Meet Diane Lekven | Author of Children’s Books

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diane Lekven and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
My new career as an Author for children’s books came very organically. I have always had a very vivid imagination, seeing humor in everyday activities and turning them into a joke or funny story. The first book that I wrote actually started as a funny story ten years ago when my youngest son was in middle school. He had to take a language at school, and I suggested he take Spanish so he could get an easy “A” since I am Hispanic. Not that I speak fluent Spanish, but I received a “B” when I took Spanish in High School, so I could help him. He did and so when he got home from school, I asked him how he liked Spanish class and if he had learned anything. As with most boys his age he replied with few words… “O.K. I guess,” so I asked,” well what did you learn?” I pressed on. At that same moment our dog came running in from outside panting, rushing to drink water, and splooting on the cool tile to cool off. So, I asked my son, “well, how do you say hot dog?” “Perrito Caliente” he replied. I busted out laughing, and said, “wow, good job, but is that the kind you eat, or like Biscuit our pet who is over heated? or our overheated dog who ate a hot dog?” He rolled his eyes and walked off as I giggled and started dinner; we were living in Texas at the time. When my son decided to attend college in Chicago my husband and I decided to move to Chicago as well since both of our boys would be attending University in Chicago. Well, now I was in Chicago not really knowing what to do with myself. I had retired from my career as a realtor to raise my boys and gladly became a helicopter mom, but it was time to allow them to grow up and hopefully use all the advice I gave them, I was bored and lost, so I started writing to entertain myself. My husband suggested that I publish my story as he found it amusing and so I did.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always tried to encourage people and lift them up first and foremost. Before I was a Realtor, I was a makeup artist and instead of trying to sell a lot of makeup products, I encouraged the ladies to pamper themselves with skincare and see their natural beauty and then to consider makeup, they always bought both. As a Realtor, I always encouraged my clients to purchase a home a little below what they were qualified for, they always referred clients to me. As a mother and mentor of children, I always encouraged them to be confident in who they were and to follow their dreams, reach for the stars, be the best person they are and not to worry if it is different than their friends, or if they had the highest GPA as long as they learned the subject very well. My oldest son is a Doctor of Psychiatry, and my youngest is on track to be a Theoretical Physicist in Applied Mathematics. So, when the world started to become divided and mean I decided to write books to remind or teach children to be kind, inclusive, happy, to sing, dance, dream, think big, to be the best self they can be. I am hoping to show how everyone in the United States besides the Native Americans came from a different country at different times for different reasons and we have the ability to receive their wonderful gifts of culture and heritage through song, dance, and food by being friendly, welcoming, and helping them to assimilate into this country legally instead of being mean or violent. I will do this by writing stories that show how to be inclusive, kind, respectful, encouraging and helpful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, if I still lived in San Diego, Ca…I would suggest: Day 1. A Spa Day at La Costa Resort, stop by the farmers market for fruit/veggies before heading home. Day 2. A day of walking and playing paddle ball at the Beach in Del Mar and go to get fish tacos at the Brigantine, then go home for a nap and refresh go to La Jolla Beach to see the seals and dinner at George’s at the cove. Day 3. Go for walk at Torrey Pines cliffs, then chill at home, invites friends over for BBQ and pool time and a movie at home. Day 4. Go to Balboa Park for a walk in the park and take in a museum or two. Day 5. Go to Grand DelMar for golf in morning nine-hole, pool in the afternoon, dancing and drinks in evening. Day 6. Go to Wild Animal Park or Zoo, pizza at Leucadia pizza go back home. Day 7. relax at home, be grateful, read a book, prepare for departures.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my two boys who allowed me to be room mom, sports mom, friend commuter, problem solver, and warm hugger.
Then my patient husband who not only suggested that I turn my silly stories into a book but helped me with my computer when I could not figure out why it was acting crazy, listened to all my funny ideas for the stories and laughed with me and spelled every word I could not remember how to spell. Also, Amazon for making it so easy to self-publish… well now that I understand a little more about how it all works, and to the people at Prime Publishing who found great illustrators to turn my sketches into book quality images and advised me in the process as per our contract.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-lekven-191087b8

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Other: https://a.co/d/c4XbSOP
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perrito-caliente-opens-a-hot-dog-stand-diane-lekven/1147526570?ean=9798999137401

Image Credits
Diane Lekven