NATASHA: Thank you for the interview. Can you tell our readers about yourself and how long have you been a writer?
DIANA: Hi Natasha and readers! Thanks for having me. I’ll try not to leave crumbs on the floor or devour all the chocolate. About me: I am Diana Pharaoh Francis. I write books with women who kick ass, are snarky, and a whole lot of fun to hang out with. They often fall in love with difficult yet marshmallowy men (when looked at in a certain light). I started out writing traditional fantasy, and then shifted to urban fantasy. Also, that is my real middle name. It was my maiden name and I decided it was too cool to lose and changed it to my middle name.
NATASHA: What is it that you love about writing fantasy books? Do you write any other genre?
DIANA: Every time I start writing a ‘normal world’ book, I end up bringing in magic. It just leaks in under the doors, through the cracks in the windows, and up through the pipes. Careful on the toilet! I love the possibilities of magic. So many unpredictable events and conflicts that could arise. For instance, in Dirty Deeds, there’s a wedding between a giant and pixie and everybody scared of the pixies, as well they should be. They look innocent enough, but they like practical jokes, only what they call practical jokes, other people call disasters of epic proportions. Generally, if you see a pixie coming, run away!
I do love romantic suspense. I have outlined two books that I want to write that are completely non-magical romantic suspense. I’m looking forward to trying my hand at them. Hopefully readers will take a chance on them and love them.
NATASHA: Please tell our readers about Dirty Deeds. How did you get involved in working on this project?
DIANA: Last year—pre-covid—RJ Blain and I went to World Fantasy Con together. We were roommates and sisters in crime. And havoc. And much silliness. We’d retreated to our room to do a little writing, and we got to talking about anthologies. I said wouldn’t it be cool if we could do one with just four of us so we could write longer pieces and it would be easier to manage all the pieces. (And let’s face, RJ has been our manager. She’s like the goddess of organization and the herding of cats in a field of catnip).
She liked the idea (like squeed a bit and so did I) and so I texted Devon and asked if she’d do it, and we went online and contacted Faith, and within an hour or so, we had a book project! It’s been a lot of fun and I’m so very proud and humbled to be in an anthology with such fabulous and fun writers.
NATASHA: Can you tell our readers about your story in this anthology
DIANA: My novella is about Mallory Jade who is a witch for hire. She fixes magical problems. A bunch of ghosts have sort of taken up residence with her, feeding off her energy and helping her on her jobs. She’s also bound (against her will) to a very cranky and yet charming demon who likes to annoy her to no end.
After her last job, her boyfriend and the demon forced her to take a vacation to recuperate and she’s reluctantly agreed. Some people are terrible patients; Mal is a terrible vacationer. Fortunately for her, a murder occurs and involves the upcoming wedding between a giant and pixie—which is a whole handful of weird in itself, I mean, size matters, right? Anyhow, Mal is hired to help solve the murders, find the wedding ring that was stolen, keep the giants and pixies from annihilating one another, all while navigating her new and rocky relationship with her boyfriend. Also, there’s Elliot the goat who is immune to magic and likes to eat underwear.
NATASHA: What do you like to do for fun when you are not writing?
DIANA: I like to knit, which is often more like knotting up yarn and whining, but when it goes well it’s fun. I have two corgis and a blue heeler and take many walks and throw the ball until my arm falls off. I like to go rockhounding and bake, and I’m sort of addicted to Pokemon Go. Don’t judge. Okay, judge. LOL. I also like to play tabletop games. My current favorite is Splendor.
NATASHA: Can you share with our readers any future projects that you are working on? And how can they learn more about your books?
DIANA: Thanks for asking! The fifth and last of my Diamond City Magic books—Scatter of Light— should be out in the next few months. It’s with my editor now. I’m working on the second book in my Everyday Disasters series and hopefully will have it done by mid year. I’ve also got a short story coming out soon in retelling of fairytales anthology. Devon Monk will have a story there, too. I’m doing an urban fantasy rendition of The Fairy Ointment, and there may or may not be werewolves involved.
You can check my books out on my website and read sample chapters, or find them at all the usual outlets. My website is: www.dianapfrancis.com
Thanks so much for having me today and I’m telling you the stories in Dirty Deeds are amazing. And really, they are short novels. You’re not going to be able to put them down!
BOOK DETAILS:
Dirty Deeds: An Urban Fantasy Collection
by Devon Monk, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Faith Hunter, R.J. Blain
Publication date: January 12th 202
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
When the going gets tough, the tough get their hands dirty. Join NY Times Bestselling author Faith Hunter, USA Today Bestselling author R.J. Blain, and National Bestselling authors Diana Pharaoh Francis and Devon Monk on a wild romp where the damsels bring the distress and what can go wrong will go wrong.
Venture into a thrilling spinoff tale from the world of Jane Yellowrock; join vacationing gods in what appears to be a quiet, ordinary town; visit a supernatural hotel where the bedbugs could very well eat you; and dive into the zany, deadly world of the Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series.
In this collection of all-new urban fantasy novellas and other stories, no job is too big or too small — if the price is right.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50457896-dirty-deeds
Purchase Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XbUkXF
