Blog Posts for Diane Chamberlain

Tears and Laughter

Diane Chamberlain — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:40:03 -0800

I asked my Facebook readers if they like books and movies that make them cry. I found the answers fascinating because there were so many different takes on the subject. Some people feel manipulated by a writer if they’re moved to tears. Others like a little tear-jerkiness as long as they don’t feel manipulated. Still others think a good cry means the author or screenwriter has done a good ...

With Writer Friends

Diane Chamberlain — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:47:58 -0800

I just returned from a reunion with my old critique group. We all lived near Mount Vernon–George’s home–when we first got together, so we named ourselves the Mount Vernon Writer’s Group. Our first meeting was a very long time ago. As a matter of fact, it was the day I sent my first full manuscript to my first agent. I was so young and nervous! I think we were all young and nervous ...

Cartomancy and Character

Diane Chamberlain — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:26:41 -0800

I’m not much of a believer in the occult, but I do love Tarot, not in any small part because the 78 cards in a Tarot deck can be so beautiful. There’s something undeniably fascinating in the symbols and images, and it’s easy to get caught up the magic. My first reading was done by a real pro: author Nora Roberts. We were at the Washington Romance Writers’ annual retreat at the fabulous ...

Singing Humbly

Diane Chamberlain — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:19:47 -0800

I’ve reached the age where I know what I do well: I write well. I can structure the heck out of a novel. I can create characters who will make you weep. I’m a pretty good teacher. I enjoy public speaking. Then there are other things that teach me humility. Today, I sat in Starbucks running through my notes for a characterization workshop I’ll be teaching at the November 14th ...

In a Fog

Diane Chamberlain — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:57:12 -0800

Ah, the title challenge once again.My publisher plans to reissue Cypress Point in late 2010–a plan which makes me very happy! This is the old cover, and I can’t wait to see what they’ll come up with for the new one. In addition to changing the cover, they would like to change the title to one that’s more in keeping with my more recent books. It’s true that my recent and upcoming books ...

Whose Story is it?

Diane Chamberlain — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:57:49 -0700

Point of View. Every author has to figure out which character (or characters) is telling the story, and if she’s telling it alone, and if she’s telling it in first person or third (or sometimes from an omniscient perspective), and if she’s telling it in past tense or present. So many decisions! As I begin my new work-in-progress, tentatively titled The Midwife’s Confession, I’m ...

Where Would You Love to Go?

Diane Chamberlain — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:56:46 -0700

We had a friend over for dinner tonight and the conversation turned to travel. Given the fact that I just bought beach property, I won’t be able to afford to travel anywhere else for quite some time, but dreams are free!My dream is to visit Sicily, especially the village of Collesano where my grandparents grew up. It would be a moving experience to visit the places that were so much a part of ...

Embracing Change

Diane Chamberlain — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:52:11 -0700

The original title for this blog post was “I Give Up,” but when I mentioned that to my significant other, John, he nixed it. He said I’m a positive person who has overcome adversity and embraces change, totally shaming me into taking a different slant on my topic. Until then, I was sounding like quite the curmudgeon in this post. Now, I feel much lighter. At least, I’m trying to feel ...

Greetings from Topsail Island

Diane Chamberlain — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:49:52 -0700

When I decided to set Before the Storm and Secrets She Left Behind on Topsail Island, I never dreamed how important this place would become to me. From my very first research trip, though, I knew I’d discovered something special. It reminded me of my childhood at the Jersey Shore and of my early adulthood on the Outer Banks. Like most coastal areas, it has way too many houses crammed together ...

My Worst Cover Ever

Diane Chamberlain — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:44:38 -0700

I will say very quickly, before any of my readers totally freak out, this is not a new cover for one of my books. Not even a recent cover. But my last post led to a discussion on book covers and author input, so I thought I’d use this truly scary example as a jumping off point.This cover was the Norwegian edition of my third (and perhaps my personal favorite) novel, Secret Lives. I hasten to ...