Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Singleton.
Hi Danielle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Danielle Singleton Battle, but I write under my maiden name as Danielle Singleton. I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta and now live in Buckhead with my husband and two children. I am a former corporate lawyer and now work full-time as a mom and an author. I have written and published 7 novels and 1 children’s book. My 2nd children’s book comes out this month (May 20th) and my 8th novel is due to come out in early September.
I am a storyteller more than anything, and I got my start when I was very young. I was always playing make-believe and telling stories as a child. When I was four, I convinced an entire hospital emergency room that I had been adopted (which is not true!). As I got older, playing make-believe grew into writing poetry and short stories, along with a few failed attempts at books. My first year at Harvard Law School, I had a dream that my friends and I were kidnapped while on vacation in Mexico. That dream became the basis for my first book, Safe and Sound.
After law school, I worked for a number of years as a corporate attorney. But I never stopped following my passion for writing. I am very excited about the two books I have coming out this year, and I already know what my next story will be!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The publishing industry – any creative industry really – is not for the faint of heart. Fewer people are reading books, and more people are writing books, which means the competition has never been more fierce. Furthermore, I am an independent author, which means I am not aligned with any of the large, traditional publishing houses. That gives me more creative control and more flexibility when needed, which is very important while raising my two young children. But being independent also makes it more difficult to get the word out about my books.
There have also been personal struggles along the way – everything from “writer’s block” to legal career changes to a major health operation for my husband. I have to find time to write in-between carpool lines, making lunches, and soccer practices. I even brought my daughter along on my book tour a few years ago! But writing has always been therapeutic for me and offers me an escape from the stress of everyday life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As mentioned previously, I am an author. I like to tell people that I make up stories for a living. Most of my books fit in the murder-mystery or thriller genre, which is funny because I don’t like to watch scary movies. I get nightmares if I don’t know what is going to happen! I like writing mysteries and thrillers, though, because of the twists and turns in the stories. I always try to keep readers on the edge of their seats and I love it when people tell me they never saw the ending coming!
I have also written one romance novel. It was the first book I wrote after I got married, so my husband likes to take credit and say he turned me from serial killers to love stories. In all seriousness, I really enjoyed writing ‘Every Star in the Sky’ and I am planning to turn it into a series in the coming years.
I am most proud of one of my books, ‘Price of Life’, being a former #1 Bestseller in its category on Amazon. I suppose that’s what I’m best known for as well. Price of Life is a dark thriller about human trafficking, and I’m very proud that my book has helped raise awareness about modern day slavery and is hopefully part of bringing that terrible practice to an end one day.
I think what sets me apart from others is the attention to detail in my books. There are no loose ends, no holes in the plot, no descriptions that aren’t accurate. I write fictional stories set in the real world, so I do extensive research to make sure that the real world details are correct. Over the years I have interviewed many different people in search of an exciting yet accurate story – including CDC scientists, FBI agents, fashion experts, and even a search and rescue pilot! I want my readers to be able to fully immerse themselves in the plot and the characters without getting side-tracked by details that don’t make sense.
What does success mean to you?
My definition of success has evolved over the years. When I first started writing, success was a completed, published novel. Then I started to dream bigger and think I wouldn’t be a success until I was on the New York Times Bestseller List or was featured on Reese Witherspoon’s book club. But marriage and motherhood have taught me that success isn’t found in sales figures or marketing hits. As much as I love writing and sharing my stories with the world, my career as an author will never be higher than 4th on my priority list. Jesus, my husband, and my kids will always rank higher. So success for me is keeping those priorities in order and still finding time to pursue something I love in the midst of every day chaos.
Pricing:
- My paperback books are $14.99
- Hardcover books are $24.99
- Kindle/iBooks/e-books are $4.99 or less
- All of my books are available on e-readers and every major online retailer. If you would like an autographed copy or have a special order, please reach out directly through my website or social media pages.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daniellesingleton.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singletondanielle
Image Credits
All photos are from my personal collection.
