Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 1

Hi! I'm S.E. Reed, an award-winning multi-genre Indie Author and volunteer at The Writer's Workout. I want to welcome you to the inaugural 'episode' of the newly resurrected Indie Author Spotlight. Each episode will feature a Q&A-style interview with an Indie Author. In addition, some of the authors have chosen to participate in a 2nd interview on my website, Writing With Reed, which I'll link at the end.

Drum roll as I introduce our first Indie Author... ra-ta-ta-ta-ta... Diane Billas!! Quick fun fact about Diane: we met years ago in a Slack group for debut authors. We immediately clicked and ever since we've remained friends. I was thrilled when I saw her name on the list of authors willing to let me interview them. So without further ado, let's get to know Diane.

Book cover; Diane Billas "Does Love Always Win" YA saphic romance

Diane, thanks so much for your time today! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello! I’m Diane Billas, a queer YA author. I currently live in Philadelphia with my husband and son. I’ve been writing seriously since 2015 and my debut book, Does Love Always Win?, a sapphic YA novel featured in Parents magazine and winner of an Indieverse Award, came out in 2023 and my second book, Superficial, a queer YA superhero story, just came out in September 2024. Both my books are with Creative James Media. I also have a sapphic short story called The Prom Do-Over releasing in April 2025 with Wild Ink Publishing. I always like to say I write the books I wished I could have read in high school. Being a queer individual myself, it’s my mission to have queer characters in everything I write so others can see themselves on the page. When I’m not writing, I’m reading lots of books at once, chasing after my toddler, working at my day job at a university health system, or dreaming of the next country I’m going to visit.

I'm interested to know more about your writing style (genre, age range, etc.).

Right now I mainly write YA books, but in many genres. My first book is an upper YA book (14-18) contemporary romance, my second book is a lower YA book (12-18) superhero fantasy.

Book cover; Diane Billas "Superficial" YA comic hero

What project are you really proud of?

I’m really proud of my recent release, Superficial. It’s set at a Comic-Con convention, and the main two characters get thrown together and have to figure out where all the con attendees have gone and who is stealing valuable artifacts around Philadelphia. The main character is pansexual and demisexual like me.

Spill the tea, what are you currently working on?

I’m SO excited about my current work in progress. It’s a sapphic YA murder mystery set at an indie bookstore. I’ve had some of my beta readers tell me it’s their favorite story of mine so far!

Okay, so what is your biggest/best piece of advice for other Indie Authors?

Make other indie author friends! There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t talk to one of my author friends. We are there to lift each other up and help one another.

Who is your favorite Indie Author? (besides yourself of course)

Oh gosh, I have so many but I have to say Mariah Stillbrook. We are with the same publishing house and we also have become such great friends and chat on Marco Polo every day. Mariah writes urban fantasy and horror books, books I normally wouldn’t really read, but since we met, I’ve really started to love those genres. We are each other’s beta readers and just a sound board for all things in life.