Diane Merrill Wigginton

Pre-Interview: I write under my full given name, Diane Merrill Wigginton, and won a Benjamin Franklin Award for my first book, Angelina’s Secret. It is the first book in The Jeweled Dagger Series. I was born in the spring of 1963, in Riverside, California, moving to San Diego when I was eight years old. I thoroughly enjoyed spending summers in Burley, Idaho, with my mother’s parents, Florence and Orval Merrill, and it was during my time spent on the farm and ranch where I learned to ride horses, herd cattle and tame wild kittens born in the haystacks. That is also where I developed a love of storytelling and dreamed that one day, I would tell my stories to others. I currently live in Kalispell, Montana, near Glacier National Park, with my husband of 23 years. Every day is like being on vacation and I love it.

Author Writer Interview:

1.What inspires you most to write?

I began writing because I was dissatisfied with the books, I was ready. Honestly, how hard is it to write a Romance novel with some action and suspense? Can anyone else relate to that feeling? 2. What is your favorite genre?

I love a good, honest romance with twists and turns that are fresh and new to me. 3. Who is one author you admire if any and why?

Nora Roberts puts out so many books a year, it makes me wonder how she does it? 4. How do you overcome blank writing spells?

If I find myself struggling, I usually put the work aside and ponder it or wait for inspiration before writing again. I hate monotonous writing. Normally, it isn't long before something clicks and I'm writing again with passion. 5. What legal publishing advice can you give?

Make sure you copyright your work and have qualified people helping you negotiate the ropes if you are a newcomer to writing and publishing. 6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

I have self-published four novels. I have won a couple of awards, but I have not hit the bestsellers list yet. I have two more manuscripts written and started another one while I have them professionally edited. I intend to ship them to agents soon. I just need to make sure that I have them polished.

7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

Don't know. 8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

When I started out, I put my trust in the wrong group and they totally messed up my first 2 books. I ended up pulling them, re-editing, putting a new cover on them and relaunching my series. 9. What are your best experiences in your writing career?

Book signings. I love to be faced to face with my audience. There was this time that my son came home from college and told me that his English teacher had read my first book and loved it. That was pretty exciting. 10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background?

I like to work in silence. Music and television distract the process too much. 11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

If you have a dream, never give up on them. Follow your heart and push through the tough times. 12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I had professionals help me with pricing my work, and promotion/advertising is still a mystery to me. But I am working on it. I list my work with Amazon, but I publish under my own label through Ingram. They are both huge distributors. 13. Why should anyone read your book?

My books are fun, exciting and above all, romantic.

14. Did you have a book coach?

I didn't have a book coach. I began with an idea, sat down and began writing. That's it. 15. What was your favorite subject in school?

Photography. I am a very creative person and there was something so magical about taking pictures and editing them myself that stimulated that part of my creative brain. 16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

I am purely a self-published author at this point, but as I mentioned, I intend to seek an agent for my next work.