Dianne Hartsock: Finding Inspiration In Everything and Everyone In Her Life

Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy writing schedule to be with us today, Dianne. Why don’t we begin by having you tell us a little bit about your background?

Thanks so much for having me here today. To start with, I grew up in California, spent ten years of marriage in Colorado, and now live with my husband and family in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. Having worked with the public through various careers I’ve come to respect the resilience and strength of the human spirit. I’m always trying to capture that spirit in my writing. Currently, I work as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop.

Was there a defining point in your life when you realize that storytelling was what you were meant to do?

I’ve always been a storyteller, starting with the bedtime stories I told to my younger siblings. But it wasn’t until a 7th grade creative writing class that it became a passion. The teacher was enthusiastic about my writing and encouraged me to start submitting to magazines. I’ve been writing ever since.

To date, how many books have you written?

My paranormal/suspense novel, ALEX, has just been published by Solstice Publishing: http://bitly.com/liLUSG
A short erotica, Shelton in Love, is out from Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/291
Its sequel, Shelton’s Promise, comes out
July 8, 2011 http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/345
Also, I have a short ghost story with MuseItUp Publishing for this October: http://museituppublishing.com/

I also have many more MS’s in the works!

How long did take for your first book to be published?

I’ve been writing for years and not having any luck with ‘traditional’ publishers. But once I found the eBook market, from the moment I sign a contract to seeing the story published, has been about three months. Love that!

What interests you most about writing in a paranormal setting as opposed to a contemporary?

I love to write in a paranormal setting, simply because those stories always have a touch of magic and wonder to them. As if anything is possible. I try to stay within the boundaries of the worlds I create, but even then, some incredible things seem to happen.

How long does it generally take for you to finish a manuscript?

There’s no guarantee. My novel took three months to write and a year to edit. The short stories run about two weeks to write and about that many more to edit before I think they’re ready to submit somewhere.

How much creative input do you have in the cover design for your books?

For all my stories, I filled out a form outlining what I’d like to see on the cover. The cover artists then matched the picture as close as they could with my ideas. I’ve loved all my covers so far!

When did you begin writing in the Male/Male genre? What about the genre interests you the most?

Last summer I attended an online writers’ conference by MuseItUp Publishing. One of the seminars was given by Jamieson Wolf, an outstanding m/m writer. He’s a very personable man, and his characters caught at my heartstrings. I wanted to try my hand at the erotic side of m/m relationships. I enjoy the challenge of writing from a male’s perspective when making love. It’s been an eye-opener!

Do you write full time? If not, how many hours per day do you try to dedicate to your writing?

Alas, I have a full time job outside the home and have to squeeze in minutes here and there to write. On a typical day, I can manage an hour in the morning and another two in the evening. But that includes the time I have to commit to social websites as well. I never can write as much as I’d like, which would be every minute of every day!

Do you typically outline your plots before you begin the writing process, or do you write in a more freestyle fashion?

I usually have an ending in mind. Sometimes I even write the last scene first, then go back and start at the beginning. A typical example: I’m writing the third story in my ‘Shelton’ series. I wrote the opening scene, but changed my mind and sent that to the end of the MS and started over. This new scene is now going to be somewhere in the middle of the story, and I’m working on a whole new beginning. I seem to write in fits and starts, with my characters often taking control and sending my story in unexpected directions. I seldom know how it’s all going to play out until it’s in print.

What has been the most difficult topic you’ve ever tackled in your writing?

In my novel ALEX, the main character has been physically and emotionally abused by his mother for years. Researching the subject of child abuse was incredibly hard for me. Some of the cruelties done to these children will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Of all the characters you’ve created, do you have one in particular who stands out among the others as a favorite? If so, who and why?

My favorite character is a rogue named Korel from a fantasy WIP I’m currently working on. He’s lovely and smart, with a shock of copper hair and brilliant blue eyes full of mischief. He enjoys good food and wine and lovely objects. He’s also an incorrigible tease. If there’s any trouble around, you’re sure to find Korel in the middle of it.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, do you have any routines or exercises you use to get beyond it?

I haven’t yet, knock on wood! But I have read elsewhere that if you get stuck on a scene, have your characters make love. Even if you don’t end up using the scene in the story, it tends to loosen things up and gets the old imagination flowing. Besides, it’s fun!

When someone reads one of your books for the first time, what do you hope they take away from it?

I hope they’ve laughed and cried and had an enjoyable read. Oh, and that love is worth the effort.

What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received with respect to the art of writing? How did it change the way you approach your craft?

The quote ‘Write what brings you joy’ is absolutely correct. Write about what you love and what interests you. And have fun with it! I’d always taken writing and myself so seriously, but now that I’m enjoying the process, I’m writing so much better.

Will you share three things you’ve learned about the business of writing since your first publication?

1. Come ready to work! Promote, promote, promote…

2. That there are a lot of incredibly nice people in the writing community. I’ve made some wonderful friends.

3. There’s always someone ready to give advice. Take what works for you, but in the end, keep true to yourself.

If you were to offer a word of advice to a new author just starting out, what would it be?

Believe in yourself and your writing. There’s a publisher out there who’ll love your story as much as you do. You just have to get out there and find them.

Do you generally have the titles of you work planned before you begin writing, or does that occur later on in the writing process?

I’ll usually have a title by the middle of a story. They just seem to pop into my head.

What is the question you’re most frequently asked by your fans?

Where do you get your inspiration for a story? 🙂 Aren’t we all asked that question? I’m inspired by everything and everyone in my life.

What is your most memorable fan experience?

Cheesy, I know, but it was the very first piece of fan mail I ever received. I grinned to myself all day.

How much of yourself, your life experiences, and the people you know manifest themselves into your characters?

All my stories are character driven, so every experience, good or bad, and every friendship and love and moment of pain or joy in my life, is used in my storytelling.

When it comes to promotion, what lengths have you gone to in order to increase awareness of your work?

Everything’s happened so quickly! At the moment I’m focusing on blog tours and social media sites and book/writing clubs. When my novel goes to print, I’ll carry it into bookstores, book signings, newspaper articles and doing radio spots… Anything else I can think of.

When you have the chance to sit down and enjoy some quiet reading time, what sorts of books are you most likely to pick up? Who are your favorite authors?

I love a good medical thriller by Robin Cook, Michael Critchon, Patricia Cornwell or Michael Palmer. I enjoy the romance/mystery stories of Elizabeth Peters and the fantasy/sci/fi stories of C.J. Cherryh. I love me a good Dean Koontz thriller. Oh, there’s so many others, I can’t name them all!

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I think I would be a painter. I’ve always been intrigued with oil paints. I’m a floral designer, using flowers as my medium. If I didn’t create with words, I’d have to try paints.

Aside from writing, what else do you enjoy doing? Do you have any hobbies?

No hobbies, but I enjoy a long walk, a good book, coffee with friends, live music, a snuggle by the fireplace with my guy, an exciting movie… the list goes on!

Do you have any new projects in the works you’d like to share with your fans?

I’ve started the third story in my ‘Shelton’ series. I’m also working on another m/m erotica, this time a fantasy/adventure. And I’m still reworking two fantasy novels, hoping to send out queries for them soon. I seem to have more ideas than time anymore!

What’s your favorite dessert?

Chocolate cake with layers of chocolate frosting. Yum…

If time travel were possible, what time period(s) would you most like to visit? Why?

The future. I’d love to see how our own story works out.

If you had the opportunity to sit down to dinner with one famous person, either past or present, who would you choose and why?

The only person I’d like to have dinner with would be Ursula Le Guin. I love her books and admire her courage in writing them. I’m afraid I’d be too tongue-tied to speak, though!

If we were to look around the desk where you sit to write, what would we find there?

I write at the dining room table. There’s a clipboard on my right crammed with notes and lists of things to do in the week ahead. A delicious, fresh brewed cup of coffee is cooling beside it. To my left is a picture window overlooking the garden. Straight ahead through the kitchen is the sliding glass door to the flower garden out back. The room is usually filled with sunlight and quiet music and dreams.

What’s your favorite movie?

What genre?  I have to say it’s ‘9’ by Tim Burton. It’s about a man who splits his soul into nine entities to save mankind. The tenderness and gentleness the characters show each other is beautiful.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Having to go to work in the morning when all I want to do is stay home and write!

How would you describe your sense of humor? What makes you laugh?

I like quirky, off beat characters in books and movies. I like humorous, well-told, true life stories. Kittens can be hilarious as well.

Who are your favorite actors, both male and female?

Kate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Sandra Bullock, to name a few.

Do you have an all time favorite fictional character?

I have to say it’s John Smythe, a character from Elizabeth Peters’ Vicky Bliss series. What a man! He’s like a bumbling James Bond, only way cuter and more human.

Who’s on your iPod/MP3 player?

Annie Lennox, Arcade Fire, Blue October, Counting Crows, Death Cab, Josh Groban, The Killers, Lydia, Matt Pond PA, The National, Placebo, The Shins, Silversun Pickups, Snow Patrol, Sufjan Stevens, Wintersleep, etc.

Without getting up to look, what’s under your bed?

Wild dust-bunnies.

Do you speak more than one language? If so, which one(s)?

Gibberish, especially late at night past my bedtime.

Of all the modern conveniences, which one would you most likely say you couldn’t live without?

My Cuisinart ‘grind and brew’ coffee maker, with timer. I get a freshly brewed cup of coffee every morning! Heaven.

Thanks again for spending some time with us, Dianne. Will you tell us where we can find you on the Internet?

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

And we’d love if you’d share a favorite excerpt from one of your books with us.

This excerpt comes from my m/m romance, ‘Shelton’s Promise’ soon to be released from Breathless Press, July 8, 2011 http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/345

Blurb: Shelton has a gift he’s anxious to give to Nevil. At the party, Nevil flirts with one man after another, keeping Shelton on his toes. Then Percy shows up to complicate things. Despite his best efforts, Shelton can’t find the right moment to give Nevil his gift. Will Nevil ever let Shelton get close to him, or will Shelton have to keep the gift in his pocket all evening?

Nevil smiled fondly down at him, running a hand through Shelton’s chestnut curls. He tilted Shelton’s chin up and kissed him one more time. “Get dressed, love. I’ll warm the car.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Shelton made a grab for him, but Nevil skipped out of reach. Shelton heard him laughing as he left the room. When the front door slammed, Shelton dressed hurriedly but took a moment to transfer the jewelry box from his suit to his winter coat pocket and turn off the stereo. Shelton crammed a tan snowcap over his hair and pulled on his gloves as he left the house. The snow had begun to stick, and he walked gingerly over the ice slicking the pavement. He could see his breath in the cold air and wrapped his scarf tighter against the chilled wind. He was shivering by the time he reached the car.

Climbing into the passenger seat, he noted that Nevil wore his black leather coat and cap. Nevil looked darkly handsome, the blue green eyes startlingly beautiful as Nevil glanced at him. He smiled affectionately and Shelton’s heart swelled with love for him.

“Can’t we stay home?” he tried one last time, not eager to be out in the storm. And he wanted to give Nevil his gift in private that night. He’d been thinking about it all day.

“Don’t be stupid,” Nevil said cheerfully, steering the car into the street. The car slid a little on the dusting of snow, and Nevil slowed down to a safer speed, though he teased Shelton about his white knuckles on the dashboard. It took twenty minutes to cross town, and then they were climbing into the hills, Nevil slowing further as evening shadows settled in and the snow thickened.

Usually it was a beautiful drive into the woods, but as the car began to slide more often on the curves, Shelton gritted his teeth, wishing they’d stayed home like he’d wanted. He didn’t breathe freely until they parked in the line of cars already in Stewart’s driveway. Nevil left the Prius with a look of anticipation on his face, but Shelton walked more slowly through the slush before climbing onto the porch a few steps behind Nevil.

Stewart answered the door, and after a riotous greeting, Nevil disappeared with him into the crowd. Shelton took a minute to talk to Stewart’s wife, though he shuddered as she drunkenly flung her arms around him. “Shelton, darling!”

“Andrea.” Shelton nodded, forcefully removing her hands from his butt and stepping around her into the house. He shrugged out of his coat before shoving it into her hands to stop her from unbuttoning his shirt as well. “Thanks for inviting us,” he called over his shoulder, winding his way around couples toward the kitchen. He caught Nevil’s laughing eyes on him from across the room and scowled, realizing Nevil had left him with the woman on purpose. Really, Andrea’s aggressive advances were enough to make any man’s pride curl up and hide.

He found safety in the kitchen, where he grabbed a beer. He headed for the den, hoping someone was watching the game. Sure enough, the second period of the hockey match had already begun, ice flying on the TV screen. Ignoring the couple making out on the far end of couch, Shelton nodded to the few people he knew in the room and settled into the cushions to watch.

He took a swallow of the cold beer. God, I am tired. He never should have come out with Nevil. He didn’t have the energy for one of Stewart’s parties. His eyes grew heavy, and a dream began to form behind his lids of a warm bed and soft pillows and Nevil’s arms, when he was startled awake by someone leaning over the couch, their hands running over his chest.

Nevil chuckled in his ear. “Did I wake you? Come out with me. I’m lonesome.” He tugged on Shelton’s sleeve.

Shelton obediently followed Nevil to the door, still trying to shake the sleep from his head, when Nevil stopped him and then guided him to a dark corner of the room. Nevil backed Shelton against the wall and pressed against him.

“I could eat you alive,” Nevil murmured against Shelton’s mouth, then started a long, drugging kiss.