So let’s talk about stuff and things.
Q1: What happened to Dani Alexander for nearly thirteen years?(technically 9 years which I'll explain). You can skip to 3 if you don't want to hear the sad boring wah wah shit((I would))
- Cancer: Happened four months after I published Shattered Glass. It was a rough two years after that, and add another year for chemo brain to slink back into the background.
- Depression: After cancer came depression. If you don’t know what depression does, and it’s different for everyone. I think, for me? Imagine just not caring about anything, ever or anyone, ever.
Throughout my life I’ve managed to maintain a long lasting friendship with two people(and my husband ofc). I miss the friends I had before it, but I completely understand how the feel when I ghost them. Sorry K, M, J, D, A and the entire drunken crew.
Depression is nasty and finding out I wouldn’t have kids pushed me into the deepest depression of my entire life(and that’s saying a lot). Then came the incredible and wonderful option of IVF! Having a child pulled me out depression like nothing else could. Not even joking when I tell you that I started rewriting NSI the moment we saw a sonogram. I was writing up until our son’s birth. Then…our son’s birth happened. - Fear of failure: I am so grateful for Shattered Glass’s success, such as it is. When I started writing, all I wanted was a book that I wanted to read. Romance, mystery, wise cracks, wild plots, interesting characters, those are the things that drive me. But, did anyone want to read a book that’s very different than Shattered Glass? Because I didn’t want to write the same book. I couldn’t write the same book. Cai’s story is so different, he’s so…broken. And I had always planned his story, his ending a certain way, it’s never varied because my characters are, for me, who they are. I hope you love them as much as I do, but it’s okay if you don’t. It’s so okay. I think now I know that I’m going to just continue writing the books I want to read and maybe you’ll come along, maybe you’ll throw them at my head and go “WTF???”, I’ll just get used to ducking <3
- Writing with a baby–impossible. I was exhausted as fuck all the time. But my son started preschool at age 1 and I wa slike fuck yeah, writing time. Oh hai, immune system, where are you? NOT IN MY SON, that’s for fucking sure. In the first year I think he went to preschool for a month. Still, I’d done most of the work for NSI so I thougth it was ready. My beta readers seemed pleased but something kept nagging me.
- The nagging hate-on: I hated the sex scene. I’d always hated it, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work in the context, even though I knew it needed to happen. In late 2022 I decided to quit trying to rework it and scrap the whole thing. But then yeah, I had to try and write a sex scene with a toddler going “you play with me?” “You make the dinosaur talk?” “You a unicorn!” Go ahead, try and write an S&M scene with that happening. @@ Then one day while he was at preschool I figured out what I wanted to do and rewrote it in 2 days. Which led me here. 12 years and 28 days! (yes, that was on purpose, I was not going ot publish in 2025 if I hit the 13 year mark, hence the plan for 1/30/2025 exactly one day before SG’s 13 anniversary.
And that’s it. That’s how one writer got through 12 years of not publishing. So, if you’re a fan of the book, thanks for waiting, thanks for reading, thanks for the support. If you’re not, thanks for reading, thanks for listening. And if you’re a writer, keep trying, and if something is really bugging you, don’t be afraid to toss it.
Q2: NSI is not SG. If you like SG, you may not like NSI, and vice versa. You may like both!
I had this crisis back in 2021, even wondering how to classify NSI for all these years. So here’s what i came up with back then, it’s pretty accurate: if you also threw Romancing the stone, The Lost City, John Wick, Alex Cross, The Fifth Element(not the sci fi part but the weird romance), and Deadpool, and Hanna(the movie not the TV Show–yeah Hanna would probably fit), especially Hanna, all together and mixed up the characters/plots/action you’d have NSI and probably a pretty good insight into my brain.
I like over the top action, violence, romance, plots, characters, and guns. NSI has that. I think if you like action, if you like the movies I listed, you’ll probably like NSI.
Q3: You didn't respond to my review/follow back/comment on my post
I will never respond to a review unless someone directly links me to their own review and says “what do you think?” Never. Never ever never.
I will not follow someone back unless they ask me directly to because I’m an author and people should be able to follow me to learn if I’m writing something/publishing something/posting something but, imo, I should be invited to their feed not invite myself .
I sometimes will respond to posts, or comments that are not related to my book or maybe I have or will respond to a book request I think matches my book. It’s not often and feel free to tell me to shove off if you don’t want me on your comment <3.
Q4: What's on the horizon?
- I’m 1000 words into Shatterproof(I threw away 5,500 words because it wasn’t what i wanted. I’ll try to write weekly since I’m meandering through what I wanna do with it. I know what I want, but will I like it? Not sure. Picture Syrian civil war, sniper, Somalia, Warlords, pirates, kidnappings, and lots of angst. SO MUCH ANGST. Dare will NOT get an easy happy ending(wait, yes he will get lots of those, but not an easy HEA).
- I have a series planned that’s going to be Urban Fantasy(weirdly one of my favorite genres). I think it’ll be quite sexy.
- I started a book that I thought was going to be strictly porn but then I got all into it storywise. So, gdi, now it’s gonna have a plot. Such is the nature of pantsing. I’m nearly 10,000 words in to my “i thought this’d be wank material and now I have to figure out where this plot is going???” book.
- If my best friend Sara and I can agree on anything, we might finish the book we started together a year ago XD I doubt it, I’m more LETS BRING OUT THE GUNS AND PENISES(Penii?) and she’s more “oh look, he has stars in his eyes) and we kinda look at each other like @@ blink blink @@.
- Lastly, I want to do a series that makes me think of The Equalizer (movies not tv show cuz zzzz on the tv show–it shoulda been on Netflix cuz I need Denzel style revenge and, well, just Denzel hrrngg. How is that man still hot at age like a billion?)
If you want to stay up to date, just subscribe on the newsletter. Everything will go to the blog first, then I’ll post it on fb, insta, Bsky , and, if I remember, mastodon.
Feel free to ask more questions below! I’ll answer anything.
17 comments
Stacy
So excited you’re back! Saw the review on Love Bytes and almost screamed in public :). Will you be planning to do NSI in audio?
Dani
Sorry to make you scream! (Although, am i?) NSI will be in audio. I’m listening to many auditions atm and I think I found the perfect one!
Heather M
Quick question, I don’t understand the use of the word draught in the epilogue – a place where there’s pirates … and a draught? Does this refer to being forced to join some kind of military (don’t want to elaborate in case it’s a spoiler).
Dani
Omg *headdesk* supposed to be DROUGHT not Draught omg lol I had like 20 proofreads by myself, six from my husband, at least that many from my best friend and none of us caught it <8( lol
I'll have to fix it in revisions GAH
Heather M
Thanks for the reply Dani, drought makes so much sense! There I was imagining the two of them being press ganged into the military (god help the military!) or a band of rebels (much more likely😳) I’m going to try to write a review tomorrow depending on my day – hospital visit in the morning and then a visit to my elderly mum who has dementia, it depends on how exhausted I am after spending a few hours negotiating her issues. Mum is lovely, but OMG the things she says and does 😳😱😮 it’s turning us all grey!
Dani
whoah boy that’s a lot of stuff to have on your plate. When people talk about heroes, I think they mean peeps like you. That cannot be easy <3 My heart goes out to you and I hope your mum as a good day tomorrow and whoever you're visiting in the hospital gets better. (The thought of Julian and Dare in the military together got a giggle, ngl) I'm still thinking about SP and where I want to go with it. I'm getting a little "Romancing the Stone" vibes but darker and angstier.
Carla
I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. I’m glad you’re feeling better now. And I’m so happy you’re back with this wonderful book, I love the characters you created. They’re all amazing. I missed Austin, Peter and Cai so much… <3
Dani
Thanks so much, Carla. I think of it more of what I’ve gotten past than through XD I’m happy you liked NSI and it was fun being back in Austin and Peter’s and Dare’s heads for a bit. It’s like visiting old friends are always there even when you lose touch, you know? I appreciate the kind words, they certainly motivate me!
Lori N
I’m glad you’re doing much better. 2019 was my year of deep depression. So I understand not caring about anything at all. I loved beta reading the early version of NSI, but the final version is AMAZING!! Can’t wait for whatever you write next.
Dani
If the book is amazing, because I had an amazing editor and an amazing group of beta readers. Feedback is such an important step in the editing process.
Thank you so much for your support and you’re kind words and your time which is really the most valuable thing. ❤️
Stanley
Could you let me know which platform allows you to keep the most from each sale? I’d love to support you in a way that minimizes fees on your end. Is there a retailer that’s better for you than others?
Dani
Not really better, just different. If you buy from Amazon it pushes my book higher more people see it, but if you buy from kobo or smashwords, you’re not supporting Amazon which is a good thing. Sort of a pick your poison deal right? You’re so kind to think of me. I say pick whichever one is easiest for you.
Wickid. AKA Your #1 Stalker ;)
SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!! I opened my email and bam your alive!!! I always wondered about you from time to time. Wondering if your cancer came back? If the depression took you out? Maybe you just had a kid and said I don’t give a feck about writing anymore, parenting is so much better!!!! Many many times I wished I’d kept that envelope so I could write to the address it was mailed from just to say Hi and hope all is well on your end, stay strong. SO Hi Hope all is well on your end!!! Glad your on the up and up!!! Miss you looonng time! Hell 12 yrs who’s counting hehe. I purchased the book NSI and cannot wait to read it. Probably be this weekend I go back to work tomorrow for 3 straight twelve shifts. Yeah I finished nursing school and currently working like a dog here lately 0_o Damn glad to hear from ya!!!!
Stephanie <– Your psycho stalker ;D <3
Dani
Ah hai super stalker! I’m sorry to keep you in limbo so long.
I can
Congratz on finishing nursing school what a fucking accomplishment. Three straight shifts is about right for the poor nurses. Y’all work too hard.
All is well on my end. Twelve years has gone by in a flash for me, it seems.
Hope you like NSI and hey, snail mail not needed, just drop me a line here. Or bsky or fb (eventually I check them)
<3
theStarfly
Everything in this other than the cancer-related portions is super relatable to me. I’m autistic and depressed and have chronic health issues, plus a 4 year old and an almost 2 year old. I’m currently getting divorced from a very steessful relationship with someone with even more issues than me that was holding me back. My sense of creativity is only slowly starting to come back after not even touching writing or art for 7 years and just. It’s so nice to have some of that creative energy back. I’m so pleased that you’ve been able to get yours as well!
I was so excited when I saw you post an update but I had no idea it had been almost 13 years. Time really does fly.
I love all of those movies and also your writing, plus I’ll read almost any genre if it’s done well, so I’m super hype for this!
Dani
Depression is a bitch, bad relationships couldn’t possibly help. I cannot imagine going through that with two kids and all the shit you’re dealing with. I feel blessed that I had a support system when things got bad.
I hope the divorce isn’t too painful and that creating can feed on itself making things better all around. Sometimes breaking things fixes things, ya know? <3
theStarfly
Oh yeah, for sure. I’m actually very excited for this divorce and getting my life back!
Zero support system to speak of so I’m glad to have the burden off my back haha