Sara Daniel's Blog, page 56

Tuesday Toolbox – Organize Those Details You’d Rather Ignore

This stuff isn’t sexy, but it is important if you plan to treat writing as more than a casual hobby.

Contracts: If you’re published, can you immediately locate all your publishing contracts in case you need to review a clause, a publisher ceases operation, or you want to get your rights reverted? If something were to happen to you, could your loved ones find your contracts and know who to contact at your publisher? I have printed out all my contracts and put them in a binder with each book title and publisher labeled, and I’ve showed it to my husband so he knows what and where it is. I update my binder every time I sign a new publishing contract.

Editor/Agent Submissions: Whether you’re published or not, do you know who has your manuscript, and how long they’ve had it for? I have a spreadsheet that I’ve kept since 2002 with all my editor and agent submissions—who I sent to, at what house, which manuscript I submitted, what I sent (i.e query only, three chapters and synopsis by email, full manuscript by snail mail, etc.), when I sent it, when a reply was received, and what that reply entailed. This was absolutely critical a few years ago when I had twenty queries out at once, both so I didn’t repeatedly send the same query to the same agent but also so if my rejections all noted that “the heroine wasn’t sympathetic” I could consider revising before I sent out more queries. Now I have much less to keep track of it, but I still find it usefully when I’m sending a new manuscript to a publisher, so I remember to follow up on it if it’s been out for a while.

 Calendar: I keep two separate writing calendars in addition to my family calendar. My first calendar is a month-at-a-glance booklet where I write down my book releases, guest blog posts, special events on my blog, online chats, author appearances and anything else noteworthy. While the first calendar deals with public events, my second calendar is for my writing life behind the scenes. I’ve used both a month-at-a-glance and a week-at-a-glance over the past couple years. On this calendar, I note what I plan to accomplish, whether it’s edits on a manuscript or a daily word count on a new manuscript. I also note when I have personal appointments or commitments that will eat into my writing time so I can set realistic expectations for the day/week/month. And I update and revise often, so nothing slips through the cracks.

I’ve left off the biggest and most hated organizational items: Financial and Taxes. We’ll tackle them in next week’s toolbox.

Reading Romances Challenge - June - Who Do You Think You Are?

June's challenge focuses on "Who do you think you are? – One of a couple isn’t who he or she appears to be on the surface or pretending to be someone else or disguised." I picked up Double Dipping by Marilyn Brant, where the hero is much more than the small-town school financial director he wants everyone to believe he is.

Who needs a man when you have a pint of fresh Wisconsin ice cream and full access to Cary Grant on The Movie Channel?

That's what second-grade teacher and MGM-devotee Caitlin Walsh believes. After being left at the altar by her ambitious rat of an ex-fiancé, Cait has rededicated her life to her students and to the citizens of small-town Ridgewood Grove. 
But when the school's new financial director, Garrett Ellis, cancels the much-beloved Harvest Hoopla festival, Cait rallies the staff to fight the decision, which puts her in direct conflict with the most formidable man she's ever encountered.
As a reluctant heir to the Ellis Fruit and Nut Gift Basket Empire and the second son of one of the country's most affluent families, Garrett has a penchant for mixing sweet edibles with acts of love. He also has an undercover agenda: to find the person responsible for stealing the district money and to right the situation, while keeping his family background to himself. But in the process, he faces the one woman who challenges his longtime resistance to commitment.
Both Cait and Garrett end up secretly snooping into each other's past: Garrett looking for the thief, Cait uncovering Garrett's private family history and his prior girlfriends -- one of whom turns out to be someone very unexpected... 
Love and family complications abound in this small-town contemporary romance with a little humor, a light mystery and a lot of sweet ice cream.
Let me say this: No one can incorporate food into romance like Marilyn Brant  especially when it comes to ice cream! The chemistry between the characters is sometimes rivaled by their relationship with food. But oh so delicious it is. This is a delightful romance with a lot of heart and a quirky cast of small-town characters. I'm a big Marilyn Brant fan, and as usual, she has penned a winner!

Friday Friends - Spine-tingling New Zealand Suspense by Vonnie Hughes

LETHAL REFUGE, a spine-tingling suspense book by Vonnie Hughes, is set in seldom seen New Zealand. The story griped and held me because Hughes expertly wove fear throughout while adding twists and just enough reality to make the story plausible. LETHAL REFUGE is a book I believe you all will enjoy. It left me afraid to turn the lights off.

Available in both paperback and e-book from:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon

Who can you trust if you can’t trust your own mother? Through the clammy fog, Celie Francis hears the chilling message. “I know who you are, Celie. I know where you live.” And in the terrifying aftermath she reconnects with her dysfunctional family in ways she had never imagined.

BLURB:
Abused and abandoned as a child, Célie Francis knows better than to trust anyone. But after she witnesses a murder, she's placed in the Unit "New Zealand's witness protection program" where she's expected to trust strangers with her life.

It's psychologist Brand Turner's job to ease witnesses into their new identities, not to protect them, but Célie stirs feelings in him that are far from professional. When it appears someone is leaking critical information that could endanger Célie, Brand will do anything to protect her. But first he has to convince her to trust him.

Adrift in a frightening world, Célie would like to believe the handsome psychologist is everything he seems, but as witnesses are murdered and danger swirls around them, Célie must decide "can she trust Brand with her life?

EXCERPT:
Célie Francis ran faster than she ever had in her life. Fingers of fog rolling in from the sea grabbed at her as her feet alternately flew and stuttered over the uneven pavement of the ocean road.

Where was he? How much time did she have?
The wash of the sea was a calm counterpoint to her harsh, frantic breathing. Above the sound of her thudding feet, the shriek of a bird pierced the air.

No, not a bird. Something was squeaking. Occy’s old bicycle.

He had found her.

Faster, Célie, faster, shouted the little man on the treadmill in her mind.

I can’t, she sobbed.

Fancy the consequences?

No God, no!

Then run faster.

But her aching legs could not obey. And on the roadway the relentless squeak, squeak kept pace with her.

Frantically she zigzagged, seeking a haven in the fog. It was barely dawn on the lonely North Auckland cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. No help anywhere.

Have to hide. Have to hide. Her shoes slapped a rhythm.

Salty sweat stung her eyes. Ignore it.

The slap of her running shoes echoed then died in the mist. Died...

Her brain, tumbling in an endless whirl of fear and futile questions asked—-why Occy? Why had he killed a man this time?

Up ahead loomed a deep grey cloud of mist. Thank you, God. She blasted into the fog bank and the squeaking receded behind her. This is your chance, the little man said.

Veering off the sidewalk, she streaked across a pristine lawn and crouched behind a lavender bush. Her chest heaving, she struggled to gulp another breath of sodden air.

Squeeeak. He was back. This was it. Eyes streaming, she curled into a ball on the cold ground and waited.

Something yellow zinged past her face and tickled her arm. A needle-sharp sting pierced her elbow, then another. Bees, irritated by her invasion, were trying to drive her out. No you won’t. What’s out there is a lot worse than what you can do, bees. As the pinpricks tingled and burned, she pressed her lips together so hard that the muscles on the side of her face ached.

Louder now, the squeaking advanced and receded. He was casting up and down, looking for her. Please, please...

A sibilant whisper reached her through the clammy fog. “I know who you are, Célie. I know where you live.”

Available in both paperback and e-book from:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog .
Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads .

Tuesday Toolbox – Getting Started Writing

Often when I’m talking in social situations with people who aren’t authors, they will admit that they have a story they’d like to tell. They have this idea, but faced with a pen and paper (or a blank computer screen) they have no idea what to do.

I think their mistake is assuming the words will flow out perfectly, reading like a published novel from the get-go. That inevitably doesn’t happen, at which point it’s easy to get discouraged or freeze up.

Have you ever watched a house being built? The builders dig a hole and pour a foundation first. When approaching a new house, you might first see the walls and front door, but those pieces weren’t built first. The same is true with writing. The first thing the reader sees probably isn’t going to be the author’s first thought. So, adjust your expectations, and focus on building the foundation for your story first.

Let’s be honest. Starting is hard. Really hard. Stop trying to write a perfect first sentence. In fact, don’t try to write a sentence at all. Write a word, a phrase, a mood, a random thought. Make notes about who your characters are and what they want. Make more notes about what happened before the story started and what might happen at some point in the story. This could be a vague half-coherent explanation of the overarching plot or specific details about the giant cracks in the dry, hard ground that sets the stage for a single scene.

It doesn’t matter what you write on the page or if it makes sense to anyone. You’re starting to build your story house. You’re gathering your tools, the concrete, the boards, the nails, the drywall. Slowly, the foundation will begin to form out of random sentences, half-formed ideas, descriptions and suggestions.

Congratulations! You’re now a writer. Keep going. You’ve already done the hardest part. You started.

#MySexySaturday - One Night With the Bride

Seven Sentences from One Night With the Bride

“Don’t try your seduction tricks on me.”

“I’m not seducing you. I came here to close this chapter of my life.”

“You closed it long ago then reopened it today when you stepped out of your pretentious helicopter.” Bridging the distance between them, he pressed his lips hard and furious against hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, taking possession.

His fury and frustration tasted too delicious to push away and she welcomed his domination, kissing him back with the same wild desperation.

Every exhilarating, explosive kiss from his sensuous mouth melted away the intervening years, reviving the components of their past relationship—quiet discussions, camaraderie and instant passion.

One Night With the Bride
When her society matron mother presents Caroline with a one-night stand date a week before her wedding, she’s appalled. Even worse, the encounter will take place at the fantasy ranch resort operated by her high school lover, Javier Alvarado. Although determined to remain faithful to her fiancé, she’s tempted and intrigued to see her first love again. It’s not like she has to sleep with him.
But one look and kiss later, she yearns for the man she walked away from so long ago. Unfortunately, when Javier discovers Caroline is engaged, all he can see is deception and heartbreak all over again.
Can a 1Night Stand from Madame Eve reunite them or will one night with the bride sever their ties forever?
Excerpt
He led her to the seclusion of the stable then spun to face her. “Are you buttering up my employees to gather secrets about my resort so you can undermine my success and create your own for Sunburst Hotels?”
She blinked, her blue eyes owlish and innocent. “You think I arrived in a helicopter and announced my presence to the entire county to engage in corporate espionage? Granted, I don’t have any prior experience, but I think I’d take the under-the-radar approach. Arrive in a rental car and check in anonymously. Maybe apply for a job as a janitor.”
Okay, so he’d accused before thinking the idea through. Her closeness rendered him temporarily insane. He gripped her upper arms. “What are you doing then?”
“For Sunburst Hotels? Absolutely nothing. I quit my job a month ago.”
“You want to apply as my private janitor? I’m only in my office at night, and if you came in I guarantee you wouldn’t be emptying garbage cans.”
Her eyes grew even more luminous. “What would I be doing?”
“Stripping, so I could take you on my desk.”
Her lips parted, as if the image turned her on.
The hell with the desk. He pulled her flush to his body, wanting her immediately—in the stable, on his real turf.
“Wait.” She pushed against his chest. “We can’t just pick up where we left off fifteen years ago.”
“Why not? We’re two consenting, unattached adults.”
Of course, they had issues from the past to work through. But when they’d been together, she understood him the way no one else ever had.

“Um.” Her gaze dropped away from his. “Actually, I’m not unattached. I’m engaged.”

Return to My Sexy Saturday hop here

Friday Friends - Cover Reveal - Dragon's Breath by Kali Willows

COMING THIS FALL!
DRAGON’S BREATH

www.kaliwillows.com

Kali's Double Dragon Series continues to grow!  Dragon's Breath , the third installment in the 1NS Double Dragon Series is coming this fall!
The 1Night Stand dating service is at it again! Madame Evangeline steps in to help the granddaughter of an old friend...
An immortal protector under a dark curse longs for the love of a single woman, and a dragoness desperate to find a mate that can withstand her fiery lineage, seek the help of Madame Eve through a 1 Night Stand. Their biggest challenge? Sunrise.
BLURB:
Eternal suffering is the fate dealt to Roark Blackwell. A fierce protector under a curse, he longs for a woman can never have. By day, a hideous stone creature, and by night, a flesh and blood immortal, starving for the touch of a single woman. After centuries of torment, he takes his destiny into his own hands and seeks the help of Madame Evangeline. For a single night, he wants to feed his carnal cravings, but what happens when morning comes?

Living dangerously comes second nature to Kaida Lee. Struggling with her dark sexual appetite, her fiery temper and her ancient lineage makes finding an ideal match impossible. A descendant of the dragon, she has a genetic burden that no mere mortal could withstand. Having two cousins succeed in romance with the aid of their friend Madame Eve, she seeks satisfaction through the services of 1 Night Stand.

Publisher: www.DecadentPublishing.com Cover Artist: http://fionajaydemedia.com Author: www.kaliwillows.com
For your chance to win a copy of Double Dragon Seduction and Dragon Temptation, enter the rafflecopter!!!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday Toolbox – Writing in Silence, to Music…or amid Mayhem

Let me preface this by saying 1) I’ve done all three and 2) there’s no right or wrong way. As long as you’re getting words on the page, you have a reason to celebrate. But if you find yourself frustrated, maybe changing things up with one of these methods will engage your muse and help the words come.

I started writing in the middle of chaos. I had young children. I was losing my mind. I needed to do something for me alone. Writing while they ran screaming through the room—bring it on. Scribbling a sex scene on the front steps while making sure no one ran from the yard into the street—oh yes. Squeezing in a few words while playing referee between squabbling siblings and fixing enough frozen pizzas to feed every kid in the neighborhood—yep.
Not an ideal situation, clearly. However, writing in the middle of a bunch of distractions can help to silence all the voices in your head that want to paralyze you with anxiety or tell you what you wrote isn’t good enough and needs to be revised. While you’re half focused on what’s going on around you, the story can flow out on a subconscious level.
Writing to music: Some authors create their own story-specific playlist. Some authors can only write to music without words. Some only can have music while writing but not while editing or vice versa. I made up playlists for Construction Beauty Queen and A Man Worth Fighting For . For a couple years, I started every writing session listening to Alan Jackson’s To Do What I Do . It’s still my author theme song. My husband works to music whenever he’s not in a meeting or on a call. If it’s too quiet, he can’t concentrate.
Over the past six months, I have discovered silence. I sit alone near a window where I can stare outside, and I write. My thoughts are completely in the story. When my husband’s speaker phone conference calls became too much of a distraction, I dug out the noise cancelling headphones we bought at a NASCAR race. Now when someone turns on the TV in the next room, I put the headphones on. They don’t give me complete silence, but they allow the other voices to be muffled enough that I am cocooned in my characters’ world and no longer feel forced to end my writing day when chaos threatens to take over.
Which writing atmosphere to do you prefer? Silence, music, mayhem or something completely different?

Friday Friends - Interview with Nancy DiMauro's Daphne from Apollo Rising

For today's Friday Friend, I'm interviewing the heroine of Nancy DiMauro's mythology-based romance novel Apollo Rising.

Thank you for coming to chat with us. Why do you think Nancy DiMauro choose you to represent her?
We had a bonding moment. She was driving to work in the sleet back in January and was thinking that it must suck to be a tree. Well, I’d been a tree for . . . far too long. I asked Apollo to have a Muse whisper in her ear. The rest you can say is mythology.

Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a water and forest nymph. My parents were the Earth Mother and the river god, Peneas. I was an only child.

What do you wish people would know about you?
Even though nymphs have a reputation we’re not all like that. blushes Or at least I wasn’t. I’d decided to follow in Artemis’s footsteps and never take a husband. Much to my father’s chagrin, I dedicated myself to hunting. You would have thought he’d have been happy when I fell in love… looks away, but I guess you know that story.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the lime light?
I suspect you’ll see me again.

Do you feel you were portrayed fairly?
Mostly. I was pretty active before Cupid shot me with a golden arrow. I don’t think I turned into such a love-sick fool afterwards. But then, maybe I did.

Tell us about Apollo and what drew you to him?
Tell you the truth, I hated him at first. My friend, Clytie, had died because of him, and he never noticed her. I always feel a bit guilty that I fell in love with him in spite of what happened to her, and that he loved me back. I mean, why me and not her?

But that’s not what you asked. For all his pretty looks, there’s a wild heart beating in that broad chest of his. Just being around him warms me to my core. There’s the music. I could listen to him play, have listened to him play, for hours. And the rest blushes, well that’s private.

What’s your favorite sports team?
The Spartans. Not only were they fearsome on the battle field, you should have seen them wrestle.

What are your biggest turn off?
Being trapped in a tree for millennia. Do you know how tired your arms get when you have to hold them upright for that long?

What’s your perfect day and why?
Any day there’s a solar eclipse because I get to spent time with Apollo without his attention being fractured over thousands of aspects.

What your favorite Ice cream flavor, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?
Chocolate. Definitely chocolate.

Why should the readers be interested in your story?
It’s really Apollo’s story more than mine. It’s a love story. Don’t you just adore love stories?

I’m going to steal what Apollo said in his interview since he did such a good job answering this question.

Like most of the Greek myths, Apollo Rising is about so much more than whether he can break the curse and restore me to my true form. It’s a story about accepting responsibility for our mistakes, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for love. Would you make a deal with Hades, the devil himself, if it was the only way to free your love even at the cost of everything else? That’s the choice Apollo has to make. I won’t tell you anything more about it so I don’t wreck the story.

What about the woman on the cover is that a fair representation of you?
She’s beautiful, but she’s not a laurel tree. Although I think Kelly Shorten did a fabulous job of portraying my spirit and the fact that, even while cursed, Apollo and I were linked. Trees need the sun to grow after all.

Thanks for joining us. I look forward to reading about your story.

To restore Daphne to her nymph form, Apollo must bargain with treacherous Hades, but Death may demand too high a price.

Amazon US BUY LINK
Amazon UK BUY LINK

Learn more about Nancy DiMauro and her impressive work on her website Falcons Fables and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter .

Cover Reveal -- Irish Kisses by JoAnne Kenrick

Irish KissesPrint editionCOMING THIS SUMMER!
www.JoAnneKenrick.com
The boys from Bell's Irish Pub have been delivering tasty treats to digital readers around the globe, and hitting bestseller lists at Amazon, All Romance, and Bookstrand. And now, they're coming to PRINT!
A collection of five romances set in Bell's Irish Pub, each with its own special tasty treat served by the staff of Bell's. The 1Night Stand dating service shakes and stirs things up for Bell's. When Madame Eve puts two people together for just one night, anything is possible…. Throw in sexy cocktails and to-die-for Irish hotties, and it's a recipe for sweet Irish kisses and perhaps even wedding Bell's.
SWEET IRISH KISSCan he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?
SHAMROCKEDWill his Irish charm and toys be enough to hold onto his leading lady, or will his heart be Shamrocked into next week?
THREESOME SWEETNESSIs a dash of Threesome Sweetness the remedy each is looking for, or will the date leave a bitter aftertaste each will regret for the rest of their lives?
HOT WINTER KISSCan she hack it in the real world of romance, or are life's complications and treacherous snowstorms best left to the pages of a book?
MARRY ME, I'M IRISHDoes she love him enough to leave the comforts of England? And is there something behind his sudden proposal?
Publisher: www.DecadentPublishing.comCover Artist: www.EstrellaCoverArt.com
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A Buck a Book WIN a Nook featuring Casea Major

Night with a DomCasea Major


Melody Manning’s workaholic ambition, coupled with a slave-driving former boss, has made her the youngest market analyst in her firm. It’s also killed her personal life, including losing her fiancé. When she receives a message from him on New Year’s Eve announcing his engagement to another woman, Mel loses it. Her new, more compassionate boss has the perfect solution for her—get laid. Good and laid.
At his suggestion, she signs up with the 1Night Stand service, listing her deepest sexual desires on the application.  A speedy response from Madame Eve has Melody on her way to Sonoma Valley wine country and a one-night stand with a mysterious Dom.
The sexy, masked Master promises to get to the bottom of her guilt and provide ultimate satisfaction under the safety of his stern hand. After an emotional night of submission and uninhibited passion, will her lover’s unmasking lead to the end of their encounter or give Mel another chance at love?
Excerpt:
Mel sucked in a breath, and opened the door. The darkened room flickered with the light of at least a dozen candles. She squinted as she walked in. The smell of incense and roses wafted in the air. Her sight adjusted, and the darker shadows of the space became visible. She scanned the scene.

In the middle of the room sat an oversized bed covered in black velvet and satin. Her arms and legs quivered. A roughly made wooden table stood with two straight-backed chairs in the corner, and a tray of appetizing food awaited.

She stood frozen, anticipating his appearance. Her heart thumped in her chest. Was he hiding? She began to turn—

“Do not turn around, Miss Manning.” His voice whispered against her ear.

She jumped at the husky sound, but didn’t try to move away.

He ran his hands across her shoulders and trailed his fingers down her bare arms. “Are you frightened, kitten?”

Her skin tingled at his simple, but intimate touch. The heat from his massive body radiated against her back though he never made contact with it. Although she couldn’t see him, his presence filled the room, and the walls seemed to shrink at his closeness. “I’m a little scared. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I guess you do—”

His finger glided up her shoulder to press against her lips and his whispered rebuke filled her ear. “Silence.”

Her eyes fluttered closed. Pleasure and fear mingled in her mind and over her skin. She wanted so bad to turn her head and look at him, but somehow she knew she shouldn't.

The spicy masculine scent of him filled the air, and his moist, heavy breath sent waves of heat down her neck. “During this portion of the evening you will only speak when asked a direct question, and you will address me as ‘Sir’. Understand?”

Concentrating on his words, she had to strain to hear him over her pounding heart but nodded. In the dim light of the candles, her chest rose and fell rapidly. Excitement and fear zinged to her extremities and every place in between.

“There’s nothing to be frightened of.”

He trailed his tongue from her earlobe down to her nape. She gasped and tensed her shoulders as he nipped and sucked the sensitive skin. Goosebumps covered her from head to toe. Her nipples hardened and throbbed. The mystery of him enticed her as much as his touch and scent.

He swept his hand slowly over her stomach. She melted back against him, the heat of his body wrapping around hers, instant, carnal and very real. Throbbing need pulsed between her legs, replacing the chill of fear.

“I’m going to remove your dress.”

“Okay.” The word whooshed from her. Dizziness caused her to sway. Is this really happening? His velvet baritone held a familiar lilt she couldn’t place, but surely if she’d heard that sexy sound before, she’d remember. Right now she was so aroused, it could be her high school boyfriend and she wouldn't know—or care.

“Okay, what?”

Her body tensed at his rebuke. “Okay, Sir.”

“You have enough discipline coming this evening for past transgressions, Miss Manning. Let’s not complicate matters by increasing their number. All right?”

“All right, Sir.” She sucked in a breath at the mention of punishment. What would he do to her? She had stipulated mild discipline, but what did that mean to him?

He moved his hands from her abs upward, smoothing his palms across her breasts, grazing her nipples with every finger as he passed over the fabric of her dress. A long, hot breath blew from her lips, and liquid desire gushed between her legs.

He trailed his fingers to her back and unzipped the dress, allowing it to fall to the floor with a whisper. The cool air of the room played across her bare skin. The vulnerability of her position built a pressure in her stomach not unlike the apprehension she suffered before her yearly employment evaluation.

Pulling her back against his bare chest, his arms slipped around her waist. His hands splayed across her flesh and grazed the lace of her bra. His touch scorched her skin and desire for more flooded her. She ran her hand over his forearms. The fine masculine hair stood at her touch, and he sighed into her ear.

Major Love ~~~ Major RomancePrior to becoming a writer of romantic fiction, Casea Major worked in the legal field for a non-profit dispute resolution company for ten years.  She is now a full-time mom to three preschool children with whom she and her husband live happily...most of the time.  When she isn't chained to her laptop, she enjoys Cary Grant movies and crocheting. Website / Facebook / Twitter Return to hop herea Rafflecopter giveaway