Hi Donna and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at
RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about
your current projects?
Thank you so much for having me. I have several projects going on. I've just finished up the fifth and final book of my SHIELD series. I'm still writing books in my DRUID'S GLEN series and ROYAL CHRONICLES series. But the best news I have is that I'm working on two new series that I'm not yet ready to announce. They're going to be big though. :)
What triggers the idea for a new project? Are you a people-watcher?
lol. I do watch people. My husband and I will just sit and people-watch. You find such interesting things about people if you just watch them. However, my ideas don't normally get triggered from people watching. My ideas are triggered from songs, movies and TV mostly.
Do you know the end of your book when you first begin it, or does the story evolve along the way? Do you outline?
My stories always evolve as I write. I don't like to box my characters in with an outline, so I let them take me on their journey. I always get surprised that way, and as a writer, being surprised by my characters is as much fun as starting a new book.
What is the one thing you wish you change about the way you write? Are there any "must have's" in order for you to "hum" along? Any special CD's in the player or snacks by your side?
I started writing while I was pregnant with my first child, so I've always had to write with small children around. Once you can do that, you can write pretty much anywhere with all kinds of distractions. Now that my youngest started preK this year, I've had more time during the day to write. I love to write to music. Soundtracks are my favorites. I have all three Lord of the Rings soundtracks, but my favorite is the King Arthur soundtrack. The music moves me.
All writers dream of getting "the call". Do you remember what you were doing when you got yours? How did you celebrate?
Oh, yes. I will always remember when I got "the call". It was during the nasty hurricane season of 2005 when hurricane Rita came barrelling into our town. We had to evacuate the family and all three cats (my cats don't travel well). We travelled to Austin which is normally about a 5 hour drive that took us 14 hours with all the traffic.
Amidst all of that, I sent off a query to New Concepts. The very next day, I got a request for the full manuscript. I sent it off, but I didn't get a chance to worry like I normally do because we got to go home and assess the damage to our house. It was unliveable. Thankfully, my brother's beach house was empty, so we went to Galveston for a month while the house was being repaired. The very day we returned to our house, I opened my email to find one from NCP offering a contract for my book. We were already celebrating being back in our home, but once we read the email from NCP, the party lasted much longer. My husband even went out and bought a bottle of champagne.
If you could change one room in your house, which one would it be? What would you do to it?
Hmmm....I think it would be my bathroom. When I'm getting ready to go somewhere, the entire family is in there with me. My son and husband goof off while my daughter puts on every one of my shoes and tries to pick me out something to wear. It’s one of our "family times" that I love so much. Because of that, I'd like to make the bathroom a little bigger with some seating areas for everyone.
Have you had the opportunity to visit Scotland yet? If so, what was the one thing you absolutely must see again? If not, what is the first
thing you'll do when you arrive?
Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to visit Scotland. Yet. I'm hoping to go in the next two years. My goal is to stay in a castle. I want to take in as much of Scotland as I can. I want to see the mountains, the seas, the lochs, the castles and the people, though, I'm afraid that once I go, I may never come back. :)
Oh my, performing in the Macy's parade had to be a thrill, though having been in the Rose Parade, I know it's no picnic! What was the most memorable aspect of the day? Would you do it again if the opportunity arose?
I think the fact that I was on national TV was more scary than the parade itself. Its a huge event, one that my family has watched every Thanksgiving since I was a little girl. So, to be in the parade was a huge thrill. The most memorable thing was practicing the night before in the streets. It was in the low 20s and we were all frozen solid. To warm up, we stood over the sewer grates. It sounds gross, but when you're that cold, you'll do just about anything to warm up. :D I most certainly would do it again if I had the chance. :)
How did you and your husband meet? Where did he take you on your first "official" date?
I met my husband in college during a summer course. I knew there was something about him and that I just had to get his attention. A week later, he asked me out on our first date. :) Well, our "official" first date was supposed to be lunch, but since I worked part time at a law firm, I didn't get a lunch. So, we opted for dinner instead at a very trendy steakhouse and have been together ever since.
What is your idea of "the" perfect romantic evening? You can do anything you wish. Is there food involved? Music? The stars are yours.
My idea of the perfect romantic evening has changed over the last 12 years. It used to be a candlelit dinner with wine and a cozy fire in the fireplace. Once I had children, it was just a night out alone with my husband. Now, I settle for a quiet night in front of the TV. Although, my husband does still like to be romantic. If I've had a bad day, he and the kids will cook for me and set the table with candles and wine. It’s really cute. Oh, and they do the dishes. A woman can't ask for more than that. :)
How do you describe Donna Grant? How does Donna Grant's husband describe her?
lol. Hmmm. How do I describe me? Well, I think I'm loyal, realistic, determined with just a dash of stubbornness thrown in. My husband, however, describes me as beautiful, passionate, intelligent and loving - those are his words. :)
MORE FUN…
The Holiday Season is in full swing! What is your favorite holiday
tradition? Did you carry it over from childhood, or is a new one?
I LOVE the Holidays! I bake all of November until January. I'm constantly in the kitchen. My favorite tradition is one that has been carried over since childhood. My dad is Cajun, so for Christmas day we either have gumbo or ettouffe for lunch. Yummmmmm.
What is your favorite pair of shoes? What is the one pair that should
have stayed at the shoe store?
Shoes! Ah, I love shoes. I just wish I wore a size that the store carried. My shoe size is really a 2.5. In kids. (stop laughing) However, there are times that I can find a woman's 5 that fits fairly decent. The problem is that I can't hardly find this size anywhere. I did get lucky this summer and found a magazine that carried every shoe in a 5. Well, I went kinda crazy. :D My favorite pair of shoes is these slinky black stilettos that my husband goes wild over! The one pair that should have stayed at the store is an awful bright pink pair I bought while pregnant. I blame it on my hormones. ;)
What is the best appliance known to man?
Hmmm. That's a toss up between a dishwasher and a washing machine. I hate doing dishes.
And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this
question: what is your favorite comfort food?
Oh, that's easy. Chex Mix (really just the Chex) and a Coke. I have to have my caffeine or I don't function properly.
Munchies with a Coke...sounds perfect to me! Thank you, Donna, for "chatting" with us. It has been a lot of fun! Continued success with your writing!
