Click Here To Purchase Live Fast Love Hard The Faron Young Story 

Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is excited to have as our guest Diane Diekman author of Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story. Diane is also the author A Farm in the Hidewood: My South Dakota Home and Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born. Diane Jean Diekman grew up on a South Dakota farm. Diane is also a retired U.S. Navy captain and for five years she wrote a newspaper column of military and travel experiences.

She is currently writing her second Country Music Hall of Fame biography, Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins.

Good day Diane and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

How did you get started in writing? What keeps you going? Did you read any special books on how to write? Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Diane:

I decided in the early 1990s that I wanted to write my family's stories to preserve our history. To help get started, I took two correspondence courses through the Institute of Children's Literature. The result was the first draft of my childhood memoir, A Farm in the Hidewood: My South Dakota Home, which I later self-published. When I received the Institute's book-writing correspondence course and noticed the last assignment would be to write the first chapter of my second book, I said, "I don't have another book in me." But by the time I reached that lesson, I was ready to start a memoir of my Navy career, which I self-published as Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born.

While getting those two books ready for publication, I was already working on Faron Young's biography. Before that went to the publisher, I had chosen Marty Robbins as my next subject. What keeps me going is the commitment that comes from knowing people are waiting to read the finished book. In the past 15 years I've collected quite a library of books on writing, and I look forward to each new issue of Writer's Digest. I spend more time reading than I do writing.

Norm:

Excuse my ignorance, but who was Faron Young? What was your main reason for writing Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story?

Diane:

Faron was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. He gained fame as a country singer in the 1950s, in the footsteps of his friend Hank Williams. His best known songs are “It’s Four in the Morning” and Willie Nelson’s “Hello Walls.” Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline, in their early days, opened shows for him, as did George Jones and Johnny Cash.

Faron founded Music City News magazine and organized the first fan-voted country music awards show, both of which lasted over thirty years. His peers considered him one of the greatest entertainers in the business. Faron’s generosity and sense of humor usually made up for his foul language and abusive alcoholic behavior. Those who loved him excused his outrageous actions by saying, “Oh, that’s just Faron.” His 1996 suicide shocked everyone who knew him. I was a fan, and I wrote Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story to keep him from being forgotten.

Norm:

In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point. But how much is too much?

Diane:

Those who "take liberties with their material to tell a good story" are writing fiction. True nonfiction writers produce good stories while sticking to the facts and retaining credibility. One false statement is too much. Otherwise, how would you know which statements to believe? I footnoted every quote in Faron's biography because I wanted readers to know where I got the information.

Norm:

What did you enjoy most about writing Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story and how did the writing of this book differ from your other two books, A Farm in the Hidewood: My South Dakota Home and Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born?

Diane:

I enjoyed seeing Faron's life come together as a chronological unit as I wrote the chapters. To shape hundreds of sources and thousands of details into a readable story gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I also enjoyed expanding my circle of acquaintances and friends; I have met so many people as a result of this project. It differed from my first two books in that they came from my memories and records and were about my life. I did the talking, whereas I mostly kept myself out of Faron's story. Endnotes identify the speakers and sources in his book.

Norm:

Can you explain some of your research techniques, and how you found sources for Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story?

Diane:

I visited Nashville and Shreveport, searched court records and newspaper files, and did census research at the National Archives. My main sources, however, were interviews. Because little has been written about Faron, most of the material in the book consists of people's memories. I made hundreds of telephone calls and interviewed over 120 people. My list of contacts grew through their helpful questions such as, "Have you talked to …?"  I matched the memories to the facts and put together Faron's story. 

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your books? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Diane: 

I contacted numerous agents in search of a publisher for Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story. Some responded; some didn't. A few asked for the proposal and sample chapters. One agent in New York City said I had a great proposal but she didn't think she could sell it to a mainstream publisher because no one there had heard of Faron Young. I queried university presses without response. Then I came across the University of Illinois Press, with its "Music in American Life" series, and knew I had a match. As for my two memoirs, I self-published them in 2001 because I wanted the books in readers' hands and got tired of the lengthy agent/publisher search.

Norm: 

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your books? How did you overcome these challenges?

Diane: 

The main item that held me back was my dislike of making telephone calls. My research would have gone faster without procrastinating about picking up the phone. I'm grateful for email, which supplements but doesn't replace the telephone. Not having a publisher during the research period occasionally prevented me from getting material and interviews. For example, Loretta Lynn was one of Faron's friends but isn't in the book. Her publicist wouldn't let me talk to her until I provided a copy of my publishing contract, and I didn't have one. In most cases those who asked for publisher credentials eventually accepted me and cooperated.

Norm: 

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career?

Diane: 

The Internet has given me a worldwide audience. I started a weekly email newsletter about Faron Young in 2005, when I'd finished the book and was seeking a publisher. My readership grew from my initial list of 40 addresses to the uncountable thousands who read it now. Having a Web Site where I can post my newsletters and various speeches and articles is a tremendous help in making my work accessible. The Internet also makes fact-checking easy, as well as offering access to library research materials and unlimited information. One other thing the Internet has done is hook me up with the Internet Writing Workshop. I submit all my draft chapters to an online critique group to get valuable advice on improving my writing.

Norm: 

Any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Diane: 

I'm doing a virtual author tour with Penny Sansevieri's Author Marketing Experts, Inc. Her organization sends my books to online reviewers and gets my name (and Faron's) out there on the Internet.

Norm: 

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it? As a follow up, what is your typical workday like? Do you stick to a writing schedule?

Diane:

No writer's block but I sometimes suffer from laziness and lack of motivation. I'd get more work accomplished if I could make myself follow a schedule to devote blocks of time to various projects. I don't write fulltime and don't earn an income as a writer. I'll never recoup the amount of money I spent during my research on Faron's life. I recently devoted several weeks to writing the first four chapters of the Marty Robbins biography, up through 1948, and my next step is a research trip to his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. While in that writing lull, I'm concentrating on building up my Mary Kay beauty consultant business and becoming a director. I do occasional interviews about Faron, and the remainder of my time goes to being a mother of two teenaged daughters. 

Norm:

When writing your books, did you ever have it in the back of your mind that you could turn them into a movie or television project? 

Diane:

Live Fast Love Hard: The Faron Young Story should be made into a movie. Faron was a mixture of tragedy and comedy, a Shakespearean-type character whose fatal flaw brought his downfall. The movie would entertain audiences with his humor and singing talent, as well as showing a likeable character who alternated with being an abusive alcoholic. It would provide a historical look at the glory years of country music in Nashville. It also might help viewers identify problems of alcohol abuse and depression in their own lives. A movie of Faron's life would lead the audience through a complete range of emotions. As songwriter Glenn Sutton told me, "I've never read a book on someone in the music business that inspired so many different feelings--laugher, sadness, pity, and even crying." 

Norm:

If you could switch places with someone famous, who would it be? 

Diane:

I'm happy being me. 

Norm:

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!) 

Diane:

I’m doing research and interviews and have written several chapters of my next biography, Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins. In addition to being a famous singer and Grand Ole Opry star, Marty raced in NASCAR events and was a World War II combat veteran. He, like Faron, is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. I’d like to hear from anyone who has information about Marty Robbins. 

Norm:

Where can our readers find out more about you and your writing? 

Diane:

My Web Site contains all my weekly email newsletters, numerous articles about my travels and U.S. Navy career, and much information about Faron. It also has ordering information for my three books. I'll answer questions sent to diane@dianediekman.com.  

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Diane:

I'd like to say thanks, Norm, for giving me this opportunity to talk about Faron and Marty and book writing.

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Click Here To Purchase Live Fast Love Hard The Faron Young Story