Diana Black

Diana Black is a published nonfiction and children’s author, cartoonist, and songwriter, who is excited to share with readers her first novel, Waiting for Gabe. The author drew inspiration for her characters and storyline in part from working with an acclaimed nonprofit hospice and co-founding The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODBI), an award-winning public charity supporting students experiencing foster care or homelessness.

Diana’s lifelong fascination with three universal literary themes—death, forgiveness, and family—motivates her characters in Waiting for Gabe. While her novel delves deeply into matters of life-and-death, the author’s love of humor and its life-affirming qualities create magical moments that provide a distinct perspective on the human experience. Strength of female characters in her work of fiction celebrates women who in real life forever influenced the writer—her maternal grandmother, who exemplified kindness and independence, and her English lit teacher, whose steadfast belief in a teenager changed the trajectory of her life.

Diana has devoted the last 12 years to her nonprofit, affectionally referred to as Team Orange, where on any given day she may be found writing a grant in the morning followed by presenting in the afternoon at a national conference focused on youth experiencing homelessness or foster care to answering a text during dinner to assist an ODBI program alum in need. In her precious spare hours, she treasures time with her daughter and granddaughter, family and friends, and enjoys reading, golf, tennis, and long beach walks on the Florida barrier island she calls home.