Good evening and welcome to the daily with Phil Stein on anchor I am still Stein author so he's fine, and I'm here tonight with a wonderful interview by an amazing author She was here before it's been a while and I wanted her to come back She's an amazing author and I'm gonna introduce her first her name is Diane Tilly And she's here on the daily with so Stein here on anchor welcome Diane. How are you? I'm not so how are you? I'm doing great.
It's been a while. I know we've talked online for a bit, but we haven't really talked talked Yeah, but it's good to have you here now I was gonna tell everyone for those that don't I don't know if you listen to the last podcast. She was on she is a freelance writer co-ed Diantilly multi general general general sorry multi-genre author and online journal editor She writes for many online publications as well as writing for her own blog at diantilly calm Her latest projects include a second poetry collection a romance novel and a psychological thriller now I don't want to give everything away, and I know you have another a Author name that you use so I'm gonna have you say that so welcome to the show Diane Tilly Thank you. Thank you for having me.
No problem. So tell us about you about me I have been writing for many many years I Got my start when I was 15 at writing poetry Wow, and I have two books out in my poetry, and I'm gonna have another out first Year, okay, you cuz I remember the pieces of me that that was your first one, right? Right, right? And now you have another one you say well, I had one out that came out in 2006 Okay, but then I have the pieces of me, and now I have I'm gonna have another one in January Oh, wow, that's so can you tell us about your your journey as far as your first poetry book to your second to the one coming out?
Could you share some of that in your book titles and then tell us about your romance novel as a romance romance author after that? Okay, well my first But it's also titled pieces of me But then the second one was titled pieces of me Mess of words from once messed up life and that they both are basically Basically the same type of poetry. It's a lot of like from depression And what went on in my life when I was younger up until that point yes And um, but my next my next journal or book would be it's more of a sensual type It's got a lot to do with nature and how it works under senses. Oh, okay.
Okay, so it's more so basically from the the other The two first collections of poetry were more about things that you went through that that you know Every really light people go through so many things and depression is among one of the highest for different reasons and things you go through So it was more of a you putting it together to share your what you were experiencing or stuff like that Yes, that's the way putting it. It is all about Me the first few books and I think I actually had to get it on paper and get it out there for people to read Yes, but maybe going through the same thing. Yes. Yes.
It was it. Um, could you say that it was a therapeutic for you when you wrote it? Yes, it was it was my form of therapy Yes, because I can't even imagine you know, but you know, there's many things I know I had chastity games a few weeks ago And she wrote a collection of poetry about grief and we know what it does to you So, you know, I you know, I know poetry is and I know you're really good at it You know working with you at the coffee house writers everyone's excited by the way where you come in to do the seminar for us That's great. So we're all great.
We're all great about you yesterday night Shout out to coffee house writers just an awful and everyone said such sweet things about you Oh, that makes me feel good. Well, you were always really good and we miss you But we loved Caitlin Haynes. She's doing a great job, but we miss you also you were really good at coffee house. Yeah Well, I wanted to say that like not trying to suck up, but I sound like I didn't Know but I'm getting back to your poetry.
So so now when you say sensual like It's more about nature. Is it more like maybe you a different type of poetry? Like not that the other one wasn't about you, but this is more of it. Could you say maybe it's a lighter tone of poetry that you're writing?
It's not as deep like into the um, you know, depression is that it's totally different from that and because when I did the other two I think that's Help me get through everything that I had lived in my past. So now I honestly it takes a lot out of me to actually write poetry like that so and I'm more writing when it comes to the poetry. I'm writing more of Sensual, you know, not so much sexual but sensual. Yeah, like more romance like You know kind of like what you say is more like a romantic tones because of what your life is now Yes, yes, just a lot like that because it's sorry.
I'm stammering. Oh, you're your fun. It's a conversation. We're just going to give it a month Friends, you know, that's it.
Oh, we're doing but nature is nature. It can be so central He put the right words to it. I am excited to To you know learn more about your poetry, but do you have a title for that book coming out or do you want to share later when it comes out? I'll share later when it comes out.
Oh, no, that's that's perfectly fine. Very very I totally understand that now I was going to ask you um as far as your other folks that you're working up I know you have a pen name that you correct can you share about that? Yes, um, my pen name is Alexis Craig Alexis our Craig and I write contemporary erotic Just got any subgenre under romance. Okay, okay, and we do I do have one.
Um, I'm in like five anthologies this year. Yeah, and Um, we have one parts in the city, which is coming out and um I'm thinking october. I'm thinking I'm sorry about that date. Um, there are pre-order links out now for though.
Oh, right. And Also, I have um, the story coming out with author sharing re oh nice and it's at the co-written um mafia romance And it will be coming out in september the first weekend in september And it is a really good story. Oh, I'm excited to work with her that I can't wait and at the end of the podcast I'll make sure to get your link so that they're on the uh, the you know my description of the of the show. That's okay That's fine.
Yeah, and okay. You were going on with those two stories coming out, which is really exciting. You got like going on your busy lady I am super busy, but you sound really really happy with it like you you're doing what you what you love I am. I've always wanted to write and I thought I still write my poetry and I thought that's what I was going to be You know, that's what I wanted to be.
Um, but that is now like, um, something that is Uh, I don't want to say hobby. It's the luxury for me. Yeah, right culture. So now you're more focused on the romance, uh, stories a contemporary Rodica stories, correct?
Yes, correct And I found like I had my voice with that so yes exactly and you have because I saw that you're working on More books now, right? Um, so can you share more about that or is that still, you know in the works? Um, I have um, I've got one that I'm still working on finding grace. I mean to that my last interview with you.
Yes, I think I remember that I remember hearing about that. I am hoping that one will come out in october as well. Okay, um, you know When you're writing and you get stuck on one spot. Yeah, is that the thriller you were working on?
No, that one the thriller is going to be under a dying tilly and yeah, that one's for better or for worse. That's the title And I'm aiming for the end of the year. Wow. So if finding grace is also in the contemporary romance It's more mainstream women's fiction.
Oh, okay. Um, it's about a woman who I don't want to give it all away. She has to find herself Okay What makes her happy because she has given her life to her family. Okay.
Yeah, and that happens a lot with us women We have so many roles. So I'm sure a lot of people can relate or gonna relate to that. I'm sure they could. Yeah So what I love about you Diana, it's like you have a repertoire of of things that you write about Um, I want to say because you started with the poetry, you know to write about your past as you mentioned things that you've gone through And and then now, you know, you're focusing more on stories of whether it be romance thrillers or contemporary erotic But different different types and you're writing stories with other authors So would you say that like when you first started writing did you ever see yourself?
Um focusing on just one genre or you were always open to many genres I'm open to many genres. I read everything. Okay. Um, I mean Stephen King.
He's my favorite author. Yes, but so is Nicholas farts Yes, so and I got to meet Nicholas farts. Oh my gosh. That must have been so exciting It was and I got to see Stephen King's house.
So that's part of what that is there. Yeah, so shout out to Chris Bartlett He actually got to see Stephen King at a book event. Oh, you're gonna have to talk about that, but see Chris. You got to see us house I did He's buddy going what?
You remember Chris, right? He worked with us like coffee house writers Christopher Bartlett. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, so he he lives in Maine So he got to go to an event a few years back with where Stephen King was that I remember he talked about that So but but that's so like I said, you remind me of myself because I can read anything from Go from Stephen King or Jillian Flynn and then go to Lee Ann Moriarty or or of course the great Agatha Christie or Or just a just a nice romance book like a poetry book like yourselves chastity or Or you know many different I just go from one one thing to another is there is no barrier as to what I want to read And I don't think people should limit themselves to read different genres Exactly exactly because if you you're putting borders if you do that and you should have an open mind with everything I think so too. I think so too. Everyone is different. You know, everybody writes different and I love having conversations with different authors Because we're not all the same, you know, we have different opinions and it's good to bring the whole purpose of the daily For this podcast is to bring about a different You know set of authors that can talk about their works in a different way because everybody has a different way of looking at things And it brings a sort of You know information that may be a writer out there's listening to that maybe they didn't know and it helps them as well Yeah, that's good by 30.
Yeah, exactly. So you don't sound nervous at all so no worries You're so fine But I was gonna say also As far as you're writing and I know a lot of people ask, you know, I know we talked about this probably in the other podcast So I just wanted to know like do you now like outline or have you like when you're planning all what you're working on? You have to organize yourself in a desk to have everything set up or I keep a notebook And I loosely outline. I don't I'm not a strict outliner I write down my idea.
I just like I'm thinking it in my head. I write it on the paper And then I keep track of the characters and their characteristics. I keep you know different sheet I don't I'm not one that uses the computer people this stuff on. I have to actually write things out so that I can remember them And so I long hand a lot.
Yeah, and then you put it. You're ready. You start typing it out. Correct.
That's how I do it Yeah, and that's that's exactly what I do. I use composition books or the legal pads I have a lot of notes as you've seen on my videos And and me does music play a part in what you do in writing or is it I think where you be all through the state You have to have quiet when you type. Yeah, I have quiet I mean I can have like a little bit of background music, but then I find myself listening to the words in the music And then you get distracting you start writing about the song Yeah And that's the other thing people have trouble coming up with ideas and stories I can hear a song and one line of the song. We'll catch you And that's a whole story idea right there.
See and that's the thing Like because I know that there was people have said sometimes that when you write they're like snapshots of Movies that you see like sometimes you'll be listening to a song Like you said or or a scene in a show or a movie and it'll spark an idea of a story Does that ever happen to you too when you're all the time all the time and this is why you have to have your notebook, right? Yes, I have notebooks everywhere Exactly, but but what I was going to say is that you come up you like so like such a long way Because you started writing. I know you just started I know you've written a lot, but when did you officially just focus on your writing hundred percent? I know you work and all that but to put it like the forefront of everything Well, I was dealing with coffee house writers So I guess maybe two years ago years ago and and I noticed you've been in different events, right?
You're you're you're in you're preparing Glad to be a part of them so excited about that and I'm excited to have you. Yes We don't live that far from each other, right? No, we don't one of these days we have to get to get a coffee or something I agree. Yes, we did and with Lisa to Lisa Milton lives in this area, too I think we're all down our way from each other.
Yeah, so we need a Lisa shout out to her too. You're listening. Give us a call No, but I'm not to interrupt it So tell us about the events that you've been doing and like what you know what they bring to you as far as an author and your Dean so far from my first event was last September. It was in Pittsburgh And um, I got to meet a lot of different authors And I'm so happy to have been able to be a part of that Yes And it's just it's a great experience to be able to do that and some of the cover models That are on you know, they're on the books And um, wow, I'll be doing September again in Pittsburgh.
So if anybody there's tickets are on sale. Yes. Oh wow. That's that's so awesome So um did doing those events sparked this event you created for For Winston Salem and how did is that still like still if you want to share a link because I'm sure I don't have you still working on sponsors or things that need to be added for that.
I am. I we are needing the sponsors. Um And that's a google doc form. Um, but we are needing sponsors and that would be July 31 through August 2nd Um, and Winston Salem and it's uh romance in the carolinas and we're hoping this was going to be every year At part of you know, even North Carolina or South Carolina.
Oh, um, we just don't have enough events in this area. No, we don't We do not exactly now. It must be entailing a lot of work on your part And uh, tell us about like what, you know, how many people are involved in this, you know, that this started this idea Um, uh teremarie, um middle, um, she's one that puts on the one in Pittsburgh And we've become really different and we just you know, it's like I said, there's no events in this area And hopefully she'll be moving up this way soon. Um, she doesn't florida.
Okay, okay Shout out to her teremarie and I've seen her and I know her too uh from from online So hopefully I can invite her to come to the podcast feel free to better know, you know, one I will just to reach out I will and um, but yeah, it's a lot of work It's a lot of organizing um going to where you know check out the different places where we would like to have the events Yes, and then choosing on which venue to have the event make sure there's enough to do around in the area Um choosing on which authors we actually are invite to you know to do to do the event Yes, because we had we had a lot and I even have a waiting list now Um, wow for the event. So it's it's a lot, but it's it's fun I feel honored to be a part of that. Thank you for including I'm glad you wanted the event. Well, it's it's like, uh, you know, I really enjoyed when they did uh, the great lakes book bash that I attended Um, 2017 that was a wonderful event.
Uh, Rachel Brownell and all those authors. I met Were wonderful. Sadly, I think that was the last year for that event And there's another author Stacy work that does another one But it does take a lot of planning and a lot of time and a lot of things you have to put together Yes, it does so, you know, so if anyone's listening, you know, um feel And send me that link of the google doc as well because i'm going to share share share so you can get that I appreciate that. Definitely anything and I hope that not just next year, but you're after I can be a part of it and whatever comes after next, you know I will be here every year.
Thank you and thank you so much But you know, you're like I said, you do it also. So are you a planner Diane? Like you write everything down I know you write the story, but you're scheduled doesn't have to have like a set Uh list of things that you do uh to to be able to do everything I keep everything on my calendar. I keep a calendar where I work 40 hours I'm an office manager.
Yeah, and so I keep a calendar at work. That's my work stuff plus what to do after work And then I have a calendar here at home and I keep a calendar on my phone Wow full-time job 40 hours and still manages to to you know work 100 books and do everything That's amazing. I don't know how to do it. And you're still playing your date nights with your husband I've seen videos and stuff that you you know when you take off and go and do stuff You know that's no matter how busy or if you have someone in your life, you need to take time to send it with him Yes, you do that that is very important and I see like your pictures are so positive and happy always wishing everyone a good morning the day You know, it's good to be positive home.
It is actually feel positive once in a life. So that's great No, that's like I said, I like to speak to positivity because there's so much that you do like myself being a mom and You know being a wife and all that and you can get overwhelmed But if you look at things that you can do to kind of make it more Where you just feel a lot better about yourself. You got to do something to to get you motivated towards that Exactly. Exactly.
Exactly. But um, I was going to say on your as far as you're writing advice for people that are listening Like what you know, what would you say to people starting now as far as you know Pursuing their writing or like what you did to get to this point I was always afraid to have people read what I write and because I was afraid of the feedbacks um But I learned that you just Got to do it. You just you know, you can't wait and let people tell you that it's not good because it's their version of it Exactly. And so if you've got a story and you put it down and don't do like I used to go and I'm still Um, still do it sometimes, but you hear some of the people say just start writing and don't go back and look at what you wrote to keep right?
Yes And I'm learning that that's how you get a story done If you just because we're like and don't edit it yet because you're also an editor Yes, and it's so hard for me not to see my own mistakes and go back and It's just hard. Well, that's the thing like I was I was telling the other author I had another amazing other tip round. We got into a lot of topics that we discussed We kept getting cut off because remember we're dealing with the storms. Yes, last week Yeah, so he we still kind of did it because I hadn't lost power yet But it kept cutting out I think it was because of the storms.
I'm glad we rescheduled because that was getting kind of like oh here we go again But we're gonna get finished, you know stuff like that But he was also talking about getting the stories done, you know writing working on your story Just don't keep going like we're talking about national novel months and I had the problem where I would The first year my whole goal was to write the 50,000 words, but I kept trying to edit it while I was doing it Yes, and that's what you can't you just the whole point is to write Exactly, and that's I just got I'm still teaching myself not to go back and look at it And so I'll finish the chapter and then I'm like So like you know, sorry, go ahead. Go ahead. No, I was I interrupt you. So go ahead.
What were you gonna say? That's all I'm just I just have to put it in my head that okay, I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna write a whole chapter I don't care how many words it is. I've got to do a chapter. Yes, you have it It's just one step after another and then eventually you'll say hey the end Exactly, exactly.
That's what a lot of us now. I'm copy house writers I've seen a lot of the you know people there like Caitlyn and I think It's a piece of post I think Frankie Anderson or Francine Wiegle They've all also started doing that getting themselves to finish get to that finish line You know work on your writing and just get it done You know, it's the hardest part and then once you do it, you'll feel great Exactly. Yeah, that Ryan does two words at the very end the end that is like the best feeling Yes, exactly, but I was gonna ask you as far as your stories your do you think your stories are character-driven or plot-driven? Um Well, it's really both it's according to which story.
Okay. Um, I can have a character pop into my head like okay song and the the song is about it's a cold American beauty. Um and she's a Hard as nails type girl this whole song. Okay, and there's that character There's this lady that's not going to take anything from anybody.
So there's a character. Yes And then I just have the right story around her. Okay, but then I can have a story pop into my head with the plot And then I have to figure out who the characters are on it. Oh, okay.
So you do both you can do it a little bit of both. Okay. Yes Okay, that's that's that's that's a really good way of looking at it because like when I do I give up my writing tips Like I have this book I use by author Amy Peters and she gives this writing prompt about you know Write about the weather being the the main character of your story So it made me think of your poems because you're talking about how nature Uh, I think you said nature right is yes as part of a central way you can describe things and it becomes it in itself. It becomes a character Yeah, it does.
I guess I thought of it that way. Yeah, I mean either it just popped into my head now But you know because I was mentioning the perfect storm by Sebastian younger and then remember if you remember when you first read it It starts describing everything around the it's like the weather becomes the forefront of that whole story Yeah, and that's why it made me think of your poems and or or you know how you were saying about sometimes stories pop into your head Like american beauty and talk about the character creates And you have to create a story or vice versa the story and the plot and then you have that the characters. So, yeah So it's really according to what and like the anthology say give you a guideline that you have to go through. Yes It has to be about this this it is and you have free reign as long as in these guidelines And so I also find it harder.
Yeah, I really do. Yeah, it is it is because sometimes you have even though you love the anthology and you love what collaborating a lot of times you want to add maybe something a little different You have your stuff with that guy like I think right it just depends on who's organizing it and how the story best suits That that that what you're writing about right and I mean, there's so many people out there right now that are looking for authors for their anthologies and So you just have to like I do I'm taking twos, you know, so I have to look at the guidelines I'm like, don't think I can make that work. Yeah, it just depends and I remember when I was in a writer's group We had that and at first I didn't think I could do it But it got me to practice to become a better writer because when I you know when you they say join a writing group and you're kind of like You know lost and not sure but but the lady that ran that writer's group online She was very supportive and she you know, she said we'll try it out this month Are you ready? And then when I finally caught on she said, well, can you write for the other months and we'll add you to this anthology?
And that's how my whole writing thing started, you know, that also makes you think outside of what you know, yes, it pushes you Yeah, exactly. You're right. See I told you I told you dad. We find something to talk about But um, so what like when you created the like the Alexis Craig like was that something that that name, you know It was just something that you created or you thought of it for a long time or did it just just one day it just happened I had when I wrote stories off and on for different publications online, so I just use that name.
It just came for me Long very long time. Oh, okay. And I just kept it. No, it's good.
And this people probably Because when I had you on Instagram, which I think people need to have an intervention with me now for Instagram I am obsessed with it. Yes. I am so we signed that You know, it's kind of like cake like jokes about twitter the queen being the queen of twitter So say you know, it's twitter like back over hand. That's me and instagram, you know But um, I I had, you know, the election and I was trying to find you a guy and then I say, oh, give me girl Girl, okay.
I got it But two sides didn't exactly it's well. Hey, we need to have two sites to everything sometimes one side is just boring, you know It is exactly but I was gonna say so if people you know, um want to connect with you for like reach out to you find you Where would they would where would they find you? Um, on facebook of force. Um, the Alexis Craig is my name for everything.
Okay, so Um, that's instagram. I don't do i'm on twitter. I don't use it as much as I should Um, so i'm on instagram. I'm on facebook.
I have facebook group. Yeah, it's called Lexi's loves. Lexi. I love it.
Lexi loves So, I mean, that's you look up the Alexis Craig on any social media. That's why i'm under Okay, and i'm gonna put those links there for you, but do you have like a newsletter out because I never have time for newsletters Um, do you put put newsletters out to an email or a website or anything? I am working. Okay It's only that way Now that's one thing that I have um put to the wayside because I've got so much other stuff to do and I really need to get it done Yes, yes, exactly.
No, no, and I don't blame me like I said, it's it's wait. It's good to be an indie author I love it, but it's it's hard because you have to do all the work You know, yes, and I also um, I'm an indie author, but I've my husband and I have created our own publishing. Okay. Well, tell us about that it's called soul shine s o u l s a t i n e soul shine publishing and We'll be publishing up the book between um, m sree sree and I, um, except Henry will be published under that publishing company Wow And of course I use it for my own books and we're looking to having a young author come in so oh wow so you're growing your publishing Like so is it gonna be like a traditional publisher?
It's um, I'm gonna be a micropress right now. Okay, so we're just gonna choose a select view Okay, maybe one to do a year, but It's as far as traditional is more like a hybrid We can do we're not paying really paying upfront. You will get free copies of your book um And then of course the royal police. Okay.
Yeah, no, I I get it and that's wonderful. So it's called soul shine publishing Yes, so shine publishing company. Okay, so you need to send me that link so I can add it there as well. Okay, so definitely But um, is there anything else that you would like to share with us?
Uh, I don't want to put you on the spot whether it's a Exerp of something you're working on or a point that you you already wrote that you would like to share and end the show with You don't have to. I'm just asking if you would like to Okay, no, that's fine. But um, what is uh, like a type of advice you like to leave us with I just like I said before um people will put things off and think i'm not good enough, but don't ever sell yourself short Um, if you have a story put it down send it off to an editor add them look over it or have a friend look over it And just go for it. I couldn't have said it better.
The way you said it is perfect That thank you so so much. If you want to reach out to diane tilly, uh, aka the elix's ark reg Um, she already gave you the where she's at and i'm gonna put all the links available And you can call to the show leave a message to her as well I will relay it to her and uh, you can reach out to her and her group Lexi's loves right was it? And uh, and we I just always enjoy having you I'm excited for what's to come for you and your new books and I look forward to seeing more on you and of course I'll see you at copy house writer soon. So that'll be nice and uh, but of course at the event And I'll also post about the sponsors that you're needing or your event and uh, like I said, it's always wonderful to have you here today And thank you for having any time like I said anytime you want to come in and share anything You already know you can count on me.
So no problem. Thank you so much. Uh, thank you And thank you everyone for joining us here on the daily with so sign on anchor with the amazing diane tilly, uh author diane tilly And uh, I will have this podcast as soon as it uploads to anchor i'll send it and i'll send it to her and we'll share share share So thank you so much join us again for another amazing uh interview or show for the daily And this is sovie's time saying good night from the daily with so sign on anchor. Have a great night everyone and thank you diane Appreciate it.
Thank you. Bye. Bye