Interview with Donna Marie Lanheady and Giveaway of Where Secrets Lie (Closed)

Do you ever keep secrets from your loved ones? Donna Marie Lanheady’s novel, Where Secrets Lie, is all about the secrets that a three women keep. Lanheady provides details about her book and about her in the interview below.

She has also generously provided a copy of her book to giveaway. If you are a fan contemporary fiction with a little bit of mystery, you won’t want to miss out on the giveaway.

Bio

Donna Marie Lanheady majored in Creative Writing in college, but life and responsibilities pulled her in a different direction, and she became a Chartered Financial Consultant. Over the years, her desire to write never waned, and eventually writing became a priority in her life. The end result is her first novel, WHERE SECRETS LIE.

Learn More about Donna on:

• Her Blog
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Facebook
• Twitter

Interview

Can you tell us a little more about Where Secrets Lie? What was your inspiration for this story about family secrets?

Secrets intrigue me! Not necessarily the secrets themselves but their dynamics, the reasoning behind them, and the havoc they inevitably cause in peoples lives.

When I first began to develop the story, I started with one woman and her secret. As I delved into her character, other characters emerged who were impacted by her secret. From there the interplay of a family became the focus of the novel.

The main characters in your book are Sara, Katie, and Lee. Please tell us more about their characters. Among the three, do you have any favorites?

Sara’s secret was the seed that started it all. Why would a woman do what she did? How would she handle the consequences? Would people find her choices understandable or deplorable? The questions go on and on for me! I was completely enthralled by her dilemma.

In my mind, Lee is the central character in the novel because she is the central character in this family. The story is all about her husbands, her children, her choices. The events in her life and the decisions she makes have a ripple effect on her family.

Katie is by far my favorite! Even I can’t put my finger on exactly why. There’s just something about her I really like. She makes me smile, and I would love to be able to hang out with her, chat over a drink, go for a hike. I really like that girl!

When writing Where Secrets Lie, did you find yourself pulling from real life experiences?

People often ask if the novel is autobiographical. My answer is an emphatic NO! I am way too private to write anything that’s true. That being said, I do abide by the rule to write what you know.

Although I live on the east coast now, I was born in a suburb of Denver, moved near Boulder as a teenager, and lived in the Boulder area for much of my adult life. Growing up I went to camps every summer. I love Boulder creek! I’ve always been an avid reader. I am scared to death of snakes! You see where I’m going, right? There are bits and pieces of me strewn throughout the novel without any of it actually being about me.

On the emotional side, I often tap into my own emotions to help me relate to what the character is feeling. For instance, I know how it feels to fall in love, to be terrified to tell my mother something, to be told my husband has passed away. Although my characters don’t feel the exact same way, at its core the emotion is similar enough to help me imagine their feelings and in that way, bring them to life.

Are there any authors and/or books that inspired you to become an author?

The list is way too long! I fell in love with books at a very young age. All those years and all those books inspired me to write. The journeys the books took me on captivated me. Their ability to make something imaginary seem real is what spoke to me, got into my blood, and wouldn’t let me rest. I had to write!

Do you have any funny habits, quirks, or pet peeves related to writing or organizing your writing?

Of course not! Perhaps those close to me would disagree though, so let’s not ask them. I prefer to imagine I’m not eccentric.

Is there anything else you want to say to readers and fans?

It is wonderful to hear from readers and listen to their perspectives on my novel. It fascinates me how people can look at the same thing and see it in so many different ways. It’s a special thrill to learn that my characters resonate with readers and make them laugh and cry. So if anyone ever wants to tell me what they think or just wants learn more about me, find me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Also, for those of you who enjoy the characters in WHERE SECRETS LIE, my next novel, WHOEVER YOU ARE, is a stand alone story, but it features the main characters from WHERE SECRETS LIE and provides insights into how their lives progress.
I’m not sure yet when it will be completed. I’m writing as fast as I can!

Giveaway

The Prize

2 winners will receive a paperback copy or Kindle copy of Where Secrets Lie by Donna Marie Lanheady.

The Rules

• Contest is open to US residents only and ends February 8th.
• Fill out the form below to enter.
• In the a comment, please indicate which book type is your prefer or if both work.
• Must 13 or older to enter.
• One entry form per person.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Winner must respond within 48 hours.

The Winners

TBA