Hi Diana,
Thanks for joining us- can you tell us a little about yourself please? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I am not writing I like to run my gratitude workshops where I read my book and we do some activities on the benefits of Gratitude and resilience.
Diana, what did you want to be when you grew up? As I grew up, I wanted to be a flight assistant and travel the world, or a train driver and I always loved my writing. I wrote my grateful book when I was around 15 but only illustrated it and published it a couple of years ago. An editor friend of mine introduced me to Sarah and she had the same picture ideas as what I did, and it just grew from there and became a reality it was so amazing to watch.
What was your dream job when you were younger? My dream job when I was younger was to write books.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating? Dinner tonight is chicken wings. I wouldn’t rather be eating anything they are my Favourite! The hotter the better!
Do you have a hero? My hero here in Australia is Maggie Dent
Imagine that you could choose three people to invite for a dinner party, who would they be and why? Maggie Dent Michelle Obama and Oprah.
Why? Because they are amazingly strong women who have made amazing changes to many lives young and old and I would love to listen to how they got where they are today.
QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING
What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?
Just start to write don’t be scared there are editors and other people who can help you make it great just start! Don’t be like me and put it off for years because you don’t think you’re good enough.
Which comes first, the plot or characters? The plot.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? Panster, ( I had to Google what that meant)
How do you come up with the titles to your books? The titles are usually the theme of the book.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? Um most probably the rhyming
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? I do hear from my readers. The teachers say they love reading my books to the classroom.
On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing? I try to write for a couple of hours at least a day, I am writing a book about my daughters’ journey at the moment so a completely different Genre.
Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
I am on social media; my Facebook page is Bookstoinspire. My Instagram is bookstoinspirebydiana and my website is dianasmithbookstoinspire.com.
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
I think my favourite is the first one My grateful book. I have written four that are being published and writing the other one about my daughter and one about my puppy.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your books? The most surprising thing I learnt was these are lesson’s I needed to learn later in life that I want children to learn earlier on.
Do you have a favourite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special? The favourite character would be the one I am writing about my red cloud puppy Bruiser he’s just so cute.
What is the key theme and/or message in the book? My key messages are all about gratitude, kindness it’s ok to be anxious it will soon pass
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers?#
I am working on the puppy book at the moment and a book about my daughter and me and I have also just finished one about a clamshell being washed up on the beach.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
I feel there may be a few more in the gratitude series.
Do you have any new series planned? I think the puppy book may have a few books in there we had adopted a parrot so he can be in some as well
We’ve just started a new year and I’ve seen lots of posts about new years’ resolutions. Do you have anything special that you’ll be focusing on this year? I haven’t made any resolutions this year, but I will be focusing more on my writing and my gratitude workshops
QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER WRITERs AND BOOKS.
What are you reading now? I am reading happier than God by Neil Donald Walsh
What book is currently on your bedside table? There is a pile of about 4 books on my bedside table
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing? Authors who have influenced me Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, Winnie the Pooh
Who is the author you most admire in your genre? Roald Dahl
Favourite quote (doesn’t matter the source) You are good enough
Favourite book/story you have read as an adult? Me before you by Jojo Moy
Favourite book when you were a kid? Winnie the Pooh
Which famous author do you wish would be your mentor? : Dr Seuss or Roald Dahl
Can you tell us any fun facts about yourself? I was in New Zealand and I did the gap year in the army. I was 16. While I was in there, I buckled a wheel track on an APC which is a small army tank.
I love camping around Australia with my husband and our dogs in our camping trailer.
Do you have any unusual hobbies? Writing lol
Favourite Movies: Labyrinth and Me Before You.
Last Great book I read: Blue Moon by Lee Child
Favourite Book as a teenager: Nancy Drew! Now that is showing my age !!
Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed, Diana. s
Sonia Bellhouse- Author. 