Today’s Friday Five focus is Diane Burton, author of sci-fi romance and mystery short stories, novellas, and novels.
Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and the Alex O’Hara PI mystery series. She is also a contributor to two anthologies: Portals, Volume 2 and How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in West Michigan. They have two children and three grandchildren.
In Mission to New Earth, Earth’s overpopulation and dwindling resources force the United Earth Space Agency to ramp up exploration of new planets for a possible new home. As Sara Grenard and her team prepare for launch, are they ready for the one-way trip? Will they be in time?
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1. Why do you write sci-fi romance and mystery?
I love a good mystery, and adventures in space have intrigued me since Star Wars.
2. What was your attitude towards reading when you were a kid?
Loved it. Couldn’t get enough books, and I hoarded the ones I had. I used my babysitting money to buy books instead of make-up,like my girlfriends.
3. Thinking about the stuff you’ve written, who’s your favorite character and why?
Jessie, in my first published novel Switched. She’s quirky, smart alecky, I wish I could come up with her quips in real life. She’s conscious of being overweight (though not that much). She’s insecure yet more capable than she thinks.
4. What literary character are you most like and why?
Jane Eyre: she’s quiet and unassuming, yet caring. I’d rather be Lara Croft.
5. What are three things on your bucket list?
Take an Alaskan cruise
See Scotland/Ireland/Wales, England too
Learn Dutch so I can read about my ancestors
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Mission to New Earth is currently available through Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.
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Thanks for having me here, E.D. I enjoyed answering your questions.
Hi Diane- you’ve got quite a list of books! I’d love to take an alaskan cruise someday too.
That Alaskan cruise has been on my bucket list for about 20 years. I’m going to get there!
Great interview! Mission to New Earth has such a fascinating premise that the story must be very intriguing and thought-provoking.
Thanks, Marissa. It’s making me think more & more about what we’re doing to Earth right now and what we can do to prevent having to leave it.
Great interview…I love Lara Croft!!
I love her, too. I wish they’d made more than 2 movies about her.
I love all your books, and I’m happy to see them featured here. If you need a travel buddy for the cruise and the British Isles, I’m in – but I need to work on my Japanese for the same reason you have.
Love to have you join us on that cruise/British Isles.
Almost forgot. Thanks so much for the endorsement of my books. That made my day!
I love your books! I think the worlds you create are amazing! Good luck to you!
Thanks so much, Kara. I’ve built 3 different worlds. Each one was great. Keeping track of the details is a chore, though. I have to keep good notes.
Great little interview, Diane!
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Pam, you are so sweet. Thanks.
Jessie sounds like an interesting character to put in a Sci-fi story. Made me laugh when you mention her quips. I know I spend hours coming up with snappy one-liners and wish I could sound as smart as my characters do :)
I know what you mean, Sorchia. If only I could think up those one-liners when I need them…and not the next day. LOL
what a terrific interview. Speaking of books . . . I once ran away from home. Packed my satchel with books, no clothes or food or snacks. I felt if I had my favorite books with me I was never alone.
thanks for the inspiring interview, Diane!
Veronica Lynch
Thanks, Veronica. That’s probably all I’d pack if I ran away from home. Books are all I need. Now, it’s my Kindle.
Nice interview, Diane. I’ve loved space adventures since I was a kid! Nothing like it!
Great interview, Diane. Of course you know I LOVE your Alex O’Hara mysteries, but I also loved “One Red Shoe.” I recently read “Switched” and enjoyed the Jessie character. I could relate to her body type!
Thanks for reading my books, Leah. Jessie has always held a special place in my heart. My 1st published heroine.
Thanks, Joy. Space travel/adventures intrigues me. I’d love to be able to do it. Maybe Hubs can shoot my ashes into space like Star Trek’s Scotty (James Doohan).
Great interview! I am already a Diane Burton fan. :) An Alaskan Cruise is on my bucket list too!! Fingers crossed we both get to do it!
I sure hope we manage that cruise.
I predict it won’t be long before you can read about your Dutch ancestors in English, Diane, because English is fast taking over as a second language in the Netherlands. When my son moved to Amsterdam, I kidded him that with a Flemish name people would start talking Dutch to him, but he says that has never happened.
I hope you’re right, Ed. It would be very interesting. I did find out one of my Dutch ancestors wrote children’s books back in the 1800s.