Interview with Donna Grant and Giveaway - September 1, 2011

Please welcome Donna Grant to The Qwillery.

TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Donna:  Hmm...not sure that I have one. I know I can't write a detailed synopsis because if I do, to me, the book is written and then I can't write it. :(

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Donna:  Pantser all the way! lol. I might have an overall idea of where the story will go/should go, but when I sit down to write every day, I have no idea what will come out on the page.

TQ:  What inspired you to write the Dark Sword series?

Donna:  I love series, and I saw that the series with more than say six books were all contemporary/paranormal, so I wanted to do something like that with historical/paranormal. And I knew I wanted it to be Scottish, but I wanted something where I could make up my own mythology while still using part of history.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do to create the world in the Dark Sword series?

Donna:  Most all of my books are in the medieval period and set in Scotland, so I don't do research like I did when first writing in this time period. Adding the Druids into the series was another perk for me. I've had a series with Druids before, so I had already done lots of research, but I did delve in the Druid world a bit more for the DS series.

TQ:  Describe Shadow Highlander (Dark Sword 5) in 140 characters or less.

Donna:  It's a book of love, danger, and adventure. A book of opening your heart and conquering evil.

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Shadow Highlander?

Donna:  Oh, that's a hard one. I love when the heroine, Reaghan, discovers who she really is.

TQ:  In Shadow Highlander, who was the most difficult character to write and why? The easiest and why?

Donna:  None of the characters were easy with this book I think because I'd just come off of writing a book that had flowed so easily. Though the most difficult to write was the hero and heroine Galen and Reaghan.

TQ:  Do you have a favorite character in the Dark Sword series?

Donna:  My favorite always seems to be the one I'm writing. :) Hayden is a particular favorite, as is Phelan and Malcolm.

TQ:  How many books are planned for the Dark Sword series?

Donna:  I've just turned in book 10, and I've got ideas for at least four more. :)

TQ:  What's next?

Donna:  After SH's release I have Broc's book, DARKEST HIGHLANDER, release January 31st.

Then, the series is spinning off (still same characters, same story line) to be called the Dark Warriors and I'll have two sets of back to back books in 2012.

Logan's, MIDNIGHT'S MASTER in June
Ian's, MIDNIGHT'S LOVER in July
Camdyn's, MIDNIGHT'S SEDUCTION in November
Ramsey's, MIDNIGHT'S WARRIOR in December

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery

Donna:  Thanks for having me! :)


About the Dark Sword Series

Shadow Highlander

Dark Sword 5
(St. Martin's,  August 30, 2011)

Sent on a dangerous mission into the shadowy world of the Druids, Galen must find a powerful ancient relic to defeat the enemies of Castle MacLeod. But what he discovers is far more powerful—and far more dangerous. A Druid lass whose beauty is as spellbinding as any magic…

Reaghan is the most enchanting woman Galen has even met—and the most enigmatic. She alone is immune to his mind-reading gifts. He alone makes her feel safe and secure. But Reaghan holds a secret power deep inside her that could destroy them both. And if Galen hopes to hold this captivating woman in his arms every night, he must defeat the darkness that draws closer around her every day….

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

Untamed Highlander

Dark Sword 4
(St. Martin's, April 26, 2011)

Druid-born and magic-blessed, Isla is one of the deadliest she-devils ever to serve the forces of darkness. As an immortal Highland warrior, it’s up to Hayden Campbell to destroy her and her kind. But for Hayden, Isla is more than a sworn enemy.She is temptation…

Taking Isla captive, Hayden hopes to avenge his kinsmen who died by Druid magic. But when he looks into Isla’s eyes, he sees the secrets of her past. When he touches her skin, he feels the passion in her soul. And soon Hayden comes to realize that this beautiful, beguiling woman is not his enemy at all—she is his destiny. And, even as the forces of darkness conspire against them, their love will conquer all…

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

Wicked Highlander

Dark Sword 3
(St. Martin's, November 2, 2010)

The most reckless and fierce of the MacLeod brothers, Quinn is a prisoner of the god inside him, tormented by his inability to save his family from slaughter. His fury governs him, and day by day he loses himself to the darkenss in his soul. But Quinn has a profound yearning for a woman’s love….

Raised by Druids, the achingly beautiful Marcail is as spellbinding as the ancient magic that surges through her body. To Quinn, she is most desirable woman he has ever known. But to his enemy Deirdre, she is the perfect bait to lure Quinn into her trap. Once the two lovers are in her wicked grasp, their passion will be put to the ultimate test…

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

Forbidden Highlander

Dark Sword 2
(St. Martin's, May 25, 2010)

Fallon McLeod has gifts any warrior would covet—fierce strength, unmatched skill, even immortality. But those gifts have come at a price that puts everyone he loves at risk. Only when his brother, Quinn, is taken captive does Fallon leave the seclusion of his Highland home to seek the king’s aid. And though every woman at court would gladly be his for the asking, one alone causes desire to roar to life within him: beautiful, mysterious Larena Monroe.

Rumors swirl around the castle about “The McLeod” but Larena knows the truth. Like Fallon, Larena is searching for a way to vanquish the evil Druid who wants to wreak havoc on earth. Drawn to Fallon in spite of her fear, she surrenders to a passion that shocks them both with its raw intensity. But Larena dares not hope for more—not when she holds a secret that could turn her fiery Highland love against her forever…

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

Dangerous Highlander

Dark Sword 1
(St. Martin's, December 29, 2009)

First in a breathtaking new series, the bold and passionate Lucan MacLeod—one of three brothers cursed by dark magic for eternity—is driven by desire for the one woman he dare not let himself possess…

He is magnificently strong—and dangerously seductive. One of the fiercest of his clan, Lucan MacLeod is a legend among warriors, inspiring fear in man and woman alike. For three hundred years, he has locked himself away from the world, hiding the vengeful god imprisoned in his soul. But then, a young lass caught in a raging storm awakens his deepest impulses…and darkest desires.

Cara doesn’t believe the rumors about MacLeod castle—until the majestic Highland warrior appears like a fiery vision in the storm, pulling her into his powerful arms, and into his world of magic and Druids. An epic war between good and evil is brewing. And Lucan must battle his all-consuming attraction for Cara—or surrender to the flames of a reckless, impossible love that threatens to destroy them both…

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million


About Donna

Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She's the author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance—Scottish Medieval, dark fantasy, time travel, paranormal, and erotic. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Sword, features a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas.

Website - www.donnagrant.com
Forum - www.donnagrant.com/forum
Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant
Twitter - www.twitter.com/donna_grant


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of  Untamed Highlander from Donna!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Scotland, Ireland or England? 

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*