Meet Romance, (with a twist), author, Diana Rubino

Welcome Diana, and thanks for taking time out of your, no doubt, busy schedule to have this interview with me. Being myself a writer, I’m always happy to feature a fellow author on my blog and various websites.

So far, I’ve read one of your books, A Bloody Good Cruise, which I found to be an enjoyable read with an interesting, (and rather unique), spin on vampire legend. However, before we start discussing your books, I’d like to take a few moments to get to know you better. Besides, readers always appreciate learning new things about their favorite authors…

In doing my interview research, I couldn’t really locate anything pertaining to your childhood. I did, however, learn that you enjoy living in the “most beautiful spot on Earth,” which, for you, is Cape Cod. Did you grow up in Cape Cod? If not, what was it about this particular locale that captivated your heart and mind?

No, I was born in Jersey City, but spent a great deal of my childhood at the famous “Jersey Shore” in Oceanport, where my grandparents lived. That must be where my love of the ocean came from. I have very early memories of the beach, jumping over waves, the salty air and sand. The ocean is part of my soul.

Can you tell us something about your childhood? Did you grow up in a big city, or a small town? If your earlier years weren’t lived somewhere in Cape Cod, than where? What was living, and growing up, in your hometown like for you?

Jersey City is a big city, and from age five until nine, I was a child model. I spent a lot of time on interviews and modeling jobs in ‘the city,’ Manhattan.

Most neighborhoods were segregated, as was mine. But I went to a public grammar school, P.S. #30, where kids that were white, black, Hispanic, Arab, and other nationalities and religions attended. But we all got along.

The miracle I’m living now is that half of our grammar school’s class of 1971 has reunited on Facebook, and I’ve reconnected with my classmates. We share a very special bond, some of us having known each other for 50 years now, and we’re like a family.

I’m certain that you were an avid book reader, but what other things did you do for fun? Any sibling and/or best friend adventures or escapades that you’d like to share with us?

Growing up, of course we didn’t have satellite TV or the internet. But we sure had radio and TV. In the ‘metropolitan area’ as NYC/North Jersey is known, we had what we considered a huge selection of radio and TV stations. We had ‘Cousin Brucie’ on WMCA—an AM radio station, (nobody ever listened to FM), and Brucie still DJs on the “60s on 6” Sirius station. WMCA was also the first to play the Beatles.

When we weren’t playing outside, riding our bikes, dancing with hula hoops, or bouncing balls in the playground, we had our fav TV shows. Mine were Top Cat, The Flintstones, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Lost in Space, Bewitched, That Girl, and I appeared on a kids’ show called Wonderama.

As a child, what were your favorite books? How about today? Have you “outgrown” any of your earlier favorites?

A favorite book I remember reading in 5^th grade was a novel called Friendly Gables. I found it at the library a few years ago and re-read it. I liked teen and young adult books when I was those ages, but also read the books my mother always had around; mostly biographies and historical novels. One favorite I read as a teen was Naked Came I, the bio of Auguste Rodin, and A Crown for Elizabeth, about Elizabeth I.

As with all writers, I’m always curious what sparked their “writing gene.” In my case, it was completely accidental, (and I was no longer a child). What was it that sent you down the literary “rabbit hole?”

I wish I knew! I had a notebook in grammar school that I filled with short stories. I also liked to draw comic books with people I knew as characters. Of everything I tried, it seemed writing was what I did best. Coupled with my passion for history, I decided to follow my dream.

I must admit that I smiled to myself as I read through your website bio. Your many interests are quite diverse, and I applaud you for managing to incorporate them all into your life. Let’s recap: you’re a realtor, you co-own a construction cost consulting business with your husband, you’re a world traveler … oh, right, and you’re also working on getting a Master’s in archaeology. Have I missed anything?

Well, I’ve been working on my golf game…

*chuckle* Nice…

What was it that prompted you to become a Realtor? And, how did you recognize that there was an actual need for a construction cost consulting business? Were/are these two career paths fulfilling for you?

My great-grandmother was somewhat of a real estate tycoon in her day. She owned apartment buildings, a few houses, and a parking garage—and she always paid cash. I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I bought some rental condos in Myrtle Beach twenty years ago as an investment, and traded up over the years. I got my real estate license because I’ve always been interested in that business, and may want to sell real estate on the side someday. Yes, it’s very closely connected to cost estimating, because all the estimating we do is on buildings—real estate. It’s helpful to know as much as possible about the real estate industry here in New England.

Being that I also enjoy history and traveling, I can completely understand the amount of world travel you have “under your belt,” Diana. (I’m sure there is a lot more on the horizon for you too…) However, would you please explain how your interest in Archaeology came about? How did that interest then morph into working toward a Master’s? And finally, what do you hope to accomplish within the field once you have received your degree?

Most of my friends were getting Master’s degrees, and I felt kind of left out. So, I began looking around for a subject that I could pursue a Master’s in. I chose Archaeology because it combines my love for history, (the older the better), and going on digs and the possibility of finding an ancient artifact is a way to be part of something extraordinary. I’m doing it strictly for my own benefit.

Alright, let’s move on to your books now… Providing that I correctly counted, it appears that you have nine books currently published.

Your main writing genre is romance, but you change the era and the location while focusing on plausible and/or true-to-history events of the time. No matter the circumstances, or the characters, though, the recurring message throughout all of your books is that love will always conquer all/win out in the end.

Is there a story behind that continuous message?

Yes, I like to leave my readers with a positive outlook that it’s not all gloom and doom, and that we’re all part of history. I also consider myself an entertainer, but can’t help adding some tidbits that I’ve learned along the way. It’s hard not to sound like I’m giving a history lesson, but sometimes I get carried away!

In perusing your website, I also noted that you are now writing biographical novels with non-fiction characters. What was the trigger that prompted this foray into more truer-to-life tales? And, with this slight genre change, will the reader message also change?

Since I’ve always loved biographies, but didn’t want to write nonfiction, (I prefer fiction because it gives me more leeway), I decided to write about real people and follow the historical record. I’ve written three so far, and in all three, the main male characters, (Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Oney Judge’s husband Andrew), died. (Oney was Martha Washington’s ‘favorite servant’). But the heroines lived on as the strong women they were. I would’ve rather had happy endings, but that’s just not possible writing the facts as they happened.

Yes, that’s quite true. Life doesn’t always offer us those blissfully happy endings we generally tend to find at the conclusion of a book pulled from the Romance genre.

For my last question though, why don’t you fill us in on your current, or next, writing project.

I want to write about more First Ladies and add a touch of the paranormal to each story. I’m still tossing the coin to see which one I’ll do next—but am leaning towards Dolley Madison.

Thank you Diana, as always it’s been a pleasure to chat with you. I appreciate all that you’ve shared and I’m looking forward to starting Thy Name is Love.

Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!

If you’re interested in learning more about Diana, and/or her books, find her online:

Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Diana’s Website, Diana’s Blog