I met Diana on the Library Thing boards after I had won a copy of her book from the Library Thing Member Giveaway. She was there answering questions about her book, so after reading some of her answers, I approached her and asked if she'd be interested in posting a few things for us. Diana is an exceptionally easy person to work with! I'm so very pleased that she had agreed to do this interview.
Tell us about yourself.
I'm a mother of two incredible boys who push me to be a better person all the time. I grew up in California and have been living in Northern Idaho for the last four years. I've been writing for a long time, but it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I got serious about my writing. I wanted to show the boys that it is so important to go after our dreams and not give up.
The heart of the novel is the concept that unresolved issues in one’s past life can have a far-reaching emotional impact on one’s current life and that true love, it seems, can follow us from one century to another.
What inspired you to write this novel?
I had a dream - the same dream I used in the opening chapter. It was so vivid and so real, I woke up the next morning and wrote it down. The story developed in my mind when I took my runs on the beach every day. I've studied reincarnation for a long time and so it just took its natural course from there.
Who or what was your biggest influence in your decision to become a writer?
I don't think I ever had a choice. As a child I wrote a lot. Mostly poetry. I seemed to have a lot of pent up emotions when I was growing up, so that was my outlet. I have always loved the way words can be linked together to evoke an emotional response or to conjure up a mental image.
If you could spend one day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I can think of two people, actually. One would be Michael Jackson. He was such a talented person and I would imagine pretty complex with a lot of layers that probably no one ever fully understood. Another choice would be Diana Gabaldon. I'd like to poke around in her head and pick up a few writing tips from her! She is an incredible writer.
I know some authors have strange rituals when they write. Some have to have a certain food, lock themselves in a room, only work at night, etc. What's yours?
I have to have complete silence to be able to step into the characters' shoes and walk their walk. I like to work in the early, early morning, at about 4:00 a.m. That is when I'm rested and it's still quiet. Once in awhile I'll put on some mood music to fine tune the details. When I'm feeling stuck, I like to munch on something crunchy. Pretzels or cereal work well for that.
How does writing work with family life?
It really doesn't. That's why I work in the mornings. Once the family - dogs included - catch sight of me, I'm fair game. Sometimes I have to go into the bedroom and lock the door because just a door that is shut isn't enough.
What things do you enjoy doing when you aren't writing?
I like being outdoors. I love to mountain bike, run, hike, go hang out at the lake, gardening. I also like to do anything creative. Eventually I’d like to learn to play the piano and the violin.
Would you share one thing most people don't know about you?
I'm a tree-hugger, I meditate every morning, and I am a health fanatic. But when confronted with an old-fashioned buttermilk donut….yikes. I usually give in.
Tell us about your next project.
I am about halfway done with my next novel, a young adult paranormal. I wanted to write a book that my boys would enjoy. So far it's been a lot of fun. The characters are really taking over. I still have a lot of research to do, but I'm looking forward to that part of it. I am also co-writing a women's fiction with a writer-friend of mine. That novel, I believe, will hit home for a lot of women. I have big plans for both of them.
Thank you so very much for your time, Diana!! I had a really great time working with you and I'm really looking forward to this next novel! It sound exciting and something a bit different since most YA paranormal novels seem to be geared towards girls.
If you would like to read more stories from Diana, you can visit her author page at Smashwords. There you will find 2 free short stories that you can either read online or download to your e-reader. You will also be able to purchase "Again" in e-book format from there as well.
About the Author:
Diana began writing in her childhood, writing mostly poems and short stories. She started her first novel about eight years ago, but still chose to put her family before her writing. As the boys got older and more independent, she decided to buckle down and complete her novel. With the completion of Again, it opened the gates for more story ideas. She is currently working on her second novel, a young adult paranormal, with a women’s fiction, a children’s book, and a young adult fantasy lined up and ready to go.
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