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!
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.
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.
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!
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I hope your summer is a great one!!
Dani 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:- 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.
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.
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.
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 (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...
It’s the month of love! **cue cheesy romantic cliches**
I’ll admit—I’m not a typical romance author. I’m not into the usual “romantic” gestures--rom coms, roses or wanting my lover to make an over-the-top gesture. I’m a weird, focused-on-the-small-things kinda girl with a dark side who writes contemporary gothic romances set in the South. My husband and I have odd senses of humor.
So while I wouldn’t turn away a bouquet of roses, that’s not something I’d get really excited about. For other quirky girls like me, I thought I’d share a list of gifts that would make me squeal… well, not out loud, but certainly in my head!
What would be the unusual gift that would have you jumping for joy?
Comment at the bottom of this page for a chance to win your own goodies! I'll send you a package of bones coffee (various flavors) and a cute notebook! (winners chosen 2/13/22-please check back for winner names and instructions for claiming your prize)
Take care!
Dani
**I'm not sponsored by any of the products listed here...I just love using them!
I’ll admit—I’m not a typical romance author. I’m not into the usual “romantic” gestures--rom coms, roses or wanting my lover to make an over-the-top gesture. I’m a weird, focused-on-the-small-things kinda girl with a dark side who writes contemporary gothic romances set in the South. My husband and I have odd senses of humor.
So while I wouldn’t turn away a bouquet of roses, that’s not something I’d get really excited about. For other quirky girls like me, I thought I’d share a list of gifts that would make me squeal… well, not out loud, but certainly in my head!
- Theater movie night with the newest horror movie release (or even an old one at home on Shudder or Netflix)**
- Candles (any and all kinds)
- Pens and a journal (I know, right??)
- Gothic planner stickers (love the ones I got for Christmas!)
- Cat toys (we have 7 cats)
- Anything about the movie “It” (original or remake!)
- A Ghost Adventures marathon (love it!)
- Bones Coffee (spooky and delicious, with no sugar)
- A night around a fire in the firepit under a full moon
- A weekend away to a haunted hotel or historic castle (I wish!)
- A ghost walk
- Piper & Ivy T-shirts (coolest reader T-shirts in the world and the images don't crack!)
- A hot bath, a meal I didn’t cook, and a thorough massage (okay, some of me is typical!)
What would be the unusual gift that would have you jumping for joy?
Comment at the bottom of this page for a chance to win your own goodies! I'll send you a package of bones coffee (various flavors) and a cute notebook! (winners chosen 2/13/22-please check back for winner names and instructions for claiming your prize)
Take care!
Dani
**I'm not sponsored by any of the products listed here...I just love using them!
How about a February weekend filled with a romantic masquerade party and a dark house on the hill? Check out SHADOW MANOR for FR💙E!
Shadow Manor
Secrets of Covington Corner series, Book 1 She’d watched him from afar for years…now he’s up close and personal. Shy librarian Cara spent her life overshadowed by her three older brothers, while secretly crushing on their best friend. After a family tragedy, he cut himself out of their lives, but she still watches his house on the hill from the darkness of her bedroom every night. Then she gets a second chance to reveal the man behind the mask. A night of revelry leads to passion and high hopes, until her tortured hero’s troubled past rises from the shadows. Will he retreat into the darkness once more or let obsession lead him to her love? Amazon Barnes & Nobles Apple Books Kobo Novellas in Secrets of Covington Corner series in order: Shadow Manor Haunted Heritage Dark Destiny Holiday Storm
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a Planner Girl! I have a 3-drawer set of planner supplies and put together weekly spreads pretty regularly. It helps me stay on track and, frankly, clears out the cobwebs.
Many years ago, I learned to do what I call a brain dump. If I pour everything out onto a To Do list (appointments, chores, projects, etc), then I no longer have to use a lot of brain power to keep track of those things. I’ve fine-tuned this to a monthly and weekly calendar setup so my To Dos don’t outdistance my time (mostly…).
And now I’ve become addicted to planning every week, usually on Sunday afternoons. Which means…an excuse to use stickers! 😊 Just kidding. Not!
For my fellow planner girls or those who want to get started, here’s a list of some of my favorite tools, along with some of my daughter’s also (because I managed to pass this one gene along!).
BENEATH THE SURFACE, Small Town Secrets Book 1
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
Amazon
B&N
Apple Books
Kobo
For my fellow planner girls or those who want to get started, here’s a list of some of my favorite tools, along with some of my daughter’s also (because I managed to pass this one gene along!).
- Passion Planner is the actual planner I use (monthly and weekly spreads-I prefer undated-with monthly and yearly reflection questions), but there are a lot of different ones out there. Passion Planner also posts content on Instagram and YouTube. I enjoy watching their ideas for different ways to use their planners.
- Archer & Olive is really good for those who like to do bullet journals. This is my daughter’s preferred option (and you can see some of her spreads on her blog here-alittlebithappierblog.com). These journals have high quality bindings and paper that doesn’t bleed, which can be a big deal when you are creating your own spreads.
- The HB90 planner by Sarah Cannon is available on Etsy and is wonderful for all the authors out there! I bought the download and use some of the ideas to incorporate into my own planner. I also print word count charts and some decision-making tools she has to help me keep my planner useful for author needs. She has an awesome HB90 class and you can also watch planner videos on her Heart Breathings YouTube channel.
- My sister, author Ella Sheridan, and I are working through the Heal the Way You Work class (based on the Do Less book by Kate Northrup). This teaches you how to plan your schedule based on your energies of that day/week/month. A very different approach, but I’m finding it very interesting. Fingers crossed I can figure this out, but her checklists of questions for creating annual/quarterly/weekly schedules is super helpful for clarifying goals and focuses.
- Stickers!!! I love and use a lot of Happy Planner sticker books. I especially like all the quotes and encouraging sayings in them. I was gifted some gothic ones for Christmas from HoundsflyteDesigns on Etsy that I’m loving! My daughter and I immediately went to her store and bought more of them.
- Pens, pens, and more pens… I have a lot of these but not as many as some planners. I’m very picky about mine… My favorite black pens are uni-ball signo, whether I’m writing or planning. I also have a set of Pentel EnerGel colored pens that work well. My daughter likes Muji gel pens in 0.58 and Tombow duel brush pens.
- But planning is always a good excuse for a STAPLES TRIP! I collect all kinds of Post It notes, page tabs, and washi tape. Writers love all kinds of office supplies, but I mean, who wouldn’t?!?!
Experience Cadence, TN, with BENEATH THE SURFACE
BENEATH THE SURFACE, Small Town Secrets Book 1
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
Amazon
B&N
Apple Books
Kobo
It's my newest Favorite Things list!
I bet you thought I was gonna talk about fall again! Well, I’ll admit it’s my favorite, but we’re finally moving into the winter months here in the South. I do love the holiday season, even though I do not enjoy it being dark when I leave work…
- So here are a few of my favorite things for WINTER:
- Picking out fun gifts for my family that make them smile.
- The (slim) possibility of snow
- Hot chocolate mixed into coffee
- Spending time with family and friends
- Cooler weather
- Baking for the holidays
- Fuzzy socks
- Layering on sweaters
- Christmas lights
- All the time off the day job between the holidays (I work at a University and am blessed to have leave between Christmas and New Years!)
- Turkey & dressing & chocolate chip bundt cake
- The feeling like I’m restarting and preparing for a new year!
How about a little gothic romance to encourage your holiday spirit?