Darlene Dziomba is...On the Writing Block!

author darlene dziomba and her dog, billie

Are you into cozy mysteries? So am I! But before we jump into the conversation, who is Darlene?

Darlene combined her passion for the written word and animals into the Lily Dreyfus series. The books are written based on her experience as a volunteer at the Animal Welfare Association, a no-kill animal shelter in Voorhees, New Jersey. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Membership Chair for SinC Grand Canyon Writers, and serves as a mentor in the Sisters in Crime Mentorship program. Darlene lives in New Jersey with her four-legged best friend, Billie.

How much is based on real life versus made up?

The idea for the Lily Dreyfus series came from the volunteer work I was doing at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, NJ. I learned a good deal about the operations of an animal shelter and realized I could build a unique environment for setting up a cozy mystery series. I also got to know the staff and learned about their lives outside of the shelter, which I blended into the back story of my characters.

My supervisor had an eccentric personality. Ours was definitely not the typical supervisor/volunteer relationship. One day, I came in for a shift, and he asked in a mocking tone if I was there to clean. I looked him straight in the eye and deadpan said, “No, I’m here for your charming personality, but to get that, I have to clean kennels.” From that point forward we would joke with each other. He is the inspiration for the character of Martin Dellavega in the series. I use a line he would say to me all of the time. He claimed that I worked so fast, “I cleaned like a demon was chasing me.” When I type that line I laugh out loud. Readers may not find it humorous, but it is a funny memory for me.

How much research do you conduct for your storylines?

Research is an ongoing task for me. I have a file folder, yes, actual paper, where I put stories that I would like to work into a plot. The town that I live in is ripe with controversies to blend into stories. In Clues From The Canines, one of the characters' parents is a patient in a drug rehabilitation facility. I built this into the story after years of outraged protest that Recovery Centers of America bought a facility in our town when the current owner put the property up for sale.

In the fourth book in the series, Assault and Gobblery, to be released in March 2025, Lily becomes involved in trapping and re-homing a wild turkey. The idea came from a small article in a local newspaper about a wild turkey that had taken up residence on one block. Most of the residents considered him a mascot. Some considered him a nuisance and called animal control.

While that turkey’s story did not end well, in Assault and Gobblery, the turkey is successfully trapped and relocated to the Funny Farm Animal Rescue, an actual animal rescue organization in New Jersey. I watched far more YouTube videos on trapping wild turkeys than I want to admit to. I was suffering from insomnia. Rather than lay in bed awake, I watched videos on trapping a turkey to be able to write an authentic scene.

Do you always know who the killer is, or do your characters surprise you in the end?

I am a plotter, so I know the villain before I begin writing. I have had to train myself to not write the villain as bad throughout the entire book. Since I think of the person as bad, I have a tendency to write them in unflattering terms.

My coach gave me really sound advice. She said, “find something good in this person and show that to the reader.” As I develop my characters I remember to find something good in every character.

Any advice for other authors?

I think the best advice for other authors is that they should understand their own motivations. I came into writing because I had an idea for a story and wanted to tell it. I wanted people to understand what the world of an animal shelter is like.

Writing provides me with a great deal of satisfaction and allows me to express my creativity. Since I started writing, people have remarked that my personality is more energetic and vibrant.

If you are new to this business, you need to understand what benefits you will receive and work towards the goals that provide those benefits. I often get dejected at the lack of sales and have to remind myself that I did not start the series as a way of supporting myself.

Success is measured in more than sales reports.

What is Fire and Dalmatian about?

Animal Adoption Coordinator and part-time sleuth, Lily Dreyfus, is about to face her most harrowing investigation to date. When a suspicious fire erupts at the home of a notorious hoarder, the tranquil community's secrets are set ablaze.

Lily's passion for animals burns brighter than ever as she aids the ASPCA in gathering the cats rendered homeless by the fire. When several cats are found dead, a tangled web of secrets and deceit unfurls, revealing a sinister underbelly that threatens both innocent creatures and a tight-knit community.

Joined by a lovable cast of animal-loving friends and quirky locals, Lily embarks on a mission to untangle the mysterious threads of the fire, while she grapples with her own personal demons. As the clues pile up and the heat intensifies, she must confront the haunting truth, even when it hits too close to home.

Prepare for a heart-pounding journey through the smoky trails of mystery, deceit, and redemption. If you're a fan of gripping amateur sleuths, poignant tales of animal welfare, and mysteries that leave you breathless, Fire And Dalmatian is a must-read addition to your collection. Get ready to uncover the truth amidst the ashes, where whispers of the wild beckon the brave.