Meet Diana Layne

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Today, I’m very happy to have author Diana Layne here with us.

Welcome, Diana. Please tell us about yourself.

Not much to tell. I’m a small town Texas girl; some might even call me a redneck although I gave up riding horses and wearing cowboy boots years ago. (Both times I married big city boys-still trying to figure that one out)

I am an only child and only grandchild who hated not having siblings or cousins so I had six kids of my own-finally someone to play with! It took me two families to get the six kids, the first four are grown and I have two small grandchildren from son #2 and his wife, while my youngest two are 8 and 10. Another interesting tidbit-I’ve always homeschooled. Some ask why? Mainly because I like doing things my own way and rigid school schedules are not for me.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Writing has always been part of entertaining myself, given I grew up before cable TV, DVD’s, Netflix and computers and without siblings or cousins. I just didn’t realize I could publish until I was much, much older. I thought you had to be super smart, college-educated, wealthy, beautiful, and of course, thin. Then, I saw an article in RT Book Reviews (at the time it was called Romantic Times) about RWA and I had a glimmer of hope. Maybe one day I could sell a book and become published. And at last, I am! 

  

How long does it take you to write a book?

It has varied-from five years to six weeks. Of course the one that took five years was 177,500 words, lol. The one that took six weeks was less than 30,000 words. That one sold-Pirate’s Proposal, published with The Wild Rose Press and part of the Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll series. The behemoth did not sell; although I am in the process of rewriting it-it’s a Native American romance and I’m hoping the Native American romance market is set for a comeback.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

My work schedule varies too. Usually I spend days and days coming up with my “sentences”, some scene cards, and characters. Then, usually because I’m always scared to start a new book (what if I can’t do it again?) I make a goal of a page a day. I might do that for a month and then when the story takes over; I become OCD and do little else until I finish the book. (which is why my kids have to learn to cook and wash clothes; otherwise they’d starve and run out of clean clothes during this period. LOL, just kidding, but not much…)

Another interesting tidbit-I write by hand. At least at the beginning of a new story-sometimes by the end, the words are coming too fast for me to keep up and I have to switch to the computer.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Given there’s so much killing and violence in my books, I don’t know. In real life, I’m actually quite passive and mild-mannered. I think my imagination is simply warped. . .

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Sleep. Seriously. As obsessed as I get, I can go days with little sleep so I usually crash. After that I have to catch up on housecleaning, laundry, shopping, kids’ lessons, and get everything organized again before I start the next story. Sometimes it takes a while to make that jump again because I need everything “just perfect” before I start again. A bad habit, I know. I’m working on it.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written nine books. Two will never see the light of day and with computer upgrades, I don’t even have copies of them anymore. That’s okay, I learned from writing them. The others have been published or are in the process of rewrites and will be published.

What do you think makes a good story?

Action, conflict and emotion-that’s what entertains me and that’s what I go for when I write.

Tell us about your latest book.

I’m working on a rewrites for Nia and Sandro’s (from The Good Daughter) love story. Originally the story was in The Good Daughter as back story, and some of it still is, but when I did a massive rewrite, I realized that The Good Daughter was actually the mafia daughter’s story and I cut most of Sandro and Nia’s love story.

Currently, their love story has the working title Red-Hot Italian and is a novella, but it’s definitely a stand-alone story. I hope to release it by the end of the year.

And if I might add a couple of things about my books that are already published: In addition of some great reviews, The Good Daughter is an RT Book Reviews http://bit.ly/TN4CXG 2012 nominee for best indie/self-pub contemporary of the year. Currently it is on sale for 99 cents until December 1.

And the sequel to The Good Daughter, my Golden Heart® nominee story Trust No One is on sale for the holidays as well.

Where can readers find you?

All the information about my books, where to buy them, and how to follow me on social networks can be found on my website http://www.dianalayne.com/

Thanks for having me, it’s been fun!

It's been my pleasure.