Explore the inspirations and techniques behind Delaney Diamond’s beloved stories
Delaney Diamond discusses her writing evolution, inspirations for her popular series, and how her love for food and travel enriches her novels and guides aspiring authors.
Delaney Diamond is a literary force in the world of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. With over 50 novels and numerous short stories to her name, she has captivated readers with her intricate plots and relatable characters. Her work has earned her a spot on the USA Today Bestsellers list, a testament to her ability to weave tales that resonate with audiences worldwide. Beyond her writing, Delaney is a passionate foodie and traveler, infusing her stories with rich settings and culinary delights that transport readers to new locales. Her dedication to the craft extends to helping aspiring authors navigate the self-publishing world, offering consultations that draw from her extensive experience.
Delaney journey from writing her first romance novel at 14 to becoming a bestselling author is both inspiring and insightful. We wanted to explore how her approach to writing has changed over the years, the inspiration behind her beloved series, and how her personal passions influence her work. Delaney’s commitment to authenticity and her support for new writers make her a standout figure in the literary community, and we are thrilled to share her insights with our readers.
You wrote your first romance novel at 14 and are now the author of over 50 novels and numerous short stories. How has your approach to writing romance evolved over the years, and what key elements have remained consistent in your storytelling?
Initially, I wrote mostly by intuition but eventually learned more about the technical aspects of what makes a great story. Several of those elements—writing complex characters, raising the stakes, showing character growth—have stayed consistent in my storytelling, and I’m more intentional in incorporating them because I better understand how to write a page-turning romance.
In your most popular series, the Johnson Family, your characters often face dilemmas between love and loyalty, as seen in Just Friends and Perfect. What inspired the creation of the Johnson family?
The idea for my first black family series, the Hawthorne Family, came from Brenda Jackson’s Westmoreland series. After I completed the last book, I decided to write about another black family, but this time I wanted them to be wealthy. Billionaires were starting to become popular in romance, so I decided to write a billionaire family. A trip to Seattle gave me the idea of making that city the setting of the story.
How do you ensure that each of your protagonists’ journeys feels authentic and compelling?
Writing characters with real life imperfections is key to having them seem authentic. They shouldn’t be perfect. Characters should make mistakes or lie or lose their temper, etc. Characters shouldn’t be all bad, either. A terrible husband could be a wonderful father. The key is to adequately express a character’s motivations, so readers come to understand and appreciate controversial characters. In the aforementioned Perfect, for example, Cyrus comes across as a jerk initially. As the story progresses, you realize the weight on his shoulders as the eldest sibling and come to understand why he couldn’t let his wife go.
As a self-described ‘diehard foodie,’ does your love of food and travel influence the settings in your novels?
Absolutely! And how I write about those locations. Because of visits to places like Paris, Seattle (as I mentioned earlier), Miami, and Rome, I was inspired to make those locations settings in my books. When I write about food, I want readers to taste the crepes and the croque monsieur in Paris, just as much as I want them to enjoy the music and Latin cuisine at the restaurants in Miami.
In fact, my appreciation of good food inspired me to write two books where food plays a central role—More Than a Mistress, where the hero is a restaurateur and the heroine a sommelier, and Bruno, where the hero is a famous chef and restaurateur who falls in love with the heroine, a matchmaker hired to find him a wife.
You offer self-publishing consultations, helping guide new authors through the process. What do you believe are the most common challenges for self-publishing authors, and how do you help them overcome these hurdles?
Knowing where to start is definitely a hurdle to overcome. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed because there is so much information available. I break down the mechanics of self-publishing, explaining the various tasks, and help authors prepare a plan to get started.
Another hurdle is trying to do too much at once. I encourage authors to narrow their focus. For instance, you don’t have to be on every social media platform. Pick one to three that you enjoy and concentrate on building a following there.
Trying to do too much at once is a good way to become stressed and end up miserable, when writing should be a joyful experience.
What advice would you give aspiring romance writers today, particularly those interested in self-publishing, given your extensive experience in both writing and the business side of publishing?
First, understand the genre you want to write. Too often newbie authors state that they want to write ‘a different kind of romance,’ which often means the couple won’t end up together in the end. They believe a happy ending is corny or predictable, but romance readers, me included, expect the couple to be together at the conclusion of the story. Don’t spoil that for us!
Second, read a lot. Not only the genre you write, but other genres, as well. It will enrich your writing with ideas and help you keep abreast of what readers are enjoying.
Third, if you want to make money at writing, treat it like a business. Prepare a writing schedule and stick to it. Stand out with an edited book and a professional cover that fits your genre.
