Happy Valentine's- Author Interview- Diane O'Key

HAPPY VALENTINE'S

readers and with us to celebrate this universal day of love is author 

Diane O'Key.

Welcome to the blog Diane. 

Tell us three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C. 

Animated, Befuddled (by technology), Crafty (as in artsy-craft/sy J)

What are your three favorite things? 

Water—ocean, lake, river; nature—trees, birds, animals; vanilla anything

Are you self- published or with a publishing company (if so, which one?)? 

My publisher is The Wild Rose Press

Is there a process you stick to, or do you just write as it hits you?

I’m a ‘write in the mist/pantser,’ which means I know (or think I know) my characters—though they sometimes take me places I never expected—and have a general idea of where the story’s going. Major plot-points, conflicts, and the ending are clear, but not a clue how I’m going to get from A to G to P to Z. Challenging yet exhilarating as my characters drive the story and often surprise me…in a good way, usually…along the way.

Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story? 

I write where my heart and imagination take me. I’ve always loved history and classical literature, and the Medieval Period remains one of my favorites. Thinking about writing a romance set after the Norman Conquest, I was floating in the pool one afternoon and BAM! Cort (think Chris Hemsworth—may I just say ‘YUM’?--though I didn’t know it at the time), the hero of CHERISH THE KNIGHT, popped full-blown into my head. And I thought ‘Aren’t you pretty.’ <g> Then I saw the heroine, Lexi, and the story was off and running.

 Music is a big influence on my writing. I have certain songs that inspire each chapter, or the whole book. What helps to inspire you? 

When writing historical romance I enjoy Josh Groban, Celtic Woman, and Irish pipes. And my CD of the original CAMELOT soundtrack is really tired J.  When working on contemporaries, Country is my go-to: especially love Chris Young, though Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Garth (of course!),Keith Urban, and Lady A to mention a few others get their fair share of play time.

 Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books? 

My second book, BEYOND WORDS, is a contemporary Blue Ridge Mountains, small-town romance. A lighter, easier read (and write, for sure!) than the historical.  I hope it’s a feel-good, makes you smile, makes you sigh story. With an HEA, of course! And I’m working on a short contemporary (for an all-proceeds-to Leukemia Society anthology) with 2 other multi-published authors; it will feature secondary characters from BEYOND WORDS as the hero and heroine.

 If you could spend the day with any celebrity, who would it be?

Oh, boy, toss up among Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck,  Gary Sinise, and Kevin Costner. Although…sure would love to meet Chris Hemsworth in the flesh! May I add him as a ‘pretty’ DELICIOUS+ bonus?!

How about your favorite writer, book?

Do I have to choose one?! Impossible. TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLEs, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, LORD OF THE FLIES, DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN. Contemporary/mainstream/romance authors: Wilbur Smith, John Forsythe, Nora Roberts, Celeste deBlasis, Laura London, Elizabeth Lowell’s and Jude Devereau’s early novels, Robyn Carr, Lynnette Austin, Margaret Mallory, Monica McCarty

When writing, which do you prefer to write with, computer or paper and pen?

Sticky notes are everywhere with one-liners or scene ideas as they come to me. For actual writing, though, I prefer the computer. Change, edit, layer details…and delete, delete, delete LOL

Blurb

 THE LAST THING ABBY MATHIESON WANTS…

is a take-care-of-the-business-end partner. Emotional and financial demons spur her dream of self-reliance and her vow to continue her aunt’s legacy, Beyond Words, a Blue Ridge Mountains book-and-gift shop.

IS WHAT SHE MOST NEEDS…

Trey Dalton, sexy CPA with a heart of gold and a backbone of steel, wants nothing more than to return to his home in warm, sunny Florida. But he made a deathbed promise to ensure Abby succeeds…whatever it takes.

Conflict and sexual tension ramp up as they wrangle over the shop and deal with Abby’s quirky best friend and the incorrigible resident parrot. Abby’s sworn to trust no man, but Trey has her tangled up worse than knotted fishing line. If she can’t overcome her insecurities before he unravels her finances and leaves town forever, her precious independence will cost her a love Beyond Words.

Excerpt

           “Ready to call it a day?” Trey asked.

            “And then some.” Abby yawned hugely behind her hand.

            “I’ll walk you to your car.”

             “I don’t have a car.”

            Trey frowned. “Don’t— How do you get here?”

            “Ever heard of feet?”

            He looked as if she’d used a foul word. “But…I mean, everybody…”

            She took pity on him. “Before you dig yourself a bigger hole, pardner, I own a car. But home’s only half a mile. I enjoy the walk.”

            His expression hardened. “You’re walking. At this hour.”

            “Why not?” Geez, what was the big deal?

            “It’s not safe. Dark. You’ll be alone.”

            “I do it all the time. Wear a luminous-striped vest.” She sniffed. “And I’m used to being alone.”

            His eyes flashed, part anger, part something softer, quickly gone. “Well, tonight you’re not walking anywhere except to my truck.”

            “You don’t have —”

            “Yeah, I do. Don’t argue. I’m too tired to go another round with you.”

            How had she missed that? His handsome face looked drawn under its golden tan, his winter-gray eyes weary.

            “I’ll get my jacket.”

            Trey swiped up his keys. “Meet you out front.”

            Once she’d hooked her seatbelt, Abby flipped down the vent.

            “Too much?” He notched the fan to low. “Sorry, I’m not used to cold.”

            Cold? He hadn’t seen anything yet. But then, he wouldn’t hang around long enough….

            All light vanished beneath overhanging trees when he turned off the main street. High

beams on, hands white-knuckled, he slowed on the serpentine, uphill climb. Yup, Abby thought,

a Flatlander, for sure.

            “I’ll walk you up.”

            “No need.” What she needed, now, was to escape. Before she did something stupid. Like sink her hands into that silky, sun-bleached hair and find out if he tasted as good as he looked.

           

 Buy Links

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon

Bio

Diane O’Key (wife of our library courier, Dennis O’Key) invites you to celebrate the holidays with her new autumn-to-Christmas Blue Ridge Mountains romance, BEYOND WORDS.

She’d love to hear from you—all comments and questions welcome!

Dianeokey.com

Follow on Twitter @DianeOKey

Facebook.com/diane.okeyauthor