Before you head out to celebrate at the club or with friends (or like me, with family), here’s my wish that you all stay safe, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 31st is always a strange day. The last day of a year that flew by way too quickly.

I set two shoot-for-the-moon kind of goals for myself in 2015.

First, I would have a new post every day on my blog. Between guest blogs and my own posts, I didn’t miss having something fresh up on my blog every single day! Woot!

Second, I teach a class called “Write 50 Books a Year”. Now, you know that title is a hook. I couldn’t write 50 stories in a year unless I devoted the year to writing short stories, but I decided to see whether I could release 50 stories in 2015. Something to prove to my Rose’s students that with planning and perseverance, you can accomplish almost anything. Following is my list of releases. Keep in mind, some are reissues of stories I got back from a publisher (they had to be re-edited, so there was definitely effort involved!) and some were stories that appeared in collections or box sets and were re-released as single titles.

But with yesterday’s release of “The Out-of-Towner”, I hit #50!!!

2015 Releases

1. 01/22/15 – WATCH OVER ME, Uncharted SEALs series, break from box set (Indie)
2. 01/28/15 – WET DOWN, Cowboys on the Edge series, break from box set (Indie)
3. 01/28/15 – ONE TRACK COWBOY, short story (Indie)
4. 01/29/15 – LOVE IN BLOOM, short story (Indie)
5. 01/30/15 – NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM, short story (Indie)
6. 02/04/15 – THE OBEDIENT WIFE, short story (Indie)
7. 02/10/15 – SWEETER THAN HONEY reissue (Samhain)
8. 02/11/15 – DRIVE ME CRAZY, short story (Indie)
9. 02/20/15 – DR. MULLALEY’S CURE, short story (Indie)
10. 02/25/15 – RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, break from box set (Indie)
11. 02/27/15 – DREAMING BY THE SEA, short story (Indie)
12. 03/06/15 – THE PLEASURE IN SURRENDER, short story (Indie)
13. 03/13/15 – CATNIP, short story (Indie)
14. 03/20/15 – PITCH BLACK, short story (Indie)
15. 03/27/15 – LONG RIDE HOME, short story (Indie)
16. 03/30/15 – SM{B}ITTEN, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
17. 04/03/15 – JOHNY BLAZE, short story (Indie)
18. 04/09/15 – THE RUNAWAY BRIDE, short story (Indie)
19. 04/15/15 – WARLORD’S DESTINY, reissue, Seven Sinful Stories antho (Indie)
20. 04/17/15 – TAILGATING AT THE CEDAR INN, short story(Indie)
21. 05/15/15 – NIP-N-TUCK, short story (Indie)
22. 05/12/15 – UNDER A BLOOD MOON, Beaux Rêve Coven series (Samhain)
23. 05/18/15 – WARLORD’S DESTINY, break from box set (Indie)
24. 05/28/15 – THE MORNING RIDE, short story (Indie)
25. 06/18/15 – TRULY, MADLY…DEADLY, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
26. 06/24/15 – LILY’S LAST STAND, short story (Indie)
27. 07/07/15 – HER NEXT BREATH, Uncharted SEALs series, SEALs of Summer box set (Indie)
28. 07/14/15 – CONQUESTS (Indie)
29. 07/15/15 – WITH HIS PARTNER, Stepbrothers Stepping Out series (Indie)
30. 08/04/15 – THROUGH HER EYES, Uncharted SEALs series, Cat Johnson’s Hot SEALs Kindle World (Indie)
31. 08/04/15 – CONTROLLED BURN, Cowboys on the Edge series, 12-Alarm Alpha Box Set (Indie)
32. 08/11/15 – HOTTER WITH A POLE, Firehouse 69 series (Samhain)
33. 08/18/15 – HER NEXT BREATH, Uncharted SEALs series, break from box set (Indie)
34. 09/01/15 – KNIGHT IN TRANSITION, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
35. 09/04/15 – CONTROLLED BURN, Cowboys on the Edge series, break from box set (Indie)
36. 09/07/15 – LORD GRIM’S WITCH reissue (Indie)
37. 09/22/15 – WOLF IN PLAIN SIGHT, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
38. 09/23/15 – WITH HIS BOSS, Stepbrothers Stepping Out series, short story (Indie)
39. 10/09/15 – KNIGHT EDITION, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
40. 10/13/15 – STILL, Love, Lust and Zombies anthology (Cleis Press)
41. 10/19/15 – HOW TO TRAIN THE SKJALDMAER, short story (Indie)
42. 11/03/15 – FAMILY VALUES, Lone Star Lovers series (Samhain)
43. 11/04/15 – IT TAKES A SEAL, Naughty SEALs box set (Indie)
44. 11/10/15 – DREAM OF ME, Uncharted SEALs series (Indie)
45. 11/17/15 – NIGHT FALL ON DARK MOUNTAIN, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
46. 11/24/15 – WITH HIS PROFESSOR, Stepbrothers Stepping Out series, short story (Indie)
47. 12/04/15 – THE HIRED HAND, short story (Indie)
48. 12/12/15 – BAD MOON RISING (Indie)
49. 12/18/15 – THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, short story(Indie)
50. 12/29/15 – THE OUT-OF-TOWNER, short story (Indie)

And if you’d like to check out any of these titles, go here: The Kindle Store

Stay safe! And see you in the New Year! ~DD

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy Petal!

* * * * *

Once upon a time in a land about 150 miles from where I live now, I had a big, beautiful house and I used to decorate for the holidays. I spent hours twining garland and white lights around the railings in the front. More hours trying to remember how to put my pre-lit Christmas tree together and hanging my many accumulated-over-the-years ornaments on it. It took years before I’d part with the money to buy an appropriate angel to go on top, but when I did she looked beautiful watching over our holiday activities. I shopped and wrapped and shipped and stressed. I bought Christmas dishes (at Target’s after-holiday sale) and I’d use them for the family meal gatherings. I threw parties for my family and friends. I traditionally drank too much at my husband’s work Christmas party. We went to the country club for New Year’s Eve.  That all happened in another lifetime.

Now I walk by my neighbor’s house and see her many Christmas lights and I think I see at least two lit trees in her house. Turns out she has three. Her yard is filled with holiday decorations and lights hang from every tree and eaves of her tiny home. I tell her that makes up for me not having any because I’m too lazy. She says, “No. It’s because you still work.”

It’s true, I do work part-time at my day job and the rest of the time I spend writing. And really? If I have a choice between twining lights around trees and hanging Christmas ornaments, I would rather spend that time writing. If I asked, my husband would hang up some lights so it would at least look like we’re participating in the season, but this year I told him not to bother.

I’ve narrowed my holiday-ing to what’s really important to me at this time in my life. My small circle of close friends. My husband, my children and their spouses and my siblings. I don’t need the outward trappings, which really have nothing to do with the reason for the season as I am reminded by the numerous signs throughout my neighborhood. (Although there are lots of lights and decorations right next to the signs!)

As I’ve aged I’ve narrowed my focus. Time has taken on new meaning. I realize how much time I’ve spent doing things that didn’t need to be done. Of course, when my children were young, I tried to create holiday traditions for them and there was value in that. But nothing made me happier than when my daughter was old enough to take over the decorating. In her teens, she and her boyfriend would do it all while I stood back and admired their efforts. My only condition was that they’d also take it all down.

So if you drive by my little house and you don’t see lights and a tree and an angel smiling down from above, don’t think I’m not celebrating. I am. I’m probably inside tapping away on my keyboard working on my next book. And I’m thanking the reason for the season every day of the year for everything and everyone I’ve been blessed with. And that includes the chance to write and publish the kind of books I love and for all of the romance novel fans like you.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Do you love to decorate? Why or why not?

I’ll give away a digital copy of FANTASY MAN to one lucky commenter on this blog. Winner chosen by January 15, 2016. Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

One lie of omission could turn her wildest dream into a world of hurt.

Quinn Fontana never thought witnessing two murders would lead to her first taste of freedom. But when her overprotective brother puts her on a plane for L.A. to hide until it’s time to testify, she can’t stop the shiver of anticipation.

If her life is going to be cut short, she plans to live it to the fullest. And that includes seducing her intended protector—her brother’s best friend and star of her private fantasies.

When security consultant Reif Callaghan awakens after a rowdy night out with his coworkers to find a warm, willing woman in his bed, he’s almost past the point of no return when he realizes it’s Quinn. And he’s come way too close to debauching his best friend’s little sister.

Her enticing offer—one night, no holding back, no regrets—is a temptation he can’t resist. Until he realizes she’s been hiding a piece of vital information that could cost not only their one chance to turn fantasy into reality, but their lives.

Warning: Contains fantasy-come-true sex, get-it-out-of-their-system sex, angry-as-hell sex, and on-the-run sex. Also, accidental ferret-napping. Asthmatics are advised to load up on antihistamines before reading.

“How do you choose a mattress?” Quinn asked. “I’ve never done it before.”

Reif wondered if that comment was intended as some kind of double entendre, but he doubted it. She was pushing down on one of the mattresses when she said it, seeming as confounded by the array of choices as Reif was.

“This one feels hard,” she said. She pushed down on the mattress again. “Really hard.”

“How hard is it?” Read the rest of this entry »

Seeing as a new year is just around the corner, I gave myself light goals this week. I’m spending a ton of time with my daughter. She’s got her three kids and a step for the break, and the house is in chaos. I’ve been helping watch kids, clean house, change diapers, etc. I don’t understand the need to squeal and shriek and pound feet through the house, but I guess it has something to do with self-expression and dominance—the loudest gets heard. By the time the 1st of January hits, I’ll be glad to be back at my desk…in the quiet. 🙂

I spend a lot of time with my dd, regardless of the holiday. She lives right across the highway. Her house is maybe two football fields in length away from my front door. When I’m working, I break mid-morning for coffee with her. At the end of my workday, I head to her place to unwind, drink more coffee and eat dinner. If I get out of there before baths and bedtime, I might be back over there later in the evening for a spot of tea.

When she was growing up, she was such a hellion. Red hair, fiery temper, and such a mouth! But now, we’re best friends. We go everywhere together. Travel together. Flea market shop together. Spend art days together. I never would have imagined a friendship like that between us, but there it is. She’s my rock and vice versa.

Do you have someone like that in your life?

I want to start by thanking Delilah for letting come play here again with all of you.  It’s always a lot of fun to do.

When I started thinking about this blog post, it was still early December, but I’d already been working on my writing goals for next year.  Which got me to thinking about all of the things still to do before next year.  So I made a short list…

5. Take a look back at the old year.

It’s hard to make new goals without knowing how we did on the old goals, right?  So what did you get accomplished?  I didn’t get as much accomplished as I wanted, but I put a fair dent in my list.  I did have some unexpected trips come up in the spring, to visit a very sick family member, and then again a month or so later for a funeral.  Did anything pop up to derail your plans during the past year?  I do wish I’d been a little harder on myself with regards to time spent doing other things instead of working on some of my goals.  I’d be much happier with my results (and myself!) if I’d checked a few more things off the list.  How about your plans vs. results?  Are you happy with your outcome, or a little disappointed like I am?

4. Look at where you are, right now.

I’m not talking about physical location, but an honest assessment of the things and people who require your attention in addition to any goals you might be thinking about.  I’ve got a great day-job this year, much better than where I started last year, but I know that there are a couple of weeks every single month where my schedule there is nuts and requires overtime.  Then there are the family and household obligations (and, really, things I want to do for both).  And I’ve taken a good look at where those things figured into my goals and achievements (or lack thereof) for the past year, so I can realistically decide how all of these will figure into the new year’s goals.

3. Make a plan.

Sounds simple, right?  But for myself, I want a realistic plan with achievable goals, while still stretching outside my comfort zone–though without aiming impossibly high; there is no sense in setting goals that have no chance of being reached, and doing that just makes you (me, anyway) feel bad.

I don’t make resolutions, just set goals.  I took Delilah’s Write 50 Books class again this year (even though work got a bit in my way), so I could work on those ahead of time.  And I try to break my goals down into manageable pieces.  For me, saying I want to write five new books this year and lose weight doesn’t work.  I need to break my goals down further:  monthly and weekly–how many pages or chapters, how many pounds.  Doing that makes it easier for me to look at the overall list and decide if I have a chance or if I’m setting myself up to fail.

I have to be specific, and maybe that will work for some of you, too.  Saying I want to lose weight is great, but I need to decide how much, by when, and how I’m going to do it.

Be reasonable.

2. Prepare.

Again, kind of a simple step, in theory.  But what can you do now to make a good start on those goals in the new year?  If the goal is learning a new skill, know now what kind of study and practice that will require so you’ll actually be ready.  If it’s diet and weight loss, start now clearing out the stuff you can’t have once you begin that new plan.  Decide on the fitness program you’ll be starting–join the gym now so you can kick off the new year with a workout or personal trainer.  How many new books to read in the new year vs. how much free time?

For my writing goals, I’m doing background work now on the two main characters for the first book on my list for the year.  If I know them a little bit before I start, starting will go easier.  I hope!

1. Celebrate!

Once you’ve done your countdown and all of your prep work, so take a little time now to relax and celebrate the old year, and then to welcome the new year in a few days.

To make that celebrating a little more fun, I’m going to give away an e-book of Hunting Medusa to one commenter (via RandomResult):  how did you do on achieving your goals for 2015?

Thanks again to Delilah for having me, and happy New Year to all!

Hunting Medusa:  https://tinyurl.com/k7ap35z

When Kallan Tassos tracks down the current Medusa, he expects to find a monster. Instead he finds a wary, beautiful woman, shielded by a complicated web of spells that foils his plans for a quick kill and retrieval of her protective amulet.

Andrea Rosakis expects the handsome Harvester to go for the kill. Instead, his attempt to take the amulet imprinted on her skin without harming her takes her completely by surprise. And ends with the two of them in a magical bind—together. But Kallan isn’t the only Harvester on Andi’s trail…

Excerpt:

Andi kept up her steady pace as they trekked farther into the forest. The sounds of the birds and chattering squirrels kept them company, as they had for the past two hours. He didn’t try to carry on a conversation with her while they walked. He was clearly accustomed to physical activity.

Which meant she’d have a harder time than she’d anticipated in ditching him.

Not that she’d imagined it would be easy.

Nothing could possibly be easy about this. Her luck clearly didn’t run in that direction.

She paused to take a sip of water from the bottle she’d tucked into the side of her backpack, and he stopped beside her. Warmth spread up her spine, and she frowned into the bottle she held. Stop it. He was not potential mate material, no matter how happy her hormones were when he was near.

“All right?” He took a quick drink from his own water, his arm brushing hers as he did so.

She shifted her weight onto her other foot, away from him. “Fine.”

He met her gaze.

Her pulse skipped.

“I know you don’t want to trust me, but you can. On this, you can.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The winner of the free gift certificate is…Donamuree!

* * * * *

It’s that time of year!

And yes, from my polling earlier this month, I know many of you never make a list of resolutions because you feel as though you’re setting yourselves up for failure, but how about those “soft promises” to yourself?

I’m a list girl. Always have been, and the older I get, I lean on them harder. If it’s not on my list, it’s not on my radar sort of thing. But my lists are usually compiled of very finite goals and almost always aimed at writing projects. So—work-related! Not at all a “soft promise”. So far as those go…

I don’t usually set weight goals because, like many of you, I always let myself down. But when I had a health scare a couple of weeks ago (I’ll say it out loud—I had a mild stroke!), I did some soul-searching and decided: Now, is the time. No waiting for the first. The day after I spent an afternoon in the ER, I ordered a box of Nutrisystem. It was a very mild stroke, transitory. No lasting effects, thank goodness! But I think it was a wake up call. I’m seven pounds down, and while I have no desire to be reed-thin, I do want to feel better, so that’s my goal. Feel better in 2016!

Then there’s the whole smoking thing. Yes, I love nicotine. It’s my drug of choice, or one of them. The other’s caffeine, and there’s no way I can give that up—I’d be comatose at the keyboard. But there’s the whole living thing. All I have to do is think about what it felt like to realize I was slurring my words and feeling muzzy to know something’s got to give, so smoking’s going to give. Already, I’ve cut my daily habit by half.

Then there’s the art thing. Writing is my creative passion, but the past couple of years, it’s felt more like a job. I show up every day at the keyboard and pound out words. I’ve been feeling a little empty, like the creative spark needed a new outlet. I’ve been making jewelry, but it doesn’t always feed my need for color and freedom because wrapping, linking, beading doesn’t feel explosively creative. When I took a zentangle workshop last summer, I felt that burst of creative pleasure. I’ve been experimenting with watercolor and mixed media art, and so, come January, I’m going to keep an art journal  for the year and make little dates with myself to fill it up while I practice different approaches to my art education.

Lastly, I want to learn to be a saver. I’m luckier than most in that I won’t have to depend on Social Security when I’m in my dotage. I have a couple of retirements that will kick in when I hit 60, but I’d love to feel more in control, and to take some lavish trips. So, with Iceland and Bora Bora in mind, I’m taking the 52-week savings challenge. It’s small beans, but I hope it will help me learn a little discipline. No, I don’t need another paint brush or the latest tablet. Not that I am any good at denying myself little treasures, but one thing I learned about myself this past year is that I get EXTREME pleasure from treasure hunting at flea markets and yard sales. Those pretty buttons, odd beads, and small machinery finds help feed my art habit. So, maybe I don’t need a new Michael Kors bag, but I can get my shopping on looking for just the right piece of bric-a-brac for the mixed media piece I’m working on. For instance, this didn’t cost a thing—my daughter had a fanfold of picture matting swatches—just the right size for tearing apart and making a bunch of painted bookmarks. I scarfed those up. TREASURE! Be expecting to see pictures of some of those in the coming months. 🙂

So, that’s my soft list of resolutions. Not a huge list, and I won’t attack them with any “all or nothing” ambition. Plus, I didn’t wait until the 1st to begin.

So, how about it? Do you have a “soft” resolution?
Something you’d love to do for yourself this coming year?

If you comment, you’ll be entered to win a small Amazon.com gift card.  ~DD

Some of you might have new eReaders ready to gobble up some books! Let me help you out with that! Just click on the cover to pick up your free copy of Conquests: An Anthology of Smoldering Viking Romance today!

Vikings. Fierce warriors who terrified all in their path as they raided and marauded, enslaved and murdered during Europe’s Dark Ages.

But these rough men from a rugged land were also sailors, explorers, craftsmen, and highly sought after mercenaries.

Conquests: An Anthology of Smoldering Viking Romance will transport you to the realm of fantasy where such fearsome and loyal men are relentless potent lovers. Whether the lady of the keep demands a few stolen hours of pleasure with a captured Viking warrior or the handsome Northman is the one seducing his captive, you will find plenty of lusty adventures in settings as far-flung as Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Byzantium, Moorish Spain and the New World.

Let your fantasies run wild to a time when men wearing bearskin shirts and shining iron helms could capture a fierce maiden’s heart!

The Captive by Lizzie Ashworth – A captive turns captor when the lady of an English keep commands a few stolen hours of pleasure with a captured Viking warrior

Ásgeirr and the Tree of Life by Mina Murray – Danger and desire collide when a wounded Viking warrior washes ashore on a remote Irish island

A Varangian Guest by Melissa Fuchs – When her brother returns to Constantinople in the company of a warrior from the far north, a widow finds herself drawn to him with irresistible desire

How to Train Your Skjaldmaer by Delilah Devlin – A Viking jarl tricked into marrying a shieldmaiden sets out to tame his fiery bride

The Viking’s Prize by Emma Jay – Treachery and desire greet a Viking warrior who travels to the coast of Newfoundland to broker peace with the indigenous tribes

There for the Taking by Nym Nix – A captive is seduced by her Viking captor as he couples with an amorous shieldmaiden whilst she is left to watch

Sweet Silk by Megan Mitcham – A Viking returns to Persia years after saving a merchant from certain death to retrieve the child-bride awarded him–yet never claimed

Little Warrior by Evey Brett – A woman braves a pair of daunting shieldmaidens and her father’s wrath in order to take her sister’s place as bride to a Viking warrior

Protecting Her by Regina Kammer – A Byzantine noblewoman seeking refuge in a monastery loses her heart to an invader when Constantinople is sacked by the Rus

Enslaved by Elle James – A conquering Viking vows to tame his sassy Celtic slave–if she doesn’t kill him first

The Oak and the Ale by Beatrix Ellroy – A businesswoman trying to secure trade routes for her family instead finds love with a crippled warrior

New Words by Teresa Noelle Roberts – An Andalusian Arab poet learns that her new Northman husband is more than just a handsome barbarian

The Needle and the Strap by Bibi Rizer – A young man hasn’t lived up to the Viking standards of his brave and ruthless kinsmen–until he rescues a wild and wicked shieldmaiden from a burning ship

*~*~*~*

And if you didn’t know, I have another short story, newly released…

A Dominant policewoman, fresh from the mean city streets, finds her perfect match in a curvy small-town, bicycle cop…

Enjoy! And I hope your holiday continues, that Santa was very good to you, and that everyone is safe and happy!

If you are on my friend page on Facebook, you can take a peek at how my day is going. Don’t miss the video of me trying to play Guitar Hero against my SIL, Dex. Could not stop laughing.

Yes, we had a very early morning. I had my alarm set for 6:30, but my dd called at 5:15 to say the kids were standing over her bed because Santa had come. Several cups of coffee later, I am back at my desk for a little quiet.

I hope Santa was good to you! The kids gave me a Star Wars light saber—my favorite gift (HeHe, they gave their mom socks!). Also really cool were several pieces of jewelry—completely my style and taste (a turtle pendant, a snail brooch, a Star Wars charm necklace).

Feel free to share your favorite gifts and moments today. Or better yet, head back into the din and enjoy the day with your family!