Thanks for inviting me, Alicia. Today is an exciting day for me. It’s Launch Day for my new book, The Pilot, and you’re my first stop along The Pilot Launch Tour. The Pilot is the first of the Outer Rim novels. The Outer Rim is comparable to our 19th century Wild West. As on any frontier, women on the Rim have to be strong enough to make their own way without–sometimes in spite of–men. The Pilot is about cargo hauler, risk taker Celera d’Enfaden who must work with rule-bound official Trevarr Jovano to save her brother from a galactic gangster.
Sounds fascinating, Diane. Even though I’m not into Sci-Fi, you always pique my interest. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your launch spot for your tour. And thank you for taking the time to answer my questions so we can get to know more about you.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
I love science fiction and fantasy movies. My sisters think I’m nuts and my husband (who introduced me to Star Trek, btw) indulges me by taking me to see movies he doesn’t get (e.g., Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter). Fantasy stretches the imagination as does sci-fi. I think I like sci-fi best because it shows the possibilities for our future. I’m not crazy about dystopian movies even though I loved the Matrix series and I think my reason is the hope for mankind at the end.
I agree with your sisters, LOL. But, I guess the sci-fi fantasy thing is working for you. I am also not crazy about Dystopian movies. I find them a little depressing.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Pilot?
That they had a fun adventure and enjoyed a satisfying romance.
I’m sure you’ll deliver on both counts. You usually do.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
My Kindle, fully loaded so I wouldn’t run out of things to read; a satellite phone to talk to my family, oh, and to call for rescue; and a solar-powered charger to keep both operating.
I think you cheated a little with the call for rescue thing, but I’ll allow it. <g>
Share with us your favorite…
Movie: Star Wars IV, A New Hope (the very 1st movie)
Music: oldies (1960’s)
Place you’ve visited: Colorado
Place you’d like to visit: Alaska
TV show from childhood: Lunch with Soupy [Sales], a local kids’ program in Detroit
TV show from adulthood: NCIS
Food: seafood
Sports team: Detroit Tigers
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? card games, esp. Cut Throat Rummy, a family favorite
Now, tell us a little about The Pilot…
Determined to bring order to the frontier, rule-bound official Trevarr Jovano refuses to tolerate those who disrespect the law. So when an indie pilot refuses to obey, he seizes her ship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If Celara can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose the only home she’s ever known—her ship. In this excerpt, she’s at a tavern enjoying a drink with her friend who just praised him.
Sounds fantastic. Please share an excerpt:
Celara pushed her chair away from the table and climbed up on it. “Quiet down, you Rimmer scum.”
The patrons laughed then quieted. Someone paused the Seinfeld vid.
She lifted her drink again. “A toast, Rimmers. Let’s hear it for the wonderful, fantabulous, yada, yada, yada, Administrator Jovano. May he live long enough to enjoy good health.”
To her surprise, silence met her toast. No one raised their glasses or mugs, even in jest. Everyone was looking at her, standing on the chair.
No, they were looking past her. Only thing behind her was the door. Kleema groaned and buried her head on her arms on the table. Booted footsteps rapped on the rough-hewn plank floor then stopped behind her.
“Thank you for the compliments and the good wishes for my longevity.” The baritone-and-chokiris voice sounded just over her shoulder.
If ever there was a need for a personal cloaking device, it was now. Or a magic ring with which to disappear. Sec Admin Trevarr Jovano stood behind her. Waiting. She swore she could feel him breathing.
Undaunted, she turned around. As the room tipped, she reached for the back of the chair. “Whoa, those mudslides sneak up on you.”
Missing the chair, she grabbed the closest thing—Trevarr Jovano’s black-clad shoulders. Beneath her fingers, the strong muscles contracted. “Hey there, Admin Man. Heard my toast, did you?” She grinned down at him.
He wasn’t smiling. “You should sit down before you fall down. Or better yet, go home and sleep it off.”
A dark fury swept away the sweet tranquility of two, tall Kruferian mudslides. “I can’t go home, you snake. You stole my home.”
She swung a round-house punch at him, missed her objective and would have fallen ignominiously off the chair had he not caught her. For several long secs, he held her tightly against his chest, her feet dangling off the floor a good twenty-five centimeters. His green eyes caught hers and darkened.
The heat in the room rose ten degrees. Her heart tripped, the air leached out of her lungs. His eyes. She could drown in those green depths.
The Pilot is available at: http://amzn.com/B00AE6OH4K
See Diane’s website http://www.dianeburton.com/ for other retailers for The Pilot and Diane’s other books.
Bio:
Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America as well as the Mid-Michigan, Young Adult and Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal RWA chapters. She is the author of the Switched series, about twins exchanging places—from Earth to a starship and the reverse. With The Pilot, she begins a new series about strong women on the frontier of space. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Diane can be found around the Internet at:
website: www.dianeburton.com
blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor
Goodreads: Diane Burton Author
Author Alicia Dean 
Thanks so much for having me here today, Alicia, and for helping me launch The Pilot.
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Diane, the new series sounds intriguing and I wish you much success with The Pilot! Way to go!
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Thanks so much, Loralee.
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You’re welcome, Diane. I’m happy to have you here. Sorry I’m just now commenting. I was away from the computer all morning. Have a wonderful day!
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Celara: A female Han Solo character? I’m all over it! Huge Star Wars and Star Trek fan here. 🙂 Only 4, 5 and 6 on Star Wars though-not crazy about 1, 2, 3. Also huge Harry Potter fan. 🙂 Looks like a fun read!
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Thanks, Diana. You’re a girl after my own heart. 🙂
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Celara sounds like such a good character, and someone fun to read about!
Enjoyed reading your interview and excerpt!
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Thanks, Elizabeth. Glad you stopped by.
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Hi Diane! I haven’t heard Soupy Sales in forever. LOL Lovely to get to know you here at Alicia’s blog! 🙂
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Lunch with Soupy, White Fang & Black Tooth was the best part of staying home sick. LOL Thanks for stopping by, Calisa.
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Great interview; enjoyed the excerpt, Diane. I think the theme of strong women on the frontier of space in your new Outer Rim series absolutely rocks. It has me thinking “Xena” meets “Firefly.” It should be a fun read. 🙂
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I need you to write my PR, Lana. Wished I’d thought of that logline. 🙂
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Congrats on the launch Diane – I love Firefly btw Lana!
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Thanks, Florence. Shiny
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Thanks for some delicious reading on a Sunday afternoon! Not a big Star Wars fan, but I’m definitely a Trekkie, all the way. Congrats on the book–may your sales live long & prosper (like I could resist!)
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Love the good wishes, Natasha. I love the newest Star Trek (with Chris Pine). Can’t wait for the next one to come out.
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Oh boy, me too! That scene with Kirk/Bones & the allergic reaction is hilarity…so is Kirk & Spook…Kirk & Scotty…ah, heck, the whole dang thing was an awesome ride!
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Hi Diane. Nice interview, I enjoyed finding out some interesting facts about you and your books. Best of luck with The Pilot.
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Thanks, Callie. Alicia asks unusual questions. 🙂
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I have to admit, I know nothing about SCiFi and it makes me feel really dumb. I never know what I don’t know — I mean, I always wonder what’s real and what isn’t. SciFi makes me very insecure and I figure only super smart people write it and read it. I love your cover and I especially like your letter to your readers. 🙂 Wishing you the best with this entire series. It sounds fascinating. And rather brilliant!
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If there was a category like “adventure+romance in space”, I’d use it. LOL Some Sci-Fi is for astrophysicists. Mine aren’t that brainy.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Great job, Diane and Alicia (I never get enough of this gorgeous website, btw.)
It is very nice to “meet” you, Diane, and learn about what interests you about sci-fi. I don’t consider myself a sci-fi fan, but have an insatiable appetite for The Twilight Zone–the old black and whites. I also confess to a recent purchase of Fantasy Island: Season One–LOL. I love the idea of an alternate universe, so I totally get the excitement you glean from imagining possibilities for our future. So many possibilities, so little time…
I’m especially intrigued by your ‘Switched’ series. My debut novella released in October, and stars identical twins 🙂
Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed your interview 🙂
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Thanks so much for your comments, Anna. Best wishes on your debut novella.
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I also love the old black and white Twilight Zones. Too cool! Thanks for teh kind words about my website. I love it too!
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Alicia, thanks again for having me. You are a great supporter.
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You are most welcome, Diane. I am thrilled to have you. Hope you enjoyed it and I wish you mega success with The Pilot!
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I’m late (as usual) chiming in, but I love the question on fav kid shows. Would The Partridge Family qualify? I loved Fury too. oh, and The Rifleman.
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