I no longer live in the Virgin Islands, but I was born and raised on St. Thomas and took great pleasure in dribbling in details I thought readers might find interesting.
Delaney Diamond – 9 October 2023
The Back Flap
To get a second chance at love, two assassins must survive a criminal enterprise determined to wreak havoc in America’s Paradise.
Alissa Francis is at home on St. Thomas, USVI when Hossam Jalal—her former lover and biggest mistake—arrives unexpectedly. Then a bomb detonates in the middle of the capital, killing a prominent member of the community, setting the island on edge, and propelling Alissa into action.
Hossam initially came to the island to win back Alissa’s affection, but now he joins forces with her to uncover the motive behind the violence. The duo embarks on an investigation that leads them down the twisty path of a local legend and forces them to take the matter of saving the island into their own hands.
About the book
What is the book about?
Forever Again is the fifth book in my romantic suspense series, The Cordoba Agency. The story takes place on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and involves a second chance romance for two assassins. After an explosion kills a prominent member of the community, the two must survive investigating a criminal enterprise determined to wreak havoc on the island. Since I enjoy watching action films and reading thrillers, it’s been a lot of fun to write this series and include mystery, blowing things up, and killing people, LOL. I’ve also learned a heck of a lot about weapons and the life of being a bodyguard and assassin.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing the book in April.
How long did it take you to write it?
Until August, almost four months. It took longer than normal, partly because of the research involved in the storyline, but also because I was writing a contemporary romance at the same time.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I did struggle a bit with the historical elements of the story because I was able to get in touch with a Virgin Islands historian who gave me so much great information, I found myself going down rabbit holes and getting distracted, LOL. At one point I couldn’t decide what to write and how to incorporate what I’d learned into the story. I finally settled on one angle, but it wasn’t easy.
What came easily?
Writing about the culture and food of the islands. I no longer live in the Virgin Islands, but I was born and raised on St. Thomas and took great pleasure in dribbling in details I thought readers might find interesting.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They are entirely fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I’ve been reading Harlequin Presents novels for ages, and the opulence and passion between the characters in those stories have influenced my writing style for sure. I gobbled up stories by Sarah Morgan and Lucy Monroe, for example.
Outside of Harlequin Presents, Maureen Smith writes her male characters in such a way that I wanted to write my heroes in the same way—loving alpha males who will move heaven and Earth for the heroines. Brenda Jackson, one of the queens of romance, also influenced my writing. Because of her family series, I started writing about families and extended that to found families, like the team in The Cordoba Agency series.
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader is Black women over the age of 30, but I like to think anyone could read and enjoy my books, no matter their age, race, or gender. I have noticed that I’ve picked up a few male readers since I started writing romantic suspense, which is a pleasant surprise. Maybe I can get them to read my contemporary romance novels, too!
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My writing process is not very complicated. I write a couple of hours per day, usually first thing in the morning. I’ve found that if I don’t get my words down in the morning, it’s harder to reach my writing goals. If I get stuck, sometimes I’ll move away from the computer and resort to writing in a notebook instead of typing. Using a different medium helps the words to flow when I’m stuck.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I don’t outline, but I wish I could! I’ve taken classes and read books on outlining, but I’ve never been able to write that way. I’m a discovery writer (aka pantser), so I sit down each morning with an idea and write. The ideas build on each other each day. As long as I’m consistent, I keep creating scenes in my head. Because of that, I also write out of order. Once the book is complete, I work on the second draft, which is fleshing out scenes and details and putting the chapters into order.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit as I go.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes, for some books (like Forever Again) I hire a content editor to help with word choice, fleshing out the characters, and making sure the story makes sense and is engaging. Once I’ve made the necessary changes, I use software to check my spelling and grammar and then I send the manuscript to the proofreader.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. It’s too distracting. I’m not one of those writers who can work in a coffee shop. I need silence when I write—with one exception. Whenever I’m struggling to concentrate or stay focused on my manuscript, I plug my earphones into the computer and listen to the sound of rain. It helps me focus and get in the zone so I can complete my word count for the day.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Years ago when I first started writing, I submitted to publishers and was published by a small e-press. A couple of years ago, I started working with an agent to license my rights for apps, audio, and translations. I did write a novella for a Harlequin anthology years ago, but I’d eventually like to write a full-length novel(s) for a publishing house.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I went indie because the e-press I submitted to wasn’t interested in the second series I had started. I had already done research on self-publishing, so I decided to publish the series myself. That was back in September of 2011, and that first book was titled The Temptation of a Good Man. It kicked off my Hawthorne Family series and convinced me that I could be a successful self-published author.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My first book covers were designed by my sister, who had photoshop and did a little graphic design. Nowadays I pay professional cover designers, but I’ve also designed a handful of covers myself using Canva.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
My marketing plan is very loosy-goosy. I have a checklist of things I complete for each release, and depending on the release I add additional steps, mostly for testing purposes. If I find an idea works, I add it to the checklist for future books.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
My advice is to:
- Write consistently. Take your writing seriously and carve out a specific time each day or day of the week (even if it’s one day for an hour), that you dedicate to completing your novel. With so many writers nowadays, it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. But consistently putting out books will help you shine in a crowded marketplace of writers.
- Make friends with other writers. You’ll learn from them and you can promote each other’s work. To do that, join author Facebook groups, attend conferences (if you can afford it), and talk to other authors on Twitter, Instagram, etc. You’ll make some amazing friendships to help you on your journey!
- Know your readers and pay attention to what they like. Give readers more of what they like. Even with a small niche of readers, you can find success if you give readers what they enjoy reading.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands before my family moved to the States when I was in high school.
Where do you live now?
I’ve been living in Alabama for the past few years, but I plan to return to Atlanta soon (where I had been living before the pandemic).
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Boyfriend for Hire, part of Men for Hire, a series collaboration between me and two other authors. The stories revolve around three men. Montez and Drevon Ross are cousins, and Jet is their good friend they’ve known since childhood. They find love all thanks to At Your Service, the company Montez’s family owns, which employs men who provide dates and honey-do services for female clients. The other two books in the series are Fiancé for Hire by Sharon C. Cooper and Date for Hire by Reese Ryan.
End of Interview:
For more from Delaney Diamond visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my work and offer a little advice to other authors.
Thanks for doing it.