By: Dana Mason
Congratulations to "Taurus" the winner in Dana's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
Story ideas
are everywhere.
The beauty
of writing Romantic Suspense is the plethora of story ideas. Just spend ten
minutes watching the morning news and you’ll easily have 3 to 4 headlines that
can be turned into full length novels. Even the traffic report can spark my
imagination. ‘Fatality on Interstate 80
stops traffic for miles’.
The
possibilities are endless.
Maybe your
hero is the CHP officer investigating the accident—who falls for the surviving
passenger— who now has to live with survivors guilt after losing her best
friend . . . and what about the accident? What was that urgent phone call the
driver received which diverted her attention, causing the chain of events that
killed her?
The morning news is where I came up with
the story idea for my first novel, Dangerous Embrace. The headline, ‘Woman fights off attacker after being thrown
into the bushes and assaulted’. I already had my character outlines; I just
needed my hook and a little help with the plot. What’s better than a woman fighting off an
attacker and ultimately getting the best of him? It was the perfect story to
fit my characters.
Sarah Jennings is
strong and she’s a fighter, refusing to let a man take from her again. She
needed to save herself. Enter Mark
Summors, my hero. He’s an alpha who doesn’t quite know what to do with someone
as independent and strong willed as Sarah. Of course I let Mark do a little saving in the
story too, but I wanted Sarah to be a strong woman, yet vulnerable enough to
need Mark’s help. The plot blossomed from there.
Synopsis:
Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a
quiet life—alone.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well.
Now, back in her hometown, she's found a
place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less
family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she
can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin,
she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.
But it only takes one night and one act
of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run
again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.
Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark
and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.
Mark Summors was born and raised in
Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his
life, until he found his wife with another man.
Now divorced, he wants something more.
He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his
life to it.
This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.
Excerpt:
Sarah’s entire face lit on fire. “Do
you think I’ve been acting? What? A game between me and an old boyfriend? Or do
you just think I’m a complete whack job and a liar?”
“No—no, Sa-rah.” He shifted in his
chair to face her. “I was there—of course, I don’t think you’re lying. That’s
not what I meant.”
Sarah leaned forward in her chair and
rested her face in her hands.
He reached out and touched her arm.
“I’m sorry. You’ve been through hell. I would never take that lightly.”
“Do you think I like this? Do you
think I’m looking for pity? I hate this. I hate being a victim. I hate having
my choices taken away by someone bigger and stronger than me.” She braced her
hand on her knee and got to her feet. “I’m going for a walk.”
And she was gone, walking toward the
water, holding her sweater closed with her free hand.
Mark did a mental head smack. Great
job ruining the day, you jerk. He wasn’t even sure what he had just done,
and he still didn’t know who Kevin was. Maybe it didn’t matter, but people
don’t scream like that in their sleep for nothing.
He dropped his head back, his eyes
drifting up to the cloudless, bright blue sky. He understood why she loved this
place. He wished he’d brought a tent so she could spend the night.
He lifted his head to watch Sarah.
She walked along the waterline, and from his spot, it looked like the waves
were taller than her. They crashed hard before spreading foam across the sand
at her feet. To his right, waves beat against huge rocks, sending sea spray
fifty feet up. The sound of the waves and crying seagulls was seriously
relaxing, and he hoped they did their magic on her, especially since he’d just
ruined her mood.
Looking at her now, he was overcome
with an intense urge to go to her, hold her, and feel her wrapped within his
embrace. He wanted to know what her sweater felt like, and the faded jeans on
her legs. Run his hands through her wavy hair and smell it.
Dana will be giving away a digital copy of DANGEROUS EMBRACE to one lucky commenter.
Dana will be giving away a digital copy of DANGEROUS EMBRACE to one lucky commenter.
Dana
Mason Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danamason06
or @danamason06
Website: http://danamasonromance.com/
Sapphire Star Publishing Author page: http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/danamason/
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440793.Dana_Mason
Where
to buy Dangerous Embrace:
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Oct. 9th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Ooooh, I seriously need to stop reading this blog if I'm ever going to finish writing my dissertation... every time I pop by, there's a new book (or books) added to my TBR queue!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release-- sounds legend!
stalkers00(at)yahoo(dot)com
Chris, I have the same problem with this website. Every time I stop by, I add a book to my list.
DeleteThanks so much!
I an currently reading Dangerous Embrace and it has me completely hooked! You are so right about story ideas being everywhere - the minute I step out of the house something hits me!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your fantastic book, Dana!
Oh, Mandy, I hope you're enjoying Dangerous Embrace! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIt is sometimes true the life is stranger than fiction.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI love finding new romantic suspense authors. Your book looks great and I am looking forward to reading. Adding to my list to read.
Thanks
Pam
tpibrew@msn.com
Thanks, Pam! I hope you enjoy Dangerous Embrace!
DeleteI can't wait to read this book it sounds so awesome and i love it that you can watch the news and get ideas for a book that is so cool.Debra Stolhand--cher123@cableone.net
ReplyDeleteI love it too, but sometimes my imagination gets the best of me and I lose sleeping over it. :) Thanks for commenting and entering the contest, Debra!
DeleteOkay , this book is just my cup of tea. I find it fascinating that you can hear something in the news and weave a great story out of it. love to win a copy of your book. Trishleroy49 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. Good luck with the contest, Trish!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, Dana. Looking forward to reading your books.
ReplyDeletejanie1215 AT excite DOT com
Thanks, Jane! I hope you enjoy the story. Good luck with the giveaway!
DeleteI can't wait to read this book. Your blog has inspired me to go watch the news :). I discovered this blog through Romance Magicians where Mareen Miller had blogged today. I'll definitly be back to visit.
ReplyDeleteI love this site! It really is the only place dedicated to Romantic Suspense. I'll have to check out Romance Magicians.
DeleteThanks!
I really enjoyed reading this post today. I will have to make note to try Dana's books. So many great new to me names I find on this blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Colleen. I love this site too. It's one of my favorites.
DeleteI love the way you think, Dana! :) I can't wait to read Dangerous Embrace!
ReplyDeleteYou know, so long as there's crazy things going on in the world, I always have something to write about. :o) Thanks, Carrie for visiting!
DeleteI love romantic suspense and yours sounds very good.
ReplyDeletediane dot sadler at gmail dot com
Thanks, Diane. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteVery nice excerpt. The book sounds good.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for commenting! Good luck with the giveaway.
DeleteThanks for the excerpt,Dana and congratulations on the release of Dangerous Embrace.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the book is listed as The Embrace Series #1 - how many books are planned?
jtcgc at yahoo dot com
There are three books so far. Book two is Precious Embrace and book three is Anew Embrace.
DeleteThanks for commenting. I hope you enjoy the book.
Congrats, Taurus! You will receive an email from Sapphire Star Publishing very soon about your ebook. I hope you enjoy Dangerous Embrace!
DeleteI love a strong woman and a man who is the protector. This will be on my TBR list. Love the excerpt.
ReplyDeletekmccandle(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Kai. I hope you love the book too.
ReplyDeleteHi Dana,
ReplyDeleteBoth your cover & title are great!
Jan
janet_kerr@msn.com
Thanks, Janet! Thanks means a lot. Sometimes we authors spend as much times on the title and the cover as we do writing the book. :)
DeleteGood luck on the giveaway!
It is a great gift that you have. When I was at school, I would have loved a few inspirational thoughts to have popped into my head when it was essay writing time.Congratulations on the book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. I would've loved to have the gift in school too. Unfortunately I was concentrating on boys. :)
Delete