A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in Don Massenzio’s Author Interview series. Want to know what I would tell my younger writing-self? Or how long it takes me to write a book? Head over for a quick visit. Many thanks to Don for the fun interview and the opportunity to chat with everyone on his blog!
It’s time for the next subject for my 2018 author interview series. Author interviews are posted every Friday throughout the year.
I am honored to continue this series with Oregon author, artist D. Wallace Peach
You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directory page.
If you’re an author interested in being interviewed in this series, I still have limited spots available for 2018. You can email me at don@donmassenzio.com
Now, please enjoy this interview with D. Wallace Peach:
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Well, I hope that these are occasionally the same thing! As a reader, I’m often looking for originality, and I think that may be the norm for fans of speculative fiction. Unlike some genres where certain tropes define the form, speculative fiction is incredibly broad, and there’s no…
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Myths of the Mirror 
Great interview, Diana! In response to your first comment, I know so many (screen)writers who take the approach you cite: I want to write the next version of this or that. They look at Game of Thrones and ask, “How can I come up with something just like that?” No one who ever took that view of writing succeeded at it, as far as I know. You have to want to be a writer because you’ve got something to express — something that reflects your beliefs, your worldview, your unique imagination. I never read a story — even the ones that have inspired me — that I wished I’d written; only my own material adequately reflects me.
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Yes, you talked about originality in the post that I shared on the blog. Speaking of your own material reflecting you… are you getting closer? I feel like we should have a parade when the book comes out! Lol. Just teasing you, of course. These things can’t be rushed. 🙂 I’m so looking forward to the read.
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Haha! I’ve fallen a little behind schedule on account of some heavy traveling I’ve been doing the past month, but I basically have one more proofread to do and then it’s done. I’ve got several new projects in the chamber, and I’m excited to start exploring some different imaginary worlds!
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😀
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I’m a writer but still trying to sort
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Thanks for the visit. Happy Writing 🙂
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This interview was so good, it encouraged me to be interviewed by Don also! I think I’ll be in there sometime in August. So great to learn more about each other, about our writing, and about what motivates and inspires us.
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Thanks, Pam. He does have a great list of questions, and it was fun visiting on his site. I also enjoy learning about how other writers and how they thinks about and approach the craft. I can’t wait to read your responses. ❤
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Ooooh this is so good!
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Thanks, Jay. 🙂 I can talk writing and books until everyone’s ears fall off, so these interviews are always fun. Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a great week!
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This is a great interview, Diana. I like Don’s questions.
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He does a nice bunch of questions and also get up all the images to go along with the post. It was a blast hanging out at his site and visiting with everyone. Thanks, Robbie! Have a great week!
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loved the interview, Diana. I’ve never googled myself, but i think i’m heading off to google from here.
but i read all my reviews. it’s routine for me to go to my author’s dashboard every morning when i wake up, and every night before i go to bed.
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Have fun googling yourself. I’m pretty boring… which is okay with me! Thanks for stopping by, Jina. Hope you have an amazing week. 🙂
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Rather than Googling ( which is skewed by your own previous searches) its worth using Duckduckgo as a search engine, which does not track previous ones. You will look much more important and almost everything you’ve done will come up!
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Thanks, Philippa. It never hurts to look important now and then. 🙂 I’ll give it a try!
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It’s a terrific interview, Diana. I’m glad you shared it here. Hugs.
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Thanks for taking a peek, Teagan. Don is a great host and I enjoyed his questions. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Awesome interview, Diana! I love learning more about my writing pals. And six months for a novel from start to publish? Wow! I can write a draft in 30 days, but add a whole lot more before it’s ready to see the light of day 😀 Now, if I could just write faster so I could read more…
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It helps that I’m an outliner and edit as I go, gal… I think (I have no idea, honestly). It take me about 3 months to pull off a first draft and then 3 months of editing time. And all that is full time, without kids, a job, other duties pulling on my time. And yes, I’d go slower if I made more time to read – always a struggle!
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I am so envious–full-time fiction writer. Although, I do get to write for my job, just not the fun stuff like dragons or aircraft mechanics 😀
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Lol! Happy Writing!
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Wonderful interview! I’ve decided to go the traditional route for my picture books, but some of my friends can attest to the creative freedom you get going indy.
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Thanks for the visit and for reading, Jen. And good luck with your book! I am so much happier as an indie author, but each of us has to find what works individually. The good news is that we can always change gears. Kids picture books are harder to do independently, so you’re probably making the right choice. Enjoy the adventure! Happy Writing!
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Wonderful interview, Diana. I always enjoy rereading anything you’ve written 🙂 ❤️
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Thanks you, Tina. Don is so kind to offer these opportunities to other authors, and I love to chat about writing and books. Have a wonderful weekend. Peace, my friend. ❤
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It was a fantastic interview, Diana. I enjoyed it then and now!
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Thanks, Jan. You’re so sweet to revisit!! It’s fun to share over here too. Happy Writing and have a fantastic weekend!
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Great interview, Diana! Love getting to know you a bit better and admire you for writing everyday and completing a whole novel in only 6 months!!
Tolkien is one of my very favourite writers – I really couldn’t imagine a world where his works weren’t existing. I started reading him at age 11 and re-read his books every couple of years – he never fails to amaze me. 😊❤
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I remember having a book hangover when I finished the Lord of the Rings. I inhaled it and was so bereft when it was over! Tolkien opened my mind to books and I’ve been an addict since. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to read. I can talk about writing and books until everyone is yawning! ❤
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Hehe! Me too! 😉 Next days at school were always a bit blurry. 😉 But these are the best kind of hangovers so I never complain about them. 😀 Happy writing and talking about it and books! ❤
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Great interview! Six months is TOTALLY fast! It takes me between two to four times that to get a book ready for the publisher, so please do not be too hard on yourself 😉 I enjoyed finding out a bit more about you, Diane—and Charlotte’s Web made me cry, too… I love it, but I’ve never dared to pick it up again. It’s a book I would give as a gift to any child, though. Maybe it should even be required reading or something, it’s that good.
Thanks so much for popping over at Damyanti’s, and for the lovely comment you left. Much, much appreciated!
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My pleasure, Guilie. I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. It does seem that most people think 6 months is fast, but I write full time – about 50 hours solid every week! I have no life! Ha ha. But it’s not a race, right? As long as we love what we do, it’s all good. Happy Writing!
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Diana, I thought I’d written on this interview when it came out – seems not! 😀 A terrific relaxed interview and I enjoyed learning more about you. You have achieved so much since you started writing – more than many who start in their 20s or 30s. I think hours at the craft is key and you put in those hours. Six months is quick to write a book and you seem to be releasing new ones all the time – I’m impressed! xx
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So many writers have mentioned that six months seems like a short time. But I feel like I’m so slow slow slow. You’re right that it comes down to the number of hours. 😀 Thanks for the visit, my friend. I hope you have a gorgeous weekend. Hugs ❤
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Nice work hon!
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Thanks, Jess. I can talk about writing and books until people’s eyes roll back in their heads. 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed the interview! Happy Editing!
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Yeah me too 🤗
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Wonderful blog, Don has. I’ll pop over and see what’s up.
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Thanks, Jacqui. Don is a wonderful support to indie authors, and I was delighted to participate in his interview series. Thanks for checking it out. 😀
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Great Interview! 😀 Charlotte’s Web is one of my favorites too and 6 months doesn’t sound slow at all for me haha 😀
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Thank you. Isn’t Charlotte’s Web great? I think it will be just as popular 100 years from now. My current books are taking a little longer, but I do write all day every day, Maybe it just feels slow! Lol. Thanks for the visit. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend.
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Fantastic interview Diana. I left comment at Don’s. But forgot to say, lol, I”m with you on Googling ourselves. 🙂 ❤
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Thanks, Debby. I’m checking Don’s blog too for comments. And after writing up the interview, I did google myself. Nothing too exciting. Lol.
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You are so funny!!!! 🙂 xx
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a great opportunity for readers to get to know you a little.
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Thanks for the visit, Libby. I enjoyed Don’s questions and it’s fun to chat with everyone about writing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy Writing. 🙂
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Wonderful interview, Diana!
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Thanks, Jill. I enjoy these, especially when the questions are a little different. Don is a great support of indie authors and he hosts a wonderful interview. Happy Writing!
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Enjoyed learning more about you over at Don’s blog, Diana! 🙂 Sharing from there. xo
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Thanks for visiting and sharing, Bette. He’s wonderful about supporting other authors, isn’t he? Have a wonderful Friday and weekend. Hope you have some wonderful spring weather. ❤
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Spring has finally arrived…Yay! 🙂 Wishing you a fabulous weekend, Diana! xo
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Another interesting interview, Diana.
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Thanks, Mary. I think everyone must get tired of these after a while. But… I do enjoy reading about other authors, so maybe not. Happy Writing, my friend. ❤
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Great interview. I agree with @failing that six months is very short! It has taken me two months to complete an essay!
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But I write from 4 AM until 4 PM every day (with time out for blogging)! You probably have a life, Philippa. 🙂 Okay, I’ll stop thinking of myself as a slow writer. Lol. Thanks for the visit, my friend. ❤
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Well! That’s dedication, or obsession. No, I don’t have a life at all. I walk a dog daily and the rest of the time snarl at the possibility we are about to get our very own Trump, only at the opposite end of ideology-naked communism. In between I write! So now we understand the gulf in achievements!
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I hope you don’t get a Trump! Why do we make ourselves endure these maniacs in order to learn our lessons? Ugh. I guess progress requires some severe regression first. Hang in there. ❤
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Great interview! And six months for a whole novel doesn’t seem slow to me…I’m curious what the average among authors would be?
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A couple other people mentioned that as well. I write about 250 words an hour, which seems slow to me. But, since I’m not juggling a job and kids, I can write 10 hours a day! Ha ha. It’s all relative, I guess. 🙂 The most important thing is to enjoy the time we get to write and the time we’re filling our lives with other pleasures. ❤
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Great interview. I really enjoy your writing!
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Thanks, Anneli. I like it when some of the questions are ones I haven’t answered before. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the sunshine!
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