Guest: Diane Craver

Joining me today, January 13, 2010, is author Diane Craver. Diane and I have been friends for ten plus years and have yet to meet. We came in contact under very strange circumstances, laughed about it and have been cyber-buddies ever since. She has written one of the most beautiful Christmas stories I think I've ever read-The Christmas of 1957. I'm glad to be her host today.

Diane, congratulations on your new release, Marrying Mallory. Would you like to tell us a little about the story? And where readers can buy the book?

In my January release, Mallory isn't happy with herself because she's divorced. She feels strong guilt that she couldn't forgive her cheating ex-husband. As a Christian, she doesn't feel that she has the right to get married again. Also she is unhappy about her outward appearance. She loses fifteen pounds but that isn't enough. She decides to do something for herself and goes to see a plastic surgeon, Dr. Seth Whitman, to have rhinoplasty. Immediately, her life becomes complicated because she's attracted to the doctor. Seth feels the same way about her, and he has trouble maintaining a doctor-patient relationship.

By the way, I have a trailer for Marrying Mallory. Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx47eTrY8M0

Marrying Mallory is available at http://www.desertbreezepublishing. Amazon kindle, www.booksonboard.com and allromanceebooks.com.

You've written some very inspiring novels. Where do you find your inspiration? Come up with your ideas/plots?

My inspiration for my novels comes from my life experiences and from the news. For Marrying Mallory I used a personal experience that I felt would make for a realistic character. I got into Mallory's mind completely because I know what it's like not to have a cute small nose.

I wrote Whitney in Charge because I thought it'd be fun to write a story about sisters. By the way, I'm the youngest in my family. I have three older sisters and one brother. I decided to have Shannon and Regan, the older sisters, play matchmakers to help Whitney in meeting a new man.

In Never the Same, I chose to reveal Kimberly Collins and Tori Moorhead's stories when I heard of a woman walking away from a plane crash and wanting to change her life. I thought how no one would be the same person after coming close to death. What if I survived an accident where many people died? Would I change my life? My imagination took this idea to develop the story for Never the Same.




Do your books have a common theme and if so what is it?

A common theme in my books would be how the characters' faith is a big help to them when they are faced with tragedy or some major life change.

Out of all your characters, do you have a favorite?

That's tough because I like so many of my characters.  They all become very real to me. But Debby Reeves comes to my mind because I just recently talked to eighth graders about my Christmas book. The students read it for a class assignment, so it was fun to revisit the Reeves' family from The Christmas of 1957. I loved writing about seven-year-old Debby because of the impact she has on her family.

Do you research your story before you write it? Or as you go?

I research careers and settings before I actually start writing. For example, in Whitney in Charge, I bought a book about broadcasting since the main character's career had been a TV news producer. She wants to start her own talk show with her sisters' help in their small town. In my chick-lit mystery, A Fiery Secret, I researched investigative reporting for my feisty female reporter, Catherine Steel.

Is there a craft book that resonated with you and you'd suggest to others?

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass is a great book whether you're a beginning writer or already a published author. Some of my friends think his workbook is also very helpful, but I've only read the novel.

What is one thing your readers would find interesting about you?

Well, when I was young, I wanted to have 12 children someday. I didn't make it to 12 but we were blessed with 5 daughters and one son.

Do you have a next book planned and if so can we have a hint?

I've written several story ideas down for future books, but haven't started writing any chapters yet. I have the characters and several scenes in mind for each book. I'm probably going to start writing soon the story about a family going through an unimaginable accident.

And finally, where can readers find you?

I have a website, http://www.dianecraver.com/ and a blog, http://www.dianecraver.com/blog. I'm also on Facebook.

Dianne, thank you so much for interviewing me and for being a wonderful online friend for years.