Diane Billas is a new to me author and after reading through her interview, I know that I’m going to absolutely love her stories. Like so many of us, Diane was the kid that would wear out her library card, reading as many books as she could at one time. And started writing at six and has never stopped. She’s currently with a small indie publishing company that’s helping her get her books into the right hands and she’s just getting started with her storytelling.
Her debut, Does Love Always Win?, is a YA sapphic coming of age romance that I am really looking forward to diving into soon. When Diane mentioned what her second book was going to be about, I was so excited. I’m a superhero fan and the idea of a YA superhero/fantasy (with a romance subplot) has me very excited. Superficial has a gorgeous cover and sounds really good too, so if you haven’t yet, get to preordering your copy right now!
Does Love Always Win? is available everywhere you buy books.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
Ever since I remember I’ve been obsessed with reading books. I was the kid that would check the maximum number of books out of the library. I liked them so much that I wanted to try my hand at writing my own at six years old and ever since then, I haven’t stopped writing.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best part of being an indie author is having much more control over things. I can actually have a stake in the cover being created and give feedback to the designer, unlike many traditionally published books. The worst part of being an indie author is the hustle. The only way my book is going to reach readers is if I do all the work and put myself out there.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I am actually with an indie, small publishing house. I decided to go that route because I wasn’t equipped to self-publish, but also wasn’t getting any agent interest, so I decided to begin querying small publishers and that’s what worked the best for me.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I play the piano! I love music, I actually attended a conservatory, and if I ever am stuck on my writing, I start playing the piano and then the juices usually start again.
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
Some of my favorite indie YA books that I’ve recently read include The Lost Erwain by Mariah Stillbrook (YA Fantasy), When Ocean’s Rise by Robin Alvarez (YA Fantasy), and Dial One For Revenge by Emma Brand (YA).
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Make friends with other writers, whether it be IRL or via social media or both! Some of my best friends are now my writing buddies. They help motivate me and lift me up when I’m down. They will understand the challenges and rewards of writing a book more than anyone else.
Find a writing routine that works and stick to it. It might be hard at first, but even if you write 100 words it’s something. It will help curb procrastination.
Read books in the genre you want to write. It will help you get ideas and see what else is out there.
After you write the first draft of your book, take a break and work on something else. The break will help you see your book in a different light.
Keep going. Sounds cliché but it’s so true. If one book isn’t working, it’s okay to shelf it and work on another one. You aren’t giving up, you are perfecting your craft.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
My debut book, Does Love Always Win? is a romance book but I never meant for it to be. It was going to be more of a YA contemporary fiction, but it somehow turned into a romance!
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
I actually write in multiple genres. My next book that is coming out September 24th, Superficial, is a YA superhero/fantasy book, but it does have a romance subplot. I grew up loving fantasy books and in my twenties became obsessed with Marvel characters, so I married my love of those two things, plus added in some National Treasure aspects, and my book Superficial was born.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
I love found family and that appears in Superficial. It’s nice to see characters have people in their lives that might not be blood relatives support them in their journey. I’m not a fan of pregnancy tropes but that’s because I personally experienced infertility and it can be triggering when reading something like that.
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I really like enemies to lovers but have yet to write that one! I have an idea, I just need to get around to write the story!
If you write closed door romance, why did you choose that and what are your favorite ways to build tension between the characters?
All my scenes so far are closed door romance. I build the tension by the way they are talking to each other and the leading up to the romantic scenes.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
For my debut novel Does Love Always Win? I was inspired because I was reading a lot of YA novels but there weren’t any sapphic stories at the time. So I wanted to try my hand at creating my own.
For my next book Superficial, I thought about things that I loved and kept coming back to Marvel characters and how much fun it was going to a ComicCon convention. Then that led me to the idea of writing a book centered around that event.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
In Does Love Always Win? Shorty, the FMC, can’t get into any of the guys she dates, but when she has to show the snarky new girl around school, sparks begin to fly. But when her bitter ex boyfriend finds out about her new crush, he begins a blackmail plot that she must overcome to get her dream girl.
In Superficial both Lea Anderson and Jake Johnson would rather be any place else but WizCon, the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. While Lea is dreading being the third wheel to her BFF/former lover and her other friend, Jake is tired of yet another appearance as famous superhero, The Amazing Boy. When a convention-wide power failure unexpectedly throws Lea and Jake together, they must team up to try and figure out why all of the occupants of the convention have disappeared without a trace, including Lea’s friends. Things get even stranger when Philadelphia’s iconic treasures go missing one by one at the hands of a pirate determined to become the most powerful villain in the world. Lea, Jake, and a few new friends they meet along the way must defeat the sinister villain to save not only the city of Philadelphia, but the world.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
My favorite character so far is Kristy Davis. She’s the pansexual love interest in Does Love Always Win? She is snarky and will tell you what is exactly on her mind. She’s also a bit messy but will fight for what she believes is right.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
I put a little bit of myself into various characters. Some into the main characters, but also some into some side characters. It’s hard not to!
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
Superficial is the story I’ve always wanted to tell and an #ownvoices book. The FMC is comfortable in her own skin as pansexual and demisexual and is forced to help save the world. I feel like that’s where I am on my own journey. I’m finally comfortable being myself and am ready to take on the world.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Queer characters! Every single book I wrote has multiple queer characters because I feel like it’s important that there is more queer representation in books.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
I’m currently writing a YA murder mystery with a side plot of a sapphic romance. It’s set in an indie bookstore and the murder happens during the main character’s mom’s book event. That’s all I’ll say for now but it’s super fun to write!
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I hope that they will see themselves in some of the characters in my books. I also hope that they can root for the characters as they are facing various trials and relate to their struggles and successes.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks—I am always reading an ebook and listening to an audiobook
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing—When I used to write on my train commutes I needed music to survive. Now that I work 100% remote, I prefer silence.
Plotter, pantser or plantser—I used to be a 100% plotter but with my newest book I’m writing, a young adult murder mystery, I have found I needed to become a plantser.
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?—I pick decaf coffee! I stopped drinking caffeine when I became pregnant and now that I can drink it again, I found I don’t need it, so I drink decaf coffee instead because I really like the taste.
Cold or warm weather—Absolutely warm weather. I love sitting outside and writing on my deck.
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?—My mind is freshest in the morning.
Illustrated or photo cover?
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