Guest Blogger DIANA PETERFREUND
We are so happy to have the fabulously talented Diana Peterfreund in the jungle today! Diana is a terrific writer who has achieved great success with her Secret Society Girl series for Bantam Dell. Her first book SECRET SOCIETY GIRL was followed by UNDER THE ROSE and RITES OF SPRING (Break), which was just released this month.
Diana has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote books about rocks. Now, this Florida girl lives with her husband in Washington D.C., and writes books that rock.
Please welcome Diana Peterfreund!
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Changing it Up
My third book, Rites of Spring (Break), is on shelves now. I know I’ve blogged on Plotmonkeys before about “writing romances that aren’t romances” but I’ve got to tell you: this one will please the romance fans. In fact, if I had to pick a genre for this book other than chick lit, other than comedy, that genre would be romantic suspense. Straight-up woman-in-jeopardy, relationship-in-the-balance romantic suspense. Enjoy.
The real challenge for me in writing Rites of Spring (Break) was not the romance (no, those two were like magnets), but rather, taking the entire story to a different setting. For two books, Eli University and its distinctive architecture, mysterious buildings, secret rooms, and rarefied culture provided not only a setting for my books, but a mood, a tone, and a heck of a lot of atmosphere. The windowless, clubhouse “tomb” the society meets in is practically a character itself. What would I do without Eli? Would my story survive? Would my heroine, Amy?
My editor and I had several conversations about my plans to take the characters away from their home base. We were both excited about the idea, and joked about calling it “Secret Society Girl: The Hawaii Episode” after the old Saved by the Bell series. (It was a step up from the title I’d been jokingly tossing around: Secret Society Girls Gone Wild). But whether I set the book in the gothic-towered, ivy-covered environs of Eli, on a half-wild tropical island, or on the surface of the moon, it still had to be a secret society girl book.
I’m one of those people who love settings. No, I don’t write pages and pages about the flora and fauna sprouting up around my characters (Hello, my beloved Jean M. Auel!), but I adore it when the setting of a book is an intricate part of the story itself. Where the story couldn’t take place anywhere else but, say, Leslie Kelly’s Christmas town or the haunted Isla de Fantasmas in Julie Leto’s Phantom books. In fact, the first books I ever read by Carly Phillips and Janelle Denison were from the Harlequin Temptation “Fantasies, Inc.” series, which are about secret trips to a wonderful island in Florida where the heroines fall in love. (I know, old school. I’ve still got them.)
Inspiration, much?
So the challenge was to make my island, Cavador Key (points to anyone who figures out why I call it that), every bit as engaging and unforgettable as Eli University. A real trick, considering I stole Eli, lock, stock, and gothic towers, from my own alma mater, Yale. Cavador I made up. These were the guidelines I followed:
No need to jump in the deep end:
If you read the excerpt, you can see that I did not start the book on the tropical, sun-drenched island depicted on the cover. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. The first time we see Amy, she’s bundled from head to toe (including a ski mask) and lying in the frozen slush in an alley at Eli University. I start the story with one of the oldest of all secret society traditions: playing pranks on another society. Not only do you see the familiar environment of Eli – but you see a part of it that’s utterly new.
Embrace the difference:
Since Cavador Key was so very different from Eli, I decided to take the opportunity to emphasize that fact and make it part of the story. The lush resort that my main character is expecting? Not so much. She doesn’t have the high class, old-world environment she’s used to from the secret society’s property in Connecticut. Instead, what she gets is run-down beach shacks and cabins. (Of course, some of the people on the island think of them as their own personal palaces…) Whether or not the characters can operate with the same sense of ceremony and formality as they do when they are not on Spring Break forms a central motif of the story. Who are the Diggers when they aren’t at Eli? Since most of my main characters are about to leave for good, it’s a question very much on everyone’s mind.
Use the tone, don’t lose the tone:
You can take the members of Rose & Grave out of their tomb, but you can’t take Rose & Grave out of the members. Even at a rustic beachfront getaway, my secret society types are still secret society types. Amy’s propensity for seeing the suspicious and creepy everywhere she turns has not faded, even when she’s staying on a gorgeous, tropical island:
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I was practically running by the time I reached the compound yard. Yellow lights shone from all the windows of the main house, from the boys’ cabin, and even from a tiny porch light over the entrance to the tomb. Salt hadn’t turned off the generators yet, but the shower house was dark. Natch.
Inside, it was cool and shadowy, and the fluorescent bulb I flipped on was of the variety that gave out only a dim, flickering, violet-tinted swath of illumination. Horror movie lighting. Perfect.
A quick wash later, I was wrapping up in the towel when I did hear something outside the window. A definite footstep, then a few more. The door opened.
“Hello?” I called. It was just someone else, looking for a late night shower. Surely. I pushed the curtain aside. Maybe they were scared, too.
I tried again. “Hello? It’s Amy, here.”
A figure stepped from the shadows. “I know.”____________
Three simple rules. I hope the readers of the series enjoy visiting Cavador Key as much as I enjoyed creating it, and think it’s worthy of it’s position as a property of the mighty, notorious Rose & Grave.
Thanks so much for having me, Plotmonkeys!
You’re very welcome Diana–and thanks for being here–we love having you! — Julie, Carly, Janelle & Leslie
Diana has generously offered to give one lucky winner a copy of Rites of Spring (Break). A winner will be randomly drawn from all commenters.
Welcome back Diana! Your latest book sounds like a lot of fun, and I’m pleased to hear it’s more of a romance. I know your third book was just released, but what’s next? I’m always curious to know what an author has cooking in that imaginative mind of theirs.
Comment by Stacy ~ — June 25, 2008 @ 6:53 am
WELCOME BACK, Diana. Always a pleasure!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Carly — June 25, 2008 @ 7:01 am
Well, that excerpt certainly hooked me. Looking forward to reading more.
Comment by Cheryl S. — June 25, 2008 @ 7:25 am
Thanks so much, Stacy. Everyone likes a bit of romance. One of my writer friends, Justine Larbalestier actually has this great theory that’s it’s more difficult to find a book that *isn’t* a romance than one that is.
Anyway, what I’m working on now is the fourth book of the Secret Society Girl series. It comes out next summer. Also out next summer is my first novel for young adults. It’s called RAMPANT, and it’s an action packed fantasy about killer unicorns (yes, really) and the virgin descendants of Alexander the Great who hunt them. It’s also the most unabashedly romantic book I’ve ever written, INCLUDING my unpublished romance novels. ;-)
Comment by Diana Peterfreund — June 25, 2008 @ 8:03 am
Thank you, Carly!
Thank you, Cheryl. I’m glad you liked it.
If you guys have a chance — my brand new website goes live today. I’d love for people to check it out. Just click my name.
Comment by Diana Peterfreund — June 25, 2008 @ 8:05 am
I have to admit I have not read any of your books. Guess I will need to add them to the list of ones to read. It keeps getting bigger that list does.
I figure that as long as I have a big pile of TBR’s I can’t die. Right? At this rate I will live to be 506.
Comment by ev — June 25, 2008 @ 8:11 am
Comment by Lori Barnes — June 25, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Good to have you back to visit us. I’m looking forward to your latest book.
Comment by Barbara-Jo — June 25, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Welcome to the blog today Diana! It was great reading your post and your book looks awesome!
Comment by Kathleen — June 25, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Your romantic suspense story with it’s collegiate secret society and romantic island setting sounds fascinating! I haven’t read any of your books but this is one I’d definitely like yo read! I’m going to look for the earlier Secet Society Girl books along with Rites of Spring(Break).
Comment by Laurie G — June 25, 2008 @ 8:47 am
Welcome Diana. I’m loving Rites of Spring (Break)! I can’t wait to find out what happens with Amy and the other Diggers.
Comment by Liza — June 25, 2008 @ 8:57 am
This looks like a great book, thanks for spotlighting Diana, it’s a great way to get to know authors, I might not know.
Comment by Stephanie — June 25, 2008 @ 9:03 am
Hi Diana. Rites of Spring (Break) sounds great. I love the first two books in this series.
Comment by Crystal B. — June 25, 2008 @ 9:26 am
ev, that’s a great rule. It reminds me of Jitterbug Perfume, where the characters agree not to die before the other ones, and live forever.
Thank you Lori, Kathleen, Barbara Jo (hi!) and Laurie!
Glad you’re enjoying it, Liza. Did you get the tattoo? ;-)
Hi, Stephanie. Nice to meet you too…
Comment by Diana Peterfreund — June 25, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Welcome back to the jungle! I must admit I’ve never read your work but your new book sounds like a great place for me to begin the Diana Peterfreund reading experience!
Thanks again for being here,
Cher
Comment by Cher — June 25, 2008 @ 9:44 am
Hi Diana! This book is awesome — bought it last night and I’m halfway through it. This series just gets better and better!
Comment by Phyllis Towzey — June 25, 2008 @ 10:33 am
Good morning jungle friends and my beloved
. It is great to have Diana back with us…I absolutely LOVED the first two books: Secret Society Girl and Under the Rose…I love the characters and Amy is such a go-getter…I can’t wait to get this one…I think they would be great YA books too (just a thought)…I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this book…I read the excerpt and I was hooked…Now, I need to go out and get it…You are an awesome writer and I thank the plotmonkeys for introducing me to yet, another wonderful author…I am so glad that there is a fourth one coming out next summer…I wonder if many of antics that went on in the “tomb” will come into play here…thanks for joining us today…
Question: With some of your main characters leaving for good, how many more books do you think will follow the fourth one next summer?
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — June 25, 2008 @ 10:56 am
I just saw a great review for this book at http://www.epinions.com/content_432900247172, but it has spoilers, so beware.
Comment by Phyllis Towzey — June 25, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Diana! Thanks so much for guest blogging for me while I recuperate. My copy is supposed to arrive today and I can’t wait. For those of you who haven’t yet read Diana’a books, you are seriously missing out!
Comment by JulieLeto — June 25, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Cavador Key? Hmmm. But I haven’t finished my coffee yet!
The only thing that comes to mind is a breed of dog. (I watch the AP channel. A lot.)
Comment by Heather Harper — June 25, 2008 @ 11:38 am
hi and thanks for sharing with us..i have to admit i havent read these, but they sound awesome and i will be definitely checking them out… always looking for something new and fun to read..
Comment by Jolene Fehr — June 25, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Hi, Diane,
Will you be signing at RWA this summer (since this story is more a romance than the others?) I’d love to get an autographed copy!
Comment by Ana — June 25, 2008 @ 11:43 am
I love the Secret Society Girl series…I didn’t realize the latest one came out this month….awesome….cannnot wait….
Comment by katie — June 25, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Yay! Thanks again for being here!
Comment by Leslie — June 25, 2008 @ 11:59 am
welcome to the jungle diana. it’s lovely to meet you!
Comment by Alicia Tags — June 25, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Hi Diana, Thanks for sharing… I will have to go to your site and look up your novels!
Comment by Colleen — June 25, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Diana, I love the new digs…hahahahhaa…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — June 25, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
And by the way Diana, you’re gorgeous! lol
Comment by Alicia Tags — June 25, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
Just goes to show how backlogged I am in my reading. I loved the first book in this series and planned to read the second. Now I’ll have to hurry up so that when I win the third :pray: I’ll be ready to read it right away!
Comment by Patricia W — June 25, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
Love the tattoo! I actually have a tattoo from college with my sorority letters and a rose, but I think I like this one better.
Comment by Liza — June 25, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
Hi Diane! I haven’t read any of your books - YET - but they sound great!
Comment by Karen B — June 25, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
Hi Diana
Rites of Spring Break sounds like a fun summer read!! I’ll have
Julie, I’m happy to see you popping in and hope your feeling better!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — June 25, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Yale - Lock - Key!
Interesting storyline! Looking forward to reading this book!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Pat Cochran — June 25, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
I love the new website! And can’t wait to read the book.
Comment by Vicki — June 25, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Welcome back Diane. I can’t wait to read your new book. I love reading the secret society books.
Comment by Elisa V — June 25, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
WOW!! I cannot wait to read this book!!! I guess its safe to say that she has done it again! Diana totally ROCKS!!!
Comment by Dulce Barahona — June 25, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Welcome back Diana!!
I can’t wait to read your new book, it sounds awsome!!
Comment by Stefanie D — June 25, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Diana I can’t wait to read your book I didn’t know anything about them so I can’t wait.
Comment by Brenda M — June 25, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
What a wonderful welcome. Wow, guys, you’re all so sweet.
Thank you so much, Paula R! I’m glad you like them. As for YA, I *am* going to be writing a YA series starting next year, right when SSG ends. I’m so excited about it.
Ana, I’m not going to be at RWA this year. I used to be a regular attendant, and in fact, one of my first booksignings was for Secret Society Girl at the RWA in Atlanta in 2006 — but for the past two years, I’ve had scheduling conflicts. Last year, it was my brother’s wedding, and this year, my grandmother is turning 80 and we’re having a big bash. Sorry!
Too funny, Liza, that your real society tattoo is so similar. I swear I didn’t know!
Comment by Diana Peterfreund — June 25, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Carly, Hot Property came in the mail today!! Yay!!
Julie, it’s great to see you back in the jungle. Hope you are back to beautiful very soon!
Cher
Comment by Cher — June 25, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Hi, Diana, your family’s reaction to your dual degree sounds very similar to my family’s reaction to mine (Math and English Lit.).
As for your new book, it sounds like it’ll make a great summer read. Not that I expected anything less.
Also, your post was interesting and I like the way you grounded the beginning of the book in the familiar setting of Eli before moving to Cavador Key. I hope you enjoy the day in the jungle!
Comment by Karin — June 25, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
Hi Diana,
I just read on Nora Robert’s site that you are making a guest appearance at her store in Boonsboro, MD on July 13. Looking forward to seeing you there. Love the new website.
Comment by Elisa V — June 25, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Your latest book sounds like another good read.
Comment by Estella — June 25, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Well Diana I have to say that I can’t wait to read this new book.
I am going to have to save some extra money to get all the plotmonkey and guest books I want this summer. Love you guys! 
Comment by Jenn C — June 25, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
This was wonderful !!! Good luck to all of the finalist and I’d only read two of the books and they were both great.
Comment by Missy — June 25, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
hi and welcome Diana,
I haven’t heard of the Secret Society Girls series yet and would find it interesting I’m sure.
Comment by RobynL — June 25, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Hi Diana,
Your books sound great and I would love a chance to win. I am adding you to my gotta get list.
Comment by Lori T — June 25, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Hi and welcome Diana!
Definately count me in too and good luck everyone!
Thanks for the interview!
Comment by Terri W. — June 25, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Nice to see you here today, enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to the release! I drop by your blog regularly and liked the new change to the site. Good luck on the release!
Comment by Teresa W. — June 25, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
I loved the first two books and can’t wait to read the third. Your series would make a great tv show!
Comment by MD — June 25, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Great post! I can’t wait o read the book! :angel7:
Comment by Aimee C — June 26, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
Great post. Can’t wait to read this book. Sounds very exciting.
Comment by Kimmy L — June 27, 2008 @ 12:53 am
Thanks for blogging here. I enjoyed your post. Looking forward to the book. You are new to me author.
Comment by acdaisy77 — June 27, 2008 @ 2:08 am
Welcome Diana!! The book sounds like fun!!
Comment by bunny — June 27, 2008 @ 2:09 am
Welcome, Diana! Your book sounds great! I can’t wait to read it!
Comment by Carol — June 28, 2008 @ 11:24 am