Our interview With Dianne Gardner!

 

                                                                Deception Peak

Dianne Lynn Gardner

Author-Illustrator

Young Adult Fantasy-Adventure Fiction

Dianne Gardner is both an author and illustrator living in the Pacific Northwest, USA.

It is with great pleasure that we take a moment and introduce to you a wonderful lady, artist and author Dianne Gardner!

What is the ideal recipe for a good novel

Like anything else, love! Get into the story. Live it! Let it become part of you.

 You’ve been contacted by the Association of Libraries from the Alien Planet of Zaolia. They want to know the five most important novels in all of Earth’s history. Which five novels do you give them?

 The Chronicles of Narnia

Hamlet

For Whom the Bell Tolls

All Quiet on the Western Front

Don Quixote

 What was the turning point in your life when you decided to start writing?

 I felt I had painting all the paintings I needed to paint. My studio was full and my work wasn’t selling. I had always wanted to write fantasy stories for kids, the kinds of books that I loved reading. So I decided to switch gears and start writing.

 What is or are the genres of your book or books?

I call them family friend adventure fantasy

 What made you decide to write in your particular genre?

It’s what I love reading.

 When you write do you take notes, organize your characters and plot, or you write freely as you go?

I’m an organizer, John Truby Anatomy of Story kind of person.

 Where does your inspiration come from?

Long walks in the woods, on the beach, in the prairie, grasslands, mountains…

 Do you write about your personal life experiences in your stories?

Sure do, but they’re disguised.

 What is your favorite scene in your story?

I love the scene when Ian meets Vilfred for the first time. Here Ian was expecting to meet a hero, a hunter, a brave and strong chief of his tribe, someone very much like who he thought his father was. And then he sees Vilfred in that little yurt, the fire glowing, the pet wolf snug on the sheepskin, the broken man wrapped in leather bindings because his body is so crippled he couldn’t move. Yet Ian is taken aback with respect for Vilfred simply because of the man’s wisdom and kindness. He steps out of the yurt wondering how it is best fitting to leave a king. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the whole series.

Thank you, Dianne, for being such an awesome guest! Would you mind sharing a bit about yourself and links to your books?

 

She's been a painter all her life having started at the age of 12 under her mother's supervision. Her first private art lesson was with a sculptress in California. Excelling in art in school and on to college, her portfolio includes portraits, inspirational works, and plein air landscapes. She was the portrait painter for the Washington Renaissance Fantasy Fair for several years painting 20 minute oil paintings during the fair. She has just recently started illustrating books, beginning this endeavor with a 9' triptych of Stenhjaert the Dragon, the antagonist in Ian's Realm

Dianne is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National League of American Pen Women. Besides the Ian's Realm Saga (Deception Peak, The Dragon Shield, and Rubies and Robbers which will be released in 2013) she boasts authorship to four short stories titled A Tale of the Four Wizards Series which interweaves with the Saga. She writes for middle grade and young adults targeting boys and adventure loving girls, but adults are some of her most zealous fans of all Her writing definitely falls under the 'family friendly' category!

Books

Ian's Realm Trilogy
Deception Peak
The Dragon Shield
Rubies and Robbers

Sequels
Cassandra's Castle To be released
The Diary of a Conjurer To be released

Short Stories

A tale of the Four Wizards
Silvio
Meneka
Kaempie
Reuben