Daring Debuts ’19: Danielle M. Haas’s New Release Bound By Danger

Today I’d like to welcome Danielle M. Haas and her new romantic suspense release BOUND BY DANGER to the Daring Debuts blog.

[image error]

The disappearance of a local girl leads Special Agent Graham Grassi to the sexy redhead that has haunted him since they thwarted a hijacking. Questioning Mickey O’Shay cuts through him as he informs her about her missing goddaughter. Mickey’s determination has him ready to handcuff her—or kiss her—in place. As time runs out, the stakes run higher. They struggle to ignore their attraction as they unravel a web of deception.

And here’s a teaser from BOUND BY DANGER:

He lifted his hand and tipped her chin up with his index finger. His eyes searched hers, as if waiting for some sort of signal or answer to an unasked question. Her pulse picked up and she moistened her lips, preparing for what she hoped was to come.

SHARON: Welcome to the blog, Danielle! Can you please tell us more about BOUND BY DANGER?

DANIELLE: Special Agent Graham Grassi is on a quest to stop a sex-trafficking ring from infiltrating Chicago. His path keeps crossing with sexy red head, Micky O’Shay. The stakes raise higher when Mickey’s goddaughter is taken, and her connections to the case leave Graham wondering if she’s just another victim in a sick game, or if she knows more than she’s letting on. Together, they race against time to unravel a web of deception before it’s too late.

SHARON: What a compelling premise! Where did you get the idea?

DANIELLE: My initial idea sprung from wondering what would happen if a flight attendant had a blind date with a man she’d already met…a man she’d just told to stop trying to join the mile high club on a flight she worked. Then I realized this wasn’t very heroic behavior, and I had to figure out what situation could he possibly be in to take him from sleezy to dreamy. Of course NONE of this made the final version, but it led me to a great story I never expected to tell. 

SHARON: Of course it didn’t end up in the final version. My favorite scenes never do either! Can you tell us more about the title?

DANIELLE: The original title was Grounded by Danger, but the publisher thought BOUND BY DANGER sounded like more of a romance novel.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? When I get completely caught up in where the story is going and all of a sudden it takes a surprise turn that I wasn’t expecting! ~ Danielle M.Haas #Authors19 #authordhaas
Click To Tweet

SHARON: Can you share something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

DANIELLE: Although Mickey and Graham are in a high-stakes emotional situation, they still have a lot of witty banter between them. Graham even serenades Mickey—with a horrible singing voice—to one of my favorite songs by Journey. 

SHARON: I love that detail about the Journey song! Do you have a favorite character?

DANIELLE: I love Mickey! She’s sassy and spunky and refuses to be bossed around. She’s also strong and willing to do whatever it takes to find her goddaughter. 

SHARON: I can’t wait to read about her! If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

DANIELLE: I’d go to Mexico with Mickey! Flight attendants do so much traveling and would know all the best spots to hit up! 

SHARON: I bet they do! How long did you take to write this book?

DANIELLE: I started writing this book in August of 2017. I wrote the first draft in about three months, followed by a lot of revisions after my beta readers got a hold of it. I received a contract offer in April of 2018.  It will be published on January 28, 2019.

SHARON: Wow! That’s fast in publishing time! What kind of research did you do for this book?

DANIELLE: I did a lot of research into sex-trafficking. It was horrific! But it opened my eyes to this dark world that exists everywhere and I now have a passion for advocating against. I even ran my first 5K in support of raising money to help victims of sex-trafficking. 

SHARON: I bet doing that research was horrific. What did you remove from this book during the editing process?

DANIELLE: I had a pretty intense car chase scene that my editor wanted removed. She said my characters needed a breather and wanted a “fun and games” scene to show them getting to know each other. 

SHARON: I know all about cutting scenes. LOL. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

DANIELLE: I’m a pantser with a tiny bit of plotter thrown in. 

What is the most challenging part of the writing process? Finding the time to sit down and write, and not feel guilty about doing so. I’m a stay at home mom and my son isn’t in school yet. It’s hard to balance. ~ Danielle M. Haas…
Click To Tweet

SHARON: What is your favorite part of your writing process?

DANIELLE: My favorite part is when I get completely caught up in where the story is going and all of a sudden it takes a surprise turn that I wasn’t expecting! This is why I could never go full-blown plotter! 

SHARON: I love those moments too. What is the most challenging part of your writing process?

DANIELLE: The most challenging part is just finding the time to sit down and write, and not feel guilty about doing so. I’m a stay at home mom and my son isn’t in school yet. It’s hard to balance. 

SHARON: I started writing with kids in preschool and I promise it does get a little easier (until they become teenagers!). Can you share your writing routine?

DANIELLE: I normally write at my desk or at the island in my kitchen. I work better in the morning, so after I get my daughter on the school bus I give my son time to do his own thing (TV, Kindle, Puzzles, Play-dough) and I work on getting in my word count. My brain shuts off around 5:00 and it’s tough for me to get back into my writing at that point.

SHARON: Have you ever gotten writer’s block?

DANIELLE: Yes! Several times with my last manuscript, which I wrote in the middle of the summer with two kids home and moving to a new house. I didn’t beat myself up (too badly) for taking a step away from my writing, and then I pushed myself to sit down and just write. NaNo helped with that a ton this year!

SHARON: NaNo is always a great motivator! If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

DANIELLE: Be patient and find your writing tribe! The people in this community are amazing, and their support and advice have been life-changing. I wish I would have known they were out there sooner. 

SHARON: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

DANIELLE: I have three unpublished manuscripts that are all under contract. One will be out this year, the other two will follow shortly. I also have two unpublished/uncontracted manuscripts out on submission. 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Be patient and find your writing tribe! The people in this community are amazing, and their support and advice have been life-changing. ~ Danielle M. Haas…
Click To Tweet

SHARON: Do you have any writing quirks?

DANIELLE: I talk to myself a lot when I write. It’s hard for me to concentrate and I have to move, talk to my pets, or just talk to myself as I go along. I’m sure it’s pretty entertaining to watch. 

SHARON: LOL! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

DANIELLE: I am a stay at home mom with a three-year-old son and six-year-old daughter. I have a shar-pei/pit-bull who I absolutely adore and cat who is kind of shithead…but I love anyway. I live in NE Ohio with my family, and have a completely useless degree in Political Science. 

SHARON: How did you get into writing?

DANIELLE: I’ve always loved writing. When my son was 6 months old, I thought I was going to go stir crazy with only focusing on my children and husband. I decided to sit down and try to write a book based off my hometown and I fell in love with writing! That book, a small-town contemporary romance, will be published later this year!

SHARON: Congratulations! Can you share something about yourself most people probably don’t know?S

DANIELLE:  I changed my major in college seven times! I started in creative writing, but the idea of having to read my work in front of other people scared me so bad I just keep changing majors and looking for something else I’d love to do. 

SHARON: What are you working on right now?

DANIELLE: I just finished another romantic suspense, which is book two of a three book series. Each book focuses on a crime where a dating app is used by the villain/and or suspects in the novels. 

SHARON: What’s your favorite writing advice?

DANIELLE: Keep writing, keep learning, and have an open mind. After I finished my first manuscript, I thought it was the best thing ever…until my paths crossed with my now critique partner who pointed out everything I did wrong! Instead of being defensive and offended, I listened to her wonderful advice and used it to improve my writing. I still do this daily! 

What's your favorite writing advice? Keep writing, keep learning, and have an open mind. ~ Danielle M. Haas #Authors19 @authordhaas
Click To Tweet

SHARON: Thank you so much for spending the day with us, Danielle. We’re so excited about your new release and hope it’s a great success!

___________________________________

[image error]

Danielle grew up with a love of reading, partly due to her namesake—Danielle Steele. It seemed as though she was born to write out the same love stories she devoured while growing up.

She attended Bowling Green State University with a dream of studying creative writing, but the thought of sharing her work in front of a group of strangers was enough to make her change her major to Political Science.

After college she moved across the state of Ohio with her soon-to-be husband. Once they married and had babies, she decided to stay home and raise her children. Some days her sanity slipped further across the line to crazy town so she decided to brush off her rusty writing chops and see what happened. 

Danielle now spends her days running kids around, playing with her beloved dog, and typing as fast as she can to get the stories in her head written down. She loves to write contemporary romance with relatable characters that make her readers’ hearts happy, as well as fast-paced romantic suspense that leaves them on the edge of their seats. Her story ideas are as varied and unpredictable as her everyday life.

You can find BOUND BY DANGER here: Amazon  |  Apple  |  Kobo  |Nook

You can find Danielle here: Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  | Pinterest  |  Goodreads

___________________________________

[image error]

Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.

Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo |  Google

And adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

The post Daring Debuts ’19: Danielle M. Haas’s New Release Bound By Danger appeared first on Sharon Wray.