Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Writers on the Rock; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.
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Welcome to the blog, Donna. I’m so happy to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release in The Mail Order Brides Collection. That cover is so beautiful!
Which character in your novella are you most excited to introduce to readers and why?
I love Cactus Lil, or Lily Duncan, because I must confess I made her just a little autobiographical. She’s a loner, an introvert, and writes under a pen name. Just like me. 🙂
What first inspired this story?
I wanted a book set near Cave Creek, Arizona, which is where my dad and step-mother (who I dearly loved) were married. Then, because Lily is a lot like me, the idea of writing about a woman who pens what was then considered racy romances—you know, stolen kisses, unescorted buggy rides, that sort of thing—spurred me on.
Love it! How fun. 😉
What’s one of the strangest things you’ve had to research for a novel?
I recently binge-watched Hallmark movies so I could get a feel for how to write a Hallmark novel.
Talk about fun research! 😉
What has been the most memorable book you’ve read so far this year?
The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. I don’t usually read about Dracula, but the history in the book grabbed me from the first page, all the way through about 600 pages of perhaps the best writing I’ve read in two years. At least.
Can you name a few authors who inspire you?
Agatha Christie. Conan Doyle. I love mysteries.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I’ll have another story in another Barbour Publishing collection releasing in December. My story is called Detours of the Heart, in the MISSadventures Romance Collection, which features heroines living exciting lives but still looking for love.
That’s great, Donna! I’ll be watching for it. Thanks for visiting with us today!
GIVEAWAY!!
Donna has graciously offered to give away a copy of “The Mail Order Brides Romance Collection” to one lucky reader. Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends May 22, 2018. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody! 😉
Hi Donna and Savanna! I’ve not read a novella that I recall. Would love to read this one. Thanks!
HI Cynthia, thanks so much for stopping by. Novellas are fun reads–kind of like a Readers Digest Condensed version, except you get the entire story. And this book contains 7 great stories. Okay, not to sound boastful, but 6 great stories and mine 🙂
Hi Cynthia! Oh, I know you’d love this one. Novellas are great when you don’t have a lot of time too. It’s a lot of sweetness in a short amount of pages. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
Truth be told..I have a few in my TBR pile but can’t seem to get to them before another book shows up ..but do enjoy reading them.Would love to win a copy of this one.
Thank you for the giveaway and interview.
Thank you, Elma, for your comments. So many good books to read, aren’t there? =) Good luck in the giveaway.
Haha, I know all about that. The struggle is real! 😉 Thanks for joining us, Elma.
I love the Barbour novella collections and they are beautiful. The last one I read and reviewed was The Backcountry Brides Collection. Thank you for the chance. Have a blessed day, ladies.
Thank you, Lucy. You have a blessed day too!
I agree, Lucy! Each of Barbour’s covers are gorgeous. 🙂 Hope you get to read Donna’s book soon!
I would love to read this collection! The others by this publisher have all been great!
Hi Bonnie – Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad that you have enjoyed the other collections. Hope you enjoy this one too!
Thanks for visiting, Bonnie. Good luck in the drawing!
I recently read the Bouquet of Brides Collection by Barbour. The Collections are always good, and I read authors I enjoy plus am introduced to “new to me” authors!
Thanks Cathy for your comments. Its always fun to read our favorite authors and find new ones to enjoy as well. Good luck in the giveaway!
Hi Cathy! Yes, it’s a great way to meet new authors. Hope you get to read and enjoy this collection as well!
I enjoy novellas.
Hi Melanie – Hope you will enjoy this one too! Good luck!
You came to the right place then, Melanie. 😉 Good luck in the drawing!
I like that part of researching how to write a Hallmark novel included watching a bunch of Hallmark movies. When you say binge, did that mean all in a day or a few movies over a few weeks?
Anyway, this novella collection looks like a lot of fun and the MISSadventures sound GREAT. 🙂
Hi Barbara: Thanks for stopping by and asking a great question. I checked out about 6 movies from the library, and watched them in the evenings for about a week. I really liked the mystery ones that they do, and wish they’d put out more.
I’m such a romantic at heart. I’d probably so enjoy watching the Hallmark channel all the time…or getting the movies from the library.
Sounds like a great way to research, doesn’t it? 🙂 So glad you could join us, Barbara! Good luck in the giveaway!
Yes I have read many Christmas novellas.
Joan
Hi Joan – Thanks for posting a comment. Hope this novella is one you will enjoy. Have a blessed day!
Ohhhh, I LOVE Christmas novellas. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Joan.
I read Ordinary Snowflakes by Jennifer Rodewald not long ago. I really enjoyed it!
Hi Patty – That’s great! Hope you will enjoy this one too. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t heard of that one, Patty. I’ll have to look her up. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
Our church library readers dearly love these types of books
and
I do too.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Thank you, Janet. And good luck in the giveaway!
That’s great, Janet. I love that your church has a library! 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
I love novellas! The last one I read was The Highlander’s Hidden Heart by Julie Coulter Bellon.
That’s wonderful, Heidi! Thank you for visiting the blog today. I hope you will love this one as well!
So glad you stopped by, Heidi! I’ll have to look that book up too. She’s a new-to-me author as well. 🙂
I enjoy collections like this. I can carry one book and have several days of reading.
Exactly! Novellas are a lot of fun and so easy to read. Thanks for joining us, Melinda. 🙂
Hope you get to read this one soon, Melinda!
Just finished Cowboys of Summer and enjoyed the collection very much.
I haven’t heard of that one, but sounds like a good one. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in this giveaway!