When I first met New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Cain, she wasn’t famous. Not yet.
One of Chelsea’s books had just pubbed, and she stopped by for an interview on my Between the Lines show on the AP Radio Network. We talked then about her parody of the Nancy Drew detective series that had turned us both into writers. This was before Chelsea stepped into her own detective mind and got a killer book deal on a series of thrillers about a female serial murderer. Wrap your mind around that!
So, I’ve known Chelsea for a couple of decades. In the next iteration after Confessions of a Teen Sleuth, I found myself literally at the table when she began writing those thrillers. A group of about a half-dozen of us brought in our pages once a week.
But when Chelsea, Chuck Palahniuk, Monica Drake, Suzy Vitello Soule and a few others invited me to join, I had no idea what to write. All my writing, so far, had been in the world of journalism, with nothing longer than a few pages or twenty minutes. What I knew, I figured, was what I had learned from all these authors I’d interviewed. After all, that’s how I’d met Chelsea and Chuck.
My pages – at that time – began with what I’d learned about each author. I sprinkled the pages with takeaway points for the readers, adding a few questions the reader could use as prompts for living. One day, as I wrapped the read of my latest chapter, Chelsea said, “Diana. Write the freaking memoir.”
Her words landed with power and promise. I could do that, I thought, especially with these amazing writers – and friends – by my side.
Yes, I know. I am very lucky. I interviewed fabulous people, and they became my friends.
In one of our interviews, we talked about the writing workshop we were in together — which is fun and sarcastic and intelligent. It is a breeding ground for books and profound friendships. Then, she wrote inside her book “For Diana Page Jordan, Always an inspiration. Your friend, Chelsea Cain.”
Chelsea may write about a serial killer, but for real, she saves lives. She saved mine.
Learn more about her at https://chelseacain.com/