When your sixth sense speaks, believe it.
Having survived a recent tragedy, and now
tasked with the duty of planning her wedding, everyone attributes Jenna's
disturbing dreams to stress. Even her fiancé does his best to convince her she
is perfectly safe.
But someone wants revenge and Jenna is the target
of that obsession. Her only hope for survival is if her fiancé, Detective Cole
Rainwater, can root out who wants her dead before time runs out.
Good
morning, Jenna. Thanks for taking time away from your wedding, parenting your
terrific daughter, and your new business to talk with us. Let’s start with
where you’re from. Farmersville Texas.
Tell
us a bit about Book 2 of the Spirit Walker Series, Buried Alive – The title says a lot, let me tell you. I end up 6 feet
under the ground, and it all starts with a terrifying vision I have of being buried
alive just as me and my fiancé, Cole Rainwater, are finally planning our
wedding, after all we’d gone through in book 1, Killing Dreams. But this
time the clock is literally ticking off the minutes of my life, and if Cole can’t
find out where I’m buried before my time is up, I’ll suffocate in a pine box,
and no one will ever discover the whereabouts of my lifeless body.
What
did you think the first time you saw Cole? The word annoying fits the bill. We were fifteen years old, and he
thought he was so cool with the way he purposely nudged me from behind while I
stood in the concession stand line at the rodeo.
Typical adolescent male ploy. What was your second thought? He really wanted my phone number, and he followed me around until I finally gave in to him. He was either a psycho stalker, or more persistent than the usual guy. Honestly, I sorta knew he was the latter. And that was okay with me. Any boy who vies that hard for my attention was worth at least one date.
Did
you feel it was love at first sight? The
sparks didn’t fly until our first date. I remember we were at a teenage
get-together, sitting on the tailgate of his truck, staring at a moonlit, star
speckled sky. He leaned in to kiss me, and when he did, I was smitten.
What
do you like most about Cole? He is so
protective of me. Sometimes it feels like a bit much. But I know I’m always
safe with him. And I love the way he always knows how I’m feeling, and just what
to do to lift my spirits. He’s got such a big heart and I’ve never felt so loved
by anyone as much as I am by him.
How
would you describe him? Handsome as a
devil and smart. He’s a homicide detective, and I can tell you, there’s not
much that gets past him. He’s a great dad too. I’m amazed at how good he is with
our daughter Emily, especially since he’d only recently discovered he was her
father. Family is everything to him. And he would lay down his life for me and
Emily without a second thought. I swear that man can read my mind. I don’t know
how he does it.
How
would Cole describe you? I’d bet he
would say I’m fiercely independent, and too headstrong for my own good.
What
made you choose business consulting as a career? I come from a background of running my own company. When
it sold, I decided to help others do the same. Let’s just say, it’s something I
have a knack for, and I thoroughly enjoy doing it.
What
is your biggest fear? Losing Cole
again, now that I finally found him after being away from him for ten years.
Somewhere, deep inside, I have this fear that he will decide living with a psychic
day in and day out is just too much. Life is different with someone like me.
And although I want more than anything for him to accept what I am, sometimes I
feel as if it lays a heavy burden at his feet. Cole is the strongest man I’ve
ever met. But there is that thought in the back of my mind that one day, perhaps,
contending with my clairvoyant abilities will ultimately push him away.
How
do you relax? My office is my
fortress. For me, there’s nothing more satisfying than the peace and quiet that
awaits me when I step through the door. Yes, it’s work, but I’m totally in my
element there. And then, there’s my time alone with Cole, just the two of us,
curled up on the couch watching TV together. That’s when I’m at my most comfortable.
Who
is your favorite fictional character? Believe
it or not, Nicolas Cage…and not only because he’s a badass. Well, he is. But
his role in the movie, Next, reminds me so much of myself. He can see events
minutes before they occur, and he struggles with his ability. Is it a curse or
a blessing? I constantly ask myself the same question.
What
is the best piece of advice you ever received? If doing something requires a mountain of convincing,
maybe doing it isn’t the right course of action.
Thanks for
taking time out for us, Jenna. Now we’d like to chat with Donnette.
What
movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Good question. They say all writers are shaped by
other writes in some way. This is true. John Grisham would be my first pick. I
love the way he gets to the point. And I admire his technique for drawing the
reader into his stories. My second pick is Dean Koontz, who is like night and
day to Grisham. Koontz takes his time. His passion for words is obvious. But
this author knows how to build on his characters. Even the serial killers have
a colorful background with well displayed emotions. I don’t think any other
author can get you as involved in the inner thoughts of a madman like Koontz
can.
What
event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you
feel it impacted the novel? I have
lived in a small, country town in Texas for more than half my life. I raised my
kids in this small town. I know a lot about country living, and what life is
like growing up in rural America. This helped me to bring a rural feel to the
Spirit Walker Series. Cole is a smalltown detective, working for the local
police department. And Jenna is a country girl, raised up wearing cowboy boots
and attending Friday night football at the high school.
Tell
us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced
your decision to submit to them? I learned
about TWRP right after I’d received a contract from another publisher for my
second book, Cunja. After researching TWRP, I liked what I saw and heard from
other writers, and I decided when I got around to writing my third novel, I
would submit to them. I did, and here I am with my first ever series.
What
book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? My mother just visited for a few weeks. That woman can read a book a
day, no problem. She left me with a stack. First up is, The Earl’s Complete
Surrender, by Sophie Barnes. I haven’t completed it yet. But I’m working on
it. There’s something about reading and writing that doesn’t mix well for me. I
have a difficult time doing both at the same time. It’s the distraction that
gets me. It seems all I do is write anymore, so…it’s going to be awhile.
Last, what's up next and
when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m nearly finished with the 3rd book of
the Spirit Walker Series, The Stolen. This time our tenacious, little psychic,
Jenna Langley is up against a human trafficking ring who kidnap her. After what
happened to her in book 2, Buried Alive, her clairvoyant abilities have
altered, allowing her to see people who have died, but have not moved on. When
she begins to get frequent visits from a dead girl who just so happens to have
once been a captive of the people holding Jenna hostage, it soon becomes
apparent if she wishes to survive this latest horror, she will need to rely on
the guidance of this dead girl.
To learn more about Donnette Smith and the stories she creates, go to:
Website: https://www.donnettesmith.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordonnettesmith
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Donnettetxgirl
To purchase Buried Alive,
go to:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sJogv5
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/buried-alive-donnette-smith/1140834485?ean=9781509240821
What an interesting story! Best on the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
ReplyDelete