Welcome, Diane.

Thanks, Jolana. I’m happy to be here.

And here we go!

ME: Do you remember the first story you ever wrote and how old you were when you wrote it?

DIANE:  In high school, my best friend and I wrote what’s now called fan fiction. We’d write episodes of our favorite TV shows where the hunk we had a crush on would fall in love with us. I was writing romantic fiction back then. Who knew?

ME: Knowing what you know now, if you could go back in time to visit your younger self, what advice would you give her?

DIANE: Start writing sooner. I wish I hadn’t quit writing in high school. Also wish I’d started writing those stories that rattled around in my mind for years before I started writing for real.

ME: In addition to action and romance, you have a lot of humor in your novels. What are some of the things that make you laugh? Is there a particular comic whose humor resonates with you?

DIANE: My grandchildren’s giggles, romantic comedy movies, Stephanie Plum. My favorite comic is Rita Rudner. Her standup comedy about marriage is dead on. Bea Arthur did deadpan so well. I also love Bette Midler, Cameron Diaz, Madelyn Kahn, and Betty White.

ME: The main characters in your novels are strong, capable women. Who is your favorite female superhero? Do you have a real-life personal heroine?

DIANE: Fav superhero: Natasha Romanov/Black Widow in The Avengers. In real life, the parents of children killed in school shootings and the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing. I don’t know how they were able to move on. What strength.

ME: Both your Switched trilogy and your Outer Rim series are science fiction romance novels. What attracted you to science fiction and inspired you to write in the science fiction romance sub-genre?

DIANE: I was fascinated by the space race in the 1960s. I knew all the astronauts’ names, watched each launch, and stayed glued to the TV for the moon walk. I love Star Trek (all the original series plus the reboot). But I think the impetus for my writing sci-fi romance was Star Wars. Action, adventure, romance. It’s all there.

ME: This one is just for fun. If you were casting a movie based on The Protector, which actors would you chose to play the main protagonists Rissa and Dillan?

DIANE: LOL I just answered that question on Robyn Bachar’s blog yesterday. In case you missed it, I’d love Paula Patton from MI3: Ghost Protocol to play Rissa—if only she grew about three inches. LOL For Dillan, I’d choose Chris Pratt from Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s funny, self-effacing, seems like a goof-off but comes through when needed.

ME: Tell us about The Protector.

DIANE: The Protector is about healing and redemption through love. Rissa Dix lost her baby to traffickers. After searching for years, she never found her child. When she rescues two girls from a slave ship, she’s given a second chance to be a mother (though she’d never admit that). To make sure no mother goes through what she did, Rissa takes on a trafficking ring. Complicating matters is the return of Dillan Rusteran, the reckless, thrill-seeking kid who used to come to the Rim to play. Only he isn’t a kid anymore.

About the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBook | Kobo Books | Smashwords

After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from raiding the frontier colony. She’s met with apathy and disbelief. Because she lost her own baby to traffickers, she’s determined that no other mother will suffer the same heartache. Industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran aids her in rescuing more children. Little do they know they’re about to tangle with a trafficking ring that puts Rissa in danger. Dillan’s loved her for years despite her claim she’s too old for him. As they fight the traffickers, will she finally see him in a new light?

The Excerpt

In this excerpt, Rissa and Dillan don’t recognize each other and not because it’s been six years since he left the Rim.

“What in Lexol’s Fire are you doing?”

Rissa turned at the strong male voice that came from the shadow at the rear of the fancy space yacht.

Sherd. We’re in trouble.

At the same time, Barlen lowered the ramp into the traffickers’ transport.

Rissa touched Fortuna’s arm and whispered, “Take it from here. I’ll deal with our audience.”

As if time wasn’t of the essence, she strolled toward the shadow where the male lurked. If the dock master saw her friends, they would be in a world of hurt. Languishing in Astron Lockup was not on her agenda.

The man in the shadow had spoken in Universal, his accent Bricaldian. Rissa knew better than to assume he was human. All species in the Central District spoke Universal. She expected him to step forward after announcing his presence. He didn’t.

She never had to look up to most men, other than Kiran. Her size used to bother her, but since she began running a tavern on the Frontier, she was grateful for her height and strength. Still, this man made her feel small. When she looked up, her hood and mask slipped so much she couldn’t see him very well. His overlong hair hung down to blend in with a heavy beard. His broad shoulders and chest made her think twice about taking him down. That and the blaster in his hand.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked with fake casualness.

“Nah.” She tried to disguise her voice and waved her hand, equally casual. “Just a little surprise party for the pilot.”

“Stealing a man’s cargo is hardly worthy of a party.” His tone had gone from casual to harsh. “What the—”

Rissa looked over her shoulder. Pela, a child attached to both of her hands, led a parade of children to the back door of the spaceport. Kiran stood in the open doorway and waved them forward.

“Are there more?” he asked Pela who nodded.

“Is that a slave ship?” the man behind her said.

“Keep your voice down.”

After leaving the children with Kiran, Pela rushed to Rissa. “They’re really scared. The pilot told them slavers might try to take them away.” She ducked her head and went inside.

So that was why Fortuna was taking so long—convincing kids who thought their rescuers would be worse than their captors. Rissa hurried to the cargo ramp.

“What can I do to help?” The man from the Caravel must have followed her. At least, he’d had the good sense to hide his blaster. The kids were scared enough.

“Go back to your yacht and forget you saw this. Or us.”

About Diane Burton

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook |  | Pinterest | New Release Alert

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and The Case of the Bygone Brother, a PI mystery. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and three grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s Website!

Pinterest:

Sign up for Diane’s new release alert:

Thanks for stopping by! I’m participating in Week #3 of the Feature Friday Block Party Blog Hop, which is co-hosted this week with author MJ Schiller. You can #FF us on Twitter with @JolanaMalkston and @MJSchiller. I’ve brought Crab Rollup Appetizers and some info on ONE RED SHOE written by my bestie Diane Burton (don’t forget to #FF Diane at @dmburton72) to the party – Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise [not Miracle Whip]
• 1 oz. can of crabmeat, drained
• 1 Tbsp. green onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
• Flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Mix first six ingredients well.
2. Spread one tablespoon of crab and cheese mixture on each soft flour tortilla, roll up, cover and refrigerate.
3. Chill well before slicing into one-inch wheels.
4. Secure wheels with decorative toothpicks.

One Red Shoe

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Skylights, dirty like the rest of the windows in the building, let in enough light to see. Good. He didn’t want to risk turning on a light that would shine under the door. Around a corner, hidden from the door, he found a long counter with a row of sinks and a mirror above. All the better to examine the damage done by that trigger-happy fool.

Sam unzipped his jeans and worked down his briefs to expose his hip. What a mess. Not for the first time, he cursed Grashenko for showing up in that hotel room in Smolensk. Sam’s hasty departure, with Yuri and Korioff on his tail, meant leaving behind his gear. His clothes, sunglasses, and emergency medical supplies would bring top dollar on the Russian black market. He would have to make do with what he had. Carefully, he turned a faucet to wet his handkerchief. He blew out a breath in relief the plumbing still worked and was used on a regular basis. No air hissed or sputtered, which would’ve brought Grashenko and Korioff back in a hurry.

With much twisting to see, Sam wiped away the worst of the blood. Amazed that there were paper towels in a dispenser, he folded several and stuffed them inside his briefs. He tried to zip his jeans but the bulge in back pressed on his raw flesh. Hell, he’d zip up when he was done.

When he bent to check his calf, he nearly keeled over from dizziness. He grabbed the counter. His shoe had absorbed the blood. None on the floor, thank God. No trail. Sam patted his shirt pocket and took out his agency cell phone. He needed to find out where the hell Teller was. That idiot better have a damn good reason for doing a no-show. Didn’t he realize the consequences? Didn’t he realize how little time they had to—

The air moved—his only warning that the door to the restroom had opened. A whirlwind in beige blasted past him. In that split second Sam instinctively cataloged the intruder. Female, five-ten, weight uncertain due to voluminous coat, late twenties, long dark single braid, penny loafers. And a large button clipped to her purse. Shit. More dangerous than a Russian Mafia hit man. A wide-eyed innocent. The kind he’d sworn to protect. And here he was bleeding like a stuck pig, so dizzy he was going to fall flat on his face.

For more info and excerpts from her books or to connect with Diane, visit her at:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook |  | Pinterest

Jolana Malkston: Before you tell us about The Chameleon, Diane, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you write.

Diane Burton: Thanks for having me here, Jolana. I’m a Michigander who loves the seasonal changes. Just wish this past winter hadn’t been so brutal or lasted so long. I live near the Lake Michigan shoreline with my husband of over forty years. Since we’re both retired, I’m fortunate that I can write full-time now. We recently moved into a brand new house and Hubs decided to finish the basement. Alas, that means I have no office—yet. So I write on my laptop on the living room sofa. I write romantic suspense and science fiction romance.

JM: Your Switched trilogy novels [Switched; Switched, Too; and Switched Resolution] contain references to Star Trek. You’re a big fan. [Me too.] What was it about the series that captivated you?

DB: Star Trek offers a glimpse into the future where people of all races, ethnicity, and species work together in harmony. The crew of the starship Enterprise has a mission, not to go out and conquer but to discover. It’s an adventure. Star Wars appeals in the same way. Adventure. And there’s a little romance in both series.

JM: The Pilot, Book One in your Outer Rim series, appeals to Firefly fans. Are you a Browncoat by any chance?

DB: You have to ask? LOL! A few weeks ago, I admitted publicly that I have a crush on Nathan Fillion. Whether he’s Captain Mal or Rick Castle, I love his sense of humor and daring.

JM: He is fun to follow on Twitter, isn’t he? Um, we can talk about that later, Di. Now let’s get back to your new title. Yesterday, you released Outer Rim Book Two, The Chameleon. Please tell us about the characters and give us a little hint about the story—and I’m sure we’d all love to read an excerpt.

DB: Remember back in high school English class when we had to determine the theme in books? I never deliberately plan a theme. It sort of happens. The theme of The Chameleon is that people aren’t always what they seem. Thank you, Jolana, for suggesting the high concept tagline for The Chameleon—

Legally Blonde meets Mata Hari.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble {Available Soon} | Smashwords

Blurb:

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they sharecrop. He can’t refuse.

In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?

Excerpt:

“The company belongs in the family,” Jileena said.

“You have to accept that your brother is dead.”

Despite her heartache, she stood in front of her father, hands on her hips, determined to bring this to a head. She’d danced around the subject long enough, dropping hints that he ignored. He may have groomed her older brother to take over, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. “I am family.”

With his trademark stare—one that made competitors back off and employees quake—he pinned her in place. “You don’t have what it takes to replace me.”

His remark sent such an arrow of hurt through her she snapped, “Neither did Konner.” The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to retract them.

Father slumped back in his chair. The desolation in his expression broke her heart.

Immediately, she dropped to her knees in front of him. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I shouldn’t have—”

In a gesture she remembered from childhood, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead then tipped up her chin. “What you say is true. He had no stomach for this cutthroat business. And neither do you, thank the Divine One.” He patted her head twice. “You don’t have to worry about that. Now get up. We have work to do. Plans to make.”

“Plans?”

“Baby, I’m sending you to Galeria 7 to check out this discovery.”

“To the Outer Rim?” Jileena’s jaw dropped. While her father had sent her on discreet missions before, he’d never sent her that far from the Central Planets—especially since Konner had died out on the Frontier.

“You will check the site and do your own analysis. Put that geology degree of yours into practice. If, indeed, it is high-grade lambidium, you will negotiate mining rights with the local tribe.”

“M-Me?”

He’d done it again and seemed to enjoy surprising her. She stumbled to the visitor’s chair.

“I certainly can’t send Sindaro. As soon as reporters learn he left for the Rim, rumors would fly and negotiations would fail.”

He was right about that. If secrecy was paramount, Father had to send someone whose presence was innocuous. Someone like his fluff-brained daughter.

“Discretion is imperative. No one will suspect you are going out to the Rim for anything other than a vacation.”

Hope began to trickle through her. He’d never had her negotiate anything as important as mining rights. He was giving her a chance. A chance to prove herself.

JM: The Chameleon sounds like a terrific read. What’s up next? Do you have another novel in the works?

DB: I have a contemporary mystery coming up, featuring Alex O’Hara, a female private investigator. This book will be released in late June.

JM: A female PI—that sounds intriguing. I’ll be looking forward to it. Thanks for stopping by, Diane, and I hope you’ll drop in again soon. Best wishes for success with the launch of The Chameleon.

DB: Thank you for inviting me. It’s been fun.

[ Full disclosure: Diane and I are good friends and critique partners, get each other’s off-beat sense of humor, and take great delight in breaking each other up with some of the stuff we write. ]

For more info and excerpts from her books or to connect with Diane, visit her at:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook |  | Pinterest