Tina Donahue gets down and dirty in her interview!

Okay, okay, I don't really get down and dirty, but I do reveal some stuff about my life. :)

First, here's my bio and my latest releases with blurbs. Interview follows...

Bio:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Erotic Contemporary

Book Four - Appointment with Pleasure

Coming Soon from Ellora's Cave

Blurb:

At an erotic auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

The night’s sultry, filled with carnal promise as Tessa participates in an agency event to raise money for charity. She’s chained and bared—as women were once displayed for a sultan’s harem—her sweet looks and full figure offered to the wealthy and powerful men.

Among them is Logan. To him, Tessa is so different from his late wife, the seemingly perfect female who cruelly stole his hope and future. Wanting only to forget and have a good time, he wins Tessa, demanding she be his in every way possible, engaging in all wanton acts, though not only for an evening…for seven sensuous days at his secluded Virginia estate.

A provocative proposal with such a dangerously virile man.

A week that changes everything, with Tessa’s exquisite vulnerability and Logan’s suddenly unquenchable desire more than either bargained for. 

Erotic Paranormal

Book Four - Outlawed Realm

Coming March 2014 - Samhain Publishing

Available for preorder

http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Desire-Outlawed-Realm-Donahue-ebook/dp/B00GN98BW6

Blurb:

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grieving a failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room with velvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerful stranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And pray his promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes.

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimes against the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for the guards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fire and ice—if he can somehow forget the way her trembling body melts in his arms.

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated by strange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable need that consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’s plan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take without him.

Warning: Scorching-hot sex and loads of aching tenderness between a drool-worthy hunk who’s determined to do the right thing and a woman who’s not about to give him up.

** How did you celebrate your first book?

I bought a lot of chocolate. I'm an admitted chocoholic and I was able to indulge my addiction. :)

** What's your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?

I write every single day, except for Christmas. No exceptions. Once I have my outline finished - and it's a very detailed outline - I generally do a chapter a day. I'm able to write quickly like that during my first draft because my outline is so complete.

** What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?

Promo, hands down. I'm a promo whore. Because I have to be, not because I'm crazy about it. Deep down, I'm extremely shy. I think that's why being an author appealed to me. I could hide behind my characters.

** How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?

A lot. Whenever I mention a song a character likes, it's one that appeals to me. Same for food and basic outlook on life. The only time my personality isn't reflected in a character is with a villain.

** Of all your characters, who's your favorite, and why?

That's a really difficult choice for me. I love all my people. However, if I had to choose, it would be a toss up between Zach and Toni in Sensual Stranger and RJ and Summer in In His Arms. I really loved all of them. I still tear up when I read those books.

** Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?

For me, comfort food is popcorn - and yes - I do eat it while I'm writing. Can't listen to music while I write. Too distracting. I need total silence.

** How do you choose names for your characters?

They simply pop into my head when I'm picturing a character while I'm outlining. Same with the plot and scenes. It's like I see a movie in my mind and I'm just writing it down as it plays. :)

** Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.

Write. No matter how painful. No matter how scary.  If you don't have anything to submit,  you'll never get published. No excuses. Write.

** If you could give a younger version of yourself advice, what would it be?

Promo. A lot hinges on that. If readers don't know you exist, you won't sell, no matter how great your book is.

** What genre would you like to try writing that you haven't yet tried?

Thrillers. Love the genre.

Fun Stuff:

** What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas. I love the decorations, the lighting, the festivity.

** What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?

I was a child model (did a billboard that ran in New York and California). I've piloted a single-engine plane.

** As a child, what did you want to be when  you grew up?

A writer. I've always wanted to write.

** Favorite food.

Chocolate (what else?)  :)

** Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?

Chilly winter nights.

** What is the top thing on your bucket list?

To visit Spain.

** If you could have a super power, what would it be?

To fly.

** Tell us where to find you:

Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/ 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
FB: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue

Triberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahue