Party Time: Finding Her Rhythm Release Week

Half of the Children are gone to the Romantic Times Book Lovers' Convention this week. Since they're partying without us, I thought we'd have a little party while they're gone!

This week I'm celebrating the release of my new ebook, Finding Her Rhythm! My rock star hero is perfect for a good time (in more ways than one)!

As much as he loves the stage, Michael Korvello's favorite kind of party is one-on-one with his new flame, Taylor Jemison. Not your average groupie, Taylor is curvy, quiet -- and the new nanny for Michael's teenage children. Boy, is her life about to change! But first, Michael must find out the truth about Taylor's past, and protect her from an ex bent on taking her back, even if he has to tear Michael's family apart to have her.

Strong, protective, and sexy as hell! I'd party with Michael anytime! If you could party (or even just hang out) with any romance hero today, which one would you choose and why?

Dani

*One lucky commenter will win an Amazon or B&N gift card!

For the First Time...

I’ve been through some pretty exciting “firsts” in my life: my first kiss, my first (and only!) wedding, buying our first house, the birth of our first child…

Firsts have a very distinctive place in our lives. They create strong memories filled with emotion, something I love as a writer. If we’re lucky, they are good emotions that enrich our relationships, encourage us to push forward, and root us in our lives and beliefs.

There have been many writing firsts for me too, experiences that have spurred on my drive to create, including finishing my first book, finalling in my first contest, making my first sale. And now…

MY FIRST OFFICIAL E-BOOK RELEASE!!!

(yep, that’s my first official cover too!)

Today, I’d love to celebrate all your wonderful firsts together! Tell me your favorite “first” memory! One commenter will win a Release Day goodie pack: Fall Festival Candle, Godiva chocolate caramel gems, and a $5 Amazon gift card.

In Snow Bound, heroine Tori Anderson has her own set of “firsts”, especially as hero Damon West sets out to fulfill some long-held fantasies. If you enjoy sexy heroes, southern heroines, unexpected stalkers, and close quarters with no way out, this novella will spice up your night!

Now available on Amazon. Coming soon to Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

Keep up with author Dani Wade on her weekly blog: www.DaniWade.com

If you'd like to find out more about the inspiration behind hottie hero Damon West, he's showcased in today's Friday Feature Foto on The Mutual Admiration Society's blog.

Angel's First Sale Party!

“We’d like to offer you a contract.”

After 10 years of writing, I thought I’d prepared myself for hearing those words. I’d honed my craft, listened carefully as the Playfriends, Mavens, and chaptermates discussed the business side of publishing, and handled quite a few phone calls about contest finals, including the RWA Golden Heart(R).

But on August 27, 2012, I learned that nothing could prepare me for hearing those words. They came when I least expected it.

I’d been working with Shana Smith, Associate Editor for Harlequin, on a submission for the Desire line. This was a book that Smarty Pants had read for me and loved. When Senior editor Stacy Boyd put out a request on Twitter for submissions, SP insisted I get it in. Ms. Boyd liked it and passed it along to Shana Smith. I completed a full revision and received another detailed email from her that I opened just knowing it was a rejection. I kept searching for the line that said, “But this just isn’t right for us…”

It wasn’t there!

She requested another set of revisions on the proposal and I found myself almost paralyzed. What if I screw this up? The Playfriends and my sister, Ella Sheridan, assured me I wouldn’t and we brainstormed some changes to fit the request. I received great editorial suggestions, too – Shana’s notes were thorough, encouraging, and spot on. I turned in the revisions just shy of my self-imposed two week deadline.

Now Shana had told me she’d read it “quickly”, so I was thinking a few weeks at the earliest. Imagine my shock when she called a mere 4 days later. 4 DAYS! I think my brain short-circuited when I heard, “This is Shana Smith from Harlequin.” But I know it did when she started talking about a contract and release date.

August 2013 – I’ll actually have a book with my name on it in August of 2013, exactly a year from now. Amazing. I think my exact words were, “Oh, wow.” The rest of the conversation was sparkling on Shana’s end and only halfway intelligent on mine. Definitely in shock.

The reality hit me as I told family and friends. I’ll never forget the Playfriends and Mavens excitement, thanking my sister for all her help, my husband’s hugs, and most of all, my children bouncing all over the car on the way home from school, squealing with joy. That was the moment I first teared up.

It’s been an exciting ride ever since. Lots of celebrations! My family even got to celebrate with me because they just happened to be visiting the following weekend from out of state. The flowers below were from the Mavens. So much fun!

And today I get to have even more fun with y’all! I’m pretty sure there will be cabana boys, massages, and all manner of alcoholic beverages in cyberspace today, but I’ll start us off with Krispy Kreme donuts (my fave!) and chocolate martinis. LET’S PARTY!

Angel

writing as Dani Wade

www.DaniWade.com

PARTY TIME!

Massages? This guy would be great, I think.

Make-up Monday

Ugh! I have to totally apologize. I'm not feeling well, and have been pouring every extra second into my current revisions. Needless to say, I'm out of words today.

I'll try to make it up to you, though.  :)  Enjoy!

Hope we all have a great Monday!

Angel

Don't Bother Me... I'm Sleepin'

I hate being woken in the middle of the night. Whether its by my muse, my hubby, the kids (usually when its storming), or a crying baby (once upon a time), there is nothing more sure to make my mood take a nosedive.

 I've always found this kind of weird. After all, if I didn't have children and a day job, I'd be nocturnal. Stay up really late at night and sleep half the morning. That's my natural sleep rhythms. So I should be happy to be up during the night, right? But once I fall asleep, I don't like being woken up. At all. And as an 8-hour-per-night girl, there's a lot of opportunity for it to happen.

I do think there are a few things that contribute to the interrupted sleep melodrama: 1. I sleep really hard. I can usually fall asleep within a few minutes (15 at the most) and sleep very deep until early morning, when I start to toss and turn. 2. Once interrupted, I have a very difficult time going back to sleep. Especially if I have to get up and move, which can lead to hours of wishing I was asleep but simply laying there. I've tried getting up and doing something, but then I'm just grumpier from being up in the middle of the night, because with kids, you're up by 7 whether you want to be or not.

 At least, that's my explanation, and I’m sticking to it. :)

 So tell me, after you noctural, or one of those weird people who love daybreak?

 Angel

 P.S. This blog post brought to you by the cat that threw up in my bed last night!

MoanDay: A Little Inspiration

We all need a little inspiration once in a while... Like the start of a new work week.  :) Hopefully today's offerings will perk you right up!

Enjoy! Angel

Critique Partner - For Life?

As a writer, I've found critique partners invaluable. Several of the Playfriends critique my work in various stages, along with my sister, and the occasional feedback from a Maven, fellow writer, or contest judge. These invaluable people offer me encouragement on what I'm doing write, notes on what I'm doing wrong, and invariably awesome advice on how to improve my writing.

Its only recently that I realized I have people close to me that I turn to for Life critiques, too. These are the women (okay, occasionally its my husband, too) that I check in with life isn't going exactly as I planned. I present the situation, and they do a combination of any of the following: smack me with a wake up call, sympathize, offer advice or different strategies for coping, or share similar issues that they've had and how they dealt with them.

You know who these people are in your own lives. They're the ones you itched to call just as soon as the pressure is on, the ones you could stay up all night talking to, the first person you want to invite to lunch when you have a few minutes to spare.

I know a few women who don't have these types of people in their lives, and I find that very sad. Women thrive on interpersonal relationships – whether its one or several (as is my case and I count myself exceedingly blessed). And whether these relationships help you to blow off steam, figure out a solution to a difficult problem, or simply let you forget your worries for a while, they are more valuable than gold and to be protected with constant vigilance.

Today I want to celebrate these wonderful relationships in our lives! Tell us, who helps you critique your life (in the best possible way)?

Angel

Cool Places to Visit in the Writing World

While I whole lot of time on the computer-but not nearly as much as others–I thought I'd share a few of my favorite writer/reader hot spots on the web today. These cool places include reader news, humor, inspiration, motivation, and more. Check them out!

Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Book on Publisher's Weekly
(link in sidebar)

I first met Barbara Vey when she interviewed the Playfriends at an RWA National Convention, and whenever we're at conventions together, we try to schedule a breakfast date. Smarty Pants and Problem Child just attended Barbara's first ever Readers Luncheon last week! This woman is smart, funny, and one of the most intuitive readers I've ever encountered. Her blog covers everything from romance, to celebrity spottings, conventions, and her thoughts on writing, reading, and publishing. I know you'll love her just as much as we do!

The Romance Man

This is my go-to place for a good laugh! My good friend (and newly contracted Entangled author!) Gina Leigh Maxwell introduced me to this hilarious, naughty man-view of the world of romance. This blog is written by a man who indeed reads romance, and offers an opinion on everything from books, dating, condom use, communication, living with a wife and daughters, and many things I can't name here because we try to keep it PG. But if you don't mind raunchy language, this one is hilarious! Oh, and your hubby would love it too! (Warning: Rated R)

The Mutual Admiration Society

This accountability blog for writers, run by my sister Ella Sheridan, is a place I hang out almost daily. Here I and fellow authors offer encouragement, motivation, hugs, and pep talks through this wacky world of writing and publishing. We post daily/weekly goals and accomplishments, and give each other swift kicks in the rear when necessary. Plus, I love to watch my little word ticker go up!

Deviant Art

This totally cool site has inspiration in many different forms. It’s a social networking site for visual artists and art enthusiasts who can exhibit and share their artwork with the community at large. I love to simply type in a word in the search bar and click to see where it goes. There are line drawings, unique photography of people, places, and some really creepy things, digital art, and much, much more! The art here is evocative and draws me into the mood/style I'm looking for in my own work, even though my pictures are created with words. The perfect place to boost your creativity!

There are quite a few more places/people listed in the Field Trips section of our sidebar, including lots of cool writer friends of ours! But I'd love to hear where your favorite places to visit on the web are (excluding Facebook and Twitter – which are a given!).

Angel
www.DaniWade.com

Crockpot Mania

In a desperate effort to spend less time in the kitchen, I've found myself using my crockpot to make dinners a lot more often. Before the past few months, the only thing I knew how to make in the crockpot was beef roast, cheese dip, and waissal. Now I'm expanding my repertoire as quickly as possible, especially since I discovered the new slow cooker bags that mean I don't have to spend days cleaning up my crockpot after cooking with it. Those things are awesome!!!!

But I digress. The joy of coming home to a dinner that is at least 80% ready to serve has me hooked. Luckily for me, the ladies that I work with are excellent cooks, making a variety of quick and easy meals after years of cooking while they were raising families. Here's one of my family's new favorites:

Chicken Tacos

(or nachos, burritos, whatever you want to do with it)

3 to 5 chicken breasts (if frozen, thaw before putting in the cooker)
¾ of a jar of Walmart brand black bean and corn salsa (other brands may work too, but this is the one I like)

Layer the meat and salsa in the crockpot and, after the pot is heated, cook on low. I usually cook it from 7:30am to 5pm, but I'm sure its ready way before then. Shred the chicken and use it for any of the above Mexican options with your choice of sour cream, cheese, refried beans, various veggies (I roast onions and red peppers in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes), and/or guacamole. My kids like tacos, but I like nachos.

Here's another recipe that I've put on the Must Try list. My family loves chicken, and anything with bacon and ranch (that's how hubby makes meatloaf!). I found it at a site Playground Monitor recommended to me called Crocking Girls.

Bacon Ranch Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp real bacon bits
1 tsp minced garlic
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
cooked egg noodles

Directions:
1. Combine bacon, garlic, ranch dressing mix, soup, and sour cream; mix well.
2. Pour over chicken in the slow cooker.
3. Cook on high 3-4 hours.
4. Shred the chicken and put back in the pot and then add the egg noodles; mix together.


What are your favorite crockpot recipes? I'm always on the lookout for more!

Angel

MOANDay: Ooh la la!

MoanDay this April is no joke! Hope these hotties can inspire you today!

Happy MoanDay!

Angel

PS. Today, Andrea's blogging at Get Lost in a Story about reality tv. Come over to get another entry to win!

Romance Withdrawal

So many books, so little time… This used to be my mantra as a reader. I read a wide variety of romance sub-genres and even some non-fiction, along with magazines when I felt like buying them. I couldn't get enough of reading, even going so far as to teach myself to hold a book while I was nursing Little Man. After all, if I was gonna have to sit there for 40 minutes several times a day (mine were both slow nursers), I might as well do something for myself while I'm at it, right?

But now… Well, its gotten much harder for me to read as I've grown as a writer. My time is extremely limited at this stage of my life, as I'm sure many of you can relate to (what do people do after work when they aren't scraping out time to write?!?!). As a result, I give up on books much quicker than I did before. I used to push through until the book became really interesting, but now, you'd better hook me in some way during the first chapter, or I'm outta there. Knowledge of writing techniques has made me extremely judgmental (I'll be the first to admit it). With the wealth of online resources, freelance editors, etc., there is no excuse for multiple grammatical or spelling errors.

And I find that a lot of storylines don't appeal to me anymore – for instance, I'm SO not a fan of the bitchy heroine. She seems to be everywhere these days. Strong – yes. Kickass – sure. Bitchy and critical of everyone around her – not so much! It’s a fine line that I'm pickier about that most people. Plus I can't read anything like what I'm plotting or writing at the moment, because I don't want to be unconsciously influenced by it. Sigh.

And the biggest issue? When I do find a really good book, I don't want to stop reading it. I know it may not seem like it, but that is a problem. I feel like I should be writing during that time, rather than reading. During the week, it can take me a couple of evenings to read a single title length, even though I'm a fast reader. After all, dinner has to be cooked and I've often got chores, children to pay attention to, etc., before I fall asleep just from sitting still. Weekends too.

I still read the occasional magazine (usually during dinner or right before bed), and I pick up anthologies once in a while. But I miss the depth of single title length books. So what's a former romance addict to do?

Right now I'm using really good books as a reward for getting large chunks of writing done. I've just spent 3 long months doing a complete rewrite of a previous book, and I've decided there will be no more writing until I finish the 2 books I just bought. One is from an author that I've read before and loved. One is a new to me author, but I read a few of the first pages just to check if I liked her voice – I already knew I liked the story idea.

I'm going to give my brain a few days to recover and rejuvenate (something I affectionately call refilling the well), and hopefully indulge my romance addiction at the same time! If you're a writer, do you find yourself having these same issues? What about you readers? How do you make time for your favorite addiction? :)

Angel

PS. Today is stop 4 on Andrea's blog tour. Pop in to read her call story and comment on expecting the unexpected to get another entry for her sea glass locket!

I'm Behind...

On just about everything. My blog got posted late, several Playfriends are waiting on stuff from me, critique partners are waiting on stuff from me, Luncheon stuff needs doing, and we won't even talk about the house…

But in the midst of all the chaos I accomplished 2 things:

1. I finished the draft for my revise and request. I’m hoping to have that revised asap and out the door. Which is a good thing, because…

2. I placed 2nd in the Great Expectations Contest and received a request for a full from Libby Murphy at Entangled (along with revision notes as well). Woohoo!!!

I think March and April will be busy, busy months!

Angel

Changing Times

The teenage years have officially arrived at our house. Drama Queen turned 12 last week. As many of you surely know, it’s a precious, frustrating time of extreme moodiness, surprisingly mature choices, lingering childishness, and lots and lots of growing. Like I said, precious and frustrating.

But this birthday, the thing I mourned most was the shopping. You see, I used to go to the store and pick out all these cute things that I thought she'd love – clothes, toys, girlie stuff. And she did. Present opening was one surprise after another. Now, not so much.

She's become extremely picky about her clothes, so I didn't even bother shopping before her birthday. We simply went together and spent 5 frustrating hours picking out 7 shirts (half of those were multiples of a type of shirt in various colors), 2 shorts, 3 tanks, and 1 jacket – and various lip glosses, perfume, and accessories. I'm not allowed to pick out the girlie girl stuff anymore either.

The things that I'm allowed to buy are gift cards, books (she keeps a wish list, so this really doesn't count), and well, that's about it.

Sigh… I'm seriously longing for the good ol' days. But I guess if shopping is our major issue, I should count myself lucky, huh?

Angel

Is Honesty the Best Policy?

I recently read a blog post on Writing Honestly on the Daily Post at WordPress.com that struck me in a vulnerable spot. Erica V. wrote,

"I often feel a lot of anxiety before publishing a post. Why?... I worry about my tone, whether or not what I'm saying could be misunderstood, and if I will offend anyone. It's embarrassing to admit that I can feel that self-conscious when writing, but it's true… Do you ever feel like you're holding yourself back?"

I often think twice before posting most of my blogs, because I reveal a lot about myself over the course of them. Some blogs I've completely scrapped. Not because I have a problem sharing – I'm more likely to open my mouth than to shut it! – but because I fear the reader either couldn't care less, or would judge me for those open, honest moments.

I know I'm not perfect. Anyone reading my blogs for any length of time knows I am moody, picky, uptight, perfectionistic, and pessimistic… on a good day. :P But I like to think all that is countered by the good I try to do for those around me, my commitment to my responsibilities and my belief in love. But you never can tell how others see you.

I've found a similar fear of judgment in my resume clients. They often come to a professional writer because they have difficulty articulating their talents and experience. Many also fear readers will think they're bragging or boasting, rather than simply stating their accomplishments. That's a hard thing to overcome.

The same can be true for my fiction writing. I second-guess myself there too, but I'm getting better about trusting my instincts, setting aside the worry over what others will think and just listening to what my characters are saying to me.

Now I need to learn to do the same for myself with non-fiction.

Have you ever tried to write something about yourself for public viewing, or even just for one special person to see? Was it hard or easy for you to Write Honestly?

Angel

MOANday: I'm Cheating!

In a lot of ways, actually! No, its not what you think. I'm just fudging the date of MOANday a little for March. I'm out of town at the moment, and wasn't sure if I would be able to comment today, so I decided to display the eye candy early. Win-win, don't you think?

Also, I'll admit that I stole this hottie from my online buddy, Gina Leigh Maxwell. She shared his pic as her inspiration for one of her heroes and I immediately claimed him as my own!

Enjoy!




Angel

Things are busy, busy, busy around here. Not only do the kids have lots going on, we have a new member of the family.

This is Zoey:

She's been keeping us up late at night, and getting us up early in the morning, but when she snuggles into my arms to sleep or pounces on her favorite toys, its all worth it. :) Gotta keep it short. She needs to be taken outside before work!

Angel

The Road Less Traveled...

The calendar I bought for 2012 has a year's worth of pictures like the one above. I'm not sure why, but I've always been drawn to images of roads, paths, anything that infers there's something just around the bend. Even my computer desktop pic is of a corridor created by two columns of trees in full autumn golds. At the end is a shadowy building with all kinds of mysterious potential.



Maybe it's the writer, the creator in me, but I think I'm intrigued with the potential of that mystery. What's coming? What's around that corner? Imagining all those possible scenarios is like a jolt of creative caffeine.

So what kind of calendars do you tend to get? (Drama Queen has always gotten horses, but this year requested wolves in honor of our new husky dog.) Do you go with whatever business calendar is given to you for free? Is one featuring your favorite characters a must-have? (We have Phineas and Ferb for our family calendar.) Do you like inspirational pictures or quotes?

Valentine's Day Special:




Angel

MOANday: Tom Hardy

I chose this month's MOANday inspiration because he's currently starring in the Valentine's movie This Means War. This movie looks like some guy tried to make a Valentine's movie interesting for both the guys and the girls (although I think girls still win, because we get 2 hunky hotties to check out and not just one), just so the men wouldn't be completely bored on their Valentine's dates.

Tom Hardy is an English actor who's been around quite a while, having performed in Band of Brothers, Black Hawk Down, and as the villain in Star Trek: Nemesis. More recently he was part of the cast for Inception. Maybe he'll also be inspiration for your very own Valentine hero!

Happy Love Month!

Angel

Coming Soon!

Join us Wednesday for guest author Tracy Sumner!

Let's Hit the Road!

This past weekend, my sister and I went on an impromptu road trip.

Now, for those of you who haven't been with us for long, let me explain a few things. First, neither my sister nor I are "impromptu" people. We're planners all the way. Second, we both had kids this weekend. Third, weekends are extremely precious time at the moment, so giving up one day is hard. Fourth… did I mention we don't usually do "spur of the moment"?

Anyway, the call came from my sister mid-Sunday morning. "Want to make a trip to Nashville today? Our blog buddy is coming through and we could meet her." Awesome!!! She seems like a totally cool person, and this might be our only chance. When? "Um, I'll be at your house in 30 minutes or so…" Alrighty then…

Threw the kids together, changed out of my comfortable "Sunday at home" clothes, and we were out the door. And we all had a really good time! The kids enjoyed a trip to the Cool Springs Galleria, because we let them buy stuff. Sis and I had a great time having lunch with our cyber friend and meeting her IRL. And she's just as cool as she is on the web.

So maybe I should do this "seat of your pants" thing more often… aw, who am I kidding? When was the last time you did anything at the spur of the moment? How did it turn out?

Angel

Coming Soon!
Check out hip Regency writer Sara Ramsey when she joins us this Thursday, January 26.

You Should Rest...

I hate being sick. I mean, who doesn’t, right?

But I think I hate it because I get frustrated easily. Take this past weekend: Over the last week, I’ve felt more and more tired, my throat hurt on and off, and my brain just wasn’t up to speed. I blew it off as some extra things going on at work and popped some Vitamin C. Woke up Friday morning and my immune system had given up the ghost!

Turns out I had sinus and ear infections. I spent most of Friday and Saturday sleeping. That was the best thing for me, BUT I was frustrated.

Like most people, I have a list of things that need to get done (mine’s an actual list, as opposed to a mental one). Its hard for me to ignore it for any reason. (An online instructor recently got on to me for not playing more.) LOL So when I’m walking around on Sunday, moaning and hacking, and the hubby tells me to go back o bed, I say, “But I have so much I need to do.”

Now, I’m not stupid. Logically I know I need to rest. I’m sick. But I still feel the mental pull of that To Do list, of all the things that were supposed to get done this weekend. The result? Frustration.

Am I the only one with this problem? Because I have no idea how to turn it off. I did what I could Sunday morning until I HAD to lay down. Then I got up and wrote this blog – because it was On The List.

Heaven help me!

Angel

Coming Soon!!!

Join us on Wednesday when Harlequin Special Edition author Helen Lacey visits the Playground... all the way from Australia! :)