Hey guys,

Let’s welcome the lovely Donna, better known as @DELynch43 on Wattpad, writer of the enthralling ‘The Dangerous Ones’, the first novel in the captivating Chilvati series.

JOHANNA: Donna, welcome to the Dangerous Love Profile. I believe you are married and have two children. On your profile you say you’re a number cruncher by day and wrangler by night. Is it wrangler like in taking care of animals? Can you tell us more about this?

DONNA: Thank you! I was so excited when I discovered the Dangerous Love profile. There couldn’t be a more perfect place for The Dangerous Ones, and I was ecstatic when I was accepted to be featured on your reading list. Yes, I am married with two daughters. I met my husband in university and grabbed that man up before anyone else could get ahold of him. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, I moved to the United States in my early thirties. I am an accountant (CPA) in the real world. The “wrangler” you mention from my profile is actually “word wrangler” and refers to my writing. I do have a dog though, a crazy old mutt with a split personality ;)

JOHANNA: How, having a full schedule with family and your dayjob do you still get time to write?

DONNA: I have worked in the corporate world for years but reduced my hours to three days a week after both of my children were born. Once they gained some independence, I had more freedom to write. Wattpad does eat into that time a little bit, though ;)

JOHANNA: That’s good ol’ Wattpad for ya, hahaha. How does your writing influence your day to day life or vice versa?

DONNA: My characters are always with me. I’m either thinking of the next scene, the next book, or how to improve the ones already written. I carry a pad of paper with me everywhere I go, just in case an idea pops into my head while I’m away from my computer. My family has stopped asking questions when I suddenly zone out or leave the room to scribble something down.

JOHANNA: Tell us more about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

DONNA: Hmmm. That’s a tough question. I shoplifted once. I was young, it was on a dare, and I felt sick for doing it. Never did anything like that again.

JOHANNA: What?! Really? We’d better not let Virginia get wind of this. That must have been reallt scary. What do your friends and family think of your writing?

DONNA: I was hesitant to tell anyone at first. I’ve always written, but never a full length novel. I had one friend I shared it with, and I have to say, she is the only reason I finished. At the conclusion of each chapter I sent her, she’d demand the next. Eventually I had to tell my husband and kids, otherwise they would think I was having an internet affair with all the time I was spending on the computer. Handing it over to an editor was the next big step and it scared the crap out of me, but she liked it and her suggestions were great. I still haven’t told everyone I know about the book, but I’m getting better about that. Those closest to me have read it and are very supportive.

JOHANNA: Yeah, I agree it is pretty scary telling everyone that you’re a writer. Only my close family knows that I write.

How do you relax?

DONNA: I like to kayak and swim. I have a house on a lake and love being out on the water.

This is a picture of my double kayak. That is me in the back, along with my friend, Joanne, who was the first person to ever read my work.

JOHANNA: Oh my gosh that’s awesome! I’m a little scared of drowning, so I’ve never tried anything as brave as kayaking, lol.

Do you love coffee and what do you like to drink? What is your favorite coffee shop?

DONNA: I do like coffee, but I rarely go to coffee shops. I’m more of a regular, boring, make-it-yourself kind of coffee drinker.

JOHANNA: What’s your favorite food and drink? Favorite restaurant?

DONNA: I love red wine. A little too much sometimes. I like to experiment and discover new restaurants. I don’t frequent the big chains much, and I never step foot in a buffet. If I’m going to splurge and go out to eat, I want someone serving me for a change.

JOHANNA: I’m also not a buffet kinda girl. I reckon I can have that kinda food at home.

What is your favourite motivational phrase.

DONNA: Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful). It just happens to be the motto of the United States Marine Corps, but it is also the Lynch family motto and can be found on the Lynch Family coat of arms.

JOHANNA: This was so interesting I had to google it:

Copied from google…

Medieval Origin of Lynch Name

While the Lynch name was primarily of Celtic origin, this particular line originated in Austria, and the following is a short summary of the Lynch ancestry.

The family originally came from a town in Austria called Lintz. A General of that name defended the city against a powerful enemy and would not surrender even though his army were reduced to eating grass.

The ruler of the country was so pleased with the General’s extraordinary fortitude and perseverance that he gave him, as a memento for all posterity, the trefoil (or shamrock) on an azure field (background), on top of the coat of arms was placed a Lynx (the sharpest sighted of all animals), and for the General’s fidelity to his ruler, the motto “Semper Fidelis” (Forever Faithful).

To put this time period into context, it was many centuries before William of Normandy conquered England.

This coat of arms has remained with many Lynch families to this day, however around the world many other branches of Lynch clan have applied to the Chief Herald in their respective countries for granting of customised coats of arms.

This General settled in Normandy where his descendants inter-married with the royal families of Normandy and France. One of the family, Sir Hugo De Linch (or De Lench), came to England with William the Conqueror as a General, from whom he received large estates and possessions. From this man springs the family of the Galway Lynches.
The Lynch septs (clans) that occur in Antrim, Cavan, Clare and the Beara peninsula are of early Irish origins as distinct from the Galway Lynch sept.

Soooo, you could be royalty. Wow, that is so fascinating!

What is your favourite positive saying?

DONNA: Expect nothing. Appreciate everything

JOHANNA: For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

DONNA: Nothing beats holding a book in your hand. I love the feel, the smell, and the look of them lining my shelves. However, times change, and I do have to admit there are advantages to ebooks, portability, instant access, along with the ability to read in any lighting. (My husband is most grateful for that last one because I tend to read in bed).

JOHANNA: Snap! Me too!

What book/s are you reading at present?

DONNA: I am currently working my way through the Game of Thrones series.

JOHANNA: That is something I still have to do.

Who are your favourite authors, and in what way, if any, did they inspire your writing?

DONNA: J.R.Ward, hands down. I have read all of her books, many times over. I love her style, her characters, her storylines. She could write a menu and I’d go out of my way to read it. Whenever I’m having writer’s block, I reach for one of her books. I find them relaxing and motivating and if someone were to say my writing is in the least bit similar to hers, I would be extremely flattered.

JOHANNA: I haven’t read any of her stories but from what I’ve read of your Chilvati Series, I’d say you are really good❣

Your story ‘The Dangerous Ones’ is written for the more mature audience. And by that I don’t mean more explicit, but for the older audience. Like me, lol. I don’t have anything against the ‘younger’ stories, but sometimes, okay more than sometimes, I like to read stories that I could relate to more. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a story like that on Wattpad, because the younger generation outnumber us. What do you think about this?

DONNA: It’s true, Wattpad does have an exceptionally high number of young readers, and a heck of a lot of stories about high school and college life for them to choose from. On that note, I do think it’s wonderful that young people are spending their time here, both reading and writing, in this day of so many other distractions. That being said, I did wonder how my book would be received. I certainly don’t consider teens to be my target market. The older audience would relate to the story, true, but did the younger generation even like to read about adults anymore? I figured some might venture in, looking for something a little different. What I didn’t expect was the number of young readers (both male and female) who have written to me, saying they love Virginia and that there needs to be more stories written about strong women. That is immensely gratifying.

JOHANNA: That was perfectly said! I agree that there should be more stories like yours.

Ruth Glick says:

I think this about sums up your character, Mark Spinelli. Do you agree? Why or why not?

DONNA: Hahaha, I think that was written specifically for Mark Spinelli! He is the perfect flawed character, although I wouldn’t dare call him an oxymoron. Not to his face anyway. Mark knows who and what he is and makes no excuses for his behavior, and yet there is a sense that somewhere along the line he has lost his way. When Virginia enters Mark’s life, she brings an alternative route to the path of destruction he’s currently on.

JOHANNA: I’ve read a blog of Fran Creffield and she says:

“Bad boys are usually very passionate and women see that this passion is being misdirected and getting them into trouble. Some women think they will be able to tame them. They believe they can become the object of that passion and their bad boy will be transformed into a good boyfriend, just like Beauty and the Beast.”

Do you think this is true for Virginia, why she’s attracted to Spinelli?

DONNA: I don’t believe Virginia expects or wants him to change. Yes, she sees the decent man he can be, but she accepts him for what he is, the good, the bad, and the gorgeous.

JOHANNA: Yes! Definitely the gorgeous!

I’ve realised when reading your story that your MC is one strong bada** lady, but she is also soft, loving, feminine and very sensual. Is there something about yourself in her character?

DONNA: Indirectly perhaps. My two daughters were the inspiration for Virginia. If you take specific features from each, somehow blend them together, and add roughly ten years, you will come up with that bada** lady. They are both strong, confident, compassionate young women who stick up for themselves and others. Have I instilled that in my daughters? I’d like to think so. I had an amazingly strong Irish mother who taught me to go after what I wanted in life and not settle for anything less. As far as Virginia’s sensuality goes, I’m going to have to lay that one solely on me, mainly because I can’t think of my daughters or my mother in that light ;)

JOHANNA: I loved that answer!

Can you describe her from your point of view? Give us an insight into your main character. What does she do that is so special?

DONNA: I only write about heroines with strong backbones. I get tired of female leads who can’t stand on their own two feet, hate the way they look, are forever crying/whining, or need a man to constantly reassure them. Besides, that’s not the kind of woman who’s going to bring Mark Spinelli to his knees. However, it’s Virginia’s integrity that is exceptional in my mind. She does what she feels is right and there is a sense that if she were your friend, she would stand behind you, no matter what.

JOHANNA: And I think it’s just that, that makes me love this story so much!

How did you get to write a story about a female cop? Are someone in your family in that line of duty?

DONNA: No. It all started with Mark, a menacing hero worthy of being healed. Forbidden love can amplify the best elements of romance, hot sex and high stakes, and what better than two characters on opposite sides of the law? Denial must run its course. Secrecy will strain fragile bonds. Loyalties are to be tested. I love all the conflict and tension.

JOHANNA: (I'm sitting on the edge of my chair, rubbing hands together in delight, hahahaha)

If you could spend time as a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

DONNA: Wow. I guess I’d have to say Virginia even though I relate more to Mark (I tend to keep things to myself too). What would I do all day? With Mark? . . . I don’t think I can say that here without you being slapped with a “mature” rating.

JOHANNA: Hahahaha so true❣

What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning this book?

DONNA: I did a lot of research, mostly as I went along, and my paranoia is another reason I had to tell my family what I was up to. I was doing internet searches on uniforms, ranks, police districts, weapons, security, military bases, etc., and I wanted someone else to be able to back me up in case I was raising red flags all over the place. You can see how that might look a little suspicious.

JOHANNA: Yup! Red flags!

Where did your ideas come from for this story?

DONNA: In bed. As intriguing as that may sound, it’s not what you think. I started this story in my head as a relaxation technique to fall asleep. It kept getting bigger and bigger as I added scenes and characters over a period of time. Finally, I decided I needed to try writing it all down.

JOHANNA: Man! This is so me! I’ve been doing the same thing since I was a kid!

What was your hardest scene to write?

DONNA: The fire scene near the beginning and the shooting at the end. I didn’t know if I had the talent to convey the anguish Virginia would be feeling during those moments. The sex scenes are not easy either. This is where my love of red wine comes into play.

JOHANNA: Oh my gosh, who doesn’t love red wine? It gives a gal courage❤

What did you edit out of this book?”

DONNA: About 25% of the original content. The book was far too long by the time I had finished writing, so I had to look for things to trim, scenes that did not advance the plotline. This is never easy to do, but as I look at the finished product, I know I made the right decisions.

JOHANNA: What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

DONNA: Having the confidence to carry on and finish.

JOHANNA: How long on average did it take you to write this book? Can you describe your writing journey to us?

DONNA: Years. It’s hard to say how many exactly. I started this book way back in 2010, then dropped it due to a lack of time and self-confidence. When my kids were a little older, I dug in and started writing it again, and went through the whole book twice. Then I sent it out to be edited by someone I trust. That lead to another rewrite. During 2015, I entered a few romance contests and received some excellent feedback from the judges. Based on their suggestions, I made a few more changes here and there before finally deciding it was done. Listening to others is key. I’m a perfectionist, which is why I always loved math; there is only one right answer when it comes to numbers. The problem with writing is it will never be perfect in the author’s eyes, but at some point you have to say, “I like it just the way it is.”

JOHANNA: I must affirm, I agree that I like the story just the way it is❣

This book is part of the Chilvati series.  Can you tell us a little about when you realised it will be a series?

DONNA: I always envisioned a series, which is why there are so many hot men in The Dangerous Ones.

JOHANNA: Hahaha, thank you for that! We love the hot ones. Book Two of the series, ‘The Silent Ones’, you just started publishing. And I must admit I love what I’ve read so far.

I’ve heard that you have to work out an arc before starting a series otherwise you’ll get stuck. Is this true? What are your thoughts on writing a book series? And can you give us readers some tips on how to plan a series?

DONNA: In general terms, yes. Most of the world building takes place in book one, but the writer has to have an idea of where to take it in the next stories. The biggest advice I can give on a series is to keep it simple. Romance is a unique genre. It’s important to stay focused on your love interest. It’s great to have secondary characters, but remember, romance readers are in it for the hero and heroine. There is a temptation to start building subplots around the supporting cast, but this can soon become too muddled. Save their stories for the next book. I can’t tell you how many times I had to tell Bruce and Paul to get out of my head when I was writing The Dangerous Ones :)

JOHANNA: Mmmmm can’t wait to hear more about them.

Who designed your book covers? Tell us about the covers and how they came about?

DONNA: A perfect cover should reflect both the genre and the story. It’s a romance, so yes, chances are there is going to be an attractive man on the cover. Marketing 101. Since it’s a series, I wanted the covers to be similar to some degree, but different enough to let readers know the next book is not just a regurgitation of the first. Does that make sense? I will tell you, I searched through a few thousand stock photos until I found the one that screamed “that’s him” for each of my boys. My eldest daughter helps me put them together. She is far more artistic and tech savvy than I am.

JOHANNA: Does your book have a lesson? Moral? What is it and why did you decide on this?

DONNA: Yes. People are not always what they seem. Take Tom for example. To all appearances he is an upstanding citizen, running for mayor of all things, but he is not a good guy, and it doesn’t take long for the reader to see this. Mark, on the other hand, starts out as the perceived villain but as the reader gets to know him, they realize how sweet and caring he can be.

JOHANNA: What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult, adult)and why?

DONNA: Adult. I want my characters to have some life experiences behind them. Let’s be real, it’s unlikely you’re going to be running a company or high up in the police department at twenty-five. I also prefer romances with a little heat. I’m not into gratuitous sex scenes, but when a story contains a ton of sexual tension, I don’t want the bedroom door shut in my face either. I wouldn’t be comfortable writing teen romance for that reason.

JOHANNA: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just to see where an idea takes you?

DONNA: Darn it! I knew you were going to ask me this. I don’t have a conventional writing style. There are scenes in my head that I know I want to incorporate, which I guess could be called an outline of sorts. I build the story around these pivotal sections.

JOHANNA: Hahaha great minds think alike.

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

DONNA: Computer. I couldn’t imagine any other way. I change my mind way too much. My delete key is practically worn out.

JOHANNA: Do you write every day? What is your writing schedule like?

DONNA: I’d like to, but no. I write when I can.

JOHANNA: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

DONNA: I prefer to write in the morning.

JOHANNA: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day and why?

DONNA: No, I already have enough deadlines in my job. There is too much pressure in setting goals in what I consider a hobby. For now anyway.

JOHANNA: Are there any writing tips you would like to share with your readers?

DONNA: Respect your audience. Put the effort in. When I first started posting on Wattpad, I joined a book club here to network a little and get a feel for my surroundings. I found far too many books littered with typos, poor formatting, and bad grammar. If a reader mentioned it in the comments, the most common answer back from the author was, “I didn’t have time to look it over.” Well, hello, if you don’t have time to check your own work, you can’t expect others to have time to read it. (Excuse the rant. Just one of my pet peeves).

JOHANNA: As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Why?

DONNA: Mule. One stubborn ass ;)

JOHANNA: LOL.

What does literary success look like to you?

DONNA: I don’t expect to get rich off of my writing. I will be self-publishing this year at some point. It takes a long time to build a fan base, but I plan to offer my first book for free (as painful as that is) in order to hopefully draw readers into the rest of the series. I enjoy writing, love my characters, and will continue to create their stories as long as there are people interested in reading them.

JOHANNA: Awesome! Good luck with publishing your story. How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

DONNA: Another good question. When I look back at my first draft of The Dangerous Ones, I cringe. The reason for all the rewrites was because I was teaching myself how to write well. Book two, The Silent Ones, was a little easier. I don’t know if it was because I was more of an expert, I’d like to think so, or maybe it was the fact that the “trimming” from book one provided me with some of the material for the sequel. Either way, it seemed to ooze out of me, much faster than the first. Book three, The Wild Ones, is coming along at a pretty decent pace too.

JOHANNA: Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?

DONNA: If I can just figure out how to get my computer set up inside my kayak without worrying about it getting wet, I’ll be the talk of the town, that crazy lady typing, muttering, and laughing out there in the middle of the lake.

JOHANNA: Hahaha I just got a comical picture in my head❣

DONNA: This is cartoon me in my kayak.

Life's short, Paddle Hard!

JOHANNA: Donna, thank you so much for sharing with us and good luck on the rest of your series!

DONNA: Thank you, Johanna, for everything you do as an ambassador and for taking the time to read my work and conduct this interview. It’s been a pleasure!