Hey guys!
It's my pleasure to welcome author Donna Fasano! She's here to tell us a little bit about herself, as well as announce her latest release, Reclaim My Heart. Welcome, Donna!
What attracted you to
writing in the first place?
I came to writing from my love of reading. While growing up,
I lost myself in books in order to escape an unhappy childhood.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Romance. I wrote for Harlequin for 20 years, writing sweet
romance (as Donna Clayton) and women's fiction/contemporary romance (under my
own name). I have self-published some of my back-list Harlequin books. The
Merry-Go-Round was never published by a traditional publisher, so I guess that
would be my first indie-published book. Reclaim My Heart is the second of my
front-list indie-published titles.
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I think authors who face a lot of pain and anguish seem to
write stories with great depth, with honesty and compassion. It could be that
dealing with trauma brings out the best (or worst) in people. I believe that
losing my mother at such a young age had a huge impact on me not just as a
writer but as a human being. I became, I don't know, more maternal towards my
family, my friends, heck, towards everyone I meet... more giving of myself. I'm
not sure. But I know that the loss could have made me bitter and angry. I'm
just so grateful that the exact opposite seems to describe me.
Where do you get your
inspiration and ideas from?
My mind is always on the alert. I take ideas from everything
I see, hear, read, experience. I have been known to take a snippet of
conversation overheard in an elevator and turn it into a book (Return of the
Runaway Bride), or from a location (His Wife for a While), or from a person I
met (Taking Love in Stride). So be careful! If you interact with me, you might
end up in one of my novels.
What’s your favorite place in the entire world?
I have visited so many beautiful places. The South of
France, the rolling mountains of Italy, the Mediterranean Sea, the cobbled
streets of Brussels, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, beautiful Morro Bay,
California, and I spend lots of time in Ocean City, Maryland. I obviously can't
pick a favorite. Besides, there are so many places waiting to be seen!
What was your
favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest?
I really enjoyed writing the love scenes. In my sweet
romances, all the 'spice' takes place behind closed doors. So this was very
fun. And which part was hardest? The "kitchen love scene" (naughty
pun intended!).
When you were a
child, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?
I wanted to be a teacher. My aunt attended college and
earned her teaching degree. I always idolized her.
If you couldn’t be an
author, what would your ideal career be?
Teacher. I love kids, and I often include them in my
stories. I always say that children are very honest and outspoken. Kids inject
a great deal of fun into a book.
If you could live
inside the world of a book, which book would you choose?
Pride and Prejudice. Love that Mr. Darcy!
Give your fans three
fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I love to cook! (I often post recipes on my blog.)
My reading tastes are crazy-eclectic. I read anything and
everything.
I'm a little on the chubby side.
Chocolate, vanilla,
or strawberry?
Depends. If we're talking ice cream, then vanilla… and I
love mine topped with sliced banana and warm caramel sauce. If we're talking
cake, then chocolate, and don't forget the fudge frosting. If we're talking
milkshakes, then strawberry. Wow, now I'm hungry.
Please tell us in one
sentence only, why we should read your book.
I put my heart and soul into this Reclaim My Heart, and I
think it shows… in the characters and in the story.
So what’s next for
you as an author? Any last words?
I'm thinking of writing a book that revolves around three
friends in different stages of marriage, but I'm not sure yet. I've worked very
hard on Reclaim My Heart and I'm going to take a few days off. Then I'll get
back to work!
I want to thank you for hosting me, and I want to thank your
followers for taking the time to read about Reclaim My Heart.
Book Blurb:
Sixteen
years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the
shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in
trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to
high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past
in ways Tyne never imagined.
Forced to
return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that
consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all
the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets
waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be
denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't
rip them apart.
Where you can get yourself a copy:
Author Bio:
Donna
Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT
Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a
Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books
have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly
two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous
times, climbing as high as #17.
What others are saying about Donna's
books:
"...complex,
funny, and realistic..." ~Wilmington News Journal
"Excellent!"
~Bookreview.com
"Could
not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is
well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to
identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author." ~Elizabeth M.
Caldwell on Amazon
"...a
fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on
target!" ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com
Where you can find her on the web:
Thanks for being here with me today, Donna. It was a pleasure having you!
The emotion rose up around, choking him, the tightness in his chest squeezing the air from his lungs. He laid a palm flat against the headstone and closed his eyes. 
