Tag Archives: Diane Solomon

Author interview questions

Author Interview Questions

With all the promotion for my new novel, “Eva; a riveting romantic suspense with a supernatural twist,”  I have had a chance to answer some fascinating questions posed to me by book bloggers.

CHECK OUT EVA HERE

Is there any part of the story of Eva to which you relate, from your own life?

Absolutely. My first career was in show business in England. I was a singer, and songwriter, and actress, and had my own variety show on BBC television. Then I enjoyed another 15 years or so of traveling around the world entertaining. With that came a goldfish bowl that you have to experience to understand. It sounds glamorous: the TV appearances, the radio interviews, the press coverage, singing in front of people (I did love that!), the nice clothes, the money… But it comes with the price of a loss of privacy and space. In the first few years, when I was recognized all the time, I’d pop down to the grocery store, where people often felt free to make all kinds of strange comments like, “You’re not as pretty as you are on the television.” Or “You’re fatter than we thought you were.” Seriously.

Eva, the protagonist of the novel, keeps to herself, and tries to keep her magical gift a secret. When inevitably word gets out, she is undated by media and requests from around the world. Her life is no longer her own.  Although I have no magical gift (how I wish!) I think I relate to her loathing of attention from my show business experience.

Do you write to a schedule? Or do you write when you feel like it?

That’s a good question. I know most career authors work a certain amount every day whether the mood strikes them or not.  My writing is not structured in this way. I tend to be an all or nothing person, meaning when I do something I love I do it 125%. When I’m working on a book, whether on my own or with my husband Mark Carey, I tend to get on a roll. It’s hard for me to stop. Laundry doesn’t get done, the weeding doesn’t get done, I forget to eat. And I can write for hours, even in the middle of the night. I’ve never been very disciplined about following a routine; it might be better if I did. That’s what the little voice in my head tells me, in a chastening tone. But we are who we are, and we do things the way they work for us. And I had the time of my life writing Eva.

 

 

a 5-star review from Readers Favorites!

I am jazzed. I just got an editorial review from Readers Favorite, giving Eva five stars. Woo-hoo!

 

WATCH BOOK TRAILER

 “Eva is an enthralling and well-crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together a captivating blend of supernatural, romantic suspense, and family drama elements.”  by Demetria Head for Readers’ Favorite 

 

“Eva by Diane Solomon sets the stage for an intriguing journey of self-discovery and uncovering hidden family secrets. The narrative opens with Eva, a young woman who stumbles upon a long-lost letter from her late Aunt Sophie, revealing her father’s existence, William Hastings III. This unexpected revelation sparks a series of emotions and questions, prompting Eva to seek out her father and uncover the truth about her family’s past. Set in Pine Hill, near Stonington, Connecticut, Eva navigates through her emotions and the complexities of her newfound identity while also receiving support from her best friend, Jamie. As the story progresses, readers are drawn into a world of potential romance between Eva and Dr. Michael Lowery, the compassionate veterinarian. But the question is, can Eva live with her new identity without compromising her safety?

Throughout Eva, the characters are vividly portrayed, and supernatural elements are skillfully woven into the plot, providing an additional layer of intrigue. Eva’s connection with animals, particularly her ability to communicate with them on an emotional level, adds a mystical aspect to the story that sets it apart from typical romantic suspense novels. The pacing is well-balanced, with Diane Solomon gradually revealing the story’s secrets while maintaining the reader’s engagement. Each chapter ends with a compelling cliffhanger, making it difficult to put the book down. Overall, Eva is an enthralling and well-crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together a captivating blend of supernatural, romantic suspense, and family drama elements.”

 

My thanks to Demetria for a lovely review!

 

 

 

 

 

EVA: sold 105 books in eight hours!

EVA: a riveting romantic suspense with a supernatural twist

We are jazzed: we have 27 five-star reviews so far on Amazon, and sold 105 copies since midnight last night! 

I am thrilled that people are enjoying my new novel. Read the first three chapters here: EVA chapters

REVIEW SNIPPETS:

***** “a thrilling romance with a paranormal twist”

***** “Eva is a triumph of storytelling that reminds us of the indomitable spirit of the human soul.”

***** “a captivating blend of romance, suspense, and the supernatural that kept me on the edge of my seat.”

***** “Thank you, Diane Solomon, for producing something that provides a beautiful escape and leaves you filled with inexplicable joy.”

***** “honest, magical, spiritual, thought-provoking!”

***** “a poignant and captivating novel that explores the depths of human resilience and the power of redemption.”

***** “Eva is an enchanting tale that blends romance, suspense, and the mystical”

***** “Diane Solomon’s writing captivates from the first page, weaving a mesmerizing journey of self-discovery, love, and resilience. “

***** “this book is an absolute must-read!”

***** “one of those books that you don’t want to put down.”

80 bloggers posting EVA in a Book Blitz next week!

XpressoTours is kindly hosting a Book Blitz for Eva: a riveting romantic suspense with a supernatural twist. From the 24th through the 28th.

Blitz Sign-Up: Eva by Diane Solomon

 

80 reviewers and bloggers have picked it up for promotion!  

I am thrilled and grateful. Hope they enjoy the book!

Eva possesses a unique and powerful gift. But is it a curse? Never having known her father and having lost her mother when she was young, Eva believes she’s better off alone. She only connects deeply with animals, they are her first love. But another great love is on the horizon, along with other life-changing discoveries.

When they learn of her gift, the media jackals gather, and Eva is forced into the limelight she’s avoided all her life. Facing challenges at every turn, including her own inner demons, she must fight to protect, even embrace, her newfound ability.

But someone wants her dead.

*     *     *

Best-Selling Author Review:

 “I was captivated by Eva’s story and riveted to the end. Diane is a beautiful writer who has captured the essence of Eva’s unearthing of her true self. A story that is timeless. Bravo!” Laurie Seymour, M.A., twice a #1 international best-selling author, host of Wisdom Talk Radio, Executive Coach, international speaker and Founder/CEO of The Baca Institute.

5.0 out of 5 stars “Beautiful story!”
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
“This is such a beautiful, heartfelt, uplifting story! It grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go!! As you arrive in Eva’s life, she is just finding out that she has life-changing abilities. She is loving and true to herself in the best of ways! Once you start reading this story and the wonderful world of Eva, you can’t stop! The ending left me barely able to breathe and just full of awe. Beautiful book!!“This book grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go!”

OTHER AUTHORS:

~ You will love Eva if you’re enchanted by the magical realism of Sarah Addison Allen or Emily Colin, or are inspired by the thoughtful women’s fiction of Barbara Delinsky and Kristin Hannah.

 

Great interview on Linda’s Book Bag!

Linda Hill, of Linda’s Book Bag.

Linda kindly invited me to contribute to her website. Linda has an award-winning blog, reviewing and sharing good books with her vast ocean of fans and followers.

 

Check it out: https://lindasbookbag.com/

“Lovely Diane Solomon has appeared here on Linda’s Book Bag a few times and when I heard she had a new book, Eva, I simply had to invite her back.  I asked Diane about her experience of writing Eva and she kindly provided a super guest post and an extract from the book that I’m delighted to share today.

Let’s find out about Eva.”

A Guest Post by Diane Solomon

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag Diane.  And congratulations on your new romantic suspense novel, Eva. Has writing this book helped you realize anything about yourself in the same way Eva has a voyage of discovery?

It’s nice to be back, and that’s a great question! I came up with the idea for this novel 20 years ago, but it took me until now to feel ready to write it, to truly understand what I wanted to say.

Here’s a wee bit about the story. Eva, the 26-year-old protagonist, has not committed to love since the day when she was eleven, when she found her mother dead on the kitchen floor. Since then, believing she is better off alone, she has kept a safe distance from people, only connecting deeply with animals.

Then she discovers she possesses a powerful skill. Maybe it is a gift. But it might be a curse. She realizes she can heal an animal simply by holding it and meditating to a deep inner space where she connects with its spirit. Things get even more shocking when she finds she can heal humans as well. When through her healing, her grandfather recovers miraculously from the incapacitation of a stroke, word spreads quickly and her life is no longer her own.

Journalists hound her relentlessly and hand-delivered death threats confirm someone wants to kill her. Forced into the limelight she’s avoided all her life and facing challenges at every turn, Eva must fight to protect her newfound ability while also doing the most difficult thing of all: staying alive.

Eva is a deep love story, full of twists and turns, with the theme of our universal yearning for connection. Plus, it is loaded with heart.

I resonate strongly with the path Eva travels, that of her struggle is to overcome her inner demons in order to own her power and to flourish. To grow. Eva is continually challenged, when all the time, all she wants to do is look after animals. That’s where she feels safe and loved and where she can give love unconditionally without fear.

Some of that is me! This hit home as I wrote the book. What kept me from connecting deeply with other people my whole life was very simply the walls I created to protect myself. The walls Eva created. The walls we all create! We hide behind those walls, protecting ourselves from pain. Yet, ironically, those walls insulate us from the very thing we need to alleviate the pain. Connection to other people. I believe we all yearn for that connection.

Writing this book has been one of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences of my life. And I wrote it from my heart, hoping to grab yours!

 

Eva sounds fabulous Diane!   CLICK HERE TO READ “EVA” EXTRACT