Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Death Cheater"

Thanks for joining me this week at the Desert Breeze Publishing blog. I enjoyed sharing a few thoughts and some details about Death Cheater. Enjoy the excerpt below and have a wonderful October! - Danielle Thorne

*****

From Death Cheater


I glanced at my watch and realized the last bell had rung long ago. "I'm late for European History," I apologized. I blinked to see if I could make him disappear, but it didn't work. Maybe he could do the snapping thing again.

"Yes, I give you a ring, you come to me, and we work a little project together now and then." He made it sound like a school assignment, and as if he had a cell phone, which I doubted.

"You want me to help someone pass on?" I guessed.

"Bingo." He pointed at me.

I shook my head. "I really don't know how to do that. Sometimes things come back. Sometimes..."

"I know, the flatworms. I get it. That's why I'm here."

"I just don't understand," I shrugged. "I can't go around bringing people back to life. It's sacrilegious to even think about it."

"You can help people decide," he suggested. "Some people, like your Poppy," he added with an accusing glare, "have their time up, and there's no use talking them into staying."

I stared back trying to see where he was coming from.

"What good did it do you?" he challenged me.

"I had more time with him. I didn't even have to think about it, I just wanted him to stay. That doesn't mean I meant for it to happen."

"He suffered. He was sick."

I swallowed away some guilt.

"You have the power of influence, Athena." Aero sighed and glanced down at his hand as if studying his cuticles. Did the un-living dead get manicures? "I need your help, you see, in convincing people it's time to go."

That seemed kind of hokie. I tapped back in to the hum of the room. Aero did not ooze angelic peace or light. He was dark. He moved in it. He emitted it. The chill bumps had not completely disappeared, nor the hazy glass-like edges of my peripheral vision. I felt sick and hot again.

Aero seemed to sense I was back peddling. "Have we got a deal?" he asked.

I could not mistake the demand in his cold tone. Concentrating on the hum of the room, the dark dog, and the not-so-good feeling he emanated, I slowly shook my head 'no.'

His eyes flared with angry spurts of indigo light. The hound on the floor bounded to its feet and growled.

I stepped away. "I can't," I stuttered. Fear shot through me, and it felt like my head suddenly weighed a ton, crushing down into my feet.

"You can," Aero answered.

"No," I said, reaching for the hum. For Poppy. For light. "Whatever it is you want me to do, it’s no good. I can feel it," I admitted. "Here." I put my hand on my palpitating chest. My mind hurt.

With one swift movement, Aero leapt up onto the sink. He snarled a wicked sound that made my knees buckle. It was scarier than the dog that had somehow disappeared. "You weren't so angelic when you chose to come, Athena."

I stumbled back, falling against the bathroom stalls. "I don't know what you're talking about," I cried, losing my grip on courage. Before it slipped completely away, I gushed, "I won't help you make people die."

"You will, Death Cheater. If you can make them live, you can make them die."

There was a crack like lightning striking glass, and everything went black.

Buy Now:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-259/Death-Cheater-Danielle-Thorne/Detail.bok

A Goodreads Review:
"…I really enjoyed this book, it was well written, had good pace, and kept the reader interested. I really related to Athena as a character, and really felt for her and the problems she was facing. It definitely reminded me of what it's like to be a teenager, and I really liked that she had her own way of saying things, eg: 'oh cheese!'

The storyline itself was intriguing, the idea of being a death cheater was original and not something that I have come across before, and the romance element was light and didn't overpower the rest of the book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who likes young-adult fiction, or books with a paranormal/fantasy feel."

Find Danielle at:
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com
http://www.daniellethorne.com

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne talks about Inspiration

People are always curious about me when they find out that I write. The first question they always ask is, "What do you write?" Although I still find it difficult to answer, I know in my heart the response should be, "Whatever inspires me."

Have you noticed those who move through life as if theirs is more important? I think that is what we envy in people more than we know. Perhaps we think we covet a smile, shoes, a car, or even a home, but what we truly admire in people is the energy with which they live their lives.

Inspiration is what moves us. It gets us out of bed in the morning. It takes us from one day to the next, gives us drive to prepare for what is coming, and courage to deal with what is left behind.

We need the world to inspire us. We need good story tellers, dancers, football players, good food, bad jokes, mountains, and blue skies over water. We need music in our day. We need chocolate and daintily-wrapped gifts. Children need to hang on us. Grandparents must take us in their flabby, funny-smelling embraces.

This thing we call death is already upon us in our sadness, boredom, hatred, and fears. We need to be inspired to have something to live for. Something small, something every day, something that makes us bubble up inside and want to live. A baby through the nursery window. An old woman in the beauty shop. The cat curled up on the sofa. A book waiting on a shelf.

Life without inspiration is not living. It is a monstrous routine of breathing without thinking, without caring, without wondering. It is waiting on death the way people wait at bus stops.

What inspired my new paranormal, Death Cheater? The fact that so many young people worry too much about the wrong things. Their youth passes them by in a cloud of insecurity and bad direction. I wanted to inspire readers that courage isn't all that hard to find inside of us when we set our mind to it. And it takes courage to live.

Why do writers write? Why do readers read?
Why do we sit outside and face the sun with our eyes closed?
So we can be inspired.
So we can dream.
And that is why I write.
Because I want to live.
Forever.


Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com
Blogging as The Balanced Writer at: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She has published poetry, short fiction and novels. Danielle currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the 2009-2010 Co-Chair for the New Voices Competition for young writers, is active with online author groups, and she moderates for The Sweetest Romance Authors. Besides freelance editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors. Death Cheater is her first paranormal.


I would love to meet you!

Follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000700796495
Twitter: @DanielleThorne
Follow the Blog: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne talks about what she learned from a Hobbit

Part of being a good writer is being a reader, and I don't often get the chance to indulge in reading for pleasure these days. It's ironic, since books have been my biggest inspiration in life. Last summer, I sat down for almost three days and indulged myself in a Lord of the Rings marathon. As much as I would have liked to have time to actually sit down and read the books (and I plan to with my ten year old who let me read The Hobbit to him last year), I did get a lot out of the movie and took some time to reflect on the beauty of Tolkien's imagination and the wisdom in his messages.

Every time I write a story, whether it's a romance or some far flung adventure, I am conscious of the messages that I send out with my characters. While I'm certainly no genius at integrating life changing morals into epic tales, I am fully aware of the impact of what my stories say. It's my hope that with my sea adventures, the reverence I have of the oceans comes through the pages.

With historicals, I strive to bring the beauty and innocence of the past to life. With my young adult paranormal, Death Cheater, I hope that you ponder on the fragile existence we own in this short life, and the power we have to make it all that it can be. Life needs reverence and beauty, and it takes courage, too.

So many lessons are too easily forgotten. Maybe in his own way, that's what Tolkien was trying say. Here are ten things that I have learned from the hobbits of the Shire:

Life was meant to be an adventure.
Never, never, never quit.
Faith will always find a way.
There is no greater gift than a loyal friend.
Power is a heavy burden to those who are true, and a weapon for the wicked.
No one is flawless.
To die with a friend, is to go in peace.
Trees have feelings, too.
To choose not to act, is to fail what is right.
There is no place like home…

I know there are more messages, all more profound, in the story of Frodo and his ring that I haven't even begun to unravel. I wish I'd taken the time to jot down my thoughts as I watched the films, but that they still linger on my mind is proof of the profound influence a good book can have. I wish each of you a wonderful autumn full of books (and epic film interpretations) that bring inspiration, wisdom, happiness -- and yes, adventure.

Check out the adventure of Athena Gray in Desert Breeze Publishing's Death Cheater. Here's a little blurb:

Athena Gray lives vicariously through her sister because people in general avoid her. Whether it's strange things like dead butterflies fluttering to life, or the time she saved her dying grandpa just by willing him to live, Athena knows that she is different. The only person who doesn't seem to think so is Dan, the most popular boy on Omega High School's baseball team.

Happy Reading!
Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com


Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. Besides contract editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors.

Backlist
DEATH CHEATER (Desert Breeze Publishing)
THE PRIVATEER (Desert Breeze Publishing)
BY HEART AND COMPASS (Desert Breeze Publishing)
JOSETTE (Whimsical Publications)
TURTLE SOUP (Smashwords)
SOUTHERN GIRL, YANKEE ROOTS (Willow Moon Publishing)

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne & Autumn Spooks!

I love promoting my paranormal, Death Cheater, during the month of Halloween because it goes hand in hand with the spook-filled holiday. Ironically, the real truth is when it comes to all things ghostly, I am the biggest chicken. I believe in spirits, and yes, I've had my own paranormal experiences, but writing about them didn't become a journey until my vacation to the Native American burial mounds in Pinson, Tennessee that inspired my story. I wondered how many ancient souls wandered through the nearby forest. I wondered what it would be like if I could see those spirits, and what would I do if there was contact? Reaching back into my memories of high school to shape a new character was quite the self-introspective adventure.

Athena Gray is a strong, independent character who understands she doesn't have to fit in to like herself. She also knows that she has a gift. High school doesn't come easy though, because dealing with teen drama and her own social anxiety issues are as difficult as accepting her grandfather's death. With no parents to turn to and few friends, Athena has to dig deep when a dark angel enters her life at the worst time. And he doesn't just have information about who she is, he has demands.

Now don't be too concerned. Athena isn't left entirely to her own devices. Her older sister has her best interests in mind, and Dan Lipinsky, Athena's secret crush, seems determined to make her one of his closest friends.

Is there really such a thing as ghosts? Are there dark angels intent on making us miserable? How many of us have abilities we haven't embraced? Death Cheater is an exploration into forces from the other side and our power to choose what is right over what they would influence us to do. Meet Athena Gray and find out more!

Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com
Blogging at http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com


Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She has published poetry, short fiction and novels. Danielle currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the 2009-2010 Co-Chair for the New Voices Competition for young writers, is active with online author groups, and she moderates for The Sweetest Romance Authors. Besides freelance editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors. Death Cheater is her first paranormal.


I would love to meet you!

Follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000700796495
Twitter: @DanielleThorne
Follow the Blog: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Danielle Thorne

STEPH: I don't know much about "Death Cheater." What's it about?

DANI: Death Cheater is a young adult paranormal for all ages, set in West Tennessee and the fictional town of Omega. It tells the story of Athena Gray, who has lost her grandfather and is trying to get through high school without anyone finding out that she has a strange ability. She's able to see death and in some cases reverse it. When a dark spirit shows up in Omega and tries to blackmail Athena into using her powers for evil, her secret and her family and friends are in danger.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

DANI: I was very inspired by Athena's story once I had the idea, so it was a very quick writing process compared to my previous work with environmental and historical romances. It was a fun experience-- when you really enjoy what you're doing time flies.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

DANI: I'd visited and been inspired by ancient burial mounds in Pinson, Tennessee. There's a haunting atmosphere in that park, and it gave me a lot of my story ideas. The only research I needed for Death Cheater was to study the Chickasaw nation of that region and prehistoric people who dwelled there.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

DANI: I love the cover of Death Cheater. Jenifer Ranieri did an amazing job capturing the very essence of the story. The woods of Omega are Athena's haven, but once they become dark and dangerous she loses that safe and comforting place. Athena has experience with insects and butterflies fluttering to life once she touches them, and her own journey throughout the story is a type of rebirth and realization of her strength and courage. I thought a butterfly was a perfect symbol to represent her story.

STEPH: Athena Gray is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weakness?

DANI: Athena's greatest weakness, like so many of us, is that she doesn't know how strong she is. She's insecure and suffers from real social anxiety, but she has courage that not everyone has; she's able to be true to herself no matter the circumstances, and she faces her fears with great courage.

STEPH: What does Dan find appealing about her?

DANI: Dan Lipinsky is Athena's new best friend. He's one of the most popular boys at school, but despite Athena's coolness toward others he sees right through her tough exterior and seems to understand her insecurity. Dan admires that Athena is smart and not a follower.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

DANI: The theme of Death Cheater is enduring the little things and standing up to our darkest fears. My hope is that readers will be inspired by Athena carrying on despite her fears and the obstacles thrown in her path.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

DANI: I’m often inspired by the places I visit. I love to see new things, even just a quirky road sign along the highway that may be funny or curious. I've learned to become an open minded-observer of the little things around me. For me, history and nature are full of stories waiting to be told. And the parts of ourselves we keep hidden from the world are great character traits waiting to be explored and analyzed.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

DANI: I have a Kindle Fire at this time which I love reading books on from online, but I do wish I could find a PDF program that would give me text size options and better control for reading other files on it.

STEPH: Fun question: Are you going to dress up for Halloween this year? If so, what are you going to be?

DANI: I dress up every year and help my neighbors and neighborhood pull off a great Haunted Mansion and pirate tour. Last year I dressed as a voodoo woman a la Pirates of the Caribbean and this year I will probably play that role again. It's a good time.

FIND DANI AT:
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com
http://www.daniellethorne.com

DB Authors Speak up! What they were for Halloween

Enjoy this fun post as several DB authors talk about Halloween.




SADIE & SOPHIE CUFFE
Authors of: Arrow that Flies
"Sadie and I decided to dress up as farmer/writers, just for the day. hahaha. If we wore costumes, the goats would freak out! Although it would've been fun to dress up the goats... hmmmm, I'm thinking Nigerian Dwarf Unicorns. LOL."





CELIA YEARY
Author of: Texas Promise and Texas True
"I'm going to be a woman with silver hair sitting in my jammies with my feet up on my recliner, with a glass of red wine, my Kindle open to a Western Historical romance, and watching--half-heartedly--whatever we decide to watch on TV. P.S.We live in the country--it's dark as a dungeon out here--no street lights--our house sits back in trees--no Trick-or-Treaters come to our house."



BARBARA SCOTT
Author of: Talk of the Town and West of Heaven
"This year I have door duties. so I will not be anything. My most memorable Halloween was when I was Miss Piggy. I could not wear my glasses due to the pig nose and to stay in character. I was going to a party at a co-worker's I'd never been to before. I arrived and did not recognize anyone at the party. I was given a drink. Everyone complimented me on my costume. It wasn't until 20 minutes later when no one who came in was familiar that I finally realized I was at the wrong house. My co-worker lived three houses down the street!"




STEPHANIE BURKHART
Author of: Danube in Candlelight and Victorian Scoundrel
"I was going to go as Spongebob (and I still might because time is not on my side) But I got everything I need - including a blonde wig - to be Daenerys from Game of Thrones. I even got the dragons."




JILLIAN CHANTEL
Author of: Redemption for the Devil
"I'm going as a 1920s Gatsby girl. We're dressing up at work. I actually told a friend I got a great Gatsby dress and then realized my unintentional pun. Lol."






DANIELLE THORNE
Author of: The Privateer and By Heart and Compass
"I'm going as a voodoo witch, or Tia Dalma, from Pirates of the Caribbean. I dyed
my hair brown and rolled it in dreadlocks. Crazy, but fun. We "act" at our
neighborhood Haunted Mansion which also features pirate ships and now a swamp
with Tia Dalma's hut."







MARION KELLEY BULLOCK
Author of: Christmas Stranger and He Wants Me Dead
"Several years ago, I was "Bashful, the clown," stretchy face and all. In our parade, I I danced in the street. Can't manage that now. It almost did me in back then. But it was fun!"


So...fess up. What were you for Halloween?
Smiles
Steph

Author Spotlight week - Excerpt from The Privateer

"Good Lord!" was Captain Adair's first private remark. "What was that wild, babbling thing?" Well satiated at the Lieutenant-Governor's expense, Captain Adair and Bertrand had excused themselves as the hour drew late. Once free of the manor's gates, they slowed their pace, letting their eyes adjust to the dim light of the waxing half moon. Dark shadows of the island's palm trees stretched across the foot path like ghostly sentinels. Fronds ruffled the night air. "Those white curls," Adair continued, "have you ever seen such fair madness?"

Bertrand waved him off. "I prefer beauty in her natural state, not trussed like a turkey without a mind to own."

"I didn't mean she wasn't a beautiful thing, Miss O'Connell. If one likes a girl with no shape and high as a heron."

"Now that I am faced with the inevitable obligation of procuring one of those things as you call them, I'm not inclined to worry about form."

"Well," said Adair, too loose in the tongue, "I'm sure Miss Spencer feels the same way."

Bertrand made an ugly face for his friend's benefit. "What we must suffer to advance ourselves." He wanted nothing to do with matrimony, but he knew if his ambitions were to be met, there was little choice.

"Surely a title has its merits. Fortunately for me," Adair added, "I only need to catch and conquer to earn my colors."

"And you have conquered well," Bertrand said wryly.

Adair lost all mirth. "A fine upstanding wife would all but secure you, mate."

Bertrand ground his teeth at the thought that everyone on the island seemed to believe Miss Spencer would make a fine upstanding wife, and nobody more than her mother. He changed the subject before he let slip that he found the O'Connell girl far more intriguing.

"Speaking of security, Dubois has returned."

His companion stiffened. "What information did he gather?"

"The Warbler was in Martinique not three weeks ago."
"Again? Bloody thieves."

Bertrand shrugged. "It's a simple way to profit. They trade slaves for sugar rather than gold, then return to England with a valuable commodity that is easier to transport."

"Sugar purchased from the French. Where are the Africans coming from directly?"

"Not from the South Sea Company, that much I know."

"Should we consider this an answer to the recent surge in kidnappings?"

"I would lay all the blame on the Spanish, but they appear to be too busy pillaging our ships in the name of Utrecht. Port Royal is on vigilant guard. Once these ships leave England the African coast is over their shoulders."

Adair brushed a hair that had escaped its pigtail in the blessed breeze, out of his eye. "I cannot believe a merchant would run such risk."

"Everyone has his thumb in the pie. I don't see a connection with the rumors. And there is more. Some of the same leaflets discovered in Jamaica have made their way east."

"Your man found evidence of an uprising?"

"From what I understand."
"Old Cudjoe?"

"I'm disinclined to believe that," said Bertrand.
"But who reads them?"

"It is ignorance, Adair, to assume the Englishman the only literate creature in the New World."

"Any more rumors of French support?"

Bertrand shook his head. "No evidence, but France would profit enormously. Consider St. Lucia. They want it."

"I don't like it though. The shipping lanes are starting to resemble the Channel."

"Search them," Bertrand growled.

"For what? The papers are official and nothing is out of order."

"Allow me."

"No," Adair said. "You monitor the guardacostas. Those Spanish mongrels are up to something. The next ship of the line I spy without colors will get a boarding party."

"You'll be wise to have orders for that."

"I'll think of something. A lieutenant transfer should arrive soon to replace Walker."

Bertrand stooped and picked up a discarded bottle, half buried in the sand. "There have been more attacks." He shook it clean and blew across the top.

"Pillaging?"

"Aye. Pirates. And this Moreaux, again. He appears to scout within a closer range of the colonies before each strike then disappears quickly."

"Where?"

Bertrand shrugged in the blue moonlight. "Belize, perhaps? New Providence? Maybe as far as Brazil."

"Too far, man. Any more theories?"

"Men from the Main recognize the name."

This drew in Adair immediately. "Any word from survivors?"
"To my knowledge, he doesn't leave any."
"Then the rumors are from?"

The pair approached a slight embankment that led to the wharf and the frigate, Indemnity. Bertrand stopped. "He seems to be regrettably selective. Flies any colors he fancies. She's rumored to be a galleon although anyone able to throw up sails and ignore a few chasers can elude them."

Adair sought the moon. It glowed luminous, unlike his expression. "You've been given more than I," he muttered. He wiped his hand over his face looking suddenly tired. "Until next week then, my old friend," and taking his cue, Bertrand slipped off into the shadows underneath the pilings.

Author Spotlight Week -Danielle Thorne shares her last vacation

I'm lucky to be able to take a few road trips every year, but my last big getaway was in April of 2010. I can't believe it's been almost a year since I had the opportunity to walk the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico, and dive with a young local in Mahahuel as he collected lionfish specimens with a spear gun. I've always been attracted to the exotic – the Orient, Europe and the Caribbean. I have a deep love for this planet. The beauty and diversity of it amazes me. It's truly a blessing.

Getting away and planning vacations isn't easy, especially at my stage of life. It's something I've sought to make a priority, not just for myself but for my family. As St. Augustine said, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." I've become a hands-on person. I want to taste, touch, smell and feel everything I've read about. Traveling makes me feel alive. If that means living on a small grocery budget to save pennies, or wearing off-brand clothes, so be it.

We had a very small Christmas this year, and my children were very understanding. I'm sure it's because they know next spring, we hope to be cruising the waters of the eastern Caribbean and adding a few more dive experiences under our belts.

Bon Voyage!

Author Spotlight Week -Danielle Thorne shares her favorite 80's show

I watched a lot of television growing up. Even back then, experts worried it would stifle my imagination. I don’t recall it having that affect! Some of my fondest memories of spending time with my big sister, are of watching Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. That special night was the highlight of my week – even better than cartoons on Saturday. As I grew older, I glued myself to detective shows like Miami Vice. I graduated from a crush on Gopher to speed boats.

Miami Vice was so exotic to a Southern girl like me. I'd been raised running barefoot in the mountains and swimming in creek beds. Even when we moved to Suburbia, we were still in Music City, U.S.A. -- Nashville -- so beaches and neon city lights were the moon. The theme song to that cop show is still one of my most memorable show tunes. Then again, every time I hear Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight," I think of Miami Vice and the episode it played on. Oh the days of mullets and white blazers and designer shades!

I guess you can say I've grown up. I do find the Florida tropics a nice place to visit, but I am more attracted to the Caribbean further south.

Author Spotlight Week - Daniellle Thorne shares her passion for Historicals

I love a good adventure, no matter where or when it happens. Historicals are one way I like to escape because they take me away. Three hundred, two hundred, even one hundred years ago, the world was a different place. As much as we have in common with our ancestors, the changes we have seen in science, medicine, the Arts and entertainment, and especially society, give each century a culture all its own, creating places I love to visit and experience.

I'm often asked what draws me to write about the Age of Sail and piracy eras. I wasn't born in a coastal town, and I'm not related to any great Naval heroes. The only explanation I have is I feel a kinship with the sea and distant horizon. I feel it in my blood, perhaps from my Rhode Island ancestors that sailed on merchant sloops up and down the coast. The Golden Age of piracy and the history of the West Indies intrigue me because of the exotic freedom it offered from cold parlor rooms. I can relate to wanting to escape the repetitious routines of every day life and strike out to see the world. Although the brutal history in this era is disturbing in many ways, I focus on the excitement that was to be found. I try to incorporate truths, even if they are painful. In essence, I love the marvelous changes of history, but I do not write about it with rose-colored glasses. Our ancestors from long ago experienced the beauty in this world the same way that we do – they felt the same happiness, fear, excitement, disappointment…Historicals are not just a way to experience the past, the genre offers a way to connect and learn about who and what came before us.

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Danielle Thorne

STEPH: I don't know much about The Privateer. What's it about?

DANI: The Privateer is about a West Indies privateer with a pirating past. Julius Bertrand is doing the best he can to make it in society while carrying out clandestine work for the government. When a new doctor and his precocious daughter arrive to his island colony, Bertrand finds himself distracted by the idea of choosing a wife. His ambitions lead him to make regrettable choices that almost kill him and those he loves when his past catches up with him.

STEPH: I understand this is a re-release. How did it find a home with Desert Breeze?

DANI: The Privateer was contracted in 2007 with another company that sold out months before publication. Unfortunately, it saw little editing, and the new publisher did not honor the contract or my other subsequent books there. When The Privateer's sequel, By Heart and Compass, published with Desert Breeze, we discussed moving it to join its companion, and fortunately for me, it all worked out beautifully!

STEPH: How long did the story take to write?

DANI: The Privateer took me over a year to write, as it required massive amounts of research (including my first trip to the Caribbean). I was new to the Age of Sail genre, as well as early eighteenth century life in the West Indies, but my attraction to this period as well as my love of non-fiction history made it easy to garner the information. It opened up my imagination and made The Privateer truly an adventure to write. The Privateer was my first ever completed novel.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research on the story?

DANI: Tons. I spent many long days on the upper floors of the Memphis City Central Library digging through old West Indies journals when I wasn't glued to documents online. I also read and reread the entire Jack Aubrey series (Master and Commander) written by Patrick O'Brian. His novel, Post Captain, inspired my story. I do not profess to be an expert, but I gave one hundred percent to the accuracy and atmosphere of this time. Age of Sail research is a continual learning process since I don't have a ship in my backyard.

STEPH: Do you cast your characters? If so, who are the leads?

DANI: My hero, Julius Bertrand, is a complete figment of my imagination, a probable patchwork of people I have known or read about. His companion, British officer Shane Adair, was inspired by Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. However, I did yearn to make him cleverer and less clumsy than O'Brian's lovable sea captain. As you can see, I’m don't usually type cast, but I do confess my heroine was based on the beautiful actress, Nicole Kidman, who takes my breath away.


STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? Which one?

DANI: Yes! I have a Sony Reader, about a year old, that I love very much. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a Kindle though!

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

DANI: I started writing in second grade and received my first national recognition at fourteen years old. Poetry came natural to me, but working up to novels has taken a lot of study and perseverance. For me, short story writing is the most difficult. I always find it a challenge and admire anyone who can create a strong message in so few words.

STEPH: Which state do you live in? Can you tell us a little about it?

DANI: I currently live in Georgia, although I was raised in Tennessee. I'm a bit of a gypsy, being born in Chicago and having lived all over the South. I've also lived in Idaho and Oklahoma. My favorite thing about Georgia is I'm only a few hours away from the Smoky Mountains in one direction, and the beach in another. I love the people here, the landscape and the culture. Living less than an hour from Atlanta is a blessing, too, because I love Theater and museums. Of course, my favorite place to visit is the Georgia Aquarium.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

DANI: My office is a small converted bedroom with a small secretary, bookshelves, filing cabinet, and a craft table heaped with every gadget you can think of, from a laminator to printers to a postal scale. I also have my other interests crammed into other corners—couponing supplies and Cub Scout stuff.

STEPH: What country would you like to visit that you haven't yet?

DANI: I am dying to visit England, which is the primary country of my ancestors and the focus of my historical research for novel writing. I've done my genealogy back to the 1700's in two northern coal mining counties (as well as in Wales). I dream of walking where my ancestors walked. Plus, I want to sneak a visit in to Jane Austen's neck of the woods. And Whitehall. Who wouldn't?

The Reviews are in!! Recent Desert Breeze Reviews

THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO
"This is the first in the Minx Tobin series by talented author Susanne Marie Knight and you'll be waiting for the next one, just to see what happenx next. The hint of romance blended in, promises sparks will fly...I'm pleased to recommend The Bloodstained Bistro to any mystery fan. The interesting settings and characters will keep you reading. Enjoy. I did."

Anne K. Edwards - Mysteryfiction.net

BY HEART AND COMPASS

"This is the first book that I have read of Ms. Thorne’s but I was captured right from the beginning. I especially like the sayings before each chapter. Read as a pirate would say it. Excellent Book... You’ll be in for a great adventure."

Miss Lynne's Books and More
Rating = 5 Stars - 'A'

FIRE AND ASH
"Another Fastastic Novel!!!! Anne Patrick's novel, "Fire and Ash" is a well-written novel that flows wonderfully...A fantastic read!"

Ursshebear - Night Owl Reviews
Rating = 5 Stars

Author Spotlight Week - Excerpt from By Heart and Compass

"Can you imagine?" asked Lacey with building excitement, "an almost three-hundred-year old pirate ship? And it once belonged to Captain Bertrand who brought down the remaining pirates in the Caribbean after Blackbeard. He won the trust of the crown and the heart of a physician's daughter. It's all so romantic," she gushed.

Max startled her by putting his hand over her mouth. "Ever notice you babble when you're nervous? Like some kind of vomiting library book?"

Lacey steamed. She smacked his arm away.

"You realize you don't have to play it smart to get attention?" he continued, obviously showing off for Charlie and John's benefit. "Just shut your mouth and be pretty."

Lacey punched him on the shoulder with all of her strength.

"Ow!" he roared.

"Do not tell me to shut up and look pretty. That's so chauvinistic, Max. So--"

"I didn't," he argued. "I said that's all you need to do. You don't have to advertise the brains, sugar."

"Don't call me sugar. That's a southern rite and you're not Southern."

"That's right. I'm a pirate, huh? So maybe I should call you sweetheart or poppet."

Lacey glared. "I was just trying to explain."

"We don't need explanations. Keep the info verbose. Please."

Realizing everyone was staring and looking intensely entertained, Lacey stalked away and made her way through the tangle of cargo to the rail overlooking the stern. On her way out of the galley, she heard Charlie ask, "So what happened to the sloop of diamonds?"

Her heart skipped a beat in response. It seemed to be bouncing all over inside her chest since she'd arrived in Antigua. She hated herself for losing focus on the reason she was here. And then there was the diamonds. Sooner or later she'd have to tell Max about the diamonds that had been buried with the diary. Wouldn't she?

Darn him if Max didn't make her feel like a stuttering sixteen year old schoolgirl every time he beamed his laser eyes on her. For some bizarre reason she wanted her eyes to well up with tears. She wanted to feel offended and sorry for herself but she couldn't. Max didn't just think she was smart. He thought she was pretty, too.

"Shut up and look pretty," she mumbled trying to feel angry.

He didn't mean it, did he? No, not like that. He may have talked like one of the losers in high school who gave her a bad time, but his words rang empty. It was like they were some sort of self-defense mechanism. He didn't seem to want to respect or be impressed by any woman. Sheesh. What had his mother done to him?

A thump jerked her out of her reverie. When she looked over her shoulder, Max was standing a few feet away with his hands on his hips.

"Come up and take a look at the satellite maps. I want your input."

She glared at him, wanting him to make something right out of the unnecessary reproach in the galley.

"You going deaf?"

She crossed her arms over herself and he reached out and jerked them down. "I don't have time for attitudes. Get a thicker skin. You're not in Georgia anymore."


Lacey dropped her jaw. "You think you're a tougher crowd?" she scoffed. "I survived four years of high school, volunteering as a library assistant and playing in the band."

"You wore glasses, didn't you?" Max asked out of the blue. He leered as if their paths had crossed at some point during that time.

Lacey had a sudden epiphany. "You were the guy who tripped me on my way to the bus," she said slowly. "You were the one who spit paper wads at me while I shelving books."

"I never lived in Newton. And I got kicked out of high school."

"You know what I mean," Lacey said, suddenly and inexplicably angry. "You were that type of guy. You stole my clarinet and put it up on the roof of the boys' locker room. You drew cartoon ladies with big boobs on my locker."
Max laughed.
She kicked out at him and tripped, the boat's rise and fall throwing her off balance.

"Let me go," she said when he reached out to steady her.

"Calm down, Goober," he teased. "That's what they called you right? Goober?"

"Shut-up," she snapped, "Julius Bertrand the Eighth!" She stormed for the upper deck, slipping and sliding on the steep ladder. There was nowhere to escape, he came right up behind her. She turned on him when they both reached the top.

"You owe me a little respect," she demanded. His eyes were already on the stack of maps, dismissing her. "I mean it," she insisted. "You have no right to speak to me the way you just did. It's inappropriate and unacceptable, no matter what your issues are."

Max leaned back on a jutting counter top and crossed one foot over the other. He sighed dramatically. "We've got work to do and you have my respect. If you didn't, you wouldn't be standing on my boat." He pressed his lips together stubbornly but something that might have been remorse flashed in his eyes.

"Fine," Lacey muttered, surprised that he had relented.

"I'm sorry," he said, turning around so that his voice was less audible. Then clearing his throat, he added, "And just so you know, you were the girl who made fun of my grades behind my back and only went out with me because my daddy supposedly had bags of money."

"I thought you got kicked out of high school."

"Not until after I made my mark. And it was private school."

Lacey snorted and moved around him to look at the satellite images. You're still trying to make your mark, she thought to herself. She could only hope she'd left a mark on his arm.

Author Spotlight Week - Danielle Thorne shares her favorite movie

When I think about the books that touched me most, or the books that opened my eyes to something new or even changed my life, I always come back to the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brian. The first book I read of O'Brian's was POST CAPTAIN. I picked it up after seeing the Master and Commander movie starring my most favorite actor, Russell Crowe.

Intrigued with West Indies history and the Golden Age, POST CAPTAIN exposed me to the Age of Sail from the British perspective and opened doors that led me into the wonder of wooden ships, exploration and the admirable, rugged and clever sea captain. It was a wonderful balance against the piracy I had read, giving me a look at the other side of the coin.

O'Brian has a flair for description that puts the reader in the scene. His ability to color every detail in language, mannerism, setting, tone, and emotion is extraordinary. So enticing are his stories about the chunky, bumbling but brilliant and courageous, Captain Jack Aubrey, that I read the entire collection of over twenty books in a year. I couldn't put them down, so immersed was I in the past lives of men of the sea. This was a world I would have never known or understood without his brilliance. I would have loved to have met the man.

Author Spotlight Week - Danielle Thorne shares her favorite movie

Darcy and Lizze, BBC verison of
Pride and Prejudice

In the collection of movies that I keep on hand to watch over and over, (Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter) there are a couple here and there that I always come back to when I need a laugh. I'm one of those people that walked out of the theater with scrunched brows after seeing Napoleon Dynamite thinking, "What the hell was that?" But the second time around, and then the third, it finally sunk in and I got it. The same thing pretty much goes for my favorite Jack Black movie, Nacho Libre. Maybe it's my strange sense of humor, but that movie about an incapable priest in the poverty-stricken mountains of Mexico who dreams of being a wrestler, tickles my funny bone. I often break into Nacho Libre voice when I need to relax. Sometimes I read in Nacho Libre voice when I need to get through a long passage of something I find boring. Whatever works. But seriously, my favorite all time movie at this time in my life (because let's face it, twenty years ago it was a toss up between Footloose, Goonies or Dirty Dancing) is the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. I suppose it is cliché, but that's the way it is. No one holds a candle to Mr. Darcy. Not Baby. Not even Nacho.

Author Spotlight Week - Daniellle Thorne shares her passion for Contemporary and Historicals

When asked why I write contemporary and historical, the first thing I think of is my love of the past. I'd always enjoyed history, but when I was introduced to genealogy about twenty years ago, I began to feel a true connection with those that came before us. I'm a learner, too. I hunger for information, and facts and historical data always captivate me. Writing historicals gives me an opportunity to do the things I love to do most: to daydream and to research. It's a challenge and somewhat of an honor to bring the past back to life. And it's an adventure.

As far as contemporary, this may raise a few brows but…it's easy! When I write contemporary romances, I feel much less restrained because, hey, I'm living it. I don’t have to research food or clothing, or worry too much about parts of speech. Writing modern romance, besides the technical aspect of putting a plotline together, can be very relaxing. Like walking barefoot in the sand. As long as I'm able to integrate the beauty of family, friends and Mother Nature into my work, I feel satisfied with the long hours it takes to put a manuscript together. If we don't write what we don't love, what's the point?

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Danielle Thorne

STEPH: I'd like to welcome Danielle Thorne to the Author Spotlight this week. Danielle Thorne's first release with Desert Breeze is "By Heart and Compass." Dani, can you tell us about your latest release, BY HEART AND COMPASS?

DANI: I'd love to, Stephanie. Thanks for having me this week.

BY HEART AND COMPASS is about stepping out of your comfort zone and truly following your heart. Whether it's love, trust or the opportunity to chase adventure, most people hold back because of that niggle of doubt that tells us dreams can't come true. In this adventure, Lacy Whitman finds an antique diary that hints at the location of a long lost shipwreck, and she has to gather her courage to face making a discovery that is more than just pages in a book. She also risks falling for a cynical yet vulnerable dive instructor. Life is all about taking chances and living, and that's what I like to write about.

STEPH: I notice you are drawn to water themes. What's the attraction for you?

DANI: The first time I saw the ocean I was 19-years-old. It had a profound effect. For me, it is a gateway to another world right here on our own planet. Since getting scuba certified a few years ago, I have become very passionate about sea conservation and environmental issues. I had the chance to dive off the coast of Mexico this April, just days after the oil disaster struck in the gulf. It's hard not to wonder if I will ever be able to again down that way. The effects of this crisis break my heart—but I do have my writing to bring the joy and adventure of the sea to other people.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind BY HEART AND COMPASS?

DANI: I published my first novel, THE PRIVATEER, after over twelve months of in-depth research. The Age of Sail is a fascinating time to me. These were a type of courageous men that you don't see often anymore. When I was finished, I knew I someday wanted to bring the past into the present. Since Blackbeard's ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered off the coast of North Carolina, I have enjoyed following the excavation and research that is made available to the public online. These events inspired me to think about what it would be like to discover my own pirate ship. Of course as a teenager I was in love with the pirating adventure film, "Goonies," so I'm sure there was some subliminal influence there as well.

STEPH: Do you cast your characters? If so who are the leads?

DANI: I actually start out with names popping into my head when I create a character and the general personality follows. Then I do think about books, film and television and consider people, real and imaginary, that might be similar. But on a whole, no, I do not cast characters in the general sense of the word. However, I do find it very entertaining to talk and read blogs from other authors that do.


STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

DANI: Plotter. I don't have that ability of being able to write and just "know" where to go. I need to plan out my story with highs, lows and then let the characters get from A to B, all on their own. I definitely use plot points. I don't like to waste time and hope not to ramble!

STEPH: Do you write any other genres? If so, what?

DANI: Besides contemporary, I write historical, which comes natural to me with my love of research and genealogy. My first Jane Austen-inspired Regency will be released this winter and I'm looking forward to the response. I also have dabbled in juvenile fiction. I finished my first manuscript, DANNY BOY, many years ago. This Huck Finn-type adventure is my baby and we're still looking for a home.

STEPH: What types of books do you like to read?

DANI: I'm very eclectic when it comes to almost all areas of the Arts. Although I primarily pickup romances of varying sub-genres, I also like historical non-fiction and good government suspense adventures.

STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

DANI: I just saw the new "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnny Depp. Of course, I am a huge Depp admirer, but it's more of a sisterly affection, I'm not a rabid fan. Maybe it's because sometimes he reminds me of my brother? (Laughs) He is one of the most brilliant actors of our generation and it's a shame he does not get the credit he deserves. No matter what film I see him in, he always becomes his character—he is never himself. I could only hope to be able to stretch myself and write with as much abandon as that man can act. Anyway, I loved the film and thought it was brilliant. It's a new favorite.

STEPH: Do you have any Desert Breeze authors or books you'd like to recommend?

DANI: I have read several Desert Breeze titles and have never been disappointed. That's why I am thrilled to be published by this House. Currently, I am following the Future Imperfect series by P.I. Barrington. Also, the sweet romance, NO OTHER is on my reading summer list, as is THE HUNGARIAN, which is sounding like it's going to be an amazing read.

STEPH: Thanks for being here today, Dani.

Featured July Release - By Heart and Compass by Danielle Thorne

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, she never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back to sea and into the arms of the dive bum she’d rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a screeching halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again. But will finding it cost her heart?

EXCERPT:
Sitting outside, one of the divers looked busy replacing the o-ring on a scuba tank.

"I'm looking for Max?"

The long haired employee didn't bother to stand, much less look up.

"So?"

"I'm Lacey Whitman, and I'm looking for the Max that owns the museum."

"You call that worthless shack a museum?"

Dumbfounded, Lacey couldn't think of any reply.

"What do you want?"

"I'm looking for Max," she repeated, feeling a flash of impatience. "I have some papers for him."

"Warrant, restraining order, or paternity test?"

After a pause in which she realized he was serious, she replied in frustration, "I have some research for the Bertrand family and someone at the museum told me to come down here."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Danielle Thorne freelanced for online and print magazines from 1998 through 2001, adding reviewing and editing to her resume. She is the author of two 2009 novels: THE PRIVATEER, a 1729 historical about British privateering in the Caribbean, and TURTLE SOUP, a contemporary romance set between Atlanta and St. Thomas.

Other works have appeared with Espresso Fiction, Every Day Fiction, Arts and Prose Magazine, Mississippi Crow, The Nantahala Review, StorySouth, Bookideas, the Mid-West Review, and more. She won an Honorable Mention in Writer's Digest's 2006 annual writing competition, and won the 2008 Awe-Struck Short Novel Contest.

Danielle currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She is the 2009-2010 Co-Chair for the New Voices Competition for young writers, active with online author groups such as Classic Romance Revival, and moderates for The Sweetest Romance Authors at the CoffeeTime Romance boards. She lives with four sons and her husband, who is an air traffic controller. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors, Marching Band competitions, and BSA Scouting.

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Desert Breeze Congratulates Danielle on her July Release!

Meet Desert Breeze Author, Danielle Thorne

Greetings from beautiful (and chilly) Georgia! What a thrill it is to be joining so many talented authors at Desert Breeze. An author of historical and contemporary romance, I heard about Desert Breeze when they first opened their virtual doors, and was very excited to learn there was a new publisher targeting my sub-genre: sweet heat and adventure.

With a Yankee mum and no accent, many people are surprised when they learn I’m from the deep South. Born in Chicago, I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, and later Nashville. My traveling feet have taken me as far West as Idaho, and I’ve even spent time in the beautiful Mid-West. I’ve hung my hat all over Dixie.

My path with this “sweet” company crossed last Fall, after starting my new Caribbean adventure. I felt sure BY HEART AND COMPASS would be a great fit with Desert Breeze. Thanks to generous voters in a work-in-progress contest at Classic Romance Revival, I was able to get some exposure for the manuscript and Chief Editor, Gail Delaney here at Desert Breeze generously offered me a contract.


You want the nitty gritty? I’m the mother of four boys and have been married to my college sweetheart for almost twenty-one years. Together we enjoy traveling the Caribbean, weekend road trips to the mountains, and supporting high school marching band competition and scouting. When I’m not writing you can find me with my nose in a book or puttering around in my little salsa garden. (Salsa is not just food at our house. It’s a way of life.) And of course, I’m never far from the keyboard when inspiration hits for another romantic adventure!

Coming this summer is my latest sea adventure, BY HEART AND COMPASS, about a diary, a lost pirate ship, and two very different personalities:

When Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, she never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back to sea and into the arms of the dive bum she’d rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a screeching halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again.

Will Lacey’s adventure cost her her heart? That to me, is always the question when I pick up a romance. What great adventure will bring two people together or tear them apart? What challenges will they face and how will the overcome? My greatest wish is that my own books will answer those questions for readers and take them on a breathless ride.

I’m looking forward to being a part of the growing authorship with this great company. Please stop by my website and give me a shout out--with blessings, you will be seeing a lot more of me here, and all around the online reading world.

Cheers!
daniellethorne

Author of THE PRIVATEER and TURTLE SOUP

www.daniellethorne.jimdo.com
www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

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