Diane Vallere
Cozy/traditional mystery
Writer of smart, funny and fashionable mysteries
National bestselling author Diane Vallere writes smart, funny, and fashionable character-based mysteries. After two decades working for a top luxury retailer, she traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. A past president of Sisters in Crime, Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues and clothes ever since.
Learn more about Diane Vallere on her website.
Read BookTrib’s review of Love Me or Grieve Me here.
BOOKS:
Samantha Kidd Mysteries (2021)
Mermaid Sisters Mysteries (2019)
Sylvia Styker Series (2018)
Costume Shop Mysteries (2016)
Material Witness Mysteries (2014)
Madison Night Mysteries (2014)
Your biggest literary influences:
Janet Evanovich, Beverly Cleary, Betsy Allen/Betty Cavanna (Connie Blair Mysteries), Sophie Kinsella, Nick Hornby, Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew), Kathryn Kenny (Trixie Belden)
Last book read:
Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak
The book that changed your life:
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich: In 1998, I moved from Pennsylvania to Dallas, TX for work and the move was jarring. A coworker had signed up for Barnes & Noble’s daily email blasts, and Four to Score was featured as a new release. After reading the description aloud, she said it sounded like me (I’m not sure “Jersey bounty hunter” was intended to be a compliment from a native Texan), but she was right. I went to the local library on my lunch break and checked out the previous book in the series and went on to read the whole series. Until that point, I didn’t know books like this: humorous mystery fiction, what I called Nancy Drew for Adults, even existed. It wasn’t long after that when I started to dream up series characters of my own.
Your favorite literary character:
Trixie Belden: she’s a teen sleuth who has a nose for mystery and doesn’t shy away from dangerous situations. She’s not the smartest or the prettiest in her group, but she’s loyal to a fault and determined to see justice done. I read these books when I was Trixie’s age, around 10, and they left an impression that probably shaped everything I do today.
Currently working on:
Gilt Trip, Samantha Kidd Mystery #14
Words to live by:
Clean up your own side of the street.
Advice for aspiring authors:
Keep writing.
Articles/Reviews:
Review of the first Madison Night Mystery: Kittling: Books: Pillow Stalk by Diane Vallere (kittlingbooks.com)
