Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she worked as a legal secretary in the Court of Common Pleas. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words. Mask of the Betrayer is her first suspense. Echo of a Raven is a CTRR award and The Claddagh Ring is a CAPA nominee. To read about Sharon and sign up for her newsletter, visit her website:
Q: What compelled you to write your first book?
Ten years ago, I lost my vision. Totally devastated after being an artist and legal secretary, I felt the walls closing in on me. I began listening to audio books and for hours, lost myself in romantic suspense novels and thrillers. Needing to channel my own creative muse, I learned how to use a computer with adaptive software, converting text to synthesized speech. Then I enrolled in creative writing classes, joined writing groups and attended writing conferences to craft my new art. Echo of a Raven is a narrative non-fiction about my struggles with diabetic retinopathy and how I found light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Q: Tell us briefly about your book.
When the whispers in the night, the whispers of her lover, are the whispers of a killer, will Margot escape before she becomes the next victim?
Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on the corpse. But when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved ten years ago–all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.
Mask of the Betrayer is book one in the sequel series. It’s a psychological thriller and illustrates the fragility of the mind. Michael DeVeccio is a cold-blooded sociopath who kills with no remorse. He’s been getting away with murder for years and has been trained by his uncle to kill the betrayer with a Ninja death star and cover the corpse with a skull mask. But when Michael begins killing off the members of his own family one by one, who will stop him? What makes him do such morbid things? Dark demons lurk behind his handsome façade. If you love suspense and enjoy a book with twists and turns that will chill you to the bone, I think you will like my book.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
The sequel to Mask of the Betrayer. It’s entitled Vendetta and the drama continues!
Michael DeVeccio is the most complex character I have created to date. He is a sociopath and is totally devoid of all emotions. He uses people for his own gain, zeroing in on their Achilles heel so he can use it to his advantage and then throw them away without a second’s glance. He fancies himself king of the world and rules his world with an iron fist. He has the right to decide who will live and who will die. What would cause someone who seemingly has it all to kill for the thrill of it?
The mind has always fascinated me. It can bend. It can snap. it can break. To better understand the psyche of the mind, I took psychology classes and learned so much about mind control. Brainwashing is a very calculated and cunning method of programming, and this book gives a prolific account of one man’s downfall. Michael was a sweet and loving child until he turned twelve and his whole world as he knew it turned upside down. Michael DeVeccio would make a great case study. I just hope I never meet the madman!
Q: The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?
I always put a bit of myself into my characters, or model them on someone I know. This makes characters real and gives them a personality that readers can connect with. For instance, Margot Montgomery, the heroine of Mask of the Betrayer, drinks the same hazelnut coffee that I do, has the same moral values and has a passion for the arts and writing. Jazz music moves her and crawls beneath her skin the way it does me. I just hope that I never fall for a demented and twisted sociopath like Michael DeVeccio. The hot looking detective with the don’t mess with me attitude, Diego Santiago, well now, that’s a different story!
Q: What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?
Lisa Jackson, running a close second with Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Tami Hoag and James Patterson. I love suspense and romantic suspense. Oh, and did I mention J.D. Robb and RORK???!!! Wink.
Q: When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?
I hope they say that Sharon Ann Donovan made a difference. I write stories of inspiration to inspire hope in readers. When I’m feeling shall we say less than inspirational, I just run out and murder someone in the wonderful world of suspense. I want to be remembered as an author who painted pictures with words.
Q: Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?
I will be on virtual book tour with Pump it up Books for the month of August promoting my thriller Mask of the Betrayer.
I am doing a book signing on August 19th at Northland Library, Pittsburgh, PA at 7:00
Use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know. Include information on where to find your books, any blogs you may have, or how a reader can learn more about you and writing.
The best place to keep up with me is my website: www.sharonadonovan.com
Here you can read book reviews, news, enter contests and get release dates. You can also sign up for my monthly newsletter.
Visit my blog where my sexy cyber butler Oliver, who, incidentally, is the romantic hero in my soon to be released suspense book Charade of Hearts, part of the Jewel of the Night series by Wild Rose Press
http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com
Or write to me. I love to hear from readers! sharonad@comcast.net
Mask of the Betrayer can be purchased at online book stores or through the publisher, Whimsical Publications
http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html
To see a book video by Triad Productions, visit my website: www.sharonadonovan.com
8:36 am on August 25th, 2010 1
Thank you so much on Sharon’s behalf, for hosting her on her tour. Unfortunately she is not able to thank yu herself, as she has been hospitalized since 11th August, having undergone major surgery. I’m pleased to say she is progressing well, although it may be some time before she’s back with us.
I’m in touch with her sister. and posting updates on her progress as I get them on her blog http://www.sharondonovan.blogspot.com
I am honored to call Sharon a dear friend, although we’ve never met in person.She is an inspiration with her courage and determination thorugh everything that’s happened to her, and The Mask Of The Betrayer’ is one of the best suspense novels I have ever read.
1:47 am on December 31st, 2010 2
Dearest Lyn, my sweet friend, thank you so much for taking care of things during my absence and for your kind words about Mask. Even though we’ve never met in person, I feel our soul sister connection across the pond. Thank you for being my friend.