Dani Jace's Blog, page 5
November 22, 2016
Thanksgiving Lasagna
This week on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we’re sharing recipes for Thanksgiving. If you haven’t already visited Brenda Margriet hope you’ll stop in for her recipe. I’m sharing my lasagna which is a favorite Thanksgiving entree of my crew. Here’s my my ren-dish-ion
Photo credit: cyclonebill_creative commons_flickr_8269502897_87602e7616_zLasagna
Sauce
¼ cup olive oil or enough to cover large sauce pan
4 cans tomato paste
1 cans whole tomatoes
6 garlic cloves peeled
Oregano or Italian seasoning to taste
1 tsp salt
In large sauce pan heat olive oil and add garlic cloves and cook until slightly brown. Extract cloves and add tomato paste. Let paste fry in oil for a couple of minutes and add 2 cans of water while stirring. Add can of whole tomatoes and season to taste. Simmer on low for three hours. I usually transfer to the slow cooker.
Lasagna
1 lb Mozzarella cheese
1 lb Ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 lb Italian Sausage Links (mild)
Romano cheese grated
Lasagna noodles
Parsley flakes
Fry Italian sausages let cool and break apart.
In large bowl mix all of ricotta cheese, eggs and parsley
Partially cook lasagna noodles
In large glass baking dish (I use a 10X15) spoon a light layer of sauce and then a layer of noodles. Next layer sauce on top along with some sausage meat. Then a layer of mozzarella and top with even spoonfuls of ricotta mixture. Add some grated Romano and repeat layer process until pan is full with last layer of sauce, meat and cheese on top.
Bake at 350. Bake 30 minutes and check. Continue to cook until hot all the way through and mozzarella is melted/
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Pop on over to Jenna Da Sie and see what she’s cooking.
November 8, 2016
Romance Writers Weekly – Publishing
This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Leslie Hachtel asks, “If you’re published, how is the business different than what you expected? If you’re planning to publish, what are your expectations?”
This is a sensitive subject for me at the moment. When I first began writing, I didn’t expect to publish. As time passed, a beta reader suggested I query my story. It wasn’t until I joined a writing group that I made strides toward being published.
I entered the publishing world first by signing on with a small press for my paranormal novella which was published as an e-book and later in paperback. Afterward, I won a contest with my novel, Hot as Blazes. By the next year, I’d obtained a contract with a major publisher. I was surprised by the number of editing rounds with the larger publisher. My wonderful editor taught me more than I’d learned from reading books, conferences or even from fellow writers.
For me, getting published wasn’t about becoming a best-selling novelist but the hope of gaining a following of readers. As far as earnings, enough cash to pay for our family’s annual beach rental would be satisfying enough.
Sadly, neither goal has come to pass. To date, I’ve received one e-mail from a reader. Though only one, it was the best review I could have wished for. Reviews on my four published works have been above average. However, sales have yet to earn enough to even cover my annual RWA membership or the premium version of my WordPress website for a year.
A writer friend told me it took her seven years to build a following so I have a few years to go. I’ve never been a social butterfly and find the marketing aspect of authorship extremely difficult. I’ve also found, unless you’re a best-selling author, promotion from any publisher is minimal at best. However, it you land a good editor, what you’ll learn will be worth the percentage in royalties.
I haven’t decided if I’ll continue to continue on the traditional publishing route or dip my toe into self-publishing. Now let’s hear from A.S. Fenichel and if you missed Brenda Margriet.
August 20, 2016
Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – Complications
Welcome! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m sharing from a short story I’m currently working on and hope to use in an anthology. After agreeing to house sit for a change in scenery, Bowie, aka Bowden Bryce caught a red eye flight from California but arrived too late to late to catch a beer with his former SEAL commander.
After only a couple of hours and still on SEAL time, he’d risen before dawn. The bursting sun rays lured Bowie to set down his coffee down and head down stairs for the surfboard Harley had left for him in the utility room. Before the beach goers crowded the surf, he could catch a few easy rides.
A petite woman in a black bikini stood at the water’s edge gnawing on a nail. Obviously not a high dollar manicure girl. Her gaze beaded on a man wearing a prosthetic lower limb as he paddled out on a surfboard.
Pretending not to notice, he approached the water and attached his board’s leash to his ankle.
Wearing a pinched look of concern, the woman stalked toward him. “He hasn’t surfed since he lost his foot and I don’t swim.”
It’s almost football season. Hope you’ll check out my newest release, Game On! It’s for sale at all major e-book sellers. Now, please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
August 8, 2016
What kind of animal person are you?
This week on Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, Brenda Margriet asks our group: ”What kind of animal person are you? Do you have pets? If so, how do they influence your writing, or don’t they? What is the most unusual pet you’ve had, either as a child or adult?”
LeoMy Facebook feed, is full of animal posts, likes and shares. I love dogs and cats and have had both. At one time my husband and I had four dogs and two cats! Now, we currently have our Leo. With only one pet, we can take him when we go on vacation even though he weighs as much as a small human. He’s a rescue and we were told he’s Plott Hound (NC state dog) and Chocolate Lab.
As far as animals influencing my writing,
I only recently added pets to a manuscript. I’m working on a story about a veteran military dog handler searching for his former K9 partner. He meets and falls for a woman who’s training a service puppy whom he also becomes attached. Having the puppy as a major part of the story has been a writing challenge. The dog is another major character and has to be incorporated her into most of the couple’s scenes. They need to interact like pet owners do at home and I’m constantly reminding myself, “Where’s the dog and what’s she doing?”
Image by Paul Brennan @ Public Domain PicsThe most unusual pet I had as a child was a turtle, but wanted a horse. What I’d love to have now is a large salt water aquarium, but I doubt my skills to manage one. Like our pool, it’d probably another ongoing chemistry experiment!
If you haven’t already visited Marc Stevens
hope you’ll out his most unusual pet and please continue the hop to romance and sci-fi author, S.C. Mitchell.
August 6, 2016
Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – Indecision
Welcome! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m sharing from a short story I hope to use in an anthology.
Bowie, aka Bowden Bryce, had only recently developed the art of leisurely sipping the strong Colombian brew he’d depended on for fifteen years in the teams. As he sat on the deck of the beachfront house, a dusky purple dawn burst into rays of pink and orange over the Atlantic. His love for the ocean would never change even though his SEAL missions were done.
At low tide the east coast waves barely crested a foot or two, but he didn’t come here for big surf. Six months out of the Navy and he still languished in indecision, passing on several decent job offers.
When his former commander called to see what he was up to, Harley must have sensed Bowie’s less than enthusiastic mood. “A customer of mind is going to be gone for a month in a month and he’d love to have a house sitter. You game?”
Bowie had booked a flight minutes after their conversation ended. A coast change might the incentive he needed to get his butt in gear.
It’s almost football season. Hope you’ll check out my newest release, Game On! It’s for sale at all major e-book sellers. Now, please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
June 26, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – Jun 26
Welcome! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which released on June 21.
Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity for work and love. He’s just met Jordan on the beach, who saved herself and friend from being clobbered by Heath’s buddy’s misaligned football pass. Heath apologies and introduces himself. She comes back saying, “Jordan, sister to three older brothers. I can tackle, too, if necessary.” She grinned. Today’s excerpt is edited a bit to condense in required amount of sentences.
Enthralled by her spunky comeback, Heath offered Jordan his beach chair then dropped cross-legged on the sand.
Wavy, reddish brown hair spilled over toned shoulders to an athletic, yet shapely figure. He liked women with some curves. Her sunglasses hid the feature he sought most.
Dugan dug in the cooler, popped tops on two cool ones and passed them to their guests. “Sorry ladies. Didn’t see y’all.”
Heath had seen Dugan raise his eyebrow after the flubbed pass. GiGi might be totally oblivious to his farce, but Heath suspected Jordan wasn’t so easily deceived.
Hope you’ll check out Game On! It’s for sale at all major e-book sellers. Now, please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
June 21, 2016
Game On! Release Day
Happy Summer! A perfect time for my newest release, Game On!
Heath Lancaster is the third Seaside Heat hero in my series and will steam up your summer. Heath is happy to be on the practice squad of a professional football team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. Until he finds a new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach, where a bikini-clad hottie snags one of his passes on the beach and offers him a tour of the area . . .
A scandalous affair turned Jordan Kelly into media fodder—and in no hurry to get back into the dating game. But the easy going tight end of the new Triton’s team unleashes an inhibited wild streak in her and has her tempting him with a game of her own. But when
she finds out who the owner of the Tritons is, she’s wondering if she’ll repeat her mistakes…
Game On! is a “heated” romance at four peppers rating. Find the heat at:
amazonkindle http://goo.gl/ThNHHw
Also get the first Seaside Heat romance, Hot as Blazes now on sale
at 99¢.
June 19, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – Jun19
Welcome! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work.
I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases this Tuesday, June 21!
Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity for work and love. This week we’re in Jordan’s POV. She’s just saved her friend GiGi and herself from being clobbered by Heath’s buddy’s misaligned football pass. GiGi has just told them they need to share their brews and is flirting with Heath’s buddy. Edited a bit to made excerpt in ten sentences.
But of course, her model-looking friend was always first pick. Jordan handed the ball to the blond who was more to her tastes anyway. The stripe on his board shorts accentuated his well-carved butt.
He extended his hand and said his name, “Heath.”
“Miller?” Jordan asked. Almost as tall and as muscular as the pro tight-end, he was a definite hard-body and might have been threatening-looking if not for his endearing dimples and genuine smile.
He enveloped her hand with a firm grip. “Sorry, no. Lancaster is my last name, but you’d make a heck of a cornerback the way you picked off that pass.”
Electrified by his touch, her thoughts fired in directions she’d been dodging for months. “Jordan, sister to three older brothers and I can tackle, too, if necessary,” she said and grinned.
Hope you’ll check out Game On! It’s for sale at all major e-book sellers. Now, please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
May 29, 2016
Game On! – Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday – May 29
Welcome! Weekend Writing Warriors #wewriwa, is a blog hop where authors share 8-10 sentences of their work. Hope on this Memorial Day, you’ll remember those who gave their all for their country.
I’m sharing from my novella Game On! which releases on June 21.
Heath Lancaster was happy to be on the practice squad on an NFL team, but instead of a lucky break taking him to the next level, a league-wide strike leaves him unemployed. A new semi-pro league in Virginia Beach give him another opportunity for work and love. This scene is where Heath and his buddy are throwing passes on the beach and they meet Jordan and her friend, GiGi.
Jordan glanced up, snagging a spiraling football inches from their heads. The ball stung her fingers with a slap.
GiGi squeaked, dropping her bag with their drinks.
“Sorry!” the receiver said from the surf.
At least he had the decency to appear embarrassed Jordan thought.
Mr. Sandy Blond receiver rushed from the water toward them.
He had all the attributes of her favorite NFL tight end. His brawny shoulders tapered to a waist set off by a six-pack. His gaze followed GiGi’s to the bottles littering the beach.
“Sorry about your drinks,” he said plucking their brews and wine coolers from the sand.
GiGi eyed their buff physiques, smirked and said nodding toward their cooler, “Suppose you’ll have to share yours.”
Please check out the amazing group of writers at Weekend Writing Warriors.
May 17, 2016
Vacation Destination OBX- Romance Writers Weekly
Vacation destination is the topic of this week’s Romance Writers Weekly blog hop. Member Kathryn Fox asks us to describe a vacation destination we’ve been to and would recommend to readers. I’m all over this as Seaside Heat Romance is my brand. Beach baby beach baby there in the sand!
Bodie Island LighthouseThe Outer Banks of North Carolina is a heavenly sandbar on which I basically grew up. If those lotto numbers ever hit, I’ll be moving a bit more south.
OBX, as it is affectionate called, is comprised of several small towns. There isn’t a boardwalk but a two-lane beach road known at Route 12. Along the one hundred mile strip that runs from Corolla to Hatteras, you’ll get variety. Beaches vary from wild and untamed like the most northern beach in Carova and most southern in Hatteras, to the more commercial areas around Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. Then there’s the towns of Duck and Nags Head which have a mix of commercialism and small town atmosphere.
Every year, my family rents a house in south Nags Head. After 
Jeannette’s Pier there’s nothing but beach houses until Oregon Inlet. However in a couple of miles, we can be at the pier, on the road to Manteo or on the bypass heading for some shopping at the outlet mall. We love being away, from the hustle and bustle yet having putt putt, go carts and restaurants galore within a five to ten minute drive.
Surfing is good, fishing is fun, plus there’s a lot history on the Outer Banks. Virginia Dare was the first English born in the new world. Each summer at Fort Raleigh there’s a reenactment of the first English settlement. The Lost Colony is performed outside at Fort Raleigh to the backdrop of the of the ? Sound. Pirates such a John Teach, aka Blackbeard, set up bases along the narrow strip of barrier islands. More recently, Orville and Wilbur Wright took first flight in Kitty Hawk.
The Outer Banks is more than a beach resort, it’s a way of life. So
much so that I wrote a novel to to convey my feelings of home for “The Banx.” In Hot as Blazes, Jo is a small town surfer who had a shot at the big time only to be framed by a lover. Homesick, she returns to OBX and finds the love.
Here’s a link to more of my OBX pics. Hope you’ve already visited Brenda Margriet and now on to Jenna Da Sie who’s next on the blog hop. I can’t wait to find out everyone’s vacation destination!
