USA Today bestselling author (and newlywed!) Angie Daniels recently spoke with Magic City Momma about stepping outside her comfort zone and her new series.
Tell me about your book, Wilde About Her.
The last place Denim Barr wants to be is back in Justice, Texas. But after she catches her boyfriend with her best friend, the college graduate decides the farther away she is from Oklahoma the better. So when her grandfather asks her to spend the summer working at the diner, she packs her bags and heads to Texas. She’s prepared to spend the next few months wallowing in self-pity when into the diner walks gorgeous horse breeder Jackson “Jax” Wilde. Denim hasn’t seen the sexy bad boy in eight years, and when she discovers him shape-shifting in the woods, she realizes Jax has changed in more ways than one.
Denim is the one girl Jax has never been able to get out of his head. But nothing good could ever come of the two of them because he’s a werewolf and Wildes don’t mate with humans. Besides, he’s the heir to the most influential pack in the south and destined to marry an alpha female from another powerful family. But now that Denim’s back in Justice, Jax can no longer deny the need to claim her as his. Unfortunately, a scorned she-wolf is bent on revenge, swearing to get rid of any woman who stands in the way of her marrying a Wilde. But Jax will do whatever it takes to protect his mate.
Why did you decide to write it?
This story has been in my head for a long, long time. I had never read a paranormal book. Not even Twilight, but when these characters started talking to me, I decided to try to read at least one to see if the abilities I wanted my characters to have were even possible. Since then I’ve read two more stories about shifters, and I loved them!
What can readers expect from this new series?
Readers can expect to see Angie Daniels stepped out of her comfort zone. I have never written about young adults or shape shifters, so this series forces me to really dig deep to create characters who readers believe. The Wilde Pack is also a group of young alpha males. It doesn’t get better than that!
Tell me about your publishing journey.
Well, I started out with several traditional publishers, including Harlequin romance and Kensington Publishing, but at the end of a contract in 2011, I decided I was ready to step out on my own and become an indie author. It was the best decision I’ve ever made because for the first time I felt a sense of empowerment I never felt writing for a publishing house. Now I am laying the foundation to start my own house and help new authors reach success. I have been in the industry long enough and seen and experienced quite a bit that I believe I have what it takes to succeed.
What advice do you have for people interested in publishing a book?
Follow your dream and don’t give up, but most importantly, ask questions. I see so many authors being taken by all of these “so-called” publishing houses that are doing the exact same thing that authors could have done for themselves. If only they had reached out and asked someone first. Writing requires research and closely looking at what’s going on in the literary market.
What is the biggest lesson you want readers to learn from your stories?
My romance novels aren’t necessarily about teaching life lessons. My goal is always for readers to feel stimulated and satisfied. I’m an entertainer—an artist—and it’s my job to keep my audience’s attention. The message in most of my stories is that love truly does exist. True love and happily ever after were two things that took me years to believe in, and then finally my dream came true when I met my husband.
What advice do you have for women juggling falling in love and raising a family while pursuing their dream?
My message is always dream, believe, and achieve. All things are possible, but nothing worth having ever comes easy. You have to find a balance and be willing to work hard for what it is you want and never settle for less.
What’s next for Angie Daniels?
I am working on book number four of my popular Company series that I hope to release at the end of the summer. I am also getting my publishing company off the ground with plans of launching sometime in 2017. My hope is to offer authors and readers something different.
Do you have anything you want to add?
I want to thank all of my readers for their continued love and support. I would not be where I am in my career if it hadn’t been for all of them!
To learn more about Angie Daniels, visit her online or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.