Tell us a bit about you and your background.
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books, and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, Fakin’ It, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris.
What’s the logline that describes your writing?
Get lost on journeys through history and meet folks who shook things up.
What are your hobbies away from the computer?
I bicycle, golf, work out, walk, play my piano, am very much into the paranormal, and devour books of any genre.
Do you start a new story with the plot or characters first?
Since I started writing bio novels with no fictional characters, I start with the characters—I read about their journeys and accomplishments, and stick as close to possible to the historical record.
Is your writing style planned or freestyle?
I’m a strict outliner and plotter—I use Donald Maass’s WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL workbook and use dozens of questionnaires.
Have you traveled to any locations that appear in your books?
Yes, all of them—I also love Austria and Mozart, which I’ve never written about, and that’s on my list, too.
What was your biggest surprise in the editing/revision process?
How ‘wordy’ the piece can get—I have some really good proofreaders who pare it down and trim it ʼtil it’s lean and mean!
In what genre do you read?
I read all genres but my favorites are biographies and books about the unexplained, especially ghosts. Astronomy books also fascinate me.
What do you hope readers gain from your stories?
I hope they’ll forget their problems for a while, and escape into a world where life was simpler, yet much harder.
BLURB
Around the World in 80 Meals: The Best of Cruise Ship Cuisine weaves gastronomic delights around an exotic seven-day dream fantasy cruise. Imagine waking up on a different ship in a new port of call every day, and treating your taste buds to a gourmet meal every evening, each carefully prepared by one of the best chefs afloat.
This book highlights the most interesting menus and recipes of a diversity of cruise lines, from the luxurious Cunard Line, famed for its opulent ocean liners, to a small but highly exclusive line of yachts that offer the most personalized cruise experience.
Sample from a Cruise Menu:
THE PRESIDENT’S DINNER
President Ford’s Smoked Norwegian Salmon Terrine with Red Salmon Caviar Sauce
This appetizer was one of the more sophisticated first courses created for President Ford. He always came to the table with a healthy appetite after swimming in the White House outdoor pool, rain or shine.
Smoked Norwegian Salmon Terrine
Ingredients (6 servings)
1 pound sliced smoked Norwegian salmon
2 cups cream cheese
¼ cup cream
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
2 tablespoons capers
fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
Place cream cheese, cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill and capers in a food processor. Season to taste with pepper and combine.
Butter a 6 cup terrine pan. Line base and sides with plastic wrap overhanging two inches at ends.
Layer enough smoked salmon to cover bottom of pan. Layer 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture equally over salmon. Repeat layering process until all the salmon is used. The top layer should be salmon.
Fold plastic wrap over salmon, pressing down gently. Refrigerate overnight.
Before serving, turn onto a platter and remove wrap. Trim ends and cut into slices. Drizzle with red salmon caviar sauce (recipe follows). Serve.
Red Salmon Caviar Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces crème fraiche
½ cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1 pinch white pepper
3½ ounces red salmon caviar
Instructions
Combine sour cream, creme fraiche, mayonnaise, dill, and white pepper in a bowl. Stir well.
Carefully mix in caviar. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Drizzle over salmon terrine (recipe above).
BIO
Diana’s passion for history and travel has taken her to every locale of her stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. Her urban fantasy romance, Fakin’ It, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband Chris. Together they own CostPro, Inc., an engineering business. In her spare time, Diana bicycles, golfs, plays her piano and devours books of any genre.
WEB CONTACTS
Twitter @DianaLRubino