I’m a lifelong reader. My first love was romance books and, though I read many subgenres, they all have that happily ever after in common. I love them so much that I wanted to write my own. Twelve years later, I write my own romances...and I don’t read nearly as much.
This was brought home to me over the last few weeks as I’ve been judging entries to Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest. It’s rare that I take enough time off to read a whole book. I usually only do it between projects, or during revisions, so that I don’t adopt the other author’s voice or characteristics as my own.
The good thing about this is I have to read these books by the judging deadline—so its a great excuse to give myself permission to read. I’m enjoying the chance to do this without the guilt of these words floating through my mind...you should be working.
Reading reminds me why I started writing in the first place. And the joy of losing myself in a fictional world without all the work of having to create it. :)
Takeaway: Give yourself permission to do something you enjoy!
How many books do you read in a week?
Dani
The good thing about this is I have to read these books by the judging deadline—so its a great excuse to give myself permission to read. I’m enjoying the chance to do this without the guilt of these words floating through my mind...you should be working.
Reading reminds me why I started writing in the first place. And the joy of losing myself in a fictional world without all the work of having to create it. :)
Takeaway: Give yourself permission to do something you enjoy!
How many books do you read in a week?
Dani
Before I started writing, I thought characters were like puppets. The author pulled them out of a box, tugged on strings to make them do what she wanted, then put them away again.
Boy, was I deluded!
I wrote my first draft while living in that fantasy world. Then I heard Linda Howard speak at our chapter meeting about hearing characters ‘speak to you’. That’s a little weird, I thought. After all, I’m in charge of the story, right? But I tried, because after all, this was Linda Howard talking.
I still remember those first few times I tried to “listen” to my characters. And my utter shock when words—their words—started to float through my head. Over the years, that trickle has become a stream until now its unnatural for all of my characters to be quiet at once. :)
Makes for a pretty busy mind landscape, but that’s the nature of being a fiction author. Keeps life interesting (especially for my poor hubby who has to tolerate my constant daydreaming). But my hope is that it makes my characters more alive for readers, just like they are for me now.
Today, share with us the characters that you’ve become most attached to because they have become real to you. You know, the ones you just can’t stop thinking about!
Dani
I wrote my first draft while living in that fantasy world. Then I heard Linda Howard speak at our chapter meeting about hearing characters ‘speak to you’. That’s a little weird, I thought. After all, I’m in charge of the story, right? But I tried, because after all, this was Linda Howard talking.
I still remember those first few times I tried to “listen” to my characters. And my utter shock when words—their words—started to float through my head. Over the years, that trickle has become a stream until now its unnatural for all of my characters to be quiet at once. :)
Makes for a pretty busy mind landscape, but that’s the nature of being a fiction author. Keeps life interesting (especially for my poor hubby who has to tolerate my constant daydreaming). But my hope is that it makes my characters more alive for readers, just like they are for me now.
Today, share with us the characters that you’ve become most attached to because they have become real to you. You know, the ones you just can’t stop thinking about!
Dani
Today is a sad one for our family. Our cat, Blaze, that we've had for the last sixteen years, had to be put to sleep today. This is an animal my kids have known all their lives. Hubby and I have taken care of for 16 years of our marriage. He's associated with so many memories for us, and today we had to let him go home to be with his Mama and brothers. It will be the first time I can remember that there isn't a cat in my life.
He's put up with crying babies, being carried by kids, the addition of dogs to our household (he never did forgive us for that), moving, and all manner of hoopla in the house (see above kids). But he survived it all with a personality that had me dubbing him Grumpy Grampy in more recent years. Yet all it took was one stroke of the hand and he'd purr like a, well, kitten. Always. We still love him. I hate to see him go.
If you have an animal in your life, please give them an extra treat from me.
Dani
He's put up with crying babies, being carried by kids, the addition of dogs to our household (he never did forgive us for that), moving, and all manner of hoopla in the house (see above kids). But he survived it all with a personality that had me dubbing him Grumpy Grampy in more recent years. Yet all it took was one stroke of the hand and he'd purr like a, well, kitten. Always. We still love him. I hate to see him go.
If you have an animal in your life, please give them an extra treat from me.
Dani
I have a slight calendar obsession. Okay, maybe not so slight...I love them more than any other office supply, because I use them every day. Wall calendars, desk calendars, planners—I’d have multiples if I had the money.
Alas, I don’t have the pocketbook nor the wall space, so I must choose wisely. Here are a few criteria I use:
1. Colorful/Eye Catching
If I’m going to look at it all year, I want something pretty, cute, or smile-worthy.
2. Meaningful
On a related note, I (or my family) must care about the content. Yes, we have had Phineas and Ferb, frogs, Marvel Superheros, and Haunted Places calendars.
Last year my little bathroom calendar was chosen for its words (on top of pretty pictures). I’m obsessed with words (is that obvious?) and this one gave me a single one to contemplate with every glimpse.
So there’s just one of my quirky little obsessions explained. :) Tell us, are you a calendar girl?
Dani
Alas, I don’t have the pocketbook nor the wall space, so I must choose wisely. Here are a few criteria I use:
1. Colorful/Eye Catching
If I’m going to look at it all year, I want something pretty, cute, or smile-worthy.
2. Meaningful
On a related note, I (or my family) must care about the content. Yes, we have had Phineas and Ferb, frogs, Marvel Superheros, and Haunted Places calendars.
Last year my little bathroom calendar was chosen for its words (on top of pretty pictures). I’m obsessed with words (is that obvious?) and this one gave me a single one to contemplate with every glimpse.
So there’s just one of my quirky little obsessions explained. :) Tell us, are you a calendar girl?
Dani
It’s a New Year and I wanted to start off in the right way! So I’m visiting Tawny Weber’s blog today for a Quick Six – answers to 6 either/or questions so readers can learn more about me. And I’ve got a special either/or question for you too! Answer to be eligible to win 1 of 2 prizes from me! Answers through Sunday are eligible to win.
In other news, something really exciting happened this week! For those who’d like a quick peek into what Daniel Korvello and Solar Uprising have been up to, you can check out my sister, Ella Sheridan’s new release: Naughty Little Christmas! My characters make a very special appearance in this hot, sexy story. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Only a week and a half until Christmas! I'm not panicking, because my shopping is done and most things have been wrapped. We have a tree and stockings inside, a few Christmas lights outside. I didn't go all out this year, but we have enough up to make the house look festive and the kids seem satisfied. '
Writing, not going as well. All the holiday parties and preparations have cut into my very limited writing time. This week I have vowed to leave the housework to the rest of the family, ignore any requests to prepare food, and limit my focus to my computer. Edits on my next Harlequin are due to Amazing Editor very soon, so this is top priority.
But in the midst of the chaos, I'm grateful for family around me, a few spare minutes alone with my husband, the wonder I still feel viewing Christmas lights, and anticipation at the joy on my children's faces Christmas morning. That's what's underneath all the busyness, right?
I hope you are finding a small bit of wonder in your Christmas preparations too! Happy Holidays!
Dani
Writing, not going as well. All the holiday parties and preparations have cut into my very limited writing time. This week I have vowed to leave the housework to the rest of the family, ignore any requests to prepare food, and limit my focus to my computer. Edits on my next Harlequin are due to Amazing Editor very soon, so this is top priority.
But in the midst of the chaos, I'm grateful for family around me, a few spare minutes alone with my husband, the wonder I still feel viewing Christmas lights, and anticipation at the joy on my children's faces Christmas morning. That's what's underneath all the busyness, right?
I hope you are finding a small bit of wonder in your Christmas preparations too! Happy Holidays!
Dani
December is one of my favorite times of the year. I love Christmas decorations and seeing friends and family. There’s this feeling in the air that something special is about to happen. I hope you get to enjoy some of the magic of this season too!
In addition to all the fun, I'll also be hard at work. My next book for Harlequin has been accepted, and is ready for revisions! Yay! That book, the first in my Blackstone brothers trilogy, is set to release in August of 2014. And I've started the proposal for the second book. So much fun!
I haven't forgotten my Backstage Pass books, and hope to be back to working on Daniel's book soon. Sean's rough draft is almost finished. More info about release dates coming in January! Speaking of magical things...Daniel Korvello, Michael’s brother in Finding Her Rhythm, will be making a special appearance in a new release this month. It’s not mine, but I’m as excited as if it were mine. Author Ella Sheridan’s Naughty Little Christmas, which releases on Christmas Eve from Loose Id, has Solar Uprising showing up for a performance. Daniel, of course, has to offer his advice on relationships, which if you remember from FHR, is always on the Naughty side. :) I’ll be sure to post the link once it’s live!
Y’all may have noticed something a little different about my website. The blog is now my home page! To keep up with my news, I've started a newsletter, which is where I'll be sending out information about upcoming releases, cool news, and hopefully some interesting stuff. :) Check out the sign up in the side column!
In the meantime, I hope to enjoy a couple of days of fun with my family. I hope you do too! Happy Holidays!
Dani
In addition to all the fun, I'll also be hard at work. My next book for Harlequin has been accepted, and is ready for revisions! Yay! That book, the first in my Blackstone brothers trilogy, is set to release in August of 2014. And I've started the proposal for the second book. So much fun!
I haven't forgotten my Backstage Pass books, and hope to be back to working on Daniel's book soon. Sean's rough draft is almost finished. More info about release dates coming in January! Speaking of magical things...Daniel Korvello, Michael’s brother in Finding Her Rhythm, will be making a special appearance in a new release this month. It’s not mine, but I’m as excited as if it were mine. Author Ella Sheridan’s Naughty Little Christmas, which releases on Christmas Eve from Loose Id, has Solar Uprising showing up for a performance. Daniel, of course, has to offer his advice on relationships, which if you remember from FHR, is always on the Naughty side. :) I’ll be sure to post the link once it’s live!
Y’all may have noticed something a little different about my website. The blog is now my home page! To keep up with my news, I've started a newsletter, which is where I'll be sending out information about upcoming releases, cool news, and hopefully some interesting stuff. :) Check out the sign up in the side column!
In the meantime, I hope to enjoy a couple of days of fun with my family. I hope you do too! Happy Holidays!
Dani
[caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="320"]
From My Family to Yours[/caption]
From My Family to Yours[/caption]
During this week of Thanksgiving, I want to talk about something I usually spend a lot of time complaining about—without the complaints. Yes, I hate having to leave the house every morning at 7:10am. I hate having to dress up while my sister authors are working in their pj's all day. And I hate having to give up 8 hours a day (plus an hour commute round trip) to do something that doesn't inspire passion in my soul.
But there are good things about my day job too! I'm going to share a few of them with you.
1. I make guaranteed money.
That should be a given for every job, but some salaries suck more than others. I make a decent wage and bring home a decent paycheck every other week. Not as big as I'd like, what who's is? Getting paid for writing is great, but not very consistent. My job gives myself and my family stability.
2. It's a low stress environment.
I've worked in some high-tension places before. The job I have now has very little tension in my department. That makes for less stress and an easier start to every day. Plus stress sucks the energy out of me, leaving very little for my writing. So low stress=happier writer.
3. I can write there...sorta.
I can't actually do a full-on write there, but I have plenty of busywork that let's my mind wander, and I can make notes while I'm there. So even though I'm not actually writing, I'm thinking about it, processing it, so that when I can write, I actually accomplish something.
Combining writing with a full-time day job and family is hard work. There are days when I don't want to get up, don't want to get ready and leave the house. But in times when jobs can be scarce, I'm more grateful for mine than I sound sometimes.
What are you thankful for this week?
Dani
Winner! The winner for my Home for the Holidays blog is Missie Jones! Missie, look for an email from me in your box! Thanks, everyone for the comments
1. I make guaranteed money.
That should be a given for every job, but some salaries suck more than others. I make a decent wage and bring home a decent paycheck every other week. Not as big as I'd like, what who's is? Getting paid for writing is great, but not very consistent. My job gives myself and my family stability.
2. It's a low stress environment.
I've worked in some high-tension places before. The job I have now has very little tension in my department. That makes for less stress and an easier start to every day. Plus stress sucks the energy out of me, leaving very little for my writing. So low stress=happier writer.
3. I can write there...sorta.
I can't actually do a full-on write there, but I have plenty of busywork that let's my mind wander, and I can make notes while I'm there. So even though I'm not actually writing, I'm thinking about it, processing it, so that when I can write, I actually accomplish something.
Combining writing with a full-time day job and family is hard work. There are days when I don't want to get up, don't want to get ready and leave the house. But in times when jobs can be scarce, I'm more grateful for mine than I sound sometimes.
What are you thankful for this week?
Dani
Winner! The winner for my Home for the Holidays blog is Missie Jones! Missie, look for an email from me in your box! Thanks, everyone for the comments
I'm celebrating the commencement of the holidays today, with romance authors and bloggers during the Romance Troupe's Home for the Holidays blog hop. And what makes the holidays homey and memorable for all of us? The FOOD!
I love cooking for the holidays, seeing my family and friends enjoy things that I've made. I give away goodies for gifts (men especially like this) and look forward to holiday parties that give me a reason to cook. Now the clean-up... that's something I never look forward to!
So I thought I'd share this super easy, low mess, divine chocolate flourless cake recipe. A co-worker, who has to eat gluten free, made it for a department party. It tastes like chocolate melting on your tongue. Best of all? It can be made ahead of time and stored or frozen. I hope it makes your holiday season easy and enjoyable!
Flourless Chocolate Cake
4 oz. fine quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Flour and butter an 8 inch round baking pan. Line the bottom of pan with a round of wax paper; butter paper. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt chocolate with butter. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add sugar and whisk. Add eggs and whisk again. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.
Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes. The top should form a thin crust and cake will puff. Be careful not to overcook. Cool the cake on a rack for 5 minutes before removing. Cake will deflate as it cools.
Serving options: Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a simple dressing. Serve with whipped cream and your favorite berries to dress it up. Serve with ice cream or sorbet for a cool treat.
Note: Once cake cools, it will keep for a week in an airtight container. It will also freeze well for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in refrigerator and serve at room temperature.
In honor of the cooler weather, here's a wintery sneak peek:
Feeling the situation had gotten way too serious, he paused beside the bed before launching her into the air. Her squeal echoed around the room as she landed and bounced, the fluffy blankets jumping under the impact. Now that made for some interesting shimmies. He couldn’t help but grin as she burst into laughter. Then his eyes narrowed on the now empty expanse around her.
Empty except for one thing.
“What’s this?”
Her look was confused until she saw the direction of his gaze. With a cry she reached across for the nearest blanket and jerked it toward her, probably to cover it up, but— Too late. He’d already seen it.
“Since when does a pretty princess like you need a vibrator?”
Hand fishing under the blanket, he pulled out a soft gel vibrator. Pink, of course.
“Give me that,” she said, grabbing for the toy, only to come up with empty air.
Damon held it higher, the transparent soft gel allowing him to see the candle on the dresser through its pink surface. A silver, cylindrical motor provided a hard core. “Very nice, Princess.”
“Please, please give it back.”
He turned his gaze from the little toy to the woman who was giving him more surprises than a night out with his army buddies. “Why? I think you’ll have more fun if I’m at the wheel.”
For once Miss Priss had nothing to say. No pithy comeback, no sarcastic put-down, no prim comments. Simply a gaping mouth and wide eyes, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard come out of his mouth. So he set out to prove himself right.
I love cooking for the holidays, seeing my family and friends enjoy things that I've made. I give away goodies for gifts (men especially like this) and look forward to holiday parties that give me a reason to cook. Now the clean-up... that's something I never look forward to!
So I thought I'd share this super easy, low mess, divine chocolate flourless cake recipe. A co-worker, who has to eat gluten free, made it for a department party. It tastes like chocolate melting on your tongue. Best of all? It can be made ahead of time and stored or frozen. I hope it makes your holiday season easy and enjoyable!
Flourless Chocolate Cake
4 oz. fine quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Flour and butter an 8 inch round baking pan. Line the bottom of pan with a round of wax paper; butter paper. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt chocolate with butter. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add sugar and whisk. Add eggs and whisk again. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.
Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes. The top should form a thin crust and cake will puff. Be careful not to overcook. Cool the cake on a rack for 5 minutes before removing. Cake will deflate as it cools.
Serving options: Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a simple dressing. Serve with whipped cream and your favorite berries to dress it up. Serve with ice cream or sorbet for a cool treat.
Note: Once cake cools, it will keep for a week in an airtight container. It will also freeze well for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in refrigerator and serve at room temperature.
In honor of the cooler weather, here's a wintery sneak peek:
Snow Bound by Dani Wade
Feeling the situation had gotten way too serious, he paused beside the bed before launching her into the air. Her squeal echoed around the room as she landed and bounced, the fluffy blankets jumping under the impact. Now that made for some interesting shimmies. He couldn’t help but grin as she burst into laughter. Then his eyes narrowed on the now empty expanse around her.
Empty except for one thing.
“What’s this?”
Her look was confused until she saw the direction of his gaze. With a cry she reached across for the nearest blanket and jerked it toward her, probably to cover it up, but— Too late. He’d already seen it.
“Since when does a pretty princess like you need a vibrator?”
Hand fishing under the blanket, he pulled out a soft gel vibrator. Pink, of course.
“Give me that,” she said, grabbing for the toy, only to come up with empty air.
Damon held it higher, the transparent soft gel allowing him to see the candle on the dresser through its pink surface. A silver, cylindrical motor provided a hard core. “Very nice, Princess.”
“Please, please give it back.”
He turned his gaze from the little toy to the woman who was giving him more surprises than a night out with his army buddies. “Why? I think you’ll have more fun if I’m at the wheel.”
For once Miss Priss had nothing to say. No pithy comeback, no sarcastic put-down, no prim comments. Simply a gaping mouth and wide eyes, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard come out of his mouth. So he set out to prove himself right.