A Mysterious Dream

The mystery novel bug bit Diana Orgain when she was a child - see how reading Nancy Drew inspired this mom to Dream Big and achieve her goal of becoming a published mystery writer.

 

Diana Orgain

To become a published Author. As I child I dreamed of writing mysteries. I loved Agatha Christy books, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I would hide out in my mother’s room (behind a huge dresser) sitting in a wonderful gold chair that was in the corner and dream about being a writer. I always wanted to write a mystery but never thought I would be able to do it because I am usually surprised by “whodunit”, but I quickly realized it’s different if you’re the one making up the story.

I studied storytelling, theater and writing (and wrote, wrote, wrote). I received my M.F.A. in Creative Writing and after graduating became a member of a critique group to keep me going. We met weekly and read each other’s work. The group was instrumental in keeping me writing and helping me improve my craft.

When I was pregnant with my first child I was obsessed child development and how quickly the fetus progressed. Week 14 fingernails are well formed, week 26 eyelashes are present. Eyelashes? Really?

After my baby was born, my fascination with her development didn’t stop and neither did my love for a good mystery. I hated the idea of returning to the corporate world and leaving my baby for a minimum of 40 hours a week. I had to be a stay at home mom, but what could I do to earn a living? Could I really pursue my dreams to be a writer and stay at home with my baby?

The idea for Bundle of Trouble: A Maternal Instinct Mystery was formed: Woman on the verge of giving birth gets a disturbing call from the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office. She’s compelled to investigate, but oh…one thing she now has a newborn to care for. So, new mom turns PI in order to stay at home with her baby and solve the crime…only it’s not as easy as she thinks.

And then, why not juxtapose the baby development with the protagonist development as a PI? When the baby’s vision starts to come into focus, the protagonist, Kate Connolly, finds a clue. When the baby is able to hold her head up, Kate has a moment of pride in the investigation and so forth.

Also I felt like my development as a writer was mirroring my baby’s development, surely if she could learn so much in the span of a year; to sit, to crawl, to wave, to kiss, to walk – I could write a novel, couldn’t I?

My daughter definitely gave me the inspiration to keep writing. Not only did I want to grow and stretch right alongside her but I felt it was important to show her that one can do anything they put their mind to. I wanted to prove to myself that I could pursue my dreams and STILL be a good mom.

Additionally, I would meet every week with one of my best girlfriends and review my goals with her. We were committed to helping each other reach our goals by holding each other accountable to persist and persevere.

I want my novels to reach a large audience. When I studied theater I enjoyed making an audience laugh. Although with novels the relationship with the reader is different I love receiving email from fans telling me they loved the story and laughed out loud. My dream is to hit the New York Times Best Seller list.

My husband. He is smart, funny and kind. He’s a straight-shooter and one always knows where they stand with him. I most admire his confidence.

I wish I were more organized. Sometimes my brain feels so rattled I actually have to ask myself, “Wait. What was I thinking?”

The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah

I have a fabulous lipstick from Laura Mercier that is gold and I love red (especially red with a blue tint – did you know that it makes your teeth look whiter?) but the gold goes with everything and I put it over any lipstick color and get a wonderful glittery sheen.

“If you think you can do a thing or think that you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” -Henry Ford