DarkLight On... Danni Line!

 

Welcome Danni!

How did you come to write paranormal romance? What attracted you to the genre?

After a disappointing childhood of not finding my way through my wardrobe to Narnia, I moved into the darker horror stories of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Apparently, I preferred skeletons rather than portals in my closet during my teens. I always say I was a horror writer until I realised my characters wanted to do that ‘kissing stuff,’ and then I understood I was a romance writer, too. When I discovered paranormal romance was a genre, I was hooked.

 

You also write romantic suspense. How do you balance the two genres?

I draw from my background and experiences to write both paranormal romance and romantic suspense. My uncle, a retired police officer, and my brother, who worked in Communications for the Queensland Police Department, have always been focused and straight down the line when they were on the job. Like them, the police officers in my romantic suspense series rely on their instincts as much as the evidence to solve crimes. While some might consider that instinct could also be a psychic gift, I don’t embellish or draw attention to it.

My paranormal stories, however, are deeply rooted in magic, the supernatural, and family experiences. Although I don’t consider myself ‘gifted’ like some members of DSDU, my maternal side descends from Celtic travellers, and we all have a certain knowing. For example, my nana would randomly put the kettle on because she knew a visitor was coming, even if they hadn’t planned it. My mum would stop what she was doing and say, ‘the phone’s going to ring. It’s bad news,’ and it would ring with news of a family member’s illness or passing. Both my daughters are ‘sensitive’ and see spirits. I catch glimpses of things I can’t always explain, hear conversations that weren’t spoken aloud, and have written things that weren’t my thoughts. These experiences fuel my imagination and storytelling. I love hearing about other people’s experiences, too.

What do you love about writing short stories?

I believe they are a fantastic way to train yourself into tightening your manuscripts. Short stories need to be precise, have as few characters as possible, a clear beginning, middle and end, and of course, finish with a satisfying or awe-inspiring conclusion. They can also be a wonderful foundation for expanding into longer stories with series potential.

In my role as the Aspiring Ambassador with RWAus, we have six flash fiction events a year. Two members have created a new series from their 1000-word stories, while another member won a Ruby for best novella through expanding the short story she created. If you’re not already writing them, why not give it a try? You never know where it might lead you. 😊

Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?

Oh, how I admire the plotters who know exactly where their stories are going. 😊 I also love the organic flow with which pansters create their tales. As for me, I am in-between. My style is skeletal at best. I have the bones of the story in my mind and I know how a story ends before I write a word. I guesstimate how many chapters I need (the spine) and jot notes in each chapter a basic outline or a few sentences to keep me on track, slowly fleshing it out once I begin writing. Do I follow this outline? Ha! It doesn’t stop me from meandering on a side quest whatsoever. Then I have to get back on track. At least, with my outline, I have a direction in which to travel. 

Do you have a favourite of your characters?

I love Finn and Lilah from my romantic suspense book, An Ear to the Ground. Finn is a bit of a softy and I love how caring he is. However, I have a character waiting in the wings who drives me crazy with his attitude, so do love/hate relationships count as favourites, too?

Do you have advice for emerging writers?

I’m an emerging writer, so some of these may resonate with others.

Find what works for you, your life, and your writing style and embrace it, but don’t be afraid to try new things that might improve what you’re already doing. 

Some people thrive on routines. For example, if writing every day works for you, go for it. But don’t feel you have to write every day to be considered a ‘real’ writer.

Having trouble getting words down? Consider setting a timer and doing writing sprints. You can increase the time to suit your workflow. If you’re in the writing zone, you know the drill–just keep writing. 😊 I have a wonderful sprint partner and we keep each other motivated.

Read outside your genre and comfort zone. It can open your mind to different styles, voices, and techniques.

Embrace rewrites and edits. Cut, tweak, and recreate your stories. Work on boosting that sparkle to make your stories shine.

Have a network of incredible writers who provide honest and positive feedback with whom you can swap stories and talk about writing. It’s so important to have people in your life who ‘get it’ when it comes to words, deadlines, and the reason your characters aren’t currently talking to you.

If you want a traditional publishing contract, keep reaching for your goals. Track competitions and pitching opportunities that put you in front of publishers and agents. If you want to pursue an indie career, reach out to those who could advise or teach you skills such as marketing, editing, cover design and formatting. The more skills you have in this arena, the better. Always seek expert advice / skills if these aren’t in your current capabilities.

Write what excites you. Write the stories you want to read. If you want to write to market, do that too. Whichever fires you up and makes you embrace your writing gift.

Celebrate all the wins - big and small. You wrote 100 words today–that’s 100 words you didn’t have yesterday. Woohoo! An entire chapter–look at you soar. A contract, book sales, and a longed-for interview–pop the champagne and party the night away.

Most of all, don’t stop learning.

What are you currently reading/watching?

I have regular clients I copyedit for, so I’m currently ‘reading’ a romantic suspense spy series, a paranormal vampire / werewolf romance, and a paranormal time slip romance. I also have a sci-fi romance and an action-filled spy novel to come.

I don’t watch much television but have started a show called Sullivan’s Crossing. People have been raving about ‘No one Wants This’ so I’ll check that out too. I’m also waiting for the second season of One Piece and The Night Agent to release. Hmm, maybe I watch more television than I thought.

Tell us about your latest release?

Moon Blessed, Part Five is the last book in my The Artemis Curse paranormal romance series.

“Karisa Euterpe must unite four magical guilds to thwart an evil wizard’s plans, but betrayal, secrets, and a powerful curse threaten her mission and her heart. As danger looms and time runs out, she faces a battle that will determine the fate of both realms.”

Moon Blessed will be free on October 26th as part of the Witchy Bookworms Book Blast, with the rest of the series on sale at a discounted price. 

What can we expect from you in the future? 

I am currently writing the fourth book in my Trinket Bay K9 Mysteries romantic suspense series, A Rebel with Paws. After that, I have the first book in a new series that’s a crossover between romantic suspense and paranormal romance. If you’re familiar with Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, this series will have a similar magical vibe. It’s a tad darker than what I normally write, but I’m enjoying where the story is taking me.

Danni Line

Danni Line is a Romantic Suspense and Paranormal Romance author whose characters find redemption through romance. She lives in coastal Western Australia with her family and an enthusiastic Border Collie cross named Dante. 

Hooked on reading since childhood, she fell in love with writing in her senior year, thanks to a crush on her English teacher. 

When she’s not juggling life as a wife, mum, and wannabe baker who wishes she could sing, she’s serving as the Aspiring Authors Ambassador for Romance Writers of Australia (RWAus). She’s also a member of DSDU (Darkside DownUnder), Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ) and the Australian Romance Readers Association (ARRA).

You can find Danni at her website: danniline-author.com