QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"
CELEBRITY AUTHOR
 DIANE MCCLOSKEY

Welcome! let me pour you a cup of Lemon Lift tea and we'll get started. Please help yourself to sandwiches and scones. I made your Yoghurt Pie for dessert!

Thank you! And thanks so much for having me!

Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

 I currently live in Killeen, Texas, about an hour north of Austin, with my husband, Jim, and our two dogs, Shadow and Moe. We moved to Texas after a house fire in New Jersey, to be closer to our daughter and four grandkids, who live about five minutes away. We also have lived in Florida, New Jersey and New York, where I was born and raised. We have three sons, all married; one in Florida, one in New Jersey, and one in California! (Lends itself well to traveling!)

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author? 

My only published work, Through Jenny’s Eyes, was picked up by BluewaterPress, LLC, after my having sent out queries to only 12 publishing houses! The proposed acceptance of my manuscript and subsequent contract were a great validation of my work, and I found the whole cycle quite exhilarating and totally rewarding.

What are your hobbies? 

Besides writing, I have dabbled in both oil painting and photography, and I love gardening, “The Great Outdoors”…things like that.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration? 

My inspiration for the book actually was a random act, and had neither anything to do with the book nor any intent on my part to write a book. It was my being “held hostage” in my car by a fierce thunderstorm while waiting for my mom to come out of Church. If you’ve ever lived in Florida, you know that the storms can be quite ferocious, and this one was no exception. So I sat in the car and began writing on this little piece of paper about the storm…how forceful it was, the feeling of gloom and doom it brought with it…and then I just thought about who those feelings belonged to, and it was Jenny, as an adult, having to confront something painful in her life…thus began the book.

How did you become a writer? When did you start? 

I wouldn’t say I became a writer…I believe I was born a writer. I wrote a poem in Kindergarten, that I recall about 90% of to this day. I think it was a combination of my having deep feelings about things, and being a perfectionist that made writing come so easily to me…I wanted to express what I was feeling and not have it be misunderstood. With writing, you can get it exactly how you want it.

How long did it take you to finish your first book? 

That’s a hard question to answer because I’m not sure when I started it or when I finished it. It was also in the midst of caring for aging parents and raising four children, as well as working on a book about my dad.

Where do you like to write? 

Wherever I am when something needs to be written. Like I said, Through Jenny’s Eyes began in a parked car. I have, most recently, revamped my desk area to create a centralized location for all of my writing tools and the like, but I am essentially a rule-breaker, and I seek a sense of freedom to write wherever. I am not a disciplined write-at-a-certain-time, write-in-a-certain place kind of gal.

Favorite author(s)? 

Myself, of course, and then it’s more a matter of favorite books, not favorite authors. Claude Brown (Manchild in The Promised Land) because of its raw truths, Fynn (Mister God, This is Anna) because of the unique relationship and this unique child, J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings Triology and The Hobbit) because of the author’s ability to make it all so believable, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince) because of its lessons in simplicity….

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more? 

I was just taking a tally the other day, and between books and short stories and a poetry collection, I currently have twenty projects, some done, some in-progress. As for planning to write more, that’s a given, it’s what I do.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books? 

My book is available for purchase on Amazon.com as both a softcover and an e-book for Kindle, or at the publisher’s website at www.bluewaterpress.com/jenny

What about a link to your website? 

I have a website, www.throughjennyseyes.webs.com and also  my Facebook Page - Through Jenny's Eyes 

Diane, it was such a pleasure to have you join us. Thank you, and the best success is wished for your writing endeavors. Here's Diane Mckloskey's recipe.

Yoghurt Pie

It’s extremely simple to make, and utterly delicious!

Two containers of yoghurt, any flavor (can be the same or different, doesn’t matter)

A graham cracker crust

One 8 oz. tub of Cool Whip

Mix the two yoghurts with the Cool Whip, and scoop into the graham cracker crust.

Freeze overnight with the cover on.

Remove from freezer at least 5 minutes before attempting to cut.

Run knife under hot water if need be; cut and serve!

Mmm, mmm, good!