WWR: Reviewers are saying The Way U Look Tonight is a fun, lighthearted tale between a tabloid journalist and a soap-opera actor. What inspired you to write about a soap opera star? Do you enjoy soaps? (If you said yes, which ones? If not, then why write about them?)
Dianne: Soaps are mindless fun and I watch General Hospital once in a while. The neat thing with a soap is you can miss weeks, come back and pick up where you left off. :)
I chose a soap star because it fit into the story...that he'd had a relationship with someone from the press, it ended badly and she ruined his career and then the only acting he could get was on a soap. Then...ta-da...he falls for another gal from the press. Conflict stuff. A fun read.
WWR: The Way U Look Tonight has been the title or in the title of some very famous love songs (see songs by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Elton John). Did any of these songs inspire you to write this book, or is the title based on something relating to the book itself?
Dianne: The secondary story is about a gal who has a makeover to win a contest. So, that part's about looks. She realizes she has to makeover her attitude as well as her appearance.
WWR: Heather has read Til There Was U (loved it!), and she wanted to know how the remaining books in this series will tie together. In Til There Was U, Ryan O'Fallon returns home with Effie Wilson to find his father has a baby and that the baby's mother is in some sort of trouble. Ryan and Effie realize they belong together and, in the end, return to O'Fallon's Landing to live (and she assumes to continue helping his father with his search for the mother). So, is the "missing" mother element and the fact that they're a family that comes together when there's trouble what will tie the books together or will there be something else?
Dianne: Thanks, Heather!!
Bringing the sons home, finding Mimi and keeping baby Bonnie out of danger is the thread that holds the stories together. I just finished I'll Be Seeing U...the third book. And the ending where they get the bad guys was neat to write.
Everyone is in on the take-down. I love the action stuff and everyone getting in on it...even Bonnie!
I cried when I finished the epilogue. After writing over 1000 pages about the O'Fallons I will really miss them.
WWR: In Til There Was U, the O'Fallon's housekeeper inherits a good sum of money and finds herself in love with (and loved by) the town's rich boy. Will readers get to see more of the Til There Was U subplot in The Way U Look Tonight?
Dianne: All the characters show up from time to time. In I'll Be Seeing U, the secondary story is Sally and Demar. He has to pretend to be falling for another character while he is really in love with Sally. Sally tries to win him back and the seduction scenes are a hoot.
WWR: What's the publishing schedule for the series? When will the last book be out?
Dianne: I'm hoping fall '06
WWR: Would you tell us a little about the remaining books in the series?
Dianne: I'll Be Seeing U is about badass Quaid O'Fallon coming home and falling for the local princess. She's a NY designer, he's search and rescue Coast Guard. Two people who shouldn't fall in love and do. I love Quaid! What a neat character. He's is the adopted son and has issues from his past to resolve. The heroine helps by tying one of those issues to a flagpole. You never know what's going to happen in these stories.
WWR: Did you have a favorite while you were writing these books? What about now? Does one particular book stand out to you as your best?
Dianne: I think I'm always in love with the book I'm writing, especially the hero. The secondary stories are a blast to write. I can do things a bit different.
WWR: What else can we look forward to from you and Brava? Do you have other books in the works already? Would you care to give us a hint of what's to come?
Dianne: I have an anthology coming out in September. Texas Bad Boys! It's with Rosemary Laurey and Karen Kelley. One continuous story and we each took a chunk. Kind of a different approach to an anthology. It's a Brava with Kensington.
WWR: Do you participate in any blogs? Is there somewhere that your readers can find you if they want the chance to talk with you?
Dianne: I'm on Lori Foster's message board. Ask me anything! You can also contact me through my website DianneCastell.com
WWR: Dianne, thanks so much for your time!
(Dianne's book The Way U Look Tonight, the second book in her Four O'Fallons and a Baby series from Kensington Brava, is due in stores in April 2006.)
