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As a child, Diane O’Brien Kelly aspired to write songs for famous rock stars and filled numerous spiral notebooks with
inspired lyrics during her adolescent years. Years later, while a student at the University of Texas, she interned in
the Texas Governor’s office where she was responsible for responding to the often incoherent and bizarre correspondence
sent to the state’s chief executive. It was there she began writing fiction, including such notable phrases as
“The Governor deeply regrets that the trash collectors crushed your prize petunias and appreciates you sharing this
important concern.”
After earning accounting and law degrees, Diane spent several years at an international accounting firm, where she had the
pleasure of working with a partner later convicted of tax shelter fraud. She also served as an Assistant Attorney General
for the State of Texas under an Attorney General convicted for criminal activity relating to the settlement of the tobacco
lawsuits. With her employers repeatedly landing themselves in jail, Diane decided self-employment might be a good idea. At
the same time, she realized she could not fulfill her creative needs as a tax advisor lest she herself end up in an orange
jumpsuit, looking forward to her next conjugal visit. The latent writer in her resurfaced, this time focusing on novels
instead of music lyrics or correspondence.
Diane writes entertaining women's fiction, young adult novels, and humor pieces, as well as an occasional article
on business issues or taxation when she’s feeling exceptionally boring. Her work has been published in Writer’s
Digest Yearbook 2007, Byline magazine, True Love magazine, the Romance Writers Report, and
numerous regional and local publications. She serves as a tax columnist for the international writers organization Novelists
Inc. Diane offers tax tips for both writers and normal people alike on the “Tax Tidbits” page of her website.
She publishes a new humor piece each month on her website’s “Blarney” page. Diane teaches a writer's
workshop and speaks on taxation for writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Dallas Area
Romance Authors, Yellow Rose RWA, and The Golden Network. She is also a proud alumnus of her local Citizens Police Academy
and active with her local Friends of the Library group. Diane
lives in Texas with her family and enough cats and dogs to violate several city ordinances. Diane's Writing Awards: 2009 Golden Heart® Winner
- Death, Taxes and a French Manicure 1st
Place 2009 SARA Merritt Contest - Death, Taxes and a French Manicure 3rd Place 2009 SARA Merritt Contest - Busted 2nd Place 2009 Dixie First Chapter Contest - Love, Luck, & Little Green Men 2nd Place 2009 Touch of Magic Contest - Death, Taxes, and a
French Manicure 3rd Place 2009 Spring
into Romance Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure Finalist 2009 Spring into Romance Contest - Busted 1st Place 2009 Winter Rose Contest - Death, Taxes and a French Manicure !st Place 2009 Connections Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French
Manicure 2nd Place 2009 Sheila Contest -
Busted 1st Place
2008 Golden Pen Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure 2nd Place 2008 Golden Pen Contest - Busted 1st Place 2008 Gateway to the Best Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure 2nd Place 2008 Gateway to the Best Contest - Busted Finalist 2008 Launching a Star Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure 3rd Place 2008 Southern Heat Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure Finalist 2008 Southern Heat Contest - Busted 1st Place 2008 Golden Pen Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure 2nd Place 2008 Golden Pen Contest - Busted 1st Place 2008 Gateway to the Best Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French
Manicure 2nd Place 2008 Gateway to the Best
Contest - Busted Finalist 2008 Launching
a Star Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure 3rd Place 2008 Southern Heat Contest - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure Finalist 2008 Southern Heat Contest - Busted 2nd Place 2009 Winter Rose Contest - Busted 3rd Place 2009 Winter Rose Contest -(Young Adult Category) - Minimum Wage
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