Simpson, Donna Lea

PERSONAL:

Hobbies and other interests: Reading, movies, crafts, home improvement television shows, collecting fossils, old books, and cat figurines.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Canada. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer.

WRITINGS:

"LORD/LADY" SERIES

Lord St. Claire's Angel, Zebra (New York, NY), 1999.

Lady Delafont's Dilemma, Zebra (New York, NY), 2000.

Lady May's Folly, Zebra (New York, NY), 2001.

"HAVEN FAMILY" SERIES

A Country Courtship, Zebra (New York, NY), 2002.

Pamela's Second Season, Zebra (New York, NY), 2003.

Rachel's Change of Heart, Zebra (New York, NY), 2003.

"PARANORMAL ROMANCE" SERIES

Awaiting the Moon, Berkley Sensation (New York, NY), 2006.

Awaiting the Night, Berkley Sensation (New York, NY), 2006.

Awaiting the Fire, Berkley Sensation (New York, NY), 2007.

OTHER

Miss Truelove Beckons, Zebra (New York, NY), 2001.

Belle of the Ball (sequel to Miss Truelove Beckons), Zebra (New York, NY), 2001.

A Rake's Redemption, Zebra (New York, NY), 2002.

A Matchmaker's Christmas, Zebra (New York, NY), 2002.

Lord Pierson Reforms, Zebra (New York, NY), 2004.

The Duke and Mrs. Douglas, Zebra (New York, NY), 2004.

The Gilded Knight, Zebra (New York, NY), 2005.

Lady Savage, Zebra (New York, NY), 2005.

Work represented in Zebra anthologies, including Stocking Stuffers, 2000; Valentine Rogues, 2001; My Dashing Groom, 2002; Untameable, 2002; My Only Valentine, 2003; A Match for Papa, 2003; and With This Ring, 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Donna Lea Simpson is a romance author whose books fall into a number of categories, including Regency. Romantic Times Online contributor Melinda Helfer reviewed Lady Delafont's Dilemma, which features Lord Delafont and his wife, Lady Emily, who have been separated for five years. She remains on their Yorkshire estate, and he goes abroad. Fate brings them together, but he then has a young mistress and Lady Emily is being courted by a romantic Frenchman. Lord Delafont regrets that they didn't try harder to make their marriage work and hopes that they still can. Helfer concluded: "Ms. Simpson's tale will intrigue readers in search of something a little different from the norm."

Teresa Roebuck, also for Romantic Times Online, reviewed Belle of the Ball, Pamela's Second Season, Rachel's Change of Heart, and anthologies to which Simpson contributed, including Valentine Rogues, My Dashing Groom, and My Only Valentine. Of Belle of the Ball, Roebuck wrote: "Donna Simpson offers a wealth of Regency delights as her skills continue to bloom." Pamela's Second Season and Rachel's Change of Heart are the second and third titles in Simpson's series featuring the Haven family. Roebuck wrote of the latter: "This is an engaging tale that resolves many Haven family concerns and features many of the charming secondary characters from previous works."

Romantic Times Online writer Robin Taylor reviewed Lord Pierson Reforms, The Duke and Mrs. Douglas, The Gilded Knight, and Lady Savage. The Gilded Knight finds Lady Nellwyn Simmons, a widow with a sick child, at the mercy of two brothers: one of whom wants to evict her so that he can claim his inheritance, and the other who, sick as a child himself, can't bring himself to such cruelty. Taylor described this novel as being "a remarkable story of true compassion, kindness and caring."

Savina Roxeter is the heroine of Lady Savage. She must leave Jamaica, the country she loves, with her family and her fiancé, Anthony Heywood, to return to England and marry. Anthony's secretary realizes he has underrated Savina, who proves to be a strong and fearless woman when danger threatens, and he falls in love with her himself. Taylor concluded her review of this novel by writing that "Simpson evokes deep and powerful emotions and draws them out with incredible accuracy."

Simpson's paranormal romance series includes Awaiting the Moon, Awaiting the Night, and Awaiting the Fire. The first book of the series is set in 1795. Elizabeth Stanwycke leaves England to take a position as the tutor of a young girl who lives in Wolfram Castle. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that Simpson "peoples the castle with distinctive characters." As she approaches the castle owned by Nikolas von Wolfram, Elizabeth witnesses a frightening incident—a beautiful nude woman running from a hooded pursuer on horseback. Although she is warned by Katrina Liebner of the secrets of the castle, which include death, insanity, and werewolves, Elizabeth takes the much-needed job. Her curiosity is piqued, however, by additional events that seem to substantiate some of Katrina's warnings, and she and Nikolas, keeper of the family secrets, become involved, although there is a critical reason why the romance should not be consummated. "Simpson keeps the sultry sensuality at a strong simmer," noted Nina C. Davis in Booklist.

A reviewer for the Paperback Reader Web site wrote of the character of Elizabeth: "She has flaws that other romance heroines wouldn't dare to exhibit. She is the character who, despite all warnings, will go into the dark and dangerous woods. She knows it's stupid, tells herself there must be a better way, yet makes the choice that fits the moment. She is not a coy innocent, her past improprieties were the result of her active choices (even if the outcome was not), and her flaws are not minor. Best of all, from my perspective, her inner dialogue is sharp and sometimes unkind." The reviewer concluded by writing that this story is a different and new style of paranormal romance and added: "I am looking forward to the sequel."

Simpson told CA: "I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be an author. For a long time it seemed beyond hope that I could achieve that dream; it just seemed too wonderful a fate for any ordinary person. The day I got the phone call that my first book had been accepted by a publishing company was the fulfillment of that lifelong dream. One of the great joys of my life is that I get to write for a living.

"I have always loved to read. When I was young I read Jane Austen novels obsessively, some of the titles many times over, and her exquisite use of language is what I aim for, though I'm fully aware of how far I have yet to go. I've also been influenced by some of the best mystery authors in the business—Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton to name two—authors who create fully rounded characters the reader can care for and feel they know.

"Usually, one thing triggers a book idea: it can be something someone says, a photo of a place, a news item, or a single line from something I read. Much of the process, at least when it begins, is subconscious. That initial idea is kind of like a magnet; before I know it, other things are ‘sticking’ to it—in other words, they are becoming associated in my mind in some way, though there is not always a logical connection.

"At that point I begin to consciously pay attention to the idea and wonder if I can hang a plot on it. I begin to ‘tease out’ other associations, characters will build, and then the work begins. Plotting is an arduous step-by-step process of logical progression.

"Once I have at least a semblance of a plot, I can begin writing. I write fairly quickly, then edit extensively. And that's about it … simplified greatly!

"The most surprising thing I have learned as a writer is how little I know. I'm a reasonably intelligent person, but every day that I write I'm astounded by how much I really don't know: about history, world events, politics, people, places, things. Everything! I research extensively, and do my very best to be accurate in my factual depictions of places or times, but sometimes you just can't find answers and have to wing it.

"Like most genre authors, I really hope to entertain people first and foremost. But beyond that, I would like readers to come away from one of my novels with the sense that they've met a real person in the main character, someone they would like to be friends with, and with whom they sympathize and for whom they care. I hope the reader will wish the book didn't have to end."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 2006, Nina C. Davis, review of Awaiting the Moon, p. 53.

Publishers Weekly, January 2, 2006, review of Awaiting the Moon, p. 41.

ONLINE

Donna Lea Simpson Home Page,http://donnaleasimpson.tripod.com (February 26, 2008).

Fresh Fiction,http://freshfiction.com/ (February 20, 2008), brief biography.

Paperback Reader,http://www.paperbackreader.com/ (February 20, 2008), review of Awaiting the Moon.

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (February 20, 2008), Melinda Helfer, review of Lady Delafont's Dilemma; Teresa Roebuck, reviews of Belle of the Ball, Valentine Rogues, Pamela's Second Season, Rachel's Change of Heart, My Dashing Groom, and My Only Valentine; Robin Taylor, reviews of Lord Pierson Reforms, The Duke and Mrs. Douglas, The Gilded Knight, and Lady Savage.