Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Thorne/e/B004E5V0LA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1567186369&sr=8-1
Website: www.daniellethorne.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.thorne.184
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielleThorne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordaniellethorne/
Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
Hello to everyone. I’m an author of fiction and non-fiction, concentrating mostly on writing historical books and family-friendly romance adventures. Although I consider myself a southern girl, I was born in Illinois and moved to Tennessee when I was a tot. I’ve lived in several states, but I call Georgia home now.
Yes, it’s cliché, but I’m one of those lifelong writers who started storytelling as soon as I could hold a pencil. Unfortunately, I gave up journalism and focused on social work my first college go-round, but that didn’t work out. I chose motherhood over a career and raised four boys for 30 years. Writing became a necessity during that time. I think I would have faded away without it. My first novel was published in 2008. It’s been a roller coaster ride ever since.
What inspires/inspired your creativity?
Nature and road signs. Yeah, it sounds weird. The first time I saw the sea I was mesmerized. I made the ocean a part of my life and my books. This meant scuba diving, snorkeling, cruising, and many evenings sitting in the sand. Most of my books have the sea in the background, and if there are no waves, then count on meadows and mountains.
People ask where I get titles and names. The truth is many of them come from freeway exit signs. I travel a lot and get a kick out of the quirky and historical names of towns across the country. Last year, I drove west with my son, and he delighted me by finding names for his worlds in D&D as we drove through Nebraska, of all places.
How has your creation process improved over time?
Writing is a learning process. Classes and instruction help, but the best knowledge and skills come from experience. Starting out, I wrote at a turtle’s pace, because I was insecure and had no idea what I was doing. It was gut instinct. Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the art of brainstorming and outlining. I write like they say we should dance—like no one is watching. Editing is separate and the business end of my work because the creative juices don’t flow if you’re worried about the end result before you even get there.
Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
I write what moves me, but I write to market, too. No matter how much of your heart you put into it, readers are going to buy books in genres that are trending. However, I don’t believe in using cookie-cutter, fill-in-the-blank plots to create story after story just to put something out. I tend to plot loosely and let go. Editing is for chasing story and character arcs. My first drafts aren’t rough, they’re ugly.
What are your plans for future books?
I’m currently working on a new colonial romance series that starts in Savannah, Georgia. There’s a growing interest in early American history outside of non-fiction, and it’s a great opportunity for romance writers. This future line will include six books set in the southern states after the American Revolution, and like my other books, they’ll be filled with pirates, captains, smugglers, and the like.
Tell us some quirky facts about yourself
Oh, goodness. So much weirdness, so little time. I’m definitely a historical nut whether it’s naval history, Jane Austen’s England, or the backcountry of America. I like to kayak when I can and watch way too much Netflix.
I love documentaries, educational reality shows (American Pickers. Am I right?), and strangely, sci-fi movies, but I never read books in that area.
Cats are my thing and I love dogs, too, but I have a weak stomach when it comes to dog poop in my yard. I pet everyone else’s dogs.
French fries are my frenemy. It’s embarrassing how often I eat fries per week.
I can chat online or text all day long, but social events fill me with dread and anxiety. You’ll always find me in the back row or corner of the room without much to say. I honestly care about people and consider everyone I meet a brother or sister—I just have a hard time showing it. I’m working on that. It’ll be easier to beat than the fries.
Thanks, NFReads, for letting me talk about myself a little bit. All of my books are available on Amazon.com, so if you enjoy history, Jane Austen, swashbuckling romance, or modern, sweet get-together stories, you can find them at https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Thorne/e/B004E5V0LA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1567186369&sr=8-1