Cathleen Townsend of The Beauty of Words was kind enough to interview me earlier this month. She’s a writer of “mostly fantasy, but ghost stories, historicals, and even the odd contemporary.” It was an honor and pleasure to be featured on her site. Without further ado…the interview:
Today’s guest is the lovely Diana Peach, whose blog, Myths of the Mirror, I highly recommend. Welcome to the Beauty of Words, Diana.
Thank you, Cathleen, for the opportunity to talk about writing on your blog. I can do that for hours but promise to keep this short.
It’s wonderful to have you. Let’s start at the beginning: when did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote stories and poems in high school and college, but it never occurred to me for one second to be a writer. I was a theater girl, and that too went by the wayside as the demands of work and raising a family took precedence.
Then, in 2010, my husband took an 18-month job in another state. The kids were already living on their own, so we sold our house and moved. I flipped a house (once is enough, thank you), and with nothing pressing, my husband suggested I write a book. “Oh, okay,” I said, and just like that I became a writer.
I wonder what would have happened if he’d suggested I arrange flowers. Hmmm.
Myths of the Mirror 
Reblogged this on Truth Troubles: Why people hate the truths' of the real world.
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Thanks for reading and the reblog 🙂 I appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
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Your husband won’t suggest you to arrange flowers because He knows from the start that you’re born to be a brilliant writer.
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I don’t know about that. 🙂 I think there are days where he regrets that I’m writing as I disappear into my laptop for 10 hours straight. But for the most part, he’s happy. I’m going to keep him!
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Diana, two things I took from your interview with Cathleen Townsend were ones that resonated with me. Knowing you always wrote, in high school and onwards into adulthood, says start young, keep journals and notebooks. A word to pass on the young writers. . .
The other part was not to plot out a book but take the characters to where they live, allow them to tell their stories, as they go along through the place you set them into.
I admire the fact your husband suggested you write: He believed in your craft! ❤ You are blessed, even if you still have struggles and hurdles. 🙂
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Thanks, Robin. I had 3 decades between my college writing and when I took it up again. So another message might be that it’s rarely to late to try something new and discover what you love to do. 😀 Thanks for the vist!
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Great interview, Diana! You are amazing!
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Not amazing, Inese, just tripping my way through this thing called life and trying to enjoy every moment of it. Thanks for the visit, my friend. Have a wonderful week 🙂
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❤
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such a lovely interview 🙂 ❤
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Thanks for reading, Sacha. Have a great week, my friend ❤
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Loved your interview, Diana. ☺
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Thanks for reading. I really do love this whole writing business and it’s fun to chat about 🙂 Happy Writing, my friend.
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I will eventually catch up on your works…I’ve got Sunwielder on my my fire already and will be getting into it in a few days. 🙂
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I don’t know how you get all this reading done…and write…and have a life. You’re amazing!
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Small steps at a time. 😉 I swap back and forth a lot. If I’m waiting for something to upload/download for example, I’ll go do something else, like check my emails, do a quick response to ones that need it, or read for a few minutes… I get a lot more done that way. I get a lot of reading in while waiting on appointments and things like that too. I think it’s more to do with being organised to be honest. 🙂
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Are you saying I’m not organized?? Ha ha. Just teasing. Well, I think you’re amazing anyway. 🙂
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Oops, not at all! (Phew!) Thanks! 😀
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Great interview…particularly loved the bit about being part of a writer’s critique group. Will definitely be doing that sometime in the future.
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That was probably the most important thing I did to improve my writing, Mahevash. Thanks so much for reading and commenting 🙂 Have a lovely weekend.
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Thanks for sharing the pro tip 🙂
I did…hope you had a lovely weekend as well 🙂
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You are a writing machine, Diana! It is coded in your DNA – absolutely meant to be! It’s so wonderful to read about people living their dream. Wish you many, many more years of inspiration and success. 🙂
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6 more books, Kelly, and I’ll take a break for a couple weeks. Ha ha. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
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You too! And please pass the ambition before there’s none left! 🙂
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A wonderful interview Diana, congratulations! I love your advice on what an author should write about…”Write What You Love” I love how you became a writer! Congratulations again!
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Thanks, Antonia. I know, I just tripped into it, and I’m so glad I did! Now I can’t stop. Yes, write what you love. This is such hard work, there’s no other way. Happy Writing 🙂
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What a great story! So, is this your plot for your next book? Add a few fantastical elements, and voila! New book (yeah, if it were only that easy, right? 🙂 ) Thanks for sharing, Diana. And kudos to your hubby for encouraging you. His suggestion fits you well 😉
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Yeah, that next book. It’s been on hold while I revisit my traditionally published books and rerelease them. My brain is stewed with all this editing and the deadline is fast approaching. I can’t wait to get back to the new story! Thanks for the visit, Julie. Yeah, the hubby is something of a saint. I have no complaints 😀
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A great interview and a husband who encouraged you that’s lovely.. 🙂
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He’s a keeper, for sure, Carol. Thanks so much for reading and dropping a note. Have a lovely day 🙂
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It’s lovely to have a keeper I have one.. Yes my nan’s door knocker has invoked wonderful memories and I think that’s lovely to be able to do that… 🙂 I hope you havena lovely day 🙂
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It was lovely getting to know more about you Diana. And I love the way you choose to outline your books. 🙂 I’m not so different.
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Thanks Debby. I feel like I’m still learning this stuff…someday hopefully I’ll know what I’m doing! Ha ha. Hope you have a happy healthy June!
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Happy June to you too Diana. And I’d say you’re doing just fine in the writing department! 🙂
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Great interview — and I second all of your advice to aspiring authors, Diana! I’m so envious that you’ve been so prolific in the relatively short span of just six years!
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I wasn’t blogging! And didn’t have grandchildren! It’s a balancing act now more than it ever was. Thanks for reading and Happy Writing, Sean. You’ll get there 🙂
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You are a lovely person both inside and out! What a wonderful interview!
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Thanks, Lynn. I appreciate you stopping by to read. Have a wonderful evening full of smiles and love ❤
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Thanks so much and I wish you the same!
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Congratulations!
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Thanks so much for the reblog, Robert. I couldn’t find a way to comment on your blog and thank you there. I so appreciate the kind words and the share 🙂 ❤ I'm smiling!
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Are you blocked from my blog? Is there a way I can fix that if you are?
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I thought maybe comments were closed. I’m not blocked and usually comments are right there. This also could be me – sometimes my computer doesn’t load websites properly 🙂 It’s all good, Robert. I just wanted to make sure you knew how much I appreciated the reblog 😀
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OK..I love your blog, your comments and your writing…
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What a fun interview, Diana. I love that your husband–almost offhandedly?–suggested you write a book. I wouldn’t even tell my husband what I was doing, locked away in my office for hours.
Love that picture of you. It’s a keeper.
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It was an off-handed suggestion. Little did he realize that I’d be writing 10 hours a day for six years! Ha ha. Thanks so much for the visit, Jacqui. Hope your week is wonderful. 🙂
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Wonderful interview, Diana. Nine books! Wow! 🙂
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Thanks for the visit! My goal is 15 books, and then I’ll take a break to remember who I’m married to, the poor man. Have a great day and Happy Writing 🙂
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A wonderful interview, Diana. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Steven. I feel like so many of us have similar experiences that it’s hard to come up with something “fresh” to say, but it’s always fun to talk writing and books. I’d actually really enjoy interviewing you (hint hint). 🙂
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I’ve only done two interviews since Ordinary Handsome was published. I guess I assumed I was boring. It would be interesting and an honor. 🙂
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I’ll work on questions and try to make it interesting. Give me a couple weeks 🙂
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At your convenience. 🙂
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Great interview. I am glad you didn’t start making flower arrangements, even though I think you would have been great at it.
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It was such a haphazard way to start this journey that now consumes my life! I wonder if my husband regrets the suggestion since he’s moved to #2 on my priority list (?). 😀 Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a wonderful week!
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I hope that’s not the truth. Have a wonderful week as well my friend.
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If he told you to learn to arrange flowers, you may have started writing on gardens, I like the fantasy! Enjoyed it much.
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Thanks for reading 🙂 As an introvert, interviews are always a little awkward, but I do love talking about all things writing, so that part is total fun. Have a lovely day, my friend ❤
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I am so amazed at your talent Diana! Great interview!
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Aw. Thanks, Kathryn. A bit of it may
be talent, but my first attempt at writing was no masterpiece, that’s for sure. So much just comes down to hard work and determination. And having the time, which in my case, I’ve been blessed. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!
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I loved the interview questions and answers. It’s awesome to learn new things about you, Diana.
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Thanks for reading, Mary. I like interviews with some unusual questions. Cathleen was a wonderful host. 🙂
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It’s a terrific interview, Diana, and it was an honor to have you on my blog. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Cathleen. I’m delighted, of course, to share it here and send everyone your way. Happy Writing!
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Hi Diana,
I just hopped over to ‘The Beauty Of Words’ to read your interview and was amazed at the time you devote to writing! Well, there lies the secret of publishing so many books! I like your philosophy of ‘writing what you love’…words flow spontaneously when we write on such topics.
Happy writing! 🙂 Stay blessed!
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Thanks, Balroop. My writing has slowed down significantly as a result of blogging. The perfect balance still eludes me! Thanks for reading and have a great week! ❤
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Hats off the you dear friend for being such a prolific writer! 🙂 You inspire me.
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This was wonderful! Thank you for sharing, and so inspirational to all writers out there. Also, I have shamefully realised I have been calling you Diane instead of Diana, and for that I apologise. Also, I am sure you would have made a wonderful florist, but I sure am glad you chose to become a writer 🙂
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Ha ha. My parents call me Diane so I don’t even notice it. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and reading, Lenora. Have a great week!
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Hahah, that’s funny, why do they, if you don’t mind my asking?
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I never asked! One less syllable is my guess 🙂 😀
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You, Diana, are an inspiration and don’t let anyone tell you different. 🙂
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Thanks, Richard. Just having the time of my life and trying not to take things to seriously. ❤
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Best way 🙂
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“I wonder what would have happened if he’d suggested I arrange flowers.”
You would have become an internationally renowned florist, and blogger! 🙂
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😀 :-D. Little did he know what he was setting in motion…six years later and I’m still taking his suggestion!
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Ha ha! Well, it makes for a good story. A different start to the usual “I wanted to write since I was in the womb” style of author origin story 🙂
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