Last year, I put it on my to-do list to release the entire Mailboat Suspense Series in hardback. I was so stoked to hold my books in this new, longer-lasting, display-quality version–and a wonderful friend of mine (who asked to remain anonymous) backed the expenses for the entire project. (Thank you SO MUCH! You know who you are, and I’m sending hugs.)
Due to last year being… the year it was for me… those hardbacks didn’t happen. And I was pretty crushed about it. But it turns out I’m only human, and I had accidentally put a super-human pile of goals on my desk (including moving to Wisconsin).
Wisconsin happened.
The hardbacks didn’t.
But that’s about to change, and I am finally excited to announce…
The Mailboat Suspense Series is coming out in hardback this summer.
There will be boxed sets. There will be individual copies of each book in the series. And I. Can’t. Wait! For you guys to see them for yourselves.
I’m in the middle of laying out the interiors. My amazing cover designer, Maryna Zhukova, marked time on her calendar to transform her art into beautiful dust jackets.
And this ship is finally sailing.
The new hardbacks should release this August, and I’m taking pre-orders NOW!
Be sure to set your name down for an autographed copy so your gorgeous new book can ship as soon as they’re ready!
I can’t wait for you all to see these beautiful new versions of the Mailboat Suspense Series. Anchors aweigh!
Currently, I’m writing like a mad woman, trying to wrap up an epic climax sequence for Mailboat V. Guys, I think even *I* underestimated how epic it’s gonna be.
So, earlier this week, I enlisted the aid of my friends Sergeant Jason Hall and Lieutenant Ed Gritzner of the real-life Lake Geneva Police Department to draw from their expertise.
To be honest, I used to feel guilty about asking them to take time away from their real-life duties just to make-believe with me.
“One last question,” I said. “Where would you set up your command post?”
“The parking lot of the state park,” he said.
I thanked him for his time, and we hung up.
Two minutes later, he called me back. “I change my mind. The parking lot at the state park is too close to the action. Let’s put it at the middle school.”
I laughed, even as I updated my notes. The way he called me back so fast–he was acting like this was real.
And then I realized… he was basically treating my climax sequence like a training scenario.
Scenario training is something emergency personnel do in real life—and they make it as authentic as possible. The below photo isn’t a real car accident; it’s a training scenario I attended in 2016, put on at an event called the Writers Police Academy.
They pulled out all the stops for this, even landing a helicopter to carry away one of the “patients.” The entire thing unfolded as if it were real, and gave the emergency personnel involved a chance to practice their skills and use their equipment. That way, next time it is real, they’re ready.
Now that I equate my fictional emergencies with scenario training, I don’t feel so guilty about asking Jason and Ed for their time. And frankly, they’re usually delighted to help. (I keep having to remind myself that other people find authors cool.)
And after all the emergencies I’ve written into the Mailboat Suspense Series… you should feel very safe in Lake Geneva. I’ve prepped your PD for the literal worst, LOL.
But for the climax sequence of Book V… I might have thrown them a doozey.
When working through these “scenarios,” I’ll start by telling Ed and Jason what information they have at their disposal, and they’ll in turn tell me how they’d respond, what tactics and resources they’d deploy, etc.
Let me just say, the climax of Book V has a lot of moving parts–what my cop friends would call “a dynamic situation.” From an author’s perspective, I’m rotating between quite a few points of view, as well as multiple, constantly-changing locales; and in real time, everything would be unfolding in a matter of minutes. This scenario is pulling in more law enforcement officers than I even have names and call signs for. (Random name generators have been my friend. Don’t worry, I only use the good ones, and I lean towards German surnames, cuz southeast Wisconsin, amiright?)
How big is the climax sequence for Mailboat V? I think Jason’s reaction sums it up best:
I gave him the opening scenario. In response, he established a perimeter and sent in additional units.
I threw him a hard left.
“Oh, shit,” he said. “I lose my job.” Despite his initial pessimism, he adjusted quickly, creating an inner perimeter and calling in additional resources.
I gave him another hard left.
“Oh, God.” He considered a moment, then asked—hopeful, almost begging— “Is my outer perimeter in place yet?”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him… probably not.
Jason’s most frequent comment throughout the scenario? “It would be chaos… It would be chaos…”
LOL. I have too much fun with these books.
Also, don’t get any ideas about calling the LGPD so you can grill Sergeant Hall or Lieutenant Gritzner for spoilers. I haven’t even told them everything–like, the final, final showdown, which I felt confident to write without their input. In fact, I didn’t even tell them which characters were involved.
“I’m trying to think who’s who in this scenario,” Ed admitted.
Secretly? I’m really hoping to blow their minds once they read it.
So… Definitely tired over here from all the last-minute writing. Definitely feeling like my arm’s about to fall off. Definitely wish the writing was done already. And definitely watching the calendar and observing that this release is going to be down-to-the-wire.
But that’s pretty typical, TBH. I have no idea how I manage to release a book every year. Magic is real.
But now that the climax sequence is finally coming together… I’m more certain than ever that this could be my favorite book so far. If you haven’t reserved your pre-order yet, better get it in now! Or come meet me at one of the book signings on the 2022 Lake Geneva Book Tour. When you see me, you’ll know I put 110% into this release.
~ Danielle
P.S., if you want to help me over the finish line in a very real way… you can buy me a coffee! I can’t tell you how much that lifts my spirits, warms my heart, and fuels my writing.
Through the course of writing the Mailboat Suspense Series, one thing has come to mean more to me than anything else: the light I see in your eyes when you read my books.
At readings, book signings, and book clubs everywhere I go, I see the same thing—this unmistakable spark of life, love, and hope. Those of you who’ve read the books know that they’re so much more than a mystery series. They’re a prism that scatters light and darkness across the canvas of your mind, promising that light will win out in the end, if only we can figure out how to hang onto hope, friendship, and our most authentic selves.
You might have guessed that I’ve been through some pretty dark places myself. I’ve walked through that darkness, found myself, and come out the other side determined to scatter light as far and wide as I can.
To date, my books have already out-sold most traditionally published books. The pre-orders for Book IV (The Shift in the Wind) were five times greater than Book III (The Captain’s Tale). And I’ve been approached on two separate occasions about my film and TV rights. The sun keeps rising on my dreams, and I plan to keep sailing towards that light.
But it saddens me that, as the author, I get to bask in the joy and the fun of these stories all year long, while you only get to experience it once a year when I release a new book. I know how hard it is for you to wait while I carefully craft every word.
At the same time, releasing my new books and watching the light rekindle in your eyes is my favorite part—and I only get to experience that once a year, too. The time in between can feel very long and lonely.
Meanwhile, growing a business is no small undertaking, especially a creative business. It’s challenging enough to cover current expenses, never mind expanding. You know I have thrilling plans on the horizon—for instance, those audiobooks you keep asking me about.
Guys, I have a solution that can help with ALL those problems.
Let me introduce you to Patreon, a platform where truly avid fans can show their support for creators they love. Like a nobleperson of old, you can become a patron of the arts, helping keep the wind in my sails while I captain the ship toward that glittering horizon.
For as little as a few dollars a month, members of my exclusive Patreon page will get to read my next book AS I WRITE IT. I plan to release one to three chapters per week, allowing you to spend time with Bailey, Tommy, Ryan, and Monica all year long, just as I do.You’ll also be joining a community of TOP Mailboat fans. With every chapter release, you’ll be able to post your comments and talk with each other about what you loved, plot twists you never saw coming, and what you hope will happen next. I’ll be active in the discussions—and your comments will almost certainly affect the course of the story. You might not know this, but I love playing off your ideas. (Almost all of Mailboat IV was based off fan suggestions!)
Best of all, like the stalwart sailors you are, you’ll be taking an active role in helping me bring this story to as many readers as possible—helping me mount the brightness I forged from darkness at the top of a lighthouse. I’ve lost count how many people have told me that this story brought them to a better place, or inspired them to throw a life ring to someone else.
So come aboard! I can’t wait to see you on Patreon. The sunrise is waiting
