About Donna Steele

Women strong enough for love. I write about strong women in lots of areas - science fiction, paranormal and contemporary fiction romance - women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love. As an empty nester with my beloved best friend and husband (who actually encourages this mad passion of mine) I write all the time – whether or not I have a pen or keyboard handy. Ever since I learned to read—from Superman Comics, Dick, Jane and Sally held no appeal—I’ve wanted to write. The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn me and I’ve read them all. There just needed to be a little more romance in them. I finally got up the courage and I’m delighted that I’m able to share these stories with you. My small town romance novels - Homecoming, Welcome Home, Red Shoes, Nowhere for Christmas, Christmas Present and Dance Partner are available at all eBook vendors. My paranormal romance eBooks Learning Trust, The Melting Series, and Wraith's Heart are now available at all eBook sellers. Wraith's Heart and Learning Trust are now also available in paperback through Amazon. I’m a member of Romance Writers of American, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. www.steelestories.com https://www.facebook.com/DonnaSteeleAuthor http://goo.gl/dH6PAA

Home Again

beach 2013Yep, I was away. Have a lot of catching up to do. Vacation at the beach and we did have a wonderful time, and some extremely high tides as you can see. Got to relax, my son came down with his girlfriend, then my daughter came – they saw each other for one meal. Saw Star Trek again and Superman, loved both of them. Didn’t get burned. That was partly because the weather turned cloudy for most of the week and partly because when I do go out in the sun I wear 50+ SPF because I blister in the shade.  beach 3 2013

All in all a good week, except . . . My laptop froze up!! The keyboard was okay but the pad died and I had no mouse with me. For vacation that might be a good thing for a lot of people, but I had plans to write and edit and that didn’t happen.  I could use my phone to check emails, but I couldn’t answer them very well.  And just then my finger went to the pad and tried to move around before I remembered I have to use the mouse. I am a creature of habit.

Did have a moment of panic when I realized I hadn’t sent what little I had accomplished to my email. I had saved it, but it was trapped in a frozen computer.  laptop 2 2013La Daughter was able to get to it and emailed it to both of us, so nothing was lost except time.  It’s not like this is a new computer, as you can see, but it’s the one that has housed and loved all of the books I’ve published and holds several stories under construction. It’s my buddy, and it understands me.

I guess I need suggestions – what laptop would you suggest I get to replace, no, make that to succeed my buddy.

Summertime

Ocean IsleHow can it already be June? I was going to finish up at least two of the books in my “under construction” file by now. (I did finish one of them!) I was going to lose twenty pounds before the beach. I was . . . well, you get the idea. (I have lost seven!)

I’m beginning to believe it’s the theory of relativity. I older I am, the faster time passes. Remember when Christmas took decades to come around again? Now I barely get all the bills paid before it’s that time again.

I admit summer isn’t my favorite season. I’m not one who enjoys heat–it exacerbates my EB which makes me even less able to exercise and get outside. And of course I can never wear little enough to keep cool in the office. When we go to the beach, I’m up and out by 8 a.m. and back inside for the day by 11:30, and that’s with 50 SPF sunscreen. (My uncle was a lifer in the Navy and was never able to go bare chested on deck, so I get it honest.)

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But it doesn’t keep us away from the beach. I do love the breeze, the sound of the surf and the getting to sleep late–yes for me 8 is very late! I can laze around, watch movies late at night and of course cuddle up with the laptop while everyone else is out getting burnt and write in peace!

What big plans do you have now that it’s summer and “school’s out” as it were? The beach, the “shore”, the mountains. What rings your chimes for time off to relax?coney island

 

 

Another Memorial Day

Welcome  Home

Many Americans have forgotten the meaning of Memorial Day  but it is so important to honor our fallen heroes. I remember getting the red poppy at school when I was a child, handed out by the older veterans, a reminder that brave men and woman forfeited their lives to keep our homeland safe.

When the veterans come home today we have videos of surprised and delighted wives and children. That didn’t happen with Vietnam and I’m glad we at least learned that much.

When Bobby returns changed to a very changed world, can Katie help make him whole again?

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Release Day!

That has such an incredible ring to it. I’ve done it before and I remember the first time, I wondered if that high could ever be recreated. It can – each of my written children has been as different as my biological ones, so it’s a completely new experience each time.

And people around here at least, know I’m writing and look forward to my new releases. My favorite server at the best seafood place in the city visited with me the last time I was in, telling me she had read Homecoming and had gotten her sister Rth Rising. For a newbie published author like me, if just does not get any better.

Wraith’s Heart is a paranormal romance. The victim and the cop, two very different people but connected by a horrible crime. Neither knows what the other has gone through to become the person they now are, but it works for them . . .WraithsHeart_finalCover

Congratulations to Tiffany Rarrick

for winning a copy of Wraith’s Heart – my thanks for the notes from everyone (both on and off blog!)

 

Excerpt

Gail knew she shouldn’t be enjoying this. Hell, she shouldn’t be doing it. It was probably considered coercion or something, but this asshole deserved it. Gail ran her finger over his left collar bone again then clamped her hand around his thick bull neck.

He almost came out of the chair. His eyes were darting around the room and he seemed afraid to move, though he was still shivering.

She had heard some of what Dr. Collins had told Ryan about Genevieve’s previous injuries. This guy knew about some of them at least.

He was scared. He and Ryan were obviously alone in the room, but something was happening to him he couldn’t see. Gail wondered if he’d believed in ghosts before.

****

      Ryan’s temper was under control now. Hell, he was fighting not to laugh. It wasn’t Genevieve tormenting the man. It was Gail. He knew the feel of her and she was helping him. Dan would never have broken for him. But this was fascinating to watch.

“Could I get you some water?” Ryan asked Dan innocently.

“I need to get out of here.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll need your written statement first. I’m sure you understand. We need to get this matter of Mrs. Crump’s untimely demise cleared up. It will help her rest easier.” He couldn’t help it; if he and Gail had planned this together it couldn’t have worked out better.

“What? What did you say?”

“Oh, an old wife’s tale I suppose. My Granny used to say if there was a reason the person died, other than an extended illness, the spirit can’t rest. We see it all the time in police work.” Okay, that was a bald-faced lie. Until Gail, the idea of ghosts hadn’t occurred to him since Saturday afternoon horror movies on TV.

“Are you saying Genevieve’s ghost is here?”

“I’m not saying anything. And of course, she didn’t pass away here. Now at her home it might be different.” He shrugged. “You really need to get to work on the statement. There are others out there waiting.”

Gail must not be touching him now because he’d stopped shaking. Dan picked up the pen and started to write, then laid it down again. He jerked and his hand went back to his neck. Ryan could see white all around his eyes.

“Leroy wasn’t with us. I don’t know where he was.”

Ryan was caught off guard by the quick confession. This guy must be majorly superstitious.

“What are you saying?”

“Look, I don’t want no trouble from no one. Leroy’s got hisself a temper. If Gen pissed him off, anything could have happened.”

“Was there a problem about his car?”

“Yeah.” Dan seemed to wilt in front of him, but at least he wasn’t shivering. “Leroy was burnin’ mad about that. I don’t think he meant to kill her, but . . . ”

“You weren’t at the house at the time of her accident?”

“No, no way. None of us was. So I can’t say the man had anything to do with it.”

“But you can’t say he was with you.”

Dan shook his head.

“Then Leroy lied to us,” Ryan said softly.

“He’ll never admit it. There wasn’t no witnesses. Gen, I’m sorry.” Dan looked around the room. “I knowed he was mean to you, but . . . Shit.”

Ryan watched the man, fascinated. He obviously believed in ghosts. Maybe this case wouldn’t take so long after all.