G - Interview with Author Diony George

Deirdra: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Diony: I discovered a love for writing in elementary school, but didn’t have the dream of becoming a published author until I was much older. It took five years from the time I began writing my first book until I held a printed copy of it in my hands.

Deirdra: What makes you passionate about writing?

Diony: There is a part of me I can only express through writing. Using the written word to create visual images and emotions in someone else--a reader, is an extremely fulfilling and challenging form of creating for me.

Deirdra: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Diony: Long and hard! sigh. There were moments when I felt like giving up, and times I got so sick of editing and rewriting my manuscript I felt close to screaming. But when I saw all the endless hours of hard work, sweat and tears, inside a beautiful cover with my name on it the feeling of awe and excitement was incredible. I had finally done it! It was pretty amazing to think it began with one word.

Deirdra: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Diony: I was. Writing and publishing a book is quite a process and I had my share of criticisms and rejection letters like most authors. There were weeks at a time I had to step back from the project and focus on other things in my life, before I could go back and view it with fresh eyes.

Deirdra: What is your writing schedule like?

Diony: I try to write a few hours every day, at a time I get the least amount of interruptions (like when the kids are in school) some days are I’m more successful than others, but when I’m on a deadline, my house falls apart. I practically live in my home office and my husband and children eat a lot of Dominoes pizza or pancakes for dinner.

Deirdra: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is good enough to write a book about it?

Diony: My first book is based on a true story, which made it easier to write because I knew the story so well. My second book was more difficult to write. The story developed and changed as I went a long and was much slower to write. I haven’t found a publisher for it yet. The plot of my third book, which I’m currently working on, came to me when I was out with my family. I wrote the outline for the whole book in about fifteen or twenty minutes.

Deirdra: Can you tell us about your book Torn Apart.

Diony: Torn Apart is about a woman named Alyson, a wife and mother of four who thinks her life is close to perfect. But as her husband becomes increasingly distant she wonders what’s wrong. Little does she know he’s been keeping a horrible secret—a secret that will change their lives forever.

Deirdra: What are your goals with this book? How do you think it will help not only LDS people become more aware of this addiction, but those of other faith as well.

Diony: My goal with Torn Apart is to help as many people as possible who have or are dealing with pornography in some way, either personally or with a loved one. Pornography addiction is a worldwide problem and one in which everyone needs to recognize and address. Because of my LDS faith and the way I lived my life, I naively assumed pornography wouldn’t ever touch me. I was wrong and I want others to realize it can affect anyone means its all of our problem

Deirdra: How many beta readers do you have review your manuscript before you send it to your editor?

Diony: I get a lot of volunteers to be beta readers, on average I use about five.

Deirdra: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline first?
Diony:

Deirdra: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's block? If so, how do you deal with it?
Diony: I take a break from my writing. As I focus on other things the ideas start to flow again and when I’m back at my computer, ready to type I can move past it.

Deirdra: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when you are writing?
Diony: Absolute quiet would be wonderful—but is rare at my house unless everyone is asleep. Listening to music for me would be a distraction.

Deirdra: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?
Diony: Wherever I am I look for ideas, especially from experiences other people have or the things they say. Sometimes I get an idea from reading a book or a watching a movie and put my own twist it. Once I start writing, more ideas come and sometimes I go off on a completely different direction than I originally planned.

Deirdra: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?
Diony: I would have to say my mom, she believed in me from the very beginning.

Deirdra: What is your favorite snack to have while you are writing?

Diony: I’d have to say tortilla chips or gummi bears.

Deirdra: Besides writing what other talents or hobbies do you have?

Diony: I play the piano, sew, scrapbook, travel, read, and I like to bake—pies are my favorite.

Deirdra: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?

Diony: Learn as much as you can about the process, read and write a little everyday, network with other authors through writing groups and conferences and most importantly--Don’t give up!

Deirdra: What are you working on now?

Diony: Imperfectly Beautiful—a romantic suspense, Inside the Heart—similar genre, and a non-fiction compilation of true stories-currently untitled.

Deirdra: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?
Diony: Autographed copies can be purchased on my personal website, http://dionygeorge.com, on-line from various booksellers including Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, local libraries, Deseret Book, Seagull and other locations where books are sold.