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In the KNOW!


Diann Schindler served 25 years in higher education, first as an instructor of writing and ultimately college president. When she retired, she dabbled in tennis, music, and writing. Yet, her dream was to travel and write books. In 2015, her fantasy was realized.

She sold her house, her car, and all her possessions, save her tennis racket and Taylor guitar, and began her odyssey in Portugal. Four years later, Diann had explored 46 countries in 5 continents.

With world as her muse, this solo nomad wrote her first novel, “Just A Girl” and it sold very well. It was ranked “sixth best coming-of-age fiction in 2107” by Amazon.

Her friends, in American and abroad, urged her to write

Loiba, Spain

 her nonfiction book, “The Essential Guide to a Life of Travel: the ABC’s International Travel.” 

Her third book, “Claim Denied”, an electrifying international cyber-espionage thriller, emerged from her experiences as a higher educational consultant at an American university in Kosovo. Publication is early winter, 2021.

Diann's podcasts are fun, informative, and lively, focusing on her travels; personal experiences, challenges, and reflections; writing tips; and love stories, fictional, of course.

For now, Amelia Island, Florida is her home. When she isn’t writing, podcasting, biking, or swimming, Diann is drinking wine with friends.

You can reach her through her website, DiannAbroad, or at diann@DiannAbroad.com.  She would love to hear from you! 

And, be sure to SUBSCRIBE by clicking the RSS feed icon  at the bottom of the episode page.

Please COMMENT below each episode. 

Thank you so much.  

Diann

Mar 13, 2020

Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is a best-selling author of fiction for women and children. She’s so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she’s started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women.

Originally published under the pseudonym, Robin St. Croix, "Masquerade is a love story designed for busy women on the go. At a dinner party one night, Valerie’s friends (all avid readers and busy women) confessed that due to their hectic schedules, they didn’t read as much as they used to. So, Valerie designed a book in 12 parts that could easily be read on a cell phone while they waited in dentists’ offices or stood on the sidelines of soccer fields. Each part is about the length of a glass of wine or a commute home. Guilt-free moments of escape for readers in their otherwise chaotic days!

Podcaster: Valerie co-hosts three podcasts for writers. The first, The Story Grid Editor Roundtable, is focused on the craft of writing. The second is focused entirely on book marketing on "The Book Launch Show."  And, UP, the "Unpodcast Show," it's new and is focusing on character development with a focus on wants and needs of character.

Website: https://valeriefrancis.ca/   valerie@valeriefrancis.ca

"Mascarade"  What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?

You can purchase all of Valerie's books on Amazon.

Story Grid Editors' 6 Core Questions.

Music "Tiny People" by Alexei De Bronhe ; "The Amelia Island Sun" by Rafael Javadov

Thank you for listening.    Diann@DiannAbroad.com 

DiannAbroad.com