Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back the amazingly sweet Donna Grant to the blog.  

Donna, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 30 books to my name.  I live in Texas with my family but my mind is normally in Scotland with my characters. J

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Actually, I studied to be a professional ballerina for most of my life.  It wasn’t until college that I contemplated writing.  Then, my husband urged me to give it a try.  Four months later after I’d written my first book I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I’ve been writing since before my children were born, so I’ve learned to write with a baby in my arms, a toddler playing at my feet, and anything in between.  I found the house oddly quiet once they started school. J  Now, years later, I look forward to having the house all to myself as I turn up my music and delve into my books.

My typical writing day is get up with the kids and get them off to school.  I’ll either work out or go running with my hubby before I come home, eat breakfast, answer emails and play on FaceBook for a bit.  Then I move from my desk to my favorite overstuffed chair and my laptop so I can start writing.  I write at least 20 pages a day, so I’ll get 10 done before lunch, then take a break to eat, and do the remaining 10 after that.  Once the pages are done I’ll do copy edits, revisions, galley proofs, or whatever else needs to be done on the other books until hubby and the kids get home.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

My most challenging part of the book is writing those damn synopses. :S  Really do not like those.  The most rewarding is everything else involved in writing.  I love to watch an idea come alive on paper and characters surprise me as I’m writing their stories.  Finishing a book also has a special part.  But the very, very best is seeing your book on the shelves!

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

MIDNIGHT’S CAPTIVE features Charon and Laura.  Charon differs from the other Warriors because he went back to his home town after he escaped Deirdre and for centuries has bought land and businesses to keep it beautiful, but also to protect it.  He’ll go away for several decades, and then return with a new name, but always he protects his people.

Laura comes to Ferness to escape her family and finds a home there, and then a job with Charon. She’s always been attracted to him, but believes he only thinks of her as a friend.  When Charon’s enemies come to harm Laura to get to him, Laura learns who he really is as well as discovers a secret about herself. It will take both of them to defeat Charon’s enemies.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I knew with Charon that his story would take place in Ferness.  It’s where he has chosen to be, and I knew his heroine would be closely tied to the town and him.  It only seemed natural that she work for him.  That constant close contact and the attraction neither believes the other feels was something I hadn’t done with the Warriors and Druids before.  With the story not taking place at MacLeod Castle, or involving the castle much, again, it was different, and I felt pertinent to their story.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I’m writing a bonus short story to put into the yet untitled print edition for the 3 Dark King E novellas that came out last year spinning off my dragon series. Just as soon as that’s done I’ve got to work on a Christmas novella I was just asked to do.  Once those two are done, I’ll get back to DARKEST FLAME, the first full length Dark King book due out May of 2014.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Lara Adrian, Karen Marie Moning, Kresley Cole, Lorraine Heath, and Stephanie Laurens to name a few

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Definitely! Every book I read as well as life experiences help to shape an author’s skills for their next book.

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

“Phelan told us that much,” Ian said.

Charon went to body after body on the ground, but none of them was Laura. Panic began to set in. “Laura!”

“She’s no’ here,” Phelan said as he moved debris. “She’s gone.”

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

My TBR pile is huge – and growing.  I get most of my reading done in breaks between books or on vacation.  Yet, I can’t help buying more books. I love to read, as does the rest of my family. There are nights you’ll find us all reading. J

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Come join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant

Midnight’s Captive

Dark Warriors #6

by Donna Grant

Giveaway Time: 

1 signed copy of Midnight’s Warrior, open internationally

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