Status Updates From The Perfect Pawn (Secluded ...

The Perfect Pawn, the first novella in the Secluded Shores series, releases on September 20.

I love that Danica’s nickname from a certain someone is killer. It feels right for her.

“Getting murdered would get her out of the deal with Pearce. So that was a point in its favor, but otherwise, she wasn’t interested.”

“That was the thing about monsters. Their scariest ability was how well they hid they were one.”

“What makes you different is what makes you valuable.” <3

“I’m not a politician looking to win votes…” — Sir, no one believes you.

“Earlier this week, I found a young girl in an abandoned mall, trying to survive on her own. She had nothing, but her will to live was strong. And I promised her I would do everything in my power to make sure she would never go back to a life of surviving on her own.” — Imagining a real life politician doing this makes my head hurt want to explode.

“The image of an Abercrombie and Fitch look-a-like model floating in the water was indeed funny to her.“ — To me too.

Who will be the first to recognize the reference behind chapter ten’s title?

“Tenille was even strangely nice and gave Danica a bottle of conditioner to use on her way out.” — Tenille Maddox is never nice for no reason. She was a blast to write for in this first book and I look forward to writing more for her.

“And if I’m going to be a part of your family for a little while at least, it’s better that I get used to the press and paparazzi fast. They’re not going to go away and neither will I.”

Setting the book in Key Biscayne was an easy decision. It ticked all the boxes I needed the setting of the series to be.

“Now she had to believe in something else. Believe that her luck was turning around for the better. That this arrangement would solve all her troubles, and not just bring a whole new set of them.”

“Would she be ignorant to pass it up or ignorant for aligning herself with the devil?“

“How would you like to stay with Pearce and his family for the foreseeable future?” - Where the trouble begins.

“Marshall brought up an idea to me yesterday after we left here.” — It’s up to interpretation, but I read this a subtle lie from Pearce. The idea was his and he got Marshall to back him up. His first lie, but it won’t be his last.

“If you’re going to have me arrested, do it already. At least I’ll have somewhere to sleep tonight.”

While The O.C. is a major influence on this book and this series, Danica stealing a car was not an intentional homage to Ryan doing the same thing in the show’s pilot. I had forgotten he did that when I wrote this part.

“She stomped on the man’s foot so hard he winced.“ I don’t say who, but I like to think it was Pearce.

We get a “f*ck it” moment, just not a romantic one.

“Oh, come on. This isn’t the time for this.” - No truer words spoken than that for our main character, Danica.

“Living in an abandoned shopping mall meant being on high alert. At all times.” — In my novellas, you’re thrown into the drama immediately. Takes the “here for a good time, not a long one” motto to heart.