Biography:
Donna McDonald is
an Amazon best selling author in Contemporary Romance and Humor, and
lately has been climbing the Science Fiction list as well.
Science Fiction
reviewers are calling McDonald “a literary alchemist effortlessly blending
science fiction and romance”. Contemporary and humor reviewers often write
to tell her that the books keep them up reading and laughing all
night. She likes both compliments and hopes they stay true forever.
McDonald’s idea of
success is to be sitting next to someone on a plane and find out they are
laughing at something in one of her books. Ideally, this would be
happening while she was heading off on her next adventure to feed her
creative soul.
Anyone who knows me (Leanna) is fully aware that I am a bit of a
literary stalker with Donna McDonald; doesn’t matter what she’s written, I’ve
read it and love it! Whether she’s
portraying a divorced and retired father’s second chance at love or a
futuristic space romance opera, she’s on point and on fire! Donna has graciously accepted our offer to
chat a bit about what makes her tick - so let’s give her a huge TLR welcome!
TLR: Would you
describe your writing style in three sentences or less?
DM: I’m a total
“pantser”. My usual mode is to write in a near panic state while driven by the
urge to get down that scene playing over and over in my head. I talk to myself
as I’m writing. I talk about my characters like they are real people.
TLR: What would you
say was the deciding factor in becoming an author?
DM: I have a been a
writer all my life and made a living as one several times. However, publishing
my books and becoming an “author” was the really hard decision. I lost a job
through downsizing and spent the following year taking care of my daughter who
died of cancer. After spending several months staring at walls and doing
nothing, I decided life was too short not to take a chance with my writing.
TLR: Once you made
the decision to take the plunge, how long did it take from your completion of
your first novel to publication?
DM: I count that time
in terms of what happened. I put in six or seven months of hard writing work to
perfect a couple titles, suffered through five rejections of them from agents
and presses, and researched long enough for me to absorb everything Mark Coker
of Smashwords was saying to authors who had good books and no one willing to
market them. Quick answer is about a
year from finishing my first marketable title and putting it up.
TLR: Being successful
in two genres (Contemporary Romance and Science Fiction) is no mean feat. That being said, is there genre that you’d
like to tackle in the future?
DM: I need multiple
genres to be a happy writer. When I started writing romances in the early 90’s,
‘paranormal’ was the only category for everything different and I loved those
stories. In the future, I’m going to be writing more work that will fall into
the newer paranormal categories. Next year, I’ll work on a ‘dragon’ book. I
might try a romantic suspense one day.
TLR: One thing I’ve
really enjoyed about your work is that your heroes/heroines are for the most
part nearing or at middle age (or older).
Was that something you consciously chose to portray and why?
DM: Yes, it was
intentional. My children are the ages of the younger heroes and heroines
typically found in romances, and those stories are needed. My writer voice was
meant to be used for the ones closer to my age. I feel blessed that so many
readers have responded well to those books, but I think that’s because I’ve had
the nerve to talk about love, sex, and romance happening after 35--lol. Since
that statement always make me laugh, I taught myself to write comedy because it
fills a great need in me to make readers laugh. I save every note I get where a
reader tells me that they laughed out loud over something I wrote.
TLR: With the recent
exposure (if you’ll forgive the pun) of erotica and erotic romance, how do you
manage to keep your scenes sexy and engaging without being excessively
explicit?
DM: At a recent
reader-author conference, I was on a ‘sex in romance’ panel. While I don’t have
any ‘throbbing members’ in my books, I also don’t have any ‘cocks’ either. I
personally have no problem with any term that is applicable for the story, but
language is being used to judge books these days. I assure you that most
writers could write anywhere along that spectrum. I chose my ‘middle road’
language for my sex scenes for the comfort level of the reader audience I
imagined in my head. Okay and because of friends from old day job teasing me
about my sex scenes. They used to look up terms and I vowed that they wouldn’t
find them again in my books. So maybe I owe them for my workarounds.
In Dating A Cougar II, I had a dirty joke going on between
Walter and Harrison, so I got by with using a term I haven’t used in other
books. Honestly though, I’ve had some reviewers call some of my work erotic.
I’ve had others who say the sex scenes are mild and boring. I’ve had reviews
that say the scenes are ‘hot enough to be interesting’. All these comments make
me laugh. I personally describe my scenes as explicit because I intentionally
describe sexual acts. This kind of judgment is very subjective. I write what
feels right to me. There are different levels of sexuality in each of my books.
To me, the sex between a couple is an aspect of each relationship. Dating A
Metro Man has the most sex because Seth used it as a way to keep Jenna
connected to him. Dating A Cougar II and Dating A Silver Fox have the least
amounts--maybe. I never think about it in those terms. I let it evolve as part
of the overall character development in every novel.
TLR: What are the perils and joys of writing series
books and stand-alone titles? Which do
you find easier/more difficult to write?
DM: I love to read
series books, so I naturally write them. If I love characters, I want to see
them again in subsequent books. I want to know that their happily-ever-after is
working out for them. In the Never Too Late series, I wanted the friendships to
be in every book. In the Art of Love series, I wanted the family to remain a
family that shows up on each other’s doorsteps. This just seems normal to me.
To date, I only have one or two single title books (The Right Thing and
Quickies Volume 1). They have their place among my titles, but I tend to think
of the future in terms of series or at least trilogies.
TLR: In your “Art of
Love” series, you’ve really fleshed out the creative personalities of each main
character. Do you have any creative
pursuits in addition to writing? How do
you think that’s helped you write this series?
DM: I am glad you
asked this question. I love art, but am not greatly talented at all the things
I admire, such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and so on. I made the
characters artists because in the process of seeing my titles published I came
to see myself as an artist. I now think of what I do as creating and see each
book as a work of art. It makes me feel very good to describe my work this way.
TLR: Speaking of your
AOL series, will we ever get to read Drake and Brooke’s story?
DM: <sigh> Yes. You will. I promise. I started the book in
2012, and tried to write it earlier in 2013. It just wasn’t working for me. I
would sit and stare at the screen day after day. Finally, I decided it just
wasn’t time to write it. So I set it aside and finished DAC II. Now I’m working
on Book 5 of the Forced To Serve series. After that though, I’m going back to
Covered In Paint until it is done. Brooke’s issue is hitting a little too close
to home for me in terms of storyline conflict. Yet I still feel it is the story
I need to tell. I am waiting until the Muses and I get into agreement about it.
I love that series too much not to finish it. There’s actually a book after
Brooke and Drake’s story.
TLR: I’ve noticed that the first book in the AOL
series, “Carved In Stone” is currently being offered for free at many online
retailers. Do you find that this has
made a noticeable difference in your sales on subsequent series installments?
DM: I’m a free book
advocate. It is a great way to let readers try your work. If they don’t like
your book or your writing, then they have lost nothing. If readers do like the
free book, then they will buy the others. A lot of my fellow authors do not
agree with this strategy, but I remember buying my first romances at used book
stores or checking them out of the libraries. I realize now that these did not
make the authors of those books any or much money. When readers have to be
careful with their buying dollars, like I used to have to be with small
children in the household, this kind of thing matters. Maybe I would not feel
this way if I thought I only had one more book in me, but I have dozens still
to write. Having a few books free has helped me get them into reader hands.
TLR: Tell us, who’s
books are on your TBR list?
DM: Wow. Well, you
don’t have enough room here for me to list them. I read JD Robb, Janet
Evanovich, Jennifer Cruise (her old books), and am tapping my foot waiting for
the next Darynda Jones book. I read across genres and recently finished Aramus
by Eve Langlais which is book 4 in her excellent Cyborgs: More Than Machines
series. She’s awesome. Shortly before that I read Thea Harrison’s Elder Races
series—the whole series. I don’t get a lot of time to read, but when I do, I
read obsessively if the books are good. I read everything by Robyn
Peterman—beta read for her sometimes—she is incredibly funny. I also read JM
Madden’s and Teresa Reasor’s military romances. I recently added Sharon
Hamilton to that list. I also read Liliana Hart—her dragon book hooked me. I
met Julie Ortolon at a conference and realized that I have 3 of her books on my
ereader—lol. I read what interests me
and look for unique stories. I’ve started a paranormal book listing site called
Risky Readers. It is bringing a whole bunch of new books to my attention. My
TBR pile is as daunting as every other reader’s.
TLR: If you could
choose to have a career other than being an author, what would it be? Why?
DM: I have cleaned
houses, worked for a newspaper, waited tables, been an account clerk, and then
put in 18 years in a technical field. I’ve done plenty of other things for
money--lol. Writing fiction is the most fun, interesting, fulfilling work I’ve
ever done. I love talking to readers and writing books that I think will
entertain or make them laugh. I truly cannot imagine doing anything else.
TLR: Do you have any
guilty pleasures? How do they figure in
to your creative process?
DM: I am learning
that massages, facials, and exercise classes are not luxuries, but necessities
to keep going. Writing demands a lot of hours in the chair and takes a toll on
my body, especially those long obsessive days. Bruce knows I like romantic
getaways with walks, fireplaces, and wine. I love going to the beach. All these
things rejuvenate me. But when the worries of the world push in too hard, I
revert to what has always worked. I go to my ereader and pull up a favorite
book that I know will take me to a place where I can really escape—lol.
TLR: What do you hope
your readers take away from your books?
DM: I hope they put
down my books and smile for the rest of the day. I hope they think of something
funny that happened to the characters and laugh. And I hope they realize that
I’m writing about people just like them who have the courage to take chances
and really get to live a full life.
TLR: Do you have a
favorite among your stories? Which one?
DM: Wow. This is
another nearly impossible question to answer. Each book means something special
to me. I have reasons for loving each. Over all, I would say Captured In Ink
was the most fulfilling book in terms of storyline. It is a highly uplifting
story. I also think fondly of Dating A Saint because after I finished its
complex storyline, I felt like a real
writer. I remain proud of Dating A Cougar because it is a story of my heart and
continues to create controversy with its sexy 50 yr old. Dating Dr. Notorious
taught me that writing can be fun. I wrote the entire novel in 2.5 week and
rarely slept or ate, but I laughed the entire time I was writing it. The entire
Forced To Serve series is challenging and entertaining to my writing mind with
its fight scenes and bad guys. I can feel myself growing as a writer in each
one of my paranormal books.
TLR: Which of your
characters would you say you most resemble?
DM: Regina Logan from
Dating Dr. Notorious is my alter ego and I like her bravery. Her character
voice is a reflection of my writer’s voice. Like her, I don’t mind shocking
people. I want everyone to worry a little about what I’m going to say
next. Readers of the series know that I
have to have Regina appear in a every book—lol.
There are bits and pieces of me in every single character I
create, but Jane’s reaction to Walter’s advances in Dating A Cougar II is the
most auto-biographical I have gotten in a novel. I was 41 when I met a 28 yr
old male who kept pursuing me. I finally married him this year—lol. It took me
a decade to believe it had any chance at all of working out long term. He never
doubted it and never wavered about staying in my life. So I feel very qualified
in writing my ‘cougar’ stories. Like Walter, my husband was mature for his age
and I was youthful for mine.
TLR: What was your
biggest surprise about the writing process?
DM: My biggest surprise is that each and every book I publish
causes me the same amount of nerve wracking angst as I turn it over to the
readers. Even with 18 original titles out there, I still had crazy butterflies
when I pushed the button to release Dating A Cougar II. I don’t think this is
going to change.
TLR: Please share
with us your upcoming releases and projects.
What twists/turns do you see your writing taking you in the future?
DM: Putting the books
into audiobook format has required me to tweak my writing style a bit. It’s
taking me a little longer these days to put the words down on the page, but
they read better when I do. Upcoming releases? Dating A Cougar II was late
September. The Demon’s Change will be out in the next month or two. The Demon
Master’s Wife and Dating Dr. Notorious will be out in audiobook before
Christmas. Covered In Paint doesn’t have a release date, but I promise I will
be back to working on it soon. Next year I’m going to be finishing both Next
Game I Play and Next Move I Make. Then later in 2014, I will be doing something
new I think—maybe the dragon book.
TLR: Where can
readers learn more about you and your work?
DM: They can go to my
website at www.donnamcdonaldauthor.com.
They can go to my Never Too Late for Romance blog at www.donnamcdonald.blogspot.com
and/or the Demons, Dragons, and Space Opera blog at www.donnamcdonaldparanormal.blogspot.com.
My books are available at most ebook retailers. I have an Amazon author page
and a presence on Goodreads. I’m on Facebook at Donna Jane McDonald and Twitter
(@donnamcdonald, @scifiwoman13, and @riskyreaders). They can email me at email@donnamcdonaldauthor.com.
