Welcome to the second post of Friday Meet & Greet. FM&G is a weekly event hosted by me, where each week I introduce one of my all-time favourite authors, an author whose book I’m currently reading or who I think might interest you, who I am currently or was working with and here comes the twist: fellow bloggers from all around the world as well.
This week I have a very special guest who was kind enough to guest post on my blog and say a few words about herself and her new book, Love Unfinished. I absolutely love this post and I hope you will like it just as much as I do. So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce you the gorgeous
Like most writers, I have been writing for most of my life, and I can’t recall the first time I decided to put pen to paper. While growing up I viewed writing as my escape from the every day. I used the power of written word to carry me away from the things I could not handle in my own world, and lift me into places I thought I might never reach with my own grasp. But as I grew older I saw it as only that, an escape. I never believed my dream of being a writer was attainable, I thought great things were what happened to other people, not the quiet wallflower like me.
My mom was my biggest cheerleader in all things I did, supporting me through every halfhearted attempt I made at being a grown up. In 2007 she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, and in late 2009 she was in the last six months of her life. It was then I learned she had this secret list of things she had always wanted to do, and would never be able to check them off her list, and I went home that day with one of those eye opening experiences about life we’re lucky to get. I realized life is too short to not do what your heart desires, no matter how unpractical the idea may seem to outsiders. Because of her, because her life ended after only 52 years, I finally had the courage to proclaim myself a writer and started writing Love Unfinished.
The idea for Love Unfinished actually came to me in passing, empty thoughts, complaints really. During a free writing exercise, my writing consisted of wondering why I always squeeze my pen so tightly, that I now had a blue smudge on my finger, that I should have used my laptop. I wondered if technology was ruining us, making us speed through life without seeing it, if life was perhaps better when things were simpler, when you knew your mailman’s name, when eating dinner with the family came before checking your email. And in a flash, a scene unveiled itself before me. This sweet, young couple on their wedding day. Many people think love is best when it’s in its prime, young, fresh, exciting. And I wondered, what would happen if life ended when in that prime state of love, would it be strong enough to guide you to that person in another life?
When writing Love Unfinished, it was in discovering the characters voices that the story really came to life for me. I realize not everyone can be perfect like me…ahem, excuse me, you can stop laughing now…I believe for characters to truly feel real, to be relatable, they have to have some fundamental flaw, something that makes them slightly scarred or carrying a little baggage like the rest of us. And in the end, I think they all came through with their own voices and made the story their own.
Emma, she showed me her sweetness, how her longing for love lead her to a life of deceit and superficial marriage. Her husband, Craig, became the misguided hero, the man who wanted to save the world and got lost in the allure of praise in the process. And James, Emma’s love reincarnate, I never saw him as the perfect man, to swoop in and save the day without breaking a sweat. Real men have baggage like the rest of us, his (after being on the receiving end of a Dr. John letter) was that he’s sworn off love forever. And of course there are the sub-characters, some who I just love to hate, whose flaws bring a certain flare to the story I never expected.
I am in love with love, the rush of the first kiss, how your breath stutters being so close to that person, but one of the most interesting things for me about writing Love Unfinished was pushing the characters, testing how far people might stray from their beliefs or values for the sake of true love. Would they cheat? Would they break self-made vows? Would they lie? Steal? It surprised me sometimes what people are capable of. It was an emotional journey the characters took me on to find love, and now it’s time for me to let them go and give them to readers. As Ann Tyler said, “A story is finished when I can walk away and not wonder about the characters anymore.” I no longer wonder about their love, they’ve told me their story, and I’m thrilled for the chance for them to tell it to you. Thank you again Vicky, for this wonderful opportunity to be a guest on your blog!
Darian’s novel, Love Unfinished will be published on the 21st October. For further information about the author, please check out:
Darian’s website
Darian’s blog
For further information about the novel, click here to
Read the synopsis
Find it on Goodreads
Let me know what you thought of Darian’s post and keep an eye on Books, Biscuits & Tea because I’ll be reviewing Love Unfinished on my blog in the near future 😉
Darian, thank you so much for joining us this week!
Wow…:) I know your book is going to be great! All the best!!
Thanks for sharing this, Darian. It was nice to get your inside thoughts on your book. It sounds great. I can't wait to read it.
Wow, nice post this book sounds really good! xx
Sounds like a wonderful story, Darian. Love does make us do all kinds of crazy things that make us realize the world is not so black and white. Wonderful post!
This does sound like my kind of read. I do enjoy exploring the what-ifs in life, in my reading and in my writing.
Thanks for tempting me with your new book!
Well you have sold me on this synopsis, sounds so heartfelt and introspective with a smile. We all need a good dose of that every now and then.
Love the inspirational start to how you began writing this Darian, it sounds like a fabulous read and so great that you followed through with those thoughts that made you write the book.
Sounds like it's going to be a great book! : )
Love the flow of consciousness that led to the idea for the book…and yes…technology is ruining us!!
♥ Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
The book sound absolutly amazing best of lucks!!!! 😀
Love the guest post!!!
Enjoyed the guest post! Must be nice to be perfect ha ha! It's always a pleasure to see someone humble and not afraid to laugh at themselves. Thank you for the giveaway! Wishes of much success with the book!
Wonderful guest post and how true that life is too short not to do the things we truly want to do. I love the idea behind your book and loo forward to reading it.
It's always amazing that in a time of grief our eyes are opened to our potential. Congrats on following your dream. btw – my kids told me my mailman's name. It's Chuck. 😉