Today we have one of the most fun folks in the galaxy with us, Agent Z from the Galaxy Express! She’s also a newly minted author writing under the code name of Diane Dooley. Because the Galactic Police are after her, and we want you able to find her books, we’ll refer to her by her code name from now on.
Diane, welcome to the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, where the men are all handsome, the women are all gorgeous, and the yap runs wild and free.I’ve come to the right place!
You have indeed! Before we get into the interview, I’d like to catch those who might not know up on all that is Diane. She was born in the Channel Islands and grew up in Scotland. After many years of bumming around she finally settled down in Upstate New York, where the summers are short and the winters just might just kill you dead. She lives with her best friend/husband, who can’t fix a damn thing, and two obstreperous boy children in a falling-down farmhouse in the sticks. She is very happy.
When she is not writing science fiction, romance or horror - sometimes all in the same story - she can be found chasing after her children with a big stick, geeking out with her husband, working a full-time job, indulging her addiction to Youtube or, most likely, with her nose deep in a book.
Isn’t she cool? So, without any more delay, on to the burning questions!Q. What prompted you to become a writer? Was it voices in your head, a burning desire to tell a story, or just too creative for your own bad self?
A. Heck, no. I’m in it for the money. Really. I was a stay-at-home mom with a workaholic husband, the above-mentioned falling-down farmhouse and two children with an unrelenting (and perfectly understandable) desire for expensive Star Wars toys. I decided to get rich the easy way by banging out novels. Just because I’ve spent more on printer paper than I’ve made from my writing is besides the point.
Q. Money? There’s money in this? Wait a minute…oh. The agent says it comes ‘in time’. I assume that means it’s heading to us from a galaxy far, far away. But, onward. Writing styles -- outline or wing it, music (and what kind) or silence, chaos or serenity, only novels or other lengths as well?
A. Usually I’ve got something brilliant worked out in my head before I even start writing. It turns into something mediocre as I type it all out. Then I whip myself into a frenzy of editing and polishing until I’ve got something halfway decent. Then I send it off to a prospective victim/publisher and wallow in margarita-fuelled misery until I hear back.
Silence? What is that? If I waited for silence in my busy household I’d never get a thing written. I don’t listen to music while I write because music is too important and takes up all of my attention (see above-mentioned Youtube addiction.) I DO listen to music to get me in the mood for certain types of scenes. Here (
http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/sexy-songs-for-writing-sex-scenes/) for instance, are some of the songs that help me get in the mood for writing sex scenes.
I write in all lengths, from flash fiction to novels, and in a variety of genres. I wish I could say that I follow my muse, but I actually think it’s more like attention-deficit disorder.
Q. Soul sister! I knew I loved you. Your first Science Fiction Romance novella,
Blue Galaxy, is going to be released…TOMORROW. So, in honor of your big release, give us the ol’ author overview.
Falling in love is easy; staying alive long enough to enjoy it just might be impossible.
Javan Rhodes, the hard-drinking, disreputable captain of space freighter The Kypris, took a mission to save himself from hitting the bottom of the food chain. Transporting Sola, a beautiful young aristocrat, from Earth to an unknown destination on the outer rim of the colonies is lucrative, but also highly illegal.
As tough as it is to evade both the law and the lawless, the hardest part of the job is not falling in love with his irresistible cargo. Just as he decides that he will never be able to hand her over to the warlord she must marry, he discovers that Sola has been playing a very dangerous game—one that could not only cost them their lives, but could also affect the balance of power in an increasingly dangerous universe.Basically, it’s sex and violence. In space. With Greeks.
Q. You speak my language. Next up, can we have an excerpt?
Javan shuffled in the dry dust, covering a smattering of blood he’d missed.
The group finally navigated around the bots and cargo pallets and stopped in front of him. He noted the ultraviolet of the protective devices beneath their pale blue cloaks, though the light was barely visible under the harsh Greek sun. He offered his hand to the nearest Blue. The group regarded his hand but did not turn off their protection—except one. A slight figure stepped to the front and placed a hand in his.
“Captain Rhodes?” she said in a low voice, giving him a firm handshake.
He nodded, distracted by her soft golden skin.
“My name is Sola. I am your cargo.” She pulled the blue hood away from her face, revealing sparkling brown eyes, and stared with such fierce intensity that it shook him.
She smiled.
And Captain Javan Rhodes, gazing on what had to be the most exquisite face in the entire universe, felt his heart twist as he fell instantly, irrevocably and most definitely in love.Q. Way cool! Sounds hot already. So, what’s it like, going from running from the Galactic Police to becoming a published author? It is like joining the Establishment or are you still keepin’ it gangsta?
A. Myself and Agent Z are currently embroiled in a fight to the death over who is in charge. Every now and then she finds she has a strange urge to can up homemade apple sauce and bake artisan bread. Every now and then I find myself wanting to annihilate every tentacle monster in the galaxy. We’re trying to work out a custody agreement. Liberal applications of gargleblasters keep us both happy.
Q. What’s next for you? Sequels, prequels, something different, heading to Disneyland?
A. Went to Disney, had a short but passionate affair with Goofy, he was marvelous. Next up is the second episode of the Blue Galaxy saga, followed by two contemporary romance novels. I’ve got a couple of horror short stories coming out over the summer. After that I’ll probably look up Goofy again. He was THAT good.
Q. Wow, I always knew Donald Duck had it goin’ on, but Goofy was a well kept secret. Until now. Goofy, who knew? Other than you, I mean. Other than your torrid affair with Goofy, what’s one fact about you that someone who didn’t know you well or hasn’t read this blog wouldn’t know? Make it juicy -- my readers expect.
A. Okay, Gini, you evil wench. This is you getting me back for all those awful questions Agent Z asked you, isn’t it? Okay, here goes: There was once a man I had fallen madly in love with. He seemed to like me too, but spent an awful lot of time and energy running away and avoiding me (I can’t imagine why!) One night in a bar I slapped him hard in the face and demanded he take me to bed. And every year on our anniversary, that we fondly refer to as Slap Day, I give him a sharp one to the jaw and we fall in love all over again. The End.
ROFL! Awesome! Thanks so much for being here today. You can find Diane any number of ways, and here are most of them:Blog:
http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/Group Blog:
http://contactinfinitefutures.wordpress.com/Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Dooley/146280878746604?sk=wallGoodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4737760.Diane_DooleyNow, Diane’s got a special treat for us. She’s giving away 2 copies of her novella, Blue Galaxy, to 2 lucky members of the Alien Collective. Just answer this question and leave your email address in order to be entered to win: What’s the proper color for a galaxy to be, and why?
Contest open through Sunday, May 15th. Winners announced on the Blog in the week of May 16th.
Labels: Agent Z, author interview, Blue Galaxy, book giveaway, Diane Dooley, Disney, Disneyland, Donald Duck, gini koch, Goofy, The Galaxy Express
