Dina James wrote her first book in second grade, which she “printed” herself and gave to her mother, who still has it stashed safely in an unknown location for blackmail purposes. That first book wasn’t enough for Dina, so when she wasn’t writing new stories down, she was making them up in her head, telling them to other people, or acting out other stories on her school stage.

Okay, enough with the creative third person.

Hi, I’m Dina James. You can call me “Dina” or “DJ” … anything but “Ms. James.” That’s just annoying and, no matter who says it, it always sounds like I’m in trouble. (Which would most likely be accurate. I am, after all, mostly evil….)

I like horsies and kitties … oh, wait, I’m an adult now, right? At least in theory and in the eyes of the law. Damn. Okay. Um. Got it. *ahem*

I love animals, mainly horses and cats. I am a former foster of neonate and orphaned kittens, which you can read more about at BeeBee’s House. (The COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down our fostering ability, but given we rescued over 70 cats and kittens, I’d say we did okay.)

I love to knit (shut it, you), write (obviously) and role-play (the kind you … um … write). I’m addicted to my laptop. I love tea, jewelry and shiny objects, fuzzy socks, candles, and anything that abets my hedonistic tendencies (like massages, warm robes and hot tubs). I am an unapologetic gamer geek girl – World of Warcraft [Blizzard is a shitty company with a lot of shitty practices and I refuse to have anything to do with them until they clean up their act! We’ll always have Nagrand!], PC, XBox, d20, what have you. I’m also apparently a quilter as of 2021, so there’s a new skill I’m learning.

I like great restaurants (I will not be eating out at any restaurant, outdoors or otherwise, until the current pandemic is in the rearview mirror, and possibly not even then), late nights, good tequila, salmon sushi, and intelligent conversation with interesting people.

I strongly dislike entitlement, rudeness, idiocy, stupidity, bigotry, and people who have no sense of humor. And green bell peppers.

I collect Darth Vader everything. (Except bobbleheads and “Goofy Vader” from Disney – THESE ARE ABOMINATIONS AND UNWELCOME IN MY HOUSE. “Stitch Palpatine” is acceptable. Because hey…Stitch!)

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2006. I don’t talk about it much as I am not my condition. My condition is just a part of who I am and how I live. You can read more about that here.

Oh, and I’m Goth. Not a wannabe-poseur-juvvie-punk-freak-who-is-“Goth”-now-but-won’t-be-once-they-graduate-high-school, but a Real Goth. A True Goth, if you must have a label.

As for being published, I’ve had a few things go to print. If you’re curious about what they are, click on the “Books” menu and take a look. I get to call myself a professional, because I’ve been paid to write (I learned this from the Olympics – if you get paid in any way, even if it’s just a nickel, you’re a “professional!”).

I also have an outlined series set in the Key to Hell world that I’m working on.

So why a website? A lot of reasons. Mostly to say I have one. Ha.