Proposal is IN! It’s Party Time!
Just kidding! Last week, I finished my proposal for Zach and Sadie (Mill Town Millionaires Book 4) and got it sent to Awesome Editor. Next in the pipeline is Small Town Secrets Book 2, before Zach and Sadie’s full is due later this year.
But before that, I get to take a week off from writing. I try to do that between projects to “refill my well”. I still do lots of business stuff, but creatively I let myself off the hook.
What do I replace it with? Oh, exciting stuff like cleaning house (it gets really messy on deadline) and watching TV/Movies. I also go on the hunt for new music. As you know if you’ve read my blog for long, music is a powerful fuel for my creativity and each of my characters have “theme” songs.
But after a while, I get tired of what I’ve been listening to and need fresh tunes! So I fill up an iTunes card and go hunting…
While I’m refilling the coffers, I’d love for y’all to share some of your favorite music (new or old) with me! I’ll pick 1 commenter to WIN an iTunes card by Friday.
Dani
But before that, I get to take a week off from writing. I try to do that between projects to “refill my well”. I still do lots of business stuff, but creatively I let myself off the hook.
What do I replace it with? Oh, exciting stuff like cleaning house (it gets really messy on deadline) and watching TV/Movies. I also go on the hunt for new music. As you know if you’ve read my blog for long, music is a powerful fuel for my creativity and each of my characters have “theme” songs.
But after a while, I get tired of what I’ve been listening to and need fresh tunes! So I fill up an iTunes card and go hunting…
While I’m refilling the coffers, I’d love for y’all to share some of your favorite music (new or old) with me! I’ll pick 1 commenter to WIN an iTunes card by Friday.
Dani
It's more #MySexySaturday fun over on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog! Go enjoy some naughty sexiness, maybe some new-to-you authors, and comment for a chance to win prizes! Our August event is going strong. Check it out here.
For some reason, this blog disappeared from my site during the night, so here's Take 2:
Have you ever felt like your life was on fast forward somehow-run to the grocery store, run to the school, run to work, run to karate class…And then one moment, you finally pause, and realize you haven’t talked to your friends in a while? That’s what happened to me this week! I’ve sure been missing all of my online friends!
I’ve been working on a deadline for a month to turn in Zach and Sadie’s proposal (Mill Town Millionaires 4). Despite many setbacks, I was able to turn it in this past weekend. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this book! Fingers crossed Awesome Editor feels the same!
The rest of the time, I’ve been focused on home and family. Recently my husband got pretty sick and had to go through a series of tests. He’s a pretty tough guy, so watching him suffer was hard. I also realized something very important—I rely on my husband A LOT.
I like to think of myself as a capable person who gets things accomplished. I’m frequently emotional and often overwhelmed, but shit gets done. J Only now do I see how much of that is thanks to my husband. He’s often behind the scenes, keeping the kids and pets on track despite his own day job, so I can focus on writing as much as possible.
I’m very lucky to have a spouse that supports my artistic and business endeavors. You’d be surprised how many aren’t. I’m not always quick to see the good that’s happening (glass half empty kind of girl). But even though it wasn’t fun, I’m glad for the reminder of how blessed I am.
Twenty years ago, he had no idea what he was getting into, but he’s never looked at me and said, “I don’t think so.” I only hope I’m somehow repaying the favor. Now, I know there’s a reason all of my heroes have a touch of him in there somewhere…
What blessings have you discovered recently?
Dani
I like to think of myself as a capable person who gets things accomplished. I’m frequently emotional and often overwhelmed, but shit gets done. J Only now do I see how much of that is thanks to my husband. He’s often behind the scenes, keeping the kids and pets on track despite his own day job, so I can focus on writing as much as possible.
I’m very lucky to have a spouse that supports my artistic and business endeavors. You’d be surprised how many aren’t. I’m not always quick to see the good that’s happening (glass half empty kind of girl). But even though it wasn’t fun, I’m glad for the reminder of how blessed I am.
Twenty years ago, he had no idea what he was getting into, but he’s never looked at me and said, “I don’t think so.” I only hope I’m somehow repaying the favor. Now, I know there’s a reason all of my heroes have a touch of him in there somewhere…
What blessings have you discovered recently?
Dani
Who could use a little Late Summer Sexy this Saturday? I know I sure could!
Join me on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog to read an excerpt from some of our authors for #mysexysaturday blog hop, and comment to win free books! There's also a Grand Prize for the entire month of August.
Don't wait! Check it out now! :)
(Hint: this guy might just be over there waiting...)
Join me on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog to read an excerpt from some of our authors for #mysexysaturday blog hop, and comment to win free books! There's also a Grand Prize for the entire month of August.
Don't wait! Check it out now! :)
(Hint: this guy might just be over there waiting...)
This year, our school system moved up our start time to make way for a fall break. I love fall break, but starting school so early is a bit strange. :) Still, we packed our lunch boxes and backpacks and sent the kids out the door yesterday to begin their new year of school.
Maybe this is why fall feels like such a new beginning for me every year. This milestone means new teachers, new classrooms (and new school supplies!!!). Yes, I'm an office supply junkie, so I love back-to-school shopping.
It's also a great time to start a new project! And that's exactly what I'm doing this year. I've started writing Zachary Gatlin's book, which will be a fourth in the Mill Town Millionaires series for Harlequin Desire. I've discovered that Zachary is very strong and almost stern. His heroine, Kenna, is also strong, but in her own quiet way. I love learning all the nuances of new characters! I hope I can share more of them with you soon.
What about you? Are your kids still in the cycle of school starts? Or is fall simply another season for you? For those of you who are overseas, when do your children begin their new school years?
Dani
Yep, I'm in the final stages of my personal edits for Luke and Avery's book (Mill Town Millionaires Book 3). It's taken a bit longer than expected. When I went to turn it in, I realized I was about 5000 words over word count. O.O Per Awesome Editor's instructions, I'm working to cut several thousand out now, then we will cut more during Editor Revisions.
What are Personal Edits, you ask. Well, my drafts are never very clean, so I edit them once before they go to Awesome Editor in the first place. Then I go through it again when he sends me his notes (I call this Editor Revisions). Then there are Line Edits. And then--once more after the copy editor is finished.
Oh my! It gets tedious, but I do my best work in revisions (and both my editors are awesome when giving directions!), so I endure so the story turns out the best it possibly can.
So there's where I am this week. :) Pray for me--I may need it!
Dani
Join me tonight on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty Readers group as I takeover and direct some fun games! There will be naughty fun, lots of laughter, and loads of prizes! Join the group here. I'll be there from 7-8pm EST, followed by Ella Sheridan from 8-9pm EST, and Zoey Derrick from 9-10pm EST. You never know what we'll get up to...
The latest installment from the Backstage Pass series is a story I couldn’t resist writing. These characters have called to me from the beginning, and I hope you delve into their story as deeply as I did!
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
For today’s release, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I focus a lot on my heroes, but all of my heroines have a little something in common with me. For Sara, its her organizational skills—AKA lists. Lots and lots of lists. Hope you enjoy this one:
1. Sara Drayton isn’t a spontaneous woman. She’s driven, creative, and organized. But she won’t pass up the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend the weekend in Nate Hawthorne’s bed.
2. Sara’s theme song for this book is Show Me Love.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhWEI6-_w9E?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
3. Nate has been haunting my brain since I finish Book 1 (Finding Her Rhythm).
4. Nate’s theme song for this book is Not My Time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfhcljJ9bQ?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
5. Nate and Sara both had very different childhood issues, but they handled it exactly the same: being good. Not causing problems or worries for those around them.
6. Sara is Jake’s sister, Solar Uprising’s stage manager.
7. Jake has a very difficult road ahead of him, now that his sister has found her independence.
8. The cover for this story was a long time in the making, because I couldn’t find the right pictures to fit the feel of the story. My cover artist, Elizabeth Wallace, did an excellent job (and showed a lot of patience).
9. This story is a little different than the other 3 in the series—it doesn’t have a suspense element running through it.
10. I’ve got a simple contest going on over the next few weeks. Why? I just love to make readers smile. Just follow this link and enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N. I’ll choose a random winner on July 15th! Easy peasy.
GOIN’ OUT SOLO is live on Amazon and B&N today for only 99 cents. And while I’d love for you to grab the other books, SOLO is easy to read as a stand-alone too! So what are you waiting for??? Buy it and enter the contest today!
Dani
8. The cover for this story was a long time in the making, because I couldn’t find the right pictures to fit the feel of the story. My cover artist, Elizabeth Wallace, did an excellent job (and showed a lot of patience).
9. This story is a little different than the other 3 in the series—it doesn’t have a suspense element running through it.
10. I’ve got a simple contest going on over the next few weeks. Why? I just love to make readers smile. Just follow this link and enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N. I’ll choose a random winner on July 15th! Easy peasy.
GOIN’ OUT SOLO is live on Amazon and B&N today for only 99 cents. And while I’d love for you to grab the other books, SOLO is easy to read as a stand-alone too! So what are you waiting for??? Buy it and enter the contest today!
Dani
Welcome to my edition of My Sexy Saturday! Love this week’s idea: Handsome heroes are my ALL TIME FAVORITE subjects. Especially strong, sexy men who are grabbing life by the horns and riding hell for leather.
Nate Hawthorne is just such a man, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to my newest hero.
Here he is in GOIN' OUT SOLO, A Backstage Pass novella:
Sara whirled around on the pavement, staring at Nate Bishop in shocked silence, but his body appeared perfectly at ease-though the look from under the black brim of his cowboy hat was as intense as always. Same as always, as if he were hiding something he didn’t want the world to see too well. “I can drive her home, if you want,” he said, shifting a little in his cowboy boots.
Sara could see the tension draining off Jake as he pushed toward his friend. Extending his hand, they met palms for a single shake. “Thanks, man.”
Just as Jake’s nerves settled, Sara's ramped up. Five hours in an enclosed truck cab with hot and steamy Nate? That man lit her fire quicker than a match, while he all but patted her on the head for being a good girl.
The one time she'd gotten desperate enough to hint that she was interested he'd shuddered, insisting he couldn't kiss someone he saw as a little sister. Go experiment with someone your own age, he'd said.
So she tucked her humiliation down deep, along with all thoughts of his magnificent ass, and tried to find someone nice to play with. Unfortunately, it didn't kill the craving.
And last night—that had been the dance of her life. She’d wanted to pout like a toddler when her brother had cut in. The whole time Nate’s dark gaze had held her captive, she’d been telling herself it didn’t mean anything. When he’d walked away without speaking, simply handing her over, she’d known it was meaningless to him. But she’d always remember it…always.
Sara looked up to find Nate’s gaze trained directly on her. His chin-length brown hair and ever present cowboy hat granted him secrecy. Still she wondered what he was thinking behind the prop he used to keep people at arms’ length—even if he didn’t realize it. She couldn't see him, but she could feel that gaze and had the sudden impression of a lion stalking his prey. Heat flashed through her, settling in her core despite her mental protest.
More about GOIN' OUT SOLO:
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
This novella is now available for pre-order for only 99 cents at Amazon! It will officially release on June 30th, so reserve your copy today! And click HERE to join my Goin’ Out Solo Book Launch Giveaway! I’m giving away a $25 gift card.
And don’t forget to check out more My Sexy Saturday hunky heroes here.
Enjoy!
Dani
Here he is in GOIN' OUT SOLO, A Backstage Pass novella:
Sara whirled around on the pavement, staring at Nate Bishop in shocked silence, but his body appeared perfectly at ease-though the look from under the black brim of his cowboy hat was as intense as always. Same as always, as if he were hiding something he didn’t want the world to see too well. “I can drive her home, if you want,” he said, shifting a little in his cowboy boots.
Sara could see the tension draining off Jake as he pushed toward his friend. Extending his hand, they met palms for a single shake. “Thanks, man.”
Just as Jake’s nerves settled, Sara's ramped up. Five hours in an enclosed truck cab with hot and steamy Nate? That man lit her fire quicker than a match, while he all but patted her on the head for being a good girl.
The one time she'd gotten desperate enough to hint that she was interested he'd shuddered, insisting he couldn't kiss someone he saw as a little sister. Go experiment with someone your own age, he'd said.
So she tucked her humiliation down deep, along with all thoughts of his magnificent ass, and tried to find someone nice to play with. Unfortunately, it didn't kill the craving.
And last night—that had been the dance of her life. She’d wanted to pout like a toddler when her brother had cut in. The whole time Nate’s dark gaze had held her captive, she’d been telling herself it didn’t mean anything. When he’d walked away without speaking, simply handing her over, she’d known it was meaningless to him. But she’d always remember it…always.
Sara looked up to find Nate’s gaze trained directly on her. His chin-length brown hair and ever present cowboy hat granted him secrecy. Still she wondered what he was thinking behind the prop he used to keep people at arms’ length—even if he didn’t realize it. She couldn't see him, but she could feel that gaze and had the sudden impression of a lion stalking his prey. Heat flashed through her, settling in her core despite her mental protest.
More about GOIN' OUT SOLO:
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
This novella is now available for pre-order for only 99 cents at Amazon! It will officially release on June 30th, so reserve your copy today! And click HERE to join my Goin’ Out Solo Book Launch Giveaway! I’m giving away a $25 gift card.
And don’t forget to check out more My Sexy Saturday hunky heroes here.
Enjoy!
Dani
It’s almost time! Goin’ Out Solo, Backstage Pass Bk 4, is about to go up for pre-order—but there’s a very special chance for you to read it and all my other books early! Check it out!
I’m offering a few select readers the chance to read these books early! I have my very own Advanced Review Team, and I’d love for you to be a part. That means you’d get the chance to read my upcoming books BEFORE RELEASE DAY! All I ask is that you leave an honest review of the book on Amazon (and any other review sites you frequent) on the actual release day.
Does the thought of free books pique your interest?
Well, here’s what you do:
Only newsletter members are eligible for this special opportunity. I assume if you’re interested in my books, you’re interested in information on upcoming releases and events. Newsletter members only receive an email every 4 to 6 weeks, so no spamming. (P.S. Joining my newsletter means getting a FREE novella too—SNOW BOUND, part of my Small Town Secrets series.)
I’m offering a few select readers the chance to read these books early! I have my very own Advanced Review Team, and I’d love for you to be a part. That means you’d get the chance to read my upcoming books BEFORE RELEASE DAY! All I ask is that you leave an honest review of the book on Amazon (and any other review sites you frequent) on the actual release day.
Does the thought of free books pique your interest?
Well, here’s what you do:
- Sign up for my newsletter (if you haven’t already).
Only newsletter members are eligible for this special opportunity. I assume if you’re interested in my books, you’re interested in information on upcoming releases and events. Newsletter members only receive an email every 4 to 6 weeks, so no spamming. (P.S. Joining my newsletter means getting a FREE novella too—SNOW BOUND, part of my Small Town Secrets series.)
- Then send an email to readdaniwade (at) gmail.com with the subject: Advance Reading Team.
- I will send out an email when a new release is scheduled.
- I’ll send an ARC of the book approximately 2-3 weeks before the release day.
- You get to read it! Yay!
- I’ll send you a final email the day before the book releases. This is a reminder e-mail to let you know your review should be posted to Amazon and any other e-book retailers or sites you feel comfortable posting to (Goodreads, B&N, etc.), on one of the following 5 days. You can even write it ahead of time and have it ready to copy and paste on release day.
- ART members may also get exclusive access to some content or special surprises. You’ll have to join to see…