Interview with Dianne Corbeau, author of “Six Days in Detox”
Dianne Corbeau has been writing and working as a professional writer, artist, and anatomy professor. Her experience from the past couples it with learning from the present lessons and presents you with memorable stories about truth and self-reflection.
The reflection is internal and external. Internally, backstories are interwoven throughout her books to have depth and understanding. Externally, through stories of truth, Dianne finds learning, humor, and growth. Her debut novella, Six Days in Detox, has received excellent reviews. Ms. Corbeau continues to work and live in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
What is your favourite dragon in literature?
Falkor, The Never-Ending Story. “Never give up and good luck will find you.” Falkor is wise, dignified, and optimistic. He gives advice when people lost all hope. His openness and ability to make friends touched everyone he encountered. The author of Never-Ending Sory, Michael Ende, hated the movie, they left out chunks of the book and the author removed his name from the movie. He created this beautiful character.
Everyone has a ‘first novel’, even if many of them are a rough draft relegated to the bottom and back of your desk drawer (or your external hard drive!). Have you been able to reshape yours, or have you abandoned it for good?
I wrote my first novel ten years ago and it was stolen by my editor. She renamed it, changed it to fiction, and won a prestigious book award. When I realized this, I was in a relapse, hence the novella, Six Days in Detox. I never took action.
Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?
I understand my writing process better and the techniques are being developed on deeper levels. I continue to study and learn daily.
Some authors are able to pump out a novel a year and still be filled with inspiration. Is this the case for you, or do you like to let an idea percolate for a couple of years in order to get a beautiful novel?
The time span varies. It can be years after the experience or weeks that I am writing about it.
I have heard of writers that could only write in one place – then that cafe closed down and they could no longer write! Where do you find yourself writing most often, and on what medium (pen/paper or digital)?
My favorite place to write is my cottage. If I am not writing at my cottage, I have special locations in the libraries on Cape Cod.
Before going on to hire an editor, most authors use beta-readers. How do you recruit your beta-readers, and choose an editor? Are you lucky enough to have loving family members who can read and comment on your novel?
Since my first editor stole my first manuscript, I have been shy. I have educated myself in editing future manuscripts because I only give my finished manuscripts to proofreaders at the publishers. I realize there were grammatical issues with Six Days of Detox, which I learned from for future publications.
I walk past bookshops and am drawn in by the smell of the books – ebooks simply don’t have the same attraction for me. Does this happen to you, and do you have a favourite bookshop? Or perhaps you are an e-reader fan… where do you source most of your material from?
A special past time I have is going into used and rare bookstores. The environment, being surrounded by those books, is comforting to me.
I used to find myself buying books in only one genre (fantasy) before I started writing this blog. What is your favourite genre, and have your tastes changed over time?
Nonfiction. But I like to read and study a great deal in various genres.
Social media is a big thing, much to my disgust! I never have enough time myself to do what I feel is a good job. What do you do?
I manage my profiles. Social media is ongoing and unavoidable. I like Goodreads.
Answering interview questions can often take a long time! Tell me, are you ever tempted to recycle your answers from one to the next?
I don’t recycle any of my answers because I am in a different place each time. I like to think about the questions so I can gain insight into the work and myself.
About the Novel
This memoir is a compelling story about a woman who relapses after twenty-six years of sobriety. And returns to a state mental institution to begin her journey back into the beginnings of recovery. The story is a hard look at what happened internally (with Dianne) and externally (with the system) as Dianne gives it her all to survive the battle for her life. The fast-paced read is relentless and unforgiving at times, yet it brings you the fragility of the human spirit.
