Kate Danley's Blog, page 29

January 24, 2012

"If urban fantasy could be bottled, then this story is a shot-glass full of awesomesauce." - Dark Side of the Covers

http://www.darksideofthecovers.com/2012/01/review-maggie-for-hire-maggie-mackay-magical-tracker-series-1-by-kate-danley/

WHOA!!! Check out this FANTASTIC review of Maggie for Hire by Dark Side of the Covers! Seriously, I can't think of anything nicer a person could say about my book. She got it. EVERYTHING. I think her review is more entertaining than my book! And guess what? Come back tomorrow, because I'm the featured author interview! RIGHT?!?! I know. This is CRAZYTOWN! I'm off to print out this review to carry around in my wallet... and draw little hearts all over it...
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Published on January 24, 2012 08:47

January 20, 2012

Great Maggie for Hire Review by Twisting the Lens

I opened up my email and found one of the nicest reviews in the world sitting there for me. If you have a moment, pop on over to Twisting the Lens and give it a gander.

Kate Danley has served up a female lead character to fill the gap that the ending of Buffy the Vampire Slayer left in the world of sci-fi/fantasy....Maggie for Hire is an enjoyable, quick read that had me laughing the entire time. She is a brash, sarcastic, unladylike character than is easy to love- a lot of Buffy with a dose of Daria thrown in. Danley doesn't get off track with trying to throw in a romance for Maggie, which is somewhat refreshing in today's sci-fi/fantasy genre. She is a tough, smart, and resourceful lead character that will leave you waiting for more.

RIGHT?!?! I know.

So, I'm going to go off on a little tangent here...

Indie book review bloggers take on the task of wading through a metric shitton of horrible manuscripts. And they are doing it, truly, from the kindness of their hearts. This blogger has no connection to me, she didn't receive any monetary recompense, she is just out there supporting us indies as best she can.

Yet Twisting Lens and others like her provide us lesser known authors with an invaluable service, and, from what I've heard from a bunch of other reviewers, they put up with some awfully special brands of craaaaazy: authors wondering why the review wasn't done yesterday, authors pissed off because the review wasn't good, authors who don't understand WHY the reviewer isn't accepting new books. One reviewer I met quit reviewing because she started receiving death threats. Another got herself a stalker.

It seems like reviewing books would be The Best Thing Evah, but there is a seedy underside to it. So, if you have a chance, go spread some love on the Lens. She didn't have to read my book. She didn't have to say such nice things. But she did. And I, for one, am so grateful. Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!


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Want to get your own copy of Maggie for Hire? Here are all the places you can grab a copy.
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Published on January 20, 2012 11:16

January 17, 2012

I should have so much to type about...

Ugh. You ever have so much to type about, you just kind of go, "Eh, I'll catch everyone up in February..."

I'm still heartbroken that A Christmas Carol is all over.

A Christmas Carol

It's not often that you get to do a show THAT GOOD out here in Los Angeles. The project was bigger than all of us and I'm filled with so much gratitude I got to be a part.

Regular old Christmas was pretty wonderful, too. My new niece is cute as a button.

Christmas 2011

We all took turns giving the new mom a break.

Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011

We all took some time to go tour the city.

Christmas 2011

And just hang out and be reminded how cool our family is.

Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011 Christmas 2011

It's been a long time since we were all in the same room together.

Christmas 2011

After cooking all week for that crew, though, Mom was ready for a little R&R, so she made a surprise trip down to Los Angeles to catch the Rose Parade for her very first time! Our great-great grandma sewed the capes for the very first Rose Court... or something like that... so we had a little hometown pride going on.

Natural History Museum Float

It was delightful seeing Charles Phoenix waving merrily at us from his float. The last time I saw him was in the Doodah Parade. I KNOW!

Charles Phoenix

We also cheered loudly for my cousins' high school. I came to see my actual cousins march a few years ago... in the rain... I think this was probably a better experience for them.

Mom's Visit 2012

We then went down to Farrell's where we met two really sweet ladies in line who decided to buy us lunch.

Mom's Visit 2012

It was such a random act of kindness. They said that they were just sharing the bounty that had been showered upon them. A million blessing right back at them! It was so sweet! Also, this milkshake. It was pretty sweet. Figuratively and literally.

We then went down to Laguna to catch the sunset, which was divine...

IMG_5088

Laguna Sunset

We went to the Skirball for some cool exhibits and got great pizza and hung out with the birds and watched a TON of British shows - Foyles War, Miss Marple, The Last Detective... and Ab Fab...

Mom's Visit 2012 A bird on the head... Don't turn your back on your pizza...

It was a fantastic trip all the way around. And now... It's back to life. In whatever form it decides to take in 2012. In the next week or so, I'll be able to announce two really cool projects I'm involved with, but until then, in case I haven't mentioned it... because I don't think I have...

Mom's Visit 2012
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Published on January 17, 2012 19:39

January 15, 2012

In the words of Bartles and James... Thank you for your support

This week, I enrolled my book The Woodcutter in a special program on Amazon and in a 48 hour period, over 15,000 people grabbed a copy and shot The Woodcutter to the #1 Fantasy book, the #10 Fiction book, and the #16 on the Top 100 list on Amazon. Thank you all, so much, for taking the time to grab a copy and thank you for reading it. This book is truly the Little Novel That Could.

I wrote The Woodcutter over six years ago when I should have been paying attention in anatomy class. Being a secretary to support my acting career had been wearing thin and I was going through a tough time trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. So I went back to school... and learned that I could rule out x-ray tech.

What came from that exploration, though, was this book. I went through another five years worth of rejection letters before finally being published. Truly, if it was not for the digital era we live in, this book would still be sitting in a drawer gathering dust.

The responses I have received since its original publication have overwhelmed me and filled me with such gratitude. And I just wanted to say thank you. So. Thank you.
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Published on January 15, 2012 12:53

January 13, 2012

FREE for TWO DAYS ONLY!

Been longing to read The Woodcutter but your Prime Membership has run out? For TWO DAYS ONLY (today and tomorrow), The Woodcutter is available for FREE to anyone who has a Kindle! No Kindle? No worries! You can also download the software for free and read it on your computer.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046LU7MA
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Published on January 13, 2012 07:15

January 9, 2012

The Woodcutter Available for FREEEE!

What's that sound you hear? I think it is the sound of AWESOME.

If you have a Kindle and are an Amazon Prime member, you can now borrow The Woodcutter for FREE! That's right, my friends, for FREE!



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046LU7MA/

Tell your friends! Borrowing is good!
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Published on January 09, 2012 16:15

The Playhouse Soap Opera Finale

HOW WILL IT ALL END!?!? Find out here.

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Published on January 09, 2012 14:19

January 1, 2012

2011 Retrospective

Here's to you 2011! IMG_2806 IMG_2842 IMG_2858 IMG_2895 IMG_2920
IMG_2925 IMG_2922 IMG_2963 IMG_2985 From the Library of Dr. Jones IMG_3005
The greatest sketch I have and ever will write The Woodcutter in the wild Trip to the Seaside Not our boat Getting on the boat That's me fighting the pirate.
April is in front of our boat Erik does last looks on the puppet Our Dread Puppet Crew My puppet and my right hand man. Literally. Miss Dana Point? Backstage at The Comedy Store

2011 Retrospective, a set on Flickr.

I need to write a real New Years post, but I'm afraid I probably won't get around to it until February, so here are some pictures! Worth 271,000 words!

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Published on January 01, 2012 11:02

December 26, 2011

Holiday Blog Hop Award Winners!



Thank you all so much for participating in this year's Holiday Blog Hop! It was a blast having all of you swing by and I hope you'll drop in again!

In a completely random drawing (see! this is me bleery eyed next to my unmade bed randomly drawing your names out of a holiday bag! I thought the glitter was appropriate for the occasion)...


... * drumroll *... I am pleased to anounce our winners!

The "If the Boot Fits" Retro Cowgirl Bank
- Dawnmomoffour

The fairy candle
- Shadow Kohler

And in a rare fit of Christmas spirit, I decided to give away TWO copies of each of my books. It is a Christmas miracle! I know! Well, Santa told me you all had been very good this year...
- NicoleSender
- Helen

And TWO copies of Maggie for Hire
- TeressaOliver
- Theresjustlife

Congratulations! You all are now entered to win the Holiday Blog Hop Grand Prize of a Kindle Fire!

And, again, thank you SO MUCH to all of you who entered and commented and shared little glimpses into your life via the comment boxes. It was great to have you here!
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Published on December 26, 2011 09:42

December 25, 2011

Accolade Award - Fragile

Happy Holidaze! In a completely random occurance that falls under a very much appreciated holiday gift, Fragile, directed by Bryn Woznicki and starring Joseph Limbaugh, Neev Asken, and myself just won an Accolade Award!


It is an absolutely gorgeous short and I am so proud to have been a part of it. Bryn and her crew were amazing, the cast top notch, and all around it was just a fantastic project. But don't take my word for it. Check it out here!

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Published on December 25, 2011 22:59