Many folks take up new hobbies after retiring, but for Diane Twilley, writing has always been near and dear to her, a family tradition passed down by two other gifted writers; her father and grandmother.
A six-time novelist, Diane’s author ambition dates back to her high school days, when she began penning short stories and poetry. She continued writing for pleasure after graduating with a degree in English and Education from the University of Houston, but it wasn’t until after she retired from interior design that she was able to truly jump-start her author journey. A big fan of mystery and suspense novels, Diane has written six of her own mysteries, including her latest, “Arson Can Be Murder,” which hit bookshelves October 1.
Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories and legendary crime writer Agatha Christie’s books got Diane hooked on mysteries. “Writing mysteries is like creating a puzzle, and I have always loved the challenge of solving puzzles,” she says. Another appeal for her is the common thread of criminals getting caught and justice being served.
GALVESTON MYSTERIES
Set in Galveston, the Malloy Galveston Mystery Series centers on Sister Catherine Malloy, a nun and psychologist; her niece Gina, a journalist, and their friend, Galveston Police Lieutenant Richard Tierney. When their lives intersect with various crimes, from marathon murders and kidnappings to a cold case and arson, the trio work together to unravel the mysteries and ensure justice is served throughout their home island.
In “Arson Can Be Murder,” amateur sleuths Catherine and Gina once again come face-to-face with danger when a friend seeks their help and Catherine’s ex-fiancé returns to Galveston to speak at a burn seminar. He is accompanied by a group whose members have suffered fire-related tragedies, one of whom is harboring a secret and a desire for revenge. With Lieutenant Tierney’s help, Catherine and Gina struggle to uncover the truth and answer the question: Was it arson . . . and was it murder?
Arson is the subject of Diane’s latest novel because she wanted to shed light on the horror of arson as well as raise awareness of fire danger and the importance of fire safety and prevention. She also featured a fictional Georgetown character whose family was impacted by the Bastrop wildfires. “I hope to remind readers of the importance and necessity of firefighters and the police,” she says. “Public safety depends on those dedicated people.”
While a crime-solving nun might not be your typical mystery novel heroine, Diane says she felt featuring a nun as a sleuth would be different and interesting. Two of her mother’s cousins, who are nuns, also inspired the character with their kindness and help to Diane’s family. Readers can buy “Arson Can Be Murder” on Amazon and at GalvestonMysteryBooks.weebly.com, $15.95 for the book and $5.99 for the e-book. For more information, email [email protected].
Diane chose Galveston for her series’ setting because of her fond memories of family vacations spent on the island, a place with
“fascinating history and wonderful architecture, which I wanted
others to know about.”