Diane Perkins is relatively new to the historical romance scene, but she is an outstanding Regency author. In 2003, Diane made the finals in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart contest. I was fortunate to attend that conference in New York City and witness her receipt of that much coveted award. That winning manuscript was sold to Mills & Boon in the UK, and The Mysterious Miss M was released in July 2004, under the name Diane Gaston. Her most recent manuscript, The Improper Wife, was released by Warner Forever in November, 2004, under the name Diane Perkins. I read The Improper Wife and, let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, how does an aspiring author finally become published? You'll find out when you read her interview below.
Linda: How long have you been writing?
Diane: I've been writing for about nine years.
Linda: Did you belong to any critique groups when you started? If so, do you find this helpful?
Diane: My friend Julie and I met in a creative writing class nine years ago and together we joined other students from that class in a critique group. The others faded away but Julie and I, and our friends Helen and Virginia, are still meeting as a critique group every other week. The critique group has helped me stay motivated, because my friends always expected me to bring work to the meetings. It also gave me feedback about my writing, which was essential, because in those early days, I was not sure about how I was doing. As a brand new writer, it was impossible to evaluate myself. The critique group helped me hone my skills and I will be forever grateful to them.
Linda: Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Diane: I never considered writing anything else! After a hiatus from reading, when I was raising small children, working, and attending graduate school for a master's degree in social work, I began reading again. I read mysteries, women's fiction, and the current best-sellers. What I loved best about these books were the romantic elements in them. That led me back to romance and the books I loved so much when I was younger. After reading a best-selling love story (not a romance), I decided that even I could write better--I really did not enjoy that book. That was what got me started.
Even though I never thought of writing before this defining moment , I always had stories - romances- running through my head. It just took this long for me to realize I could put them on paper.
Linda: And why the specific time periods; i.e., Regency?
Diane: The books I most love to read are set in the Regency period. Since I started writing Regency Historicals and have needed to do research, I have fallen even more in love with the time period. It is a special time in history, ripe for fiction and romance. First of all, it is recent enough that readers can relate to it, but distant enough that it adds a romantic element. Think of the difference in riding in a Honda and in riding in a shiny black carriage drawn by four beautiful horses. The Regency was a period of transition between the decadent Georgian era and the repressed Victorian era, and as such it provides lots of possibilities for conflict in morals and societal expectations. It was a time of beautiful fashions, the elegant empire-waist dresses of the ladies and the impeccable tailoring of the gentlemens attire. The Regency was marked by the drama and ultimate victory of the war with Napoleon. It spawned notable people, such as Wellington, Jane Austen, Byron, Beau Brummel.
I wrote a small article about this for the Warner books loop. You can read it athttp://www.twbookmark.com/authorslounge/articles/2004/September/article19510.html>
Linda: Thanks, Diane. I read the article and it is indeed a good one! You have two novels to your credit: "The Improper Wife" writing as Diane Perkins, published by Warner Forever in November 2004; and "The Mysterious Miss M" writing as Diane Gaston, published by Mills & Boon in July 2004. Why did you go with two different publishers?
Diane: I was lucky!! Novel writing is not the world's most secure profession. There is always the possibility of having a hiatus in having books released. Having two publishers increases the chances of selling books. Additionally, it is rather fun that Mills & Boon wants something a bit different than Warner Forever. Warner wants a dramatic, passionate, emotional story from me, and Mills & Boon wants something a bit grittier. I think the difference, even though it is small, helps keep my stories fresh.
Linda: Would you please tell our readers something about each book; i.e., a short synopsis.
Diane: THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M tells the story of a battle-worn veteran of Waterloo who rescues a young woman from a disreputable gaming hell. The only means he has of taking care of her, and the child he may have fathered, is to court and marry a society miss. At the same time, her past is pursuing her, putting them all in danger.
In THE IMPROPER WIFE, Captain John Grayson, an embittered cavalry officer, learns that no honorable deed goes unpunished when he returns to England after Waterloo. Maggie Delaney, the unwed mother whose baby he delivered when on leave, is now, quite improperly, living on his family estate, masquerading as his wife. Will Gray expose Maggie--pose as her lawful husband-or fall in love with this improper wife?
Linda: Which character or characters do you like best from your works?
Diane: I must confess that I'm always partial to my heroes. Honor is a quality I greatly admire and honor is so important in a Regency hero. I love writing about honorable men.
Linda: What do you like most about writing historicals?
Diane: I love being transported to a distant place, a beautiful place. Through the writing I can ride in those beautiful carriages and wear the beautiful clothes and live in the beautiful houses. And fall in love with those honorable Regency heroes!!
Linda: Do you edit as you write or write and then edit? What about research? Do it all first, or as you go along?
Diane: Yes to all! I tend to go over the previous day's writing and edit as I go along. I also edit after meeting with my critique groups. When the book is finished, I go through and edit again.
With research, I might look at a general topic before I start writing, something that will play a part in my book. For example, in THE WAGERING WIDOW, my February 2005 release from Mills & Boon, I did a lot of research about gambling in Regency England before I started the book. I also research as I go along. If I need a specific piece of period detail, I look it up as I come to it in the story.
Linda: You've been a member of a critique group. Have you found this helpful and, if so, how?
Diane: I am a member of two critique groups: the one I mentioned earlier with my friends who have been with me throughout this whole adventure, and another critique group that includes two published authors, Darlene Gardner and Karen Anders, as well as another talented writer, Lisa Dyson. Both groups are very helpful in giving feedback regarding the story and its characters, and also in editing the manuscript. The group with Darlene, Karen, and Lisa is of further help regarding the industry of romance writing, the business side of things.
Linda: Do you feel entering writing contests is helpful? For instance, RWA's Golden Heart and other chapter contests?
Diane: Do I! My first sale was totally due to the Golden Heart contest. THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M, (as the unpublished manuscript Unmasked ) was a Golden Heart finalist in 2001 and I tried hard to sell it to an agent or editor at that time. They all passed on it as too risky because the heroine is the prize in a gaming hell. Only Warner expressed any interest, but asked for a rewrite. I decided not to give up on the manuscript, however. I wrote a different story for Warner, one that ultimately became THE IMPROPER WIFE. When THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M made the finals of the 2003 Golden Heart, I had no hopes of selling it. I intended to use its status to interest editors in THE IMPROPER WIFE. Out of the blue, an editor from Mills & Boon, who had judged Miss M in the Golden Heart, contacted me and made me an offer for THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M. I never would have thought to send the manuscript to Mills & Boon in the UK. THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M went on to win the 2003 Golden Heart for Long Historical. Within four months, I'd also sold to Warner, a two book contract, and another contract with Mills & Boon, between the two publishers, five books in all!
THE IMPROPER WIFE also received attention because of contests. It won the 2002 Royal Ascot, among others. Entering contests was my way of getting my work in front of editors and also a way to earn writing credits before selling a book. And, as you can see, it worked very well for me.
Linda: Did you have an agent when you sent out your first book?
Diane: No. I sold my first book on my own. I was able to attract an agent only after I sold. I do believe it is important to have a good agent, but not at all unusual for a new writer to sell a book first, like I did.
Linda: How do you go about developing your characters and plots?
Diane: I start with the glimmer of an idea and then I create a person around that idea. For example, in THE IMPROPER WIFE, I decided I wanted to have the heroine in labor and the hero help her have the baby. I then had to create two people who would be interesting, sympathetic, and suited for each other. The plot usually grows from that glimmer of an idea, too.
Linda: What is your writing schedule like and, on average, how long does it take to complete a book?
Diane: When I am *very* good, I write from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break in the middle of the day to go exercise at my local Curves. But some days are not that ideal. It usually takes about four months to write a book.
Linda: Have you ever suffered from Writer's Block and, if so, what do you do?
Diane: Not a serious case of writer's block, but it is sometimes difficult to figure out what the next scene in the book will be. At such times, I just tough it out. Eventually something comes to me. If I have a plotting problem, the critiques groups help a lot with brainstorming.
Linda: Did you do anything special when you received "the call" and were told you'd sold your first book?
Diane: When I actually made the deal with Mills & Boon, my husband and I were celebrating our anniversary at a Bed & Breakfast in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Mills & Boon editor expected me to phone her that day, but because of the time difference, I was to phone between five and six in the morning. It turned out the B&Bs phone was outside the other guests' rooms, so my husband and I went to a convenience store where I purchased a phone card and finalized the sale of my first book at a pay phone with trucks whizzing by!
Linda: Wow, what an experience! What do you like most and/or least about writing?
Diane: I love creating stories, making my characters and the Regency period come to life. I'm not sure there is anything I don't like about it. I even love the promotion.
Linda: What are you going to be writing next? Anything you're working on that you would like our readers to know about?
Diane: I am currently writing my second Warner Forever, a Regency Historical titled THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN. THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN is about Spencer Keegan, who is mistakenly pronounced dead from a duel, but ultimately rescued from being buried alive by the wife few knew existed. Years before, Spence rescued Emma from an unwanted marriage by marrying her himself. Now she wants to alter the bargain they made at the altar. She wants only one thing from her husband, the one thing he wishes not to give--a baby.
Linda: Sounds like a wonderful book! I can't wait to read it. So tell us, what type of promotion do you do for your books?
Diane: I do not do a great deal of promotion for the Mills & Boon books. Because they are published in the UK, it is too difficult. I did send THE MYSTERIOUS MISS M to four online reviewers and I include a mention of my Mills & Boon books in my Warner promotions when possible.
For the Warner Forever book, THE IMPROPER WIFE, Warner sends out advance reader copies to all the major reviewers and online review sites. This time I did a special promotion, sending chapter teasers to Waldenbooks stores around the country. I also had promotional bookmarks made and have given out almost 2,000 of them. I also had the wonderful luck to be invited to write an article on entering writing contests for the November, 2004, Romantic Times BOOKclub magazine. I have two websites, one for each author name:
http://www.dianegaston.com/ and http://www.dianeperkins.us/
I'm also doing a few booksignings-- the Romantic Times/ SOS Inc Booksigning in NYC, a local booksigning at my neighborhood Curves, and, most exciting of all, on Dec 11, 2004, a booksigning at Turn the Page Bookstore Café in Boonesboro, MD-with Nora Roberts!
Linda: That's wonderful! If you could change one thing about your profession, what would it be?
Diane: That Romance would get the respect it deserves, that Romance would be considered as worthy of attention in the media as other genre fiction.
Linda: What is your favorite part about the writing process?
Diane: When unexpected twists to the story occur, things I didn't plan but that the characters *reveal* to me! That's exciting!
Linda: A new writer comes to you and says: What is the one thing I need to do to get published? How do you answer this question?
Diane: The one thing is to finish a book! If I may say more, I would say, for Romance writing, to join Romance Writers of America and its local chapter or a special interest chapter like Beau Monde, the Regency writers chapter. Attend meetings, workshops, and conferences. Use whatever resources RWA has available, including contests. Then, never, never, never give up. (Winston Churchill)
Linda: Thanks so much, Diane, for sharing your experiences with GWN readers. Readers, to learn more about Diane and her books, please visit her website(s) at http://www.dianeperkins.us/and http://www.dianegaston.com/
Linda Morelli
Award-winning author of FIERY SURRENDER and SHADOW OF DOUBT
RomRiter@aol.com
www.lindamorelli.us
