Introducing Donna Winters, New York State historical writer

Kathy: Welcome, Donna. We are so happy to have you here this week, and that you have agreed to share a bit about yourself and your writing.

Donna: Thanks for inviting me! I’m honored to be your guest!

Q: First of all—cake, cookies, brownies, or tofu (gack!) ?

What a question! I’d have to say Krispie Treats! My husband has become sensitive to wheat so we make Krispie Treats with a variety of marshmallow flavors and sprinkle toppings.  They were always my favorite dessert from childhood and they’re quick to make, so I don’t feel like I’m missing a thing by sticking with the Krispies for most of our desserts.

Q: When did the writing bug first hit you?

Back in 1982. In the early 1980s, news reports came out on TV that the romance genre was exploding and even housewives untrained as writers were getting published. I had a full time job as a technical proofreader, and was formally trained in music, but I was interested in finding out about this fad. Even though I had read very little fiction, I sent for three free Harlequin romances offered for proofs of purchase from Hefty trash bags. They sent out three reprints from the 1950s, British stories. After reading them I wanted to try writing contemporary romances, so I bought myself a new typewriter (yes, my career predates the age when personal computers were common).  By the end of that year, I bought an IBM personal computer. By 1984 I had written three romances, none of which ever became published. My fourth story, submitted as three chapters and a synopsis to Thomas Nelson for what was then their Promise romance line, became my first published writing, releasing on Valentine’s Day in 1985.

Q: How does New York play into your writing?

That first romance for Thomas Nelson was set in a fictional version of my hometown of Brockport, New York, twenty miles west of Rochester. After that, I wrote fifteen historical romances set in Michigan, where I have lived since getting married in 1971. Then, in 2011, Bluebird of Brockport, A Novel of the Erie Canal was released, historical fiction set in Brockport and on the Erie Canal in 1830. Right now, New York stories are the bookends of my career, but my WIP is contemporary women’s fiction set in the Midwest.

Q: If you could sit down and interview any person, fictitious or real from any time, who would that be and what is the first question you would ask?

I’m not sure about the sitting down part. I would ask Jesus if I could walk in his dust.

Q: Who have been your mentors, and how did they help you most?

Every editor I have ever had has been a mentor in some way, and a writer friend who passed away in 1993, Hilda Stahl, was also a very important mentor. My editors taught me how to improve my work, and Hilda, an inveterate story spinner, helped me learn to plot. I really felt the loss when she suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and soon after, went to be with the Lord. She was only in her early fifties when that happened, but she already had over 100 Christian fiction titles published and/or under contract. I miss her still.

Q:  What do you hope your readers will take away from your stories?

I hope readers will grasp the zeitgeist (spirit) of the times in which my stories were set.

Q: Do you have a question you would like our blog readers to answer?

If you have been to the State of New York, what is your favorite place? If you have not been to New York State, where in the state would you like to visit if given an all-expense-paid trip?

Thanks for letting me visit! This was fun!

Donna Winters Bio

Donna adopted Michigan as her home state in 1971 when she moved from a small town outside of Rochester, New York. She began penning novels in 1982 while working full time for an electronics firm in Grand Rapids.

She resigned from her job in 1984 following a contract offer for her first book. Since then, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Zondervan Publishing House, Guideposts, and Bigwater Publishing have published her novels. Her husband, Fred, a former American History teacher, shares her enthusiasm for history. Together, they visit historical sites, restored villages, museums, and lake ports, purchasing books and reference materials for use in Donna’s research.

Donna has written fifteen historical romances for her Great Lakes Romances® series. Recently, she turned her attention to her hometown on the Erie Canal and produced an historical novel, Bluebird of Brockport, A Novel of the Erie Canal, which released as a paperback in June 2012, and has now been offered in Kindle format.

Connect with Donna Winters at her blog where her links are located:

http://greatlakesromances.blogspot.com/

Here’s a little about Bluebird of Brockport, A Novel of the Erie Canal

Dreams of floating on the Erie Canal have flowed through Lucina Willcox’s mind since childhood. Yet once her family has purchased their boat and begins their journey, they meet with one challenge after another. An encounter with a towpath rattlesnake threatens her brother’s life. A thief attempts to break in and steal precious cargo. Heavy rain causes a breach and drains the canal of water. Lucina comforts herself with thoughts of Ezra Lockwood, her handsome childhood friend, and discovers a longing to be with him that she just can’t ignore. Can she have a future with Ezra and still hold onto her canalling dream?

Ezra Lockwood’s one goal in life is to build and captain his own canal boat, but two years into the construction of his freight hauler, funds run short. With his goal temporarily stalled, and Lucina Willcox back in his life, his priorities begin to change. Can he have both his dreams — his own boat, and Lucina as his bride?

 Thanks again Donna for being with us this week and for sharing about yourself and your writing. I loved the tidbit about the hefty bags and Harlequin books! It goes to show that each one of us has a unique path that the Lord leads us in His plans and purposes. Wishing you all the best as your write for him.

Readers, be sure to leave an answer to Donna's question in the comments section below. One lucky commenter will win a copy of her book, Bluebird of Brockport, to be drawn by random.org and announced Friday Jan 25th at 7 PM. You may increase your odds of winning by following this blog or www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com and by sharing this post on facebook or twitter.