Interview and International Giveaway with Donna Grant

I am pleased to welcome Donna Grant to Book of Secrets today!  I love Donna's Dark Sword series, because it combines all of my romance favorites: paranormal, historical and Highlanders!  The 5th book in the series SHADOW HIGHLANDER has just been released.

Hi, Donna! 

Please tell us a little about your latest release.

SHADOW HIGHLANDER is the fifth book in my historical/paranormal Dark Sword series. It features Galen Shaw, a Highlander who happens to have a primeval god locked inside him which gives him immortality as well as special powers. 

His heroine is Reaghan who feels as if there's something missing out of her life, as if she should be doing more than hiding with other Druids. It doesn't help that she apparently has no magic. Or does she? Galen, as a Warrior can feel the magic of Druids, and he's convinced Reaghan has magic.  

For readers who are not familiar with your books, please share some background information on your series.

The series is a set in Medieval Scotland, but is heavy in paranormal elements. All the heroes have primeval gods inside them which give them immortality and unique powers given by the gods.

The heroines are all Druids who hold magic that can help - or sometimes hinder - the Warriors as they all fight to defeat an evil Druid intent on taking over the world. 

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your book/series? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome? 

With it being historical, an author does need to keep some authenticity with the books. I did that with the first three books, because at the time the MacLeod brothers had their gods unbound inside them, the Highlanders didn't wear kilts. I've had some readers upset by that. 

At the same time, with the paranormal elements I was able to create my own mythology for the series based on one simple question - Why did the Romans really leave Britain? 

We only know what the Romans wanted to tell us, and we know they never ventured into the Highlands, so it allowed me to create this legend of the Druids calling up ancient gods locked in Hell. The best warriors of each clan would accept one of the gods as they struggled to end Roman rule once and for all.

It worked, but at a great price. With the Romans gone, these warriors turned on anyone and everyone. The Druids were unable to remove the gods from the Highlanders, so they bound the gods inside them instead.

But the gods traveled through the bloodline, going to the strongest warrior of each family. Until the day they could be freed once more.  

We usually never talk about villains in books during interviews. Share with us who or what is the antagonist of your story.

My antogonist of the Dark Sword series is a woman. Most villains are men, so I wanted to do something different and have a woman with the power.

Deirdre makes a really good villain. Not just because she will stop at nothing to get what she wants, but because you learn in the books she's not without her weaknesses, that despite the powerful magic within her, she is just a woman.

She's smart, too, which makes it difficult for the Warriors to win against her.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

No one really knows who the Druids were. Rome left behind their own account of the Druids being bloodthirsty heathens who sacrificed people.

Everyone knows to control history you write history, and that's essential what Rome did. Where the Druids as Rome described? Or where they more peaceful people who were in tune with the land?

No one may ever know. 

Do you have a formula for creating your characters' names?

Not really. I have naming books that have a large section for Celtic and Scottish names. I just read through them and write down names that appeal to me. Then, its finding the right name for the character.

I've picked names before that just didn't fit the character, and only after changing the name could I write the story. Sounds odd, but its true.

I also try to find names that match the time period but that can be pronounced.

Other than writing, what are some of your passions in life?

I'm a huge proponent of animal welfare. I donate to the Humane Society and ASPCA regularly, but I'm also involved with Horse Rescue association. I've always loved animals and always had a dog and cat throughout my life.

I used to own horses, and being near Louisiana you get to see and hear a lot of what happens to race horses. Not to mention with it being cowboy country here, horses are everywhere. They're beautiful animals, but they're expensive to keep. So, I try to do my part to help as many as I can. 

In your opinion, what does the future hold for paranormal romance?

I think the genre of paranormal romance is limited only by the authors who write it. There are so many ways paranormal can be turned and twisted to new, never before seen ideas that its here to stay for good.

If you could travel to another time and place, when and where would it be? 

Medieval Scotland, of course. Or maybe even back to the Scotland when Druids were commonplace. But only if I could return back to my time. :) 

What are your guilty pleasures in life? 

Shopping. I love to shop. And movies. We have a pretty extensive movie and TV series collection. We go to movies often, sometimes seeing two in one day. :) 

What can readers expect next from you? 

My next release is DARKEST HIGHLANDER (Jan 31, 2012) which will end the Dark Sword series.

 The spin off series, Dark Warriors, begins in June 2012 with back to back releases: 

MIDNIGHT'S MASTER (Jun 2012)
MIDNIGHT'S LOVER (Jul 2012)
MIDNIGHT'S SEDUCTION (Nov 2012)
MIDNIGHT'S WARRIOR (Dec 2012)

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from your book?

His voice was rich and smooth, friendly. The sound of it made her blood quicken, causing her want to hear more. He had thick, dark blond hair that was tied in a loose queue at the back of his neck.

Even from the twenty or so paces they stood apart she could see the vibrant cobalt blue of his eyes. The way he watched her, studied her made goose flesh rise on her skin as awareness skidded around her, through her.

He stood with his arms to his side, seemingly at ease, belying the corded muscles she glimpsed in his arms and chest. There was a predatory elegance about him, a ravenous warrior that told Reaghan he could – and would – defend what was his. To the death.

Unable to help herself, Reaghan let her gaze run over his chiseled face. His forehead was high, his brows thin and golden. His cheeks were hollowed, his chin hard, and his jaw squared. That jaw was shadowed with a beard making him appear more interesting, more dangerous.

More enticing.

Reaghan tried to swallow, tried to think of anything but the very male, very appealing man before her. She knew she was being rude in not answering him as she looked her fill, but how could she not? He was everything a Highland warrior should be.

His lips tilted ever so slightly in a smile, as if he knew what went through her mind. Reaghan wanted to move closer to him, to touch his skin and run her hands through his hair.

She yearned to feel the strength of him, to have his muscles move beneath her hand. She longed to run her fingertip over his wide lips, to look deeper into his stunning blue eyes.

Her blood pounded in her ears like a drum in her chest the more she thought about touching him, of learning him. 

Giveaway Details:

Donna is giving away a copy of the 4th book in the Dark Sword series UNTAMED HIGHLANDER to one random commenter!

The contest is open worldwide.  To enter, please leave a comment on the interview along with your e-mail address.  Contest open until 9/10/2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Good luck!