Diane Burke Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?  

A.  I became serious about writing in 2007. My first book was published in 2010. Other careers? Cleaned toilets for J.C Penneys, cashier for a large food chain, file clerk for State Farm and after putting myself through college at the age of forty, I supplement my writing income now as an Occupational Therapist working in home health.

Q: Do you write in only one genre and if so which one and why? If not, which ones and why?

A: At the moment I am writing solely inspirational suspense for Love Inspired. I wrote a speculative novel about bioterrorism that nobody wanted and I am thinking about trying my hand at single title contemporary but haven’t yet.

Q: How does your faith play into your writing? 

A: I feel that everyone in life has problems and it is so much easier to get through those problems with God by your side. Since I write suspense it is obvious the characters are in big trouble so their relying on God comes naturally. Also, I’ve had some really, really touching letters from fans on how something in a scene or a special piece of dialogue made an impact in their lives. That’s God, not me, making those words reach the people that needed to hear them.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?

A. Early on I chose settings in states I had lived or visited. Now I am branching out to places I haven’t been.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?

A: Totally made up but sometimes a little characteristic or a slice of dialogue may be inserted because I know someone that fits and it fits the character too.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Danger In Amish Country. 

A: It is an anthology written with Marta Perry and Kit Wilkinson. My story is the one in the middle and is called Dangerous Homecoming.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Danger in Amish Country?

A: I was asked to be in the anthology. I felt really honored when I saw who I would be sharing the book with. I found out what topics they were going to write about and tried to find a plot idea that would be compatible for the feel of the anthology.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: That Amish people are good, hard-working, strong believers in God. But they are still human and have to deal with human temptations and sin. It’s the way they deal with life’s everyday problems that make them interesting

Q: Tell us what you like about the main characters of this book.

A: I like that they have a history. It made their love story much more interesting to write.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?  

A.  A woman who witnesses a murder is put into protective custody. When their safe-house is compromised from someone inside the police department, she finds herself on the run with a prior college boyfriend with no one to trust for help.

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?  

A. Alaska. Absolutely. I am hoping to go on a cruise in 2015 and I can hardly wait.

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?  

A. I did it today. I left a pot of eggs boiling on the stove, forgot, and went out. The eggs exploded all over the ceiling, walls and floor and the pot, of course, was burnt and ruined.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done? 

A. I put a child up for adoption more than forty years ago when I was a teenager. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was harder for me than that. Thankfully, last year that child found me and we are building a relationship together. We wrote a book about the experience titled One Perfect Day and it should be published in Spring of 2014.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

A. My author page is www.amazon.com.author.dianeburke and my email is diane@dianeburkeauthor.com. I can also be found on FaceBook and Twitter.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?  

A. I love to hear from my readers. I have had some really interesting conversations with some of them. Even those who don’t like my writing. (haha). But writing is such a solitary job. You second guess yourself all the time as to whether your plot is interesting enough, your characters believable, your emotional connection strong. The only way an author really knows is when someone posts a review or sends an email.