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]
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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]
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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
It's Release week for my debut Harlequin Desire, His By Design, and to celebrate I'm being interviewed by the fabulous June Love on the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. Join us as we talk characterization, story ideas, and Vegas, Baby!
Today I'm sharing a bit about my chaotic writing process with readers at The Pink Heart Society blog. You'll see, I write here, there, and everywhere! Join us!
I had the privilege of attending Romance Writers of America's National Conference in Atlanta, GA this year! It's been several years since I've been able to go, and the fact that this was the year I was eligible for the pink SOLD! ribbon made it that much more special.
I helped out at the PASIC reception held at Miss Pittypat's Porch! This restaurant was incredible! Great food. genuine southern hospitality. and a really cool atmosphere.
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Authors Kira Sinclair. Dani Wade, Andrea Laurence[/caption]
I only got to attend 1 workshop while I was there but both the luncheon speeches were very inspirational! I'd forgotten how beneficial it is to listen to other authors talk about their journeys, the pitfalls and the high points. I came away with my creative well full and energized to write.
The majority of my time at Nationals was focused on the RITA Awards ceremony, as I was on the Awards committee this year. But those rehearsals were all worth it! And I got to see my lovely sister, Ella Sheridan, on her big night! She was a finalist for RWA's Golden Heart Award for Paranormal Romance. She didn't win, but we still celebrated her first publishing contract by dancing the night away after the show.
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Authors Ella Sheridan, Dani Wade[/caption]The other major event for me was meeting my editor for the very first time! Charles Griemsman is my editor at Harlequin Desire. It was wonderful getting to know him better, and attending a dinner with him and other Desire authors. They were all very welcoming and I truly enjoyed learning about each of these lovely ladies!
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Dani Wade with editor Charles Griemsman[/caption][caption id="attachment_550" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Authors Anna DePalo, Katherine Garbera, Emily McKay, editor Charles Griemsman, Michelle Celmer, Dani Wade[/caption]
Probably my favorite time of the trip was the Harlequin Party! This annual event is put on by my publisher at Nationals to celebrate their authors. We danced, had desserts and drinks, and sang long into the night. I got to see my cover for His By Design make an appearance on the big screens hung near the dance floor. The Sale Shoes even made an appearance!!! It wouldn't be a Harlequin Party without them.
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Authors Addison Fox. Liz Talley, Jennifer Bray-Weber, Dani Wade[/caption][caption id="attachment_553" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Sale Shoes!!! Black-Dani Wade, Silver-Andrea Laurence, Brown-Kira Sinclair, slippers-Kimberly Lang (who had a good excuse for not wearing her sale shoes)[/caption]
Every year that I've attended a National Conference has taught me something about myself, has pushed me forward in a career I love so very much. This year was about stepping outside my comfort zone, meeting new people, and trying not to panic in the glass elevators. :) And it was my first time to really enjoy being Dani Wade, author. I think I accomplished a lot, hopefully started some new friendships, and created some great memories. I can't wait to do it all again next year!
Dani
So many things happening over the last 2 months, all leading up to the release of my first Harlequin Desire in August! So many times being an author is about the daily grind of putting words on the page or revising words on the page. But I've had the opportunity to do more of the fun stuff recently (along with putting words on the page). In June I attended the Heart of Dixie readers luncheon, meeting readers for the first time as an author instead of as a volunteer! One highlight was presenting my very own author basket after years of creating raffle baskets for this event.
Then I started off July with a new contract from Awesome Editor at Harlequin Desire!!! I don't have a release date for these books yet, but we've already started the first and I'm thrilled! I hope to have more information on those soon. In the meantime, I'll be meeting with Awesome Editor while I'm in Atlanta for RWA National conference in July. Lots of cool things happening there, including the opportunity to meet some of my fellow Desire authors.
The rest of the month will be horribly mundane, I'm sure. :) Lots of words to get on the page as I work not only on my next Harlequin, but also Daniel's book for the Backstage Pass series. I'll share lots more about my RWA experience after I return home, and the exciting happenings for Design's release next month!
Dani
Then I started off July with a new contract from Awesome Editor at Harlequin Desire!!! I don't have a release date for these books yet, but we've already started the first and I'm thrilled! I hope to have more information on those soon. In the meantime, I'll be meeting with Awesome Editor while I'm in Atlanta for RWA National conference in July. Lots of cool things happening there, including the opportunity to meet some of my fellow Desire authors.
The rest of the month will be horribly mundane, I'm sure. :) Lots of words to get on the page as I work not only on my next Harlequin, but also Daniel's book for the Backstage Pass series. I'll share lots more about my RWA experience after I return home, and the exciting happenings for Design's release next month!
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
Next week is the Romance Writers of America National conference, the ultimate conference in the US for romance writing professionals. It's THE place to learn, socialize, meet industry professionals, and network. My first RWA National conference was quite a few years ago in New York. I was both nervous and exhilarated at the same time. Five conferences later, that hasn't changed. Though I feel those same emotions for different reasons.
This year I'll be meeting my Harlequin editor for the first time, assisting with the RITA awards production, putting faces to the names of my fellow Desire authors, and helping my little sis celebrate her Golden Heart final. I'll also get to attend as a PAN (Published Authors Network - recognition of an author achieving a certain level of professional sales with her writing) member, my debut year after making PAN with my first Harlequin contract.
But I'll also get to meet up with authors I only get to see at conference (like my Ruby Slippered Sisters) and hopefully get to go to a workshop or two on topics that aren't widely available at chapter meetings.
Though attending conference means 4 1/2 days of constant people, along with the stress of being "on" all the time, and even the good stress of catching up and meeting people, these times navigating crowds and learning to pull myself out of my comfort zone have been some of the biggest growth opportunities of my life. They've helped this introvert develop better people skills, more confidence, priorities, and learn to accept not being perfect. By Sunday morning I'm exhausted but happy.
So next week I'll be silent (because I'll be prepping, then gone), but I hope to return with many, many happy memories and some pictures to share!
Until then, share with us your most exciting/exhausting growing experiences. If you'd attended Nationals, what's your favorite memory?
Dani
It's Field Trip Day! I'm the Friday Quickie on author Sarah Grimm's blog today! :) Drop by and learn a few things you might not have known about me.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending my first reader event. Boy, was it exciting...and extra special to me.
You see, the Heart of Dixie Annual Readers' Luncheon is an event I've been either coordinating or assisting with for 10 years as an unpublished author. This year I actually hosted a table and got to share my great publishing news with so many of the readers who encouraged me each year of my journey.
Here are a few of the highlights:
This is the lovely table I shared with historical author Cathy MacRae. Cool authentic police items to go with the "romantic thrillers" theme in honor of our guest speaker, JT Ellison, and a print of my first Harlequin cover that the luncheon committee had made as our author gifts.
Look at this awesome group of authors that hosted tables!
This is the Dani Wade author basket I donated as a door prize. After years of creating raffle baskets for this event, I was over the moon to create one especially for me. And these are the "wedding favors" I put together for the readers at my table, since HIS BY DESIGN is set in a wedding gown design firm.
Even though I didn't have a print book available, I did sign swag for FINDING HER RHYTHM and SNOW BOUND at the author signing event. It gave me a chance to meet and talk with several new readers, which was totally fun.
Meeting readers for the first time in my "author persona" made me nervous -- until I sat down and started talking. Then I simply smiled and enjoyed myself. Being surrounded by friends and fellow authors made it that much more special to me, especially my awesome Playfriends! (Marilyn Puett, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang, and me)
Some really great memories!
Dani
This is the lovely table I shared with historical author Cathy MacRae. Cool authentic police items to go with the "romantic thrillers" theme in honor of our guest speaker, JT Ellison, and a print of my first Harlequin cover that the luncheon committee had made as our author gifts.
Look at this awesome group of authors that hosted tables!
This is the Dani Wade author basket I donated as a door prize. After years of creating raffle baskets for this event, I was over the moon to create one especially for me. And these are the "wedding favors" I put together for the readers at my table, since HIS BY DESIGN is set in a wedding gown design firm.
Even though I didn't have a print book available, I did sign swag for FINDING HER RHYTHM and SNOW BOUND at the author signing event. It gave me a chance to meet and talk with several new readers, which was totally fun.
Meeting readers for the first time in my "author persona" made me nervous -- until I sat down and started talking. Then I simply smiled and enjoyed myself. Being surrounded by friends and fellow authors made it that much more special to me, especially my awesome Playfriends! (Marilyn Puett, Andrea Laurence, Kira Sinclair, Kimberly Lang, and me)
Some really great memories!
Dani
FINDING HER RHYTHM excerpt
“The paparazzi have it all wrong.” Frozen at the bottom of the stairs, she found herself asking, “What?” “They have it all wrong, about my brother and me. I don’t have sex with a new woman every night. We didn’t hold orgies on the tour bus. And I didn’t need whips and chains to get my wife to have sex with me.” Apparently she wasn’t listening to the right kind of gossip shows. He stalked to her as he spoke again. “People want us to be edgy, raw. After all, we’re rock gods. But my needs are relatively simple.” Without volition, she found herself backed up to the wall, her fingers flat against the wainscoting to give her some piece of reality to hold on to. Though a part of her was still scared, a growing part of her felt the kindle of arousal. He leaned in close, resting his forearm on the wall beside her head. The fire behind him obscured his face. Her pulse pounded as she felt space narrow to the inches separating them. He surrounded her, and every muscle in her body wanted to surrender.
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?
Available at Amazon, B&N, and other online retailers.
Check out more Sexy Saturday Excerpts Here