Fiction Scribe

Welcome to another author interview here on Fiction Scribe. Today I’m talking with L. Diane Wolfe, author of the Circle of Friends series. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming her to Fiction Scribe. Remember, by commenting, you have a chance at winning a copy of her book!

Hello and thank you for stopping at Fiction Scribe, Mrs. Wolfe. Tell the readers a bit about yourself.

I’m an optimistic, fiery redhead who does not believe in the word impossible! Online I am known as “Spunk On A Stick� and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to spread the message of hope found within my series.

Originally a West Coast girl, I grew up in Salem, Oregon and moved across the country several times. I now reside North Carolina with my husband and two cats, Rocko & Spunky. I enjoy sports, take photos professionally, and have a passion for roller coasters.

What brought you into the world of writing? When did you start?

I’ve always been a reader, devouring several books a week. However, the desire to write sparked inside of me when I read Anne McCaffrey’s “The White Dragon�. I admired the richness of character in her books. Holding that book in my hands, I could picture my own name on the cover. At the age of just thirteen, I set a goal of becoming an author. That was many years ago!

You’re currently on virtual tour for your young adult book Mike: Circle of Friends Book IV. Could you tell us a bit about the series and the latest book?

My Southern-based series, The Circle of Friends, focuses on the pursuit of dreams and the overcoming of obstacles. The stories intertwine as the characters learn that with belief and encouragement, they can achieve anything. Meant to inspire as well as entertain, my books have been described as “encouragement personified�. The latest, Mike: Book IV follows one young man’s journey to forgiveness. Mike is the epitome of stability, but beneath the surface he is consumed with guilt. When Danielle enters his life, he can no longer hide his sinful past. Will he finally forgive himself or is Mike past the point of redemption?

What inspired you to write the Circle of Friends? Where did the idea begin?

LORI was inspired by the wisp of a dream. I don’t remember the details surrounding Lori and Jason, but I saw them so vividly in my dream. I began writing Lori’s story of a young woman in search of Olympic Gold and had a complete outline in no time. The characters became so real and alive; their world simply took on a life of its own.

What character do you relate to the most and why?

There’s a pinch of me in several of the main characters, but I probably relate most to Sarah. She struggles with confidence and a poor self-image, and so did I at that age. She also speaks her mind and is a bit of a tomboy! Her counterpart in the book, Matt, was a delight as well, and I very much enjoyed delving into their relationship.

Have you always written young adult fiction? What about it draws you?

Believe it or not, my first love is science fiction! But this series was so inspired that I ran with it. I didn’t intend for The Circle of Friends to be YA, but I soon had a lot of teen readers & fans. Since my books were clean and focused on high school/college aged characters, I began promoting them as YA as well as adults. I think for me, I am drawn to the innocence of young dreams and first loves. And I want younger readers to see healthy relationship dynamics and the power of a positive attitude.

What drew you to writing this book series in particular?

The pursuit of a dream! After dreaming of Lori and Jason and visualizing them still in high school, I hit upon the idea of her being a swimmer with goals of competing in the Olympics. Halfway through LORI, the struggles of the secondary characters began to speak to me. I identified with Sarah’s self-image problems; felt the agony of James’s past; cried at Mike’s inner turmoil; and was intrigued by Heather’s dominating nature. Before completing LORI, I outlined four more books in what was to become The Circle of Friends series.

Are there any authors who have inspired you in your writing?

Anne McCaffrey for sure! I also read a lot of relationship and self-help books - authors such as Gary Chapman, Florence Littauer and Alan Loy McGinnis. So much of what I learned through those books was poured into my series.

What are your dreams for your writing?

I want to branch out into many areas! I teach seminars on publishing & promoting, so next will be a non-fiction book on the subject. After that, I return to my roots with a science fiction book about two brothers in a war. Ultimately, the big dream starts with next year as I start my own publishing company. I want to take on other authors in the next couple of years as well as publish my own work. I want to continue with my seminars, including one I do on overcoming obstacles, and continue to branch out from there. Everyone wants to make his or her mark on the world and I want to inspire as many as I can in my lifetime!

When you’re not writing novels, what do you do?

Besides endless promotions and marketing and appearances? Sometimes it feels like that’s all I do! But I enjoy my photography and never pass up an opportunity to ride a roller coaster. I’m very involved with my church and help lead the singles ministry. Other than that, I love football, movies, music and people!

Any advice for writers?

Begin writing with the end in mind! That not only means having a storyline with an ending, but knowing what you want to accomplish with your work. Writing because you are passionate about your work is one thing – writing something you can market and sell is another.
And if I can succeed, so can you!

- Author & Speaker, L. Diane Wolfe, www.thecircleoffriends.net, http://circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com

If you liked this interview, you might also like the interview with young adult author Dwayne Anderson.