Are Your Novels Character or Story Driven??

Having had 29 romances published, I can honestly state that all of my works are character driven. It's not something I've even thought about consciously...until recently.

The other day, I was bored out of my mind with cable. One more reality show, with people I'd never want to meet in real life, and I'll hurl. I was channel surfing and came upon LMN (Lifetime Movie Network). In the few seconds I gave it prior to moving on, I noticed that the movie being shown was about domestic abuse. Ah, a story with teeth (or so I thought).

The premise is simple: a woman learns her ex is abusing their children. He has custody. He's wealthy. He has all the power. She decides to spirit the children away and start a new life with the help of an 'underground railroad' type thing for distraught mothers. So far, so good.

Then I started watching it, and I realized almost immediately that this was a plot-driven story. The characters' predicament and common sense had absolutely nothing to do with it.

First, the children (a boy about 11 and a girl about 9) know their father has a short fuse. While he's on the phone with someone, the girl is bouncing a large ball on the very expensive, glass-topped cocktail table. The boy is sweating bullets, begging her not to do this. He knows (and she should know) what will happen. Does she listen to reason? No. She sticks her tongue out at him and proceeds to break a very expensive lamp with the ball.

All hell breaks loose. Smoke is practically coming out of the father's ears. The boy takes the blame and the father ominously tells him to come upstairs (either for a beating or for a beating and sexual molestation - it wasn't clear).

In any event, the mother shows up - she and the father fight - she spirits her children away. Is the little girl sorry? Does she worry about the pain she caused her brother? Nope. She continues to be the ultimate brat and the most clueless kid on Planet Earth.

Now, mind you, the father is mega wealthy, he's alerted the cops, everyone knows the mother and kids are on the run. So, what does the mother do? She takes them to a bank to cash a check (using her real identity). During this, the little girl starts a fight with the brother, they create such a ruckus EVERYONE notices them. The mother calls them by their real names and tells them to quiet down. She is not at all concerned that someone will recognize them later (the people in the bank do, because of the ruckus the little girl created, and promptly report the sighting to the cops).

The mother finally hooks up with the 'underground railroad' people at a house in a remote area. The guy who is going to take her to Canada explains they have to keep a low profile. So what does he drive? A bright red car circa 1950s-1960s that stands out like the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile as they're all trying to get away with the cops in hot pursuit.

When they reach a safe location, the children are told NOT to go outside (should someone see them and report it to the cops). So what does the little girl do? Yep, she goes outside to pet a bunny, sees a guy across the field, stands there and waves at him. Naturally, the cops show up about three seconds later. During a shootout (yep, there is a shootout), the guy/woman/kids escape in his bright red vintage car. No one notices.

I could go on, but it just continues in the same vein. And, to me, is the perfect example of a plot-driven story. Everything that happens is simply there to advance the plot. It doesn't make any sense. No one who is trying to keep a low profile would behave like this. And that little girl? OMG. Someone needed to have a serious talk with her. Not that anyone ever did, because the writer needed her dumb behavior to advance the plot.

This had to be the worst move I've ever seen. And it convinced me that character-driven stories beat plot-driven stories every single time.

My latest releases

Tina

Tina Donahue
“Heat with Heart”

ILLICIT INTENT (5 FLAMES - MY READING OBSESSION)
ILLICIT DESIRE (4 STARS - ROMANTIC TIMES)
SENSUAL STRANGER (BOOK OF THE YEAR 2010)
DEEP, DARK, DELICIOUS (HOLT MEDALLION AWARD OF MERIT)

Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
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I'm celebrating TWO releases this month!!!

Whew - going to be a busy June for me, but I'm loving it!!  :)

Tomorrow, June 7, my contemporary menage Illicit Intent - Book Three of my Appointment with Pleasure series - releases. Yay!!! Here's the cover art and blurb. You can read an excerpt at Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/illicit-intent.html. 

Blurb:

What’s your wildest erotic wish?

For Piper, that’s easy. Two Alpha males who ravish her like marauding pirates and find her curves beyond luscious. She knows her type isn’t for every man…certainly not Guy and Joel, right? Guy’s tall, dark and sinfully virile. Joel’s blond and bronzed. They’re freaking gods, escorts her friend hired so Piper’s thirtieth birthday is unforgettable with the bondage and submission she’s fantasized about. Carnal games that awaken Piper’s sensuality, while her voluptuous figure and sweet vulnerability fuels both men’s animal hunger.

One evening of decadent pleasure isn’t enough. Piper aches to perform ménage acts with them for agency clients who like curvy women. A wicked idea, except for her family’s ties with law enforcement, the threat of exposure. Is it worth the risk?

Hell yeah. By day, she’ll be good. During their wanton acts, the three of them will explore their growing bond as they’re very, very bad…

________

Then on June 25, my erotic paranormal Deep Within Me, Book Two in The Prophecy series, releases from Samhain. Here's the cover art and blurb. You can read an excerpt here: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/deep-within-p-7431.html

Blurb:

Unrestrained desire…danger without end.

The Prophecy, Book 2

For one agonizing moment, Zeke Neekoma thought his most feared vision had come true. Liz was lifeless in his arms, murdered by her own clan for one traitorous act—loving him. Then her father’s healing touch brought her back.

She hasn’t emerged from death unchanged. Now her healing gift leaves her drained, weak. Worse, Zeke is still tortured with visions of a woman covered in blood.

Liz aches for a future with Zeke, to always know the thrill of his body imprisoning hers with mindless pleasure. At her reanimation, she redoubles her determination to use her healing gifts to help his people—except Zeke refuses to allow her to use them.

But with her clan leader set to launch his next attack, Zeke and Jacob have no choice but to try to heal Liz with the same sensual force she used to save them. Yet it may not be enough to avert a merciless plan that will test Zeke’s humanity, risk Liz’s life—and threaten their timeless bond.

Warning: Features a determined hunk and a babe who won’t be tamed, loads of lusty sex including some menage, a ton of unrelenting peril, and love that knows no limit. In other words, a romance hot enough to vaporize steel.

Tina

Tina Donahue
“Heat with Heart”

SHAMELESS DESIRE (5 FLAMES - The Jeep Diva) 
COME FILL ME (5 STARS - GUILTY PLEASURES) 
ILLICIT DESIRE (4 STARS - ROMANTIC TIMES)
SENSUAL STRANGER (BOOK OF THE YEAR 2010)
DEEP, DARK, DELICIOUS (HOLT MEDALLION AWARD OF MERIT)

Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/ 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue

A voluptuous heroine, two alpha males and a naughty birthday wish leads to Illicit Intent

Illicit Intent – Book Three of my Appointment with Pleasure series – coming soon from Ellora’s Cave!

What’s your wildest erotic wish?

For Piper, that’s easy. Two Alpha males who ravish her like marauding pirates and find her curves beyond luscious. She knows her type isn’t for every man…certainly not Guy and Joel, right? Guy’s tall, dark and sinfully virile. Joel’s blond and bronzed. They’re freaking gods, escorts her friend hired so Piper’s thirtieth birthday is unforgettable with the bondage and submission she’s fantasized about. Carnal games that awaken Piper’s sensuality, while her voluptuous figure and sweet vulnerability fuels both men’s animal hunger.

One evening of decadent pleasure isn’t enough. Piper aches to perform ménage acts with them for agency clients who like curvy women. A wicked idea, except for her family’s ties with law enforcement, the threat of exposure. Is it worth the risk?

Hell yeah. By day, she’ll be good. During their wanton acts, the three of them will explore their growing bond as they’re very, very bad…

Losing Control - Book Two - Appointment with Pleasure

When it comes to passion, there are no rules…

She wasn’t supposed to hunger for him. Tim Bellamy was off-limits to Catherine, a high-priced call girl with an uneasy past. Indulging in his raw desire shouldn’t have happened, especially at a District party attended by the nation’s elite. Tim doesn’t know she works for the agency. If he did…  That’s not something Catherine wants to confess. Drowning in his strength and heat, aching to see him again, she keeps her secret.

From old wealth, Tim has never met anyone quite like Catherine. Exotic, elegant, earthy, she’s the best of all worlds. Their evenings are sensual delights where voyeurism, bondage and a growing bond satisfy carnal needs and stir something deep within…until he stumbles upon the truth.

Shaken by her lies, Tim needs to prove the depth of Catherine's lust and yearning once and for all. For him, their erotic adventure has only begun...

Claiming Magique - Book One - Appointment with Pleasure

A man at the center of power…a woman who won’t be ruled…

They call her Magique.

Sought out by the District’s elite, she’s no ordinary call girl, deciding who will pleasure her for the evening. Her preference is for several men at once. Games of bondage and submission heighten her arousal and desire to have a strong male take her…to be adored.

Lobbyist Hunter Prescott was only looking for a good time, not a woman who unleashes a hunger so deep it changes his world. He won’t stop until Magique is his alone, a prisoner of his lust, powerless against his growing need for her body and heart.

With this man, resistance isn’t allowed. For this woman, he’ll create a world of sensual delight and yearning like none she’s known. Proving that only with trust and true surrender will she find unparalleled rapture. 

Tina

Tina Donahue

“Heat with Heart”

SHAMELESS DESIRE (5 FLAMES - The Jeep Diva) 

COME FILL ME (4 STARS - The Jeep Diva) 

ILLICIT DESIRE (4 STARS - ROMANTIC TIMES)

SENSUAL STRANGER (BOOK OF THE YEAR 2010)

DEEP, DARK, DELICIOUS (HOLT MEDALLION AWARD OF MERIT)

Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/ 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue