Interview with author Diane Dooley & Giveaway!!

It gives me great pleasure to have fellow science fiction romance author, Diane Dooley, on my blog today. Welcome Diane! Can you tell us about your new release, Blue Nebula?

DD: Thanks for having me, Jessica! Blue Nebula released September 24th from Carina Press, and is the sequel to Blue Galaxy. It continues the story that began in Blue Galaxy, but this time from the heroine, Sola’s, point of view. It’s dark, angsty, and made my big, tough husband cry. (He loves Sola more than me, I think)

Describe your heroine, Sola, in three words.

DD: Damaged, powerful, driven.

What traits does Javan possess that make Sola swoon?

DD: A terrific sense of humor, fierce loyalty, and the ability to love and accept Sola despite her numerous faults.

Now that Sola is expecting, what changes have occurred in their relationship? In their lives?

DD: As expectant fathers are prone to do, Javan has become fiercely protective of Sola and their unborn child. He wants them to settle down somewhere safe and quiet. Sola has other ideas and plans. Their difference of opinion threatens to destroy their relationship.

Destin Grady, is he a character we want on our side?

DD: Absolutely, though his reputation would suggest that he can never, ever be trusted. He is infamous for carpet-bombing New York City and destroying colony ship, the Vesuvian, with all souls on board. He’s a very dangerous man.

What was your inspiration for this story?

DD: I’d originally intended to write Blue Galaxy as a stand alone, but Sola interested me so much I just had to continue. I wanted to get deep into that strange little head of hers. I’m wondering if readers will find the bounce from Javan’s happy-go-lucky personality into Sola’s much darker and tortured one jarring or fascinating. Sola did some terrible things in Blue Galaxy, but nothing could stop Javan from loving her. In Blue Nebula she will put their relationship to the ultimate test.

Who is your favorite character from this book and why?

DD: Sola is my favorite.  Her struggles with her conscience, her desires and her ambition are the focus of Blue Nebula. The poor thing has a terrible time trying to become a better human being. I tortured her horribly. In fact, I tortured all the poor characters. I am awful person *grin*.

What was your favorite scene to write?

DD: My favorite scene to write was the one in which Sola encounters her older sister, Serena. The family reunion does not go well. There are several reunions in this story. I enjoyed writing them all.

Now, I know you write science fiction romance. What other genres do you write in, and what appeals to you about those genres?

DD: I also write contemporary romance, which I find extremely difficult. I like to give my characters deep flaws which can make them somewhat hard to sympathize with. I enjoy the challenging of having imperfect people fall in love with someone who is perfect for them. As you always say, Jessica: “everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after…”

That’s right! *grins*

DD: I also write horror short stories. In these I indulge my righteous feminist anger, my massive streak of cruelty and my love of dark, twisted humor.

What other titles do you have published?

DD: Blue Galaxy (Carina Press) is a science fiction romance novella written entirely from the hero’s point of view. Makos’ Bounty (Decadent Publishing) is a funny and sexy novella about a one night stand between enemies who are destined to fall in love. My short stories tend towards the horror side of genre, with twisty endings and dark humor, though one of my favorites is, In The Year Twenty Five,  which I wrote for one of your blog events, Jessica. My writing gets so dark sometimes that I tried to write something imbued with hope. I was quite pleased with the result.

With all of your book covers, I’ve noticed a blue theme. Is that on purpose? Is blue your favorite color?

DD: Blue is my favorite color, but the fact that all my sci fi covers are blue was entirely unplanned, though with titles with ‘Blue’  in them I did expect them to be that color. I like the idea, though, of having all my sci fi stuff with blue covers. It would help readers who enjoy my writing in that genre identify them more readily, and would help them avoid my contemporary romance and horror stories if that’s not their cup of tea. Really, though, anyone who enjoys my twisty tales or dark humor, would enjoy my writing in other genres, too, I believe. My next release, contemporary romance novella, That Night (Wild Rose Press) has a very different cover.

What are you working on now?

DD: I’m hard at work and, much to my distress, have far too many works in progress. They include another installment in the “Blue’ series, a horror-imbued gothic romance, a post-apocalyptic love/hate story, a historical novel in the research stages, a trope-twisting contemporary romance, and a short story about a pillar of the community whose hobby happens to be serial killing the local scumbags.  I really need to give myself a hard slap and focus on one thing at a time.

What genres do you enjoy reading?

DD: I’ll read anything. Honestly. High literary, classics, non-fiction, a wide range of genres, poetry. I just wish there were more hours in the day for all the books I want to read!

Is there anything else my readers should know about you?

DD: I adore commas, make fantastic soup, worship my husband, and am a geek of inter-galactic proportions.

Where can my readers find you?

DD: On my blog, Facebook and Twitter. Please feel free to stop by and holler at me in any of these places. I have author profiles on Goodreads and Amazon. I also blog regularly at Contact: Infinite Futures and am a regular contributor to The Galaxy Express.

Where can my readers find your books?

DD: Probably my website is the best place to find my books and their buy links. My blog is the best spot to find my short stories. I have them listed here. Many are free, click-through reads.

Thanks so much for visiting us today, Diane! All the best!

DD: Thanks again, Jessica!

Author Giveaway!!

Diane Dooley giving away an e-copies of Blue Galaxy (Blue Universe #1) and Blue Nebula (Blue Universe #2) to one of your blog readers – She does recommend they be read in the proper order. Just leave a comment to enter, remembering to leave contact information. Thanks for visiting and reading, everyone! Giveaway closes at midnight EST on Sunday, 24th October.