Meet author Delaney Diamond

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

Actually, no. I wrote my first romance novel at the age of fourteen (which I only shared with my friends), and I won a few short story contests throughout high school. Once I got to college, I didn’t write fiction any more. For years I never thought about fiction writing again. For some reason, a trip to Rome made me consider it, and in 2009 I decided to try. I joined the Romance Writers of America in January of 2010, and in November 2010 my debut novel, The Arrangement, was released by Amira Press.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

I think there are three key elements to a great story: 1) interesting main characters, 2) a compelling plot with good, well-defined conflict that keeps you turning the pages, and 3) a knockout ending.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

I grew up watching wrestling with my father, and when I decided I wanted to write a romance novel with an athlete as a hero, I made him a wrestler. Fight for Love is the second book in my Hot Latin Men series. It’s a story about Rafael Lopez, a former professional wrestler, and Rebekah Jamison, a conservative science teacher.

I admire the athleticism and skill of wrestlers, and even though I don’t watch it like I used to, I still get a kick out of their showmanship. More than anything, the story is about how love can survive and stand the test of time.

Rebekah and Rafael met when she was seventeen and he was twenty. Her parents didn’t approve of him, and they eloped after she graduated from high school. About a year later, a tabloid scandal caused Rebekah to end her marriage to Rafael.  When the story opens, nine years have passed, and Rafael shows up unannounced at Rebekah’s door. He finds out he has an eight-year-old son, and that’s when the fireworks begin.

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future? 

I like reading historicals, and I’ve toyed with the idea of writing in that genre. I have to admit the research necessary to ensure the historical accuracy of the clothes, culture, language, etc. is daunting. At the moment, I don’t have any specific story ideas. I have plenty to keep me busy in the contemporary arena.

Do you listen to music when writing? 

No, I don’t. It’s too distracting. I need absolute quiet when I write.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

I don’t find them as difficult as I used to, but they are still difficult to write. There are only so many ways you can make it interesting and describe the act while making sure the scene flows smoothly and has the right amount of sexual charge you’d like your readers to feel. If it weren’t for a thesaurus, I’d really be in trouble. Love scenes are more fun to read than write!

What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?

I looooooooove to travel. If money were no object, that’s what I would spend most of my time doing. I like to learn about the customs and history of other cultures. I’m planning a couple of trips now. One will be a trip to Asia next year, which I’m very excited about. I haven’t decided which countries yet, but I hope to take at least three weeks off and visit three or four countries.

I also enjoy cooking and like trying new recipes. I have a radio mounted in the kitchen and listen to music while I cook. It’s very relaxing.

What do you have coming up next for you? Care to share any details with us?

Thank you for asking. Here’s what I’m working on:

1) The third free read for the Free Reads section of my website.

2) The third book in the Hot Latin Men series. The heroine is Samirah Jamison, Rebekah’s younger sister, who makes a brief appearance in Fight for Love.

3) An African-American romance tentatively titled The Temptation of a Good Man. It’s about Dr. Roarke Hawthorne, who’s shocked to see the woman he spent a passionate night with show up at his sister’s wedding on the arm of his brother.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader? 

I mostly read romance and mystery/thrillers. I have books on true crime, politics, and business, a small library of cookbooks, and books on the craft of writing.

Regarding favorite authors, how much time do you have? I’ll give you a short list of favorites: Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, Beverly Jenkins, Maureen Smith, Rochelle Alers, Kate Walker, Trish Morey, Abby Green, Sarah Morgan, Adrienne Byrd, James Patterson, Agatha Christie, Lynne Graham, and Sandra Marton.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Website and blog: www.delaneydiamond.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DelaneyDiamond

Once per month I blog here: http://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com

Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it! 

 Sneak Peek into Fight for Love

Blurb:

Science teacher Rebekah Jamison lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Atlanta. Devastated by a tabloid scandal nine years ago, she ended her marriage to the man her parents never approved of.

Rafael Lopez, former professional wrestler and “Sexiest Athlete Alive,”regrets the lapse in judgment that caused him to lose his wife. He shows up unannounced one day with some startling news, but he gets a surprise of his own. He finds out he’s a father. To get to know his son, he whisks him and Rebekah off to his home in the Hollywood Hills for the summer.

Warning: Get ready for a sensual battle of wills as a conservative teacher lowers her inhibitions and is reminded of why she fell in love with a sexy bad boy wrestler in the first place. 

Excerpt:

This scene takes place after Rafael shows up at Rebekah’s house and sees Ricardo for the first time. Rebekah sends him upstairs so she and Rafael can talk.

“Are we going to have this conversation in the middle of your foyer? Is your southern hospitality only reserved for people you’re expecting?”

Without waiting for a response, he brushed past her toward the kitchen, and she caught a whiff of an unfamiliar cologne. She followed him on unsteady legs, conscious of the fact she looked as bad as he did good. While he was dressed comfortably in a fine linen shirt and crisply pressed dark slacks, she was self-conscious about her unattractive gardening attire and pink cotton headscarf. She wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup, and she was certain she must smell sweaty after working in the yard.

In the kitchen, Rafael leaned against the counter, staring at her as she leaned against the counter across the room. His arms hung loosely at his sides, but she could sense the leashed tension in him.

“Well?” she said to break the uneasy silence.

She was never good at remaining quiet, and he was the complete opposite. He was the quintessential strong, silent type.

“Is he mine?”

She hadn’t expected him to ask that question first, but it was inevitable. “Yes.”

Rafael’s hands clenched into fists, and he pushed away from the counter and took two long strides toward her. Rebekah brought her hands up in a defensive motion, drawing in a sharp breath. His steps came to an abrupt halt.

“I wasn’t going to hit you,” he rasped.

“You’re not exactly known for your long fuse.” Her rapid heartbeat began to slow down.

“I would never hit a woman, no matter how much she infuriates me.” His cold, angry eyes stared into hers. “How could you do that?” he demanded in a rough voice. “How could you keep him a secret from me?”

Now came the hard part—the inadequate explanation she couldn’t even justify to herself. “I did try to contact you, but you were always traveling. It was impossible to get in touch with you.”

 “You didn’t try hard enough.” He found her guilty and delivered a cutting indictment. His eyes were filled with accusation. He swiveled on his heel and stalked over to the door. He stared out the window at the backyard, his shoulders rigid and his neck muscles taut. “Dios, Rebekah, how could you not tell me?”

Buy lnks: Amira Press, Amazon, ARe, B&N