You are invited to a Live Chat With Author Dianna Doles Petry Thursday February 25th beginning at 9 PM ET. This chat will last for one hour - ending at 10 PM ET.
Dianna has been an active member of the Gather community since July 29, 2009.
I am very fortunate to be able to host this wonderful opportunity for you. This post will serve as the live chat. If you will be unable to attend the live chat, you can post your questions for Dianna in the comment area below.
Dianna was born in Montgomery, West Virginia. She has lived her life in the same general area of her birthplace. She feels a deep responsibility to the community and the needs of women worldwide.
Dianna has been published in several magazines, online E-zine and has poetry and short stories featured on hundreds of websites. Dianna is a member of the West Virginia Writers and the WV Poetry Society. Dianna Founded a women's group, Women With A Unique Soul, several years ago.
Dianna is the author of :
ECHOES OF A Woman’s Soul
Memories
One lucky member who attends the live chat will win an autographed copy of Dianna’s book ECHOES OF A Woman’s Soul. You can read my review of this book here.
You do have to be a member of Gather to participate in this live chat. It is free to join. Click here to join.
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Comments: 269
firstly, I am very proud of you and didn't know that you already have a published book. I hope to get to read it one day.
my question to you is: where did the inspiration for the book come from and how long did it take you to write it? Sending you warm hugs. good luck on your chat.
Sorry you will miss the chat. I am sure Dianna will answer your question during the chat.
She is a very talented author. She will be giving away one of her books during the chat. I hope to see you Thrusday night at 9 PM ET.
I do hope you can make it. I am really impressed with the talent of Dianna. Her book is amazing! She will be giving away one of them in the chat. :)
I do hope you can make it. It will be an exciting chat. She is very talented. She will be giving away one of her books during the chat. See you on Thursday night 9 PM ET. :)
Please post this to Nuttin' But Sunshine -- Sun Bespeckled Ink
I forgot to post it to your group. I will mend that mistake right now. See you on Thursday night at 9 PM ET. :)
Dianna is a very talented author. She will be giving away one of her books during the chat. I will send an email. :)
I hope that Dianna can talk some about her publishing experience. How did she get her first book published? What was it like once the book was published? How tough is it out there for a poet today?
I am sure this is going to be a great discussion!
All the poems in the book I reviewed are amazing. They come from the heart and it just seems to connect with life in general. I hope you can make the chat. :)
I emailed your friend Deb S. :)
My first book was published here locally by two very awesome women who were determined to bring attention to the local talent. I found a business card they had posted in a store and gave them a call. I had a manuscript ready and they gave me a decision within a couple of days.
The first book is not poetry, it is a collection of short stories and reflections about growing up here in the mountains. Publishing that book gave me the encouragment I needed to get serious with my writing and work to get more of my writing published. Poetry is a tough sell. It requires a lot of dedication and the print market in general is tough because people can download books so easily from the Internet.
There are still markets for poetry if you dedicated in your search for publishers. I would suggest to any writer that they read a current issue of any magazine they submit work to before sending anything. Join poetry writing groups and most of all, write something, ANYTHING, every single day.
Also, don't expect overnight success with any published book or series of articles. It takes time to gain a reader base and sometimes in the beginning you give away as many copies of your book as you sell. Eventually, it will turn around if the material is good.
I hope this touched just a bit on your questions.
I was most impressed with her talent for writing. Hope you enjoy yourself.
Bob, I bet the book is wonderful :)
...smiles...
Thank you for adding Nuttin' But Sunshine to -- Sun Bespeckled Ink!
This is now Featured!
We will see you in an hour. :)
Dianna will be giving away one of her books tonight at the chat.
I am sorry you will not be able to attend. Dianna is a wonderful author. Her poems come from the heart.
I will not be able to make the chat but I do have a question for you:
Is your poetry all directed toward women or is it something men can relate to as well? I noticed the poem that Connie posted that was written by you was about the coal fields. Do you have ancestors with a coal mining background?
I'm sorry you couldn't make the chat.
In response to your question, no, not all of my poetry is directed toward women. A lot of it has to do with the events in life that women hold dear as well as gentlemen. My father was a coal miner as was his father before him. I grew up in a coal mining community.
Welcome Dianna!
I would like to welcome and thank each of you for attending this chat.
Remember to refresh the page or hit the F5 key on your keyboard to see the most current comments.
The winner of the Free book by Dianna "ECHOES Of A Woman's Soul" will be announced at 10 PM. Immediately following the chat.
I love your new icon!
From Christine Zibas Feb 25, 2010, 12:55am EST
I was very impressed with the poem of Dianna's that you published in your article a few days ago. Not sure if I can make the chat, but I will certainly revisit afterward.
I hope that Dianna can talk some about her publishing experience. How did she get her first book published? What was it like once the book was published? How tough is it out there for a poet today?
The first book is not poetry, it is a collection of short stories and reflections about growing up here in the mountains. Publishing that book gave me the encouragment I needed to get serious with my writing and work to get more of my writing published. Poetry is a tough sell. It requires a lot of dedication and the print market in general is tough because people can download books so easily from the Internet.
Was "Memories" your first book?
It is good to see you. :)
I knew you would be here. :)
Poetry is becoming more mainstream and there are far more styles of poetry out there today than there was a few years ago. Free verse writing is the most popular form of writing ever to be used. I think any form of writing that allows us to express ourselves and share our thoughts on the world is a good thing.
I am so glad you brought that up. I am seeing more mainstream poetry as well. It is much better writen than it used to be. More emotion and talent
I do have some of the high school writings. I read them occasionally when I am feeling as if I haven't accomplished enough.
I honestly don't have a favorite of the poetry I've written. To date, I have written around three thousand poems and about one thousand short stories or essays. The poetry I have written over the last two years is deeper in my opinion because I experienced the loss of a son.
My favorite place to write is in my office/bedroom after the house is quiet. I leave my curtains open and I can see the moonlight, the rain, or like tonight, the falling snow. I also tend to do my best writing in my night clothes.
I personally prefer poetry that has some meter or rhythm to it. Most poets today like free verse that is more conversational but I guess it's my age that hold me to rhymed or metered poetry although I have tried free verse. I do believe every writer has to develop his or her own style.
I see a lot of people here on Gather who seem to be having difficulty in this area.
Where in WV? I live in WV.
I truly believe that she was telling you the truth. The mountain cats here are becoming more numbered again. I saw one just the other night myself. I also see a lot of deer, bear, and other animals. I would love to hear more about your grandmother.
It's always been hard to get poetry published by the "big houses" so this era of increasing opportunities with small houses is a good thing for poets. I've read more poetry since joining Gather than I had in the 40+ years before and there's so much that's really wonderful. I liked the one in Connie's review very much.
Do you find yourself composing bits in your head, to be fit together later, or does a poem come to you as a whole (and is edited later)?
Yes, I do compose many bits in my head and then fine tune it when I sit down to write. A poem never really comes to me as a whole but once an idea starts the flow picks up and it is a whole piece in no time.
I think I've read more poetry here on Gather than in any of the writing groups I've ever been a part of anywhere.
How do you feel about ebooks and does it profit an author to participate?
Number 11
Ebooks can be a big boost to a writer if it is marketed properly and available for download in several locations. The downfall with ebooks is they are not portable and many people like to carry a book with them. Many ebooks are also locked to keep them from being printed, altered, or burned to disc, so if your computer crashes, you lose it.
I am really enjoying these live chats. Dianna is a very talented author.
Clifford ask another question up above that I think a lot of Gather members would be interested to know as well.
Do you plan on writing a new book of poetry or short stories in the near future?
It looks like an interesting chat, and some good books too.
It is so good to see you.
I really enjoyed her book.
There are only 15 minutes left in this chat so make sure you ask those questions that you want answers too.
I am no writer for sure
I'm always talking and rhyming....and laying in bed when I can't sleep running things through my mind....but writing them, or typing them down somewhere is something I just don't do
Try a small hand held recorder for those times when you're thinking and want to keep the train of thought. Later you can play them back and write them down then.
Do you keep a journal?
first I have to get myself a lamp too
I am so glad you were able to make it.
I have most of the live chats scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights.
It makes perfect sense to me.
I would like to thank each of you for attending. It has been a great chat. Thanks so much.
Have a wonderful night.
It is so good to see you.
Do you have any questions for Dianna?
I would like to thank each of you for attending. It has been a great chat. Thanks so much.
Have a wonderful night.
Love from Darlene!
Congratulations Darlene!
You are always late! LOL Thanks for stopping in. Dianna said that she would still answer questions if you have one for her.
Hope your foot is feeling better. How was dance class?
Doc said 4 - 6 weeks to heal now....just wonderful.
It is a wonderful book. I think you will love the poetry. The poems may even remind you of your grandmother.
Dianna said she would still answer questions if you have one for her.
And, thanks, Connie, for setting this up!
That is so cool! So in other words your poetry has brought you closer to others with similar circumstances.
Connie & Dianna and all the Gather community for participating in the chat!
I am so proud, happy, grateful and blessed to win Dianna's book. LOVE!
I wanted to wish Diana the best of luck with her work.
I am sorry you were not able to attend the chat. Thanks for stopping in. :)
And, thanks Connie.
You are very welcome. Hope you enjoy reading the transcript of this chat. :) Dianna is a wonderful author.
I wonder (if you come back, Dianna) what sort of marketing you do for your work? How do you promote your poetry and get people to buy it. I know that (for myself), I used to buy a lot more poetry books in the past than I do now. It's a tough market to sell, no matter how many people enjoy it, which is a shame. Publishing itself has always been an industry that struggles to hang on, no matter the economy.
Thanks for sharing your writer's spirit with your Gather friends tonight!
you really must check out Dianna's work. She is amazing.
You missed a great chat. :)