Literary You: Author Diana Rubino

I'm delighted to welcome author Diana Rubino. Her latest book Now and Always is a time travel romance and on my TBR list! Let's learn a bit about her literary life! Welcome, Diana!

1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series?
I always enjoyed biographies. My favorite series was Trixie Belden—much like Nancy Drew. She and her friends lived in Sleepyside NY and solved mysteries.
 
2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays?
Biographies, books about American history, and for fiction—historical murder mysteries, novels set in any time during American history or British history, especially the Tudors back to Arthurian times, and legal thrillers, especially John Grisham.
 
3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books?
I had a notebook of short stories as a kid—in college, my journalism professor encouraged me to write my first novel; to me it was daunting writing something that long, but I studied numerous how-to books for novelists, went to novel writing classes, and made it happen.
 
4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of?
My first historical novel, The Jewels of Warwick. I thought it was my grand masterpiece!
 
5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create?
The art and craft of storytelling has always fascinated me, because it goes back to prehistory. The people in my books inspire me, because they were great achievers, and made a difference in the world.
 
6) What’s your writing space like?
I sit at my computer with windows facing northwest and glimpse a deer or a turkey, or even a skunk or a rabbit, at times. I’m surrounded by my bookshelf stuffed with reference books and portraits of my favorite historical figures.

That sounds lovely and inspiring!
 
7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset?
I write in the afternoon, and my goal is 2,500 words a day. If I can write more, it’s a bonus!
 
8) Congratulations on your new/upcoming release. Please tell us about it. How did you come up with the idea for your book/series? 
My latest title is a time travel romance where the modern heroine goes back to England in 1485. I wrote it in the mid-90s, it was published, went out of print, and I recently gave it a complete overhaul. I’m glad I did! I got the idea because I wanted to write a time travel set in Richard III’s time, so I placed my heroine Leah there with Richard III’s bed as a portal, which sits on a Ley Line in my story. (Very strange things happen on Ley Lines; no one knows the reason for this phenomenon—it could be the earth’s magnetic field.) The bed actually exists, and I went to see it, in Donington-le-Heath Manor House in Leicester, England. (but it’s really not on a Ley Line). I knew I had to write a story around it!

It sounds fab! I can hardly wait to read it!
 
9) I realize you’ve just published a new book and I know what that takes. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have another story waiting in the wings? 
I now write biographical novels about people who shook things up. My next story, which is awaiting a pub date, is about Edith (Mrs. Theodore) Roosevelt.
 
10) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? 
My mission is to make readers forget their troubles for a while, escape into another time and place, and maybe get a few laughs along the way.
 
And my advice to aspiring authors—NEVER give up on your dream!
 
That is wonderful advice! I couldn't agree more.

Thank you for sharing your time and talent. Wishing you continued joy and success.

The present: Historic preservation architect Leah Halliday falls asleep in the bed once owned by King Richard III. It sits on one of many mysterious Ley Lines that crisscross England. She wakes up in the same bed, but in King Richard’s time, 1485.

1485: Hugh Radcliffe, trusted knight of King Richard, believes Leah is his bride Matilda. The king arranged the marriage, and Hugh never set eyes on her before now. According to Leah’s history books, Hugh was executed for treason and drowning his first wife. When she meets Andrew Gilbert, another time traveler from the 21st century, she learns that Hugh’s>treason and drowning of his wife was a setup by a Welsh clan, the Griffins, who’s hated Hugh’s family for centuries. As she falls in love with Hugh, she finds out he’s innocent. She puts her life on the line to clear his name and get back home--with him. They do live 'happily ever after' -- but in what century?

Excerpt from Now and Always
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"Come with me, Hugh. We may never get another chance," she pleaded, and he sat on the bed next to her.

"I must go to battle, Leah," he declared, “but I cannot leave your side until I convince you. And since you are even more stubborn than I, this shan’t be easy. You know I cannot live without you. Surely you can wait a few more days."

"Hugh, you'll die, I know you will.” Tears choked her voice. “Don't go to battle just to die, please, I lost one husband, don't let me lose another!"

"But I am not truly your husband...yet."

"You never will be if you go to battle!” She grasped his arm. “Please, Hugh, Richard will have understood. Come with me."

 "Nay.” He gave a resolute shake of his head. “I cannot and will not.”

As they spoke she pulled him down with her into the center of the bed. She reached his lips with hers and their mouths locked in desperation, neither wanting to let go. His arms enveloped her. She wrapped herself around him, bringing him farther into the feathery deepness. Together they floated and drifted. She felt that strange pull, that spinning sensation she'd felt that long-ago night. As her eyes closed, her body floated in spacetime, a portal not of her world or any other world; a void they both entered. She found her voice and said, "Hugh, are you with me?"

"Aye." He hadn't actually spoken it, but she knew he was there. "I am with you. But please let me go back. I must join the king, I must."

She grasped him, her fingers clamped around his arms. He was still with her. "No, Hugh, come with me, you no longer belong here."

Then, ever so slowly, he began slipping away.

"Hugh! Stay with me!" she shouted.

"I cannot, I am falling."

"No! Oh, God, no!" She clutched at his arms, his hair, his doublet, yet he kept slipping away; that same force bringing her forward was pulling him back. He grabbed her arms, but his fingers lost their grip. She felt him tugging at the watch. It slid off her wrist, scraping her knuckles as he grasped at it. Her last connection with him was now broken as the force tore them apart. "Hugh!" she screamed one last time, flung her arms out to him, but clutched only emptiness. He was gone.

Available at your favorite online bookstore.

A Note from the Author

I wanted to write a time travel set in Richard III’s time, so I placed Leah there with Richard III’s bed as a portal, which sits on a Ley Line. (very strange things happen on Ley Lines; no one knows the reason for this phenomenon—it could be the earth’s magnetic field.) I’m really big on justice and fairness, and wanted to use that as one of the story’s themes. So I have Leah use her knowledge of what she knows about Hugh Radcliffe from history books to clear his name, save him from being falsely accused of treason and a horrible death on the battlefield.
 
I like Leah because she’s adventurous and even though she tries hard to survive in this difficult and dangerous time, she puts her life on the line to save Hugh, who she’s grown to love.
 
I identify with her because I’m rather adventurous; I went to live in London by myself after college graduation (even though it wasn’t the 15th century!) at times it was scary, but I knew my courage would pay off.
 
What I like about Hugh is that he’s honorable; he doesn’t want to leave his call to battle to join Leah in the 21st century until he’s fought in the battle. He’s also a gentleman, and was very devoted to his wife and son before they died. He’s perfect for her because he’s the ‘pre-incarnation’ of her late husband Matt, the love of her life. This is the secondary theme, how true love and our souls can transcend the time continuum.
 
I’d already written two books set in this time with Richard III as a minor character; for these books, I read some great books about Richard including The King’s Bed by Margaret Barnes and Crown of Roses by Valerie Anand. I took several trips to England and went to Richard’s favorite haunts, his residence at Middleham, where he died on Bosworth Field, and the Richard III Society helped me a great deal, especially the former President, Peter Hammond and his wife Carolyn, the former Librarian.

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