Second Chances was my debut novel. A rather long learning curve preceded this effort. I had always loved writing, but I never considered it as a potential career when I was young. The first story I wrote was titled “My Name and I.” This came about when my family moved as I was going into the eighth grade. At that time I was called Dannye Sue. Unfortunately, my new teacher refused to call me by my full name, insisting Dannye was a boy’s name. In turn, I refused to answer the roll call until she finally gave in. It so happened that the high school newspaper ran a short story contest for the eighth grade classes. I couldn’t help myself. I wrote “My Name and I” and won first place. It was published in the following issue!
After that sweetly rewarding experience, I wrote poems as an outlet for my emotions or in answer to requests by others. Later, I wrote a manual on Technical Analysis for brokers in the commodity trading industry and various pieces related to other jobs I had. However, in 1997, I sat down to see if I could write a full length novel. I had always been interested in human psychology and for the nearly two decades prior in metaphysics. So, it was natural that these interests would inform my writing in this major undertaking.
It was so exciting! I would quit in the evening and inform my husband, “You’ll never guess what Darian did?” I very much felt like my characters were writing the book. I managed to make my way to the end of the book. Fortunately, it only took a short while for me to realize how much I had to learn. As soon as life allowed, I sat down to do a rewrite and change the title. As you might imagine, my enthusiasm created a massive tale! Unfortunately, my husband and I were in process of creating a 5 CD audiobook and making plans to move out of state, so I put my novel on the back burner. Just as I thought I was ready to make the move to transform my tale into two novels, my husband had a stroke. I was beginning to think that my future as a writer was cursed!
However, I prevailed and completed my rewrite and edit on Second Chances and on the second half of the tale, The Threads That Bind, which takes place 39 years later.
After that sweetly rewarding experience, I wrote poems as an outlet for my emotions or in answer to requests by others. Later, I wrote a manual on Technical Analysis for brokers in the commodity trading industry and various pieces related to other jobs I had. However, in 1997, I sat down to see if I could write a full length novel. I had always been interested in human psychology and for the nearly two decades prior in metaphysics. So, it was natural that these interests would inform my writing in this major undertaking.
It was so exciting! I would quit in the evening and inform my husband, “You’ll never guess what Darian did?” I very much felt like my characters were writing the book. I managed to make my way to the end of the book. Fortunately, it only took a short while for me to realize how much I had to learn. As soon as life allowed, I sat down to do a rewrite and change the title. As you might imagine, my enthusiasm created a massive tale! Unfortunately, my husband and I were in process of creating a 5 CD audiobook and making plans to move out of state, so I put my novel on the back burner. Just as I thought I was ready to make the move to transform my tale into two novels, my husband had a stroke. I was beginning to think that my future as a writer was cursed!
However, I prevailed and completed my rewrite and edit on Second Chances and on the second half of the tale, The Threads That Bind, which takes place 39 years later.
Below are some of my earlier reviews of Second Chances.
Sandy Wolters:
Is there really evil in the world? Yes. It goes by the name of Darian. I want to start out by saying that I am a paranormal junkie. This book, SECOND CHANCES by DANNYE WILLIAMSEN, is so much more than your everyday paranormal read. There are no vampires. There are no werewolves, although there is a wolf, Avatar, with a very interesting back story.
Second Chances has a character, Darian, who is so evil, yet the author found a way to write his story that compels the reader to feel sorrow and sympathy for him. The writing in this book was scintillating!
Carol Wyer:
This is quite simply one of the best paranormal thrillers I have read. Second Chances grips the reader from the outset and carries them along in a huge tide of eloquent, flowing style, intriguing characters, and heart-hammering plot.
Centering around two characters: Darian and Fredrika, Dannye Williamsen's novel is not merely about good versus evil. It examines the complexity of human characteristics and demonstrates that fate and circumstance play their part, too. Both characters have substance. Fredrika represents goodness and has a well-balanced strength. Darian is truly disturbing, yet fascinating. He is bent on destruction, but salvation could be around the corner if only Fredrika is willing to accept his conditions and, indeed, him.
Karen Doering:
Dark, deep, and filled with protagonists you can both love and hate, feel sorry for and wish they are defeated, this is the one book I don't think will be easily put aside or forgotten. Once you have read it, you still need time to think about it.
Ms. Williamsen brings her characters to life with depth and dimension. Each character is multi-faceted, coming to life on the page. The narration flows so well it is hardly noticed, and the dialogue is realistic. Beautifully edited and presented, the book is easy to get lost in. I did. I was unable to put it down.
J.T. Kalnay
Dannye Williamsen presents a classic and terrifying battle between good and evil in Second Chances. Fredrika thinks she is losing her mind as unexplained happenings begin to pile up around her. Darian can't explain why Fredrika is so compelling to him. As the mystery and terror grow and grow, Fredrika and Darian identify and then confront the yin and yang of good and evil. The adversaries learn that every heart holds both good and evil, and none of us are willing to destroy any piece of our own heart. Will Fredrika survive her challenges? Will Darian devolve into pure evil? You'll have to read to the very end to find out. And after turning that last page you'll be reaching for the first page of the sequel, The Threads That Bind.
Note:
You can read more reviews at https://www.dannyewilliamsen.com/second-chances.html .
It is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Dannye-Williamsen/dp/097260586X
Sandy Wolters:
Is there really evil in the world? Yes. It goes by the name of Darian. I want to start out by saying that I am a paranormal junkie. This book, SECOND CHANCES by DANNYE WILLIAMSEN, is so much more than your everyday paranormal read. There are no vampires. There are no werewolves, although there is a wolf, Avatar, with a very interesting back story.
Second Chances has a character, Darian, who is so evil, yet the author found a way to write his story that compels the reader to feel sorrow and sympathy for him. The writing in this book was scintillating!
Carol Wyer:
This is quite simply one of the best paranormal thrillers I have read. Second Chances grips the reader from the outset and carries them along in a huge tide of eloquent, flowing style, intriguing characters, and heart-hammering plot.
Centering around two characters: Darian and Fredrika, Dannye Williamsen's novel is not merely about good versus evil. It examines the complexity of human characteristics and demonstrates that fate and circumstance play their part, too. Both characters have substance. Fredrika represents goodness and has a well-balanced strength. Darian is truly disturbing, yet fascinating. He is bent on destruction, but salvation could be around the corner if only Fredrika is willing to accept his conditions and, indeed, him.
Karen Doering:
Dark, deep, and filled with protagonists you can both love and hate, feel sorry for and wish they are defeated, this is the one book I don't think will be easily put aside or forgotten. Once you have read it, you still need time to think about it.
Ms. Williamsen brings her characters to life with depth and dimension. Each character is multi-faceted, coming to life on the page. The narration flows so well it is hardly noticed, and the dialogue is realistic. Beautifully edited and presented, the book is easy to get lost in. I did. I was unable to put it down.
J.T. Kalnay
Dannye Williamsen presents a classic and terrifying battle between good and evil in Second Chances. Fredrika thinks she is losing her mind as unexplained happenings begin to pile up around her. Darian can't explain why Fredrika is so compelling to him. As the mystery and terror grow and grow, Fredrika and Darian identify and then confront the yin and yang of good and evil. The adversaries learn that every heart holds both good and evil, and none of us are willing to destroy any piece of our own heart. Will Fredrika survive her challenges? Will Darian devolve into pure evil? You'll have to read to the very end to find out. And after turning that last page you'll be reaching for the first page of the sequel, The Threads That Bind.
Note:
You can read more reviews at https://www.dannyewilliamsen.com/second-chances.html .
It is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Dannye-Williamsen/dp/097260586X
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