Just the facts:
Who is Denise McDonald?
Wife of almost 14 years to my high school sweetheart. Mother of four wonderful, wonderfully rambunctious boys. Redheaded, five-foot-three and weighs (or forget it – not going there)...I also have two dogs who are as spoiled as the boys.
(I have to interject here, Denise favors her cover quite a bit!)
And, beyond the obvious wife, mother, fabulous writer, who IS Denise McDonald?
Oh gotcha – you want more in depth. Hmm… I am a woman with a quirky sense of humor, who tries to find the laughter in any and every situation. I love my friends dearly, but often have a hard time telling them. I LOVE writing. If I never got published, I would write until the day I could no longer hold a pen and then I think I’d find a way. I have an overactive (understatement of the year) imagination.
(considering your profession that's not such a bad thing, Sweetie)....Where were we?
I get the biggest thrill from grocery shopping too, which I have been told is quite weird--but I love it even more than shoe shopping – go figure.
I am somewhat prudish. Not so much that it’s a problem and if you have ever heard some of the things that come out of my mouth you’d be surprised to hear that. As long as I am the one doing the shocking, it’s okay, but when I see or hears things and don’t expect it… I blush clear down to my toes. My critique group, which is made up of all writing genres, used to see how many time they could make me turn read in a night.
(Funny enough *my* potty mouth/warped sense of humor hasn't scared her off, and that's saying a lot!)
Some of the things I have protested the hardest/most against, I have succumbed to. I swore I would never listen to country music – Hello Chris Cagle. Swore I would never shop at Wal-Mart – I am there three/four times a week. I have yet to step in a Starbucks though. (But give Mik, Sandy J and you a chance…)
(we're working on it!)
What hacks you off? What's your biggest pet peeve? Your secret indulgence? Your favorite fast food place? What would readers be surprised to learn about you?
Biggest Pet-peeve– stupid drivers. When the speed limit sign is 55 don’t go 40 down 377, c’mon. I have some place to be. And don’t get me started with the drivers at my son’s school.
Secret Indulgence – books. No, no I know that sounds obvious. But I buy books by the bucketful. I also keep my eye out for book that I read growing that I no longer have. And as they litter every inch of my house, I guess that is not so secret.
Favorite fast food – I am a fast food junkie – comes w/ having four kids I think, so I love several places. But Schlotzsky’s is my absolute fave – the original. (Though I am partial to What-A-Burger too!)
(ever since Schlotzsky's got popular their food isn't as good, but it sure beats Micky D's!)
What would readers be surprised to learn about you?
I doubt anything would surprise people as I am an open book (pardon the pun). However, I bet no ones knows that I was on the drill team in the sixth and seventh grade. I, who knock all things popular, trendy and conventional, was a pom-pom carrying girly-girl. My mom’s attempt to un-tomboy me worked for a little bit – but I still prefer my jeans and sneakers to a dress and heels any day!
And because we’re always looking for a good book to read, what are you reading?
Right now I am on a Regency kick. I love all things Prinny and his subjects. Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favorite Regency writers!
Like me, I know you’re a huge Chris Cagle fan. Name your three favorite CC songs and tell us why. Better yet, convince my readers that, if they haven't given Chris a try, they should.
Anywhere But Here – Anywhere But Here album
Look At What I’ve Done – Chris Cagle self-titled album
Are You Ever Gonna Love Me – Play It Loud album
When he sings, it’s like hearing a story. It’s a tale that wraps your heart up, and you feel his pain, betrayal and the strength of his love. He puts so much emotion into the songs (some of which he writes). He also puts on one hell of a live show. And it doesn’t hurt that he looks so hot in a pair of jeans and a tight t-shirt!
(She's easy to please, but then, so am I. Someday we'll have to thank him for bringing us together!)
Tell us about your first sale (to Samhain!) and your long-term writing goals. You do have goals, don’t you?
Goals? Unfamiliar… Yes of course. My first goals was to sell, and as Her Passion came out with Samhain March 14, 2006, I can mark that off my to-do list. I actually submitted it on a whim. I had already submitted Deadly Mistakes (a September release with Samhain) and had Her Passion sitting there doing nothing. As it is a novella, I thought it would be harder to sell and hadn’t really tried to shop it around. That is until fellow Rosebud Michelle Miles sold her novella, so I thought, “What the heck.”
Long range, I have three other completed novels in various stages of “cleaned up” and I plan to shop them around soon. I have several open Works-in-Progress that I fiddle with when I get the chance. I had a goal to sell enough to go to Hawaii but decided I wanted something “bigger”. I decided to make a ridiculous goal, something to shoot for that would probably never happen but I'm going to aim for it anyway....If I fall short, I am still doing good. I want an island. My very own little beach and house, stocked with cabana boys and all.
Go big or go home!
(Go big or go home--I LIKE THAT! and hey it's our dream, if we wanna dream islands, cool for us!)
Most writers I know have other creative outlets. What are yours?
Oh, Boy! Knitting – I have made in upwards of 30 scarves. I started when my computer crashed and I had no online access. Quilting – I've made each of my boys a blanket and a large quilt for my bed as well as several wall hanging quilts. I've tried just about every craft excpet glass blowing, pottery (the kiln was just too expensive to convince the hubby to buy) and macramé – though my mother did that when I was little and I “helped” a lot!
I know in my own writing, I have a tendency to have characters who cook. Do you give your characters any quirks? Funny habits?
Pets. I like characters with pets. Don’t know why. Maybe because I have always had them. (Of course neither of my Samhain books have pets, but I swear all my other books do...Honest!) As to habits or quirks, other than sarcasm, which of course, how could I write a character without it, I can’t think of anything.
One last question, since I asked both Amy Knupp and Pam Britton this, do you yell at the TV and if so, what gets your dander up?
Yes. Sports is an obvious one and with so much testosterone in my house, there is always sports on. I yell at American Idol some times – hoping my mental vibes will get the ones kicked off that I want gone. Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy – definitely – c’mon someone already asked for a “C” and The capital of Vermont, “What is Montpelier?”. I will say too, I have often said, “Bless you,” when someone sneezes on TV. I only half pay attention so when I hear it, I guess I assume it’s someone in the house. The boys find this extraordinarily funny.
Last but not least, where can my readers find you?
www.denisebelindamcdonald.com or on my blog at http://denisebelindamcdonald.blogspot.com
Here's a blurb for Her Passion.
Can a brief affair sustain a woman before her upcoming, loveless marriage?
Joel Burkhart’s life is work, work and more work until he finds that one woman he’s compared every other woman to since high school, but she’s taken.
Colleen Nance feels her life closing in on her with her nuptials nearing. When passion ignites, she loses her head and loses control.
With a ticking clock, can the pair find what they need in each other or are they destined to continue in a passionless life where status-quo is good enough?
Available now from Samahain Publishing. Please go buy Denise's book and help support our Chris Cagle Roadtrips!