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Dating Down

Suddenly single and unexpectedly poor, it’s definitely safe to say that Alexis Harland is not living the life of her dreams.

Although she’s determined that nothing, not one little thing, will stop her return from poverty. Well, almost nothing. Her pride might get in the way a little. And possibly her family. And maybe the fact that she hasn’t got a clue where to start.

Many years ago, Alexis was swept away from life on a caravan park and introduced to a world of riches and glamour. All thanks to a wealthy man who married her, reinvented her… and then dumped her for a younger model at the first sign of cellulite.

Now Alexis is stranded, struggling to keep her head above water and her history a secret from her highbrow friends.

As if that isn’t enough for a woman to deal with, one night she comes home to find a sexy man has landed, quite literally, on her doorstep. A man hell-bent on testing everything Alexis thinks she knows about true happiness.

Caught between the life she knows and her blossoming love, can Alexis afford to let go of her unwavering pride, kiss her social status goodbye and accept that stepping back to square one is sometimes a huge leap forward?

Buy links

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dating-Down-Diane-Louise/dp/1719883521

 

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Dating-Down-Diane-Louise/dp/1719883521

 

The voices in my head

 

I love creating characters. Actually, scrap that. I live for creating characters. Usually there’s a party in my mind, all the people who are begging for me to tell their stories. Some are louder than others. Some whisper bits of their backstory into my ear, telling me why they feel wronged, or what it is they need in life. Others grab my lug hole and holler in there, demanding to be heard next. There’s a reason writer’s turn to drink, and it’s those blasted characters jostling for attention all day, every day.

Because I’m weak, I tend to give in to the ones who shout the loudest. I do the same with my kids. Maybe assertiveness lessons should be on my agenda for next year. Anyway, I digress. Characters. Don’t ever, ever think a writer holds a position of power over the stars of their books. Because they don’t. Well, I don’t. Another writer may well be able to wield a whip over their prima donnas better than I.

Take Dating Down for example. Alexis was quite well behaved. Alexis came to me disgruntled. She was broke and that was most inconvenient for her. She was quite pouty so I sat her down, as I do with all of my characters, and we had a chat. I have a standard interview I go through with every individual who wants to grace my pages and she was a delight to spend time with. It turns out she was born broke, married well, and had been traded in for a younger model. You have to admit, that’s enough of a reason for any woman to be cranky.  Alexis kindly answered all of my questions and upon further probing I found out that there were things about her character which needed ironing out before she could find her happy place again. She sat patiently and provided honest answers to every one of my questions. She told me her favourite food, alcohol, music. She told me about embarrassing things from her past, secrets she wouldn’t want anybody to know. She spoke at length about her sister, Candy. Who, as it turned out, really wanted to get in on the action as well. Actually, during first draft Candy often tried to takeover. Almost begging for her story to be told, putting her in her place proved difficult but eventually she agreed to wait her turn. Which, between you and me, given the snippets she imparts while I’m driving the kids to school or doing the dishes, is shaping up to be a corker.

Although, don’t be fooled into thinking that because my characters endure a vetting so thorough it would out a double agent that they never fool me. Because they do. Frequently. For example, Darren, the gentleman in my current work in progress, came across during interview as a stereotypical rock star. A guy with scars deeper than an ocean, a chip on his shoulder bigger than a Dorito and the social skills of a skunk. However, as soon as he was introduced into the story I realised I had Joey Tribbiani on my hands.

Author Bio –

Diane Louise is a dairy farmer’s wife from the UK who doesn’t know a Holstein from a Hereford.

But what she does know is how to write a funny story. Three years ago she tried to write steamy romance and sucked at it. Honestly, her stiff upper lip made her heroes more wet blankets than wet dreams. With a steely determination to avoid milking the cows, she turned her hand to Romantic Comedy and a star was born. Well, in her mind at least.

Fancy getting to know the woman behind the words?

She hangs around Facebook daily, desperately avoiding housework, and loves nothing more than chatting to fellow lovers of Romantic Comedy over at Di’s Romantic Comedy Club. Or, if you don’t do Facebook, that’s cool, because she also sends a monthly email to her readers, making sure they never miss a new release and sharing behind the scene info about her books. You can join The Monthly Club here.

Social Media Links –

Facebook Group - Di’s Romantic Comedy Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/954521864707822/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16873120.Diane_Louise

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Twitter - https://twitter.com/DianeLouise12