Hi, I'm Donna...
I have been storytelling for half a century and writing for almost as long. I have been a member of Women Writers of Fiction and Essays, co-founder, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Illiana Writers and Co-founder and President of the National Writers Group.
My publishing credits include: Monthly columns in The Writers’ Newsletter and The CPU Computers Newsletter, reviews in Compute Gazette, short stories in the anthologies: Sunlight and Shadow; I Writer, Therefore I Am? I Am!; Beware! Annual WWOFE Outings, 1993; the sci-fi newsletter, The U.S.S. Borta S Final Frontier; and two booklets of poetry; Erindonia and Fantasies Of My Soul. I am currently living in Central Illinois in my own “castle” with my husband and our 5 kitty babies.
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Hunters Ridge Series
Conventions Are A Blast!
New Release Coming January 2026!
Second Homecoming
Beth was going home to LA. Little did she know just how much the past was going to catch up to her.
Books
The Seduction of Lilly Munro
Lilly Munro is in hiding. From her family, from a villain, from her life. Can a man and his daughter save her from all of these elements? And from her closed-down emotions?
Hunters Ridge
Karlee Simone moves to Alabama to get away from cold Chicago weather, and finds her life almost too hot to live when she walks in on a convenience store robbery. She helps prevent the robbery and the perpetrators swear revenge. Can Captain B.J. Martin of the Hunters Ridge PD protect her? Karlee finds out how hot Alabama nights can be.
Old Friends New Enemies
The sequel to Hunters Ridge.
Karlee Simone discovered she preferred the hot Alabama nights … and her hot Alabama police officer husband, BJ Martin. A trip back to her abandoned home of Chicago reminds her of what she left behind and how glad she is that she did! But the past sometimes can never be completely left behind in these days of fast planes and faster communications. Karlee once again finds herself at the right hand of Hunter Ridge’s finest when she identifies a murdered John Doe, a star player of the fast communications. Will Karlee’s past endanger her and BJ’s future?
Family
The third in the Hunters Ridge series by Donna Carlene. This book chronicles the family life of the Martin family and advances the romance of the main characters.
Name of the Father
The next in the Hunters Ridge series. Everything seems to go wrong from the minute BJ’s old girlfriend returns to town … with a baby she claims is his. Just how crazy will it drive Karlee and what will she do about it?
Known Strangers
Karlee Simone, crime writer, is back on the case with another hot Southern crime.
Robbery, Remodeling, and Romance
BJ looked away from Karlee and swallowed.
“Ah’m okay, Chief. It’s gonna be okay.” He looked back.
Pickett pulled Karlee away from the window and backed to the counter.
He took the phone away from Jake. “Martin?
Karlee Simone Martin is in the thick of it. Again.
BJ’s married sister is visiting. And getting along very well with the handyman remodeling Karlee and BJ’s house.
How’s Karlee going to get out of both these situations?
Vacation
If your childhood home wasn’t good, don’t go back for a vacation. Especially if someone there wants you dead.
Lies of the Past
Image
The second in the Beth and Hill series. Beth goes home to help solve a mystery involving illegal dumping and gets surprises.
Walls
A man on a mission to find stolen money meets a woman in a wheelchair bent on revenge. When they discover they have a perpetrator in common, they join forces. But besides justice (or murder?) there’s more beneath the surface. Is it pity? Compassion? Or just passion?
Waiting on a Star
Dana just lost her waitressing job. TV star Joe was in a strange town, doing a favor for a friend. Friendship sparks but a snowstorm cools more than the town. The miles between them aren’t the only challenge. Then there’s that crazy ex-wife.
Woodstock Dreams
Three souls share Woodstock in the 60’s then went their separate ways. Fate and the silver reunion have brought them back together. Sex, drugs and rock and roll. Oh, and don’t forget the gangsters.
Who Watches
A coworker is lost in the Transylvanian Alps and the A Team of his company is sent to find him. Beth and Hill feel the presence of… no, there’s no such thing as vampires. Or is there? Who watches the seekers?
Dragons and Wizards
Dje Ryu was a unique peace-loving red dragon with an eye for human wenches. Rhiannon was the daughter of a whore who served only food and drink. When they meet, sparks fly. But can they fly for eternity? And what is the secret of Rhiannon’s paternity?
Conventions Are a Blast!
Beth & Hill Story #5
Which is worse: parental interference in your job or a person with a weapon where they shouldn’t have one? Working security can be boring, but some conventions are a blast! Another in the Beth and Hill series, but it can be read alone.
Luck O' The Irish
From the moment he heard her lilting voice, Security Chief Michael Faustino was smitten with the Irish lady in distress. But what’s invaded his home station of Caladar? And what’s that Irish voice doing in his head?
To Bridge a Gap
Carole Jo is a typical ‘70s rock-n-roll teenager. John is a bluegrass star from her hometown. An unique relationship of kindred souls from two generations. Will the spark become a flame?
Aphelion Story
Feels Like Fire
“A brilliant flash filled the sky like electric lightning. The two bums in the alley instinctively ducked. The light flew toward them. One bum threw himself…”