Writer Wednesdays with Leah Diehl
Tell us about yourself:
I am a wife, mother of two and a grandmother. My daughters, Melissa and Mindy are both grown up and married. My granddaughter, Emily, is 11 years old and just started middle school. Family means the world to me so nothing can top the closeness I feel. Having them live nearby is wonderful.
Tell us about your book:
Miles of Deception is about a woman, Megan that buries her last living relative. Not knowing much about her family history, she starts digging up the past and someone does not want her to. Staying one step ahead of a hired killer, she travels many miles to get the answers to the tons of questions she has. Following clues and leads, Megan ends up in the mountains of West Virginia where everything eventually falls into place. Not only does she get all of the answers, she finds the surprise of her lifetime and the happiness she never knew she could have.
What is your “day job”?
I am a funding manager at a title company, All Star Title in Mt. Washington, MD. We close refinances and purchase loans, making our customers happy, especially in this economy. The best thing about working at this company is that my daughter, Mindy, works right next to me so I get to see her every day.
Are any elements of your book autobiographical or inspired by elements of your life?
I have been researching my family history for about 15 years now. Sitting at the archives looking through the old books and reels of records I always wondered what if I found a record that had something to do with me and there was no one to ask? My wheels started spinning and since I love a good mystery, I started writing Miles of Deception and never stopped.
What’s the strangest place you’ve ever been?
The strangest place I have ever been was to the huge, abandoned Rolling Hills Asylum in Bethany, New York. It was a weekend getaway with the group TAPS for a ghost hunt. If I did not believe in ghosts before I went there, I most certainly did after I left. I love it so much there I have been back three more times and plan another trip in the spring. It was a poor farm built in the early 1800’s. Often resembling a reformatory, a poorhouse often housed orphaned children, families, destitute elderly, physically handicapped, mentally unstable, morally corrupt, and even criminals. The 53,000+ square foot building has a lot of untold history.
What book or author has been most inspirational for you, and why?
Lisa Jackson has always been one of my favorite authors. I love trying to figure out who done it or who the mystery person is the whole time I am reading. Some people I know read the ending first, but not me. I like the surprise to see if I am right; most of the time I am….. Ha Ha.
Are you working on any other projects at the moment?
Yes, I am currently working on the 2nd book of a trilogy. This book is called “Unwarranted Abduction” to be released spring of 2013.” It is about the kidnapping of Diane, the wife to Governor Kenneth Montgomery, of Maryland. With Hurricane Kelsie coming up the coast, time is of the essence as the investigators and FBI race Mother Nature to find her. With death all around, the hopes of finding her alive are limited.
Finally, where can we find you? (blogs, website, Facebook, twitter, etc
You can find me at: http://readleahdiehl.com. From there you can link to my Facebook page; view calendar of events; buy my book. Also I can be emailed at readleahdiehl@yahoo.com for a personalized autographed copy of Miles of Deception. It is a great gift and shipping is free.
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