Diana Laurence

Biography

Diana Laurence

Diana Laurence is the pseudonym of Diane Lau, author of the "Soulful Sex" anthologies of erotic romance fiction.

Laurence is strongly influenced by psychoanalytical theorist Carl Jung and his principles regarding the psyche, archetypes, the anima/animus, the Unus Mondus, and synchronicity. These theories are subtly utilized in her romance fiction work, including Diana's Deck, which is a sort of Jungian Tarot.

Although graphic, Laurence's writing eschews coarse language and takes an idealized approach to the subject matter. Her stories typically are driven by a mystical/spiritual bond between the hero and heroine, based upon the compelling power of the animus over the female psyche. Terming her style "erotica with soul," Laurence writes tales in every romance genre, including Regency, paranormal, contemporary, historical, science fiction, and especially fantasy.

Soulful Sex, 2004

The author was born August 18, 1956, and grew up in the area of Milwaukee, Wis. and graduated in 1977 with a bachelors degree in English from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. She launched her writing career at age 13 with the publication of a short story in 'Teen magazine. She had a modest freelancing career which included the 1989 publication of The Crosses of Lent (as Diane Lau) by Concordia Publishing House, and numerous short fiction and nonfiction works. From 1997-2000 she edited a weekly ezine of National Hockey League-related humor "Hockey Snacks," which attained a cult following. In 1998 she published the self-help book Living Beyond Reality: A Jungian Primer for Enhancing Your Life and the novel The Resurrection of Captain Eternity both as Diane Lau (Living Beyond Reality Press).

Laurence's debut work of erotic romance was an anthology entitled Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance (New Age Dimensions, 2004), issued first as an ebook. It was a bestseller in the genre of romance ebooks and also a Finalist for Best Anthology in the 2005 Eppie Awards. Laurence subsequently penned the erotic romance novel Souls' Embrace (New Age Dimensions, 2004), released in trade paperback and ebook formats. The sequel to the first Soulful Sex collection, Volume II, followed in 2005.

Bloodchained, 2007

In 2006 with the closing of New Age Dimensions, Laurence took the reins of her erotic romance career and reissued all her titles under her own publishing house, Living Beyond Reality Press. She also released Soulful Sex Volume III as well as a deck of "romance fortune telling cards" featuring her fictional characters, dubbed "Diana's Deck."

Also in 2006, as Diane Lau she wrote Do-It-YourSelf-Publishing, a record of the process and technological tools she used to operate her own publishing house.

During 2006 and 2007, Laurence released three ebook collections in the paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy romance genres, as well as a combined version in trade paperback, Soulful Sex: The Paranormal, Science Fiction and Fantasy Collections.

In 2007, Laurence conducted a unique project when she gathered a team of 63 readers and fans (The Soulful Sex Partners Project) to create her next work. The resulting novel was the paranormal suspense romance, Bloodchained.

Laurence writes monthly columns for two websites: "Explorotica" for Novelspot and "The Life of e" for eCataromance.

Works

• Living Beyond Reality: A Jungian Primer for Enhancing Your Life – trade paperback, 1998 (as Diane Lau)
• The Resurrection of Captain Eternity – trade paperback, 1998 (as Diane Lau)
• The Golden Padawan – free ebook, 2004 (as Diane Lau)
• Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance (Volume I) – ebook, 2004, 978-0-9778722-0-6
• The Scarlet Shackle – free ebook, originally published by New Concepts Publishing, 2004
• "Artemis in Love" – free ebook, originally published by New Age Dimensions' "Dollar Dimensions" series, 2004
• Souls' Embrace – ebook and trade paperback, 2004, 978-0-9778722-1-3, 978-0-9778722-2-0
• Gift of Flesh – free ebook, 2004 (as Diane Lau)
• Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance Volume II – ebook, 2005, 978-0-9778722-3-7
• Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance Volumes I & II – trade paperback, 2005, 978-0-9778722-4-4
• "Tartan" – 2005 – free ebook, 2005
• "Playacting" – free ebook, originally published in SUITE Magazine, 2005
• "Secret Santas" – free ebook, originally published in New Age Dimensions Holiday Extravaganza, 2005
• Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance Volume III – ebook & trade paperback, 2006, 978-0-9778722-5-1, 978-0-9778722-6-8
• Diana's Deck Romance Fortune Telling Cards, 2006
• Do-It-YourSelf-Publishing – ebook, 2006 (as Diane Lau), 978-0-9778722-7-5
• Soulful Sex: The Paranormal Collection – ebook, 2006, 978-0-9778722-8-2
• Soulful Sex: The Science Fiction Collection – ebook, 2006, 978-0-9778722-9-9
• Soulful Sex: The Fantasy Collection – ebook, 2007, 978-0-9792741-0-7
• Soulful Sex: The Paranormal, Science Fiction and Fantasy Collections – trade paperback, 2007, 978-0-9792741-1-4
• Bloodchained – ebook & trade paperback, 2007, 978-0-9792741-2-1, 978-0-9792741-3-8

Awards

• Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance (Volume I) – Eppie Awards Finalist, Best Anthology, 2004
• "What Your Favorite Romance Hero Tells Us About You," Preditors & Editors, Best Non-Fiction Article, 2004
• The Romance Studio Blue Featured Author of the Year, 2005
• "Je t'aime, Etienne," Soulful Sex Volume II – Reviewers International Organization, Finalist, Best Story from an Anthology, 2005
• "The Successful Author, Revised" – First Place, 2006 Funds for Writers Essay Contest
• Soulful Sex: The Paranormal Collection – eCataromance Reviewers Choice Award 2006
• Soulful Sex Volume III – eCataromance Reviewers Choice Award 2006
• "Alloy Love," Soulful Sex: The Science Fiction Collection - Mrs. Giggles.com Best Short Story 2007

On The Web

• Diana Laurence website
• Diana Laurence's blog, "Erotica with Soul"
• Living Beyond Reality Press website
• LBR Press READ FREE Project - Diana Laurence's free ebooks
• Official site of the novel Bloodchained

Selected Articles/Interviews

• The Romance Hero vs. the 21st Century - Diana Laurence for The Romance Studio, 2004
• Erotic Romance: It's Good for Your Health! - Diana Laurence for Love Romances, 2004
• Spice without Shame - Diana Laurence for Novelspot, 2005
• Tech savvy Milwaukee author publishes her own books - OnMilwaukee.com, 2006
• The Definitive Diana Laurence Interview - The Lipstick Mystic, 2006
• Romance or Sex? An Author's Perspective - Diana Laurence for The Romance Studio, 2007
• Romance by Committee - M Magazine, February 2008