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deshotton.bsky.social
Historical fiction with heart. I tell untold stories of quiet courage during extraordinary times. Characters who endure prejudice, stand up for what’s right, and survive against the odds, revealing truths that speak to us now. DianeWahnShotton.substack.com
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I’m working on a project to better understand what kinds of stories stick with readers. What do you read—and why? What’s one book that stayed with you long after you finished it? What surprised you most—something that challenged you or made you see things differently? #noagenda #learning #thanks

submitted 3 hours ago • 0 comments

Does 100K pages read make me a six-figure author?! 😂 Technically yes… emotionally? For sure. Motty’s Vow—my debut novel—just crossed 100,000 pages read on Kindle Unlimited. It took seven months to get here, but let’s be honest… most of it happened in the last two. Goooooo Motty! #historicalfiction

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

I wish KDP had a bell ring everytime someone buys my book. For many, it would be annoying. But most of us would trade a thousand page refreshes for one joyful chime. Ding! #selfpublishing

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Oh dear. My debut novel is #1 in HIstory of Women in the Civil War. I know this is fleeting but I'm gonna milk the hell out of it! #mottysvow #debutnovel #amwriting

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

'Tis the peonie season. My mother grew these until she passed in 2000. My sisters and I have moved them, split them, nurtured them for the last 25 years. Her spirit's in the roots.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

It’s happening. The Dictograph Case is going out for beta reads this week. I’ve lived with this story for a long time—and now I’m handing it over. Nervous? You bet. But ready for the feedback that makes it better. #TheDictographCase #amwriting

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

NYTimes "The Morning" quote hit me: “The goal is to make it harder for journalists to ask questions they don’t want to answer or to make public things they would rather keep secret.” A.G. Sulzberger, Publisher My Substack explores this parallel to #thedictographcase set in 1937 bit.ly/3ZmuSPG

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

It’s been six months since Motty's Vow had her debut. That story began as a way to understand my own family’s past—but now, it belongs to everyone who's felt Motty’s quiet courage, her determination, and the weight of what she carried. I don’t share this to boast—it's for me and Motty to thank you.

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

This girl, Motty, has quietly made her way into nearly 200 households over the past six months. She made a promise—and readers have been showing up to see if she keeps it. 💙 Grateful doesn’t begin to cover it. amzn.to/3SbB7BP #mottysvow #histfic #historicalfiction #womenincivilwar #resilientfemale

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

🎬 Imagine this: All the President’s Men go to the movies to see Spotlight That’s the inspiration for The Dictograph Case—history, journalism, and secrets that won’t stay buried. Read the full story at Substack with BONUS Movie Clips bit.ly/watergatespo... #thedictographcase #histfic #wipsnips

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments