Meet the Author - Donna Michael

All this month we have been featuring a number of my fellow authors from The Wild Rose Press.  Today my guest is Donna Michael, whose sexy cowboy heroes really caught my attention.

Donna, you write in a number of genres.  Is there any one in particular that you like better than another?   Why?

~Thanks for having me here today, Rebecca. My mind is constantly going and to pin down one genre is tough because I never know when the fancy strikes me. But I have discovered I really enjoy writing hot, humorous and heartwarming, and picked that up for my tagline. If that can be considered a genre, then that’s what I like because it can be applied to all. lol

How do you keep them all straight when you write?

~For me, it’s easy. Even though they may all have a common thread in the humor and heartwarming aspect, they all have a different tone and that is the key for me.

Where do you come up with such a wide variety of ideas for each genre?

 ~As it states on my website, it’s all my mother’s fault. Lol Actually, my parents. I was exposed to all kinds of books and movie genres, and every one of them sparked my imagination. And it just never stopped. Every day life sparks a story idea. I can remember sitting outside my son’s basketball practice watching birds sit on a wire. One bird in particular was always by itself, the others would land in different sections of the wire and stay away from him. I wondered why he was ostracized and a paranormal idea formed right there.

Yeah, it doesn’t take much. Ideas are everywhere!

Cowboys make great heroes and you include a good many in your books.  What do you think makes them so special?

~Cowboys, to me, are so male, so sexy, yet so chivalrous even when they’re frustrated with the heroine. And of course, I take great pleasure in having the heroine frustrate that man! I also enjoy writing a military hero, and when I can combine the two (cowboy and military), like in Cowboy-Sexy, it’s such a treat for me!

You mention on your blog that your mother read a lot to you.  What were your favorite stories when you were growing up?

 ~Fairy Tales with Happily-Ever-After endings, of course. J

Please tell us a little about your journey to publication.

~That which doesn’t get us published makes us stronger. lol Rejection, rejection, rejection. I have a nice drawer full, but I am proud of them. They helped me to persevere, grow and look for a publisher that publishes the type of stories I write. I had waited until my last child hit grade school, before I settled down to pen my stories. My first sale was Thanks For Giving, a midlength story published through The Wild Rose Press. This was back in 2006. Since then I have over fifteen books published through two publishers and several I self publish, with more waiting on my hard drive...and in my head. I am a big fan of going both routes in my career.

What advice would you give an aspiring writer that you wish you knew when you began writing?

 

~None. I know that sounds terrible, but in order to grow as an author, you need the ups and downs. And since the publishing world has changed so much since I first started, my advice would be obsolete. So, just write what you love, be true to your voice, and get a critique partner with a similar voice.

What is your latest book or the next book you have coming out?

~ The third book in my Harland County Series, HER UNIFORM COWBOY is due out in early December. Kade is a sheriff, part owner of a horse ranch and a First Sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard. He has some lingering issues, but so does my heroine, Brandi. She has a thyroid disease and is a designer, but used to be a violinist in the philharmonic and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, which she keeps to herself for a bit. I like to keep my protagonists real with real issues.

HER UNIFORM COWBOY will be FREE for the first three days of release. Please keep an eye on my website to look for the download link.

How can readers get in touch with you?

I’m all over the web, and even have a newsletter signup on my website. Here are my links:

Website:  www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMichaelsAuthor
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Michaels/e/B008J24XR2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Donna_Michaels
Blog: http://donnamichaelsauthor.blogspot.com/ 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Donna_Michaels
Google +: https://plus.google.com/110301062410249005533/about/p/pub?hl=en
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/donnamichaels/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-michaels/8/879/408

 Cowboy-Sexy Blurb:

 
Finn Brennan was used to his brother playing practical jokes, but this time he’d gone too far--sending him a woman as a ranch hand, and not just a woman, but a Marine.

When Lt. Camilla Walker's CO asks her to help out at his family's dude ranch until he returns from deployment, she never expected to be thrust into a mistaken engagement to his sexy, cowboy twin--a former Navy SEAL who hates the Corps.

The Corps took Finn’s father, his girlfriend and threatened his naval career. He’s worked hard for another shot at getting back to active duty and won’t let his brother’s prank interfere. The last thing he needs is the temptation of a headstrong, unyielding, hot Marine getting in the way.

Cowboy-Sexy is available in eBook, Audio and now in Print. Here are the buy links:

eBook:  

Cowboy Sexy -- The Wild Rose Press

Amazon

Audio:
 http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Sexy/dp/B00D1YOBKC/ref=tmm_aud_title_0

Print:
 The Wild Rose Press
 Amazon

Thanks so much for joining in the fun today. Please leave a comment and one lucky commenter will win a free Print copy of COWBOY-SEXY. Make sure to check back in the comment section of this blog tomorrow for the winner’s name! And if you’re interested in the FREE download of my new release next month Her Uniform Cowboy, keep an eye on my website for the link!

Good luck, and thanks for reading!!

Thank you, Donna for being with us today and as she said, one lucky commenter will win a print copy of COWBOY-SEXY.