About Donna M Cain:
Donna M Cain was born in Kentucky, then traveled to various states while her father was in the military. Although she loved traveling, she was happy to settle back in Kentucky after meeting her husband in college. Her love of reading cultivated a desire to write stories. After raising her two sons, she had the opportunity to begin writing. The Grounds of Vengeance series consists of four books of which three are now available. Donna is currently working on the fourth in the series. She loves spending her free time with her husband, Chuck and sons, Chase and Eliot.
What inspires you to write?
I’m an avid reader. I love to read all kinds of books. The inspiration for me to write came from a “Why not me?” attitude. The stories came to me slowly, then began to build as I got to know the characters. Now, my characters inspire me. I’ve grown to love them and I feel the need to get them out of trouble!
Tell us about your writing process.
I do all prep work by hand. First, I write the synopsis of the story. After that, I do an outline of potential chapters. A lot of times, some chapters are blank until I get further in the process, but I always have what is going to happen from beginning to the end. The last thing I do before I start to write is make a “Chapter Bible.” I write a paragraph or two explaining what will be in each chapter. When the bible is complete, I take a week or so and think about the story, using a voice recorder for notes. I write out all of the notes in order of appearance then…….write! I write on my laptop using Word. When the manuscript is complete I go over it two or three times to make changes, then I send it off to my editor who slaps my hand for bad punctuation and grammar. I make the necessary changes then go over it one more time. By the end of the process, I’m a little tired of the book!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I write from the perspective of my characters, so I have to have somewhat of a split personality. I put myself in their situations and write what they feel and see. I’ve been angry for them, I’ve cried and I’ve been excited for them. They ultimately are a part of me.
What advice would you give other writers?
The big picture can be overwhelming. Don’t look at it. Do just a little every day until your creative juices get flowing. It’s good to have a plan of the overall story, but don’t be afraid to change it in the middle if it isn’t working out. Bottom line – writing a book is difficult and demands dedication, but if you’re willing to show up every day and do your best, you’ll get through it. Don’t give up if you get frustrated. Just walk away for an hour, a day or a month. Be sure to go back and finish, though. You’ll be glad that you did.
*Also, I wouldn’t share the fact that you’re writing a book to just everyone. It takes a really long time and it’s annoying to have people constantly asking you if you’re finished yet. Ugh!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I initially sent out queries to publishers. I sent out about sixty of them and two of them were interested. One of them didn’t work out and the other offered a contract. Quite honestly, the contract scared me. I didn’t realize that I would no longer “own” my story. By all rights, they could change the manuscript any way they chose to – change the ending, take out a character, etc. I wasn’t comfortable with that. Also, the amount of publicity offered was next to nothing. I preferred to keep all rights to my stories and self-publish. I’m glad I did. The process was educational and rewarding. Also, for publicity, there are many fantastic sites (like this one!) who will help to promote your book. To seek a publisher or self-publish is a difficult decision, but it’s one you must make for yourself.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I love to hold a book in my hands and will never stop buying hard covers and paperbacks. But I also love having a library in my Kindle. From personal experience, I can tell you that finding a publisher is more than difficult. They have to be extremely picky because they’ll lose money if the book is only mildly successful. Unfortunately, my personal opinion is that we will continue to see smaller publishers close their doors and only a few larger houses will prevail. E-books are convenient for people and will only get more so as technology improves. I, for one, will take a story any way it comes to me.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Suspense, Thrillers, Mystery, Young Adult, Women’s Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Donna M Cain Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
