Featured Author
Dianne
Castell
Dianne's love for the romance genre began ten years ago when desperate for something good to read her daughter tossed her a well read, dog eared, clinch cover Harlequin. Her daughter said it was great, then confessed it had been passed around the entire eighth grade class as a "supplement" to their sex ed class
Some supplement! Dianne was instantly hooked on Harlequins and it wasn't long before she was writing stories of her own. She finaled in national contests, including RWA's Golden Heart and Notable New Authors. She presently writes for Harlequin American. Her latest book, A Cowboy And A Kiss, is a December 2004 release.
Dianne also writes the Up Close and Personal: Editor Interview column for Romance Writers Report.
Dianne's given writing workshops at RWA chapter conferences, monthly meetings, libraries, bookstores, book fairs and schools on such topics as writing a synopsis, plotting the romance, hooks, humor in your story, motivation, etc.
Dianne resides in Cincinnati with her husband and four children.
Dianne graciously took a little time off from holiday preparations to answer a few questions for Writers Unlimited.
WU: Why did you decide to become a romance author?
DC: I love romance. I love the fun that goes with falling in love and I really love the happy endings. I hate books that dwell on the angst and problems and not knowing if everything's going to turn out okay. Give me happy-ever-after every time.
WU: Do you write full time or do you have another career?
DC: I writer full time, unless you mean those hours I spend on the phone talking to Lori Foster. Guess that could be considered a career!
WU: Can you give us an example of a typical day in the life of Dianne Castell?
DC: I get up and answer email and write and eat and answer more email and write and eat and answer more email and talk to Lori and eat and write...You get the picture.
WU: Readers today demand accuracy in the books they read. How much research about life styles, setting, dialect, etc. goes into one of your stories?
DC: Lots! Thank heaven for the internet. I've had to research everything from delivering a colt, to driving a tugboat, to over what range of mountains the sun sets in Montana. Research in really important!
WU: Tell us about any upcoming releases and works in progress.
DC: I'm so glad you asked! :)) In the next year I have 6 books coming out. A Cowboy and a Kiss is a Dec. '04 release from Harlequin American. Star Quality, an anthology with Lori Foster, is a Brava out in May, '05, Forty and Fabulous is a trilogy I have coming out in Aug, Nov, Dec. A Fabulous Wife, A Fabulous Husband, A Fabulous Wedding have heroes and heroines in their forties. What fun books! I love writing the older heroine and her life! In Dec '05 my first single title with Brava comes out. It's the first in the Four O'Fallens and a Baby trilogy I have with them.
Lots of fun! :))
WU: How do you come up with the ideas for your books? Do you have a
brainstorming session with someone or do they just kind of "pop" into your head?
DC: They pop! So many ideas, so little time. I think stories all the time and never realized other people didn't!
WU: A lot of aspiring writers suffer the agony of rejection after rejection. How hard or easy was it for you to "break in" to the published ranks?
DC: I wrote for 9 years before getting published! Even then it was tough because I kept losing my editors at Harlequin. But now I have an agent and things are humming along.
WU: Any words of wisdom for those that would like to follow in your footsteps?
DC: My motto: Never give up! It's over my computer.
WU: Where can readers contact you?
DC: I have a fun website at www.DianneCastell.com. My email is DianneCastell@hotmail.com
Writers Unlimited