Inspiration Through Images (or Where Dani Finds Her Inspiration…)

 

Wading Through Life...

We all need a little inspiration sometimes, right? man in jeans taking off belt OK, that works too! **wink** But right now I am needing some inspirational focus for Book 2 in the Secrets of Thornbury Woods series (Psst: Title Coming Soon!). Visual images help the ideas flow little faster. Here are some visuals that are really inspiring me for this book.   Or maybe these?   What ideas do these images bring to your mind? Do they inspire a story in you?  

Looking for a Free Book?

  I’m part of the Bad Boys & Good Girls BookFunnel event! So many hot, steam bad boys and the good girls they can’t resist. Just looking at the covers made me drool.  😊   Find it HERE 

Did you know?

The second book in the Backstage Pass series, SETTLING THE SCORE, featuring Michael’s brother Daniel, is on sale for a limited time at $1.99. Have you gotten your Backstage Pass yet?   This rock star can have any woman … except one. Daniel Korvello, rock star front man, can have any woman—except the one he really wants. Becca Buchanan, the band’s publicist, has been burned before by rocker romance. But when Daniel exposes the molten heat beneath her Ice Maiden exterior, Becca may never be able to freeze him out again. Can he keep her safe long enough to prove that together they’ll sizzle only in the sweetest way? Daniel Korvello isn’t your average Joe with a case of unrequited lust. He’s a world-famous rocker who wonders if his publicist will ever see him as anything other than a job. Then they team up to hunt down a threat to Daniel’s family ... and he seizes the chance to show her he’s up for more than just a one-night stand. Becca Buchanan already lived through one rock-star scandal with her reputation barely intact. She’s determined never to put herself, or her family, through that again. But she can’t deny the desire she feels for Daniel. But when their amateur investigation takes a dangerous turn that threatens the lives of those they love, can their newfound trust extend past the bedroom? And can Daniel let go of old guilt enough to embrace a future with Becca? Caution: Contains volcanic sexual tension, hiding from paparazzi, and judicious use of a blindfold in the bedroom--get your copy of Settling the Score today! Find your copy HERE!

June’s Favorite Things List

Wading Through Life....

The heat and humidity are really starting to show up here in the South! The days for the next few months will revolve around running from air conditioned space to air conditioned space, trying not to sweat through my nice clothes. 😊 But there are some Favorite Things I love about the summer, especially during my birthday month!   My Favorite Things—June Edition 1. My birthday, which I share with my twin. 😊 I’m getting old enough that I don’t want to make a big deal out of it anymore, but my family never fails to make it special in some way. 2. Getaways with friends. This year I was lucky enough to be able to go away for the weekend with some special friends. We went to a nearby state park and spent the weekend eating, talking, and laughing while surrounded by some beautiful nature. A very relaxing way to spend some down time! image 3. The Strawberry Moon. This photo doesn’t do the full moon justice. It was actually a pinkish orange color and reflected beautifully off the water at the state park. image 4. Sandals and painted toenails. It’s always fun to change out my shoes in the summer, but it also means I need to paint my toenails. I’m always excited by new colors and having my nails painted makes me feel fancy. 😊 What’s your favorite color for your nails? 5. New stove!!! Our house came with all the original appliances and we’ve been replacing them one by one as they’ve needed it. This one marks the last, and now they all finally match. I just have to get used to the way a new one works. image   Do you have big plans for the summer? Mine will mostly be spent editing and painting. Gotta get the outside of the house finished and The Secrets of Thornbury Woods Book 2 in tip top shape for release! Sign up for my newsletter to read the new exclusive Character Interview feature (with inspirational photo)! I hope your summer is a great one!! Dani

Spring And The Potential of Things

Wading Through Life…

It’s spring here in the South. Everyone focuses on the new flowers, but it can be a mix here with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes thrown around every couple of weeks. This year, as my daughter and I prepare for another round of “can we actually grow something—for real”, I find myself fascinated by all the seeds she’s bought. She’s so excited by the potential of their growth and what will happen as they come to fruition. image The potential to take something from an idea (a tiny seed in a paper pouch) to the thing it can become when given the love and right conditions to flourish IS exciting. We haven’t had great success with our potted plant garden, except for okra. We grew a lot of that last year! [heart emoji] But its exciting to know that it can happen! It takes a lot of energy to bring projects to their fullest potential. For plants, it's lots of water, the right soil, sometimes additives or sprays for bugs, and making sure you pick the fruit before it gets too ripe (oops!). For my new series, it’s been the idea, planning and plotting, drafting, editing, and now publishing. The entire process has taken me 3 years, which at times made me feel like I wasn’t accomplishing anything. Kind of like those weeks between when you plant a seed and when the sprout actually shows up. image   But seeing the first fruits now is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done! I hope you enjoy going along with me on the journey. Soon I will have a cover to share!! How does your garden usually grow? Do you have a green thumb? Or is it hit or miss (like me)? Take care, Dani  

Something that caught my eye…

image My daughter went to a tulip farm nearby—absolutely gorgeous. We’re so lucky the freeze didn’t stop them from blooming. And we had a beautiful bouquet in the house for a week.

A Little Binge Watching…Spooky-Style!

Wading Through Life...

I’ve been immersing myself in some gothic-esque TV shows and movies as I work on book 2 of my contemporary southern gothic series to put me in the right frame of mind. I thought I’d share some of these with y’all this month. They’re perfect for a cold winter’s night with hot chocolate (shot of Bailey’s anyone?) and a fuzzy blanket, joined by one or more of my kitty babies to keep me warm.   Some awesome options:   Logo for mini-series The Haunting of Hill House Haunting of Hill House (series-Netflix) I do a rewatch of this series every couple of months. The characterization of this family is stunning. They are all SO flawed, yet I’ve come to love each of them. Then the setting and hidden ghosts…lovely!   Logo for Coco the movie Coco (movie) I recently watched this with my daughter, who was re-watching it. Now—skeletons are my jam, so a whole movie of talking skeletons is right up my alley! But the music, the themes, all of it spoke to me.   Logo for We Bought A Funeral Home We Bought a Funeral Home  (series-Discovery+) This is a reality show about a family who moves into an old funeral home to renovate it into a family home. The mother’s style is over-the-top gothic and I absolutely love it. Then all the neighbors curious about what they’re doing…the speakeasy in the basement is awesome! These are all adding to the misty, gloomy atmosphere and ghostly activities of my second contemporary gothic novel. What are your favorite atmospheric, spooky TV shows or movies featuring ghosts, supernatural themes, or just gothic style for a cold night in front of a fire?   Take Care, Dani    

Hot Irish Romance for a Cold, Cold Night...

STRIKING A CHORD Backstage Pass series image   He has fame beyond his dreams … now he needs her to make it all complete.   Sean Rosslair, Irish drummer, is now a US rock legend. One with a craving for control—and his new PA’s sultry voice and smokin’ BBW body have him demonstrating what happens to naughty girls. Meghan Adams finds herself begging for more of Sean’s discipline. But can he share all his erotic secrets before a hidden enemy puts him out of commission—permanently?   Sean Rosslair has made his dreams come true, and then some--despite his turbulent break from a family who considered image more important than anything. Now Sean has a new goal--getting up close and personal with his new assistant, whose smokin' sexy voice makes him ache to show her what else he can do with his hands. But one look in her clear, innocent eyes tells him she's the kind of woman he should never have.   When Meghan finally exposes her plus-size presence to her new, uber-sexy boss, he doesn’t react the way she expects. She takes her punishment for her white lie well—too well. Meghan can’t refrain from begging her boss for another spanking … but when he takes her with him to his wealthy family's lovely Irish estate, this Southern girl finds herself surrounded by secrets. In the midst of Sean's painful past, can she let go enough to embrace romance with a rock star?   Caution: Contains crazy families, dark secrets, and a hero who knows how to transform pain into pleasure--get your copy of Striking a Chord today!   Amazon All Other Retailers  

Winter Faves & A Holiday Sale!

Wading Through Life...

I’ll admit, I’m a full-on Fall Lover. The changing color of the leaves. Cooler temperatures. The spooky atmosphere. Not to mention the pumpkin muffins, apple cider, pecan pie…LOL It’s the season I could live in forever (and only really get to enjoy for about 2 weeks here in the southern US). But there are still things I love about winter, especially this first part before I get tired of the cold temps that have hung around a little too long. Here’s my list of winter favorite things:
  1. The Galaxy of Lights: this is a holiday lights display at the botanical gardens in my home town. Each year has something a little different, along with old favorites. We like to go to the walking nights as a family and enjoy hot chocolate as we stroll through the lit gardens.
Christmas lights made into a house   Galaxy of Lights display 2. ASMR videos that help me focus at work or when I’m writing. This winter greenhouse is one of my new faves. 3. Chocolate chip bundt cake!! One of our family faves that my husband’s grandmother always made for the holidays. We have it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s so popular, I have to make 2 at a time! 4. Holiday books (like mine that is on sale below!). Some of my other faves including Undisclosed by Ella Sheridan. 5. Christmas present shopping. One of my love languages is finding just the right gift for the right person. I really enjoy giving someone something that I think they’ll enjoy and that fits their interests. I’m not a fan of gift cards unless its one I know that person really needs/wants (like the young adults in my life trying to buy groceries and work day lunches on a limited income). Unfortunately, I’m not as keen to wrap them all. 😊 6. Time spent around the fire pit with marshmallows for roasting and a blanket to snuggle into, surrounded by family and friends. Fire pit taken at night while roasting marshmallows 7. Decorating the spaces around me (be it for fall, Thanksgiving, or Christmas). This year I’m enjoying decorating my cubicle, which has helped me meet lots of people at my new job when they stop by to check it out. Christmas decorations 8. Time off for the holidays! Woot! Woot! This year, hubby has some time off too, so we will be relaxing and enjoying a slower pace for a few days. 9. The possibility of snow… I know this may sound weird to those of you who live in snow-covered climes, but we rarely get snow here (and when we do, it doesn’t last long). So the mere mention of snow around the holidays causes lots of excitement and a rush to the nearest grocery store. My kids, though grown, still love it to. So no matter what time it starts, we are bundled up to walk down the road and be the first to make footprints in the winter wonderland. 10. An abundance of family time. It’s so rejuvenating to spend time just visiting (as we call it here in the South) with those I love. Watching Christmas movies. Playing board games. Catching up. Laughing.   What makes the list of your Faves for Winter Season? Post in the comments below.  

Holiday Reading

Holiday Storm cover. Picture of rocker woman in front of a gate in the snow. HOLIDAY STORM (A Covington Corner novella) NOW on Sale for $1.99 As her boss, he’d made her life miserable for years. Now she’s snowed in with him for the holidays…with access to the secrets he’s been hiding from her. Piper Waverly’s boss demands she collect a contract from his house during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve…that is his frustrating M.O., even if he is a sexy former rock star. What she didn’t expect was to spend Christmas at his isolated mountain retreat—just the two of them. But seclusion with the thorn-in-her-side has some surprising benefits. Her arch nemesis shows a surprisingly sensual side that draws her. She is also able to pry into the side of his life he’s hidden from her for so long. Tantalizing…until his secrets hit too close to home. Does the hidden room in his house hold the key to her family tragedy? Has he always been closer than she thought? Will her newfound love withstand the coming storm? Read the entire Secrets of Covington Corner novella series: Shadow Manor Haunted Heritage Dark Destiny Shadow Manor Buy it now at your favorite retailer https://books2read.com/u/bxjMek

It Caught My Eye...

  Kitten looking at Christmas tree

Salem Revisited!

What’s better than spooky season in America’s spookiest town?

As many of you know, my daughter and I recently went on a girls’ trip to Salem, MA. I don’t travel often, but I love it so! This was her first flights, so it was fun to experience that with her. Salem, MA, is actually a smaller town than I thought, and a lot of the tourist spots are in a very close area. The leaves had just started turning that week, which added to the autumn feel along with the cold temperature (hence my weapons of creation sweatshirt). I got to see enough spooky decorations to make my creepy-loving heart happy! But I also learned so much about Salem’s history and their current focus on tolerance, diversity and inclusion. Here are some of the highlights: Architecture: I love the “feel” that architecture lends a place. Salem (and Massachusetts in general) felt very New England/American historical with some quirky stops along the way. Examples of Salem architecture   Atmosphere: Let’s get real! We were there to celebrate Halloween, which Salem does all October long. Examples of atmosphere in Salem   Some other fun things we did!       This trip inspired me so much to really think about atmosphere and the feel of a place, along with the unjust persecution and why this happened. All of the cool things that we saw and everything I learned fed my creativity in a big way! Inspiration has been hard to access easily during the pandemic, which added to my difficult case of Writer's block. From the "Feel" of Salem, the historical information, visual fodder, and architecture, it all came together to boost my creative energy and refill the well. Yay! I'm also grateful that I experienced this place with my daughter. We share a love of spookiness, so these are memories we will both cherish. I hope you enjoy a chance to see it too. Spooky season was wonderful this year and lasted extra long! But it gave me lots of thinking time, then and into the fall. How about you? Also, do you find travel boosts your creative juices?   Take care, Dani

National Library Week Celebration

Something really special is happening this week! It’s National Library Week here in the US and to me it is something truly worthy of celebration. I grew up going to the library. My mom would take us when we went “into town”, which is country talk for driving to the nearest actual city (for us—that was 30 minutes away). Front doors of public library We were homeschooled, so this was our primary source for stories of any and all kinds. My sister and I would come home with the maximum number of checkouts every two weeks. When the librarians asked my Mom if we actually read the books, she said, “Yes, then they read each other’s.” I would never have been able to afford to buy all the books that we read. We quickly graduated from the children’s section to the adult fiction. Romance has always been a favorite. That small-town library introduced me to my favorite gothic romance author Mary Stewart and Phyllis A Whitney. I also remember a line of hard back gothics that I would randomly find among the other books, like a treat I had to hunt for… open book with magic light The librarians were always helpful and friendly and I wanted to grow up to be one. It was a place my true self loved and felt at home in. I hope you have a place that’s the same for you. Now, working at a university, I still try to go over to the library to write sometimes and it brings back those warm memories. Do you have any memories of going to the library? I’d love to hear them! Go by your local library to support their services and events. While you’re there, ask them to stock your favorite books! That’s a great way to support an author too! Take care, Dani  

BOOKAVERSARY!

It's a BOOK ANNIVERSARY!
The 1st book in my Backstage Pass series and first southern rock star romance! This couple will always be near and dear to my heart, because they gave me the freedom to write something that didn't feel "safe". A big step for me now, much less than in 2013.
Finding Her Rhythm book cover with musician kneeling with a guitar in a cloud of purple smoke

FINDING HER RHYTHM

He’s a rock star with the world at his feet—but he’d rather have her there.
Taylor Jemison lost everything when her first dip into the world of consensual kink went wrong, and she wound up on the run from a dangerous ex. Driven from her home and the teaching job she loved, she needs a safe haven. As nanny for a rock star, she’ll live behind gated walls with a private security team. As for the teens’ sexy dad … he’ll be on the road most of the time. That’s good, because one touch of his strong hands leaves her body and heart craving submission to his commands.
Guitarist Michael Korvello may have a rep as an all-in, balls-out hard-rock star with a penchant for kink, but he keeps his personal life firmly separated from his home and his kids. One look at the curvy little nanny, and he knows she can’t stay, because her big green eyes say she craves the control he wants to wield. And though Michael can have any number of beautiful women, he aches for one who’ll truly accept him—inside and out.
Just when neither can deny their need for each other, Taylor’s ex surfaces, intent on taking back what he considers his, and ready to destroy Michael’s world to get her. Can two kindred souls protect their private passion from an outsider bent on ripping them apart?
Don’t miss this sizzling, sensual peek into the private world of a rock star —get your copy of FINDING HER RHYTHM today!
FR💜💜 on all platforms.

A Cool Breeze of Inspiration

  "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." - F. Scott Fitzgerald   Fall has always been a season of beginnings for me. Weird, I know, but its traditionally a time when I re-evaluate or begin plans anew. Maybe it’s a holdover from school, when autumn was time to buy new supplies and adopt new schedules. Or maybe its that the relief from the brutal southern heat as summer ends gives me a renewed sense of energy. (I’m never high energy anyway, so I have to take what I can get.) Basket of fresh picked apples with saying Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. A genuinely cool breeze. Tidying up the yard. Hiking. This is even when I get the urge to clean out my closets (no spring cleaning for me! That’s when I’m out in the flower beds.) So I was also excited to start this month with Romance Author Mastermind, a conference for established romance authors. Most conferences I find a few things that inspire me, but most of it is about connecting with readers. At RAM, the ideas for leveling up your author career are like drinking from a fire hydrant. Massive amounts of inspiration, A little bit of overwhelm, and a lot of imposter syndrome (for me). As an author with a day job, I have to be careful what I pick and choose to work on. But pairing up with this feeling of fall, and the start of a new year, I can look at the ideas with more motivation,. It’s really helpful that they encourage us to just pick a few things to start with, a few things to work on and implement, not the whole shebang. Winter is a time that’s perfect for writing, hibernating underneath a fuzzy blanket while the scenes play out in my head. For me, the next year’s goal will be consistency. Regardless of what’s happening in other areas of my other journey, it will help my motivation if I can maintain consistency. The story will flow better if I can consistently hold the images in my head no matter what else is going on. Hopefully that means you’ll be hearing from me more often!! Take Care, Dani Dark Destiny book cover with young woman in front of abandoned hospital with title and woman standing in front of an abandoned hospital.   Discover more secrets from Covington Corner: She knew something incredible waited in the shadows of the abandoned mental institution, but she never imagined it would lead to love. Jamie Dixon and her fellow video game developers set out to document the layout of the famed Harrington Institute for the Mentally Ill. Then an accident leaves her to explore the decaying buildings with only Ian, the one guy she’s crushed on since high school. Too bad he never seemed to notice she was a nerd of the girly variety. But Ian Jameson has a secret agenda for coming to Harrington. As they uncover the ramblings of an abusive doctor, evidence of a secret prisoner and an obsession over an ancestral line, Jamie and Ian discover a passion that transcends their former workplace camaraderie. Will the old trunk in the attic reveal a new kind of storm? Will his investigation into a long lost heir destroy the very love they’ve both been longing for? Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple Books

Inspiring Author Research: Biltmore Estates

  The most frequent question authors are asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Well, the idea for my upcoming contemporary Gothic series has been long brewing, but when it came to the setting – I have real life inspiration. I had counted down the minutes and it was finally here – the long postponed trip to celebrate our anniversary with my husband. Last year was our 25th, but we had to put off our big celebration until this spring. Dani Wade and her husband on the back porch of the Biltmore doing research But I’ll admit, as authors often do, my trip had a dual purpose. Research! A huge part of my upcoming Gothic series is a grandiose, atmospheric prep school and I needed something sweeping and grand for story inspiration. My research led me to America’s Largest Home—Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The perfect place to refill my research well and spark creative ideas. Imposing front facade of the Biltmore Estate Close view of one of Biltmore's front towers #1:  Most of my research of the Biltmore had to do with the interiors (what kind of rooms? How many bedrooms? How are things arranged?). I wasn’t quite prepared for it to look and feel like a castle. I can just imagine it in fog or a thunderstorm… Apropos, yes? The game room at Biltmore Estate #2:  My brothers-in-arms – brothers by  choice, rather than blood—need a space to hang out and bond. Doesn’t this make a very elegant man cave? Dining Room fireplace at Biltmore Estate #3: The ambience here is perfect for a prep school dining hall, even if it’s a little small. This school is a labor of love for these men – a chance to provide opportunity for those less fortunate. A way to make up for their own sins. Can you imagine the awe of eating here every day? The spiral staircase in the library at the Biltmore #4: I’ll admit – I wasn’t emotionally prepared for the library. It’s every book lover’s dream! I could have stayed for hours. Gothic decor and statue at Biltmore Gothic doorways in Biltmore #5: Lots of touches the ad Gothic ambience. The creative hamster in my brain was working overtime. Imagine sneaking down this tunnel… creeping across the hall lit only by the flickering sconces… standing at the bottom of the stairs in the darkness wondering if something is coming down to meet you… All around the Biltmore is beautiful and a must see. I found it inspirational. You see, research isn’t just about finding facts. It’s also an author’s need for new sights and unique experiences—oh, and hubby enjoyed it too.  😊 What’s the most inspirational place you’ve ever visited? I'd love to hear from you! Dani

Interested in another gothic read? Try Dark Destiny, a Secrets of Covington Corner novella.

Dark Destiny book cover with young woman in front of abandoned hospital with title and woman standing in front of an abandoned hospital. She knew something incredible waited in the shadows of the abandoned mental institution, but she never imagined it would lead to love. Jamie Dixon and her fellow video game developers set out to document the layout of the famed Harrington Institute for the Mentally Ill. Then an accident leaves her to explore the decaying buildings with only Ian, the one guy she’s crushed on since high school. Too bad he never seemed to notice she was a nerd of the girly variety. But Ian Jameson has a secret agenda for coming to Harrington. As they uncover the ramblings of an abusive doctor, evidence of a secret prisoner and an obsession over an ancestral line, Jamie and Ian discover a passion that transcends their former workplace camaraderie. Will the old trunk in the attic reveal a new kind of storm? Will his investigation into a long lost heir destroy the very love they’ve both been longing for? Novellas in the Secrets of Covington Corner series in order: Shadow Manor Haunted Heritage Dark Destiny Holiday Storm Amazon B&N Kobo Apple Books  

Gettin’ My Groove On

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. DSCN0675 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… iTunes card, music, refill the well, 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

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