Dianne C. Braley interview
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
A little introduction:
A raw, gritty New Englander, Dianne C. Braley found love for the written word early on, reading and creating stories while trying to escape hers, growing up in the turbulent world of alcoholism while living in the tough inner city. After putting her pencil down for a time, she became a registered nurse finding strength and calm in caring for those who couldn’t care for themselves. Still, she never lost her drive to write and became published in various medical online and printed publications. Seeing a painting and remembering a visit to Martha’s Vineyard as a girl and falling in love when her bare feet first stepped on the sand, she moved there for a time, caring for an ailing Pulitzer prize-winning novelist. He not only was her patient but soon became her friend and motivator. He and his books helped her realize she missed crafting stories, and she had some to tell.
Currently,
Dianne and her family, both human, furry, and feathered, are firmly planted in
a small town north of Boston but not far enough away to lose her city edge. She
is currently earning her degree in creative writing. Still, she escapes to the
Vineyard every summer, picking up her pencil, resetting herself, and writing in
the place that again inspired it.
When did your love of books begin?
Honestly,
with fairy tales as a kid. I had this giant pink book with a dragon on it with
gold leaf edging to each page, and it had just about every fairy tale ever
written.
When did you start to have the wish to become an author?
Since
I was small, I dreamed about it and wrote most of my life but then lost my way
in it all for a while. I circled back to writing in life when I became the
nurse for a Pulitzer Prize winner on Martha’s Vineyard.
How have you found the process for becoming an author?
HARD
AND DAUNTING, but I have grown so much. Creation takes a lot of time, blood,
sweat, tears, and patience!
What would you say to those wanting to become an author?
It
is a very long road, be prepared for the journey and trust the process. The
process is pain and beauty and is a long road. I had trained for a body-building
competition before for a year, which helped prepare me for this. This was a
much longer and more emotional road in some ways. You have to have laser focus
and discipline. You also have to believe in yourself. People don’t care that
you’re writing your first book. Everyone is, on some level writing their first
book.
Tell us about your book/books:
My
poetry book, Unheard Whispers, just came out. It’s a collection of poems on
growing up in an alcoholic home. My debut women’s fiction novel, The Silence in
the Sound, comes out in August. While it takes place on Martha’s Vineyard and
has all the things: celebrity, coming of age, a toxic love affair, and an
emotional journey, it largely is about the devastating effects of growing up in
addiction. What’s really cool is part of the proceeds of both of my books goes
to the Robert F. Kennedy Community Alliance organization and their division
that helps children and families affected by addiction in Massachusetts.
What do you love about the writing/reading community?
They
are absolutely the most beautiful, caring, informative community there is. I
have never felt more supported.
If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?
Thank
you for all of your support from the bottom of my heart, and as my mentor and
motivator, author William Styron showed me that trauma, pain, and darkness could
be turned into something beautiful.
Where can people connect with you?
https://twitter.com/CbraleyDianne
https://www.facebook.com/DianneCabelusBraley/
https://www.instagram.com/diannecbraley/
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