posted by Christine WellsIt's my very great pleasure to welcome to the lair a gorgeous, talented friend of mine, Donna Grant, who writes fabulous sexy paranormals.
In Donna's Dark Sword series, Highland warriors with gods from hell bound inside them must fight Deidre, an evil Druid who is bent on freeing those gods and bending them to her will.
Now, I don't think I have to spell out the more obvious attractions of this series--the covers do a fine job of that! But I also love the internal struggle each warrior faces in his need to control the god inside him. It is a dark force, and a powerful one--unleashing the god makes the warrior god-like in his strength and abilities--but fail to control the god once he is unleashed and all hell will break loose. Literally!It's a brave woman who would love such a man, but the rewards... Ah, well, you'll have to read this compelling series and see for yourself!
The third in Donna's Dark Sword series, WICKED HIGHLANDER (out now!!) is about Quinn, the most fierce and reckless of the MacLeod brothers featured in the series so far. Quinn is the brother who lives closest to the edge with the god inside him, so I'm looking forward to watching him walk that line in WICKED HIGHLANDER.
And now, I'll hand the blog over to the creator of these amazing warriors! Welcome, Donna!
Maybe it’s because I write historical novels, but one of the most asked questions I get is “would you travel back in time and to where?”
It’s an easy answer for me. Yes, I would travel back in time, and I’d go to Medieval Scotland. It would take some getting used to, especially the lack of plumbing, toothbrushes, caffeine, and pasta.I have no doubt life would be more than difficult. After all, we’re used to remote control TV, information easily – and quickly – accessible through computers, not to mention cell phones and iPods. We’re the information age with instant gratification.
Our world is so drastically different than Medieval Scotland. In a few short hundred years, lives went from basic living off the land and seeing people daily to hectic days, buying food from grocery stores, and going months, if not years, without seeing or speaking to your neighbor, much less speaking to people you pass on the street or the mall.
Could we survive in medieval times? Putting aside the leap in physical hygiene over the ages, life was much simpler back then. If you had a problem with someone, you faced them instead of texting or emailing them. If you wanted to call off an affair, there was no hiding behind technology. You stood before them and said your piece.
There’s a debate in whether medieval life was more violent. At least in medieval times, you saw your opponent attack and you had time to retaliate or hide. Now, with bombs that can cross oceans, that silent, almost constant worry hangs over our head.Still, knowing all of this, I would love to see Medieval Scotland. I’ve always been drawn to Scotland. Maybe that’s why I centered my historical paranormal Dark Sword series there. The third book in the series, WICKED HIGHLANDER, released on the November 2nd, and I hope you pick up the book to be transported back to another time and place.
So, I want to know - Would you time travel if given the option?
I’ll be giving away a signed copy FORBIDDEN HIGHLANDER to a commenter. Happy Reading!
To find out more about me please visit my website . To read more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of the Warriors, take the quiz, download wallpaper, or search characters, please visit my Dark Sword page.
85 comments:
Hi, Donna! Book 3 already?! Yay! I've got the first two on my TBR :)
Oh, as for time travel, I would like to but only if I had the option to travel back, ideally at will. I'm fairly certain that I wouldn't last long under the more strenuous conditions in earlier times. Plus I'm spoiled by all the modern conveniences, and am not at all sure I'd appreciate having those taken away ;)
oh yes id time travle back to before technology tho not to far back taht there wanst the written word ur right about facing ppl head on and such ithink ppl nee dto do that now more often
Oh my....hunky highlanders, sexy brogue, gods from hell, evil female druid!!!!!!
You had me at 'highland warrior'!!!!
Gosh, whats not to love?
Would I travel back in time?? ABSOfrickenLUTELY =}
Donna your books sound devine ♥, thanks Christine for inviting her along.
Well done Fedora have fun with him
Donna these books sound fantastic you had me at Scottish Highlands and medival as well I too love the thought of travelling back in time to the Scottish Highlands (although I am with Fedora on being able to get back LOL.) Men in kilts big strong men who can through huge logs and fight with those hugw swords and rescue fiesty women yep you have me I need to get these books.
Thanks Christine for inviting Donna along today
Have Fun
Helen
If given the option to time travel, I'd be up for it if it was the Doctor issuing the invite to gallivant around through time and space in his TARDIS. :D
Hi Donna! A warm welcome to the lair. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's answers to your question about time travel.
In a heartbeat, I would time travel back to Regency England. I would love to see it all first hand and find the answers to some questions that we still aren't sure about!
Hey Fedora! You and that rooster. Admit it. There's something going on between you two!
Yes, I agree--I wouldn't want to be without modern conveniences (or servants!) I love Timeline, where the Gerard Butler character finds his true home in 14th century France (not sure if I have the date right, there, but I loved that story!)
SINn yes I thought that was a great point Donna made about facing people. Living in small communities, you couldn't get around that could you?
Hey, Cath! I admit, Donna's sexy warriors had me at hello, too! You'll love this series:)
Helen, lovely to see you! Where would you time travel to? I tell you there's somewhere I wouldn't want to T/T to and that's 1800s Australia. I'd undoubtedly end up a convict! Men in kilts, though. I could definitely get used to that!
LOL Pissenlit! But *which* Doctor? Or should I say Witch Doctor? Or, indeed, Doctor Who? I think the one they have now is about 12, so maybe a bit too young for me.
Aloha, Donna and Christine! I had the privilege of "hosting" Donna in Hawaii ... but she left the Highlanders behind in Scotland. I would like to have seen a caber match between the Scots and the surfers.
Yes, I would time travel to Regency England if I was guarenteed a ticket back. Although Medieval Scotland is romantic in a book, I think the living conditions would be too harsh for my 20th century sensibilities!
Hiya Kim! Or should I say aloha? Great to see you here.
Hmm, surfer vs Highlanders. I don't know... I think the Highlanders might have a leetle bit of an edge there. Although now you have me picturing men in kilts on surfboards for some reason! Yes, definitely I'd want a ticket back to modern times!
Hi Donna and welcome to the Lair.
Oh yes, I'd love to time travel - especially in that Back to the Future DeLorean! - both to the past and the future. Though I'm with the others on mod cons.
For obvious reasons, not too fussed about those Scots *g*, but bring on the Wild West!
I'd like to go back for a short exposure to Medieval times to see a joust and castles etc, Scotland yes! Greece during the times of Aristotle. The Roman Empire too. Egypt. The Old West!!
It would be great to see the historical places we grew up learning about. The primitive conditions YUCK! I definitely would want an express ticket back to the present!
Time travel in the future... YES! A la Star Wars... with the rover vehicles and interplanetary travels!! Exciting stuff!!
Well done on the chook today Fedora. Hope he's having a good day with you.
Hello Donna. Thank you for visiting.
Oh, I would definitely time travel. I'd travel to the future because I want to see what it's like.
Then I'd travel into the past to see what some of that was like too. I'd like to see Ancient Egypt, Tang Dynasty China and Regency England.
Now the question is, if I time travel backwards or forwards, do I want to time travel back as myself, or would I want to be someone else? If someone else, then who? The mind boggles. :-)
Congrats, Fedora!
Hi Donna! Welcome to the lair. Your books sound fascinating. Should they be read in order?
I'd time travel only if I knew with absolute certainty that I could return to "my" time whenever I chose. Like others have mentioned, I'm too used to my modern conveniences and though I'd love to see medieval Scotland, I'm not that crazy about dirt. ;-)
Christine, have I told you how awesome you are? Thank you for a truly wonderful introduction! ::smooches::
flchen1 - hi! Yep. Book three already. And book four in just five more months. :D
SiNn - Oh, good point!
Cath's Chatter - :) Thank you!
Helen - thank you! Hope you enjoy the books. :)
Pissenlit - lol I love the Doctor!!!
Christine - yes! I think it would wonderful to travel back and see the period we write in, even if it was just to "see" and not talk to anyone. To experience it first hand would be...stunning. :)
Kim - Hey!! Nice to see you here! lol Yeah, I imagine the living conditions would make me hold my nose, but still. Just to see it. :)
Anna - hi! nice to meet you. :)
Laurie - exactly! I'm the same way. Wouldn't it be neat to actually *see* who built the pyramids? How about if there really was a Troy? Oh, I could go on and on. :)
Daz - hi! I agree. I wouldn't want to travel alone. Now, taking one of my hunky Highlanders would definitely come in handy. I'd be bringing along Charon. or Phelan. Or Broc. :D
PJ - hi! lol. Yeah, I'm not that crazy about dirt either. :D My series can be read out of order, but to get a better feel for what's going on I recommend they be read in order.
Ooh, Donna. Your book sounds great! (I like kilted Highlanders.) I look forward to reading it.
I might like to travel back in time to Revolutionary America. I would like to know the excitement of beginning a new country, I think. I would definitely miss all modern conveniences, though. Gotta have my curling iron and such. :) Other time travels that would intrigue me would be Regency England and the Scottish Highlands in the 1500-1600s.
Welcome to the lair, Donna.
Like Christine, I would also travel back to Regency England (must be a Christine thing). I would love to see everything there. I would miss certain aspects of today, such as a flushing toilet, a good toothbrush and paste, and a few other essentials.
Good luck with your books, Donna! They sound fantastic.
Deb - hi! Nice to meet you. I'm with you. I'd visit lots of places and see historical events first hand. :)
Christie - thank you! I don't think I could give up my toothbrush. Or hot showers. :D
I would go to 19th century Finland at least. As long as long as I could come back whenever I wanted, of course.
Here's the latest development on Suzanne McMinn's blog:
http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/five-million-dollar-dave/#comments
It looks like she has to sue these thieves. I wonder how many readers Countryside Publications has lost because of this over the past couple of days.
http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/stolen/
http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/appears-appears/
http://chickensintheroad.com/living/open-letter-to-dave-belanger/
Oh wait! Here's the latest development: http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/
Oh boy, Donna! Book 4, too?! Yippee! How many do you have in mind? Do you have an "end" in mind, or are you just letting the muse lead you? ;)
And Daz, the GR seems to be hiding out in the basement; the kids are off from school today and some friends are over... I wish he'd check the corners for pests for me while he's down there!
Hi Donna. I love Highlanders. Your series sounds amazing. I love the covers.
I think I would like to time travel to the past but not to the future.
Minna - hi! Thanks for stopping by
Fedora - I just agreed to write books 7-10 for the series. There is an end in mind, with a potential spin off series for a couple of the Warriors. :)
Crystal - Hi and thank you! Oh, I've no interest in traveling to the future either. Scary stuff, that.
I love me some highlanders any old time. :)
But *which* Doctor?
Ha! I did think about mentioning which ones. I'd say yes right off the bat to the 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th and 11th incarnations and would have to think about it for all the others. Oh and there have only been 11 so far. :D
If we went and visited somewhere/some time where there were some sexy Highland warriors, I'd probably have to get the Doctor to stand next to them otherwise I'm not sure how I would split my attention...LOL!
Gotta love Highlanders, past, present or future. If given the option I would be tempted if I knew I could get back.
Looks like I will have yet another auto buy author to add to my list and the tbr just keeps growing and growing!
Congrats, Fedora! Nice to have the GR stateside for a change!
Wow, Donna, these books sound FABULOUS! Can't wait to get my hands on them, the books that is, well maybe the Highlanders, well DEFINITELY those Highlanders!
Looks like we need to see if we can get a group rate time travel back to the Regency era! I would love to dance at Almacks and attend a house party and the opera as a Regency miss. Actually I think I'd do better as a Regency widow. Think of all the mischief I could get into with those handsome young Regency bucks!
I think my favorite part would be seeing all of those lovely estates and homes in their glory days. Can you imagine Chatsworth at its zenith?
Another time period I wouldn't mind visiting is the Elizabethan era. I would love to meet Queen Elizabeth I and of course there is a stately home I would love to see in its original form - Audley End. It was once the largest private home in England and rivaled all royal palaces at one time. My only fear would be that I would get lost in the house and not make it back to the time portal in time!
Barbara - hey! And I *so* agree. :)
Pissenlit - the new Doctor is ok. I'd rather have David Tennet back, however.
Dianna - :) I hope you do give my books a try.
Louisa - nice to meet you! and thank you. :) Oh, I would like to see all those lovely homes in their brilliance!
Oh YAY!!! That is WONDERFUL news! *grin* I LOVE a series, and a long one is even better!
I am in total agreement with you - medieval Scotland. But I want it to be just like in a romance novel:) You have the most fantastic covers!
Fedora, congrats on the bird!
Donna, welcome! The cover fairy obviously loves you, and the books sound great.
Yes, I would time travel. Like you, though, I would take along certain modern conveniences.
Pissenlit, I think the comfort of the Tardis is definitely the way to go.
Christine wrote: I wouldn't want to T/T to and that's 1800s Australia. I'd undoubtedly end up a convict!
LOL! I don't think going back as someone in a bad situation would be much fun.
Fedora - good to know you like long series. :)
Catslady - aw, thank you! :D
Nancy - thank you! I've been pretty fortunate in my covers.
Hey Donna.....your books sounded so great I now have them on order....
Welcome to the Lair, Donna!
And BIG THANX to Mme for inviting you to join us. Those yummy covers are enough to make me run out and buy your books! Men in kilts... What's NOT to LURVE?!?!
I'll be joining Louisa in the Elizabethan time period. I MUST see Shakespeare perform in one of his own plays! But I'm quite sure hygienic issues would have me running for the time portal in a day or two. :-P
AC
Hi VA! Well, you Sassenachs would not be all that welcomed by the Scots, would you?LOL Yes, I think I'd prefer the DeLorean to the TARDIS, myself!
Ahhh, Laurie, a woman after my own heart. Why didn't I think of ancient times? How fascinating that would be!
Oh, and to the future--I don't know about that. Maybe I don't really want to know what this world is going to come to!
Daz, I would definitely go to Ancient Egypt and Tang Dynasty China and Mogul India, too!
Hmm. Interesting question about 'who' you'd be. I think I'd like to be myself inside but outwardly someone who isn't a servant or a peasant or a slave or someone in danger. That narrows it down considerably, doesn't it?
Hi PJ! Lovely to see you here.
Yes, I agree you'd need an escape valve if you were time traveling. Amazing how it's always the case that people get stuck in different dimensions in fiction and movies, isn't it? Time travel is so notoriously unreliable!
Hey, Donna! It's so great to see you here. Isn't it amazing to think of all the questions we could answer if we could travel back in time? Oh, and to the future--climate change, anyone?
Christie, it must indeed be something about the name:) Maybe you could take a kit back with you of essentials.
Some of the great houses had water closets, so clearly, you were destined to be a duchess!
Minna, how fascinating--I wonder what 19th century Finland was like.
Fedora, I'm excited about this series, too! I happen to know a bit about what's in the future for Donna's warriors but keeping my mouth zipped on that one!
The rooster is in the basement? Are you sure he's not down there doing some kind of time travel experiment while your back is turned? Checking for pests is a little mundane for our Golden One!
Crystal, I think I'm with you on not traveling to the future. I don't know if it's good for us to know what lies ahead.
Hey, Barbara! Great to see you here today:)
OMG have there been 11 incarnations of the Doc, Pissenlit? Only 11??
Snork! You really do have it bad for Doctor Who don't you? I think I'd choose the Highlanders every time. But then I seem to be as shallow as a puddle:)
Hi Dianna! Yay, you won't regret adding Donna to your auto buy list!
I can identify--My TBR pile is getting out of control. More bookcases, please!
Ooh, Louisa, love the idea of traveling as a Regency widow! And yes to seeing Chatsworth and other great houses in their zenith! I have read so much about Elizabeth I, you're right, it would be fascinating to get a glimpse at her court. I'd *love* to get the skinny on whether she really was a virgin all those years! Does that sound off?
Catslady--a very insightful comment! I think it would be so much fun to go into a particular author's world!
Nancy, the problem is that I don't thing there *was* a great person to come back as in 1800s Australia. Maybe as an Aboriginal who lived far beyond the reach of the white man? I don't know. It seems like you'd steel feel a sense of impending doom:(
Cath, I think you'll enjoy Donna's series!
Hi Aunty Cindy! I think we should add some Highlanders to the Bandit pantheon, don't you? I wonder how they'll get on with Sven?
OMG, YES!!! Seeing Shakespeare perfom his own play. That would be utterly awesome!
Cath - thank you so much! I do hope you'll let me know if you enjoy them. :)
Aunty Cindy - thank you! Its so great to be here. :)
lol. Yes, Christine does know what's upcoming in the series, Fedora. I don't think its anything anyone will suspect, that's for sure.
And speaking of surprises, I found out last night that the photo shoot for the cover of book 5, SHADOW HIGHLANDER (Nov 2011) is being done *today*!!!! Wish I could be there to see it. :) Useful time travel anyone?
lol
Would you time travel if given the option? Yes, but probably only to the future. I'm fascinated to know where we'll be in 100 years. Though I love the past, it scares me to death. The chances of surviving a trip to Medieval Scotland seem pretty slim, so I don't think I'd dare.
Barbara - you're much braver than I going into the future. :)
Hi Donna,
I enjoy time travel books! I'll have to find yours.
I would time travel, but only if I was guaranteed a ride home!
Hey Donna, welcome to the Lair! And you bring such nice eye candy in your covers!!
If I could be transported back in time? I think I'd love to live in Colonial America. Even with the threat of Indian attack and wars with the French and then the British, the idea of carvingalife out of the wilderness appeals to me.
Chey - hi! Good to meet you. :)
Suzanne - thanks! Talk about living dangerously. lol
Barbara, I agree--that's intrepid!
Suz--wow, are you a beggar for punishment? I have *no* doubt that with all your skills you would survive those conditions and flourish!
Oh, and I thought of another time I'd like to visit--1920s England (in the body of one of those gorgeous, stick thin flappers, of course!)
Hi, Donna! I have "Dangerous Highlander" staring at me from my TBR pile (of course, I prefer to think that I have Paul Marron staring at me...).
If I could time travel, I would, but I'd like to see the future, if there is one, that is. I want to know what technology is like in a hundred or more years and whether we have killed ourselves by then. Plus, I like running hot and cold water too much to go back in the past.
A belated welcome to the Lair, Donna! Your covers are so gorgeous! Congratulations on the series. Can't wait to start on it!
Time travel. Um, no. Unless it's to someplace warm. I've been shivering all day, LOL! Even though I love Scotland and am fascinated by the idea of visiting it in medieval times (and again, can't wait to read your books to experience that!), I think I would prefer to do it through the pages of a book, right here in my own time. :-)
Christine, thanks for bringing Donna and her fabulous Highlanders to the Lair today!!
Fedora, hope you had fun with the Feathered One!
Sheree, LOL, do you really want to know if we've killed ourselves by then?
Kate, thanks for dropping in, Ms. New York Times Bestseller! Now, do tell me--does that ever get old? You must be quite accustomed to it by now:)
Hope it warms up for you over there. Of course, you can always visit Fo and me in Oz!
Just wanted to say I have to go now (to a dreaded physio appointment for my horrible neck problems!) so I'd like to thank Donna for being such a lovely guest and thank all of you for making Donna welcome. Cheerio! Will announce the lucky winner in the next day or so.
Sheree - hi! lol. Yes, I like my plumbing as well. I think that would be difficult to let go of.
Kate - thank you so much! Hope you enjoy the books. :)
Thanks Christine and everyone. I've had a delightful time today. Thanks for chatting with me.
xoxo,
D
I haven't read a time travel lately but this series looks great!
I think time travel would be fun except that I would probably land right into the middle of traffic or something.. I am kind of accident prone ;)
Hi, Joy! Thank you. My series isn't time travel, but it does have a lot of paranormal mixed in with medieval Scotland. :D Still hope it manages to interest you.
I would like to time travel but I wouldn't like to be stuck there. I guess I like the mod cons too much! :)
Christine, that's always the risk of going forward into the future, especially if one reads too many post-apocalyptic novels.
Sara - hi! I think most of us would want to be sure to have a way back. :)
Hi, Donna,
I'm with Fedora, time travel only
if I can be assured a return ticket. Medieval Scotland would be a "great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." I'm so spoiled by my modern conveniences, I absolutely
couldn't live without any of them!
Thanks for visiting with us!
Pat Cochran
I would like to travel back in time if I could "hover above" the different places to observe without having to live in the horrible conditions.
I would definitely time travel if I could. TimeLine by Michael Crichton is one of my all time favorite books!
I would time travel in a heartbeat!! I'd love to go back and experience the stuff that I only get to read about.
Hi Donna I feel like I'm chasing you LOL.
The whole world has a Fascination with Scotland from the beginning of time,
On a personal note I know Its where my soul belongs.
A man Called Barry Dunford Said "The world’s fascination and love affair with Scotland and things Scottish goes very deep, mainly because Scotland itself exudes a mystique that is difficult to penetrate. The one thing that is almost universal about the world’s perception of Scotland is that it represents the unquenchable thirst of humanity for personal freedom, and for an experience of transcendent passion that resides in the soul.
I could not have said it better myself.
I do know When I travel Home to visit It's like a new breath has invaded my lungs my heart beats faster & my soul wants to soar I am at peace....
Have a wonderful day.
Ann
Post a Comment