It’s Wednesday which means it’s guest author time and this week it’s Amber Daulton…
TWL-Tell us about yourself and your work.
author of the Arresting Onyx series and several standalone novellas. I write primarily steamy contemporary romance and romantic suspense, though I have dabbled into other romance sub-genres like time travel, western, New Adult, holiday, and more. My latest book, Arresting Alan, just released yesterday, April 9.
TWL-Why and when did you decide to become an author?
I read my first romance book when I was 12 after I snuck a Harlequin paperback out of my mom’s bedroom. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I wanted to create my own story about two people having an adventure and falling in love. I wrote with pencil in a spiral-bound notebook and finished that 200-plus-page story in about six months. After that, I focused on writing short stories but jotted down a lot of ideas for future full-length novels, some of which I’ve actually written as an adult.
I published my first book almost when I was 26, and Arresting Alan is now my eighteenth book to date. I have several more manuscripts on my computer waiting to see the light of day.
TWL-What’s a typical writing session like for you?
Most days, I write from 8-ish in the morning to about 4 pm with short breaks in between. Depending on the research I need to do and the amount of edits each book will need, on average, I finish a novella (15-35k WC) in about two or three months. For a full-length novel (80k plus), I usually take four or five months.
I don’t set a word count quota for myself, but I do set personal deadlines in which I try to have chapters done by a certain date, so I can have the entire story completed by another date. Sometimes, I make it; other times, I don’t.
TWL-What have you learned most from being a writer?
It’s a tough job, and writing is only half the work. There’s editing, marketing, promoting on social media, running a newsletter, reaching out to bloggers and readers for reviews, and dealing with the constant pressure to churn out a new book and often feeling like you’re not good enough. All this takes a toll on your body and mind.
Back when I was kid, I had no idea of the work that awaited me. I thought I’d write the book, send it to a publisher, they’d edit and promote, and I’d reap in the royalties without having to lift another finger. Yeah, no. It’s too bad this business doesn’t work like that. Had I known the truth back then, would I have made the same choice to go into this profession? Yes, without a doubt. I love writing. I don’t do it for the money; I do it because I have stories to tell.
TWL-What’s been the biggest struggle and how did you overcome it?
On top of being an author and promoting my own work, I’m also a book cover designer. Then there’s my family and personal life to deal with, so I’m always busy. Finding time to get everything done without suffering from burn out is my biggest struggle. How I overcame this struggle? I haven’t. Not really. I’m a VERY organized person, so everything in my life belongs in a little box. I complete the tasks in one box, put it back on the shelf, and grab another box. Before I know it, my empty boxes are full again. It’s an endless cycle of tasks.
TWL-What’s been your biggest victory?
Getting published. As soon as I turned 18, I started submitting to small presses and major houses alike. I finally landed my first contract when I was 26, so after eight years of nothing but rejection letters, signing my name to a contract was a major victory for me.
TWL-If you could give advice to your pre-author self, what would it be?
I would tell myself to do more research into grammar and writing style, and not to read so many romance books written in the 1990s and earlier. The writing and publishing guidelines have changed over the years, and what was accepted then is no longer accepted now, as least for beginning writers.
I had modeled my style after what I was reading, only to learn with my first publisher that passive voice and head hopping are now frowned upon. When I think back on those drafts, I shudder. But as I already said, writing is a learning experience. I’m grateful that the publisher saw the merit in my writing and set me straight from then on.
TWL-What writing tip would you offer to a new author?
Make friends with other authors. Social media, writing forums, and book clubs at your local library (if there are any) are good places to find like-minded people. For me, I’ve found most of my author friends via writing forums and publisher chat loops. Don’t be shy. Start a blog even if you aren’t published yet, so you can join blog tours. A tour is a great way to get a free ebook as long as you write a review and post it on your blog. The author’s readers will then come to your blog to read the review. They’ll see YOUR name, and that’s what you want—to get your name out there.
Just keep trying. I know it sounds cliché, but there’s nothing else to do. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed. Period. Keep your hopes up and take rejection letters in stride. If a publisher or editor gives you feedback on why he/she rejected your work, put aside your pride and listen to their feedback. It’s hard, I know, but accepting help or criticism usually is.
Arresting Alan
Series: Arresting Onyx (book 4)
Release Date: April 9th, 2024
Publisher: Daulton Publishing
Cover Designer: Satin Rose Designs
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 85k
Heat Rating: 5 Flames
Blurb
A hacker, a federal agent, and a crime boss. The time has come to fight.
Computer technician Alan Harding is no saint, but his squeaky-clean image is unshakable in the eyes of his family and especially his young son. After he agrees to assist a drug lord-turned-snitch and hack into a criminal database, he’s faced with an impossible challenge—keeping his hands and heart away from his sexy as sin bodyguard, DEA Special Agent Hannah Adler.
Hannah would rather go hand-to-hand with an assailant than go undercover as Alan’s girlfriend, but she’s determined to keep him safe and his illegal activities on the down-low. The handsome man and his adorable child, however, are more than she bargained for.
Once their enemies learn the truth and retaliate by kidnapping Alan’s son, they’ll have to race against the clock to save the boy and bring a dangerous empire to its knees.
– Final book in the romantic suspense series, Arresting Onyx. Can be read as a standalone.
Excerpt
She flexed her hands, determined to take the high road. “I’m sorry about this morning, flipping out on you and all. What happened last night was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
“Bullshit. I know your job is tough. Your bitchy façade is what you want the world to see, but I’m not the world. Keep your apology and tell me what’s in your heart. It’s not the chunk of frozen coal you pretend it is. You burned like liquid fire when I touched you and clung to me as we slept. Don’t deny it. You owe us both better than that.”
She pursed her lips and dropped her gaze. The heart in question ached from his astute assessment.
“Forget it.” He turned back around and jabbed his fingers at the keyboard.
A long string of letters, numbers, and symbols popped up in the black window.
She cursed and seized the steps between them to gently squeeze his shoulder. “My heart’s not frozen, but you’re a temptation I can’t afford. I won’t deny what happened or how it made me feel, but don’t expect a repeat.”
He halted his tirade on the keys and stared straight ahead at the computer with glassy, unfocused eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses.
“Are you okay?” She swished her hand in front of his face and snapped her fingers.
His Adam’s apple bobbed like he swallowed a marble.
He half turned and grasped her hand so quickly that she jumped. Her stomach clenched from his suddenly sharp gaze on her face. Oh yes, she was in trouble. Alan had breached her defenses, pierced her soul, and reached her vulnerable side. That ended now.
She straightened, taking full advantage of her superior height with him in the chair. “Grow up, Alan, and forget about your little crush on me. Whatever you have going on in your head where I’m concerned is ridiculous.”
“Crush?” He feathered his thumb over her knuckles and tightened his grip when she tried to pull back. “Go ahead, fight the draw between us all you want. You won’t win. I said yesterday I’d wait for you. Now I’ve tasted you and felt you shatter in my arms. If I have to wait a lifetime to hold you again, fine. You’re worth the wait.”
A sob burned in her throat. She’d waited so long for a man she cared about to claim her. Now that it happened, she itched to run away. “Believe what you like, but nothing will come from it.” Again, her stomach twisted.
“We’ll see.” He released her and commenced typing with a much lighter touch. As she retreated across the room, he cleared his throat with a cough. “But know this, Hannah baby—I’m not giving you up without a fight. If you don’t want me, you’ll have to prove it.”
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Download Links
Only 99 cents until April 16, 2024!
Universal link – https://books2read.com/arrestingalan
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3CQFCuh
Apple/iBooks – https://apple.co/3PE4vAA
Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arresting-alan-amber-daulton/1143584871?ean=2940160981956
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/arresting-alan
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=d2vCEAAAQBAJ
About the Author
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Social Media Links
Universal link – https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton
Exclusive Newsletter (free ebook to new subscribers) – https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/