Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Interview with Donna Del Oro

Since this blog is about 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' aspects of the writing life, I decided to start something new: Author Interviews! Maybe some of you would actually like to read about somebody else besides moi! DUH! What a concept!

Anyway, my first victim -- er, um, participant is my good friend and chaptermate, Donna Del Oro, who has published two humorous contemporary romances. BIG THANX Donna for volunteering to answer a few questions! (and if you want to learn more about Donna, just click on the title of this post to go to her website.)

Please tell us about your newest release Hasta La Vista, Baby and how you came up with the idea for the book.

After my sister's divorce, I began thinking about divorce and why women choose certain men as their spouses over other, possibly more worthy, men. This became the premise of HASTA LA VISTA, BABY.

Sonya, an art teacher and talented muralist, is informed by her handsome but lying and cheating husband that he wants a divorce so that he can marry his pregnant (and younger) girlfriend. Sonya goes berserk and chases him around the pool with a BBQ fork. His family separates them, Earl leaves and Sonya collapses with an emotional meltdown. Later, much later, when the fog in her mind lifts, she begins to analyze herself and her choice of men. An artist, she's always turned a blind eye to most things practical and introspective. An obsession with beauty, including gorgeous men, has been her detriment in life. It takes a while and the steadfast friendship of her soon-to-be-ex's younger brother, Scott, before Sonya wakes up and wises up. For her, self-awareness is a painful process but a necessary journey. I was thinking of my sister as I concluded the story.

How long have you been writing? And what inspired you to start writing?

Like most authors, I've been writing since childhood, but I began this serious journey to authorship when I retired from 34 years of high school teaching. I'm afraid writing's a need and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to stop. I love good stories and interesting characters, whether in books, movie-celluloid or TV.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about writing?

I love playing God and getting to know my characters and then moving them around in my story like pieces on a chessboard. Most of the time, however, they end up with a life of their own and moving themselves ...and me! I dislike rejections, naturally, and the terrible uncertainty that your last novel might indeed be the last one.

What is next on the horizon for Donna Del Oro?

I'm currently revising an FBI mystery novel, A BODYGUARD OF LIES, and a psychic thriller with a Greek-American hunk who's obsessed with a beautiful psychic and her past. One's with one agent and the other's with another agent. A small publisher wanted to buy the thriller but I turned down the offer. Frankly, I'm holding out for a NY publisher.

Floricanto Press wants me to write a sequel to my first novel, OPERATION FAMILIA, so I might revisit the Hispanic world of Rick Ramos, Dina Salazar and Lisa Luna before long. Being half Hispanic, it's always fun to return to my roots and find humor and satire in this subculture.

You are one busy lady, Donna! Thanks so much for being my first author interviewee and best of luck with all your writing endeavors!

If anyone has more questions for Donna, please ask away as she will be dropping by over the next few days.

9 comments:

Helen said...

Hi Donna and thanks Cindy for inviting Donna along to day I always love hearing about new to me authors. The books sounds great I love it when a heroine needs to "find" herself and the adventure along the way of finding herself.
I will be looking around for the book Donna

Have Fun
Helen

jo robertson said...

Hi, Cindy and Donna! Great interview.

I love the premise of your book, Donna. Divorce and/or separation must be very difficult and take courage to get back on the path again. What a nice homage to your sister, too!

jo robertson said...

Can you tell us about your first release, Donna? And maybe a little about Floricanto Press?

Donna Wierzbowski said...

Thanks, Helen and Jo, for commenting! To answer Jo's questions, Operation Familia concerns teacher Dina Salazar's adventures as she attempts to find true love AND save her Mexican cousins from a vicious drug cartel in Juarez. I used several members of my family as characters in this book (and I've been teased by them ever since!). My uncle was disappointed to hear he was NOT the model for the drug lord ...and I never told who was the Jesus character. The grandmother character is a blend of my own Hispanic grandmother and my mother. I don't think Mom ever figured that out. If you read the book, you'll understand why. Some of my funniest/most poignant scenes are with her, the "abuela". Dina is a younger me, I must admit.
Floricanto Press is a medium-sized publisher headquartered in Mountain View, CA. They publish non-fiction and fiction alike and not just Hispanic authors and themes.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Thanx for dropping by, Helen!

I'm pretty sure Donna's books are available on Amazon. I've read both of them and they are lots of fun!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Jo-Mama!

Thanx for popping by this morning!

I can tell you from personal experience that divorce is VERY UGLY! But we do get through it, and usually for the better. ;-)

AC

Donna Wierzbowski said...

I forgot to mention that I'll be booksigning at BarnesandNoble in Citrus Heights on Saturday, Feb. 6, 11-3. Then at Borders in Roseville on Saturday, Feb. 13th, 1-4. Hope some of you can drop by and say hello! Maybe win a free book!
--Donna

Unknown said...

Cheers, Donna!

What a great way to keep us up-to-date on your writing successes. Congratulations on your successes and plenty of "atta-girls" to Aunty Cindy for recognizing your gift and wit.

Janie K

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Janie!

Thanks for popping by. Appreciate your comment.

AC