Diana Cosby - international bestselling novelist, Navy veteran, philanthropist

Yes, one person can accomplish that much in her lifetime! A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series are translated in five languages. Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.

After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world. With the release of her 1st book in her new Scottish medieval The Oath Trilogy, An Oath Taken, which hit bestseller lists in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as the release of the e Box Set of the MacGruder Brothers series, she’s now preparing for the last two books in The Oath trilogy, An Oath Broken – 22 June, and, An Oath Sworn – 23 December, 2015!

Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.

MJN: You have a fascinating professional history. Before becoming a novelist, you were a Navy Chief who worked as a Meteorologist/ Oceanographer. Did your professional adventures affect how you perceive the world?

DC: I am fortunate to have visited so many countries, and I am honored to have served in the Navy. My time in the military gave me the opportunity to experience numerous cultures, which allows me a better understanding of people around the world.

MJN: You attribute your passion for Scotland and the Middle Ages to the movie Braveheart. Have you thought about writing a piece featuring an ensemble cast from that era, pulling all the major players from the British Isles as well as the continent?

DC: Wow what a fun idea. I’ve written an article on Andrew de Moray, which I’m planning to submit to some magazines, but otherwise, I use my time to write novels.

MJN: The books in your Oath trilogy are published by different publishers. You work with both Kensington Publishing Corporation and Lyrical Press. Did you shop your books as a series or separately?

DC: Kensington Publishing Corp. owns Lyrical Press, which is an e-book house. After writing the MacGruder Brothers series, several of those books under the Zebra imprint, I sold The Oath Trilogy, which Kensington Publishing Corp. released under the Lyrical Press imprint.

MJN: Let's talk about the cover of An Oath Taken. It shows a fair amount of muscle mass, and the gentleman's face is fully shown. On many historical novels, the heads of the central figures are cut off. The artist for An Oath Broken at Lyrical Press took the "headless" approach. Do you favor any particular style?

DC: I think a good cover is defined by a photo and/or graphics that have a huge visual impact. In regards to the Scottish medieval genre, for me a riveting cover has a well-muscled man, something visual to ‘show’ strength such as a castle, sword, or something of that ilk, and a fierce attitude.

MJN: You have a strong philanthropic streak and support several charities. There are so many great causes to support. How do you choose which one to dedicate your time and resources to?

DC: I’m humbled to be able to be a part of and help several charities, with my current fundraiser, “Diana Cosby’s Romance Readers Build A Habitat For Humanity Home.” Giving back is one of the priorities in my life, and I choose charities that touch my heart.