Third Tuesday Interview Get To Know Jacqueline Diamond

HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU WRITE IN A YEAR?I usually write three books for Harlequin American Romance. Its taking me longer than it used toI once wrote four books a year--because I do a lot of research. My Safe Harbor Medical miniseries deals with fertility treatments, multiple pregnancies and even such technical details as installing new high-tech laboratories, so I research heavily. Mostly this is done on-line but occasionally Ill interview someone. For example, I once interviewed an egg donor who is also a nurseand who was very gracious.HOW DO YOU KEEP COMING UP WITH FRESH CHARACTERS AND STORIES?The key is digging deeply into each persons background, personal issues, quirks and goals. I aim to make each person distinct, with unexpected reactions to events and to love.WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO READ?Of course I read romance, including Regencies. In fact, I started out writing traditional Regencies, one of which, A Ladys Point of View, was published by Harlequin. I also enjoy humorous mysteries, of which Ive written a couple among my more than 95 published books, and occasionally I delve into fantasy and science fiction, both as a reader and a writer. Nonfiction history interests me, too. I keep coming back to the era of the Tudors, not only the best-known figures but also some lesser-known women like Mary Boleyn (sister of Anne) and Mad Queen Juana of Spain (sister of Katherine of Aragon).What's your favorite place to read?Either on the couch in my office or at the kitchen table, where the light is really good. Reading in bed puts me to sleep.What are some of your reading pet peeves?Thank you for asking! I hate when an author manipulates characters to suit the plot, having them do stupid things that no sensible person would do. Yes, sometimes we need for our characters behave unwisely, but their reasons should make sense to them and spring from their personality. Another pet peeve is predictable scenes and dialogue, where you know exactly whats going to happen and how everyones going to react. Thats just boring! I like to throw in a curve ball wherever possible.Do your characters stick with you after you've finished a book and if so, how do you handle it?Because Safe Harbor Medical is an ongoing series (The Surprise Holiday Dad is number twelve), I get to develop my characters as the books, and years, go by. Although each book stands by itself, some former heroes and heroines will pop up in each book. So do their children. Babies grow into toddlers and toddlers into school-age children. Sometimes they wont be part of a book or two, then will reappear as it suits the storyline. Its fun for me and I work hard to keep my timelines straight.HOW DO YOU HANDLE WRITER'S BLOCK?I go back to the beginning of the book and read through it to see whats wrong. If Im stuck, I took a wrong turn somewherefor instance, perhaps I resolved a conflict too easily or didnt build in a strong enough background for my hero or heroine.IF YOU COULD BE A DESSERT, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?Vanilla ice cream with caramel topping. Simple but perfect.What motivates you to write your books?This may sound weird, but I feel as if my characters actually exist somewhere, and if I dont write about them, theyll never have a chance to live.WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?Honestly, Ive wanted to be a writer since I was four years old. When my six-year-old brother came home from school, I made him teach me what hed learned that day, which is how I started reading. Luckily, my parents never told me you cant make a living as a writer, and somehow Ive always earned a living as a writerin public relations, for newspapers and The Associated Press in Los Angeles, and, of course, as a novelist.Available Books: Attached Thumbnails