Author Interview & Giveaway: Donnie Ray Whetstone

We are excited to welcome debut author, Donnie Whetstone, to the nest today.  Giveaway details can be found at the end of this post. The Giveaway is open to US residents. 

Andrea @ Reading Lark: How long have you been writing?

Donnie: I’ve been writing at some capacity most of my life. I’d lost my taste for art my junior year of high school. I was always in honors art in school. My senior year, I decided to take a creative writing class since I had all of my credits to graduate and needed something to past the time. My teacher expressed how she saw potential in my writing, but I didn’t think much of it then. That year was 1979.  

Andrea @ Reading Lark: Can you describe your novel in five words?

Donnie: Something you can’t stop reading.

Andrea @ Reading Lark: Where did you get the idea for this novel?

Donnie: Well, my profession for starters, since I am a professional trainer by trade. It’s kind of foggy, but the concept probably hit me at the tail end of a few long training days, around 20 clients over a 10 hour period. Towards the end of that gauntlet, your mind starts thinking crazy stuff and viola; you’ve got a novel about a trainer going on a killing binge. 

Andrea @ Reading Lark: Which character is your favorite to write?

Donnie: You know, I really didn’t have a favorite character, I’m serious. I really liked all of the characters; maybe it’s that Gemini multiple personality thing, who knows.

Andrea @ Reading Lark: What was the road to publication like for you?

Donnie: Bitter, enlightening, empowering and a work in progress, that’s my publication story. I tried the conventional rout that required sending out query letters to agents, in which most weren’t interested in newbies. I sent out 100 letters. Needless to say, I got rejected by all of them, but I knew I had a good story, I just needed a way to bypass conventional protocols, self-publishing was my solution. Now, Fit to Kill is with all major e-book distributors, is available in paperback and received its first book review that reinforced what I already knew.

Andrea @ Reading Lark: What is your favorite bird?

Donnie: Chicken, preferably grilled with a spicy rub.

a Rafflecopter giveaway