Pump Up Your Book Chats with Sharon Donovan

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Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words. Mask of the Betrayer is her latest book. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Echo of a Raven, Touched by an Angel, The Claddagh Ring and Lasting Love. Echo of a Raven is a CTRR award and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 nominee for best inspirational book of the year. Her Biggest Fan and Charade of Hearts are coming soon. You can read more about Sharon Donovan on her website:

www.sharonadonovan.com

Thank you for this interview, Sharon. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

The writing bug came as a way of channeling my creative muse after losing my vision to diabetic retinopathy. My passion was always painting picturesque scenery. I enjoyed painting tranquil landscapes of lush countryside’s, fertile vineyards and the ruins of ancient Rome. Devastated for the obvious when I lost my vision, but mainly, because I could no longer pursue my great passion. After attending a program for the blind where I learned how to use a computer with adaptive software, converting text to synthesized speech, a new dream resurrected. Desperately needing to channel my creativity, I learned how to write. And today, instead of painting my pictures on canvas, I paint my pictures with words. My first article was about this very thing and was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Life Support column, April, 2006.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

The most frustrating is finding the time to fit it all in and stay sane. There’s the research, the writing, the editing and the galleys before it finally goes to print. The most rewarding is bringing it all to fruition and holding the first copy of the print in hand.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

Single and it’s a daily challenge to meet deadlines, promote, blog, do interviews, blog tours and guest blog. My family and friends are my biggest fans.

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

Mask of the Betrayer is a psychological thriller. It’s about mind control and mind manipulation. Billionaire business tycoon Michael DeVeccio is one of the most powerful men in the world. He is devastatingly handsome, highly sophisticated and has been getting away with murder for decades. My book traces the reason a sweet twelve year old boy grew up to become one of the most chilling killers of his time. It all goes back to a domineering uncle who taught his nephew to kill the betrayer and cover the corpse with a macabre death mask. Michael fancies himself king of the world and wants a son to carry on the DeVeccio empire and family name. He sets out to find the perfect woman and finds her in Margot Montgomery. But when she falls from grace, he unravels and lets down his mask.

Can you share an excerpt?

Fishing a Marlboro from the pack, he tapped it three times on the parapet before lighting it. He inhaled deeply, allowing the nicotine to filter into his brain. Under the hunter’s moon, night predators slithered out of the underbrush, just on the periphery of the jagged twists and turns of the canyon. From deep in the woods, a coyote howled, its keening wail slicing through the quiet. Michael loved the call of the wild. The primitive cries got under his skin, arousing him. Dominant and defiant, animals fought to protect what belong to them. He especially admired the sleek moves of the panther. With its keen eyesight, acute hearing, and uncanny ability to sneak up on its prey unnoticed, it pounced on its victim in one slick move. Michael understood the moves of the night predators. He was one of them.

Michael DeVeccio had it all. A billion dollar construction company that built luxury resorts all over the world, a twenty-four room mansion with servants at his beck and call, the most dazzling club on the Vegas Strip, a fleet of outlandishly expensive sports cars, a private jet—and more money than he could use in ten life times. He had it all with the exception of one thing, a son, an heir to his vast domain. And once he found the perfect woman to produce his heir and propagate the family business, the DeVeccio Empire would rule the universe. He envisioned the ideal woman to produce his heir being flawless in every way. Her inner beauty would shine as bright as her outward appearance, she’d have proper etiquette with impeccable manners, and she’d be cultured in fine arts. His perfect woman would be well educated on current events when hosting extravagant parties and galas for his business associates. She’d be honest and sincere and loyal to him and only him. And she would not be a woman beguiled by his wealth and fortune. Yes, he mused, taking a final drag of his cigarette. This perfect woman would be angelic and worthy of producing the heir to his kingdom. And the time had come to find that woman. And it would happen. He ruled it so.

***

Flaming copper finials bordered the entrance of DeVeccio Plaza, drawing guests in with its regal appeal. Standing tall and mighty in a sky of midnight blue velvet, the flaming torches gleamed like shooting stars with tails. The interior of the grandest resort on the Vegas Strip gave chase to marble staircases with elaborately turned balustrades and high end sculptures behind beveled glass enclosures. Rushing down the corridor after procuring the mural she’d bid on, Margot fought the urge to kick off her high heels and walk barefoot down the plush, red carpeting.

The beckoning wail of sax drifted out of the piano bar, the bluesy sound of jazz bristling beneath her skin. After spending the better part of the afternoon negotiating at an art auction, unwinding over a chilled martini sounded like utter bliss. Seduced by the sound of sax, she sauntered up the three steps leading to the mezzanine and ordered a Pomegranate martini.

“You got it, doll,” the bartender winked.

“Whatever the pretty lady wants is on the house,” the man approaching the bar said in a buttery soft voice. “And give me a bourbon on the rocks, Jazz.”

Margot turned around and came face to face with the billionaire tycoon of DeVeccio Plaza. His shocking blue eyes left her breathless. With his sharply defined features, full sensual lips, and all that black wavy hair, he reminded her of one of the sculptured Greek gods she’d featured last month at her gala.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said. “I’m Michael DeVeccio. Welcome to my palace.”

Every pulse in her body was as charged as an electrical current. Michael DeVeccio, legendary for building luxury resorts in every continent, exuded strength and power from every pore. His world renowned success preceded him. And here he stood in front of her in all his glory, one hundred and eighty pounds of raw, sexual energy. Mesmerized by his hypnotic blue eyes, she met his gaze. “I’m Margot Montgomery. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your resort is everything it’s rumored to be, simply breathtaking.”

“Thank you.” he edged a bit closer. “I’ve always fancied it to be the jewel of the Strip. I didn’t think anything could outshine DeVeccio Plaza. But I was wrong. Nothing could possibly hold a candle to the sparkle in your emerald green eyes.”

Pouring himself two fingers of finely-aged bourbon, billionaire business tycoon Michael DeVeccio walked on the verandah of his mansion and gazed into the foothills. The raw beauty of the Red Rock Mountains encompassed him. Miles of open valleys and rugged terrain and lush forests full of petrified logs the Paiute Indians believed to be weapons of the wolf gods stretched as far as the eye could see. And what a rush to climb to the top of the mountain and survey the dazzling Vegas Strip like king of the jungle.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

On nice days, outside on the patio with the sounds of nature at my back to inspire me.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

The reader knows the identity of the killer from the first page. Michael DeVeccio seemingly has it all: power, prestige, wealth, a mansion and servants at his beck and call. He has it all with the exception of a son to leave his legacy to. He is driven by absolute power and sets out to find the perfect woman to produce his heir. He kills anyone who gets in his way or betrays him. Michael loves the hunt and kills with no remorse. His weapon of choice is a Ninja death star, and then he leaves his signature on the corpse, a macabre skull mask. Why? The answers take the reader on a journey of twists and turns that are not for the weak at heart. I wanted to get inside the mind of a killer and it was the most frightening place I’ve ever been.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

I hope you enjoy reading Mask of the Betrayer enough to read the sequel. But above all else, I hope you never run into the likes of Michael Alan DeVeccio. He is truly MAD!

Thank you for this interview, Sharon. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you for the interview.

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Aiken Brown, SON OF A SOLDIER

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Sharon House, BRIMSTONE AND WATER

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Bacon Press Books

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Lee Papa, TEMPLE OF ALL KNOWING

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach