INTERVIEW with Author DONNA GRANT

Today I’m interviewing award-winning, bestselling author Donna Grant. Her book, UNTAMED HIGHLANDER is a historical/paranormal romance and was released on April 26, 2010.




Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

UNTAMED HIGHLANDER is the fourth book in my historical paranormal Dark Sword series about Highlanders who have a primeval god inside giving them immortality and special powers. Joining the Highlanders a Druids, each with a certain magic that corresponds with each Highlander to help end the evil threatening to take over the world.



UNTAMED HIGHLANDER features Highlander Hayden Campbell who had a distinct hatred for droughs, evil Druids. And it just so happens that the one person who can help defeat the evil is Isla, a Druid forced to become drough. The fireworks between the two are instantaneous.



Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

It’s historical paranormal set in medieval Scotland. Scotland is my setting of choice, though I have written books set in medieval England as well. I also have a couple of fantasy romance books as well. I’m delving into the contemporary paranormal word, too.

What is your writing routine like?

I write Monday – Friday, at least 20 pages a day. I find that its best if I start fairly early in the morning. During the school year, I get up with the kids, get them breakfast and read emails. Hubby takes them to school, and I do my Facebook and other promo stops, and by 8:30 I’m writing. I stop for a break about 10:00 and do a workout, then I’m back to writing until lunch.

If it’s a good day, I’ve gotten all 20 pages done by lunch. If not, I finish up before the kids get home from school.


It takes me six weeks from the start of the book, through the first draft and revisions, until I turn it into my editor.



Are you a plotter or a panster?

A panster all the way. I cannot plot the book before hand and then write it, because to me, it’s already written. Half the fun is seeing where the characters are going to take me and what surprises they’ll throw my way.

What was the first book you ever wrote and has it been published?

My first book I ever wrote is gathering dust in my computer. It was set in Medieval England, and was a truly awful book. But I learned so much writing it. I wrote four more before I became published. It was that fourth book – HIGHLAND MIST, the beginning of my Druids Glen books – that set me on my path today.



Now that you have achieved you goal of publication, what is the most rewarding thing that has happened?

The thing about publishing is that your goals constantly change. First, it’s getting published, then its getting the next contract and the next and the next and so on. Then, you worry about gathering new readers. Your goals change to hitting lists and climbing out of the “midlist”.



The most rewarding thing is hearing from readers and listening to them talk about how much my characters have touched them. It’s truly a joy to share that with readers.



Are you a member of any writing organizations?

Yes. I’ve been a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) since 2000. Within RWA I belong to several chapters. I’m also a member of NINC (Novelist, Inc.).

That's Jimmy Thomas on the cover.

What sort of promo do you share? Do you have any help?

I have bookmarks always. And back in 2009 I wanted to do something different and began doing trading cards, or what I call Warrior Cards after my heroes. The next thing I know these trading cards are the next big thing and everyone wants them. 



Over the years I’ve done postcards, door hangers, buttons, and pens. We authors are always trying to find something that resonates with readers.



And I have a wonder designer – Croco Designs – who does all the design on my promo.



Do you have any rejection stories to share?

Lol. There are too many to even think about. I got one just the other day on a new proposal in a new genre. If there’s one thing about publishing that is true is that it’ll humble you.

In this business, you can’t ever give up. You just have to keep writing the best books that you can.



Do you have any encouraging words for the struggling writer still waiting to get that first contract?

Don’t give up. Keep writing. And above all else, keep reading. Oh, and learn the business.

What’s next for you?

I’ve got a lot coming out. SHADOW HIGHLANDER, book 5, hits shelves August 30th, and then DARKEST HIGHLANDER, book 6, hits January 31, 2012.



Then, the biggie. The spin off series – Dark Warriors – comes with two back to back releases.

MIDNIGHT’S MASTER – June 2012

MIDNIGHT’S LOVER – July 2012

MIDNIGHT’S SEDUCTION – November 2012

MIDNIGHT’S WARRIOR – December 2012



With more of my Warriors coming after that!



BOOK BLURB-

The Dark Sword series reins in the magic, passion, and fury of Scotland’s legendary warriors—for whom love is always worth fighting for...

DEVIL IN THE FLESH

Druid-born and magic-blessed, Isla is one of the deadliest she-devils ever to serve the forces of darkness. As an immortal Highland warrior, it’s up to Hayden Campbell to destroy her and her kind. But for Hayden, Isla is more than a sworn enemy. She is temptation...

ANGEL IN HIS ARMS

Taking Isla captive, Hayden hopes to avenge his kinsmen who died by Druid magic. But when he looks into Isla’s eyes, he sees the secrets of her past. When he touches her skin, he feels the passion in her soul. And soon Hayden comes to realize that this beautiful, beguiling woman is not his enemy at all—she is his destiny. And, even as the forces of darkness conspire against them, their love will conquer all...





EXCERPT-

Hayden leaned against a boulder and raked his hand through his damp hair. The snowfall had begun to grow more dense, the flakes thicker and heavier, but it didn't hamper his superior eyesight. They stuck to his eyelashes and covered everything in a blinding white blanket.



Hours went by with Hayden locating nothing but more dead. The fact they were most likely Druids only made the findings more difficult to bear. Druids might have magic, but they were susceptible to the elements as any human was, and thanks to Deirdre's affinity for killing them, the Druids were becoming more and more scarce.



A shout from Fallon let Hayden know it was time to return to MacLeod Castle. As Hayden began to turn away something caught his eye.



He paused and narrowed his gaze when a gust of wind lifted a lock of long, black hair in the snow. Though Hayden knew the woman was most likely dead, he hurried to her anyway, hopeful he would leave the mountain with at least one alive. He spotted the pool of bright red blood in the snow that gave him hope she was still alive.



"Fallon," he barked while scraping away the flurries and ice from around the small, much too slim body.



The woman was lying on her stomach, an arm bent with her hand near her face and matted ebony hair obscuring her features. Her fingers were slim as they dug into the snow as if she had tried to crawl away.



Hayden could only imagine the pain she had been put through, the heartache Deirdre had given her. He held his breath as he put a finger beneath her nose and felt a soft stirring of air.



At least they would leave the cursed mountain with one life. He reached for her and paused again. He didn't want to hurt her, but it had been so long since he had been gentle, he wasn't sure he knew how. All he knew was battle and death.



Maybe he should allow Fallon care for her. But as soon as the thought went through his mind, Hayden rejected it. He found her, he would see to her. He didn't know why, he just knew that it was important to him.



Hayden blew out a breath and slowly, firmly placed his hands on the woman's body before he tenderly turned her over. Her arm fell to the side, lifeless and still. Disquiet settled in his gut like a stone.



He shifted so that he leaned over her, shielding her from the onslaught of snow. Once he had her in his arms, Hayden brushed the hair from her face to see her incredibly long black lashes spiked with frozen snow.



He felt something shift inside him when he saw her face was pale as death, but even beneath the scratches, dried blood, and ice he could see her beauty, her timeless allure.



She had high cheekbones and a small, pert nose. Her brows were as black as the midnight sky and arched over her eyes. Her lips were full, sensual, and her neck long and lean.



But it was her cream colored skin, so flawless and perfect, that made him reach out and stroke her cheek with the back of his finger.



A shock of something primitive and urgent went through his body like a bolt of lightning. He couldn't take his eyes from her, couldn't stop touching her. Her body struggled for breath, struggled for life, proving she was a fighter. Even with the elements taking the breath from her one heartbeat at a time, she didn't give up.



Something inside him broke at that moment. He hadn't been able to save his family or the many Druids on Cairn Toul, but he would save this woman, whoever she was.



A feeling of protectiveness wound through him. It had been so long since he'd felt protective of anyone or anything that he almost hadn't recognized the emotion. Now that he did, however, it grew stronger the longer he held her in his arms.



He would make sure she survived. He would ensure she was protected at all times. It wouldn't make up for the lives of his family or the Druids, but he had to do it.



Hayden found himself wishing she'd open her eyes so he could see them. He wanted to give his oath to her right then, for her to know that he would fight with her. Instead, she lay unconscious in his arms.



His vow would have to wait, but nothing could stop him from pledging himself to her.



"Does she live?" Fallon asked.



Hayden glanced up startled to find Fallon near when he hadn't heard him approach. That wasn't like Hayden, but then again, he had never held such a lovely woman in his arms before, especially one that needed him as she did.



"Just. She's bleeding badly, though I cannot tell where she is wounded."



"Judging by the blood on your hand, I would say somewhere on her back."



Hayden looked at the hand holding her and grimaced. He doubted they had much time to save her. For the first time in...ages...the need to defend, to shield someone consumed him, drove him. "She’s shivering."



"Then let's get her out of here," Fallon said.



Hayden lifted her small frame in his arms. She was light, but through her clothes he could feel the sumptuous curves that proclaimed her a woman. He gave a nod to Fallon and waited. Fallon laid his hand on Hayden's arm, and in a blink they were standing in the great hall of MacLeod Castle.



"God’s teeth!" someone yelled at their sudden appearance in the castle.



"Sonya!" Fallon bellowed.



The hall swarmed with Warriors, but Hayden only had eyes for the woman. He wanted, nay needed, her to survive, and was surprised to find himself praying – something he hadn't done since before his family's murder. He decided then and there he would protect her with his life.



He felt the warm stickiness of her blood as it traveled from his hand down his arm to his elbow to drop on the stone floor. Her breathing was ragged, her body so still he would think her dead if he didn’t see her chest rising and falling, slowly but surely.



"Sonya, hurry!" Hayden shouted. The thought of holding another dead body in his arms made Hayden's heart quicken with dread.



Death surrounded him, always had, most likely always would. But now, he wanted life for this small woman, whoever she was.



There was a whooshing sound as Broc landed in the great hall, Sonya in his arms. Broc folded his large, sleek indigo wings against him as he set Sonya on her feet and pushed his god down and returned to normal.



Sonya said not a word as she rushed to Hayden. The single, thick braid holding her fiery hair hung down her back with small tendrils curling about her face.



"Put her on the table," Sonya instructed him.



Hayden didn't want to relinquish his hold on the woman, but he knew he had no choice if he wanted her to survive. He glanced at her, at her parted lips and ethereal face. "She’s cold."



"And I'll get her warm as soon as I heal her," Sonya told him, her amber eyes meeting his gaze. "Let me heal her, Hayden."



Quinn took a step toward the table. "Broc-"



"I know," Broc answered.



Hayden looked between the two Warriors to find their gazes locked on the female in his arms. There was something in their tone, something he should recognize, but he couldn't focus on anything but the woman.



A little bit about the author.

Donna Grant is the award winning author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance – Scottish Medieval, historical, dark fantasy, time travel, erotic, and paranormal.

Donna was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica and Mexico. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna's Cajun side of the family taught her the "spicy" side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin' and bareback riding.

Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.

Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as The Druids Glen, The Shields, The Royal Chronicles, the Sisters of Magic, and the Dark Sword series.

Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, three cats, and one long haired Chihuahua. She's blessed with a proud, supportive husband who's learned to cook far more than frozen chicken nuggets.



How can readers buy your book?

The Dark Sword series and upcoming Dark Warriors series can be found anywhere print books are sold.

My backlist, out of print ebooks that I’m once more putting up for sale can be found at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.



Readers may go to the publisher’s home page at http://us.macmillan.com/author/donnagrant-1


Check out my trailer at………. http://www.donnagrant.com/bookvideos


Where can my readers find you?

Readers can find me at my website http://www.donnagrant.com/.  or they can check out my blog at http://www.donnagrant.com/blog

I am also on Twitter under donna_grant and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant.

****CONTEST ALERT- Leave a comment below for your chance to win an autographed copy of Untamed Highlander!!****
 
**I want to thank Donna for the chance to interview her. I have been a big fan for a while now and this was such a treat. Good luck to her in her future endeavors.**