I think, no matter whether your dream is writing a book, being a photographer, being the best mom and wife you can be, or going back to college, every woman has a dream. We all struggle to balance our dreams with the demands of every day life. That's why I enjoyed this post on The Romance Troupe about one author's inspirational struggle. She has a tremendous load to carry, but still doesn't give up on her dreams.
I hope you find it as inspirational as I did!
Dani
I hope you find it as inspirational as I did!
Dani
But I left my brain somewhere in Ireland, I think. :)
I had a wonderful trip and saw so many cool things! Not to mention inspiration for Sean's book, my upcoming Irish drummer. Here's a small glimpse of the pictures, but there are tons of them on my Facebook Page if you'd like to check it out! Enjoy!
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Dani at St. Stephen's Green Park in Dublin, Ireland[/caption]
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Dani with Ella Sheridan in Killarney Pub for my first cider[/caption]
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Ross Castle in Killarney, Ireland[/caption]
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Blarney Castle, Ireland[/caption]
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Trying to kiss the Blarney Stone--its not as easy as it looks![/caption]
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Stonehenge - Cool place, awful hair day![/caption]
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With my best friends: Marilyn Baxter, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang at Stonehenge[/caption]
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Tower Bridge over the Thames River near Tower of London[/caption]
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My London Tube buddies: Lori Handeland, Ella Sheridan, Linda Winstead Jones, Linda Howard[/caption]
Did I get any work done while I was gone? Very little! :) But I felt like the entire trip was one big research experience and creativity renewal exercise. Plus I got to spend quality time with some wonderful people in my life and meet all kinds of cool new people. I was exhausted when I returned, but it was totally worth it!
Where was your last "dream" vacation?
Dani
Dani at St. Stephen's Green Park in Dublin, Ireland[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_593" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Dani with Ella Sheridan in Killarney Pub for my first cider[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_595" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Ross Castle in Killarney, Ireland[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_596" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Blarney Castle, Ireland[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Trying to kiss the Blarney Stone--its not as easy as it looks![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_599" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Stonehenge - Cool place, awful hair day![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_600" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
With my best friends: Marilyn Baxter, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang at Stonehenge[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_601" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Tower Bridge over the Thames River near Tower of London[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_602" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
My London Tube buddies: Lori Handeland, Ella Sheridan, Linda Winstead Jones, Linda Howard[/caption]
Did I get any work done while I was gone? Very little! :) But I felt like the entire trip was one big research experience and creativity renewal exercise. Plus I got to spend quality time with some wonderful people in my life and meet all kinds of cool new people. I was exhausted when I returned, but it was totally worth it!
Where was your last "dream" vacation?
Dani
This week I'm on an adventure--and this time its not just in my imagination! I'm traveling with friends through the bustling cities and green countryside of Ireland! I wish y'all could join me, but alas, there's not enough room on the bus. Sorry! I'll return with pictures and lively tales in 2 weeks. Until then, I hope you enjoy this taste of Irish culture. *wink*
(Okay, maybe Scottish, but pretty, right?)
Dani
(Okay, maybe Scottish, but pretty, right?)
Dani
It's September in the South, but the heat isn't quite ready to let go of us yet! Still, for those of us in the US, it means the kids are back in school and football season is here. Its a busy time for my little band geek (Book Worm) and Little Man as they return to the rhythms of getting up early, studying, and homework.
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Nearby Waterfall[/caption]
August passed in a blur as I started, and finished, the rough draft of my next Harlequin Desire. But revisions will have to wait, because I'm off mid-month to visit the beautiful vistas of Ireland! Traveling with my besties and sis to see some of the places I've only read about--and plot Sean's book while I'm there. He's the sexy Irish drummer who will be featured as the hero in the third Backstage Pass novel.
Progress on Daniel's book has been slow because of my Harlequin commitment, but I'm hoping to have a more definitive timeline soon! My upcoming trip will provide some much needed creative inspiration. Sometimes artists forget how important it is to refill the well from which we mine our ideas.
I was reminded of this (yes, I do need a reminder upside the head now & then) when I went with sis on a road trip to hear one of my favorite authors speak: Lexi Blake! Talk about a genuine, heartfelt woman! We listened, learned, and laughed the day away. It reminded me of Nationals, but not nearly as exhausting. :)
I still have a lot to learn about writing (and probably always will), and listening to any subject that interests me, viewing art, and allowing myself to just soak in knowledge is so refreshing. Heck, talking with other artists can do the same thing! My chaotic schedule doesn't allow for it often enough, but I really need to make time for it regularly. It energizes my writing and makes me a happier person.
I hope y'all find a wealth of inspiration as fall colors and cooler weather make their way in (or new spring growth in other parts of the world)! Watch the blog later this month for pictures from my trip!
Don't forget to keep updated with me day-to-day on Facebook (see sidebar link) or on Twitter as @daniwade1 .
Dani
Nearby Waterfall[/caption]
August passed in a blur as I started, and finished, the rough draft of my next Harlequin Desire. But revisions will have to wait, because I'm off mid-month to visit the beautiful vistas of Ireland! Traveling with my besties and sis to see some of the places I've only read about--and plot Sean's book while I'm there. He's the sexy Irish drummer who will be featured as the hero in the third Backstage Pass novel.
Progress on Daniel's book has been slow because of my Harlequin commitment, but I'm hoping to have a more definitive timeline soon! My upcoming trip will provide some much needed creative inspiration. Sometimes artists forget how important it is to refill the well from which we mine our ideas.
I was reminded of this (yes, I do need a reminder upside the head now & then) when I went with sis on a road trip to hear one of my favorite authors speak: Lexi Blake! Talk about a genuine, heartfelt woman! We listened, learned, and laughed the day away. It reminded me of Nationals, but not nearly as exhausting. :)
I still have a lot to learn about writing (and probably always will), and listening to any subject that interests me, viewing art, and allowing myself to just soak in knowledge is so refreshing. Heck, talking with other artists can do the same thing! My chaotic schedule doesn't allow for it often enough, but I really need to make time for it regularly. It energizes my writing and makes me a happier person.
I hope y'all find a wealth of inspiration as fall colors and cooler weather make their way in (or new spring growth in other parts of the world)! Watch the blog later this month for pictures from my trip!
Don't forget to keep updated with me day-to-day on Facebook (see sidebar link) or on Twitter as @daniwade1 .
Dani 
Wow! Can y'all believe its been 15 weeks since we started this little club? Nationals is next week and We Are Ready!
Today, I want to celebrate. Whether you've lost a little or a lot, whether you've posted every week or just followed along, I hope you've been encouraged and reinforced at least 1 thing that will stick with you on your journey to being a healthier person.
This is a hard road, and for those of us on it, its a road that doesn't end at a particular weight number. It continues to weave itself throughout our life's journeys, and that can be a tough realization to face.
But there are things along the way to make me smile -- a pound lost, the realization that I need new (smaller!) clothes for Nationals, a new tip or trick, a new recipe -- but most of all, those special friends you get to meet along the way! Thank you for joining me here every week. I wouldn't have made ANY progress if I hadn't had to check-in and reveal what I had/hadn't done to others.
Challenge: If you want to share your final progress, please do! But I hope you'll share the most important thing you learned over the last 15 weeks.
See you in Atlanta!!!!!
Dani 
There’s very little that’s hotter than the south in summer! With 100 degree temperatures and high humidity, stepping outside can be like stepping into a sauna sometimes. And unlike some places we don’t get the relief of a daily rain shower. Nope, just sweat, sweat, and more sweat.
But sometimes that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s the perfect combination to get those hot heroes to take off their shirts for ya. Maybe when they’re working on the lawn, or out in the field, or on the car…After all, it’s hot. And so are they – glistening muscles under the southern sun.
Of course, that’s not the only reason they take off their shirts. Swimming is an epidemic during a southern summer. Pools, rivers, lakes…heck, even a pond will do. Anything wet.
Maybe that’s why my hero in FINDING HER RHYTHM has a million-dollar pool at his mansion outside Atlanta, GA. It’s a long-held dream of mine, ever since I saw a bare bones version at a hotel once. But Michael Korvello, famous rock star, doesn’t go for bare bones anything. He likes his pool like his woman, curvy and lush. Slides, smooth rock formations, a waterfall, a little cave…all over the top, surrounded by lush tropical plants. The perfect way to cool down (or in his case, heat it up – his heroine accuses him of having a thing for sex in water).
So share with us your favorite way to cool down in the summer! One lucky winner will get an Amazon or B&N gift card from me. All commenters are eligible to win the grand prizes through the rafflecopter!
FINDING HER RHYTHM
A Backstage Pass Novel
Struggling after the death of her parents, Taylor let her hormones lead her into the biggest mistake of her life. Now she has a dangerous ex who still wants to own her and a desperate need for safety. What could be safer than her new job as a rock star nanny? Except now she’s locked herself in with a man who is potentially more dangerous…to her heart.
Michael Korvello has a dominant nature and a lonely heart that he keeps firmly under wraps. His kids have suffered enough for the mistakes of his past. But his new nanny has those dark desires howling at the gate. The only thing keeping him in check is the fear lurking in those brilliant green eyes. Can he earn her trust, and the right to transform all her desires into reality?
Just when neither can deny their need for each other, Taylor’s ex shows up like an unlucky charm, intent on taking back what he considers his…even if he has to destroy Michael’s world to get to her. Can two kindred souls protect the passionate love they ache for from an outsider bent on ripping them apart.
Don't forget to visit the other blogs on this hop for more fun, prizes, and hot, hot, hot!!! The list can be found here.
I'm hanging out with my sis, Ella Sheridan, over at The Mutual Admiration Society. Guess who's hangin' with us? Michael Korvello, rock star hero of Finding Her Rhythm! Come check out the story behind his "look" (and there might be a giftie up for grabs!).
We’re working hard to slim down before RWA Nationals in July through healthy eating, exercise, sharing information, and accountability. Join us any time along the way, introduce yourself and post goals, or just contribute to the conversation! We’re here to share!
The biggest challenge in getting healthy, for me, is Mindset. It’s too easy to tell myself, Well, this once it won’t hurt to… One little cookie won’t make that much of a difference… Missing exercise just this once isn’t a big deal… But I feed myself these excuses again and again.
I let myself get away with things I shouldn’t because I won’t tell myself “No. You can’t have that (or that much).” My internal dialogue needs some serious adjusting.
I don’t think switching to all negative self-talk and beating myself up will help, but a gentle reminder of what I have to gain through self-restraint or continuing to work hard would go a long way towards changing my outlook and helping me confront temptation head on.
So I’m making a list of reminders to guide me until I can maintain a different internal dialogue. It needs to become second nature. So here are some ideas for more positive internal dialogue:
Food:
“Eating that will not make you feel better.”
“Your health is extremely important. Is eating this going to help you reach your health goals?”
The occasional “Not having that cake (cookies, etc) won’t kill you,” probably wouldn’t hurt either.
Exercise:
“Remember how good it feels to workout on the elliptical?”
“Exercising will help your body regulate your insulin and sugar better.”
“Moving will lift your mood.”
“Remember how the story ideas flow when you work out and crank up the music?”
General
“Being here for my family is more important than this moment.”
“I can write better and longer when I feel better physically.”
CHALLENGE: What are some positive internal thoughts that would help us reach our goals?
Share Your Progress! (even if the #s haven’t changed, we still have lots to celebrate)
Dani
Nationals or Bust Health Challenge: Week 1
Something very special happened last week. My sister, author Ella Sheridan, was chosen as a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart awards. This means she will be attending an Awards Night and many events at the RWA National conference this summer in July. I was nervous enough about going to this conference, because it will be my first time there as a published author. As a "curvy girl", I've really wanted to get into better shape for it, but kept putting off the start date (we all know how that goes, right?).
Now we both have a reason to hunker down and get moving, but we hate to do it alone. We're hoping you will join us! Whether you are attending RWA Nationals or not, this will be a great time to band together and focus on our health through information, encouragement, and accountability. Participate as much or as little as you like, but the more you make your voice heard, the more encouragement we can offer and the more you'll get out of this process!
So let's begin:
Have A Plan!
We do it all the time with our writing. I'll write 2 scenes a day until... I'll finish plotting and start writing by... We make goals and plans so we can see our target and reach it! There's nothing more satisfying than marking a task off a list (okay, maybe that's just me) or standing at the top of a mountain looking over everything you've worked so hard to achieve. Eyes on the prize, baby! After all, you can't sell a book you haven't written. Just like the general "I'm gonna write a book someday" doesn't get anyone anywhere, so the "I'll just cut back on my eating and exercise" rarely nets any discernible results. So, yes, even you pantsters out there need a plan! We all want to lose weight to look and feel our best at National Conference in July. That's 15 weeks from today!![](http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wsSeTVQ/counter.png"></a>){kind=link}
You don't have to post your plan here, but having one will help you see what you've accomplished and what you need to work on. What you've gotten control over and what still needs more focus. I suggest 1 or 2 options:
1. Decide on a food and exercise plan, instituting it all at once. That's right, from Day 1. It might be a little overwhelming the first week or two (especially after all that Easter candy), but you'll soon settle into a groove.
2. If you need more variety, try creating a very basic plan, then adding on to it each week by introducing a new "focus". For instance, one week you can focus on adding more strength training to your exercise routine, or eating more veggies, or drinking a certain amount of water, or trying a new sport. This can keep things interesting.
Seriously, I'm nobody's motivational guru -- I've failed at more diets than most people have started. So when I post, I'm preaching to the choir here. But I've always worked better in a group and with accountability. I'd love to run into each and every one of you at Nationals and pat you on the back for all you've accomplished between now and then.
SO LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!! Introduce yourself in the comments and post your plan/goals if you want to. Each Wednesday we'll have a check-in for those who want to talk about their progress, problems, or pitfalls. Offer encouragement, advice, or high-fives -- we need them all.
I look forward to getting to know everyone. Invite your friends, and let's look back on these 15 weeks with pride, having found a few new friends along the way.
Dani Wade SNOW BOUND BLOG TOUR
Over the next few weeks, I'll be visiting various blogs to share different snippets and experiences of SNOW BOUND with readers. But I wanted to start off with something special on my own blog today: how SNOW BOUND came into being. This story is very special to me, and I want to share that with my very own readers here at home. I'd been having a particularly difficult time with my writing, a period of darkness as I dealt with questions like "What am I really doing?", "Am I just wasting my time?", "What direction do I really want to go in?". There were way more questions than answers, and discouragement had become a way of life. In search of encouragement, I went to close friend and Maven Linda Winstead Jones, pouring out my angst and frustration.
Linda had read my work before, both in the past and recently, and she coached me on a few areas, including characterization. But her biggest piece of advice to me was: go home and write something just for fun. Something you want to write because it excites you, interests you. I'd spend so much time writing to different lines that I'd forgotten what excited me about writing.
I didn't start that day, but over the next few weeks the idea started brewing. Before I knew it, Damon had started talking to me and I was exploring his pleasure-focused way of wandering through life. Who better to challenge him than the 1 woman he'd vowed to stay away from: a single Southern belle ripe for marriage. Only he didn't realize this was 1 woman who could take care of herself - in every way.
I had so much fun with them! Did it answer all my questions? Solve all my problems? No. But it taught me that I needed to enjoy what I was doing, to write something that excited ME, not just fit someone else's requirements. I hope I never forget that lesson!
So tell me, what's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
DON'T FORGET to comment on my Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop post (below) for a chance to win my fall goodies and an Amazon gift card, along with chances to win some big prizes like a Kindle! Chances to win end tonight!
SNOW BOUND
Available now through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Z1FCW6 ) and Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/251508 ) .
The last thing Damon West wants is a trip to his bookish neighbor’s house in the midst of the worst snowstorm Cadence, TN, has seen in a decade. Still, his military instincts warn him that Miss Priss could use a little help. His arrival is met with an attack by an unknown assailant and the sight of Miss Priss in a sexy wisp of nothing-much, confidently wielding a double-barreled shotgun.
Tori Anderson carefully portrays herself as a responsible bookstore owner and capable young woman to anyone willing to look twice. But two men grappling in her backyard called for speed more than decorum. That’s how the guy she’d been secretly lusting after since he’d bought the house next door sees her in a silky robe and panties—with nothing in between. Damon’s sudden interest thrills her, but she can’t help worrying about the unknown threat scared off by her shotgun blast.
Trapped in her house under several feet of snow with no way to reach the outside world, Tori finally has the chance to indulge her wildest fantasies. But she isn’t sure which is more daunting—the abusive boyfriend back to punish her or her desire to have more than one night with the town’s most unavailable bachelor.