The youngest of six, John grew up in Bethel, Connecticut. Though he struggled in school, he always had a creative mind. After he graduated, John moved to Nebraska, where he met his wife. Together they have raised their two daughters ever since.
John has a Bachelors in Business Information Systems and has worked in IT in one form or another for over twenty years and has only recently started writing.
John started writing after noticing one of his daughters reading a romance novel. After reading a few pages, he had joked about how poorly written it was and how fake the characters seemed. Defending the book she liked, his daughter challenged him to write something better.
So John started down a long road where he’s learned that writing is as easy as putting words down on paper. But writing something others want to read is extremely difficult. A difficulty he’s fallen in love with.
Interview with John J Mac Donald:
Taken from my Smashwords Interview
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I take great pleasure in making someone who has read something of mine react emotionally. It makes me feel good when the reader can feel what I was trying to convey.
What do your fans mean to you?
My fans are the ones who push me to write better. If I can make them smile or happy by writing something, I’ll make it the best I possibly can.
What are you working on next?
I’m finishing up four short stories in my Dreams series. There will be more stories later, but for now, it’s just those. I’ve also finished a rough draft of a novel. I’m working on edits currently so that will not be too far off.
Who are your favorite authors?
I’ve read a lot of books over the years, but some of the authors that spring to mind are Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffrey, Steven King, Robert A Heinlein, Andy Weir, C.S Lewis, William Goldman, and Craig Alanson. I know that there are a lot of other great authors that I truly do enjoy reading their works.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My Family. Without them, it would be very tough to face each morning.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Outside of working as an IT administrator, I enjoy painting while listening to Audio books, Playing video games to relax, Reading, Movies, and spending time with my family and friends.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I’ve got an extensive range of tastes in reading. I’ve always found that if the description grabs my interest, and then so do the first few pages, I’ll enjoy the rest of the book.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I ever wrote was about a boy who was transported to a different world where magic was real. I think I was about twelve or so. I never finished it or even came close to it, but it was the first story I put effort into. I’ve always had stories running around in my head, some I jot down, others I just let play out for myself.
What is your writing process?
It almost always starts with a scene of some sort. A conflict that a person must either solve or come to terms with. From there, I work on the characters and find out who they are and who they want to be. A lot of times the scene doesn’t go anywhere and is either removed or changed. It’s the characters that I’m after. For me, they are the ones that make a story.
What do you read for pleasure?
I enjoy reading books where the stories unfold, and characters grow. I love seeing the struggle as they overcome their faults before they can move on. I also love it when the characters have meaningful interactions with each other. It doesn’t matter what type of book as long as the characters are believable.