1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself.
Although I live on the east coast now, I was born in a suburb of Denver, moved near Boulder as a teenager, and lived in the Boulder area for much of my adult life, which is why I chose Colorado as the setting for my first two novels, Where Secrets Lie and Whoever You Are.
Books captivated me at a very young age. All those years and all those books inspired me to become a writer. The journeys the books took me on enthralled me. Their ability to make something imaginary seem real is what spoke to me, got into my blood, and would not let me rest. I had to write!
2. When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business?
I knew in high school that I wanted to be a writer. In college, I took a variety of writing courses: journalism, playwriting, scriptwriting, creative writing. I enjoyed all of them, but writing novels captivated me the most. I struggled for years to find the time and energy to devote to writing while fulfilling all of life’s other demands. Eventually, the struggle paid off, and I managed to string together enough hours to complete a novel!
3. Can you tell me a little bit about your book and what inspired it?
Whoever You Are explores the various ways people define themselves and what can happen when something you think defines you changes. It’s a topic that intrigues me. People often don’t think of themselves the same way you see them, and I think that’s interesting. It got me wondering why we choose to define ourselves the way we do and whether/how those choices actually affect who we are.
4. What do you hope that readers take way with them after reading your book?
For me, the goal of writing is to create an experience that feels real with characters who come to life and to do it in a way that’s both entertaining and thought provoking.
5. I find it interesting to know what environment authors find most productive… Do you use a pen and paper or laptop? Quiet room at home or bustling café? Basically, what gets your creative juices flowing?
When I’m outlining or trying to work out a problem with the story, I’ll use pen and paper, and I often pace and talk out loud to myself, so it’s very important that I’m alone, or people might think I’m crazy!
When I’m actually writing the book, I use a netbook, and I sit in various rooms at home. I like to move around every hour or so, and I like to have instrumental music playing in the background, anything that doesn’t have lyrics. If I hear lyrics, I’ll start to sing along, and my mind gets filled with the song’s words instead of the words I’m supposed to be writing!
6. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
I don’t recall any tough criticism. Maybe I have a selective memory? I can remember compliments clearly! The best compliment was from a reader who told me one of my characters represented her own life dilemmas so well she thought she was reading about herself. She thanked me for giving a voice to her story. That was awesome!
7. What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?
I just finished the Travis Chase series by Patrick Lee, which I thought was great fun! Home by Toni Morrison is next in line as well as the Wool Omnibus Edition by Hugh Howey, which I’ve heard great things about. I have around thirty books in my “to read” list from a wide range of genres and authors.
8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Reading is my favorite pastime, but I also love going for long walks or hikes whether it’s in parks, along the surf at the beach, or in the woods. Regardless of the location, my dog Simon always accompanies me, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much!
9. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Listen to your instincts to guide your writing, and never give up. Write on!
10. What can we expect from you next?
I am currently working on another novel. Unfortunately, I’m not far enough along to share the details. It’s still at the point where it could go in too many different directions.
11. Do any animals share your life? Please tell us about them.
I have a beautiful, twelve year old, golden retriever mix named Simon. He’s a wonderful dog!
And now for a little bit of fun:) This or That?
Coffee or Tea?
Neither, but I do love cherry coke!
Sweet or Salty?
Either one makes me crave the other, so I go back and forth until I eat so much I get a stomach ache!
Beach or Lake?
Both! I find it peaceful to be near any body of water.
Winter or Summer?
Summer because I really hate to be cold!
Cats or Dogs?
Dogs in general, golden retrievers in particular.
Zombies or Vampires?
Vampires… zombies freak me out!
Country or City?
Depends on my mood. I live within sight of D.C. (it’s a fabulous city) but I’m only a thirty minute drive away from woods where I can walk/hike for hours. I think that’s cool!
Shower or Bath?
Shower
Morning or Evening?
Morning
M&Ms or Skittles?
M&Ms
Trains or Planes?
I’m torn… trains take too long, but I have a fear of falling. Can I drive?
Comedy or Drama?
I definitely need both.
Author: Donna Marie Lanheady
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: September 2012
Size: 184 pages
Find the book: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
What defines you…
Are you defined by your family, your career, your accomplishments? What happens when something you think defines you changes?
Emily McGinn believes she knows exactly who she is and where she belongs in the world, until she receives an inheritance from an unknown benefactor. Uncovering the source of the inheritance leads Emily to discover buried truths undermining what she thought was a straightforward life. As the truths alter Emily’s perception of the people closest to her, her perception of herself shifts as well.
Set in the unique foothills community of Boulder, Colorado and its environs, WHOEVER YOU ARE questions not only how we define ourselves, but also how we define family and whether we bear any responsibility for the actions of those who came before us.
Although Donna lives on the east coast now, she was born in a suburb of Denver, moved near Boulder as a teenager, and lived in the Boulder area for much of her adult life, which is why she chose Colorado as the setting for her first two novels, Where Secrets Lie and Whoever You Are.Books captivated Donna at a very young age. All those years and all those books inspired her to become a writer. The journeys the books took her on enthralled her. Their ability to make something imaginary seem real is what spoke to her, got into her blood, and would not let her rest. She had to write!
Donna loves to hear from readers and listen to their perspectives on her novels. It fascinates her how people can look at the same thing and see it in so many different ways, so if a reader ever wants to tell her what they think or just wants learn more about her, find her on
Signed Paperback Copy of Whoever You Are (US ONLY)
Sounds fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing and congrats to Donna on the new release!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to figure out who you are once the thing that defined you is removed so this would definitely be an interesting read and one I am sure that shows tremendous growth and oh what a cute doggie!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting and the dog is too cute!
ReplyDeleteAdorable dog! I spent lots of time near Boulder, lots of memories there!
ReplyDeleteI miss my netbook! I loved being able to move around too. Now I have a desktop and I love the large screen but wish I could haul it around.
Sounds like an amazing book. I would love the chance to read it.
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