7. strong woman capable to understand when to bend and when to push..(i recentely read about this woman pursued by 20 assassins. she refure to disguise herself just because the main male character ordered her in a brusque tone. this is not a strong woman, this is a stupid one…)
8. finished book.
I like long series and i ‘m all for them, ( i really hope the psy-changeling serie will be a long one!!) but only when the author has actually something to says. (i canìt stand the books writed because they will sell, but without originality..)
9. anticipations, or hints about what will happpen in the next books. I like to speculate about them .. (like with Sienna and Hawke) this only appy when I’m reading a series
10. woman or man that are not scared by their emotions.. or , more exactly, that are scared, but they accept to take to chance
by Chiara July 8th, 2009 at 5:53 amthis is the kind of books you can find in my shelves list:
1) An interesting story
Books that my girlfriend doesn’t like, otherwise she’ll spoiler everything
by Corrado July 8th, 2009 at 7:58 amand/or
2) A well written story
and/or
3) An original story or, at least, one that does not seem copied from other books
and/or
4) Interesting intrigues
and/or
5) in a series, “useful” books, and not books written just to steal money from the fans (don’t worry, I don’t think you’re one of those “writers”)
and/or
6) Books in which a stupid behavior leads to bad consequences
and/or
7) Books in which the protagonist is “normal”, meaning that he has the same chances of surviving than the others (eg. he dies if he tries to fight alone and barehanded with 20 men)
and/or
and/or
9) In a serie, a book without hints to the next books, because otherwise my girlfriend won’t stop asking desperately: “What do you think will happen?”
and/or
10) Low priced books
This is “the books you can find in my shelves” list:
1) Books about vampires, shapeshifters, demons and dragons (I love fantasy books)
2) Romance books ( Books like that are must in my shelves.)
3) I like even long series but they must be interesting otherwise they annoy me
4) Hero must be intelligent ( I hate stupid characters..)
5) happily ever after ( I hate to read long books in which the main character dies or goes away without a real reason)
6) Books lended or advised by my friends
7)I love when characters tease each other (es. Riley and Mercy)
9)Low priced books (My money aren’t many)
10) Female characters are not sissies ( Oh I broke my nails
)
by Teresa July 8th, 2009 at 9:25 amWow, I’m not sure I can think of ten common traits in all my writing! At least one of my short stories throws a wrench in the works (it’s a space western, so a lot of my myth elements aren’t there!). Here we go for self analysis:
1. There’s always an element of faith or belief, even if it’s the person fighting against their old faith.
2. Borrowed mythology shows up, sometimes recognizably, sometimes disguised. I couldn’t use real-world myths for my fantasy novel trilogy, so I had to clothe them differently. (The space western may be exempt from this one.)
3. There’s often an unstated reference to a philosopher’s ideas (I’ve drawn on Owen Barfield and Jon Kabat Zinn for various tales).
4. There are strong women.
5. Often times, the people playing the role of nurturer or poet/romantic are male.
6. Relationships are a core focus, but often, the relationships between people who aren’t romantically involved are as important (or more important) than the ones that are. Sisters, friends, strangers who accidentally become important to each other, and even the relationship between my rodeo rider and an experimental motor-bike in the space western — they’re all over the place.
7. The cast is almost always multi-cultural, even if that just means elves or split generations.
8. Often the characters start out having failed at something, and part of the story is their having to overcome the emotions of having failed.
9. The emotional core of the story is almost always a moment that happens in a character’s head, rather than in a direct action climax.
10. Um… they all have my name in the byline?
Wow, I thought that was going to be hard, and, in fact, it was harder than I expected.
by Alana Joli Abbott July 8th, 2009 at 9:39 amIn my shelves you def. find historical romance because I love them. Series books, I love continuing to read about the same characters. I also love Philosophy books but all in all I read every genre and adore a good read.
by Ferlaisa July 8th, 2009 at 11:33 amI loved your list, Nalini and it is SOO true!
What makes me buy books to keep on my shelf? I’ll give you my top three elements for making my book shelf:
The first most important element, the characters. They have to be people you can relate you (whether you like them or not). Someone that feels real as you seen them in your imagination.
The second most important element, world building. The mythology and world must have a sense of realism in it, even it if it fantasy. If it is too far fetched you cannot immerse yourself in the story.
The third is a cohesive plot. When it comes to my romance books, if the romance (*ahem*) dominates I lose my appeal. Nothing more annoying than reading something steamy and thinking, “Can we get back to the mystery/drama/action/etc”. There has to be a balance between our hot characters having their HEA and the overall conflict/drama of the story.
I would love the signed copy as my poor Caressed by Ice was damaged by a friend. It’s still readable (thank goodness) but I wouldn’t pass up a signed copy! Thank you!!
by Una July 8th, 2009 at 11:57 amWow, so many comments! It’s so fascinating to me to hear about your bookshelves, and what works/what doesn’t.
And for the writers - isn’t it so interesting how we have themes in our work that we don’t even realize until we sit down to think about it!
by Nalini Singh July 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pmHmm… when I write, one of the things that constantly crops up is my heroine suffers some sort of emotional or supernatural handicap. Something to make life (and love) difficult, but ultimately make her stronger (and find a strong, alpha man). I also love sibling dynamics, so she will have either a sister (or 2 or 3), or some uber-close girlfriends.
As for my overflowing bookshelves, a collection of everything from paranormal, to historical, to contemporary, the ones that are keepers all share some similar qualities. Alpha men, strong women who are not afraid to lean on their man for support (I do not like the annoying, go-it-alone heroines), and an interconnected world of family or friends. Besides Nalini’s psy/changeling (and now Guild hunter) series, Kresley Cole’s Immortal after Dark and Karen Marie Moning’s series are superb, read-the-day-they-come-out and multiple reads.
by Christina July 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pmMy bookshelf has all genres of romance on it and a few fiction books. I have it sorted alphabetically by author last name so I can find what I’m looking for. Oh, and I also have a few small, stuffed animals sitting on the edge of the shelves.
by Kammie July 9th, 2009 at 8:15 pmhmmm…what classifies my bookshelf well the first thing I see are all my Nalini Singh and Gena Showalter books and my guilty pleasure would have to be Megan Hart. I absolutely love her books.
by funkywaterdino July 10th, 2009 at 2:20 pm[...] Silk & Shadows » Blog Archive » Nalini Singh guest blogs Most of the books on my keeper shelf are sexy paranormals, the majority of which are shifter stories. Love wolves and the big cats, and the way you write them, Nalini, so works for me. Perfect combo of sexy alpha’s, wonderful love stories, with great suspense ….. Sisters, friends, strangers who accidentally become important to each other, and even the relationship between my rodeo rider and an experimental motor-bike in the space western — they’re all over the place. … [...]
by Sexy feline ass on motorbike | GeDeDe July 13th, 2009 at 2:06 am