By Ralph C. Jensen

It all began in the eighth grade, or, at least that’s how the story goes. From that point in time to today, Diana Estill has published three books; her newest on the sales rack just recently, “Stilettos No More...and Other Delinquet Thoughts." The subject matter aligns itself perfectly with the author, who at age 56, is accepting of the notion that it’s OK to “accept my increasing girth with a grin.”

“I’ve been writing since childhood,” Estill said. “When I don’t write, I feel like a part of me is missing.”

Pen and paper seem to go hand-in-hand with Estill, who has kept journals that date back to her 8th grade English class in the Wylie school system. And, because practice seems to make perfect, Estill’s writing progression moved organically from journals to newspaper and magazine articles, to books, and more recently, to ebooks.

If Diana Estill isn’t quite a household name, it should be. She’s from Murphy, but like a turtle returning its origins to nest, she moved back in 2003, and served time, as she likes to put it, as a member of the city of Murphy Planning and Zoning Commission.

With a little local government experience on her resume, it’s truly worth noting that her writing has been acknowledged as a 2010 International Book Awards winner, and was a finalist in the humor category in the 2008 ForeWord Book of the Year. Her marketing approach is much the same as her writing style. She’s funny and doesn’t mind sharing life’s experiences with her readers.

For instance, if you’re guilty of a few of these acts, Estill writes that it could be time to rethink your habits: You bought yourself a Snuggie; ninety percent of your blouses have three-quarter sleeves; you can’t recall what year you last received a Victoria’s Secret catalog, or if while stopped at a red light while driving and a cute guy pulls up next to your vehicle and stares at you, your first thought is: “I’m about to be carjacked.”

“For the most part, women’s issues are universal,” Estill said. “And our willingness to laugh at ourselves extends well beyond Texas, or even the United States.”

Reaching out is the critical part of her marketing and socializing plan. She has tried numerous approaches to marketing but no single plan works best.

“It’s a matter of doing a few things every day and waiting for momentum and word-of-mouth to build,” Estill said. “I’ve been marketing books for four years, now, and I’m beginning to see many of my earlier efforts compound.

“Rather than wait to be discovered inside bookstores that push mainly New York Times bestsellers, I’ve carved out a small audience online. Today, I have a sponsorship advertisement running on Kindle Nation Daily. That advertisement moved Stilettos No More into the top 10 bestsellers in Amazon’s humor essays category.”

Estill does tours and book signings, but mostly they are closer to home. Closer to home means connecting with her readers, mostly online, but she also likes to engage people face-to-face to share a few light moments about life’s triumphs and challenges.

Always on the go, Estill has a fourth book in the works although details about the next book are not forthcoming yet. She also has an idea for a novel, another humorous entry and a screenplay, all in various stages of completion.

Stilettos No More, is available now in paperback and eBook formats from Amazon and other booksellers, and as Estill puts it, “is fatigued by all the anti-aging rhetoric that pervades our current culture,” she said. “Age 50 isn’t the new 40. I’m not going to feel bad for failing to remain a size 4, OK, maybe that was a size 6 or maybe an 8. At my age, I have trouble remembering.”