Dani Jace's Blog, page 3
June 26, 2018
Romance Writers Weekly: Favorite Recipe
I’m going to be a rebel and claim dessert as my favorite meal. I asked my son his favorite that I make and he said Kulua cake. Ironic in that I’d eaten a piece when I went in to labor with him twenty-three years ago this past March! Here’s the recipe for labor… I mean Kahlua Cake. This was shared with me by my mother-in-law. Easy to make, enjoy!
[image error]Kahlua Cake
1 Devil’s Food cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Kahlua
6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
[image error]Butter Cream Frosting
1 stick butter
1- 8 oz package cream cheese
1 lb confectionery sugar
Mix cake ingredients and pour into a greased and floured 12″ bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Cool in pan 30 minutes. Mix frosting and pipe or spread onto cooled cake.
Now on to Jenna Da Sie’s favorite meal.
June 12, 2018
Romance Writers Weekly: Flash Fiction
[image error]Flash fiction is the topic this week on Romance Writers Weekly. The challenge is using the words Fire, Rain and Dog. I’ll be taking part of a scene from a current work in progress. Hope you’ve visited A.S. Fenichel already.
Josh slammed the door against the howling wind. Alone, Tori fell on the sofa in front of the roaring fire as the nor’easter beat torrents of rain against the windows of the beach house.
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Men. All different but ultimately the same. She’d left a jealous abuser and stalker only to fall for a hard-headed veteran with PTSD and commitment issues. How could he be angry with her when she’d only sought to help him find his former canine partner?
Yeah, she’d agreed to work at Harley’s bar, however, Josh didn’t know why. It was the only way to get the former SEAL to use his contacts to help find Josh’s dog. As luck would have it, Harley stumbled upon a military contractor holding a private war dog auction. Josh’s jealously would certainly vanish if they returned with Skye.
Of course his bitch ex-fiancée had shown up only making things worse. The daddy’s girl wanted back in Josh’s life for some reason and Tori intended to find out why.
Hope you enjoyed this snippet. Planing to have this story completed and finished in time for my RWA chapter’s 7 Cities Book Fest in October. Our guest is author, Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Now on to the next author on the Romance Writers Weekly hop is the lovely Leslie Hachtel.
May 15, 2018
Story Inspiration
Leslie Hachtel is asking authors of RWW to share where we get our [image error]inspiration for stories. Hope you’ve already visited Brenda Margriet.
Inspiration for me usually begins with the main character. Someone from film, TV or a book will deeply affect me and then I have trouble letting go of that character. I’ll dwell on the qualities that enamored me, and infuse him or her with other traits I like. The evolved character is usually seated in my mind, before beginning the story. I will have envisioned a few scenes of their life and love interest before the written word takes to the page.
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The hero tends to comes to me first; hence most of my books are mainly their story. Sometimes, even a picture will inspire me. If they have unique eyes, I’m drawn like a moth to a flame. Occupations are important in my stories and I tend to write about blue collar guys probably because it’s what I’ve been surrounded by growing up and in marriage. My heroes are not afraid to get their hands dirty, in more ways than one. LOL
As a pantser, I’m inspired by heading into the mist. Generally, I have[image error] an idea of where the story go but most details evolve as I write. The greatest joy for me in writing is when characters deepen the story in ways I’d not consciously considered. I’ll be typing away when a character will say something or think something that comes out of nowhere adding a new twist. The story I’m working on now, I didn’t know the heroine’s brother was gay until she said it.
[image error]Setting is another inspiration for me. For years I’ve traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for vacations and to visit family. These rugged and beautiful barrier islands have become a part of me, inspiring my beach branding and the Seaside Heat series. Making setting a character is another way for the reader to escape their day to day.
Now let’s see what inspires Leslie Hachtel.
May 1, 2018
A Rose by Any Other Name
[image error]This week on Romance Writers Weekly I posed the question: Tell us your favorite flower. Tell us why or write a short poem. Or if you’d rather, tell us about a flower used in one of your stories and include its significance.
[image error]A double exposure of Maggie’s Collection
Since I’ve not used a flower in any of my stories, I’ll confide my favorite bloom. Let me start out by saying my mother, Maggie, had the greenest of thumbs. The flower beds overflowed with Sweet William, Snap Dragons, Irises and monstrous Gladiolas I’ve not seen the likes of since. She had to have grown them from seed because nurseries weren’t abundant in our suburbia back then, nor did we have the money.
She did have a couple of bush roses and a climber rooted from dad’s family farm in Santee, SC. Always prolific with blooms, the pale, pink beauty was my favorite and propagated my love of roses.
[image error]“Blush” an 80s hybrid
Once married and in a house, I planted hybrid tea roses in the back flower bed. They flourished against the brick and baking afternoon sun. If it wasn’t for the constant fight with the aphids and the beetles, I’d probably still have them. They provided many a bloom for various occasions and even gifts for teachers when my son was in elementary school.
Rather than a poem, I’ve posted a small gallery of recent pictures I’ve taken of roses. Now on to Leslie Hachtel joining me on the hop.
Dani
April 17, 2018
Flash Fiction: Sunscreen Tourist & Camera
[image error]This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Jenna Da Sie asks us to write a flash fiction that include the words: sunscreen, camera, tourist. Hope you’ve already visited Brenda Margriet on the hop.
Most Baked
She swore tourists had never heard of sunscreen. Joy hung the newest stock of bikinis and whipped out her phone switching to camera mode before snapping a picture of another browsing lobster.
With the word wasted outlined in normal flesh color down his sunburned arm, he must have been wasted to become a prank for his buddies. He was also a possible winner in the Most Baked contest that Sun Suits held at their end of summer party. After viewing burnt bodies all season, she could use a trip to a nice ski resort in December.
“Excuse me.”
The low rumble of a sexy male voice stirred her from her winter fantasy. “How can I help you, si…rr.” Sir stuck in her throat as fantasy and reality collided what embodied her high school heartthrob.
“Joy?” His aqua blue eyes flashed beneath a thick fan of black lashes.
“Colin.” No weird tan lines on this beef steak who had made it big in the surfing world.
“Your manager told me you are interest in opening the new store down at the south end of the beach.” His fingers lightly touched her arm. “I just bought the company.”
The wood floor shifted under her feet. He’d made it bigger than she’d imagined. “Wow. Congrats. So what about surfing?”
“I’m still competing. Just planning for the future. The manager has been raving about you. I just didn’t know it was you.” He smiled. “I’d love it if you’d manage the new location at the south end of the beach.”
“Absolutely.” No way was this happening. She held on to the rack holding the suits for support.
“Great. How about we go over the details of the opening over dinner tonight?”
Twirling a finger through a strand of hair, she wished she could to go over his fine details. Like the sculpted abs hidden beneath his company t-shirt. Trying not to sound too enthused, she replied, “Sounds like a plan.”
“Hey, did you get a pic of the guy with the sun tattoo just walking around?” He winked. “He’s a definite winner for the Most Baked contest. You know how to snowboard, right?”
Her heart skipped a beat and she smiled. “I’m willing to learn…”
Now on to A.S. Fenichel ! Have a great week!
Dani
April 10, 2018
Romance Writers Weekly: Book Covers
[image error]Author, A.S. Fenichel, wants us to talk book covers this week. We are to pick three of our covers and tell the process for the design or if traditionally published, our first impression of our shiny new cover.
My first cover was by a small publisher and the artist gave me wh[image error]at I’d asked for, which was probably not the best thing. It was too busy and didn’t show well as a thumbnail. I’ve since regained rights for the novella, changed the title and self-published with a new cover.
I designed this cover with the help of Photoshop, creating the winged tattoo. I’m proud of it and believe this cover is more in tune with the story.
[image error]Hot as Blazes is the first cover Kensington created. My first impression was, “he’s shirtless.” Awesome! I would have like more of a six-place but love the color combo and they way they worked the title and my author name into the pic.
This is my second novel written (after the first that will never see the light of day) and is my favorite book thus far.
The third cover I’ll present belongs my SEAL story that started with a working title of Trident Valor. The publisher thought it sounded like a paranormal read. My[image error] writing buddy and friend, Georgiana Harding, came up with Sand and Sin and Kensington selected it from a list.
First thought was “nice bod.” I like the cover and colors but wished they’d forgone the tattoo over his heart . SEALs prefer anonymity and wouldn’t put their “Buds” symbol on their chest. In the story, the hero actually had an eagle on one of his shoulders.
I am one of those who judges a book by it’s cover. If it doesn’t catch my eye, I probably won’t even read the blurb unless someone has recommended it. I’m also a snob about false advertising. If you you have half naked people on the cover, they better get naked in the book and preferably more than once! LOL. Now on to Leslie Hachtel who has some lovely covers.
December 19, 2017
My Christmas GIF Style
I had fun with this and wanted to share my stages of Christmas attitudes…
I begin with me shopping.
Me wrapping gifts…
Me and the turkey…
And lastly, how I feel by Christmas Day!
Honestly, it’s not all that bad but I have had these moments over the years. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Now let’s get a visual of how Brenda Margriet feels this time of year!
October 10, 2017
Romance Writers Weekly: Flash Fiction
[image error]The Romance Writers Weekly blog hop this week is a Flash Fiction Challenge: In 500 words or less using the words trapeze, oranges and sidewalk by Leslie Hachtel.
Apples and Oranges
The sidewalks all but rolled up in Maple on Sundays. Townies fled to
nearby Talbot for a movie, fast food or fine dining. Liz fumbled through the grocery’s pyramid of apples as the object of her crush bagged a few navel oranges. The few times she’d seen Mr. New Guy, he shopped alone in Snopes.
The tiny grocery, true to its name as gossip central, had somehow managed a CafeOLatte franchise. Since Mr. New Guy had paid for her Mocha Latte the time she’d forgotten her wallet, Liza had begun to schedule her lunch time walks to coincide with his afternoon coffee addiction.
Liz glanced his way again.
[image error]Frankieleon/Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/armydre2008/6860026117/?ytcheck=1&new_session=1
What possessed a seemingly single man to move from a metropolis to a one stoplight town? Locals had surmised he’d been fired from his position at a big law firm and decided to take on the nickel and dime lawless type of Maple. Even on business days, he didn’t dress like a lawyer, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, like today. He filled them like a rugged cowboy. “How are you liking Maple?” she asked.
He spun the produce bag close, sending the citrus into a blur of orange. “I grew up in a place like this. It’s more my speed. In Chicago, I felt like I was on a trapeze, trying to catch one slippery bad guy after another.”
“So rumors the rumors are true, you were a prosecutor.” She smiled. “I’m Liz. Thanks again for covering my coffee the other day. May I return the favor?”
“Matt.” His hazel eyes brightened as he extended his hand. “Thanks, I developed an addiction to the stuff while working late nights on cases.”
She enjoyed his firm grip and imagined how a massage from him might feel. It’d been three years since a man’s touch had made her tingle. “There’s not too many hard core cases to keep you up around here. You might need to find a new evening pastime to enjoy with your addition.”
He arched a brow. “Is that an invitation, Liz?”
Liz felt her cheeks burn. “I always try to be neighborly.”
“What’s there to do here in the evenings?” He gave her a quizzical look.
“Not much.” She laughed while selecting her finally apple. “I usually walk the dog. It gets me outside after cooking for the town’s bed and breakfast. By the way, I’ve been told I make a scrumptious apple pie.”
“Apply is my absolute favorite and my Lab would probably love for me to take him for an evening stroll.”
Her stomach fluttered at his wink. “Great, now let’s get you that coffee, I have a pie to bake.”
Continue on the hop with Brenda Margriet’s flash fiction.
October 3, 2017
Summer’s End
[image error]This week on Romance Writers Weekly Jenna Da Sie asked authors to write a poem about summer ending.
[image error] Summer’s End
A lazy sun shortcuts the sky as tender tender leaves of green mottle to yellow and rust
Shrouded in dusk, impatient stars twinkle their early greeting
Evening fires with wine compliment toasts summer’s [image error]end
Now let’s hear an ode to summer from S. C. Mitchell.
September 12, 2017
My Typical Day GIF Style
This week Jenna Da Sie ask authors to post their day in GIF format. Here’s my typical day GIF style.
When I wake…
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Getting ready for work
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The lovely commuters I meet on the drive to day job
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The day job
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Dinner is served
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What I should be doing after dinner.
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What I end up doing most nights.
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Hope you’ll check out Brenda Margriet’s day in GIF style. Happy GIFing! This has been so much fun! Catch me the rest of the week as host on the Romance Writers Weekly Facebook Page.
Thanks for stopping by!
Dani
