Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 11
July 28, 2019
Writing a Book is Messy
In the past decade, I have written and published more than 40 books, novellas, and short stories either solo or with a partner. I have never looked too closely at the process for me. I was always just excited to get across the finish line with a completed book. That feeling of accomplishment. Being able to look back on the adventure your characters went on and looking forward to the next one.
But at the start of 2019, I switched to writing books full-time. This has allowed me to take a closer look at my process. To figure out how quickly I can write a book. To find out where I’m wasting my time and what helps me create a better book.
Hands down, the most dangerous thing for me has been math.
Yes, math.
Math makes finishing a book faster look easy, but it’s a dangerous, evil lie.
Let’s do math first.
I can comfortably write 4,000 words per day – particularly if I have a plot outline. (Yes, I’m a hardcore plotter. It definitely makes working with a co-author much easier. Plotting doesn’t work for everyone. This is just my approach.)
In fact, if I’m sprinting with friends and start writing at 8 am, I can have my 4K done before noon. Pretty freaking awesome!
Now 4K per day times 5 days per week = 20K
And 20K times 4 weeks in a month = 80K in a month. That’s a book!
See how easy that looks! Write a book a month.
Even now, that looks seductive.
But what that doesn’t take into account is marketing, bad writing days, illness, family emergencies, editing, plotting, re-plotting, cover art searches, research… so much random freaking research.
I've wanted writing to be this neat progression forward. The words steadily building in an orderly fashion toward my goal. It doesn't work like that for me.
Today, I thought I'd show you the progress I charted for the last two books that I worked on.
The first is the latest Unbreakable Bonds book, which will be out in July. We haven't shared the title yet, but it's coming.
For books, I co-write with Rinda, I set a goal of 35,000 words since I'm writing approximately half the book and the rough draft of the book should come in around 70,000 words.
As you can see, the first day starts strong and then life goes to hell. I work again... then more hell. And then I'm a bit all over the place until I make my goal and deadline.
But the one to keep in mind in this chart:
This one proves that each word helps to fill the bucket a little bit more. Each word gets you one step closer to the top of the mountain. This one is my favorite chart because I can set smaller goals of hitting 20,000 words total and then 25K, and 30K.
Then, I have the third book in the Exit Strategy series, which I just finished the rough draft for over the weekend. This book had a rough draft goal of 70,000 words because it's a solo project.
Again, you can see that I'm complete rubbish at the beginning. I believe I took because a friend was staying with us for a few days and then I was working on edits for the Unbreakable Bonds book. But this one saw more consistency in the last 10 days because I was sprinting every day with friends. They helped to hold me accountable to hit my word goals each day. It felt great to hit my goal before 2 pm each day. And it reminded me to stay focused on the days that I was still working in the evening.
The tally chart looks even more fantastic than the other book.
The key thing that I've had to learn is that I'm not going to be consistent every day. It's just not going to work out that way. The beginning week or two are going to be rough as I poke at the plot and characters. They don't always want to immediately talk to me and a plot I feel in love with in the beginning could have major holes that need fixing along the way.
The other thing is that I have to adjust my daily writing goal. I typically start with a goal of around 2,500 per day, but that usually rises to 4K because of days that I don't write. I have to stay flexible.
And finally, just get my butt in the chair and write. All words get me one step closer to my goal. Even the bad ones. Because in the end, you can't edit a blank page.
Now, I'm off to work on revisions for the Exit Strategy novel.
But at the start of 2019, I switched to writing books full-time. This has allowed me to take a closer look at my process. To figure out how quickly I can write a book. To find out where I’m wasting my time and what helps me create a better book.
Hands down, the most dangerous thing for me has been math.
Yes, math.
Math makes finishing a book faster look easy, but it’s a dangerous, evil lie.
Let’s do math first.
I can comfortably write 4,000 words per day – particularly if I have a plot outline. (Yes, I’m a hardcore plotter. It definitely makes working with a co-author much easier. Plotting doesn’t work for everyone. This is just my approach.)
In fact, if I’m sprinting with friends and start writing at 8 am, I can have my 4K done before noon. Pretty freaking awesome!
Now 4K per day times 5 days per week = 20K
And 20K times 4 weeks in a month = 80K in a month. That’s a book!
See how easy that looks! Write a book a month.
Even now, that looks seductive.
But what that doesn’t take into account is marketing, bad writing days, illness, family emergencies, editing, plotting, re-plotting, cover art searches, research… so much random freaking research.
I've wanted writing to be this neat progression forward. The words steadily building in an orderly fashion toward my goal. It doesn't work like that for me.
Today, I thought I'd show you the progress I charted for the last two books that I worked on.
The first is the latest Unbreakable Bonds book, which will be out in July. We haven't shared the title yet, but it's coming.
For books, I co-write with Rinda, I set a goal of 35,000 words since I'm writing approximately half the book and the rough draft of the book should come in around 70,000 words.As you can see, the first day starts strong and then life goes to hell. I work again... then more hell. And then I'm a bit all over the place until I make my goal and deadline.
But the one to keep in mind in this chart:
This one proves that each word helps to fill the bucket a little bit more. Each word gets you one step closer to the top of the mountain. This one is my favorite chart because I can set smaller goals of hitting 20,000 words total and then 25K, and 30K.
Then, I have the third book in the Exit Strategy series, which I just finished the rough draft for over the weekend. This book had a rough draft goal of 70,000 words because it's a solo project.
Again, you can see that I'm complete rubbish at the beginning. I believe I took because a friend was staying with us for a few days and then I was working on edits for the Unbreakable Bonds book. But this one saw more consistency in the last 10 days because I was sprinting every day with friends. They helped to hold me accountable to hit my word goals each day. It felt great to hit my goal before 2 pm each day. And it reminded me to stay focused on the days that I was still working in the evening.
The tally chart looks even more fantastic than the other book.
The key thing that I've had to learn is that I'm not going to be consistent every day. It's just not going to work out that way. The beginning week or two are going to be rough as I poke at the plot and characters. They don't always want to immediately talk to me and a plot I feel in love with in the beginning could have major holes that need fixing along the way.
The other thing is that I have to adjust my daily writing goal. I typically start with a goal of around 2,500 per day, but that usually rises to 4K because of days that I don't write. I have to stay flexible.
And finally, just get my butt in the chair and write. All words get me one step closer to my goal. Even the bad ones. Because in the end, you can't edit a blank page.
Now, I'm off to work on revisions for the Exit Strategy novel.
June 19, 2019
Is Jocelynn Still Alive? The Checking In Post
When I moved out of Kentucky and away from my immediate family, there was a sort of unspoken rule that I had to call home to my parents at least once every two weeks. This was just a check-in, “yes I’m still alive” call.
If I didn’t make my check-in call because I got caught up in the craziness of life, then I would inevitably receive THE CALL at the two weeks plus one day mark. I wasn’t in trouble or in danger of being disowned. But I would get some nice, subtle Southern/Catholic guilt sprinkled over me that would burn like holy water on a vampire.
So I call.
Today I feel like I’ve reached the two weeks plus one day mark. People are probably wondering what’s a polite way to take my pulse or wave a mirror in front of my nose without seeming to pushy.
In short, where the hell have I been?
And the short answer is…I’ve been writing…A LOT!
But no one wants the short answer. Let’s do better. I am an author for gosh sake!
First, Rinda and I have finished Rowe and Noah’s second book for the Unbreakable Bonds series. That lovely book full of chaos and fun was shipped off to our editors on Monday. We have a title for it now and we’re starting to send various ideas off to our cover designer.
We don’t have a release date yet, but based on the speed of the editors, we are probably looking at a mid- to late July release.
Speaking of the Masters of Mayhem, the audio book for TORCH has been completed and send off for the quality check. Assuming that ACX/Audible gets all their ducks in a row, that audio book should be available NEXT WEEK! (You can get caught up now by listening to SHIVER and SHATTER.)
Currently, I am working on the final Justin and Gabriel book for the Exit Strategy series. I just crossed 50,000 words on the book today and I’m aiming for a rough draft of 70,000 words. That book is scheduled to go to the editors on June 27 (next week). That means I’ve got about a week left to write 20,000 words AND complete revisions. Good luck, Joce!
Assuming all goes well, this book will be out in early August.
But there is a snag.
If you are a part of the Unbreakable Readers Group, you know that Justin and Gabriel have made the acquaintance of a mercenary by the name of Kai. He is pushy and bossy and sexy. And I think he wants his own book.
My plans for the year do not currently include a book for Kai. I’ve tried explaining this to him. I’ve also tried explaining to him that the Exit Strategy series is just about Justin and Gabriel. He doesn’t care.
As soon as I figure out my Kai problem, I’ll pass along the news to you.
In July, Rinda and I will be returning to surf and sunshine at Pineapple Grove. We need to write Wesley’s story. The goal is to write his book in July and have it released in early September.
After Justin and Gabriel, what’s next for me?
I’m not really sure. It could be Kai, though I’m skeptical. It could be a new paranormal vampire series I’m toying with. Or it could be my next (final) Christmas novella for the Ice & Snow Christmas series. It all kind of depends on what I can get done before my next editor deadline of August 30 while keeping in mind that I have guests in town for a week in August.
What’s next after Pineapple Grove for Rinda and me? Not quite sure. I find myself leaning toward Ian and the final Unbreakable Bonds book. I’d like that series wrapped up by the end of 2019. We have some other plans in the works, but we’d prefer to have a series or two wrapped up before we start something new.
So, that’s my check in. We still have lots of adventures to look forward to in 2019!
Happy reading!
If I didn’t make my check-in call because I got caught up in the craziness of life, then I would inevitably receive THE CALL at the two weeks plus one day mark. I wasn’t in trouble or in danger of being disowned. But I would get some nice, subtle Southern/Catholic guilt sprinkled over me that would burn like holy water on a vampire.
So I call.
Today I feel like I’ve reached the two weeks plus one day mark. People are probably wondering what’s a polite way to take my pulse or wave a mirror in front of my nose without seeming to pushy.
In short, where the hell have I been?
And the short answer is…I’ve been writing…A LOT!
But no one wants the short answer. Let’s do better. I am an author for gosh sake!
First, Rinda and I have finished Rowe and Noah’s second book for the Unbreakable Bonds series. That lovely book full of chaos and fun was shipped off to our editors on Monday. We have a title for it now and we’re starting to send various ideas off to our cover designer.
We don’t have a release date yet, but based on the speed of the editors, we are probably looking at a mid- to late July release.
Speaking of the Masters of Mayhem, the audio book for TORCH has been completed and send off for the quality check. Assuming that ACX/Audible gets all their ducks in a row, that audio book should be available NEXT WEEK! (You can get caught up now by listening to SHIVER and SHATTER.)
Currently, I am working on the final Justin and Gabriel book for the Exit Strategy series. I just crossed 50,000 words on the book today and I’m aiming for a rough draft of 70,000 words. That book is scheduled to go to the editors on June 27 (next week). That means I’ve got about a week left to write 20,000 words AND complete revisions. Good luck, Joce!
Assuming all goes well, this book will be out in early August.
But there is a snag.
If you are a part of the Unbreakable Readers Group, you know that Justin and Gabriel have made the acquaintance of a mercenary by the name of Kai. He is pushy and bossy and sexy. And I think he wants his own book.
My plans for the year do not currently include a book for Kai. I’ve tried explaining this to him. I’ve also tried explaining to him that the Exit Strategy series is just about Justin and Gabriel. He doesn’t care.
As soon as I figure out my Kai problem, I’ll pass along the news to you.
In July, Rinda and I will be returning to surf and sunshine at Pineapple Grove. We need to write Wesley’s story. The goal is to write his book in July and have it released in early September.
After Justin and Gabriel, what’s next for me?
I’m not really sure. It could be Kai, though I’m skeptical. It could be a new paranormal vampire series I’m toying with. Or it could be my next (final) Christmas novella for the Ice & Snow Christmas series. It all kind of depends on what I can get done before my next editor deadline of August 30 while keeping in mind that I have guests in town for a week in August.
What’s next after Pineapple Grove for Rinda and me? Not quite sure. I find myself leaning toward Ian and the final Unbreakable Bonds book. I’d like that series wrapped up by the end of 2019. We have some other plans in the works, but we’d prefer to have a series or two wrapped up before we start something new.
So, that’s my check in. We still have lots of adventures to look forward to in 2019!
Happy reading!
June 7, 2019
Vengeful Lover Is Out!
I'm so excited! VENGEFUL LOVER, book 2 of the Exit Strategy series is now out.
I'm also nervous and terrified. I love Justin and Gabriel so much. They are two men who never expected to find someone. To have that shot at love and a happily ever after. They picked a line of work and love what they do, but it's not something that most people would understand or support.
But in each other, they've found someone who enjoys the action and danger just as much. They've found a partner who will protect their backs.
The only problem is the family who very much wants Gabriel dead.
If you haven't picked up your copy yet, VENGEFUL LOVER is about:
Every assassin has an exit strategy – their ultimate plan for leaving that dangerous life and disappearing. They just never expect to live long enough to enact it.
Gabriel Prescott was no different.
But everything changed when he met fellow mercenary Justin Mallory.
Now he’s racing across Europe with Justin to put to rest old threats before they can end both their lives.
Of course, it will also mean coming clean to Justin about exactly who he is and who wants him dead. Gabriel can only hope that Justin will still want him when the truth comes out.
You can start your adventure with Justin and Gabriel with DEADLY LOVER. There's also a fun short story with LOVER CALLING.
And if you're still getting caught up on my recent releases, don't miss out on KILLER BOND, book 5 of the Ward Security series.
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
It's been a busy year already and I've still more goodness planned. Rinda and I are hard at work on the next Unbreakable Bonds book for Rowe and Noah, which should be out next month. And I am working on the final book of the Exit Strategy series. With any luck, that book should be out in August.
I'm also nervous and terrified. I love Justin and Gabriel so much. They are two men who never expected to find someone. To have that shot at love and a happily ever after. They picked a line of work and love what they do, but it's not something that most people would understand or support.
But in each other, they've found someone who enjoys the action and danger just as much. They've found a partner who will protect their backs.
The only problem is the family who very much wants Gabriel dead.
If you haven't picked up your copy yet, VENGEFUL LOVER is about:
Every assassin has an exit strategy – their ultimate plan for leaving that dangerous life and disappearing. They just never expect to live long enough to enact it.
Gabriel Prescott was no different.
But everything changed when he met fellow mercenary Justin Mallory.
Now he’s racing across Europe with Justin to put to rest old threats before they can end both their lives.
Of course, it will also mean coming clean to Justin about exactly who he is and who wants him dead. Gabriel can only hope that Justin will still want him when the truth comes out.
You can start your adventure with Justin and Gabriel with DEADLY LOVER. There's also a fun short story with LOVER CALLING.
And if you're still getting caught up on my recent releases, don't miss out on KILLER BOND, book 5 of the Ward Security series.
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
It's been a busy year already and I've still more goodness planned. Rinda and I are hard at work on the next Unbreakable Bonds book for Rowe and Noah, which should be out next month. And I am working on the final book of the Exit Strategy series. With any luck, that book should be out in August.
June 5, 2019
Traveling the World for Books
I love to travel.
I don’t much for the packing a bag part or the long security lines at the airport.
But once I arrive at a place, I’m ready to jump in to exploring new places and trying new foods.
The travel bug bit pretty hard when I was in school. I was wooed into advanced classes in junior high with the promise of a foreign exchange program where I could spend a couple weeks in France.
At the sweet age of 15, I jetted off with a couple dozen other kids to France. (I don’t know how my parents did it.) It was my first time on a plane and my first time in a foreign country. My French wasn’t great and jet lag was a wicked, horrible thing, but I got to spend three days in Paris seeing so many amazing sights before we traveled east to the town of Nancy. There, I spent two weeks with a family while attending school with another student. I was also stuck in bed for about a week of that with the flu.
But that didn’t stop me.
I was also lucky enough to land a couple amazing jobs that enabled me to travel. I’ve been to New York City, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas, Charlotte, and Baltimore for work. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel to Panama, Uruguay, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and England for work. I’m currently hoping to add Australia to my list in the next couple of years.
After years of incredible experiences, I’ve been dying to place them in a book. When the idea hit to do a spy novel, I knew I’d be able to tap my years of travel for great experiences. I could add the wonder I’ve felt when I’ve seen these places for the first time.
Daniel from Killer Bond loves many of the same places that I love. He was my opportunity to experience these places for the first time again.
Looking ahead, some of my top places to visit are Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Italy, and Russia.
I am also hoping to revisit London and Paris with my husband. He hasn’t been to either yet and I want to share my passion for those lovely cities with him.
And if you can’t get away, KILLER BOND is a great way to experience several exotic locations along with a sexy new romance.
I don’t much for the packing a bag part or the long security lines at the airport.
But once I arrive at a place, I’m ready to jump in to exploring new places and trying new foods.
The travel bug bit pretty hard when I was in school. I was wooed into advanced classes in junior high with the promise of a foreign exchange program where I could spend a couple weeks in France.
At the sweet age of 15, I jetted off with a couple dozen other kids to France. (I don’t know how my parents did it.) It was my first time on a plane and my first time in a foreign country. My French wasn’t great and jet lag was a wicked, horrible thing, but I got to spend three days in Paris seeing so many amazing sights before we traveled east to the town of Nancy. There, I spent two weeks with a family while attending school with another student. I was also stuck in bed for about a week of that with the flu.
But that didn’t stop me.
I was also lucky enough to land a couple amazing jobs that enabled me to travel. I’ve been to New York City, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas, Charlotte, and Baltimore for work. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel to Panama, Uruguay, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and England for work. I’m currently hoping to add Australia to my list in the next couple of years.
After years of incredible experiences, I’ve been dying to place them in a book. When the idea hit to do a spy novel, I knew I’d be able to tap my years of travel for great experiences. I could add the wonder I’ve felt when I’ve seen these places for the first time.
Daniel from Killer Bond loves many of the same places that I love. He was my opportunity to experience these places for the first time again.
Looking ahead, some of my top places to visit are Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Italy, and Russia.
I am also hoping to revisit London and Paris with my husband. He hasn’t been to either yet and I want to share my passion for those lovely cities with him.
And if you can’t get away, KILLER BOND is a great way to experience several exotic locations along with a sexy new romance.
May 20, 2019
Killer Bond Is Out Today!
Woot! Another Ward Security is available today!
Rinda and I are excited to announced that Killer Bond , the fifth book in the Ward Security series, is now out.
This book is a little different from the other books in the series. We used James Bond, super spy, as our inspiration for this book while playing with the "fish out of water" trope.
If you haven't caught the description of Killer Bond, here it is:
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
If you're not familiar with Daniel Hendricks, you can find a write-up of him here.
And if you haven't started the Ward Security series, now is a great time. Here is the reading order for the Ward Security series:
Psycho Romeo
Dantes Unglued
Deadly Dorian
Jackson (novella)
Sadistic Sherlock
King of Romance (short story collection)
Killer Bond
We are currently working on the next book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, which will focus on Rowe and Noah. We are hoping to have it out later this summer for your enjoyment. As soon as we have an official date for the release, we will be announcing it on social media and on our blog. Stay tuned for all the excitement.
We hope that you enjoy Daniel and Edward. Happy reading!
Rinda and I are excited to announced that Killer Bond , the fifth book in the Ward Security series, is now out.
This book is a little different from the other books in the series. We used James Bond, super spy, as our inspiration for this book while playing with the "fish out of water" trope.
If you haven't caught the description of Killer Bond, here it is:
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
If you're not familiar with Daniel Hendricks, you can find a write-up of him here.
And if you haven't started the Ward Security series, now is a great time. Here is the reading order for the Ward Security series:
Psycho Romeo
Dantes Unglued
Deadly Dorian
Jackson (novella)
Sadistic Sherlock
King of Romance (short story collection)
Killer Bond
We are currently working on the next book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, which will focus on Rowe and Noah. We are hoping to have it out later this summer for your enjoyment. As soon as we have an official date for the release, we will be announcing it on social media and on our blog. Stay tuned for all the excitement.
We hope that you enjoy Daniel and Edward. Happy reading!
May 15, 2019
Why You Need Ward Security in Your Life
Adventure. Explosions. Lies and secrets. Car chases. And hot, sweaty romance.
It’s why we all snatch up the classic bodyguard stories.
We like the idea of the big, muscled alpha male sweeping in to keep the client safe, while at the same time falling for the one person they’re forbidden to touch. You can’t keep a person safe if you’re emotionally invested, right?
Oh, but they just can’t help themselves.
Rinda and I both love the bodyguard trope. It’s part of the reason we started the Ward Security spin-off series from the Unbreakable Bonds series. First, of course, is that we love Rowe Ward, his hacker Gidget, and his collection of buff men with hearts of gold.
But when we started the Ward Security series, we knew that we didn’t want to just write bodyguard stories. We wanted to explore the entire team at Ward Security. We wanted to see what kind of trouble they could get into and we wanted them all to fall in love!
And when we started writing the series, we knew who we had to start with: Geoffrey.
Lovely Geoffrey started as just an interesting little character in Shiver , but he soon made an appearance in each of the first four book if the Unbreakable Bonds series. After what we put him through, we thought that he’d earned his shot at love.
Psycho Romeo is the story of a stalker trying to get his hands on our internet celebrity. And there’s only person the petit Geoffrey will trust to have near him – the mountain Sven Larsen. Geoffrey is a fun handful and he definitely keeps Sven on his toes as they try to uncover who is behind the threats.
For Dantes Unglued , we turn to Jude’s (from Shatter ) old friend and former lover, Shane. The private investigator “borrows” Rowe’s hacker and IT specialist Quinn Lake to help him with a case. But what starts out as just a little fun on the side quickly grows into something so much more when they find that they complete each other in unexpected ways.
The only problem is that Shane’s case is becoming much bigger than he’d expected and is threatening his lover’s life. While Psycho Romeo is more of the classic bodyguard story, Dantes Unglued is a twisting mystery of whodunit.
Deadly Dorian shifts back to the bodyguard tale with Marc Foster and brooding, gloomy bodyguard Royce Karras. Marc thinks a family member is trying to kill him, while Royce is struggling with a ghost from his own past. Marc and Royce are opposites in so many ways, but the common ground they find is positively explosive.
Sadistic Sherlock focuses on bodyguard Dominic Walsh as he tries to woo a much older man into giving him a shot at romance. But when he finally gets Abe to even consider him, Dom’s old demons roar into town, trying to tear apart the life that he’s built.
So, we have:
Psycho Romeo – bodyguard
Dantes Unglued – hacker
Deadly Dorian – bodyguard
Sadistic Sherlock – bodyguard
And now, there’s Killer Bond , which focuses on … an accountant?
No, seriously, he’s a sexy accountant! (I can hear you laughing, but even math nerds need love.) If you have any questions, go check out his picture in the Unbreakable Readers Facebook Group.
Killer Bond starts with some mistaken identity when master spy Edward thinks that our accountant Daniel is a rogue spy. And yeah, things kind of go to hell from there, but in a lot of fun ways too.
Here’s a quick description:
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
If you haven’t started the Ward Security series yet, it’s a great time. The first four books are available on audio book as well as ebook and print.
While each book is a stand-alone, if you read them in order, you are able to see the bonds growing between the various members of Ward Security.
Jump into Ward Security now!
It’s why we all snatch up the classic bodyguard stories.
We like the idea of the big, muscled alpha male sweeping in to keep the client safe, while at the same time falling for the one person they’re forbidden to touch. You can’t keep a person safe if you’re emotionally invested, right?
Oh, but they just can’t help themselves.
Rinda and I both love the bodyguard trope. It’s part of the reason we started the Ward Security spin-off series from the Unbreakable Bonds series. First, of course, is that we love Rowe Ward, his hacker Gidget, and his collection of buff men with hearts of gold.
But when we started the Ward Security series, we knew that we didn’t want to just write bodyguard stories. We wanted to explore the entire team at Ward Security. We wanted to see what kind of trouble they could get into and we wanted them all to fall in love!
And when we started writing the series, we knew who we had to start with: Geoffrey.
Lovely Geoffrey started as just an interesting little character in Shiver , but he soon made an appearance in each of the first four book if the Unbreakable Bonds series. After what we put him through, we thought that he’d earned his shot at love.
Psycho Romeo is the story of a stalker trying to get his hands on our internet celebrity. And there’s only person the petit Geoffrey will trust to have near him – the mountain Sven Larsen. Geoffrey is a fun handful and he definitely keeps Sven on his toes as they try to uncover who is behind the threats.
For Dantes Unglued , we turn to Jude’s (from Shatter ) old friend and former lover, Shane. The private investigator “borrows” Rowe’s hacker and IT specialist Quinn Lake to help him with a case. But what starts out as just a little fun on the side quickly grows into something so much more when they find that they complete each other in unexpected ways.
The only problem is that Shane’s case is becoming much bigger than he’d expected and is threatening his lover’s life. While Psycho Romeo is more of the classic bodyguard story, Dantes Unglued is a twisting mystery of whodunit.
Deadly Dorian shifts back to the bodyguard tale with Marc Foster and brooding, gloomy bodyguard Royce Karras. Marc thinks a family member is trying to kill him, while Royce is struggling with a ghost from his own past. Marc and Royce are opposites in so many ways, but the common ground they find is positively explosive.
Sadistic Sherlock focuses on bodyguard Dominic Walsh as he tries to woo a much older man into giving him a shot at romance. But when he finally gets Abe to even consider him, Dom’s old demons roar into town, trying to tear apart the life that he’s built.
So, we have:
Psycho Romeo – bodyguard
Dantes Unglued – hacker
Deadly Dorian – bodyguard
Sadistic Sherlock – bodyguard
And now, there’s Killer Bond , which focuses on … an accountant?
No, seriously, he’s a sexy accountant! (I can hear you laughing, but even math nerds need love.) If you have any questions, go check out his picture in the Unbreakable Readers Facebook Group.
Killer Bond starts with some mistaken identity when master spy Edward thinks that our accountant Daniel is a rogue spy. And yeah, things kind of go to hell from there, but in a lot of fun ways too.
Here’s a quick description:
Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.
But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.
Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?
If you haven’t started the Ward Security series yet, it’s a great time. The first four books are available on audio book as well as ebook and print.
While each book is a stand-alone, if you read them in order, you are able to see the bonds growing between the various members of Ward Security.
Jump into Ward Security now!
May 14, 2019
Would You Like to Meet Our Super Spy?
The countdown is on! We've got less than 10 days until Killer Bond is out. With a Ward Security book, you've come to expect certain things: action, explosions, car chases, and sexy, sexy times. I think with this book we can also add in exotic locations.
Since we gave you a little taste of Daniel Hendricks last week, I thought I would pop in and introduce you to our resident super spy, Edward Blake. But just a small taste... a lick....
Edward Blake
Age: 36 years old
Height: 6’6”
Body: Broad shoulders, narrow waist and hips, thick thighs.
Facial hair: Close beard
Eyes: dark brown
Hair: black
Misc: some yummy tattoos
Bio: Posing as a business man on vacation in Bermuda, Edward is actually a CIA agent in clandestine services tasked with getting close to a rogue agent who is planning to sell secrets to a foreign government.
Edward knew he wanted to work for the CIA from a young age and did everything he could to be taken seriously for the job. He got a bachelor’s degree in International Business. He speaks Arabic, Chinese, and Korean fluently. He knows a smattering of other languages.
He’s traveled extensively and his home base is in Fairfax, Virginia. He was brought up in Kansas, where his parents still live, along with one sister.
As far as his family knows, he’s an international businessman who travels a lot and focuses on public relations.
Edward is a loner. He’s a gay man who has one friend he hooks up with when he’s home. It’s nothing serious. He prefers being on his own. In his free time, he likes to read. He finds himself very attracted to Daniel—even when he thinks he’s the rogue agent.
If you haven't pre-ordered your copy of Killer Bond , do it now here. Don't miss a second of the action and adventures as Edward and Daniel go on the run, chasing leads and trying to stay one step ahead of other spies.
And to keep up with all our new books and other exciting news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. We send it out only once per month at most.
Since we gave you a little taste of Daniel Hendricks last week, I thought I would pop in and introduce you to our resident super spy, Edward Blake. But just a small taste... a lick....
Edward Blake
Age: 36 years old
Height: 6’6”
Body: Broad shoulders, narrow waist and hips, thick thighs.
Facial hair: Close beard
Eyes: dark brown
Hair: black
Misc: some yummy tattoos
Bio: Posing as a business man on vacation in Bermuda, Edward is actually a CIA agent in clandestine services tasked with getting close to a rogue agent who is planning to sell secrets to a foreign government.
Edward knew he wanted to work for the CIA from a young age and did everything he could to be taken seriously for the job. He got a bachelor’s degree in International Business. He speaks Arabic, Chinese, and Korean fluently. He knows a smattering of other languages.
He’s traveled extensively and his home base is in Fairfax, Virginia. He was brought up in Kansas, where his parents still live, along with one sister.
As far as his family knows, he’s an international businessman who travels a lot and focuses on public relations.
Edward is a loner. He’s a gay man who has one friend he hooks up with when he’s home. It’s nothing serious. He prefers being on his own. In his free time, he likes to read. He finds himself very attracted to Daniel—even when he thinks he’s the rogue agent.
If you haven't pre-ordered your copy of Killer Bond , do it now here. Don't miss a second of the action and adventures as Edward and Daniel go on the run, chasing leads and trying to stay one step ahead of other spies.
And to keep up with all our new books and other exciting news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. We send it out only once per month at most.
May 11, 2019
Time to Meet Daniel Hendricks From Killer Bond
Ward Security has an eclectic collection of employees. When you grab a series that focuses on a security company, you tend to think that only the bodyguards have all the fun and action. But as hacker Quinn Lake proved in
Dantes Unglued
, all the employees can be sucked into the adventures, car chases, explosions, shoot outs, and sexy moments that the bodyguards are experiencing.
When it came to Killer Bond , I wanted to focus on one of the quieter and more introverted members of the Ward Security family. Daniel Hendricks made his first brief appearance in Sadistic Sherlock when he helps to decode the threats against Dominic Walsh.
Before Killer Bond comes out on May 24, I thought I'd give you a little bit of a taste of who Daniel is.
Daniel Hendricks
Age: 29 years old (04/12/90)
Height: 5’ 11”
Eyes: Green
Hair: dark blond
Facial hair: clean shaven or light scruff
Tattoos: None
Body: Muscular with long, lean build like a swimmer’s. Uses the gym at Ward Security every morning. Enjoys swimming and cycling during the warmer months
Bio: Daniel is the youngest child of five. He has four older sisters and they have always been incredibly overprotective of him. The smallest age gap is four years and the largest is ten.
Daniel has always been an introverted, bookish sort of person. He likes reading, though it’s mostly nonfiction, and he loves to solve puzzles. It doesn’t matter if they are codes, jigsaw puzzles, riddles, or even puzzle boxes. The harder, the better.
He has also always had a knack for math. When he started college, he was torn between studying mathematics or going straight into business/accounting program.
However, when his father’s hardware shop was accused of money laundering by the federal government, he knew he had to go into criminal justice with a goal of becoming a forensic accountant. He wanted to not only catch the actual bad guys, but also know how to help people who were falsely accused. He got a dual bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and accounting from Penn State.
Out of college, he was recruited by the FBI. He completed the six-week training course and was sent to work out of D.C. The work proved to be a thankless, tedious grind. Unfortunately, he felt that office politics had more control over the trajectory of his career than his own skills. Daniel has never been much of a people person. Numbers made more sense to him.
After four years with the FBI, he left and was immediately recruited by Rowe Ward. His boss never told him how he discovered Daniel. Rowe just has his sneaky ways.
He loves working at Ward Security, even if it is incredibly chaotic at times. There are zero office politics at play at Ward Security. Rowe and Andrei won’t tolerate it. They give responsibility and promotions to those who work hard and prove they can handle the added weight.
Daniel feels that the men and women he works with at Ward Security are good, hard-working people who believe in doing the right thing, even if their methods aren’t always legal. He knows that these people would do anything to help him.
Unfortunately, Daniel doesn’t feel incredibly close to his coworkers, particularly the bodyguards. They are mostly a loud, gregarious group prone to practical jokes and rough-housing. He largely feels intimidated by them. Yes, he works hard to be in great physical shape, but he took only enough weapons and fight training in the FBI to pass the tests. After that, he was content to sit behind a computer and let all those skills rot in the back of his brain. He has avoided all the training classes at Ward, and luckily Rowe hasn’t pressed him about brushing off his so-called skills.
The group Daniel is closest to is the IT/hacker team of Quinn, Gidget, and Cole. They are quieter and more computer and numbers oriented. He occasionally will help them with codes and puzzles, like the one that troubled Dominic Walsh.
For the most part, Daniel’s day to filled with regular accounting duties for Ward Security, some occasional forensic account for Ward clients, and some forensic accounting work he had done jointly with the Merleau Detective Agency.
Daniel is a romantic at heart. He believes in love at first sight and being swept off his feet. As a result, he’s been burned a couple of times by men who used him and then walked away. He tries to be cautious, but he has an incredibly soft heart. As he nears 30 without ever being in what he’d consider a stable, long-term relationship, he’s begun to question whether he will find “the one”.
But when he finds that one guy to build a life with, he wants the whole cliched package of house, dog, and kids.
If you want to read about Daniel on a wild adventure with a spy, be sure to pre-order Killer Bond .
When it came to Killer Bond , I wanted to focus on one of the quieter and more introverted members of the Ward Security family. Daniel Hendricks made his first brief appearance in Sadistic Sherlock when he helps to decode the threats against Dominic Walsh.
Before Killer Bond comes out on May 24, I thought I'd give you a little bit of a taste of who Daniel is.
Daniel Hendricks
Age: 29 years old (04/12/90)
Height: 5’ 11”
Eyes: Green
Hair: dark blond
Facial hair: clean shaven or light scruff
Tattoos: None
Body: Muscular with long, lean build like a swimmer’s. Uses the gym at Ward Security every morning. Enjoys swimming and cycling during the warmer months
Bio: Daniel is the youngest child of five. He has four older sisters and they have always been incredibly overprotective of him. The smallest age gap is four years and the largest is ten.
Daniel has always been an introverted, bookish sort of person. He likes reading, though it’s mostly nonfiction, and he loves to solve puzzles. It doesn’t matter if they are codes, jigsaw puzzles, riddles, or even puzzle boxes. The harder, the better.
He has also always had a knack for math. When he started college, he was torn between studying mathematics or going straight into business/accounting program.
However, when his father’s hardware shop was accused of money laundering by the federal government, he knew he had to go into criminal justice with a goal of becoming a forensic accountant. He wanted to not only catch the actual bad guys, but also know how to help people who were falsely accused. He got a dual bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and accounting from Penn State.
Out of college, he was recruited by the FBI. He completed the six-week training course and was sent to work out of D.C. The work proved to be a thankless, tedious grind. Unfortunately, he felt that office politics had more control over the trajectory of his career than his own skills. Daniel has never been much of a people person. Numbers made more sense to him.
After four years with the FBI, he left and was immediately recruited by Rowe Ward. His boss never told him how he discovered Daniel. Rowe just has his sneaky ways.
He loves working at Ward Security, even if it is incredibly chaotic at times. There are zero office politics at play at Ward Security. Rowe and Andrei won’t tolerate it. They give responsibility and promotions to those who work hard and prove they can handle the added weight.
Daniel feels that the men and women he works with at Ward Security are good, hard-working people who believe in doing the right thing, even if their methods aren’t always legal. He knows that these people would do anything to help him.
Unfortunately, Daniel doesn’t feel incredibly close to his coworkers, particularly the bodyguards. They are mostly a loud, gregarious group prone to practical jokes and rough-housing. He largely feels intimidated by them. Yes, he works hard to be in great physical shape, but he took only enough weapons and fight training in the FBI to pass the tests. After that, he was content to sit behind a computer and let all those skills rot in the back of his brain. He has avoided all the training classes at Ward, and luckily Rowe hasn’t pressed him about brushing off his so-called skills.
The group Daniel is closest to is the IT/hacker team of Quinn, Gidget, and Cole. They are quieter and more computer and numbers oriented. He occasionally will help them with codes and puzzles, like the one that troubled Dominic Walsh.
For the most part, Daniel’s day to filled with regular accounting duties for Ward Security, some occasional forensic account for Ward clients, and some forensic accounting work he had done jointly with the Merleau Detective Agency.
Daniel is a romantic at heart. He believes in love at first sight and being swept off his feet. As a result, he’s been burned a couple of times by men who used him and then walked away. He tries to be cautious, but he has an incredibly soft heart. As he nears 30 without ever being in what he’d consider a stable, long-term relationship, he’s begun to question whether he will find “the one”.
But when he finds that one guy to build a life with, he wants the whole cliched package of house, dog, and kids.
If you want to read about Daniel on a wild adventure with a spy, be sure to pre-order Killer Bond .
Thoughts on the Writer's Retreat
I'm back in my office today.
The first half of my Sunday was spent in the air, winging my way back across the country to my new new mountain home in Colorado. It was strange to be back in the Eastern time zone after spending months getting adjusted to being in the Mountain time zone. And then catching up on lots of missed sleep.
But I think the thing that surprised me the most was the happiness at being back at the beach. My husband and I lived for five years in South Florida. The beach was always a short distance away, but we didn't go often. There was always too much to do and other things that were grabbing our attention.
The writer's retreat offered a chance to stay at the beach and enjoy it without having to worry about rushing off to the next thing or the next obligation. I was able to wake in the morning to the sound of the ocean, the cry of the seagulls, and the smell of salt on the air. It was relaxing in a way that I hadn't realized I needed.
For me, the writer's retreat was about taking a step back and slowing down. Since switching to being a full-time writer, it's been rush-rush-rush. Gotta write the next book. Work on the promo. Get the cover. Get the book edited. Plot the next book. Release. Write. Repeat.
I love writing. I love writing books and meeting new characters, throwing them into crazy circumstances where they stumble, fall, and then get up again. I love my job.
But on the business side of things, there's always the lingering question of whether I'm doing things in the most efficient manner and how can I reach even more people.
Can you believe that there are people out there who have never met Lucas, Snow, Rowe, and Ian?!?!? I know! It's insane.
So, last week, I got the amazing privilege of going on a retreat with 14 other talented, sweet, kind, compassionate, funny authors.
We talked openly about the things that we've succeeded at, goals, dreams, troubles, worries, and questions. We shared information honestly and freely. We all extended a hand and said, "here, let me help you."
And the end result is that we all benefit - authors and readers. We working smarter. We have a support group to turn to when we have questions and concerns. We have friends who will celebrate with us when we reach a goal.
The retreat also gave Rinda and me a chance to work in the same location. We talked about plans for our current series and future series. We also started plotting Rowe and Noah's next book. It took a few tries, but I think we've got something that you're going to love.
If we can get the rough draft knocked out in May, we should be able to release it in July. But first, we've got Killer Bond , Ward Security #5, coming out on May 24!
So, thank you to all the lovely ladies that I met in person at the retreat this past week. I learned so much and I hope that I can be a source of information and support in the many years to come as we work together to write some killer books for readers. Can't wait to do it all over again!
The first half of my Sunday was spent in the air, winging my way back across the country to my new new mountain home in Colorado. It was strange to be back in the Eastern time zone after spending months getting adjusted to being in the Mountain time zone. And then catching up on lots of missed sleep.
But I think the thing that surprised me the most was the happiness at being back at the beach. My husband and I lived for five years in South Florida. The beach was always a short distance away, but we didn't go often. There was always too much to do and other things that were grabbing our attention.
The writer's retreat offered a chance to stay at the beach and enjoy it without having to worry about rushing off to the next thing or the next obligation. I was able to wake in the morning to the sound of the ocean, the cry of the seagulls, and the smell of salt on the air. It was relaxing in a way that I hadn't realized I needed.
For me, the writer's retreat was about taking a step back and slowing down. Since switching to being a full-time writer, it's been rush-rush-rush. Gotta write the next book. Work on the promo. Get the cover. Get the book edited. Plot the next book. Release. Write. Repeat.
I love writing. I love writing books and meeting new characters, throwing them into crazy circumstances where they stumble, fall, and then get up again. I love my job.
But on the business side of things, there's always the lingering question of whether I'm doing things in the most efficient manner and how can I reach even more people.
Can you believe that there are people out there who have never met Lucas, Snow, Rowe, and Ian?!?!? I know! It's insane.
So, last week, I got the amazing privilege of going on a retreat with 14 other talented, sweet, kind, compassionate, funny authors.
We talked openly about the things that we've succeeded at, goals, dreams, troubles, worries, and questions. We shared information honestly and freely. We all extended a hand and said, "here, let me help you."
And the end result is that we all benefit - authors and readers. We working smarter. We have a support group to turn to when we have questions and concerns. We have friends who will celebrate with us when we reach a goal.
The retreat also gave Rinda and me a chance to work in the same location. We talked about plans for our current series and future series. We also started plotting Rowe and Noah's next book. It took a few tries, but I think we've got something that you're going to love.
If we can get the rough draft knocked out in May, we should be able to release it in July. But first, we've got Killer Bond , Ward Security #5, coming out on May 24!
So, thank you to all the lovely ladies that I met in person at the retreat this past week. I learned so much and I hope that I can be a source of information and support in the many years to come as we work together to write some killer books for readers. Can't wait to do it all over again!
May 8, 2019
The Audio Book for Shatter Is Out!
Do you love audio books?
Well, I've got some fantastic news! Shatter , the second book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, is now available in audio!
We are steadily working our way through the Unbreakable Bonds series. Currently, Kenneth Obi and I are working on getting Torch completed, and we're hoping to have it finished before the end of May. From there, we'll pour straight into Devour.
There have been some questions as to whether we are going to do the short story collections. Right now, I have to say...probably. We are still working out the details and how we're going to bundle everything together.
Our priority is to get the main novels done first. By the time we get caught up through Fracture , we'll likely have both Killer Bond , the new Ward Security book, as well as the next Rowe and Noah book out. (If you missed out on that news, be sure to catch up on our plans for upcoming books here.)
If you haven't started listening to the Unbreakable Bonds series yet, now is a fantastic time to grab Shiver and Shatter .
In the meantime, Rinda and I are attending a writer's retreat with some wonderful friends. We've knocked out some plotting on Unbreakable Bonds #7, which will focus on Rowe and Noah. Most of May will be spent working on that book and then we're turning attention back to the lovely Pineapple Grove and a certain bed and breakfast owner who needs fighting a sexy hotel property developer.
To keep up with all that's coming out this year, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. We send one out about once per month and they contact links to new books, news on upcoming books, books that we enjoyed reading, and other fun things that we are excited to share.
Well, I've got some fantastic news! Shatter , the second book in the Unbreakable Bonds series, is now available in audio!
We are steadily working our way through the Unbreakable Bonds series. Currently, Kenneth Obi and I are working on getting Torch completed, and we're hoping to have it finished before the end of May. From there, we'll pour straight into Devour.
There have been some questions as to whether we are going to do the short story collections. Right now, I have to say...probably. We are still working out the details and how we're going to bundle everything together.
Our priority is to get the main novels done first. By the time we get caught up through Fracture , we'll likely have both Killer Bond , the new Ward Security book, as well as the next Rowe and Noah book out. (If you missed out on that news, be sure to catch up on our plans for upcoming books here.)
If you haven't started listening to the Unbreakable Bonds series yet, now is a fantastic time to grab Shiver and Shatter .
In the meantime, Rinda and I are attending a writer's retreat with some wonderful friends. We've knocked out some plotting on Unbreakable Bonds #7, which will focus on Rowe and Noah. Most of May will be spent working on that book and then we're turning attention back to the lovely Pineapple Grove and a certain bed and breakfast owner who needs fighting a sexy hotel property developer.
To keep up with all that's coming out this year, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. We send one out about once per month and they contact links to new books, news on upcoming books, books that we enjoyed reading, and other fun things that we are excited to share.
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