Interview: Author L. Diane Wolfe

Today I'm speaking with L. Diane Wolfe, author of The Circle of Friends series for teens. If you'd like to read my review of the third book in her series, it's here: James. Diane has agreed to answer a few questions for me. She's a pleasure to work with, so I hope you enjoy!

First off, please share a little about yourself. What does a day in the life of L. Diane Wolfe look like?

Total chaos? No, it’s not that bad!

I’m up at 5:30 most mornings and attack online stuff first. I’m involved in over twenty social sites, although only a handful do I visit daily. (Blogger, Twitter, Deviant Art, Face Book, and My Cat Space.) Others I visit at least once a week. Just look for Spunk On A Stick, and you’ll find me everywhere!

I’ve always a big to-do list that involves research, writing, promoting, letters, emails, etc. I’m a professional speaker as well, so that doubles the workload. Author events are usually on the weekends, speaking engagements during the week, and seems there’s always travel involved.

I’ve also two cats, a wonderful husband, a house to maintain, and I’m very involved in my church. So, I cannot relate to those who claim to be bored!!! I’m still lobbying for a 40-hour day…

Haha! I don't relate to boredom either. Sometimes I fantasize about it, though...

Next question: Both James and Maria come from backgrounds of abuse, and much of their story is about their efforts to overcome this influence. What inspired you to tackle this topic?

I was a foster parent for several years, and we dealt mainly with teens. I saw those who’d make it and those who’d never escape their past. Training and experience taught me that it really doesn’t take much to damage the self-image of a child and scar them forever. (In fact, I remember reading that 80% of all parents raise their children wrong. Scary number!) We hear so much about sexual abuse, but mental and emotional abuse is far more common and can be just as devastating.

I am a firm believer in overcoming. I know that with guidance, encouragement, and the right attitude, any person who has suffered abuse or low self-esteem can overcome his or her past. Through James and Maria, I wanted to demonstrate this was possible. A self-image can go from negative to positive, and a person’s world can change forever. (And I know this from personal experience…)

Your books are marketed as "clean" fiction for young adults, but your protagonists engage in a lot of behaviors that don't necessarily line up with this. (ie. out-of-wedlock pregnancy, drinking, promiscuous sex) Can you talk about that a little bit?

This is what makes them “clean”:

Very little foul language – damn is about the worst word I use and Book III probably the most intense.

No drugs – ever.

No graphic violence or crimes – ever.

Questionable & deviant behaviors are not glorified or promoted as the right thing to do.

Let me clarify that last one-
That young people occasionally participate in immoral or questionable acts is reality. As a Christian, I am aware that we all fall short – we all stumble, fail, and sin. It is how we respond to these mistakes in our life that matter.

James’s father abuses alcohol, so even though James turns 21 at the very beginning of the book, his moments of consumption are very rare, because he knows where it leads.

James & Maria do engage in pre-marital sex – and suffer the consequences. And despite the attitude of many these days towards marriage, James realizes Maria and his child are HIS responsibility and he does the right thing by marrying her. And he continues to do the right thing by completing college, working to provide for his family, and remaining true to Maria.
The abuse issue is not as strong as it may sound, either, but James realizes he cannot repeat his father’s mistakes and struggles to avoid the same path.

I wanted to show young people that it was not the end of the world if they stumbled and fell – just as long as they got back up and did the right thing. After all, isn’t that what forgiveness is all about?

What is the most interesting comment you have received about your books?

The most prevalent comment about my books is they are so encouraging. I’ve had several readers tell me they wouldn’t normally read this type of book, either, but got caught up in the positive storyline. One reader even told me she was making big changes in her life and pursuing her dreams as a result of reading Book I of the series. And that’s about the highest compliment an author can receive!

At any rate, no one’s told me my books make good doorstops, so that’s a good thing, too.

And, finally, do you have another book in the works?

Book IV will be out before the end of the year, and Book V just went to the editors. The fourth book follows Mike and focuses on forgiveness, while the fifth & final book follows Heather, my dominating, selfish, choleric character. (She was the toughest one to write about, too!) It was sad to finish the last book, as these characters are now part of my life, but I’m ready for a break. I do have an outline for a sixth book, but who knows…

Otherwise, I intend to return to non-fiction and do a follow-up to my book “Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!”

Thanks so much for agreeing to this interview. It's been a pleasure.

L. Diane Wolfe: A Christian and a vegetarian, Wolfe enjoys sports, reading and traveling. She is a thrill-seeker with a passion for roller coasters. The author loves people, and her optimism is fueled by her spunky, Sanguine personality. The author does not believe in the word impossible and is willing to do whatever it takes to spread the message of hope found within her series.

Website for The Circle of Friends series.

Diane's Spunk on a Stick site.