A. The release date for my first Scottish medieval romantic suspense, His Captive, is November 7th, 2007! As soon as His Captive is on-line and can be pre-ordered, I will add a link to my website: www.dianacosby.com

Q. Who developed your site for you?

A. I am proud to say that my daughter is my website guru and my photographer. My husband, who is active duty Navy and recently returned from a tour in Iraq, is the HTML expert. He ensures that my website works seamlessly.

Q. Do you think a nice website is a bonus for an author today?

A. More than a bonus, definitely. In today�s computer literate world, I believe a professional website is essential to an author�s career. Often, editors will check and see if submitting authors have websites. A challenge author�s face is to keep updating their websites in creative manners to draw readers back.

Q. You also have a list for researchers looking for information on the medieval Scotland that you and I both love. Has this effort garnered sales or interest for you?

A. My bibliography has definitely garnered interest in readers and writers who, like me, have a passion for medieval history. I belong to several internet mailing lists with SCA members who I laud for not only their medieval research, but for keeping the past alive. A viewer will also note that my interests expand beyond the medieval time frame, and includes the Vikings, police and medical information. I am intrigued by many topics and continue to add to my personal library.

Q. Describe your book, HIS CAPTIVE, and tell our readers about the writing process for this book.

A. His Captive is set in the time frame of Braveheart. Determined to avenge his father�s murder and raise coin for the Scottish Rebels, Sir Alexander MacGruder slips into England to abduct a wealthy noble. Upon his arrival, he finds the noble absent, but his sinfully alluring sister in residence. Believing the siblings are close and her brother will pay handsomely for her return, Alexander abducts Nichola for ransom.

Terrified as the dangerous and seductive Scot hauls her from her home, Lady Nichola Westcott is determined to escape. If her enemy learns the truth, that her brother is a wastrel, on the run for murder and that they are broke, the rebel will kill her. But with her life in jeopardy and her life in shambles, she doesn�t count on finding the one thing that she�s always dreamed of � love.

His Captive came about when this question popped into my mind; �What would happen if a Scottish Rebel rode to England to abduct a rich noble, but when he arrived, the noble was gone? From there, and this is my favorite part of plotting, I ask myself, how can I make the situation worse. The answer for me was to make the heroine believe she�s broke. Then, I added in, make her believe that her brother is on the run for murder. And of course, she finds herself attracted to the dangerous Scot who is her enemy. As I plot out my stories, I try to think of plot and emotional twists that force my characters to face challenges that not only make them grow, but force them to look deep within themselves and discover what it is they truly seek in life.

Q. Your site has a link for a contest. Tell my readers what they can look forward to as the release date approaches.

A. In September, as we close in on the release of His Captive, I will begin running contests each month. Besides copies of His Captive, I will also be giving away beautiful Claymore letter openers.

Q. Have you gotten any reviews for the book yet? Do you go out and get those yourself or does your publisher do it?

A. Yes, I have several reviews of His Captive posted on my website. As far as who asks for the reviews, it�s a mix between my editor and myself.

Q. Many authors are involved with online groups or face-to-face groups to be first readers for them. Do you ever show other people your WIP such as a critique group?

A. I have three very talented critique partners who I work with exclusively. Each of them will critique my work at different phases of completion. I totally respect each of my critique partners and find their writing inspires me to work harder and craft the strongest story possible. We�re quite the international group. One of my critique partners lives in Japan.

Q. Do you listen to music when you work? What inspires you?

A. Absolutely. While writing His Captive, I wore out the Braveheart soundtrack and had to buy a new one. I also listened to the Rob Roy soundtrack. Now, I�ve added to my listening collection, all of the Lord of the Rings soundtracks, and the hauntingly beautiful Celtic Mystique by Howard Baer.

Q. What do you read while in the midst of writing? Any favorites?

A. I�m an avid reader, and I love all genres. My �to be read� stack is huge. :) My favorite authors? Wow, that�s tough as there are so many fabulous and inspiring authors. Off the top of my head, Cathy Maxwell, Mary Forbes, Marin Thomas, Karin Story, Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Virginia Kantra, Susan King, Terri Brisbin, Sandra Hill, Laurin Wittig, and Christeen Feehan.

Q. Who has influenced your writing the most?

A. In my youth, definitely Walter Farley. The Black Stallion series lured me to become the avid reader I am today. As an adult, Nora Roberts. She is an amazing and inspiring author and a master at creating captivating characters.

Q. Have you always wanted to be an author?

A. In high school, I struggled with creative writing, so it never occurred to me to write novels. At seventeen, I joined the Navy and became a meteorologist/oceanographer. After ten years in the Navy, I said, �When I retire, I�m going to write romantic suspense novels.� I attended college at night and earned my degree. After I retired, I began a novel. Surprisingly, I discovered that I absolutely loved to write. And after over nine years of writing and working on my eleventh novel, here I am. :)

Q. What would you say to an aspiring writer?

A. Find a local or on-line writing chapter to join. It�s fabulous to be around other people who �understand� that yes, you do have characters in your head and they do talk to you. And no, you�re not crazy. *Smile* Books I�d recommend for a new writer: -The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus. Ch7, The Comic Throughline, is one of the most succinct breakdowns of how to make a compelling story that I�ve ever read. Even better, the author gives examples of each point using scenes from well known movies. -Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain. A touch dry, but a fabulous explain-all book. -Make Your Words Work by Gary Provost. An amazing how-to book that shows an author the absolute importance of sentence structure and word placement, and how each can be manipulated to give your writing its greatest impact.

Last but not least, perseverance. Love what the stories you create, follow your heart and be true to yourself.

Thank you very much for the interview. My characters are so much a part of my life. It�s a thrill to share them. My wish, that you love them as much as I do. And if only for a while, His Captive sweeps you away to a time where magic exists and dreams really do come true. Diana Cosby