Roped and Twisted along with DiAne Gates (Fabulous Giveaway!)

Young Adult Fiction Takes a Ride

The Diamond Mine takes a gander at Young Adult this week with our very own DiAne Gates and her recent release, Twisted. We follow her down the trail of this amazing series of which Twisted is Book Two. So, saddle up and come along for an amazing ride! Don't forget to drop your name in the bucket for your own copy of her one of her books at the watering hole (that'd be the end of the interview for y'all young cowpokes and greenhorns.)

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Texas writer, DiAne Gates, illustrates and writes fiction for children and YA, and serious non-fiction for the folks. Her passion is calling the Church’s attention to how far we’ve catapulted from God’s order as evidenced by her blog Moving the Ancient Boundaries, http://dianegates.wordpress.com/.

DiAne worked as a photographer and writer for the East Texas Youth Rodeo Association magazine, and had the opportunity to be in the rodeo arena, feel the sting of Texas turf in her face and across her camera lens, giving birth to her western rodeo adventure series, released by Prism Book Group in August of 2015, ROPED.

DiAne leads LifeSavers, an adult edit group for North Texas Christian Writers. In addition to her key blog site, MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES, she also writes a blog entitled THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF FLAVOR, where DiAne shares family recipes and many tricks to cutting calories while retaining a massive injection of southern and southwest flavor. She also facilitates GriefShare, an international support ministry for those who’ve lost loved ones.

Wife, mother, and Mimi, whose passion is to share those hard life lessons God allows in our lives.

***** MINER INTERVIEW *****

Renee: Howdy, DiAne, I'm excited about this chance to talk to you! The Diamond Mine has exploded with authors and interviews of late and I can't seem to get a word in edgewise. I guess I ain't too good at takin' numbers with my ol' Wyoming ways, huh? So...how 'bout we dispense with chitchat and dig in to the good stuff?

DiAne: (chuckling) Your ways aren't so bad. Go ahead. Shoot!

Renee: Be careful saying that word around here, my old shotgun's loaded, and my Cooper-dog's always ready to hunt them birds! 💥 Now, where was I? Oh yeah, your awesome books...but I guess I need to ask this question first. Why do you like to write in the Young Adult genre so much?

DiAne: The opportunity to be a directional arrow toward the Lord in this upcoming generation is the most exciting reason I know of to write YA.

Unlike many older adults, I believe those waiting in line to take our place in society understand things must change. I believe the next revival may be at our door-step, because our young adults are searching for truth. And God tells us when we search for Him with our whole hearts we will find Him. Yes, many of them are going about their search in different ways than we would, but realistic action adventure fiction, couched in an intriguing, believable story, will find God’s mark every time! 

Renee, did you know many adults read YA? Think about it, my book is advertised for young adults, but adults read this genre too. Winner! Winner! All joking aside, I love the action, expectations, and learning curve of this genre.

Renee: Now that does sound exciting and I can understand why you would love it. I can also see why adults love to read it! What about Twisted? Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?

DiAne: Well, of course, ROPED helped. Couldn’t leave the Crosbys and the Fairgates where I left them in that last chapter, could I?

In the beginning, I planned a series that would talk about the issues our young adults face every day. Which meant it had to have a multi-generational story line. We are taught to “show,” not “tell” in our writing. What better way than to weave a story of two families going in opposite directions—in everything. I believe in showing the good, the bad, and the ugly as well as the consequences those choices bring. And TWISTED indeed shows the results of choices each of those families made.

We don’t have to preach to our young people. They are savvy—most of them—and I’m hopeful they will enjoy the story, yet learn the choices they make every day, small and large, determine their success in life.

Renee: I see what you mean. I also believe the young people of today are intelligent. They have to be to navigate the programs on computers, smartphones, and such, especially as fast as they change. What a great way to show them actions and decisions have consequences! If you could pick a favorite quote or part of Twisted, what would it be?

DiAne: Without a doubt, Chapter Thirty titled “The Horrible Truth.” The emotions that rush out of this chapter, many of our young people have lived. Lies Mr. and Mrs. Fairgate had lived, told and thought to protect Jodie Lea from, swept both families into a torrent none of them anticipated. And each character in this series, just like in real life, made choices—some that would affect them—how long we’ll have to wait and see—perhaps forever.

Renee: Oh, wow. Truth always catches up with us, doesn't it? The web of secrets and lies grows like a cancer until it destroys everything we've built until the truth is finally revealed. And if we are fortunate, that web doesn't rip everything good from us. Your book sounds amazing, DiAne. What do YOU want your readers to take away from Twisted?

DiAne: God is sovereign. Jesus is Lord, Savior and King. And the reader’s decision to love, trust, and obey Him, or turn and walk away determines their destiny now and forever.

Renee: Absolutely. In the end, it's up to us and that decision is of upmost importance. Thank you for that! I ask this next question of all my authors. With all the changes in the industry, the frustrations, the flooded market, why do you keep writing?

DiAne: Why the salary, of course! 😛 😜 My husband loves to tell friends I work from home, 24/7, and earn about three cents an hour. I always retort, “I think you’re overestimating!”

I can’t not write. Once I learned the basics, and that was by the planning of the Sovereign God we serve, who placed six serious writers in my path. We called ourselves The Literati and for over five years we met every Wednesday night, editing, brainstorming, and being taught by our illustrious leader, Lori Freeland.

God opened doors and pushed me through them with many writing opportunities. And let’s face it, at my age, it's past time to become really serious about these opportunities.

Renee: You're an inspiration to young, new, and even veteran writers out there trying to figure out if it's worth it to keep plugging away! Thank you, DiAne! Speaking of "opportunities," what's next on the agenda?

DiAne: UNTIED is next in THE ROPED SERIES…I’m about eight chapters into this riveting part of the series. But I’ll give you a hint, God’s sense of humor will relegate justice to these two girls. It will be worth the read. And any mothers of teen girls will certainly understand.

I hope to continue writing monthly articles for Crosswalk.com, an online Christian magazine. High priority will also be given to four books I wrote and illustrated a number of years ago. I received one rejection and threw them in the file cabinet drawer. This is the now-or-never year for their resurrection. It’s a four book family devotional series currently entitled THE MASTER’S PLAN. And the fifth book living in the drawer with the other four won first place in the North Texas Christian Writers Competition several years ago, about an ant by the name of Arnold, who refused to be an ant.

And as long as God allows, I plan to continue facilitating a GriefShare support group for those who’ve lost loved ones. God tells us, “…we are to comfort one another with the comfort He has given to us.” I often speak and lead an edit group for NTCW called The LifeSavers. Another one of our edit group is a multi-published author, and two others are almost ready to launch their first novels!

Renee: Agenda? That sounds like a full-time job! 3-cents an hour? You need a raise, woman! Thank you so much for this opportunity to interview you on the Diamond Mine. You are truly a wonderful lady and friend. I can't wait to see the third book of your series released as well as read Twisted!

DiAne: Renee, thank you so much for allowing me to spend time with you talking about TWISTED! Available on Amazon.com. And, of course, I’d be forever grateful to receive reviews from you or anyone who has read or will read ROPED and TWISTED.

***** E- BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

TWO PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED

ROPED/ 1 WINNER, TWISTED/ 1 WINNER

ENTER CONTEST BY LEAVING A COMMENT FOR DiAne Gates

WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

2 WINNERS OF GIVEAWAY WILL BE SELECTED FROM COMMENTS BY RANDOM DRAW IN ONE WEEK (1/31/2018). WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.

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About the Book, Twisted:

What begins as a nasty rodeo competition morphs into a ring of horse thieves, an uncle with a past, and consequences that span generations.

TWISTED, continues the journey of the Crosby and Fairgate families. Will these two Texas teens finally overcome the past and discover the future God has planned, or will they forever be trapped by the crimes of their fathers?

If you haven't read Book One, pick up Roped today: https://www.amazon.com/Roped-DiAne-Gates-ebook/dp/B0147NL6KS

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Miner, Renee Blare

Prism Book Group/Pelican Book Group