Going Free

To Be Free or Not to Be Free? That is the question. What is the answer?

I see it all the time. Lots of books going free every day. I can see how it can help sales, but aside from Carina Press making Dangerous Race free with the release of Living Dangerously (Adrenaline Highs #4), I've never had any other books go free.

Until now.

Yep. I'm happy to announce that for 3 days this week, A Little Danger will be free for the first time. This was one of my favorite stories to write since the main characters have both worked hard to get to a place in life where very little scares them.... With the exception of their feelings for each other.

Okay, more on them later.

What I'd like to know is your feelings on going free. The general consensus seems to be that free works. I have to admit, sometimes I wonder about it though. In a perfect world, everyone downloads the book and falls in love with the storytelling then decides to buy all the other books in the series or all the backlist. I know I've certainly done it. But I wonder if there's a saturation point with free? That the more free books out there, the less people will buy. (Horrors)

And of course there are many authors with "perma-free" first books in a series. Maybe one day I'll get a point where I can do that, but I'm not there yet. One day, I hope to have so many books that it won't matter if I give away the first one in a series on a permanent basis, but right now I can't really wrap my brain around it.

What do you think? Does "free" work in the long run?

Here's the cover (one of my favorites) and the blurb for my upcoming freebie, A Little Danger:

Some killers never die.

Elena Fraser is on her way to the airport to catch a flight to New York for the premiere of her daughter’s movie. Before limo driver Bill “Fido” Fidelo can make it to the freeway, a 7.1 earthquake collapses the overpass above and traps them. With nothing but time between frightening temblors, Elena and Bill learn more about each other, including the fact they’ve lusted after each other for years.

Understanding they might not survive, Elena and Bill look to one another for solace and companionship. Bill tries to convince Elena that their seven-year age difference means nothing to him, and Elena soon realizes that life is too short to put off living.

The passion they discover is enough to torch the limo they’re trapped in, but can rescuers save them in time, or will a final aftershock bury them before they have a chance to build a life together? 

****

I loved Elena and Bill. They were so cute together even during a horrific natural disaster. Since I don't have a link ready today, you can click on this: A Little Danger  and find all the places the book is free. Grab one for yourself anytime between Wednesday, July 27 - 29. And happy reading!

Dee J.

website

It's a Wrap!

This week marks the release of the final installment of the Adrenaline Highs! I'm so excited to get Always Dangerous out into the world.

 But ending this book brought up a few questions.

Are you one of those people who like seeing everyone (from all or most of the previous books) show up at the end of the final book? Or have you read a book that did that and because you hadn't read every book in the series, you didn't know who some of the characters were so you ended up feeling a little out of the loop?

One of the things I liked about the Adrenaline Highs is that each book ended with two happy main characters (sometimes more). At the end of every book, I wondered if I should toss in a person or two from a past story or stories, but ultimately I wanted all of the books to stand alone, so I refrained from going overboard.

Honestly, I actually considered having some kind of party at the end of Always Dangerous... Something that would bring in all the characters from the previous books, but then I read a book deep into a series by a favorite author and she'd done something similar. In the end, I thought it didn't feel right. Not because she'd already done it, but I didn't want to leave any reader (who hadn't read all of the books) feeling left out.

Who knows...maybe I'll save the "party" for a free read down the line.

An excerpt was already posted a few dys ago, but I thought it might be fun to post a different (quick!) one today since it is release week.

Damn, he’d forgotten how much he liked her. Their two-month separation had been good, because he’d been able to focus on other things besides how much he wanted to be with her. Touching her set his blood on fire. She blinked a few times, fast, as if their contact was another shock to her system. And standing there, with his legs between hers, with their mouths so close together, the only thought in his brain was kiss her. Now.

“Leo,” she whispered. Her lips seemed to move in slow motion as he slowly bridged the gap between them.

“What?” he growled.

“I don’t think this is a—”

He kissed her before she finished the sentence, because she was right. It wasn’t a good idea. But damn if he could stop himself. She was his Achilles heel. His weak spot. The more distance she put between them, the more he wanted her. He started slow, worked his way into the kiss, waiting for her to push him away or move back. She did neither, so he took it farther and tasted her lower lip with a gentle brush of his tongue. A little moan vibrated from her throat as their lips stayed connected. She tasted different…she tasted like a luscious cinnamon stick, all hot and spicy. “You found my cinnamon gum in the shorts pocket, didn’t you?” he breathed against her mouth. The gum was her fault. Whatever perfume she wore smelled like cinnamon and he’d started to chew the gum. Whether to remind himself of her or not was something he purposely hadn’t analyzed.

She barely nodded, her wet lips brushing against his in an erotic glide. “I had nap breath,” she murmured.

He smiled against her lips before going in for more. Still slow, still sexy as hell, still doing his best to inhale her without scaring her off. They had history, yes, but her unpredictability always threw him off. He missed the softness of her hair under his fingertips. The way her pulse beat rapidly right before contact.

“Leo,” she murmured, her mouth still moving against his as his hands moved down her thighs.

“Mmm,” he managed.

“We should stop. This isn’t going to get either one of us anywhere.”

Just like last time, she was relying on his will power to stay away. Hadn’t he failed that test already? In a colossal way?

So, tell me… How do you like saying goodbye to a series? With a full cast of characters or mainly the ones in the book you read? 

Always Dangerous is at Amazon | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | ARe

 

You can find Dee J. at her website

FaceBook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Branding

For me, the word branding brings to mind the West - not of the Kanye variation - but of the herding and roping steers kind. (I am from Texas after all.) But Branding in our business isn't quite as painful. At least hopefully it isn't.

But how do we brand ourselves? Many of us get started with Publishers who brand us from the start which may (or may not - depending on your covers) give us a leg up in that department. (I'll admit I'm one of those people. Carina Press did a great job with my first 4 covers and I was very happy with them.) Branding is something I learned about as I got deeper into the process of writing. What's the tone of a book? What do the colors and covers tell you about the books or the author? There's so much that goes into the process of building a brand.

Now, why am I talking about branding? Because I wonder about the success of authors who RE-brand themselves. Do they do better or worse? Do sales pick up, do people who didn't pick up those author's books in the past, suddenly decided they want to give them a try because of a new look or cover? I'm really asking these questions because I certainly don't have an answer.

Take for instance a series that's successful on it's own? Do you think it's beneficial for a publisher or an author to rebrand a series that's been selling? I always wonder what the point of that is.

Anyway... the discussion of branding leads me to my announcement of the release in the last book in the Adrenaline Highs series. October 6, 2015 is the big day. Always Dangerous will come out exactly 4 years, 1 month and 1 day after the release of the first book, Dangerous Race.

Without any further ado, here is the cover (and blurb) for Always Dangerous. 

Leo Frost has lost his house, his car and possibly his acting career. Releasing an independent film is his only hope of paying for his sister’s twenty-four/seven care, but he’s got to finish it first. The last thing he needs is a curveball from the one woman who could break his focus with a look, a smile and the most unexpected news of his life. 

Kim Jacobs wants it all—a career in a big city, a husband and a family, but a tryst two months ago with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars leaves her pregnant. Knowing Leo doesn’t want kids or a wife, Kim decides to make her own happily-ever-after with the help of a recent inheritance. All that’s left is to tell the man and move on.  

Kim’s short visit to L.A. turns deadly with a series of mysterious attempts on her life. Suddenly Leo not only has to save his career, he has to find out who’s trying to murder the lady who is stealing his heart. As an actor, danger was staged and nothing was at stake, but now the threats are all too real. If Leo wants a future and a family with Kim, he has to prove he can do more than play a hero onscreen, he has to be one in real life.

I'm curious to know... are you the type of reader that waits until all the books in a series are out before you buy the first? I'm not. I snatch up new books in a series as soon as they come out. I can't wait to read them. But I've been surprised over the years to talk to people who won't start a book in a series unless they know all the books are done. Which one are you?

Visit Dee J. Adams website or on FaceBook

Oh What A Relief It Is

Don't let the title of this blog fool you. I'm not talking about antacid! (You remember Plop, plop, fizz, fizz? Or maybe I'm dating myself.)

I'm talking about the relief of getting a book to its editor.
Lately I've been under crazy stress to keep juggling all the balls I've got in the air. I've got my day job on set, I'm prepping to give my Itching to Pitch workshop for the Orange County Chapter of RWA, I've just finished narrating an audio book and I'm prepping for the next one in one week and oh, somewhere in there I had to finish my second round edits of the last book in the Adrenaline Highs series and take care of my family. (Which includes remembering this sweet boy's 12th birthday today. I figure since I didn't have a pic to post regarding relief, I'd post something awesome cute instead.)

Isn't he sweet? Okay...enough sentiment and cuteness. Onto the rest!

I've had to prioritize everything day to day to keep my sanity. I'll admit, that most days I didn't get everything done. Stuff got pushed. Mostly the writing. Which killed me. I hated knowing that every day I didn't get to my writing or editing that it was pushing the release date of this last Adrenaline Highs book, but it couldn't be helped. Mainly because I'm human and there's only so much I can get done in a day.

But now that one narration is under my belt, now that those edits are out the door, (after several mammoth editing sessions the last three days - including July 4th - that took me until 2 a.m.), I actually feel like I can breathe. To celebrate, I'm going to watch the world cup. Go USA!!

I've come to grips with the idea that I'm not going to be a writing machine until I retire from the day job or stop narrating books. The prep time it takes for those two jobs, not to mention the actual hours involved to complete them, is just short of massive. But they make me happy, just like the writing does. So how do you decide between jobs you do that fulfill you on different levels?

I've decided...you don't have to decide. You just have to live your life the best way you can and enjoy what you're doing when you do it.

I guess you could say my relief is double sided. Yes, I'm thrilled I got this book to the editor and it's getting closer to publication. And, yes, I'm happy that I've come to terms enjoying all the things that make my life full. Here's to not making yourself crazy over the juggling act! (I know I'm not the only juggling!)

What's your biggest relief? I'd love to know.

Who Loves Good Timing?

I think the title kind of says it all. I mean, I could've titled this blog: Who DOESN'T Love Good Timing? but that seemed too negative so I went the other way. (I'm stalling.) But really, it's not very often I'm scheduled to blog when I also have a new cover and new release in the near future, so I'm glad this month timed out perfectly.

I don't know about you, but life's been kicking my ass lately. I've been spending crazy hours at the hospital with my sister after her 2 day back surgery (and even an unexpected day in the ER with my aunt) so to say my brain is fried is putting it mildly. Truly, I'm up to HERE with hospitals. (Imagine my hand waaaaay over my head!)

I'm so thrilled that I get to share some great news by way of a cover reveal! Yay! Here's my new gorgeous cover for A Little Danger! It's the latest installment in my Adrenaline Highs series and the first novella in the series as well. I am seriously in love with it!

What do you think?
The heroine is a little older than our hero and she's very conflicted with crushing on a younger guy. And really... he's not even that much younger in the scheme of things. Here's the blurb:

Elena Fraser is on her way to the airport to catch a flight to New York for the premiere of her daughter’s movie. Before limo driver Bill “Fido” Fidelo can make it to the freeway, a 7.1 earthquake collapses the overpass above and traps them. With nothing but time between frightening temblors, Elena and Bill learn more about each other, including the fact they’ve lusted after each other for years. 

Understanding they might not survive, Elena and Bill look to one another for solace and companionship. Bill tries to convince Elena that their seven-year age difference means nothing to him, and Elena soon realizes that life is too short to put off living. 

The passion they discover is enough to torch the limo they’re trapped in, but can rescuers save them in time, or will a final aftershock bury them before they have a chance to build a life together?  

I hope to get this novella out in April, but it might take a magic wand since more hospital time is in my future. LOL. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me, people! 

Back to the cover... I LOVE the way she's looking at him. Like she might eat him up in one bite! Oh, but I LOVE the colors too!  What's your favorite thing about the cover?

Timing is Everything

You know how sometimes life works in mysterious ways? Sometimes, there's a synchronicity in the things we do or say or with the people we meet and totally unassociated things can become extremely associated. I don't know about you, but I find those times very random and very surreal.

Or a person can deal with any type of issue or emotion and something in life might happen that could snap them in another direction. Hopefully a better direction, although sometimes that may not be the case.

In Imminent Danger, Abbey Washington has been living her life, but just barely. She works hard at her job, but she keeps to herself. She's reserved and shy except when she's dancing. Dancing is the only time when she has control and she needs the music like she needs air to breathe. Dancing helps her cope, helps her deal with life. So what turns Abbey around? A couple of things actually. Witnessing a crime is one, but potentially being a victim for a second time in her life is the other. It takes a scary situation for her to come out of her shell, to learn to trust, to begin to grow. Her bad timing might actually be the best thing that could've happened to her. (Here's the cover since I can't seem to get enough of it. <G>)

It's like the saying my mom to used all the time: Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes I think that's the theme of all my books. (Now granted, some things shouldn't ever happen, but they do. The trick is to learn from it.)

I'm curious if any of you have experienced bad timing that turned out to be a good thing.

And, in case you're interested, I thought I'd post a quick excerpt from Imminent Danger.

“You’re in a good mood,” Abbey said, coming out of her bedroom.

Blake turned and nearly dropped to the ground in supplication. It took a concerted effort to keep his jaw from hitting the floor.

Abbey canted her head. “What?”

What? Was she kidding? What was that in thirty minutes she’d transformed herself from stunning girl to absolute Miss Universe perfection. He didn’t often see her wearing makeup and the effect it had on her already smooth skin and clear green eyes nearly brought him to his knees. Her dirty blond hair hung smooth and long around her shoulders, and the form-fitting strappy neon pink top and black leggings with a matching pink stripe down the side showed off her toned dancer’s body. He pegged her at five foot eight and she was all legs. The girl had legs to her neck. Legs he wanted wrapped around his waist as he pushed inside of her and sent them both—

“Hello.” Abbey snapped her fingers in the air. “Blake. Yo.”

He snapped out of his daydream.

“What’s got you on another planet?” She headed to the sofa and left the smell of citrus in her wake. She rifled through her bag for something.  

“Uh…nothing.” He backed up toward the door. “You ready to go?” If he stayed in her apartment much longer, she might end up out of those clothes she wore. Man, he could imagine stripping everything off her. Slowly and surely exposing every inch of smooth, soft skin.

“I don’t know.” She put a hand on her hip and cocked a stance. “You ready to stop looking at me like I’m your next meal?”

His gaze flashed to hers and he smiled. “Was I doing that?”

She nodded with one eyebrow arched high.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I’ll work on it.”

“Good. You need to.” She swung a large bag over her shoulder. “C’mon. I don’t want to be late,” she said, passing him to open the front door.

Who Do You Least Suspect?

The title of this post is probably a little deceiving, but you'll see why...

I have to admit to some excitement this month because three weeks from today is the release of Imminent Danger. The fifth book in the Adrenaline Highs series. I'm looking forward to sharing Abbey and Blake's book and bringing back a couple of characters that people might not have expected.  Here's my most awesome cover for Imminent Danger!

Have you ever written - or read - a character without any expectations of seeing them again, then all of a sudden they show up (in another book) and it's like visiting with friends you didn't realize you had? Maybe that's why I'm so jazzed about this book. I hope to surprise people and show that what you see isn't always what you get.

I'm curious if you've ever read a character in a series...never expecting them to be a hero or heroine in their own book. Some characters are so quiet until all of a sudden they're in front of the crowd (in my head) raising their hand saying, "I want a happily ever after!" And I can't really deny them because I WANT them to have that HEA.

So I'd love to know if you were ever surprised to find a character - and I'm not talking a secondary character, but someone even further down the line - in a series have their own book. Were your expectations met?

P.S. I've got an Imminent Danger countdown happening on my FB page and blog. Stop in for snippets 2 times a day! (Some are suspenseful. Some are fun. Some are sexy.)

Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Goodreads

Expectations: Help or Hinder?

I don't know about you, but I try to practice what I preach. Of course, sometimes it's easier said than done. I tell my daughter not to expect things. Go into a new experience with an open mind, make the best of it and let it play out the way it's supposed to. It's kind of like going to a movie. Don't you hate when you go to a movie that you've heard glowing reviews about and you leave thinking "meh?" But when you go to a movie that you know nothing about and end up having a great time, you get so happy you feel like you might smile for hours?

Take our careers for instance. We all strive to be the best we can be (in an author's case, to write the best book we can every day), but how do our expectations help or hurt us? If I expected to be a NY Times Best Seller, I might be waiting my whole life, not to mention be hugely disappointed if I never made it there. That might very well affect my writing which might affect future books. But if I go into a book, concentrating on my expectations for that ONE book and make it the best it can be and move on, then my expectations can be met (more easily). Let's face it, there are a TON of great books out there that never make lists for many reasons. Poor marketing, lack of promo...there are so many factors involved. Not to mention luck and timing.

I bring this up because in mid-March I attended the SoCalRWA Writers Conference and met Barbara Vey. I'd met her briefly years ago at an RWA conference, but never really had the chance to sit down and talk to her. Of course, I'd always (and only) heard lovely things about her and was thrilled to discover they are all true. She's fun and honest, very refreshing and I'll toss in delightful for good measure. (It all fits!) I was beyond thrilled when she asked to interview me for her Publishers Weekly Beyond Her Book Blog. What really floored me was her invitation to be one the authors at her Readers Appreciation Luncheon next April in Milwaukee. Talk about exceeding my expectations! (Of which, I should stress, I had none! BTW - Here is a shot of us after I moderated her workshop on Building Reader Loyalty.)

When you think about it, I have a conflict actually. How does my "no expectations" work with my publishing goals? I've been on this writer's road for thirteen years now and am doing the best I can to keep up with the job. (Sometimes it's overwhelming and sometimes it's pure bliss.) If I don't expect to make a list, but a list is my goal, then will I ever make it? I guess the answer is in the Universe somewhere...unless any of you can help me with it.

Let me know, what are your views on expectations vs. goals?


Dee J. Adams lives in Southern California with her husband, teenage daughter and 2 rescue dogs. Her Adrenaline Highs series is available at Carina Press and wherever e-books are sold.