Interview With Tina Donahue
I sat down (virtually) with Tina Donahue, one of my good buddies, for a short interview. Today is the release day for Passionate Pursuit, Tina’s sexy new historical!
Cynthia Sax: What makes Tomás so freakin’ sexy?
Tina Donahue: Although Tomás is a warrior knight, having fought in countless conflicts for the Spanish crown, he’s also a fair and compassionate man. With Beatriz, the woman he adores, he’s protective and gentle. Add to that his generally easy-going nature and wit, and he’s everything any woman would want. Courageous and daring on his alpha side, but also cherishing on a deeper level. Like most women, I love a strong hero. However, that doesn’t mean a man who snarls, dictates, or is generally abusive toward the heroine. That isn’t strength. A real man is comfortable in his own skin and can afford to be kind, generous, and cooperative. That’s also an adult. Nothing is sexier than a man who isn’t afraid to be emotionally intimate.
Cynthia Sax: You had me at warrior. How does Passionate Pursuit start?
Tina Donahue: Tomás has just finished his service to the Crown and has survived a near-fatal illness. You’d think the poor guy has earned some down time. Not a chance. Time now for him to wed. At least that’s what the Spanish mamás and their eager-to-marry daughters think. They descend upon his castle en masse. Fighting Moors has never been this challenging. Tomás longs to flee. More importantly, he yearns for Beatriz, the one woman he does want. However, as the story opens, Beatriz is a mere servant at his castle. Tomás has no idea the secret she’s hiding or that her past is an enormous obstacle to their future happiness.
Cynthia Sax: Ohhh… secrets. I love secrets. Where is Passionate Pursuit set?
Tina Donahue: Passionate Pursuit is set in medieval Spain. 1489 to be exact. The war with the Moors is ongoing with the Crown eager to reconquer lands. The Inquisition rages. Within this turmoil, is the countryside. A veritable paradise of lush forest, endless wheat fields, and Moorish castles that warrior knights have reclaimed for Spain. The monarchs have gifted Tomás with an opulent estate for his military service. Within this Eden, Tomás devises numerous delights for Beatriz to woo her and make her his.
Cynthia Sax: What advice would you give new writers?
Tina Donahue:Write daily, read as much as you can, and know there isn’t anything close to overnight success. Yes, I know there are stories about authors who one day decided to write a book, did so, and now they’re zillionaires. If you dig deeper into their backgrounds, you’ll see they wrote and read as much as they could prior to writing that bestseller and they also were savvy marketers. Some also have contacts in the publishing industry. No successful writer happens by accident. That’s a myth. It takes endless hard work and constantly perfecting your craft to succeed. If you want to be a writer because it sounds cool or you’re eager to make a lot of money, this isn’t the career for you. Authors who last in this profession are those who write because they have to, not because they want to. Writing to them is as necessary as breathing, eating, living. It’s part of their soul. They’d be lost without it. If you don’t have that fire and drive, then you need to find another occupation.
Cynthia Sax: So true. I write for myself. I have stories published for readers. Thank you for the great advice, Tina, and also for joining us today!
Tina Donahue’s Website: http://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/
*****************************************************************************
Is their passion strong enough to break her chains?
Andalucía Spain, 1489: Innocent Beatriz is desperate to escape the threat of a miserable marriage to a cruel Marquis. Forced into the betrothal by her ruthless merchant papá, her only hope is to conceal her identity and become a servant in a nearby castle—a life drastically different from her comfortable upbringing.
Tomás doesn’t know what to make of his well-spoken new servant girl. Her beauty and charm captivates the military hero; her mysterious nature intrigues him. And the desire she ignites burns brighter with each glance, as does his longing to claim her for his own.
Beatriz can’t resist Tomás’ passion nor deny the heat of her own. But neither the lush countryside nor the walls of the opulent Moorish castle can entirely protect her—and if he were to discover her secret, she could be torn away from him forever. Yet how can she sustain his love if she’s living a lie?
Buy Now:
On Amazon.com: https://goo.gl/GOhbrm
On Amazon CA: http://goo.gl/OQoyKI
On Kobo: https://goo.gl/ZjVJJ2
On Books a Million: http://goo.gl/FqvCzl
On Penguin-Random House Canada: http://goo.gl/WsuyMm
On Fantastic Fiction: http://goo.gl/uAlGdE
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
Dragon Lord’s Destiny Nominated For LRC’s Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books of 2013
Woot! Dragon Lord’s Destiny has been nominated as one of LRC’s Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books of 2013! Thank you to the LRC reviewers, staff, and readers for making this possible!
By Cynthia Sax
Now Available From Changeling Press
Buy It Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2083
Buy It Now On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lords-Destiny-ebook/dp/B00ENOVHMO
Buy It Now On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lords-destiny-cynthia-sax/1116532341
Topics: Awards | Comments Off on Dragon Lord’s Destiny Nominated For LRC’s Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books of 2013
Wayback Wednesday-Dragon Lord’s Destiny
Part of the fun of writing is hiding little hidden jokes in our stories. Sometimes reading buddies figure out these jokes. Sometimes they don’t. In my dragon shifter stories, many readers (including my reading buddies in Germany) have figured out that my heroes are often named for German items or colors. Grau of Starke, the hero of Dragon Lord’s Destiny, is a powerful silver dragon. Grau means roughly gray and Starke is power.
By Cynthia Sax
Now Available From Changeling Press
Then a warrior dressed all in gray, breathing smoke and fire, enters the fray. Celestria knows he is the one, the man she is destined to love. He doesn’t know he’s her future husband, however, and he is riding toward her, his sword raised.
Buy It Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2083
Buy It Now On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lords-Destiny-ebook/dp/B00ENOVHMO
Buy It Now On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lords-destiny-cynthia-sax/1116532341
Topics: Wayback Wednesday | Comments Off on Wayback Wednesday-Dragon Lord’s Destiny
Dragon Lord’s Destiny Releases Today
Dragon Lord’s Destiny releases today. Although this is part of the Dragon Lord series, it can be read easily on its own. There is no connection (other than it being a story about dragon shifters in a medieval fantasy word) to the other stories.
Dragon Lords Destiny Me From Cynthia Sax
Lady Celestria eagerly travels with her aunt and cousin to participate in festivities at King’s Keep. Decades ago, her father had met her mother in the courtyards. He took one look at her mother’s face, sank to his knees, and declared his undying love. Celestria believes this is where she will find true love also.
In the forest, less than a day’s ride away from the keep, they are attacked by bandits. Celestria fights alongside the guards. Outnumbered and disarmed, she faces her death bravely.
Then a warrior dressed all in gray, breathing smoke and fire, enters the fray. Celestria knows he is the one, the man she is destined to love. He doesn’t know he’s her future husband, however, and he is riding toward her, his sword raised.
Buy From Changeling: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2083
Topics: New Releases | Comments Off on Dragon Lord’s Destiny Releases Today
Encounter – Dragon Lord’s Mate: A Fortnight Is Too Long
I wrote an Encounter (a sexy extra scene) for Dragon Lord’s Mate also.
Dragon Lord’s Mate: A Fortnight Is Too Long
A smile of anticipation lightened Grun’s grim face, clearly communicating to Taja that her huge brute of a husband was aware of her presence. He was blissfully unaware of her intent, however. He continued to ride toward her, the hooves of his black steed devouring the distance between them. Taja raised her bow, an arrow notched and ready.
The movement drew his eyes, that lustful black gaze at last resting upon her. Warmth swirled within Taja’s pussy. Fucking through their mate link had eased her need, but could not fully satisfy her, causing every minute away from him to become sweet torment, an extended foreplay with no resolution. For prolonging that agony, he deserved this retribution. Taja drew back the arrow, the feathers rustling in the breeze.
“Taja,” he growled. His voice was low and deep, promising a dark passion. A shiver of delight ran though her body.
She chose not to heed his warning, releasing the arrow. Her aim was true. Metal dinged against metal as the arrow bounced off his shield. Grun rode on relentlessly, making no move to protect himself. He was an arrogant warrior, her mate. He would never retreat, forcing her surrender. Slick moisture coated the crotch of Taja’s breeches.
“You go too far, lady wife.” He dismounted at a gallop, rolling. “I told you to wait inside the castle keep.” He drew himself up to his full impressive height, cracking his knuckles.
She backed up slowly, watching him with a mixture of wariness and arousal. She longed to have those rough, coarse hands on her skin. “You also told me it was a three day ride.” He had been away for a fortnight. That was an unacceptable delay. “I have needs, my lord husband.” She rubbed the ache between her thighs. “I could not wait another moment.” She drew her tunic over her head. Sunlight caressed her bare breasts.
He tossed his own tunic aside. His chest was broad and muscular, crisscrossed with scars. “I have needs too, mate.” He stroked the bulge in his breeches as he walked. His long, thick cock was clearly outlined, an effective visual distraction. Taja licked her lips. “Yet I do not put my safety at risk to satisfy them.”
“I was in no danger. I knew you were near.” She pulled her breeches down and kicked them toward him, her nakedness causing Grun’s face to darken more.
“You are in danger.” He discarded his breeches also, his cock springing free. “You are in grave danger.”
A flicker of his eyes was her only warning. She darted as he lunged. His hand grazed her thigh. She ran from him, the grass whipping at her bare legs. He stalked after her, playing with her the way a dragon would play with a deer, batting her ankles with his palms, brushing his fingers against her calves.
He downed her when she zagged when she should have zigged and she rolled in his arms as they fell. She landed with a thump on top of a very aroused male body.
“You will not put yourself in danger again, mate.” Grun pinned her arms behind her. He breathed heavily, smelling of smoke and horse and man. “I will not allow it.”
“You will not tarry when you are far from me.” She raised her head, sticking out her chin. She could be as stubborn as he. “I will not allow it.”
He drew her arms back farther, arching her back, thrusting her breasts upward. “You are in no position to demand any boons from me.” He nipped at her nipples. Taja sucked in her breath at the mix of pleasure and pain. “You are my captive.” He released her arms, cupping her breasts.
“I am in the perfect position to demand boons.” She slipped down his body until her pussy lips cradled his hard cock. “And I am not the captive.” She lifted her hips, coating his shaft with her juices, until the ridge of his cockhead teased her clit.
He groaned, a long drawn out rumble starting in the base of his stomach and moving up his chest. His muscles contracted until he was coiled like a wild thing under her. “I missed you, lady wife.” With those husky words, his control was released. He flipped her onto her back, his mouth sucking hard on her neck, her breasts, her nipples. He attacked her body, touching her with hungry hands. He was so rough, so strong. She near lost her mind with desire.
“Fuck me, Grun.” She spread her legs, her pussy open and waiting. “Fuck me, hard.” She liked that she drove him to this, that he lost his renowned restraint around her, that he became one with his beast while loving her. It made her feel powerful and sexy, like a woman rather than a warrior
The sound coming from her mate’s lips was more dracon than human. Grun sat back on his haunches and reached out to her, his callused fingers digging into her ass as he raised her hips. One thrust and he buried himself up to his balls, her pussy gratifyingly stretched and raw with his assault.
This was what she missed. “Harder, Grun.” She clawed at his shoulders, desperate for more. He withdrew and surged into her again, harder. She shuddered, her pussy vibrating with pleasure around his cock. “Harder.”
He dominated her, body and mind, riding her without mercy, entering her with such strength that she thought she might split in two. She panted, he grunted, their animal sounds echoing across the clearing. They weren’t lord and lady. They were dracon and mate, fucking like primitive beasts.
“Grun!” she screamed as she came, clenching his shaft in a tight embrace. He filled her one, two, three times more before shouting his own release, his booming voice scaring birds into flight.
“Fuck, mate.” He collapsed upon her, pressing her into the soft grass. “I will grant you your boon. A fortnight is too long.”
By Cynthia Sax
Available Now From Changeling Press
There comes a time when even princesses have to give up their dream men.
Every night in her dreams, Princess Taja experiments sexually with a
dragon lord. She knows he isn’t real. Her fantasy man is pressing her
for a commitment, something she can’t and won’t give. She needs a flesh
and blood man to safeguard her kingdom, not a man her lonely heart
conjured up. When the line between dream and reality blurs, will
Princess Taja find love?
Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1269
Buy Now at ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dragonlord039smate-411429-340.html
Buy Now at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lords-Mate-ebook/dp/B004VGVC2O
Buy Now At Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lords-mate-cynthia-sax/1019300503
***
Topics: Dragon Lord's Mate, Encounter | Comments Off on Encounter – Dragon Lord’s Mate: A Fortnight Is Too Long
WayBack Wednesday: Dragon Lord’s Mate
Every Wednesday, I’ll be discussing older stories that I’ve written and still love. I’ll talk about why I love them and what makes them special.
It is only right that I start this feature with Dragon Lord’s Mate. Dragon Lord’s Mate was my first published story. It combines two of my great loves – medieval romance and dragons.
Grun is a delicious hero. He’s scarred and war weary. He takes his responsibilities very seriously yet he longs for a companion, a mate, to share his long days with.
Taja, the heroine, has never had anyone want her. She’s the spare heir to her kingdom. She isn’t graceful or beautiful like her cousin Sabine. She can’t believe that the mysterious and often feared Lord of Schattenhaft wants her and he wants her so badly, he’s willing to fight to the death for her.
This is a bit of my favorite scene in Dragon Lord’s Mate
***
She shouldn’t be here. If she were caught, her reputation would be in ruins. But she had to see him before he fought. “I wish to speak with Lord Schattenhaft.” He stood to the side, his back to her, clad in form-fitting black armor.
“Leave us,” he rumbled. They did, silently, without question. Grun faced her. He looked taller, somehow, broader, a fierce warrior. Black eyes met hers. “Taja?”
He was magnificent and she wanted him. She couldn’t have him. Not now. Later. She swallowed. “Here.” She held out a piece of black silk. He took it, his rough fingers brushing against hers, sending tremors straight down to her pussy. “I am told some ladies give their lords a token to remind them of what they fight for.”
He brought the fabric up to his nose, breathed in. “Some lords would never forget.” He tucked the handkerchief underneath his armor, in the area of his heart.
***
Yeah, Grun has some great lines. (grins)
By Cynthia Sax
Available Now From Changeling Press
There comes a time when even princesses have to give up their dream men.
Every night in her dreams, Princess Taja experiments sexually with a
dragon lord. She knows he isn’t real. Her fantasy man is pressing her
for a commitment, something she can’t and won’t give. She needs a flesh
and blood man to safeguard her kingdom, not a man her lonely heart
conjured up. When the line between dream and reality blurs, will
Princess Taja find love?
Buy Now: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1269
Buy Now at ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dragonlord039smate-411429-340.html
Buy Now at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lords-Mate-ebook/dp/B004VGVC2O
Buy Now At Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lords-mate-cynthia-sax/1019300503
Topics: Dragon Lord's Mate, Wayback Wednesday | Comments Off on WayBack Wednesday: Dragon Lord’s Mate
