Texas is the wintering home for the only wild flock of the endangered Whooping Crane and a big attraction for birders in the Gulf area. Coincidentally, I learned that the Whooping Crane mates for life. I thought this was the perfect Crane to “star” in my romance.
Diane Owens Prettyman – 10 October 2024
The Back Flap
The Texas Gulf: beautiful yet unpredictable.
A beach town destroyed. Her mother’s candy store swept away. This is what Teddy Wainsworth faces when she returns to Bird Isle. Meanwhile, Jack Shaughness, owner of a popular barbecue restaurant chain and widower still grieving the death of his wife, receives permission to cross over to the island with a smoker full of brisket to feed hurricane survivors. Soon after arriving, he meets Teddy and immediately finds himself drawn to her—which makes him feel he is betraying his wife. When the two find a lost dog, Jack convinces Teddy to take the dog home while they attempt to find the owner, creating a bond that brings them closer.
In the wake of the hurricane, Bird Isle residents fear the Aransas Wildlife Refuge will not be ready for the Whooping Cranes’ annual migration south. Seeing that Jack has important connections and a love for the island, they enlist him to help restore the habitat of the endangered cranes before they fly to Padre Island for the winter. With their rescued dog always nearby, Teddy and Jack work side by side to rebuild Bird Isle for the return of the Whooping Cranes. But Jack is harboring a secret that may ruin everything he and Teddy are creating—and he won’t be able to keep that secret forever.
About the book
When did you start writing the book?
I started working on Love is for the Birds in 2018 while participating in an Artist’s Way workshop.
How long did it take you to write it?
I finished Love is for the Birds in 2022. I signed on with She Writes in 2022 and am so excited to launch this book in 2024.
Where did you get the idea from?
I love happy endings and wanted to write a romantic beach read. One of my passions is boogie boarding. Though I have boogie boarded all over the world, I frequently travel to the Texas Gulf. Texas is the wintering home for the only wild flock of the endangered Whooping Crane and a big attraction for birders in the Gulf area. Coincidentally, I learned that the Whooping Crane mates for life. I thought this was the perfect Crane to “star” in my romance.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Middles are always tricky. I have a romance/treasure hunt novel mostly finished, but I put the book in the drawer because the middle just didn’t work.
I tend to be too kind to my characters and struggle with putting them in tight spots. https://youtu.be/nAh5sY4fyD4
What came easily?
Though I wrote the beginning of Love is for the Birds hundreds of times, I do find beginnings of novels the easiest section to write. I have more energy and excitement about the characters at the start of a novel. Writing the beginning of a novel is like starting the first day of school with your new clothes and sharpened pencils. (Do they still use pencils in school? I’ll have to verify that.)
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They are entirely fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I love reading beach reads and devour them, particularly in the summer. Mary Alice Monroe has inspired me with her eco-themed books about the low country and sea turtles. I also like LuAnne Rice, Elin Hildebrand, Jenny Colgan and many others.
Do you have a target reader?
I think women who like Hallmark movies, the Virgin River series, eco-fiction, and small-town romance will enjoy my sweet contemporary romance novel.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so, can you please describe it?
I like to write in the afternoon from 3-5 with a goal of writing 500 words a day.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I’m not an outliner. I’ll start making a spreadsheet of my chapters and then abandon it. I agree with E. L. Doctorow who said, ‘Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
My critique group meets once every 2-3 weeks. The schedule of our meetings helps me to keep writing and producing work for them to read. I do send segments of works in progress. I know Stephen King says don’t let anyone read your book until you are finished with the first draft. I am blessed to have a long-standing writing group that I trust. They encourage me to keep moving on my draft while offering helpful comments. I do the editing after the first draft.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I prefer quiet. Deadlines, middle of the day or night ideas, prompt me to write.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes. I tried that with all three of my books. For Love is for the Birds, I didn’t query agents as much as I had with my other books. I sent this book directly to publishers before settling on She Writes Press.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
The publishing game has changed so much over the years. Agents and publishers became even more difficult to engage. I saw how much success Indie Authors were having and decided to give it a try. Also, when publishing, a writer needs to consider how much time they want to wait for publication. An agent, if you can find one, adds an additional year or so into the process. There is a 1 to 3,000 to 1 to 6,000 chance of getting picked up by a literary agent. I say, give it a try, but don’t wait too long. In this age, other options for publishing are available and fulfilling.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
This cover was done by Mimi Bark. It looks fantastic. For my other two books, I used a pastel from a friend who is a successful New York Artist who sold paintings to Robert DeNiro, Eric Clapton, Don Johnson and others. I ended up with some great artwork for the house, but the art didn’t translate well for a book cover. I did use a professional to create the painting into the cover and design the back cover. That said, I now know that using your own art work, even if it is by someone famous, is not a good idea. The cover is not something to do on your own. I couldn’t be more pleased with the book cover of Love is for the Birds.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I hired Crystal Patriarche at BookSparks for publicity. Even with a great distributor like Simon & Schuster and a publicist, the burden on the author for publicity and marketing is enormous.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
- Get a great book cover.
- Be patient. Don’t give up. Don’t pay attention to bad reviews. Everybody has them.
- Focus on writing a great book. Find a critique group of supportive writers who are also on the publishing journey. They must be on the publishing journey.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Roseburg, Oregon
Where do you live now?
Austin, Texas
What would you like readers to know about you?
I like to have fun. I love to boogie board. I worked as a physical therapist and healthcare administrator while writing. I also enjoy writing essays and am a frequent contributor to the Austin-American Statesman Faith Column.
What are you working on now?
I have a book tucked away in my computer—The Surfing Capital of Wales. I love this book and can’t wait to finish it. In the novel, after a woman leaves her high-pressure job, she travels to Wales to live with her uncle who wants her to find St. David’s missing sapphire.
End of Interview:
For more from Diane Owens Prettyman visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Get your copy of Love Is for the Birds from Amazon
