Diane Burton

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com

 

Connect with Diane Burton online

 

Blog:  http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/dmburton72

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor

Goodreads: Diane Burton Author

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/

 

 

Books by Diane Burton:

            Switched

            Switched, Too

            Switched Resolution

            The Pilot: An Outer Rim Novel

            The Chameleon: An Outer Rim Novel

            One Red Shoe

            How I Met My Husband (contributor)

 Diane will be giving away an e-copy of  THE PILOT to a person who comments today.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

 

 

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? 

 

I was eleven. Mom dropped me off at a party and said to try to get a ride home. When I got uncomfortable at the party, I walked home—about two miles of dark, rural roads. I realized when I was a mother how dangerous that was. I never told my mom.

 

What adventure would you like to have that you haven’t done yet if money and skill were no problem?

 

Zip line. In the movie, Medicine Man, with Sean Connery, they zip lined over the top of the Amazon canopy. That would be cool.

 

Who are some of your favorite authors?  What commonality do you see in them? 

 

Jayne Castle and Linnea Sinclair. They write science fiction romance so beautifully that I completely suspend belief.

 

I believe color says something about a person’s personality.  What’s your favorite color?

 

Blue. Not sure what that says about me, though.

 

If you could have a do-over life, what one thing would you do differently?  What would you do again?

 

Sometimes on long trips, Hubs and I talk about things like this. If I had done things differently before I discovered him, I wouldn't have the life I have now—which is pretty darn good. I love him, our children, and grandchildren, which I might not have had. I do wish I'd been more adventurous younger in life.

 

What is your writing process from conception to finished MS?

 

Ideas pop in my head. Don't know where from. My Muse??? Usually I "see" the first scene and I start writing. Often it isn't the first scene in the end. I'm very linear so I write from the beginning to the middle and on to the end. I'm what's called a circular writer. I write several pages, go back and add/change something, write more, go back again, add/change, etc. It works for me. By the end of the manuscript, I look at the big picture and make changes, read through for details and typos. Read through again. Then send to an editor.

 

Are you a planner, panster or both?

 

A bit of both but mainly a pantser. Around chapter 8, I hit a wall and have to figure out how to get from there to what I know will be the end.

 

How did you research for your book?

 

Sure wish I could have done the research for my newest book in person. LOL Since The Chameleon is science fiction romance, I had to do my research online.

 

What is your all-time favorite movie?  TV show?

 

Star Wars: A New Hope. That's what started my love of science fiction adventure. Castle is my fav TV show. Loved Nathan Fillion in Firefly. Love him even more as Castle.

 

How important do feel writing workshops are to any writer?

 

Very. I can always learn something new.

 

If you could learn one new skill, fear and money no deterrent, what would it be?

 

Speak French. I'd love to go to France.

 

If you had a million dollars to donate to any one charity, what would it be?

 

Breast cancer research. Both of my sisters, a cousin, and an aunt are breast cancer survivors. Now one of my nieces was recently diagnosed. She starts radiation this week.

 

What advice would you like to give to an aspiring writer?

 

A quote from a favorite movie, Galaxy Quest: Never give up, never surrender. And develop a thick skin. You'll need it for critiques and contests. Even more for reviews.

 

Did anyone mentor you or help you along the way?  Please tell us about your mentor and what you feel they contributed to your writing career.

Many members of my local writers' group (Mid-Michigan RWA) were mentors. They have always been willing to share info and are very supportive. I've tried to pay it back by doing the same to newer writers.

 

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

 

Don't you dare give up. You're too good a writer. (See what I mean by support?)

If you could live anywhere in the world you wanted to, where would it be? (Language is no barrier)

Right where I am. We recently move to the Lake Michigan shoreline to be close to our grandchildren. Love it here.

 

Where do you write? 

 

On the living room sofa on my laptop.

How much time do you devote to writing each week?  Do you have a day every week that you take off?

About 50-60 hours. That's writing and marketing. The only time I take off is when my grandkiddies come over.

 

What is a genre that you have not attempted that you would like to try?

 

Young adult. I love the latest YA novels, like Hunger Games and Divergent. Rick Riordan's books with Greek and Egyptian mythology are great, too.

 

Is there anything you would like readers to know about you?

 

It's never too late to do what you really want to do. Unlike a lot of young writers, I waited until my children were out of high school to start my writing career.

 

THE CHAMELEON

Blurb:

Legally Blond meets Mata Hari

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

 

Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they share-crop. He can’t refuse.

 

In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?

 

Excerpt:

“The company belongs in the family,” Jileena said.

“You have to accept that your brother is dead.”

Despite her heartache, she stood in front of her father, hands on her hips, determined to bring this to a head. She’d danced around the subject long enough, dropping hints that he ignored. He may have groomed her older brother to take over, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. “I am family.”

With his trademark stare—one that made competitors back off and employees quake—he pinned her in place. “You don’t have what it takes to replace me.”

His remark sent such an arrow of hurt through her she snapped, “Neither did Konner.” The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to retract them.

Father slumped back in his chair. The desolation in his expression broke her heart.

Immediately, she dropped to her knees in front of him. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I shouldn’t have—”

In a gesture she remembered from childhood, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead then tipped up her chin. “What you say is true. He had no stomach for this cutthroat business. And neither do you, thank the Divine One.” He patted her head twice. “You don’t have to worry about that. Now get up. We have work to do. Plans to make.”

“Plans?”

“Baby, I’m sending you to Galeria 7 to check out this discovery.”

“To the Outer Rim?” Jileena’s jaw dropped. While her father had sent her on discreet missions before, he’d never sent her that far from the Central Planets—especially since Konner had died out on the Frontier.

“You will check the site and do your own analysis. Put that geology degree of yours into practice. If, indeed, it is high-grade lambidium, you will negotiate mining rights with the local tribe.”

“M-Me?”

He’d done it again and seemed to enjoy surprising her. He couldn’t mean it. He wasn’t sending her. He had to be teasing. Yet he’d never been intentionally cruel. At least, not to her.

“I certainly can’t send Sindaro. As soon as reporters learn he left for the Rim, rumors would fly and negotiations would fail.”

He was right about that. If secrecy was paramount, Father had to send someone whose presence was innocuous. Someone like his fluff-brained daughter.

“Discretion is imperative. No one will suspect you are going out to the Rim for anything other than a vacation.”

Hope began to trickle through her. He’d never had her negotiate anything as important as mining rights. He was giving her a chance. A chance to prove herself.

 

 

Buy links:

 

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00K8GDN00

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/436631

 

Remember to include your email address in your comment for a chance to win a copy of
THE PILOT