Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!
I hope all US citizens voted yesterday. Whether you’re celebrating this morning or wishing for a do-over, grab your drink and settle in for an escape into fiction. This week’s guest is Jacqueline Diamond, a writer of romance and mystery.
Good morning, Jacqueline! How do you take your coffee?
JD: I love coffee—three cups a day! Home-brewed with low-fat milk and two packets of artificial (pink) sweetener.
Ally: While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
I hope all US citizens voted yesterday. Whether you’re celebrating this morning or wishing for a do-over, grab your drink and settle in for an escape into fiction. This week’s guest is Jacqueline Diamond, a writer of romance and mystery.
Good morning, Jacqueline! How do you take your coffee?
JD: I love coffee—three cups a day! Home-brewed with low-fat milk and two packets of artificial (pink) sweetener.
Ally: While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Jacqueline Diamond is known for her mysteries, medical romances, romantic comedies, and Regency romances—more than a hundred titles. A former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist, Jacqueline has sold novels to a range of publishers.
She currently writes the Safe Harbor Medical mystery series, including The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m fascinated by medical research, news and history. When I’m not reading mysteries and the occasional romance, I’m delving into medical nonfiction (a favorite is The Emperor of All Maladies). My daily and weekly subscriptions include medical updates, some of which I curate and post on Twitter.”
Website: www.jacquelinediamond.net
Twitter: @jacquediamond
https://twitter.com/JacqueDiamond
Facebook: jacquelinediamondauthor
https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineDiamondAuthor
USA Today bestselling author Jacqueline Diamond is known for her mysteries, medical romances, romantic comedies, and Regency romances—more than a hundred titles. A former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist, Jacqueline has sold novels to a range of publishers.
She currently writes the Safe Harbor Medical mystery series, including The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m fascinated by medical research, news and history. When I’m not reading mysteries and the occasional romance, I’m delving into medical nonfiction (a favorite is The Emperor of All Maladies). My daily and weekly subscriptions include medical updates, some of which I curate and post on Twitter.”
Website: www.jacquelinediamond.net
Twitter: @jacquediamond
https://twitter.com/JacqueDiamond
Facebook: jacquelinediamondauthor
https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineDiamondAuthor
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Although this is a frequently asked question, the variety of answers always intrigues me. Where do you get your story ideas?
JD: Some simply occur to me; others result from reading or hearing about a subject. The trick isn’t getting ideas, it’s putting my own spin on them and finding connections that weave them into a coherent story with surprising yet believable twists, rising tension and a satisfying conclusion.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
JD: Developing characters is a partly mystical, partly logical process for me. Sometimes a bit of personal history, a quirk of personality and/or a name just feel right. But I always having to dig deeper, asking myself why a person would be like that, what they want, what they fear, and so on. Plus there’s research so that their background feeds into their present occupation and direction in life. One of the best parts of writing a series is being able to watch my main characters and their relationships grow.
Ally: Why did you start writing? Why fiction?
JD: From early childhood, I believed I was meant to write stories like the ones my mother read to me. When I was four and my older brother started school, I made him teach me what he learned each day so I could start reading and writing.
My career has included news reporting and editing (for The Associated Press and two newspapers) and some other nonfiction writing. However, my main drive is to develop the stories in my head, to entertain readers the way other authors entertain me, and to enable my characters to live.
Ally: Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
JD: Writing mysteries and medical romances requires considerable research. Sadly, too many writers rely on clichés and on inaccurate portrayals they see on television.
While research isn’t my favorite part of writing—that’s being immersed in scenes as they spring to life—it fascinates me once I get started. I research in books, on the internet and through expert sources who answer my questions. These include a retired sheriff’s investigator, a prosecutor, two nurses and a forensics expert. It takes time to develop sources, but I’ve found people are surprisingly willing to help as long as you focus your questions and don’t expect them to give you information that you can easily find for yourself.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JD: I’m in the early stages of developing the fourth Safe Harbor Medical Mystery. Not even sure of the title yet, since I have ideas for three more interrelated books. Each one will stand alone, as do the first three books (The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor), but there are plot threads and character issues that continue and enrich each novel.
Ally: Let’s finish with these short answer questions:
Ally: Although this is a frequently asked question, the variety of answers always intrigues me. Where do you get your story ideas?
JD: Some simply occur to me; others result from reading or hearing about a subject. The trick isn’t getting ideas, it’s putting my own spin on them and finding connections that weave them into a coherent story with surprising yet believable twists, rising tension and a satisfying conclusion.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
JD: Developing characters is a partly mystical, partly logical process for me. Sometimes a bit of personal history, a quirk of personality and/or a name just feel right. But I always having to dig deeper, asking myself why a person would be like that, what they want, what they fear, and so on. Plus there’s research so that their background feeds into their present occupation and direction in life. One of the best parts of writing a series is being able to watch my main characters and their relationships grow.
Ally: Why did you start writing? Why fiction?
JD: From early childhood, I believed I was meant to write stories like the ones my mother read to me. When I was four and my older brother started school, I made him teach me what he learned each day so I could start reading and writing.
My career has included news reporting and editing (for The Associated Press and two newspapers) and some other nonfiction writing. However, my main drive is to develop the stories in my head, to entertain readers the way other authors entertain me, and to enable my characters to live.
Ally: Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
JD: Writing mysteries and medical romances requires considerable research. Sadly, too many writers rely on clichés and on inaccurate portrayals they see on television.
While research isn’t my favorite part of writing—that’s being immersed in scenes as they spring to life—it fascinates me once I get started. I research in books, on the internet and through expert sources who answer my questions. These include a retired sheriff’s investigator, a prosecutor, two nurses and a forensics expert. It takes time to develop sources, but I’ve found people are surprisingly willing to help as long as you focus your questions and don’t expect them to give you information that you can easily find for yourself.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JD: I’m in the early stages of developing the fourth Safe Harbor Medical Mystery. Not even sure of the title yet, since I have ideas for three more interrelated books. Each one will stand alone, as do the first three books (The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor), but there are plot threads and character issues that continue and enrich each novel.
Ally: Let’s finish with these short answer questions:
- a. favorite book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
- b. book you're currently reading: Dead Man’s Ransom, Number Nine of The Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters.
- f. favorite tv show: Currently: El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time). Ongoing: Grey’s Anatomy.
- g. favorite movie: Trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. Individual: Shakespeare in Love.
- o. favorite quote: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”—the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet
Safe Harbor Medical Mysteries Book One
Genre: Cozy mystery
A patient shares a puzzling secret with Dr. Eric Darcy, and then someone kills her. The mother of grown triplets says a fourth baby was stolen from her at birth, years ago. When his patient is murdered, Eric believes the police in his small town are dismissing a vital clue. As the bodies pile up, the young, widowed doctor turns amateur sleuth, aided by his PI sister-in-law.
“A very clever mystery where emotions and feelings ran deep.” —NightOwlReviews.
Purchase Links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRASWUK
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-case-of-the-questionable-quadruplet-jacqueline-diamond/1123713375?ean=2940158438240
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/648743
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-questionable-quadruplet-safe-harbor-medical-mysteries-book-1
ITunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/case-questionable-quadruplet-safe-harbor-medical-mysteries/id1132318870
GooglePlay:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jacqueline_Diamond_The_Case_of_the_Questionable_Qu?id=9QA7DwAAQBAJ&hl=en
RSS Feed
