Guest Author Day with Dianne Hartsock & a Contest

Please give a warm welcome to author Dianne Hartsock as she sat down with me to talk about her new release in her Shelton series, Shelton's Homecoming. 


CONTEST INFORMATION: Dianne will be giving a PDF copy of Shelton’s Homecoming to one of her wonderful commenters. Please leave your contact info! She will pick the winner using Random.org. Contest ends July 3rd.


Now onto our interview....

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Hello! I grew up in a large, boisterous and loving family in California, spent ten years in the rocky mountains of Colorado, and now live in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. At the moment I spend every spare second on my writing, but I also read books like mad. I enjoy going out for coffee or lunch with friends, live music and browsing antique stores. I also like walking on the beach, hiking, having a good laugh, and sitting by the fire with my husband. Oh, and I’m also a floral designer.

What is your most interesting writing quirk? 

I’m one of those rare writers who edit a story as I write it. Every paragraph, sentence, and sometimes single words have to be exactly as I want them before I can move the story ahead. Friends tell me they dash off a story, then go back and add certain scenes or the transitional pieces. I can’t do that. If my characters aren’t placed where they want to be, the scene set up, they stop talking to me. It’s sometimes a pain, but at least when the story is finished, I have only light editing left to do before I can query.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)? 

In this fourth ‘Shelton’ book, Shelton’s grown tired of living a life separate from Nevil. So when Nevil is hurt in an accident at work, Shelton comes home for good. Feeling closer than ever to his lover, Shelton’s ready to make a lasting commitment to their relationship. But is that what Nevil wants? Nevil is less than enthusiastic when an old flame marries, leaving Shelton wondering if he’ll have to keep his dreams on hold indefinitely.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Shelton’s Homecoming flows naturally from the first three stories. At the end of Shelton’s Choice, Shelton is living in Colorado while Nevil remains in Oregon. I had to bring Shelton home where he belongs. And the ending to Shelton’s Homecoming is the HEA he’s always dreamed of.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why? 

C.J. Cherryh. I’ve fallen in love with more of her characters than I can count. I’d love to spend an afternoon discussing her worlds over a cup of coffee and inventing a world of my own with her help. She can uncover more depths to a character than any other writer I know.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing? 

Just relax and write! Don’t try to copy anyone else’s style. Write the words as they come to you and worry about cleaning up the mess later. It’s the best way to find your own unique ‘writer’s voice’.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list? 

I think I would like to be a painter. Ever since childhood I’ve always been intrigued with oil paints. Do you remember those black velvet ‘paint by numbers’ oil painting kits? I adored them! And strangely enough, I like the smell of linseed oil. I’m a floral designer, using flowers as my medium. If I didn’t create with words and flowers, I’d have to try paints.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

My favorite author, C.J. Cherryh, has re-worked her story called Rusalka. I’ve bought the eBook, now to find the time to read it! I love her character Sasha and can’t wait to read his new story.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress? 

Busy, busy! At the moment I’m working on an m/m erotic based on a Fairy Tale. I’m also writing an m/m contemporary story. Oh, and I’m about to start edits on an m/m erotic fantasy.

If we asked your muse to describe you in five words, what would they say about you?

Imaginative, flexible, loving, dedicated, driven

Anything else you want to add? Links?

Dianne Hartsock

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

Shelton’s Homecoming

Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.com/sheltons-homecoming

Special Price: $1.49

Shelton’s coming home, but after seven months of living apart, can he and Nevil pick up from where they’d left off?

Shelton’s grown tired of living a life separate from Nevil. So when Nevil is hurt in an accident at work, Shelton comes home for good. Feeling closer than ever to his lover, Shelton’s ready to make a lasting commitment to their relationship. But is that what Nevil wants? Nevil is less than enthusiastic when an old flame marries, leaving Shelton wondering if he’ll have to keep his dreams on hold indefinitely.

Excerpt: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/published-works/