Thursday's Interview - Keta Diablo

What's your genre or do you write in more than one?

Thanks, Janet, so much for hosting me on your lovely blog. I’m happy to be here. I write in two genres: Historical/paranormal and gay fiction. While most of my books are full-length novels in the historical genre, I tend to write mostly novellas for my male/male books. My best-selling series in gay fiction is CROSSROADS, four mystery/suspense/paranormal novellas. One of the main characters, Frank McGuire has the ability to commune with the dead. As a private investigator, he must call on his special abilities quite often. More about the Crossroads series below:

Crossroads: http://amzn.to/fRni1t
Crossroads Revisited: http://amzn.to/ejkD4r
Crossroads Showdown: http://amzn.to/fkCmnX
Crossroads Shadowland: http://amzn.to/etMkps
Warning: These novellas contain elements of intense man love scenes

2. Did you choose your genre or did it choose you?

I started out writing historical, but somewhere along the way, purchased some gay fiction. I found it intriguing – the way men react to one another in their relationships. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that straight women top the list as readers of gay fiction. While I enjoy writing the shorter novellas, I have a tendency to drift back to the books of my heart, historical with paranormal elements.

3. Is there any genre you'd like to try? Or is there one you wouldn't?

I’m grappling with that right now as I sort out the plot for Wolfboy – the sequel to Where The Rain Is Made. The story line is really better suited to Young Adult since the main characters are in their late teens. However, I’ve never written YA. I guess there’s a first time for everything, huh? Stay tuned for more about Wolfboy, coming to a Kindle and Nook near you in 2011.

More about Where The Rain Is Made here: http://amzn.to/ev0I3Y
*Nominated for a Bookie Award by Authors After Dark in the BEST enovel category
*Recipient of 30 five star reviews
*Winner of Best Video by Dark Divas
*Recipient of numerous Book of the Month, Recommended Read, Top Reviewers Pick by many of the top professional review sites

4. What fiction do you read for pleasure?

Mostly Historical or Paranormal or a combination thereof. I’m not very big on contemporary unless it’s Urban Fantasy. I really love Gothic, and hope to try my hand at a dark gothic novel one day.

5. Tell me a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

I live in the Midwest part of the country – in a suburb of a medium-sized city. When I’m not writing I like to garden, read and spend time with my family. I’m quite a homebody and find I’m most comfortable just hanging out in the town home.

I’ve been writing for about seven years. During that time, I’ve written for numerous publishers, including New Concepts, Amber Quill Press, Decadent Publishing, Noble Romance, Phaze Publishing, The Wild Rose Press and several others. Now, I write mostly for Books We Love Spice and Decadent and occasionally self-publish some of my backlist and short stories. I find there are advantages and disadvantages to both traditional publishing and Indie, but I really love the freedom to write outside the box and the flexibility that comes with self-publication.

6. Which of your characters is your favorite?

There are special to me in one way or another because they all remind me of a certain period in my personal life. I like Morgan a lot of Decadent Deceptions. I submitted Decadent Deceptions to my first and only contest entry, the Molly, and finaled. I adore Meko (Ethan Gray) from Where The Rain Is Made because he’s such a complex character. I guess one would have to be complex to be a time wanderer. Ethan Gray lives a very cushy life in modern times and a very brutal life when he travels back in time to help his people, the Cheyenne.

More about Decadent Deceptions here: http://amzn.to/dQj8WZ
An erotic romance/historical.

7. Are there villains in your books and how were they created?

Aren’t there villains in all fictional books? LOL. Yes, there are bad men in my books. That’s what keeps the story moving. Once you discover who the villain is, you have to know what happens, right?

8. What are you working on now? Thank you so much for asking.
Wolfboy (see above). The sequel to Magnolia Heat, a gay fiction novella, called Magnolia Simmer, and a dragon series. I also contribute monthly to a multi-author erotic blog called Red Lipstick Journals. The nine members post sexy articles, book reviews, sex-toy reviews and short stories.

You can follow Red Lipstick Journals here: RED LIPSTICK JOURNALS, which you’ll want to do because we’re giving away a nine-story anthology to all followers in August.


9. What's your latest release and how did the idea arrive?

One of my latest releases is Sojourn with a Stranger. Here’s the blurb for this Historical/Paranormal (ghosts).

About Sojourn with a Stranger
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/gQLMV2
Penniless when she arrives in Norfolk, her mother and father drowned at sea, Raine Brinsley longs to return home to her grandfather in Maine. When Derek Stafford, owner of a large plantation, offers a solution to her dilemma, she’s stunned, if not outraged. She’d prefer to fulfill the contract to have his child and forget about him and his self-serving scheme. If only she could dispel the passion he’s awakened in her.

Derek Stafford’s only wish is to father an heir to Stafford House, thus securing his future. He didn’t count on the Scottish lass with green eyes interfering with his well-laid plan. After one night in her arms, guilt, not to mention the loss of his soul, becomes his penance. He’ll do anything to win her back, anything to quench the hunger tormenting his soul.


10. Tell me about your latest book and how it came about. Enclose the opening of the book around 400 words.

This is a story of a young woman from Maine who is crossing the ocean with her parents to start a new life in Norfolk. When there’s a horrific accident at sea, our heroine is left virtually homeless and broke. She must take a servant’s position at a local mansion and encounters our hero, the owner of Stafford House. Derek Stafford is in desperate need of an heir and Raine must get back to her ailing grandfather in Maine. They strike a business deal wherein Raine will bear Derek’s child for a large sum of money. And again, things go horrifically wrong.

Watch the video here. I think it will give you a good idea about the plot and the paranormal elements that come into play.


Again, thanks for hosting me, Janet. I loved your questions.

You can find me here on the Internet:
Author home: http://www.ketadiablo.com
Keta’s Keep Romance Blog, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
The Stuff of Myth and Men (gay fiction blog) http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com