I'm so happy to introduce you to Diana Stout, a writer I've known for a long time. We belong to the same writers' group (the Mid-Michigan chapter of Romance Writers of America). Only recently I've gotten to know her better. She's an articulate speaker and a fun lunch partner.
Welcome, Diana. Here's where I get to grill (I mean, interview) you.
First, tell us about yourself.
Originally, I was a voracious
reader and became a self-taught writer with various publications, which led to
an online writing community and a local community college asking me to teach
creative writing classes. That teaching and a divorce led me back to school
relatively late in life so that I could earn a living teaching others how to
write. As a result, I had to take a fifteen-year absence from my creative
writing. I was doing a lot of writing—just not creatively. Because of my
education, though, my writing strengthened and changed.
My earlier work experience
covered many fields and those experiences added another layer of depth to my
educational experiences; it made me an atypical student.
Today, I write fulltime. Even
though at the beginning of that 15-year period I was working with several
Hollywood producers who wanted to see anything and everything I was writing, I
have no regrets for the choices I’ve made. It’s all been an amazing journey.
That journey includes two daughters
and eight grandchildren. We all live in Michigan but in different communities.
When I’m not writing or spending time with my family, I’m watching movies,
reading, putting jigsaw puzzles together, or spending time with friends.
Where can readers find you?
Sharpened Pencils Productions
is a company I formed in January this year and is the name of my main website,
as well:
sharpenedpencilsproductions.com.
All my blog links, my writing portfolios, and other information is located there.
My blogs are:
Only
for the Brave, where I talk
about life as a writer;
Behind the Scenes focuses on writing information and the
process of writing whether it be screen, stage, or page; and
Into the
Core is where I talk about my paranormal experiences.
Other media:
How long does it take you to write a book?
My first book took a year and a
half. The second nine months; the third three months. My fourth book took me
eight days. All of these were first drafts, and I was working part-time with
the fourth book.
As you can see, I’ve taught
myself how to become a fast writer and a marathon writer. Additionally, I’m a
heavy outliner. For those first few books, I was a panster and all over the
place. My first drafts now are far tighter and cleaner than those earlier first
drafts used to be.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve had three romances
traditionally published, with all rights returned, so I’m in the process of
republishing them.
Grendel’s Mother, a recent, new
publication, has been my favorite for a while, only because I was involved with
it for ten years before finally deciding to self-publish. That decision was not
made lightly and made only after several agents told me that I couldn’t write
for YA and adults at the same time.
I do have to say, though, my
favorite book is always the one I’m currently working on. Probably because it’s
the one I’m spending the most time with.
Right now, I’m totally in love
with a time-travel romance that I’m developing, along with the Laure Ridge
novella series, with the first one,
Shattered
Dreams published on July 12. Also, I’m reviewing and revising screenplays
I’ve written.
What do you think makes a good story?
For me, a good story entails characters who I can hook
into or understand quickly. A good story has sparkling dialogue and action that
reads fast, and if I can laugh somewhere along the line, all the better. Also, I
need an engaging plot, one that surprises me.
As a writer, I’m a jaded reader because of my knowledge
of story construction, so the author who can completely surprise me or pull my emotional heartstrings of love
or terror will have me as a new fan.
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline,
or...?
I always start with a title. I’m not sure when that
practice started, but once I have the title, I can see characters, conflict,
and resolution.
What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a
book?
So many jobs, so many fields. I’ve
worked in insurance, advertising, sales, manufacturing, as a bookkeeper and
accountant, office manager, office supervisor, academics both administratively
and as a teacher, as a tutor and tutor liaison, substitute school bus driver,
raised calves and took them to market, learned how to put up food, and sewed my
own clothes.
If I was a first time reader of your books, which one
would you recommend I start with and why?
If you like independent characters who fight against all
odds, I’d recommend that you start with Grendel’s
Mother. Even though the main character is only 15, she struggles against
odds in the 6th century, which includes giving birth and raising a
child entirely on her own in the wilderness.
If you like a hot romance that includes external
danger—which comes from some poachers who aren’t afraid to kill—then, I’d
suggest
Determined Hearts.
If you like a sweeter romance with sexual tension or
awareness, then I’d suggest Tomorrow’s
Wishes or New Beginnings. These
books will be available before the end of the year, hopefully before summer’s
end.
If you like just a short, fun romance, then I’d suggest
any of the stories from my Laurel Ridge novella series. The first one,
Shattered Dreams came out on July 12 and is available
only as an eBook on Amazon. To learn more about the series, visit my portfolio
on my Sharpened Pencils Productions website. The other six novella will follow
soon.
Why did you choose to self-publish? Is it because your
works cross genres?
Apparently, according to agents, Grendel’s Mother doesn’t fit neatly into one category. I was told
that no book can be written for both young adults and adults at the same time;
yet, that’s exactly what I did. I’ve been told, too, that I needed to pick one
genre to write for, but I enjoy writing in different genres. Doing so keeps my
writing fresh. Plus, I would be bored if I was stuck in one genre. I hope my
readers will enjoy the variety, as well.
What do you hope readers take with them after reading
your work?
My hope is that the story
resonates, that they find themselves thinking about the plot, the situation, or
the characters long after they’ve read my work. That they’ve enjoyed the
reading so much that they tell their friends.
If you’re interested in receiving updates about my
publications, subscribe to my
What’s New! blog.
BLURB
Laurel Ridge novella series - Seven
stories with seven couples. Each couple with their own story, told against the
backdrop of a small southern community of Laurel Ridge, Georgia.
SHATTERED DREAMS - Mason
Baylock has returned to his hometown as a newly appointed judge. He's hoping to
reconnect with his high school sweetheart, Shelley Willis, but she's not
interested. To keep him foremost in her mind, he frequents the diner, located
across from the courthouse and where Shelley works, on a regular basis. Once a
week for the more than the past three months, he's been asking her out. And, once a week for more than the past three
months, she's been turning him down.
Then
one evening, they become locked up in the kitchen's cooler by accident. That's
when there's no more escaping—the real conversation begins—and where the heat
gets turned on. She can't deny she isn't attracted to him, but she's not about
to date someone who shattered her dreams years ago, either. And then, she
discovers that there is more to the earth-shattering consequences than even she
imagined, which threatens to fracture and splinter life as they know it.
Will
both of their dreams be shattered forever? Or does enough of a spark remain
that they can rekindle the love they once shared?
EXCERPT
Mason snagged her arm, turning her
around. “Even after all these years I still know you. I know that set of your
jaw. We're not going anywhere. This conversation is going to get finished here
and now. I've been dancing around you for half a year. My endurance isn't
limitless, Shelley.” Not once had he raised his voice. He appeared calm while
her insides were rolling and roiling, like waves on the lake during rough,
stormy weather. And all the while, his gaze caressed her, as if he was looking
for a way in so that he could help her help him.
It wounded her to see him so
anguished. She had no choice. She had to tell him and what she was about to
tell him would devastate him. She was too far in to back out now, nor would
Mason let her.
“Apparently, your father didn't want
you to know.”
“Know what? Shelley, tell me. You're
driving me crazy! What didn't my father want me to know?”
“About our baby.”
His face paled. “Our what?”
“That last time we spent up here...”
“Spring vacation of our senior year.
I remember.”
She paused, willing her voice to
stay steady. “I got pregnant.”
Mason started to say something, then
clamped his jaw shut. For several minutes the only sounds were those of
squirrels chattering to each other in the treetops as they chased each other.
How could they be so carefree and playing happily while she stood here feeling
cold and miserable?
“There's more, isn't there?” he
asked.
She nodded.
Buy links
Thanks for having me here today, Diane! It’s been a pleasure.
So glad to have you, Diana. Best wishes on your books.
