Happy Wednesday, Friends!
I hope you’re having a great week! I’m excited to share that I’ve turned in my novella, The Shifting Current-–A Coastal Guardian novella. For those of you who’ve read my Coastal Gaurdian’s story, it’s Logan and Emmy’s love story. If you haven’t read the series, no worries, it can be read as a standalone. It’s available for pre-order now and releases on May 2nd!
I’m so excited. It’s my first indie novella and I had so much fun writing it. I had no clue what I was doing with an indie novella but I’m so grateful for fellow writing friends who so graciously helped me. I love the Christian Fiction community. It’s such a blessing to me. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor but writing friends bring wisdom, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way.
I’ve also turned in the first book in my upcoming Jeopardy Falls series. I’m loving this series. It features a new family, the MacLeods. It’s my first time writing about a family since my Alaskan Courage series, and I’m loving getting to know all of them. They own a private investigation and security firm in Jeopardy Falls, Arizona. It’s a fictional town in the Catalina foothills outside of Tucson, Arizona.
It’s a big departure from my usual locations, which are always near water. Every book has been near the ocean or the Chesapeake Bay, which is where I live in Maryland. So, why the departure? I spent part of my growing-up years in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I love the Land of Enchantment.
I also met my husband there. It’s a funny story as we grew up an hour apart on the east coast–me in Northern Virginia and him in Baltimore, Maryland. But I’d been living in Albuquerque with my mom and was attending the University of Maryland. My husband was in the Navy and stationed in New Mexico. I know what you’re thinking… the Navy in the middle of the desert? He was stationed at the University of New Mexico working on his master’s degree while I was a sophomore. We first met when he asked me to dance, and I like to say, it’s been a dance of a lifetime. Engaged in three weeks, married a little over three months later. Sometimes you just know. We just celebrated our 30th last year.
So between living in Albuquerque and loving so many things about it-hiking the gorgeous mountains, the amazing sunsets, New Mexican food (it’s the best), and the lights of the city from our house on the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. When God laid the MacLeod family on my heart, I just knew they’d lived in the rugged and breathtaking Southwest.
My husband and I lived in New Mexico during our first year of marriage and my husband had a horse–a beautiful quarter horse named Wrangler. We very much lived the cowboy life for a while- felt Stetson hats, Roper boots, and my hubby rode bareback in local rodeos. We loved the lifestyle and, while we’ve been back on the east coast for decades, the Southeast still holds our hearts.
I knew when the MacLeods came to life in my mind, they lived in the Southwest and I decided to explore Arizona instead of New Mexico. I loved my travels there. I also have family outside of Phoenix and a dear friend there as well. They’ve both been so helpful with research.
The MacLeods own a ranch and the younger sister, Riley, is a barrel racer. It’s been so fun returning to that part of my heart. I hope you’ll all enjoy it too. It’s been such a fun adventure!
We’re in the titling stage and there are so many options popping up. I’d love your input for book one as it’s time to stop calling it “book one.” Lol!
Here are a few of the options:
- Nowhere to Run
- Drawing Dead (it ties to something in the character’s past)
- When I Disappear
- Trapped
I’d love to hear which is your favorite, and I’m totally open to title suggestions.
Thanks for taking the time to spend today with me!
Blessings,
Dani
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The new series sounds great, Dani, and I love how you are hailing back to a time in your past. The only title I’m not crazy about is When I Disappear. Sounds too much like it could be a self-help/psychology book. But the others are all intriguing and even though I don’t have a clue what Drawing Dead means, it definitely makes me want to find out. (But you might have to explain too much when telling people in conversation what the title is?) Anyway, congrats on two new books in the making!
Thanks so much, Debb. I appreciate the title input a lot. I’ve been gravitating to Drawing Dead which is a poker term but I agree, most people probably won’t know what it means. It ties to the characters background but that’s not clear until you read the book. Thanks again so much!
Woohoo!! Tucson is my neck of the woods. I’m looking forward to reading more stories from you. Drawing Dead sounds intriguing, but my favorite option io Nowhere to Run.
Nowhere to Run fits with barrel racing. When I Disappear is intriguing.
Thanks so much, Diane. I really appreciate your input. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I am looking forward to both! I can’t say that I’ve read many (if any) books set in that location so that will be a fun new adventure! Good luck picking a title. LOL
Thanks, Joy! Glad you’re excited about the setting:)
It was fun to hear about your ‘whirlwind romance’…and that you’ve been blessed thirty years of love and sharing, and are still counting! : )
As to the four titles you’re considering, I liked Nowhere to Run the best, with When I Disappear a close second.
Have fun with your new series!
Thanks so much, Lynn! Appreciate your input:))
What a cool story about you and your husband!! I love your books and I am excited and looking forward to the novella(already pre-ordered) and your new series!
Good luck with the title because they all sound good to me 🙂
Hi, Dani. I loved hearing more of your personal love story. What a whirlwind romance with a long-term happily ever after. Love it! I’m excited to hear about your new series, too. And your novella looks fabulous! Love that cover. 🙂
Awww. Thanks so much, Karen 🙂
Appreciate you taking time to stop by!
How fun for you to return to a setting that has so many memories attached to it!
Thanks D’Ann. I’m having so much fun with it 🙂
Nowhere to Run. Wow! I’m so excited for both of these books!
Awww. Thanks so much, Lisa!
This series and setting sound fantastic!! I’m delighted that you’re returning to the American Southwest — a place you’ve lived, and know, and that holds such special memories for you. I also love that part of the country!
Awww. Thanks, friend. I’m so excited about it!
I connected with Nowhere to Run because of the barrel racing. My indie novella releases about three weeks after yours. Enjoy the craziness!!
How fun! We’ll have to celebrate with each other:)
I immediately connected to “When I Disappear”. I grew up in the Southwest so fun to have it be a setting!
Hi Dani,
I love the story about you and your husband. I can’t wait for the new series. You’re an “auto-buy” author for me so I’m sure I will love it. I like the title Nowhere to Run. It leaves a lot to the imagination.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and looking forward to your new series. Praying for you and your family.
Blessings,
Caroline
Eeep, I’m so excited about both of these, Dani!
Ooh, love that the Jeopardy Falls series is about siblings, love that they have a ranch, and I love that they do both private investigation and security! That’s awesome! Cannot wait to read it! 😍
For titles I love Drawing Dead and When I Disappear, both are super suspenseful and attention grabbing and I don’t think I’ve seen any other books with these same titles which could help prevent confusion for readers searching for the book online. 😊
My daughter votes for Nowhere to Run and I vote for Drawing Dead.
Your new series sounds interesting, especially since I just helped my daughter and her young family move to Tuscon!
The titles, “Drawing Dead” and “When I Disappear” sound intriguing.
I look forward to reading your new series!
The title “Drawing Dead” is the most intriguing to me. Can’t wait for this new series!!
Hi, Dani,
Thank you for sharing your love story. Met to married in three months! Wow!
I am so excited about your novella with Logan and Emmy’s story, and I’m eager to fall in love with the MacLeod family just the way I love the McKennas! My favorite title is “Nowhere to Run.”
So excited for this new series, Dani! I’ve read all your other books so far, and part of what I love about the Alaskan Courage series is the focus on family, so I know this one is going to be good😉
“Nowhere To Run” and “Trapped” are obviously easy to interpret, but I feel like “Drawing Dead” is more unique/intriguing…and if it ties into the character’s past, I think it would be a great title!
I’m so excited for your new series! Nowhere to Run and Drawing Dead are my favorite titles in the list. As a horse girl and rodeo lover, the setting is going to be fun for me.
On the novella, I CANNOT wait! I pre-ordered it in January.😊