Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

My current favourite character is the love interest in the tragic romantic horror novel I’m currently editing, Woman of Sorrow and Blood (set for release in spring 2026). Her backstory is one of the most tragic I’ve written (which is impressive if you know anything about my existing books) and I’ve loved diving deep into her anguish. There’s a deep, sorrowful poetry to her chapters—one reflected to a lesser extent throughout the entire book—and I can’t wait to break
readers’ hearts with it.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

Personally, I have a harder time with heroes. Writing villains tends to come easily to me because I have a deep fascination with the darker side of human nature, the experiences and mentality that lead people to do terrible things with little to no guilt. Heroes are important, of course, but I just don’t have the same level of drive to explore their psyches.

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

Does she know I’m the writer? Because if she does, there’s a good chance I’m getting murdered, not having a conversation. I put my characters through a lot!
​
What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

Two things come to mind immediately: naming things and editing.

When you write fantasy, you have to name about 5,000 things. And if you’re using Earth names, you need to consider what the existence of that name implies about your world. For most of my settings, I use BehindTheName.com to help me choose names from whatever culture the story setting is based on. For others, I’ll throw together random combinations of syllables until I find something I like. And for Moonshadow specifically, I’ve created naming conventions (like always having vowels at the beginning or ending of a feminine name) to guide me as I name new characters and places.

As for editing, well, the only thing to do there is push through it. I try to set aside big chunks of time for it—at least two hours—so I feel like I’ve accomplished something at the end of every session, and I reward myself for hitting big milestones.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

Hmmmm. I think the necromancers of Moonshadow would have some really interesting conversations with the Abhorsens from the Old Kingdom. Their forms of necromancy are similar in many ways, yet have clear differences as well.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

We tell stories to share pieces of ourselves, whether that’s through literal memories or through fictional stories we pour our souls into, hoping to reach others who can connect to those pieces of ourselves. Sometimes we hope that connection will teach them something or help them somehow, sometimes we just want to entertain, but we always want to connect.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I grew up immersed in stories, but as a little kid I thought all writers were Old And Dying, that writing was something you were only allowed to do when you were retired from your first life. At eight years old I discovered that some of the writers I loved were, in fact, in their thirties instead of their 80s, and that they had actually made it into their careers. I knew from that moment that I wanted to become a novelist, and while I’m still a long way from making it my primary career, I’ve never stopped pursuing the dream.

As for what I write, I’ve always loved fantasy and horror, so it was natural for me to fall into writing them. I love how every work in these genres is in conversation with what came before it and I enjoy having the opportunity to either lean into existing tropes or subvert them to push the genre’s boundaries. In some books I try to do both!

My parents were also storytellers, building their own worlds for a homebrew TTRPG. Moonshadow originated as one of those worlds, and I’ve got other projects in the pipeline that come from worlds I created with my dad through our own version of that homebrew TTRPG. My dad died when I was very young, and writing in these worlds feels like giving him the legacy he deserves.

Here's where to find Dianna:
Website: authordiannagunn.com
Bluesky: @diannalgunn.bsky.social

I had the absolute pleasure of being a part of the Write Women Book Fest this past weekend. While I was excited for the event, it managed to exceed my expectations in ways I never imagined.

There was an overall energy about the place that was captivating and invigorating. I immediately felt welcome, and everyone I met was not only friendly, but kind. The attendees were also amazing – so amazing, in fact, that I sold out!
​
A huge thank you to the organizers and volunteers who made this event very special!

As someone who lives in an apartment and moves frequently, I’m not able to buy physical books as much as I’d like. I did, however, grab the e-books of three fantastic authors I was able to meet in real life at the book fest: