How often do you take rest breaks? True rest breaks?
I’ll admit, many times I push myself to the limit, then collapse for days (okay, sometimes its weeks of doing the bare minimum before I recover). That’s, um, not good!
I’m reading a book called 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done by Peter Bregman. He proposes that breaks should be more of a “ritual of self-imposed brief and strategic interruptions.” This is a concept that I almost can’t wrap my head around!
He calls them regular rest stops. I understand in theory, but I’m not sure how “I” would do it. How do I not push from one project to the next while I still have momentum? Or do I run out of momentum because I push myself too hard?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
I’m honestly baffled about how to get some momentum with Secrets of Thornbury Woods Book 2. I love the idea and characters, but I’m having trouble finding my rhythm (wink) with the edits.
Never fear. My author friends are encouraging me with sprints and ideas—and hopefully I’ll step into the flow soon.
We’ve even started brainstorming Book 3!! I’m very excited about that.
Let me know how your summer is going. How are you creating breaks in the summer heat?
This month in my newsletter I am featuring Michael Korvello, guitarist of Solar Uprising, and the hero of FINDING HER RHYTHM. You can subscribe to my newsletters for these character interviews at the link below.
Remember: FINDING HER RHYTHM is free on ALL retailers. And for the month of AUGUST book 2, SETTLING THE SCORE, is on sale for $1.99.
Find out what happens between Daniel and Becca, the only woman he's truly wanted. Download it today!
Amazon
BNN
Kobo
iBooks
Add it to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
I’m reading a book called 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done by Peter Bregman. He proposes that breaks should be more of a “ritual of self-imposed brief and strategic interruptions.” This is a concept that I almost can’t wrap my head around!
He calls them regular rest stops. I understand in theory, but I’m not sure how “I” would do it. How do I not push from one project to the next while I still have momentum? Or do I run out of momentum because I push myself too hard?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
I’m honestly baffled about how to get some momentum with Secrets of Thornbury Woods Book 2. I love the idea and characters, but I’m having trouble finding my rhythm (wink) with the edits.
Never fear. My author friends are encouraging me with sprints and ideas—and hopefully I’ll step into the flow soon.
We’ve even started brainstorming Book 3!! I’m very excited about that.
Let me know how your summer is going. How are you creating breaks in the summer heat?
Sale Starts Today!
This month in my newsletter I am featuring Michael Korvello, guitarist of Solar Uprising, and the hero of FINDING HER RHYTHM. You can subscribe to my newsletters for these character interviews at the link below.
Remember: FINDING HER RHYTHM is free on ALL retailers. And for the month of AUGUST book 2, SETTLING THE SCORE, is on sale for $1.99.
Find out what happens between Daniel and Becca, the only woman he's truly wanted. Download it today!
Amazon
BNN
Kobo
iBooks
Add it to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
Tis the season for something new and shiny…for an author, there’s very little more exciting than getting a new cover! (all right, it’s exciting to finish a book, get a good review, have a new plot explode fully formed in your brain…but you get my point!)
I recently decided to recover my Small Town Secrets series to bring the covers up-to-date. I still loved aspects of them, but the market for steamy small-town romances has moved in a different direction. What better excuse to enjoy searching for gorgeous men…I mean, gorgeous photos to match my books?
[caption id="attachment_946" align="aligncenter" width="200"]
The 2016 cover for Snow Bound[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1605" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Small Town Secrets series new covers[/caption]
I love the natural backgrounds of these new ones. The books are set in a small town in Tennessee surrounded by lots of wooded areas, so these are perfect. The ambience is a perfect match too—unlike my Harlequins, these are heavily suspense books and the heat level is several peppers higher. 😊
I was able to find some of the photos to purchase on stock sites and my cover artist helped me find the others. The font is the same as my Secrets of Covington Corner series to keep my branding consistent. My cover artist and I go back and forth on them until they’re all smoothed out and ready to go.
Honestly, covers are a really fun part of putting out a book! I hope you enjoy them, and if you haven’t read this sexy suspense series, take a peek at the information below. Snow Bound has been free to my newsletter subscribers for a while, so you might have read that one (this will be changing soon!).
Take care!
Dani
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
The 2016 cover for Snow Bound[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1605" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Small Town Secrets series new covers[/caption]
I love the natural backgrounds of these new ones. The books are set in a small town in Tennessee surrounded by lots of wooded areas, so these are perfect. The ambience is a perfect match too—unlike my Harlequins, these are heavily suspense books and the heat level is several peppers higher. 😊
I was able to find some of the photos to purchase on stock sites and my cover artist helped me find the others. The font is the same as my Secrets of Covington Corner series to keep my branding consistent. My cover artist and I go back and forth on them until they’re all smoothed out and ready to go.
Honestly, covers are a really fun part of putting out a book! I hope you enjoy them, and if you haven’t read this sexy suspense series, take a peek at the information below. Snow Bound has been free to my newsletter subscribers for a while, so you might have read that one (this will be changing soon!).
Take care!
Dani
Learn more about 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?
Holiday Storm: A Secrets of Covington Corner novella
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? Download Now for some Holiday Fun! Amazon B&N Kobo Apple Books
It's Party Time!
ENTANGLED WITH THE HEIRESS is out in the wild! I'm so proud of this book, which came to me during a dry spell in my creativity. The heroine, Trinity, struggles so hard to do what's right and finds herself judged at every turn. I loved seeing her finally receive the happy-ever-after she deserved.
I hope you'll check it out (links below). Also, join me on the Harlequin Desire Author's Facebook page on Tuesday, January 7th, for an all day party with my fellow release authors for this month. We're going to have games, book stuff, and some giveaways in celebration of our releases.
ENTANGLED WITH THE HEIRESS, Louisiana Legacies
While gaining the heiress’s trust, will he lose all self-control?
Hired to go undercover and discredit the widow of a millionaire philanthropist, investigator Rhett Brannon is torn. With her vulnerability and dedication to her late husband’s legacy, Trinity Hyatt doesn’t fit his preconceptions of a gold digger. Even so, Rhett is determined to get to the truth behind her intentions. But will his growing attraction to Trinity destroy everything they’re both fighting for?
Available from:
Amazon
B&N
Harlequin
Apple Books
Add to your TBR shelf on Goodreads! 
Just in case you haven’t been following the August event for Nice Girls Writing Naughty, today is the last #MySexySaturday for you to comment on and WIN! Jump over there and check out the fun sexiness!
Dani
It's more #MySexySaturday fun over on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog! Go enjoy some naughty sexiness, maybe some new-to-you authors, and comment for a chance to win prizes! Our August event is going strong. Check it out here.
Who could use a little Late Summer Sexy this Saturday? I know I sure could!
Join me on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog to read an excerpt from some of our authors for #mysexysaturday blog hop, and comment to win free books! There's also a Grand Prize for the entire month of August.
Don't wait! Check it out now! :)
(Hint: this guy might just be over there waiting...)
Join me on the Nice Girls Writing Naughty blog to read an excerpt from some of our authors for #mysexysaturday blog hop, and comment to win free books! There's also a Grand Prize for the entire month of August.
Don't wait! Check it out now! :)
(Hint: this guy might just be over there waiting...)
The latest installment from the Backstage Pass series is a story I couldn’t resist writing. These characters have called to me from the beginning, and I hope you delve into their story as deeply as I did!
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
For today’s release, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I focus a lot on my heroes, but all of my heroines have a little something in common with me. For Sara, its her organizational skills—AKA lists. Lots and lots of lists. Hope you enjoy this one:
1. Sara Drayton isn’t a spontaneous woman. She’s driven, creative, and organized. But she won’t pass up the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend the weekend in Nate Hawthorne’s bed.
2. Sara’s theme song for this book is Show Me Love.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhWEI6-_w9E?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
3. Nate has been haunting my brain since I finish Book 1 (Finding Her Rhythm).
4. Nate’s theme song for this book is Not My Time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfhcljJ9bQ?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
5. Nate and Sara both had very different childhood issues, but they handled it exactly the same: being good. Not causing problems or worries for those around them.
6. Sara is Jake’s sister, Solar Uprising’s stage manager.
7. Jake has a very difficult road ahead of him, now that his sister has found her independence.
8. The cover for this story was a long time in the making, because I couldn’t find the right pictures to fit the feel of the story. My cover artist, Elizabeth Wallace, did an excellent job (and showed a lot of patience).
9. This story is a little different than the other 3 in the series—it doesn’t have a suspense element running through it.
10. I’ve got a simple contest going on over the next few weeks. Why? I just love to make readers smile. Just follow this link and enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N. I’ll choose a random winner on July 15th! Easy peasy.
GOIN’ OUT SOLO is live on Amazon and B&N today for only 99 cents. And while I’d love for you to grab the other books, SOLO is easy to read as a stand-alone too! So what are you waiting for??? Buy it and enter the contest today!
Dani
8. The cover for this story was a long time in the making, because I couldn’t find the right pictures to fit the feel of the story. My cover artist, Elizabeth Wallace, did an excellent job (and showed a lot of patience).
9. This story is a little different than the other 3 in the series—it doesn’t have a suspense element running through it.
10. I’ve got a simple contest going on over the next few weeks. Why? I just love to make readers smile. Just follow this link and enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N. I’ll choose a random winner on July 15th! Easy peasy.
GOIN’ OUT SOLO is live on Amazon and B&N today for only 99 cents. And while I’d love for you to grab the other books, SOLO is easy to read as a stand-alone too! So what are you waiting for??? Buy it and enter the contest today!
Dani
Welcome to my edition of My Sexy Saturday! Love this week’s idea: Handsome heroes are my ALL TIME FAVORITE subjects. Especially strong, sexy men who are grabbing life by the horns and riding hell for leather.
Nate Hawthorne is just such a man, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to my newest hero.
Here he is in GOIN' OUT SOLO, A Backstage Pass novella:
Sara whirled around on the pavement, staring at Nate Bishop in shocked silence, but his body appeared perfectly at ease-though the look from under the black brim of his cowboy hat was as intense as always. Same as always, as if he were hiding something he didn’t want the world to see too well. “I can drive her home, if you want,” he said, shifting a little in his cowboy boots.
Sara could see the tension draining off Jake as he pushed toward his friend. Extending his hand, they met palms for a single shake. “Thanks, man.”
Just as Jake’s nerves settled, Sara's ramped up. Five hours in an enclosed truck cab with hot and steamy Nate? That man lit her fire quicker than a match, while he all but patted her on the head for being a good girl.
The one time she'd gotten desperate enough to hint that she was interested he'd shuddered, insisting he couldn't kiss someone he saw as a little sister. Go experiment with someone your own age, he'd said.
So she tucked her humiliation down deep, along with all thoughts of his magnificent ass, and tried to find someone nice to play with. Unfortunately, it didn't kill the craving.
And last night—that had been the dance of her life. She’d wanted to pout like a toddler when her brother had cut in. The whole time Nate’s dark gaze had held her captive, she’d been telling herself it didn’t mean anything. When he’d walked away without speaking, simply handing her over, she’d known it was meaningless to him. But she’d always remember it…always.
Sara looked up to find Nate’s gaze trained directly on her. His chin-length brown hair and ever present cowboy hat granted him secrecy. Still she wondered what he was thinking behind the prop he used to keep people at arms’ length—even if he didn’t realize it. She couldn't see him, but she could feel that gaze and had the sudden impression of a lion stalking his prey. Heat flashed through her, settling in her core despite her mental protest.
More about GOIN' OUT SOLO:
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
This novella is now available for pre-order for only 99 cents at Amazon! It will officially release on June 30th, so reserve your copy today! And click HERE to join my Goin’ Out Solo Book Launch Giveaway! I’m giving away a $25 gift card.
And don’t forget to check out more My Sexy Saturday hunky heroes here.
Enjoy!
Dani
Here he is in GOIN' OUT SOLO, A Backstage Pass novella:
Sara whirled around on the pavement, staring at Nate Bishop in shocked silence, but his body appeared perfectly at ease-though the look from under the black brim of his cowboy hat was as intense as always. Same as always, as if he were hiding something he didn’t want the world to see too well. “I can drive her home, if you want,” he said, shifting a little in his cowboy boots.
Sara could see the tension draining off Jake as he pushed toward his friend. Extending his hand, they met palms for a single shake. “Thanks, man.”
Just as Jake’s nerves settled, Sara's ramped up. Five hours in an enclosed truck cab with hot and steamy Nate? That man lit her fire quicker than a match, while he all but patted her on the head for being a good girl.
The one time she'd gotten desperate enough to hint that she was interested he'd shuddered, insisting he couldn't kiss someone he saw as a little sister. Go experiment with someone your own age, he'd said.
So she tucked her humiliation down deep, along with all thoughts of his magnificent ass, and tried to find someone nice to play with. Unfortunately, it didn't kill the craving.
And last night—that had been the dance of her life. She’d wanted to pout like a toddler when her brother had cut in. The whole time Nate’s dark gaze had held her captive, she’d been telling herself it didn’t mean anything. When he’d walked away without speaking, simply handing her over, she’d known it was meaningless to him. But she’d always remember it…always.
Sara looked up to find Nate’s gaze trained directly on her. His chin-length brown hair and ever present cowboy hat granted him secrecy. Still she wondered what he was thinking behind the prop he used to keep people at arms’ length—even if he didn’t realize it. She couldn't see him, but she could feel that gaze and had the sudden impression of a lion stalking his prey. Heat flashed through her, settling in her core despite her mental protest.
More about GOIN' OUT SOLO:
Rock star Nate Hawthorne's good-guy status is as iconic as his black cowboy hat, despite his personal struggles. Now faced with his own mortality, he must choose whether to continue being the good friend, the good band mate...or risk being very, very bad.
Sara Drayton has overcome a nightmare childhood to stand on her own merits, even if her overprotective brother can't see it. Nate has been her forbidden fantasy for years. Now he's offering her a no-strings weekend at his cabin to fulfill all her desires – except her wish to be his forever.
Nate knows he's breaking the rules by taking Sara to bed, but he's desperate for the peace he can only find through her touch. With death on the horizon, can forbidden love bring one man back from the brink of an uncertain future?
This novella is now available for pre-order for only 99 cents at Amazon! It will officially release on June 30th, so reserve your copy today! And click HERE to join my Goin’ Out Solo Book Launch Giveaway! I’m giving away a $25 gift card.
And don’t forget to check out more My Sexy Saturday hunky heroes here.
Enjoy!
Dani
It’s almost time! Goin’ Out Solo, Backstage Pass Bk 4, is about to go up for pre-order—but there’s a very special chance for you to read it and all my other books early! Check it out!
I’m offering a few select readers the chance to read these books early! I have my very own Advanced Review Team, and I’d love for you to be a part. That means you’d get the chance to read my upcoming books BEFORE RELEASE DAY! All I ask is that you leave an honest review of the book on Amazon (and any other review sites you frequent) on the actual release day.
Does the thought of free books pique your interest?
Well, here’s what you do:
Only newsletter members are eligible for this special opportunity. I assume if you’re interested in my books, you’re interested in information on upcoming releases and events. Newsletter members only receive an email every 4 to 6 weeks, so no spamming. (P.S. Joining my newsletter means getting a FREE novella too—SNOW BOUND, part of my Small Town Secrets series.)
I’m offering a few select readers the chance to read these books early! I have my very own Advanced Review Team, and I’d love for you to be a part. That means you’d get the chance to read my upcoming books BEFORE RELEASE DAY! All I ask is that you leave an honest review of the book on Amazon (and any other review sites you frequent) on the actual release day.
Does the thought of free books pique your interest?
Well, here’s what you do:
- Sign up for my newsletter (if you haven’t already).
Only newsletter members are eligible for this special opportunity. I assume if you’re interested in my books, you’re interested in information on upcoming releases and events. Newsletter members only receive an email every 4 to 6 weeks, so no spamming. (P.S. Joining my newsletter means getting a FREE novella too—SNOW BOUND, part of my Small Town Secrets series.)
- Then send an email to readdaniwade (at) gmail.com with the subject: Advance Reading Team.
- I will send out an email when a new release is scheduled.
- I’ll send an ARC of the book approximately 2-3 weeks before the release day.
- You get to read it! Yay!
- I’ll send you a final email the day before the book releases. This is a reminder e-mail to let you know your review should be posted to Amazon and any other e-book retailers or sites you feel comfortable posting to (Goodreads, B&N, etc.), on one of the following 5 days. You can even write it ahead of time and have it ready to copy and paste on release day.
- ART members may also get exclusive access to some content or special surprises. You’ll have to join to see…