Writer
Potts Pages - Meet Diana
September 15, 2016
I want to introduce you to my friend Diana Derringer. When you meet Diana, the first thing you notice is her quiet, gentle spirit but it doesn’t to take long to find out that her life speaks volumes. She has a wonderful servant’s heart that has led her into missions and ministry to international students. Part of her mission field is her writing, and now she has an exciting new book to share with us.
Hello, Diana. Help us get to know you. Tell us about your background and your family.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Childhood memories include gravel roads, gardens, August revivals, and family get-togethers. Country living and a loving family far outweighed the inconveniences of long drives to almost anywhere.
I met my husband in high school. He must have loved me; he drove 27 miles to pick me up for dates. We married my junior year in college. We enjoy traveling and serving as a friendship family to international university students.
In spite of the stress and constant on-call status, I loved my years as a social worker and saw myself continuing in that role until I keeled over or was kicked out the door. I served occasional stints as an adjunct professor but felt most comfortable in the trenches rather than in a classroom.
Funny how, God can change our minds. Eventually, I grew as convinced God was calling me away from social work, as I had been all those years that I was where God wanted me to be.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I loved books before I could read and scribbled thoughts before I could write. In one of my favorite pictures, my mother held my younger sister while I sat by her side. Mom read, and we soaked in her words through sticky sucker residue. Messy hands and faces mattered less than the story of the moment. I can still tune out the world around me while I read a good book or work on a writing project.
Not long after I graduated from college, one of my professors suggested I submit an article to a church bulletin service. Lifeway accepted that article and one other submission. My round-the-clock responsibilities as a social worker delayed further non-job-related writing for years. After retirement, I began writing for publication again.
I know you have a new book out, and we will talk about that in a minute, but tell us what other kinds of writing you do.
I write articles, devotions, drama, poetry, Bible studies, and meeting plans. My work has appeared in more than 40 publications, everything from Clubhouse and Pockets for children, ENCOUNTER, and Devozine for youth, to Mature Living and Mature Years for senior adults. Many writers focus on one age or genre, but I enjoy the variety. Publishers range from Lifeway and The Upper Room to Reiman Publishing Group and Kentucky Monthly. I am a contributing author to the anthologies More Christmas Moments, The Extraordinary Presence of God, and Hope: It’s More than Wishful Thinking.
As a result of international connections through mission trips and university students, my blog, Words, Wit, and Wisdom, Life Lessons from English Expressions, was born. It explains unusual English expressions to people with a non-English background. However, more than half of my subscribers speak English as their primary language. They enjoy the word play and concluding devotional thoughts.
I also write radio dramas for Christ to the World Ministries (CTTW). CTTW translates the dramas into several languages for broadcast around the world. They often reach where traditional mission work is restricted or prohibited.
Now tell us about your book.
Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary: 12 Dramas for Christmas, Easter, and More! is a collection of dramas with performance times from two to 15 minutes. Although primarily for children or youth, some dramas work well for adults. One of my favorites is “Love Bears All Things.” In it, a child shares her most prized possession with a hurting adult.
These dramas work well in any size church, backyard Bible club, or on the most rugged mission trip. As the name implies, most revolve around Christmas or Easter themes.
How can we get a copy of your book?
You can find or order Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary at some local bookstores. It’s also available online at CSS Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ChristianBook.com. Links for online purchases can be found on my website at www.dianaderringer.com/books.
Tell us how to connect with you, your blog, Facebook writer’s page, etc.
You can find me and my blog at www.dianaderringer.com. I also welcome people to connect with me at:
https://www.facebook.com/dianaderringerauthor
https://twitter.com/DianaDerringer
http://goodreads.com/dianaderringer
http://linkedin.com/in/dianaderringer
As we close our time together, do you have a favorite verse of scripture that you would like to share with us?
My favorite verses from the Old Testament are Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” My favorite in the New Testament is Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That was the first verse my mother taught me.
Thank you, Diana, for letting us get to know you. I know your book will be a blessing to many as they perform your dramas.
Hello, Diana. Help us get to know you. Tell us about your background and your family.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Childhood memories include gravel roads, gardens, August revivals, and family get-togethers. Country living and a loving family far outweighed the inconveniences of long drives to almost anywhere.
I met my husband in high school. He must have loved me; he drove 27 miles to pick me up for dates. We married my junior year in college. We enjoy traveling and serving as a friendship family to international university students.
In spite of the stress and constant on-call status, I loved my years as a social worker and saw myself continuing in that role until I keeled over or was kicked out the door. I served occasional stints as an adjunct professor but felt most comfortable in the trenches rather than in a classroom.
Funny how, God can change our minds. Eventually, I grew as convinced God was calling me away from social work, as I had been all those years that I was where God wanted me to be.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I loved books before I could read and scribbled thoughts before I could write. In one of my favorite pictures, my mother held my younger sister while I sat by her side. Mom read, and we soaked in her words through sticky sucker residue. Messy hands and faces mattered less than the story of the moment. I can still tune out the world around me while I read a good book or work on a writing project.
Not long after I graduated from college, one of my professors suggested I submit an article to a church bulletin service. Lifeway accepted that article and one other submission. My round-the-clock responsibilities as a social worker delayed further non-job-related writing for years. After retirement, I began writing for publication again.
I know you have a new book out, and we will talk about that in a minute, but tell us what other kinds of writing you do.
I write articles, devotions, drama, poetry, Bible studies, and meeting plans. My work has appeared in more than 40 publications, everything from Clubhouse and Pockets for children, ENCOUNTER, and Devozine for youth, to Mature Living and Mature Years for senior adults. Many writers focus on one age or genre, but I enjoy the variety. Publishers range from Lifeway and The Upper Room to Reiman Publishing Group and Kentucky Monthly. I am a contributing author to the anthologies More Christmas Moments, The Extraordinary Presence of God, and Hope: It’s More than Wishful Thinking.
As a result of international connections through mission trips and university students, my blog, Words, Wit, and Wisdom, Life Lessons from English Expressions, was born. It explains unusual English expressions to people with a non-English background. However, more than half of my subscribers speak English as their primary language. They enjoy the word play and concluding devotional thoughts.
I also write radio dramas for Christ to the World Ministries (CTTW). CTTW translates the dramas into several languages for broadcast around the world. They often reach where traditional mission work is restricted or prohibited.
Now tell us about your book.
These dramas work well in any size church, backyard Bible club, or on the most rugged mission trip. As the name implies, most revolve around Christmas or Easter themes.
How can we get a copy of your book?
You can find or order Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary at some local bookstores. It’s also available online at CSS Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ChristianBook.com. Links for online purchases can be found on my website at www.dianaderringer.com/books.
Tell us how to connect with you, your blog, Facebook writer’s page, etc.
You can find me and my blog at www.dianaderringer.com. I also welcome people to connect with me at:
https://www.facebook.com/dianaderringerauthor
https://twitter.com/DianaDerringer
http://goodreads.com/dianaderringer
http://linkedin.com/in/dianaderringer
As we close our time together, do you have a favorite verse of scripture that you would like to share with us?
My favorite verses from the Old Testament are Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” My favorite in the New Testament is Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That was the first verse my mother taught me.
Thank you, Diana, for letting us get to know you. I know your book will be a blessing to many as they perform your dramas.
Sue
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