Faded Rose

Rose Daniels is ready for a change. Her decision to divorce after twelve years of a failed marriage gives her a short moment of hope for her and her son's future, but Mother Nature throws a wrench in her plans and so does the Hughes County Sheriff when he arrests her for the murder of a local woman. She's lost so much already, but she could lose more... her son and her life.

Faded Rose is now available for Kindle and in paperback.

Faded Rose

Southern Out of the Way Places

My husband and I live in the country in northwestern Mississippi. A beautiful area. Lots of deer, wild turkey's, and great fishing.

     Last Saturday, I was restless. I wanted to go out for a drive and get away from the house for awhile. So my husband and I took off on a short road trip. We headed down the back roads from our house on our way to Sardis Lake. We drove down Highway 310 and stopped at a little bait and grocery store called T & T.. Near the store, a family was having a yard sale. We browsed around the sale. My husband bought me two antique lamps, an antique hand mirror, and an old hand carved quilt rack. I was thrilled. I've always wanted a quilt rack and having one that someone carved by hand made it extra special.




     We put the items in our car and went inside T & T and ordered a hamburger with all the fixin's. While we waited, we purchased our drinks. I was surprised that they carried Mexican Cokes in their refrigerated case. For those of you who don't know, Mexican Cokes are made with real sugar and not corn syrup. In 1984 Coca Cola changed from real sugar to corn syrup. The taste took me back to my childhood and so did the hamburger.













     While waiting for our hamburgers, my husband watched a College football game on the wide screen television, and I looked around the store. They carried items that I hadn't seen in many years. Stage Planks and Chick-O-Stick. I didn't buy either one, but it wasn't because I didn't want to. I had splurged on my diet with the hamburger, chips, and Coke. I'll be back one day to T & T's.

 My husband loved the wall decor.














      We drove on down to Sardis Lake. The lake was down. We need more rain in this area. But that didn't stop the fishermen. There were quite a few on the lake that day.

     All in all, we had a nice outing. So if you are ever in northwestern Mississippi, take a drive down 310 toward Sardis Lake. Stop in at T & T's Bait & Grocery and get the best hamburger in the state of Mississippi and while you're there, have a look around. Some real nice folks run the place.

     Now back to editing my next novel. Y'all have a great week!

Happy Valley (A Southern Country Novel)

Paperbacks for both are coming soon. So stay tuned.

Blurb for Happy Valley:
A year ago, Jo Preston was released and sent home from a mental institution. She has only vague memories of why she had been committed. Circumstances beyond her control will cause those memories to surface, one by one.
A tragedy, brought on by deceit, leaves her heartbroken and rejected. She is sent away to live with some rather peculiar relatives. Her fear of being institutionalized again has her desperate to keep her past hidden, but how long can she keep it a secret when her imagination begins playing tricks on her... or is it? A voice from her past resurfaces as well as the man who wants her secret to die with her.
This is a story about a young girl's heartbreak, rejection, fear, faith, and determination.

Blurb for Mississippi Gambler:

When Jo Preston Lane was nineteen, she left home thinking that was the answer to her problem, but now, four years later, she must return and who she has to face is the least of her problems. To protect her family, she must keep all she has discovered five months ago a secret. She has little time to prepare for her great escape before her worst nightmare catches up with her. She can’t afford to trust anyone, as her life truly depends on it. Not the police or the FBI.

Happy Valley (A Southern Country Novel)

Well, back to editing my next novel.

Happy Valley

At first, I was skeptical about putting my novel on Amazon.com, but I've sold several and have had some good reviews. The reviews are from people I don't know.  My friends are still reading my novel and I'm waiting for their feedback.
Happy Valley A Southern Country Novel is the first in the series. The story is mainly based in Northwest Mississippi.  Happy Valley is a mystery with humor.
"Jo Preston could write a book on survival. Her titles could be: How to Survive Five Years in a Mental Institution, How to Cheat Death, How to Overcome Heartbreak and Rejection, How to Live With Crazy Relatives, or How to Run From a Serial Killer. Yes, she could write a book... if she survives all of the above."

http://www.amazon.com/Diana-Anderson/e/B008FU5U66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

If you read my novel, please leave a review at Amazon.com.  Thanks!

My Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Anderson/432120250141271

Now that I've told you about my novel, let me tell you about where I live.  Although I was born and raised in Oklahoma, I've lived in this area of Mississippi since 1979.  My husband and I moved to the country in 2006.  Being raised a farm girl, I was long over-do and ready for the move.
A sign over our driveway reads, "God's Country" and it is a taste of heaven on earth.  I love having my morning coffee on the patio.  I'm never alone.  Many mornings, deer walk between our yard and the woods that surround our home.  Casey, our Jack Russell Terrier, is more interested in the squirrels and lizards though.  We have chickens, which is more of a hobby as most are pets.  However, fresh eggs are good.  We keep a bird feeder in view of our kitchen window as well as hummingbird feeders.  I love watching the blue buntings and have managed to get a few photos of the skittish little creatures.  We have a creek down below our home and when we get a good rain, you can hear the rushing water.  At night, the whippoorwill sing, tree frogs croak, and crickets chirp.  We are so far away from the city that the night skies are lit up with stars, like diamonds on black velvet.  I remember the first few nights after we moved in.  I couldn't sleep because it was so quiet. Now, sleep is wonderful.
Life is good here out in this neck of the woods.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Flower Beds Will Have to Wait

Okay, here I go. My first blog.

I've been searching for a local writer's group and have come up with zilch. Where are all the struggling novelist in Mississippi? One group, I was able to locate, was further down south near the Gulf. I don't think it'd be wise of me to go for a once a month Tuesday luncheon. That's quite a drive. Others don't have a website or much on the website that they do have. It can be rather frustrating trying to get some feedback.

From research on the internet, most of what I'm getting is the Catch-22. You have to have an agent to get published and to get an agent you have to be a published author. (Insert head tilt here.) So it seems, no matter how much sweat you pour out onto the keypad of your laptop while your eyes feel like daggers have been poked into them from the eye strain of working and polishing your manuscript, day in and day out for over two years, it may have been time better spent weeding your flower beds that have been neglected. My flower bed needs mowing.

I try to wake up every morning with a positive outlook. As long as I'm not looking out my window at my flower bed. A pot of coffee and back at it. I've written the darn thing in first person and third person... just in case. I've sent it to several agents and have had one reply. Yes, the old form letter, not for us.

I've tried mental telepathy. Desperate times means taking desperate measures. I've stared at the agents photos on their website at least once a week and try to convince them what a good novel it is. Maybe there is too much aluminum in the building material at their location. Whatever, it doesn't seem to be working.

I'm curious as to what literary agents really do all day. With the Catch-22 thing, it makes me wonder, if just maybe, they spend their days trying to steal established authors from other agents.

I think my manuscript is a good story and I'm very critical of my writing as well as my artwork. I'm my worst critic. I'm critical of the books I read and get frustrated trying to find a good read. You buy a novel and it's really good, so you purchase another novel by that same author and it's a huge disappointment. Seems like they are in a big hurry to sell another and add filler that you end up skipping over. Gotta get that 100,000 word count in. Filler reminds me of minced fish in fish sticks. I actually threw a book across the room after reading three pages. I won't meantion the fairly well known author here, but geez lady, how did you get into the business? I've been known to kiss some ass when needed, but after reading that mess, I'd say a tad more than ass kissing was involved. And it's a shame. Really! What? Are you going to return the book to the store and get your money back? To me, there should be a standard a writer must uphold to all of his or her readers. A high standard. After all, if it weren't for their loyal fans, they'd be history.

It's not all about money. It's not all about fame. That's just the perks. For me, it's really all about someone enjoying my story. I love to make people laugh and cry with a story. I want to touch a heart and encourage the soul. I want to take them away from their weary day, their worries, and travel to another place. A place with characters that are real and dreams do come true.

Am I going to give up? No. It's been a life long dream of mine since I was a youngster. I was telling stories when I starting talking. Got into a lot of trouble weaving those tales. I didn't have books to read when I was very young and didn't have anyone reading to me, but I told myself bedtime stories. And when I was school age, I read a lot. And then I started writing. Married with children put my personal dream on hold. No regrets mind you. My kids are all grown with little ones of their own and now, it's Mom's turn.

The flower beds will have to wait.