Interview with USA Today bestselling author, Donna Fasano

Today, I’m simply thrilled. This is the first time a USA Today bestselling author honors my humble blog with a visit. What’s more, this is not just anybody. This is Donna Fasano; an author who stands out in my writer’s group, eNovel Authors at Work, for both her wisdom and sweetness. Founder Jackie Weger says that Donna Fasano has an incredible trait: she listens to advice; she takes heed. Having been traditionally published and chosen to leave that behind as to become an indie author, Donna can only be an inspiration to all of us. 

This savvy writer has built herself a successful career by believing it’s better to call your own shots, to write what you want and to market it exactly as you want rather than to be at the beck and call of any trad publisher out there. I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to get to know her better here today. But first, here are some samples of her pure gems in romance:

 

THE PERFECT STOCKING FILLER!

***USA TODAY Bestselling Author***   

“…heart-wrenching, sweet, touching, and requires a box of tissues.” ~USA Today

When it comes to business, Aaron Chase knows how to succeed. But when his daughter, Izzie, asks him for the perfect family Christmas, the handsome widower feels at a loss about how to make his little girl’s dream come true.

Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper has dedicated her life to taking care of children. She agrees to act as Izzie’s stand-in mom for this special holiday and throws herself into making the child’s Christmas wish a reality. Maybe this selfless act will somehow alleviate her secret regrets and failures of the past.

The holiday is filled with fun and laughter, and it’s amazing how three short days can be so life-changing. When the impish eight-year-old talks the adults into acting out a silly, make-believe wedding, young Izzie is certain the magic of the season will turn the pretend vows into the real thing. The little girl wants her daddy to have Christmas in his life–every single day.

Find it now on Amazon

 

 

BRAND NEW RELEASE!

Sara Carson is a 30-something widow with a busy life. Two fun-loving best friends, a caring mom who needs her, and a thriving sweet shop. What more could a woman want? But when the ancient plumbing in her shop springs a leak and a gorgeous, dark-eyed stranger rushes to her rescue, hilarity unfolds–and Sara quickly sees exactly what she’s been missing.

Something most peculiar draws Landon Richards to Ocean City, Maryland–and to the lovely Sara. This woman touches his heart like no other, and the two of them explore the heady attraction that pulses between them. But haunting dreams have a way of encroaching on reality, and the strange phenomenon that brings these two together will also threaten to tear them apart.

This is the first book in the Ocean City Boardwalk Series, where life for three enterprising women, Sara, Heather, and Cathy, isn’t just fun in the sun–love is waiting on those sandy shores!

Find it now on Amazon

 

 

FREE!

A book full of delicious cookie recipes to share with the family this Christmas!

In this book you’ll find favorite cookies of the heroes and heroines in the Ten Christmas Brides romance-novel boxed set. Some are the treats our characters remember fondly from their childhoods. Others are the ones they enjoy today—or make to give as gifts. Here you’ll find everything from Almond Crescents, Coffee Pecan Delights, and Swedish Teacake Cookies to Rocks, Butterscotch Brownies and Scottish Shortbread. And each recipe comes with a note explaining how it fits into the author’s story, so you’ll have a little more insight into her characters and plot.

The recipes are the authors’ gifts to you this holiday season. Enjoy these special goodies and have a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes from the authors of Ten Christmas Brides!

Find it now on Amazon

Grab those delicious free recipes!

 

 

Hello Donna and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros! Thank you for inviting me, it’s lovely to be here.

What has inspired you to write An Almost Perfect Christmas?

My best friend is a grieving parent. Losing a child changes your life forever. But life goes on, and one must try to live it to the fullest. I have written a blog post about this and I invite your readers to read it here.

What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

Usually, when you talk to writers, they say they knew at a very young age that they wanted to write; as children, they filled notebooks, creating stories and characters. I came to writing from my love of reading. I didn’t start writing until I was a young mother with two children. I was an avid romance reader and I loved the hopeful feeling the books gave me. I tried my hand at writing, and worked on my first book for a year and a half. I entered the manuscript in an international contest and won a finalist spot. An editor from Harlequin was the final judge, and although my book didn’t win the contest, the editor did buy my book and publish it.

Wow, I bet you really impressed him. What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

I have written over thirty romance and women’s fiction titles. My books have won awards and made both the Kindle and Nook Top 5 Lists, but my crowning achievement was seeing Reclaim My Heart make the USA Today Bestsellers List.

That’s amazing, Donna… well done. Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I love to cook and I collect cookbooks. I have nearly one hundred cookbooks, and I read them just like I do fiction novels.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I’ve been working on Following His Heart, Book One of the Ocean City Boardwalk series and I’ve just released it (December 12th). The series centers around three life-long friends—Sara, Cathy, and Heather—each of whom is single and plagued by a multitude of personal problems. I love stories that include strong female bonds. Let’s face it, where would we be without our friends? But these ARE romance novels, so one by one, they’ll find love.

Sounds wonderful. What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?

I’m an extremely eclectic reader. I enjoy reading everything, fiction and non-fiction, and I read a lot. I can’t imagine a day without cracking open a book (or turning on my ereader). In the past couple of weeks, I’ve read: Firehawk’s Bride by Judith French (historical romance), As Close As Sisters by Colleen Faulkner (women’s fiction), Death by Salsa Dancing (mystery) by Cait London, and The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith (dystopian fantasy). I loved them all!

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

My first piece of advice would be to read everything you can get your hands on. And pay attention while you read. Figure out what the author did right, and what she did wrong. Take note of the various elements of the book: transitions, character development, conflict development and resolution, plot development. Learn how to build a story like a mason builds a wall, brick by brick (chapter by chapter). Each chapter must have a reason for being…and if it has several reasons for being, then that will make for a stronger story.

Great advice! Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

Yes, I do recommend two sites: the online dictionary, http://www.Dictionary.com and also http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

How would you like to be remembered?

I think I would love to be remembered as someone who smiles often, someone who lifts the spirits of others, someone who is willing to lend an ear or a helping hand when it is needed. It would be lovely to leave some great legacy behind, but I will be happy if, when people remember me, they smile and say, “She was a great person.”

Thank you so much for being here with us today, Donna! Wish you success with your latest release.

Thanks a lot for having me Fros, I’ve really enjoyed our chat!

BIO

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl’s Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold nearly 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #5.

PURCHASE LINKS FOR AN ALMOST PERFECT XMAS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBook

CONNECT WITH DONNA

Visit her blog at http://www.DonnaFasano.com.

Sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/110899/join.

Donna loves to chat with readers.

Follow Donna on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor

Follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz

Follow her on Pinterest http://www.Pinterest/DonnaFaz

 

Do you enjoy romance? How about a Xmas boxset of 14 romantic stories? It even contains Donna Fasano’s enchanting novella, “An Almost Perfect Xmas” !

Find it now on Amazon: Sweet Christmas Kisses Boxset