Indie Author Friday: D. Wallace Peach #IndieAuthor #scifi #fantasy

On By Teri PolenIn Indie Author Friday

Today’s Indie Author is an incredibly talented writer and poet and I also have to mention her stunning book covers – so vibrant and eye-catching.  Catling’s Bane is the Book of the Month at KC Books & Music and will be free on Amazon this weekend.  Welcome, D. Wallace Peach!

In the tiers of Ellegeance, the elite Influencers’ Guild holds the power to manipulate emotions. Love and fear, pain and pleasure, healing and death mark the extremes of their sway, but it’s the subtle blends that hook their victims’ hearts. They hide behind oaths of loyalty and rule the world.

A child born in the grim warrens beneath the city, Catling rues the rose birthmark encircling her eye. Yet, it grants her the ability to disrupt the influencers’ sway. Established methods of civil control disintegrate before her. She’s a weapon desired by those who reign and those who rebel.

To the Influencer’s Guild, she’s an aberration, a threat. They order her death and thus the betrayals begin. One woman protects and trains her, plotting to use her shield to further imperial goals. No longer a helpless child, Catling has other plans. As chaos shakes the foundations of order and rule, will she become the realm’s savior? Or its executioner?

Welcome to a world of three moons, a sentient landscape, rivers of light, and tier cities that rise from the swamps like otherworld flowers. A planet of waterdragons, where humans are the aliens living among three-fingered natives with spotted skin. Where a half-blood converses with the fog and the goddess plans her final reckoning.

What’s the most constructive criticism you’ve been given in your writing career?

My first book begged for criticism, and wow, did I get a boat load from some very generous and dedicated souls in my critique group. I did just about everything wrong and had to rewrite that entire tome from front to back about six times on top of all the usual editing passes. Many of the criticisms were straight-forward no-brainers – such as “only one POV per scene.” Less easily implemented was the advice “less is more.” Tighten, tighten, tighten has become my mantra and something I still work hard at.

What do you wish you’d known before you were published?

When I was first published, my lack of knowledge could have filled a bottomless pit. I wasn’t hooked into the writing community through social media, so I didn’t even know that I was clueless. In hindsight, the biggest mistake was going with a traditional publisher. I gave up control over my books for six frustrating years. No control meant weak covers, zero promotional capability, and low sales. Without a doubt, I would have made mistakes without a publisher’s guidance, but I could have fixed them too! I’m much happier and more successful now as an indie author.

What is something memorable you’ve heard from your readers/fans?

I received an email from a teenage fan who said that my first book “Myths of the Mirror” had helped her during a difficult time in her life. It’s a gentle book about choices and a pair of young people seeking their “Way” in the world. I was so touched by her note, and it summed up all I could have hoped for with that story.

Any unusual talents or hobbies?

These more personal questions are hard! My unusual talent is that I’m not afraid to try something new and fail. I enthusiastically take on any crazy project that triggers the old brain, and more often than not, I make a mess of things, learn my lessons, and do a better job the next time. First time successes are pretty fun too, though less common. The fearless failures have generated some life adventures to add to my writer’s file cabinet of experience.

What’s the last thing you watched on TV/Netflix?

I don’t watch much television, but I haven’t missed an episode of The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Vikings, and Westworld. All fantasy-ish shows – right up my alley. Most days, I watch a bit of the bizarre Washington DC “reality show” but turn it off before my head explodes.

If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?

Honestly, the book hasn’t been written yet – probably because it would be incredibly dull. Nothing traumatic would happen, and there’d be no conflicts or hardships. The pace would drag, and the character would enjoy a great relationship with a wonderful family and friends, love and laughter. The world would be at peace and we’d truly be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. To sum it up, I like to write drama and death, but I wouldn’t want to live it.

Author Bio

D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s Coastal Mountains with her husband, two dogs, and Pinky the Cat.

Social Media

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/D.-Wallace-Peach/e/B00CLKLXP8

Myths of the Mirror Blog: http://mythsofthemirror.com

Wallace Peach Books website: http://dwallacepeachbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myths-of-the-Mirror/187264861398982

Twitter: @dwallacepeach

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068749.D_Wallace_Peach

Buy Link

Global Buy Link

121 thoughts on “Indie Author Friday: D. Wallace Peach #IndieAuthor #scifi #fantasy”

  1. Ha! I wish I could get away from the “Washington DC reality show”! Delightful interview, Teri. I agree completely about Diana’s covers. And her words are marvelous. I got Catling’s Bane recently and can’t wait to read it. (Now for some me time… Still wishing for that!)
    Hugs all around. TGIF!

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    1. Thanks so much for the wonderful comment, Teagan, and for picking up the book, of course! Teri does a great job with interviews and I had a lot of fun with the questions – most of them are ones I haven’t answered before. Hugs and, yes, TGIF!

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  2. Thanks for this great opportunity, Teri, and for sharing the promotion too. I had a great time with the questions and am honored to be here on your site today. I’ll reblog next week and keep the ball rolling 😀 Thanks again and have a wonderful day.

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  3. Lovely to see Diana and her books featured here today. I’ve only read one of her novels so far but I was blown away by the depth of characterizations and world-building. And her prose is like poetry. Truly, an amazing author!

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  9. Pingback: Reading Links 8/14/17 – Where Genres Collide

  11. I’ll read anything by and about D. Wallace Peach. I’ve learned so much by reading her blogs as well as her books. I’m not a ‘fantasy reader,’ unless I’m reading Peach! Great interview, but I’m chuckling over how Diana kind of ‘generalized’ in the question about unusual talents or hobbies. From her blog posts, I know she has many; she’s just humble. xo

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    1. You’re so kind, Pam. I really don’t feel like I have any unusual talents. I do everything “good enough for me” and that means there are usually cut corners and flaws. The exception to my lackadaisical attitude is writing (I hope). Thanks for visiting, my friend. 🙂

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    1. I know, Carrie. Most writers like serene lives with hours of nothing to do but sit in a chair and write. Yet, we are so ruthless when it comes to our poor characters. All that drama in my life would drive me nuts. I’d be a wreck! Have a lovely weekend, and Happy Writing. 🙂

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  16. Wonderful questions, Teri and it’s been interesting learning more about you, Diana! I toast to your ‘fearless failures’ and all the surprising and welcome experiences they bring us! 😀 I love how you thrive in writing about drama and death but seek the opposite in life if possible…I hope the ‘dull’ and ‘non-traumatic’ experiences often cross your path. Your detailed descriptions of taking control back of your books on your blog and their relaunch was intensely informative and helpful…required for writers heading the indie way! 😀❤️

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    1. My attitude about failures has really changed over the years, Annika. As long as no one is hurt, they are blips that I can deal with and even chuckle over (though, in some cases, it might require some time). I am very ordinary and boring in real life and like it that way. Ha ha. Thanks for the visit, my friend. Happy to “see” you as always. 🙂

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  17. Reading this interview has been enlightening, not only about publishing prospects, but also about Diana’s background and life-preferences. I’m just starting out as a writer myself, but I’ll definitely be putting more thought toward self-publishing after having read these words.

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    2. Thanks for visiting, Andy. There are pros and cons to each publishing approach and every writer has to find what works, personally. I learned a lot from going the traditional route, but I learned even more from fellow writers, and WP is full of great advice. The key is paying attention and doing the slow, hard work. I love being an indie-author and haven’t regretted the decision for a minute. Happy Writing, my friend. 🙂

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  20. Wonderful interview, I loved reading more about you Diana, you could have been a poet who chose to write stories to add more fun to life. Wishing you great success with your latest series. Teri’s questions add extra charm to this interview. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Balroop. Eventually we are all going to know each other like one big family! I don’t think I’ll ever be a confident poet, but it’s fun to dabble in now and then, and I appreciate the encouragement. Happy Poeting and have a great weekend. ❤

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    2. You are so sweet, Lana. These were fun questions and I hadn’t answered any personal ones before on a blog. Those were hard – because I’m so boring. Ha ha. I think I have you all fooled with this talent stuff. 😀 Thanks for making me laugh.Have an awesome weekend, my talented friend. ❤

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  22. paulandruss

    Lovely engaging conversation.
    I particularly enjoyed Diana’s talking about writing her first novel, and having to rewrite it about 6 times. We all start off like that but none of us think any other author does.
    I think the measure of a real author is to take the criticism… wince, get defensive, feel a bit depressed… for maybe even a couple of weeks (that’s all natural). Eventually, when you surface, think ‘Right how to I take this on board to make my great ideas into a great book’… and roll up your sleeves.
    One thought I cling on to when writing is from an old Hollywood blockbuster about Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel. The pope (Rex Harrison) keeps shouting up When will it be finished? And Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) keeps shouting down… When it is done!
    All in all, six complete rewrites is pretty good going!

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    1. Thanks so much for the visit, Paul. Those six complete rewrites were prior to the twenty other editing passes. Ha ha. Yeesh. I wrote that book without an outline and, wow, I was the Queen of Tangents! I cut over 60,000 words as part of the process. It was painful, but the book was so much better. It made me a huge fan of criticism. Live and learn. ❤

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      1. paulandruss

        Believe me Diana I DO KNOW.. the whole process is frustrating and heartbreaking. But you come out the other side a much stronger writer… It is the people who write one draft don’t bother proofreading and think it’s automatically going to win the Whitbread Award that need a wake up call not us poor devils thinking we are not good when we start and trying of so hard to get better!

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  24. Great interview–I enjoyed learning more about Diana. I figure there’s a finite number of mistakes we all make in this writing gig, so thanks for passing yours on. It makes me feel better about my choice to go self-published rather than small trade press for my novels. 🙂

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    1. I could go on and on about the choice to switch to indie, Cathleen… and I often do. Ha ha. I won’t say it’s the best choice for everyone, but it was for me, and I don’t regret it. As you know the onus of all the work falls to the author and we owe it to readers to put our absolute best out there either way. 🙂 Have a great week and Happy Writing!

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    1. Thanks, Hector. I appreciate the visit to check out the interview. I’ve been having fun over here at Teri’s blog. She’s a wonderful host to let me yak it up with friends. 🙂 Have a wonderful, peacerful week!

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  27. At my Writers Guild, I’ve noticed they’re big on rewrites, and also on hammering out a rough draft almost as though on “automatic” It’s a little bit scary, mainly because I don’t think I’m able to do it. I “automatically” stop, pause, analyze, incubate, and THEN burst into another blast of stream-of-consciousness for a few pages, before stopping, pausing, analyzing, etc. – it was almost like a bipolar phenomenon. I recall how getting from A-Z on the script to my musical was a PAINFUL experience at times. I was incredibly surprised when I saw myself actually put the words THE END at the bottom of the document.

    I sort of figure they know more than I do, but I also wonder if this is some “philosophy” of writing a rough draft that could be debated,. In one way, the conept of “rough draft from the heart, final draft from the mind” makes sense. But in another, possibly more critical way, I feel a bit threatened intellectually by the notion that my head’s supposed to get completely out of the way during the rough draft process.

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    1. There are many ways to write the first draft, Andy, and we each have to find what works. The “just get it out” approach is widely recommended, but it’s only one way to write. I’m an edit as I go writer; you write in bursts, and those aren’t the only two variations. What’s key is that, eventually, we put The End on the doc. Writing is hard and often painful, certainly not as easy as it looks. Keep writing, my friend, and trust your process. ❤

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  28. Lovely interview Diana, and such great questions. I always enjoy your interviews, getting to know you a bit more. Criticism must be hard at first, especially with your first book, but I guess if one is wanting to succeed, it is vital. Plus, you have learned from your mistakes, and that is important.
    Have a good weekend 🙂 x

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    1. I was a little shocked at the beginning to learn that my first book wasn’t a masterpiece, Lynne. Ha ha. Yeesh – totally clueless. But it was soooo much better afterward that I became a huge fan of constructive criticism. I left my writers’ critique group because they all liked my writing, and therefore, I’d stopping learning. It’s a journey and there is always something to improve on. Thanks for the visit and lovely comment. 🙂

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    1. Bah! That first book was a total bear, Jacqui. It was pure torture, but I was in love with writing, which sustained me through 4 years of grueling toil. And I learned a ton – the silver lining. 🙂 Thanks for visiting, my friend. Happy Writing.

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    1. Thanks, Meeka. So true. Aren’t imaginations fascinating? I’m intrigued how all these kind, compassionate, mild-mannered people love putting our characters through the ringer. We’re so creatively mean! Ha ha. Have a great week, and Happy Writing 😀

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting, Sophie. I know what you mean about learning a little about authors. I read a lot of books by authors I’ve met on WP, and it adds a bit of fun to the reading experience. Enjoy your Sunday and have a great week! 🙂

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  34. Great interview! I always like learning more about writers, and I especially like your answer about being a fiction character! I’m thinking no one will write my story either–too ho-hum. I’ve got Caitling’s Bane in my iPad, just waiting to get to that entry on my TBR 🙂 Wishing you a great week ahead!

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    1. I just love it that we have these wild imaginations, Julie, and can indulge in characters’ lives without actually having to live with such trauma and drama. I wonder if that’s just a human thing. I hope you have a peaceful, calm week and raise all kinds of havoc in your wip. Happy gardening, too!

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    1. Thanks for the visit, Sarah! Hey, I’m a fan girl of your writing, too, so it’s mutual. Teri had a wonderful bunch of questions, most that I’ve never answered before, which made it extra fun. Yes, I am sooo boring in real life, but I love causing mayhem in my imagination! Happy Writing. ❤

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  36. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Monday 21st August 2017 -Robbie Cheadle, Yvonne Payne, Teri Polen/D.Wallace Peach and Norah Colvin | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

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