SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week In the Loft: Author Tina Donahue!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Tina Donahue. The Amazon and international bestselling novelist writes passionate romance--heat with heart. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction. Tina is an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She claims to be horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

Author Tina Donahue

S: Good morning, Tina. Thanks for sitting down for a chat today.

Book banning is back in the news and even some very popular romance authors' books are being removed from school libraries. How do you feel about this trend? How do we fight it?

T: I resent anyone believing they can tell me what I can and can’t read. How dare they. Mind your own business (MYOB) is my motto. When I was 17, I went to the local library to check out a romance I heard about. It had a few erotic elements, but was super tame by today’s standards. The librarian frowned at me and said, “What gives you the right to check out a book like this?” I said “My parents pay taxes, which means they pay your salary. Check the book out for me or I’ll contact the powers-that-be and tell them you’re censoring books here.” She didn’t say another word and checked me out. I have never and will never take crap from anyone.

S: Do you think romance books have become “too spicy?”

T: If you mean erotic, then it’s up to the author and the readers to make that decision. I know what I like to write and read… that’s where my opinion ends on the matter.

S: After the publication of the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, it was reported that some readers ventured into the BDSM world seeking their own Christian Grey. Some were scammed, sexually assaulted, or otherwise harmed. Does an author bear any responsibility for those types of consequences?

T: If you enjoy role-playing about being dominated then go for it. However, if you’re so trusting that you don’t set ground rules before you engage in BDSM, that’s on you. Authors don’t parent readers. They merely write stories. For me, personally, I think O in "The Story of O" needed serious psychological counseling. No way would I allow anyone to treat me like that.

S: Authors don't parent readers. That's a very good point.

What was your worst date ever?

T: Every date I had for prom in high school. I went to an all-girls high school, so getting a date when you don’t know too many guys is dicey. I met a few guys when I was in plays at all-boy high schools. That evolved into them being my dates at the proms. Talk about godawful. Boring, awkward, and not worth the effort.

S: How do you get in the mood for writing?

T: I don’t have to get in the mood. I’m always thinking of storylines. I may read a news report then think, "Wouldn’t it be interesting if fill in the blank happened?" Or I’ll be driving and suddenly an idea pops into my head.

S: Sometimes, it's hard to get the brain to shut down when you're a writer.

What’s the best advice you have ever given?

T: Don’t give up.

S: Good advice for a writer.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

T: All the stories have been told. All you have to sell is voice--style. If I’m remembering correctly, that was in a Dean Koontz non-fiction book.

S: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

T: Being true to myself and living a life I want, not what society or others believe I should settle for.

S: What do you want inscribed on your tombstone? How do you want to be remembered?

T: The thought of being buried makes my skin crawl. I’m going to be cremated. The only thing I’d like to be remembered for is being fair and that I demand justice for everyone.

S: What inspired "Target?"

T: I’ve always wanted to write a dark mafia romance, especially with protagonists unwittingly caught up in all that crime and wanting out.

S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Target?"

T: This is the first dark mafia romance I’ve written, and I enjoyed doing so.

Here’s the blurb:

A Russian kingpin wants her dead… the only one who can stop it is the man sent to murder her.

Toni Flores loved her dream job working for a respected US senator until he raped her. She’s determined to bring him to justice, no matter the cost.

For years, Dimitri Valesky, head of a Russian crime family in America, has bought off those in government. Just like the senator responsible for Toni’s assault. When she won’t keep quiet about it and risks Dimitri’s business, he orders his stepson Michael to kill her.

Michael’s a lobbyist not a mafia enforcer. He refuses the insane demand, but Dimitri insists. The power he holds over Michael and his brothers is absolute… or so he believes.

Rather than murder Toni, Michael intends to romance her. Once he convinces her to keep quiet about the Senator, she won’t be a target any longer and Dimitri will back off on the hit. The plan falls apart and now they are dodging mafia enforcers, bullets, and Dimitri’s outrage.

Michael and Toni fight to stay alive and save those dearest to them as they also fall hopelessly in love.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible triggers for some readers.