Diana Taylor

Named 2014 "Writer of the Year" by the San Diego Christian Writer's Guild, Diana Wallis Taylor sold her first poem to a church newspaper at the age of 12. She is an award-winning author of seven books of historical/Biblical fiction: Journey to the Well; Martha; Mary Magdalene; Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate; Ruth, Mother of Kings; and Mary, Chosen of God. She has also written three other books of contemporary fiction and a book on Halloween, commissioned by Whitaker House. She won first place in the San Diego Book Awards for her short story, "Phipps and the Jay." In the Reader's Favorite Book Award, she took first place in Christian Romance for Smoke Before the Wind, House of the Forest, and Shadows on the Mountain (formerly A Distant Mountain). She took second place for Martha, and in 2014 she was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Awards for Claudia. Her writing contributions appear in various compilation books and magazines. Diana and her musical collaborator, Carolyn Prentice, have completed the words and melodies to an Easter musical called "Glorious."Her seventh book of historical/Biblical Fiction, Lydia, Woman of Philippi, written for Whitaker House, recently released, and her new book on Esther will be appearing shortly. Diana enjoys speaking and sharing her heart with women of all ages. Diana and her late husband, Frank, have six grown children between them and nine grandchildren. She lives in San Diego, California.