TT: Author Interview
Today I’m interviewing a newly published writer, Diamond Taylor. She’s doing a giveaway for the first person who can tell her where Total Package is set.
Enjoy!
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JJ: First, give us a little background on Diamond Taylor 
DT: By day I work with a non-profit organization by night I write as Diamond Taylor creating hot erotica filled with kick sass heroine and supreme alpha males that will keep my readers wanting more. I still fondly remember the day when I told my mom I’d rather write than become the lawyer everyone thought I’d be. And Mom’s only reply “what took you so long to figure it out.” It was apparent to everyone who knew me that I had a gift for gab and a sometimes overactive imagination.
When I’m not writing I like to spend time with friends and family, support my brothers and sisters in the disability movement and reading my favorite authors. My tiny lakeside apartment provides me with beautiful scenery to weave realistic characters and intricate plots.
JJ: How long have you been writing?
DT: I’ve been writing about eight years.
JJ: How long have you been published? Tell us about getting that first contract.
DT: I became a published author May of this year. I had actually given up on writing about two years ago and one day I was sitting at home with this story feeling sorry for myself and figured I’d already been rejected a ton what’s one more time. LOL. So I polished the story one more time and sent it to Cobblestone Press and waited. One month later they offered me my first contract and the rest as they say is history.
JJ: Do you have a certain word count you meet every day? How long does it usually take you to write a book? Do you find that shorts or full lengths are your favorites to write?
DT: My writing is very compulsive and spontaneous. Whenever I’m really pressing to get a story finished I try to do 500 words a day during the week because I have a day job and 1500 words on the weekend to play catch up. It usually takes me months to write a book I’m happy with. The shortest time I’ve ever taken to write a book (a story entitled Love of a Lifetime) was three weeks. The longest time it’s ever taken me to write a book (a story entitled The Redeemable Dog) would be three years. Surprisingly enough I’m still working on that book. We have developed a wonderful love-hate relationship. Right now we aren’t speaking to each other. Redeemable Dog is the first full length I’ve ever attempted but I definitely like doing novella way better. I love the instant gratification. But because my ideas are now becoming too complex for novella style books I’ve decided to try full length. I’ll let you know how it goes.
JJ: Do you tend to write one book at a time, or have several manuscripts going at once?
DT: When I first started writing I would only focus on one book at a time but now I work on as many as two to three projects at a time. One novella and one full length.
JJ: Will you do NaNoWriMo this year?
DT: I’ve attempted NANOWRIMO once and wasn’t very good at it so I usually work with a smaller group and do timed writing sessions.
JJ: What genre/s do you write? Tell us about the current book/s you have out.
DT: I write mostly contemporary erotica though I’ve just completed my first paranormal erotica. I’d like to also go back to romantic suspense. My first novel Total Package was released in August ’09 through www.Cobblestone-press.com . It’s a contemporary erotic novella:
Rachael Thomas’ career is jeopardized when a bachelor drops out of the professional bachelors’ spread. Frantic to find a replacement, she turns to neighbor, James Carrington.
James wants more than just being Rachael’s ‘good friend’ and seizes the opportunity…with one condition–she must spend the night with him!
JJ: What is your writing process?
DT: Oddly enough I don’t write everyday. When I’m not looking at a deadline I’ll go weeks or even months without having written one word. But when the mojo strikes I’ll write for about two hours a day during the week. Then starting Thursday night I’ll stay up all night with coffee, some chocolate and my MP3 player blasting and write all night, cop a few zzz’s Friday morning then start the same process over again. I don’t write on Sundays or during the day. Sunday is my lazy day and during the day I find they’re just too many distractions to write.
JJ: Do you ever include real life experiences in your books?
DT: I always inject real life whether big or small in my stories. It makes things more real and it’s just plain fun to rewrite history in my own way. At least one character is always named for someone I know and share some of the qualities of that person. I won’t say the names to protect the guilty. J
JJ: What do your family and friends think about your writing, and being a published author?
DT: Everyone was so supportive and happy for me. My mom doesn’t like to read but bought my book anyway. But I made her promise not to read it. And she goes on and on like a proud momma. Only a couple of my co-workers know I’m an author. My siblings seem happy for me but don’t make a big fuss. Very few members of my family weren’t thrilled when I told them the genre I wrote but they’re warming to the idea.
JJ: What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
DT: That’s a hard one. If I had pick one thing it would be I get to hopefully give the same thing to my readers that my favorite authors gave to me. An escape. A few hours to be somewhere else and be someone else. Sleep with someone else. LOL
JJ: Where do you see yourself in five years?
DT: I hope to be published in print in both erotica and romantic suspense. And I’ll take any spot on the best sellers list please.
JJ: What advice would you give a new writer?
DT: Don’t give up your dreams of becoming published. Know the genre you want to write by reading the latest books by your favorite. Join writing forums, groups and contests to hone your skills. Find a good and frank critique partner. Find someone who will not just tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear to enhance your story. Most importantly realize every piece of advice you hear is just that, advice. Consider all advice but that doesn’t mean you have to accept. The only hard and fast rule to writing is to create a kick ass story.
I’ll do a giveaway to the first person that can tell me where Total Package is set. (Hint: you have to read the story to find the locale)
JJ: Thank you so much, Diamond, for being our guest here today at Textyladies. I enjoyed getting to know more about you.
Send comments and questions to diamondtaylor0@gmail.com
Tags: diamond taylor, erotic romance, Interview, TT
Awesome cover-and great interview!
I am a published author, you will note my url: above, I am presently working on my fifth book which is called Tragedy Of Arrogance, it is the second in a series of three books, and based on world war II, the story is fictional. I am very happy that I can reed other peoples blog.
I was impressed with the above interview. I will be reading more of them.Check my website.
Paul D. Hudon Author
Eden, thanks! And thanks for coming by!
Thanks everybody for stopping by!