I always love my characters (even the nasty ones) because they allow me to “be” somebody else.

Diane Wald – 27 May 2025

The Back Flap

Ambitious young journalist Violet Maris secures a coveted residency at a prestigious artists’ and writers’ colony in 1980s Provincetown, armed with a file of stories written by a dear, older gay friend. Her intention: to write a captivating exposé based on her experiences. However, Violet’s promising start at the colony takes a dark turn when tragedy strikes—her friend, the true author of the stories, succumbs to AIDS. This loss plunges Violet into turmoil, compounded by the weight of the terrible secret she carries. Compelled to confess, she confides in a member of the colony’s  board with whom she has become romantically involved. The revelation of her deception leads to Violet’s expulsion from the program, leaving her grappling with disgrace and searching for a path toward redemption and reconciliation—with herself and those she has inadvertently hurt.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

A little more than two years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

About two and a half years.

Where did you get the idea from?

My parents packed up me and my younger brother and drove us almost every summer from our home in New Jersey to one of the towns on the outer Cape for a week or two, and every year one day was dedicated to visiting Provincetown. I not only got to know the place; I fell in love, and visited as often as I could when I grew up. Provincetown as a setting allowed me to explore a wide array of lifestyles, ages, careers, art forms, and beliefs in order to enhance my book’s themes of personal ethics, creativity, love, and friendship. I often think of the setting as a character in my book.

I was in my twenties when I was accepted for a poetry fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown (FAWC) in 1973, and that was renewed for a second year. The Bayrose Files is based on my experiences there – although it is totally fiction. The protagonist is a fiction writer, not a poet, and she cheated to obtain her residency. The story is set in the 1980s, which allowed me to explore the topic of AIDS in those days.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I always struggle to make sure that various parts of the book fit together seamlessly and that no details that can enhance the story are overlooked. In this book, fitting the story of Violet at the art colony and her friend in Boston in the throes of a fatal disease was quite challenging.

What came easily?

The characters. I always love my characters (even the nasty ones) because they allow me to “be” somebody else.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

In this book, I borrowed a little for one of the characters, but the rest of them were entirely fictitious—not “composite characters.”

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’ve been a devoted reader since I was able to read, and some of those early books still haunt me because of their attention to metaphor and mystery. As an adult I read a lot of novels, and loved Edith Wharton, Henry James, Gertrude Stein, and lots and lots of poets, like Kenneth Patchen, Frank O’Hara, and Diane DiPrima. There were—are—too many to list.  Perhaps what I loved most about all of them was that they were completely true to their own artistic sense of the world.

Do you have a target reader?

Lovers of well-wrought stories with characters who seem like real people.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I seem to write in spurts for some reason. I’ll have periods of non-writing that help me store up experiences and thoughts, and then I’ll write like crazy for a month or so.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don’t outline. I just write messy notes in notebooks and continually refer to them and make more messy notes!

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Definitely edit as I go, but certainly edit again and again and again when I’m finished.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I never have, but I have trusted writer friends who get to see early drafts.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Never. I like it quiet.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I tried for a while, but had no luck—lots of encouragement, but no takers.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I just scouted around for publishers who seemed like a good fit.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My publisher designed the cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a publicist this time. Winging it is just too hard with all the novels out there now.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Just the age-old advice of “don’t give up.” If you love what you’re doing, just keep doing it and submitting your work.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Northern New Jersey.

Where do you live now?

I’ve lived in Massachusetts for more than 40 years,  both in the western part of the state and in the Boston area.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I was a poet for many years before trying fiction. Fiction is fun!

What are you working on now?

Short stories, flash fiction, more poetry. I haven’t got another big project going at the moment, but I’m looking forward to the next one.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Bayrose Files from Amazon US or Amazon UK.