Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason

Hi Dana, I love that you're visiting. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a mother of three, 2 daughters and 1 son. I’m a wife. I have an amazing husband who is more understanding and patient than he probably should be. My day job is at a large University managing a small continuing education unit. This pays the bills for now. When I’m not working or taking care of my family, I’m writing.

How did you decided to enter the world of writing?

I started writing as an escape from the real world. Being a mother and wife, with a house to care for and a full time job with a commute, I needed something that I didn’t have to share with everyone else. Something I could do for myself and by myself. I haven’t been happier in my life than I am right now. I love creating characters and seeing where they’ll take me. I also love the supportive online writing community. There are a few stinkers out there who try to bring you down, but most of the people I’ve met have been amazing and very supportive.

What does your family think of your writing?

They’re very understanding about sharing me with my characters. I spend a lot of time on my laptop, but they’re happy that I’m happy. And it was nice to see the surprise on their faces when I told them I was offered a publishing contract. They didn’t think it would ever happen.

Where do you get your ideas?

Honestly, I get most of my ideas from news stories. I’ll hear a headline and write it down and try to weave it into a story. I also get a lot of inspiration from song lyrics. Song lyrics really drive my imagination like nothing else.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Dangerous Embrace is a romantic suspense novel set in Santa Rosa, California. It’s the heart of Wine Country and very close to the California Coast.

This story is about second chances in life and in love. Both main characters have been hurt in the past, and coming together for them isn’t easy, but eventually they find a way.

Here is a synopsis:

Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well.

Now, back in her hometown, she's found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.

But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.

Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.

Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.

Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.

This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.

What is your writing process?

Easy; sit down and write. That’s what I do. I don’t outline and I don’t preplan. The more preplanning I do, the less creativity I have. I’ve found that story structure comes to me almost naturally. I’m sure that has a lot to do with all the reading I’ve done.

Once a first draft is written, I go back and make sure the plot points are in place and that the plot makes sense. Then I fill in any blanks or answer questions that might come up. After that, it’s a ton of editing.

I have methods I follow once I have my first draft on paper, but to get that first draft down, I need to just write it as it enters my brain.

What was the hardest part for you when working on your book?

For the most part, writing isn’t hard, it’s fun. I don’t mean, to say it’s easy and that anyone can do it, but if you don’t love it, you won’t put your heart into it like you need to, and you won’t enjoy it.

If I had to pick a ‘hardest part’ I’d say editing was hard…mostly editing in a way that met the needs of my publisher and editor. It’s hard to fit into a mold and impossible to be creative while trying to fit into that mold. Sometimes we need to follow our gut instincts and sometimes we need to give a little. It’s a partnership.

What influenced or inspired you to write?

My need of an escape and my love of reading.

Was there a scene that you didn’t add or you removed in your finished work?

Many, many, many scenes. Too many to count. I could write another book from the deleted scenes for Dangerous Embrace. I might even start posting them on my blog. Too bad they’re so messy and unedited. 

Do you have a favorite character (from you're book)? Why?

Brian Hammel is my favorite character from my book. He is a secondary character, but is a main character in book three in the series. I’m now editing book three and I’m having a lot of fun with him.

Brian is a straight forward, big mouth jerk sometimes, but he also has a certain irresistible sweetness to him.

Do you already know what to write next? Can you tell us?

I’ve finished writing the three Embrace books. Book two and three are in editing. Once they’re finished, I’ll continue work on my fourth book, What the Heart Wants. What the Heart Wants is about a women who at the age of 30, finds out that she was adopted after being abandoned as in infant by her birth mother. Lots of twists in this one.

  

Where can we find more information about you and your books?

Website: danamasonromance.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danamasonromance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danamason06 or @danamason06

Website: http://danamasonromance.com/

Sapphire Star Publishing Author page:

http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/danamason/

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440793.Dana_Mason

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Embrace-The-Series-ebook/dp/B009KVHBQG/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangerous-embrace-dana-mason/1113029974?ean=2940015543834

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/234707

Do you have any last words?

Thank you, Patricia, for inviting me on your blog. You’ve become a great friend and I appreciate all the support you’ve given me. Dana, it has been a pleasure visiting with you. Thanks for sharing your work with us. Please promise that you will return to share your next books.  

Fun Questions ~

I love weekends because? I can spend them relaxing at home with my family and laptop. After commuting all week, I love not having to be anywhere on the weekends.

I hate? Weak coffee.

My favorite song is? Too many to list. Depends on my work in progress at the moment. In my CD player right now, North by Matchbox 20. I love it so it’s on repeat.

My favorite precious stone is? Ah, diamond, of course.

I want to travel to? Why? Everywhere.

My dream is to? Make a living off of my writing so I can quit my day job.

My favorite book is? Too many to count. But one I love and have read many times is Public Secrets by Nora Roberts. 

Dangerous Embrace synopsis:
Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.

Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well. 

Now, back in her hometown, she's found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.

But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.

Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.

Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.

Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.

This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.

Dana Mason started writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace, is the first in a contemporary romance series about a group of friends from Northern California who learn just how short life can be when you don’t hold on to what’s important. Second chances don’t come easy…but sometimes love is worth the risk.

When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.  

As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.