What kind of writer am I? by Tina Donahue – Guest Blog and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tina Donahue will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What kind of writer am I?

Anyone who’s familiar with writing will recognize this question – are you a plotter or a pantser? For me, the answer is simple and complicated. I’m definitely a plotter (the simple part) with some pantser elements (this is where it gets complicated). Let me explain.

The longer I write, the more I realize how much I have to learn. Each book creates its own unique problems that have to be overcome (more on that later). To make my journey as painless as possible, I plot out everything from beginning to end. The ending is especially important. If I don’t know where I’m going, how in the world will I get there? I equate writing a book to driving from Los Angeles to New York City. Sure, I could hop in my car and head east. Eventually, I’d get there. However, if I map out a route first, I’ll arrive much faster. That’s what plotting does for me before I write. I like to know my characters’ histories, what makes them tick, why and how they’ll react to conflict. Without that knowledge, I’d be writing blind and would have to keep going back to add or change things in earlier chapters. That’s exhausting.

However, I’m also a pantser at times. No outline can tell an author every single thing that will happen in the book. When the characters take over, and believe me they do, they determine what the next step will be, whether it’s a conflict I hadn’t thought of, a new character that adds extra oomph to the story, or countless other things no one could predict.

As to the unique problems I mentioned earlier… When I first started writing PNR (paranormal romance), I thought I was in heaven. Imagine creating a world with no restrictions and all those amazing powers. Except I soon found out there were limits just like in real life. If I write in chapter one that a paranormal being has a certain power, but then in chapter six she or he can’t use it to get out of trouble, readers will wonder why. Quicker than you can imagine, I realized that PNR has its own set of rules that I had to abide by. Sort of like Superman and kryptonite. If it can kill him in one scene, why not in another? As an author, you had better have a good explanation or reason. Otherwise, your story doesn’t have a prayer.

To me, writing a book is like giving birth. Pure terror, misery, and then unimaginable joy when it’s all over and you have your baby.

Don’t ever trust a demon. Unfortunately, Megan has learned that lesson too late. The deal she made to save her sister’s life has landed her in hell about seventy years early. And now she has three sexy demons trying to tell her what to do.
Nope. Not going to happen.

These guys have never had to deal with such defiance. Andros figures she’s due for some erotic discipline, which he’ll happily provide. Racan’s pure alpha, his hardcore plans include bondage and submission. Quiet yet intense, Vespar expects endless kink to spice up their carnal play.

Who would have ever expected she’d end up falling for them? Too bad demons can’t be trusted…because someone is trying to kill the magic and threatening her stay in this lusty world.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Even during her worst days, Megan Wynters never believed this would happen.
I am so screwed. Afraid to budge, she stood paralyzed in a garish room decorated in more gold and mirrors than Versailles, a weird symbol she couldn’t decipher painted on blood red walls. Displayed throughout the cavernous space were countless marble statues depicting nude men and women screwing or going down on each other or…Thunderous bass from a death metal tune pounded through the wall to her left, the pornographic paintings there bouncing on each deafening beat.

She curled her upper lip, turned and flinched. A guy who hadn’t been in here a second before, sat in the throne-like chair behind the humongous desk. Early thirties or so, he had hazel eyes, and thick blond hair that fell in soft waves to his shoulders. Those suckers and his chest were beyond broad, his well-toned muscles straining against his black silk shirt. Her stomach fluttered at the astounding picture he created, and then her insides clenched when she recalled where she was. That didn’t keep her from eyeing him further. The sun or a tanning lamp had tinted his complexion gold, while his features… Not only were they masculine, but beautiful enough for an angel. Down here? In fucking Hell? Given his great looks, she had to be anywhere but there. Her pulse ticked up. Hope surged. Someone moaned.

The statue to her right was climaxing. Jeezus. The writhing life-sized figures weren’t stone but people, or demons, or something animate. The pure white woman threw back her head and wailed. The pasty guy kept pumping his cock into her. God, god, god. This definitely wasn’t Heaven. But not quite the other place either, considering the coolish air circulating, causing goose bumps to rise on her arms. Rattled and wary, she faced the guy, and then jumped. Two other men, also early thirties, stood on either side of his desk. Both took her in from her mouth to her boobs and lower. Much lower. Unexpected heat rolled through her, her folds creaming at the guys’ raw male appeal, appreciation for their physical gifts stealing her breath and—

Hold it. She couldn’t be turned on by them. It’s a trick. They’re fucking doing this to me because they’re…

Uncertain what they were, she cringed at the possibilities, but still couldn’t glance away.
The one to her right was tall and luscious, his skin olive, his longish black hair combed back. He wore a black tee and low-slung jeans, no shoes or socks. If this were Hell, he should have cloven hooves, not large feet and long toes. Maybe this was purgatory? Please, please, please. That part of the underworld, or whatever they called it, might be bearable.

A pendant hung around his neck boasting a dark red symbol—the same as those on the walls—against a black circle. The blond guy sported an onyx ring on his left forefinger displaying an identical design. Which means? Her stomach rolled and wouldn’t stop. She didn’t want an explanation on what the symbol signified. It might kill her dream this wouldn’t turn out too bad. The third guy had a tat on his left pec showing the exact figure. He’d dressed in black leather pants and biker boots, no shirt, his light brown hair worn short, skin bronzed. Her ears buzzed in approval then rang from unease. The blond smiled, producing deep dimples in his cheeks. Her knees weakened at his normal, friendly greeting. The way a mortal guy would show delight at seeing her and that this could lead to something good. Conversation, a few laughs, then other great stuff. If they behaved nicely, she wouldn’t mind. Damn, she hadn’t had fun in forever.

Another statue climaxed.

Holy hell. Snapped back to reality, she remembered her presence here was a colossal blunder she had to straighten out. Her mouth was so dry she struggled to speak. “I don’t know who you guys are, but—”

“Andros.” The blond touched his thumb to his chest then inclined his head to the shirtless guy.

“Vespar.” He gestured to the one without shoes. “Racan.” His smooth baritone caressed and enticed. “And you’re Megan.”

She wasn’t admitting to anything.

About the Author:Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Winter Blogfest: Tina Donahue

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a back list e-book.

It’s the Most Romantic Time of the Year…Eventually

When I was newly married, I couldn’t wait for my first Christmas together with my hubby. Although we’d dated a few years, I thought this holiday season would be wildly romantic. You know, chocolate, champagne during a candlelit dinner, lingerie from Vicky’s Secret, maybe a bauble or two.

Wow, was I wrong.

On the day in question, he gave me a top-of-the-line vacuum cleaner. His eyes lit up at all the gadgets on it and the accompanying manual (he loves manuals). My eyes glazed over. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but a vacuum cleaner? Talk about feeling like a drudge.

He finally caught on and asked what he’d done wrong. Gently, I told him I wanted romance, passion, maybe a box of chocolates from the supermarket. You know, girly stuff. BTW: I won’t apologize for that. I want my romance!

As the following Christmas rolled around, I expected to get cooking utensils with manuals that would teach me how to do more than open up a can and heat up the contents. Braced for the worst, I got to work early on Christmas Eve at the small-town newspaper we owned together. We had a very small staff that hadn’t arrived yet. Taped to the receptionist’s desk was a bright purple envelope that said ‘OPEN ME’. I figured it wasn’t for her, so I opened it. The card was decorated with glitter and ribbons and wished me Happy Holidays. I teared up. It was so pretty and romantic. On the inside, he’d drawn an arrow pointing to the back offices.

Long story short – with beautiful cards directing me, he led me on a scavenger hunt through the office. There were chocolates, sexy lingerie, and even a new thesaurus. This was before the internet. He hit all the right buttons. Teary, I blubbered my thanks and kissed him for trying so hard to make the season special for me since it had always been just another day to him. He gave me an odd look and was kind of subdued in his response. I asked what was wrong. He said “nothing” and to ditch my bounty in my desk. He’d take me to breakfast.

In my office, I stopped dead. A new leather briefcase that I’d coveted lay on the desk with a big red bow on it. I squealed.

He shouted from his office, “Open it!”

Who was I to argue? Inside the briefcase was a sapphire and diamond ring I’d admired for what seemed forever.
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It’s a Christmas I’ll never forget. Granted the gifts were great, but it was the time and thought he put into the ‘event’ that moved me the most. And that my wanting romance mattered to him.

Although my latest release The Craving, erotic paranormal, isn’t a holiday tale, it is romantic. My hero Lucian is to-die-for. He and Erica (my heroine) find romance, danger, and suspense in book two of The Wanderers series.


She’s everything he’s desired… He’s the one man she shouldn’t crave.

Knowing the danger the Wanderers pose, Erica Vega intends to hunt down the mysterious group steeped in dark magic, curses and mind control. As a Deputy U.S. Marshal she has the law behind her, along with her telekinetic powers. Let the chase and battle begin.

Not so fast. Her superior forbids her to go after any Wanderer, instead ordering her to work cold cases with her new partner Lucian Navari.

Tall, dark and hotter than sin, Lucian doesn’t play by the book. He has his own agenda and agrees to help Erica hunt Wanderers on the sly where he and she can be up close and personal.

Erica’s not one to mix duty with pleasure, but he’s impossible to resist in too damn many ways.

As they investigate an elusive Wanderer, nothing is as it appears – she can’t trust what she sees or believes. Lies masquerade as truth, deception rules while she and Lucian grow closer in a carnal dance that will change their lives.

About the Author: Tina Donahue is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

On a less serious note: She’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at Loose Id.