Sci-Fi and fantasy were my first loves when I evolved into a true reader, then paranormal became popular and I was in heaven. I’ve even tried my own hand at fantasy romance with The Other Realm. In sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal, the author gets to create their own world and rules for how the world works (or doesn’t work in some cases). Great fun. I love reading the world others create. Today, Author Diana Driver has come by to tell us a little about the worlds she’s created. She takes after my own heart and loves Mercedes Lackey also. My favorite Mercedes novel is The Fire Rose. If you haven’t read this title, you should, it’s GREAT. Anywhoooo, enough of my rambling. Back to Diana. Like me, she writes several genres, so there’s sure to be something for you. Even non-fiction.
Yet another nice cover. Okay, I admit it. I’m a sucker for a nice cover.
Hello Diana. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I live in the Houston area with my husband and two cats. I’ve always loved to read so it’s natural that I’d want to write my own stories. I’m also a gamer and a member of Women in Games International. One day I’d like to design my own RPG game and have it for sale on Big Fish! I have the software, but not the time to sit down and do the actual programming. I enjoy playing around with 3-d graphic design. Again, I have the software, but not the time.
Tell us something few know about you.
- In my “career” days I was a geophysicist.
- I love the Runes and the messages they give me are spot on. Of course, my science background requires I analyze this phenomenon, but I haven’t reached any conclusions.
- I like trying new things and seeing how far I can take them. In January, I submitted a script for my novel Ninth Lord of the Night to Amazon Studios. I’ll probably never write another screenplay, but it was fun to do once.
What genre(s) do you like to read?
I read and enjoy all genres – except blood, guts and gore. Right now I’m reading mostly fantasy. Authors like D. Nathan Hilliard, Mercedes Lackey, and Robert Jordan. It amazes me how writers all have the same words at our disposal and there is such a great difference in usage in style.
What is your favorite novel and why?
This is a toughie, but I think I’d have to say, “Little Women.” I’ve always loved that book and even named my youngest daughter Beth. Since there were so many “Elizabeths” in my family no one knew that my daughter was really named after a character in a novel.
What was the last novel you read that you enjoyed and why?
I just finished reading, “THE WAYS OF KHREM” by D. Nathan Hilliard and I loved it! It’s a Fantasy set in medieval times and is a cross between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, Sherlock Holmes novels and the writings of Robert Heinlein and Michael Crichton.
What genre(s) do you write?
My novel Ninth Lord of the Night is a contemporary action/adventure with supernatural elements and I’ve written in the mystery and romance genres as well as nonfiction. My next release will be fantasy based on Nordic myths and legends.
Where do your concepts for your novels come from?
My ideas come from what interest me and then I put in a “what if” factor. For instance, “What if a boy who hated history had to risk his life to preserve a historical document? What would motivate him?”
How long does it typically take you to write a book?
It takes me about a year to write a novel because I do an incredible amount of research. For Ninth Lord of the Night I went to Tikal, Guatemala. For my Nordic fantasy, I’m reading and studying all the Sagas and Northern Traditions – including the Runes.
Tell us about your latest book?
My latest book is The Maya, People of the Maize – a nonfiction handbook about the Mayan civilization for readers who’re interested about the Maya and the predictions concerning 2012, but don’t want to read huge academic tomes.
My latest novel is Ninth Lord of the Night and has been just released as an Indie book. Here’s a wonderful review that a librarian from Rice University gave the book and she sums the story up beautifully.
“Seventeen year old Zack is one unhappy surfer dude when his folks sit him down and give him some very bad news, then top that off by telling him that he and his older brother Kyle are being shipped off to the jungles of Guatemala to stay with their uncle at an archaeological excavation. Zack plans to live up to his reputation as a teenage screw-up, and is determined to hate everything about this experience. It doesn’t help his mood that on his first night in Guatemala he witnesses a murder and gains the attention of a major bad guy who wants something he thinks Zack has. Zack does, in fact, have it–a crude map leading to a priceless artifact–but it takes him awhile to realize that. As time goes by, Zack finds himself strangely drawn to the ruins, even having visions that both terrify and excite him. He has to deal with the usual teenage problems: standing up to bullies, fighting with his big brother, trying to understand teenage girls, and so on, while staying one step ahead of a band of vicious smugglers, finding the precious treasure, and, and learning who he really is.
Diana does a great job on every level–getting into the head of a teenage boy, creating realistic characters, and depicting the Maya culture and the lush jungle setting by showing, not telling, the reader. Her research is meticulous. I know that because in my misspent youth I did graduate work in anthropology as a Maya specialist.” Shirley Wetzel, Librarian Rice University.
Where can readers purchase your latest book?
Ninth Lord of the Night can be purchased at Amazon’s Kindle Store. It’s on sale for $1.99 from now until the end of March. The print version of Ninth Lord of the Night will be available next month on Amazon. My other work is also on Amazon, readers can just put Diana L. Driver in the Amazon search engine and it will come up.
What other titles have you written?
“The Maya, People of the Maize” (nonfiction) and “The End of the Tour” – mystery, Valentine’s Day – romance, and Die Mahnung (The Warning) mystery.
If you could change one thing about your writing career thus far, what would it be?
I’m pretty happy with my career – the way it began and the fact that I’m now an Indie Writer. I love being in control of my work, the editing, and the cover art.
What do you find to be the best and worst part of being a writer?
The best part of being a writer is the writing! I love being creative! The worst part of being a writer is taking the time necessary to do marketing and promotion.
What do you have on the burner for the next year?
By 2012 I hope to have released The Amber Stone – Book One of The Chronicles of Rorik, as well as a romantic trilogy about dating in the cyber tech age (as yet untitled), and a horror novel titled, “The Spittle of Lune.”
How can readers reach you?
Email address: Diana@dianadriver.com
Website: http://www.dianadriver.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/diana.driver
Thank you so much for visiting with us today, Diana. Now I’ll have to pick up The Maya, People of the Maize and your other titles. Come on back any time.
Dee Writes 
Sibel Hodge
February 26, 2011
Great interview! I’ve tried to turn a couple of my novels into screenplays but haven’t managed it yet. It’s more complicated than it seems! 🙂
Diana Driver
February 26, 2011
Sibel,
The most difficult part of writing a screenplay is creating the storyline. But, with a novel that’s already written, that’s done! Screenplays are the high points of the story without any fluff. For me, the most difficult part was formatting and once I got that down, it ws tedious, but easy. For instance, margins for scenes are 1.5 inches while dialog is 2.5 inches PLUS the character who’s speaking has to have his/her name in all caps.
Mira Kolar-Brown
February 26, 2011
Very impressive.
Love
>>It amazes me how writers all have the same words at our disposal and there is such a great difference in usage in style.<<
Mira
Diana Driver
February 26, 2011
I read really good writing and wonder, “I know all these words! how come I never thought to put them together like this?” But, we all think differently and that’s what makes reading and writing so fascinating.
Deewrites
February 26, 2011
I’d also like to learn how to write screenplays. May have to put that on my todo list. Mira, I agree with you. That was my favorite line of the interview and I liked it all.
Mira Kolar-Brown
February 26, 2011
Dee,
I’ve written three screenplays on commission for a cartoon that was never produced in the end. The producers realised just how expensive it would be. I did get paid and I learned a lot about the process. One word describes it very well – tedious. You first put the story board up (fun). Then you break each board into however many major scenes it’s meant to have. At that point you can add a little bit of key dialogue. (still fun). Then you inspect the new, more detailed story board and make any changes that you need to make. (still fun). Once your revised story board is up and approved, you start breaking each board into smaller scenes and filler scenes, keeping your eye on the speed/minutes and seconds. This is where it becomes terminally tedious because you have to do it over and over and over again until you get the right balance. Then the director and the producer come along, suck air between their teeth, tell you what a wonderful job you’ve made of it and rip it apart, so you go back to the drawing board. Literally.
Deewrites
February 26, 2011
Wow Mira, that sounds like a pain, but an enjoyable one. What’s the name of those people who enjoy pain? I must be one of those. LOL.
Seriously though, I want to learn how. Where did you learn? Did you teach yourself? Any helpful books?
Diana, I’m asking you, too. Any suggestions?
Mira Kolar-Brown
February 26, 2011
Dee,
Masochists?
How I learned. On the job, I’m afraid. I was on a selection panel for a major film production and distribution company and had some previous scriptwriting experience. Only, there are scripts and there are scripts. Fortunately, they also had an in-house arts team with very solid background in shorts. They had been producing up to 5 minute cartoons for TV breaks, commercials and children’s programmes based on their own scripts. So, I learned their method and tried to make it stretch for 25 mins. The cartoon was aimed at adults and it was meant to be based on a very famous and very long 19th century epic poem that I was meant to break into 12 half hour episodes.
If you want to lean, I’m sure there are books about it, but also, have a look at bonus reels that come with DVDs. Various arts directors, script writers and directors will tell you all about it. I had to laugh when I was translating subtitles for Lion King, Finding Nemo etc just how little has that side if things changed, if at all. Of course, its all computer graphics now for cartoons, but the development work is still on the same old pedestrian story baords and the same people still suck their teeth over it in the same time-honoured way. 🙂
Diana Driver
February 26, 2011
Mira is absolutely correct! If Amazon Studios hadn’t opened up this opportunity, I never would have written a screenplay as I don’t have any way to get it in front of any type of Hollywood excutive. The woman who’d previously optioned Ninth Lord of the Night held the option for five years! Finally, I took my rights back as she’d really messed up the story (I thought) and it wan’t going anywhere anyway.
Diana Driver
February 26, 2011
I have two books on screenwriting, but I’m not sure they’re any good as they contradict each other. I think the best way to learn is by reading screenplays and then looking up the unfamiliar terms on the internet. Amazon Studios has thousands of scripts in every genre and you can download any of them for free. Here’s the link to mine. http://studios.amazon.com/projects/3825
You do have to register, but you do so using your Amazon info. Amazon Studios also has a forum for discussions and people there are very helpful. Another part of all this is that people can also upload their own independent films! Some of these are awesome!
So, for people interested in screenwriting – I’d suggest you start with Amazon Studios.
Cornelia Amiri
February 26, 2011
Great interview. I’ve read several of the books and they are amazing.
Deewrites
February 26, 2011
Thanks Mira,
Just call me Masochists folks. 🙂
I’m going to learn how to do screen plays. This should be fun.
Diana Driver
February 26, 2011
Thank you Cornelia, that’s high praise coming from you!
Alex Knight
February 26, 2011
Great interview! I’ve often thought about writing screenplays – wishful thinking!