Author Donna Simonetta Finds A Sweeter Spot!
Give a big welcome to Donna Simonetta, author of A Sweeter Spot. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. There’s hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Thanks for joining us! I have a few questions for you, then we’ll talk a little about your new release, A Sweeter Spot.
Tell us a little about you. After years working in the business world, my love of reading led me to get my MLS, and I currently work part-time in a school library, a job that allows me lots of time to explore my other love – writing romance! I live in Maryland, with my husband, who is my real-life romance hero. We both enjoy traveling to visit our far-flung family and friends, and spending time on the beach with an umbrella drink and a good book.
How long have you been writing? I always wanted to be a writer. When I was a little girl, I would go to the library and look at the shelves to see where my books would go. But real life got in the way, and I pursued other career options. First in market research, until my love of books drove me to get an MLS and work in a school library. After a health scare in 2008, they told me I had cancer when I didn’t–zoinks, talk about terrifying!–I reevaluated my life, and decided to try my hand at writing.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer? My husband knew I was writing, but other than Leo, I kept it quiet. I remember showing my work to him after I’d written a few chapters and I said, “I don’t think this sucks–would you read it and let me know honestly?” He did, and he loved it! I still kept it under my hat until my first novel was finished, and then I came out to my family and friends. They have all been tremendously supportive!
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why? I’m actually pretty comfortable writing both points of view. The female point of view for the obvious reason that I am one! And my day job helps with the male perspective. I work part-time in the library at a private all-boys school, so I am surrounded by testosterone during the school year. While the faculty is becoming slightly more balanced, when I first started working there, in addition to the all-male student body, the majority of our faculty was male also. It still is, but a less massive majority nowadays. It’s helped to give me some insight into how men talk and interact with each other, and it has really helped me create realistic male characters
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do? Hmm…this is an intriguing question! Really thought-provoking. I’ve always been interested in, some might say obsessed, with Queen Elizabeth I, so I think I would want to pop in on her in a private moment, to try to see what her world was really like.
Where can we find you?
https://www.facebook.com/donnasimonettaauthor
https://twitter.com/donna_simonetta
What is A Sweeter Spot about?
Magda knows a 28-year-old shouldn’t run away from home, but Rivers Bend is the ideal escape. Helping out her best friend will get her away from her uber-wealthy, controlling grandmother and duplicitous ex. She doesn’t expect the quirky little town to feel so much like home. Add in hotter-than-the-sun Jeff and his daughter, and leaving seems as unthinkable as it is inevitable.
Raising Sam alone, Jeff knew he wanted her to grow up in his supportive hometown. The arrival of a feisty new tenant sends Jeff’s world spinning. Magda fills a void in his life that he’d like to make permanent.
Will love triumph over the most powerful woman in the country, and can they figure out how to make this happy-for-now in Rivers Bend into their happy-ever-after?
How about a sneak peek into the book?
“Being cheated on is no fun. It happened to me once. Up here,” he tapped his forehead. “You know it’s not your fault. But here,” he tapped his chest over his heart. “You feel like it has to be your fault – like you could’ve done something to prevent it. But you couldn’t have. It’s all on him, Maggie. Not you.”
She picked a dandelion, whose flower had turned into a puffball, and blew on it, scattering the fluff to the wind. “Maybe. Maybe not. But thanks for the support.”
She pushed to her feet and took a couple of steps toward the river. Jeff rose and followed.
How could he be so angry at a man he didn’t even know? How could this Pierce jerk have slept around on a woman like Maggie? And the prick had even made her doubt herself in the process. It was written all over her anguished face.
He stood behind her and gently kneaded her shoulders. He turned her to face him and cupped her face in his big hands.
“This Pierce guy is the biggest fool on earth to go to someone else when he had you at home, Maggie.”
She blinked away tears, and he felt his heart constrict. Before he could think it through and decide it was a really bad idea, Jeff dipped his head and captured Magda’s lips in a gentle kiss.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with A Sweeter Spot!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Romance by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
Hey Donna! So glad to have you on Author’s Secrets! You should be able to make comments now.
I can! Thank you, Tena!
And thank you so much for letting me visit with you today!
: )
Donna
It was my pleasure! Stop by anytime!!!
Interesting post, Donna. Seeing what goes on behind the scenes in Buckingham Palace would be fascinating. Good luck with your new release.
It really would – especially back in Elizabeth I’s time! Thanks for stopping by today!
: )
Donna
THanks for stopping by CB! Glad to see the comments are working.
Thanks for sharing Donna! I think it’s so interesting you kept mum about writing the book until you were finished. You’ve got a lot more self-control than me!
Thanks Claire for popping with with a comment. We appreciate it!
Thanks, Claire! It was more fear than self-control motivating me to keep mum!
And thanks for stopping by today!
: )
Donna
Maggie and Pierce sound like a perfect pair! Best of luck on your release!
Glad you can share the news: you are a writer! And you’re just beginning!
Thanks for stopping by Sandy! Yep, Donna can keep a secret. I never would have been able to keep it quiet. LOL
Thank you so much, Sandy! I appreciate you visiting today, and commenting!
: )
Donna
What a traumatic medical experience, Donna!! So glad you realized your dream of writing at last. Wishing you gobs of luck with your release.
It was truly a life-changing experience, Barb! As it led me to where I am now, I can’t completely regret it…but I wouldn’t want to live through it again! Thanks so much for visiting, commenting, and your good wishes! xo
Thanks for sharing your author’s journey, Donna. Best of luck with your release!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, Charlotte! I appreciate the support and good wishes! : )