Personal Please call me “Di”. It’s who I am and referring to myself as “Diane” is too formal. My life began in Acushnet, a small town in Massachusetts. As the youngest of four children, I spent my childhood trying to do whatever the big kids did. These experiences taught me that I could do anything if I tried hard enough, lessons that would shape my entire life. I’m a die-hard optimist and a curious person by nature. To me, the world is filled with an endless number of things waiting to explore. My passion in life is learning and it seems that I collect knowledge like some people collect coins or stamps! I read constantly, alternating between literary classical authors and contemporary writers. Novelists Henry James, Elizabeth Peters and Dan Brown are some of my favorites. I also pursue knowledge through reading magazines, watching educational TV and taking courses. I take piano lessons and enjoy classical music the most. Beethoven is my hero! Other interests include history, politics and puzzles. Basically, I’ll try anything. My penchant for learning has earned me the titles of “Political Junkie”, “Brainiac” and, my favorite … “The Encyclopedia of Useless Knowledge”. My desire to learn inspires me to travel. I’ve been all over the U.S. and Europe, most recently to Greece and Poland. But sightseeing isn’t restricted to vacations; I’m also an avid local tourist and can be found in museums, at historical sites and well basically anyplace that has a gift shop. As a reminder of my many adventures, I’ve decorated every room in my house like a different country. Some I’ve visited and others I hope to see. In a sense, I’m an ordinary person that has been influenced by my past and my passions. My biggest desire in life is to become half the woman my mother was and half as intelligent as my father. “Listen to what other people tell you, but make your own decisions”, “Be like a beagle, look around before you decide to do something” and “Keep your head held up high at all times”, these are the words of wisdom of my parents that I treasure most. By now you’ve realized that I have to keep busy. I don’t want to just get through life. I want to live it! The best way to give you a peek inside my personal life is to introduce you to all those in it. • My husband Karl is the love of my life and I believe I am the love of his. He not only accepts me as I am, he likes me and supports my adventurous spirit. • My stepdaughter, Jess, is a true sweetheart. She has a husband, stepson and a new baby named Sarah. I keep telling them that as the baby gets older, things will get easier. I know it’s not all that true, but I think it helps. • My stepson Nick is a version of Kramer from Seinfeld. He is also happily married. Having this couple in my life is a source of entertainment that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The “sibs”. My siblings include two sisters and a brother; all are logical thinking engineers. I am their “nutty baby sister”; the impulsive, positive thinking dreamer who is ruled more by her heart than her head. The friends, now there’s a group of folks that are so diverse I’d say that the only thing they have in common is that, for whatever reason, they hang around with me. The dogs, Chester and Charlotte. My two brother and sister beagles that have nothing to do and all day to do it in. They are my constant and loyal companions. Professional I have always taken the road less traveled and have always been glad I did. For most of my adult life, I’ve been a banker. The girl who received a B.A. in accounting grew to be the CEO of a local financial institution. My business success is rooted in innovation. Finding creative solutions to complex problems is what drives me. I picture the solution then go out and make it happen. This allowed me to develop better business practices, resulting in increased revenues, providing satisfaction at all levels. After losing my dear parents, I realized that life is too precious. It was time to follow my dream, to stop thinking and talking about the “someday”. It was time to sit down and write! My Writing Process I am often asked to describe my writing process. I’ve discussed it, but never actually laid it out in black and white. While in the design phase of this website, I decided to explore this question. For me it all begins in my imagination. I’m an avid storyteller. Imagine the story line. Draft it in your own words. Let the story tell itself in whatever direction it may take you. Research. Lots of research. Ensure that what you are presenting is feasible. Practice. Write the story from the draft. Rewrite and then, rewrite it again. Don’t hesitate to make changes. The more you write, the more comfortable (and better) you’ll get. Patience. Write scene by scene. Don’t omit the details. It’s imperative that you convey the “sights and smells” of your story. Perseverance. As with anything, it’s a process and once you’ve finally reached your goal, the rewards are endless. © 2007 Diane Kozak. All rights reserved.