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We kicked off our very first Reader Crate Book Club event of the year with a truly special guest — USA Today bestselling author Diana Orgain — and what a delightful conversation it was.
If you joined us live, you already know how warm, funny, and generous Diana is. And if you missed it, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our chat about Bundle of Trouble, writing cozy mysteries, and blending real-life chaos with crime-solving fun.
Before Diana became known for her beloved Maternal Instincts Mystery Series, she earned an MFA in playwriting and worked in the theater world.
But when she became a new mom, everything shifted.
With a baby at home and a desire to stay present for her daughter, Diana pivoted from playwriting to fiction — a genre she had always loved but hadn’t yet attempted. Her idea was brilliant in its simplicity:
What if a brand-new mom had to teach herself how to solve a murder… while also figuring out motherhood?
And just like that, Bundle of Trouble was born.
At the heart of Bundle of Trouble is Kate Connelly — a sleep-deprived, slightly overwhelmed new mom who unexpectedly finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation in San Francisco.
Kate is relatable, funny, and full of heart. Diana shared that Kate is inspired by her own early motherhood experience, along with pieces of friends and family (including a mom character that is “100%” based on Diana’s own mother!).
Kate’s sleuthing journey mirrors Diana’s writing journey in a way — both learning as they go, both navigating unfamiliar territory, both figuring things out step by step.
Setting plays a powerful role in the series.
Diana is a native San Franciscan, and she deliberately chose her hometown as the backdrop for Bundle of Trouble. At a time when she was learning how to write a novel and stepping into a new life stage, she wanted the comfort of familiar ground.
And it shows.
San Francisco feels like a character in the story — vibrant, iconic, and deeply woven into the mystery.
One of the things readers love most about Diana’s books is the seamless blend of humor and suspense.
But that balance isn’t effortless.
Diana credits early writing groups and strong editorial support for helping her refine comedic timing without undercutting serious moments. She shared a wonderful behind-the-scenes detail: her critique group used to read pages silently in front of the author, and she could literally hear when people laughed in real time.
That kind of feedback helped her sharpen both her mystery structure and her humor beats.
Diana is now a committed plotter — but she didn’t start that way.
Her first book was largely written “by the seat of her pants.” As deadlines grew tighter and the series expanded, she discovered the value of outlining key beats, suspects, motives, and twists ahead of time.
Her advice? If you’re writing professionally and working with deadlines, plotting can save you a lot of revision heartbreak later.
That said, she’s currently working on a psychological thriller and admitted that exploring a new genre sometimes means discovering the story along the way.
We cannot wait to see what she does next.
Diana is a mom of three — one recent Berkeley graduate, one at UC Davis, and one learning to drive (which she described as a “daily adventure”).
It was so fun hearing her share real-life moments that clearly inform her stories — from breastfeeding mishaps to parenting chaos.
Yes, real motherhood absolutely sneaks into her mysteries.
The Maternal Instincts series currently includes thirteen full-length novels and two novellas. Readers are eager for more — and Diana hinted that there are still open story threads she’d love to explore.
At the same time, she’s branching into a psychological thriller (possibly under a slightly modified pen name).
Whether she’s writing cozy mystery or emotional suspense, one thing is clear: Diana knows how to build compelling characters and keep readers turning pages.
If you’d like to explore the full Maternal Instincts series or grab a special edition copy of Bundle of Trouble, visit:
👉 dianaorgainbooks.com
She also generously shared a special code for our Reader Crate community:
✨ Use code SAVE-TEN for 10% off your order (valid through February).
You can also join her mailing list and Substack for updates, bonus content, and future releases.
If you’re looking for a mystery filled with humor, heart, and relatable motherhood moments — Bundle of Trouble is a perfect pick.
And if you love discovering authors like Diana, that’s exactly what Reader Crate is all about.
Here’s to clever sleuths, strong women, and stories that make us laugh while we solve the puzzle.
Happy reading 💛
— Alyssa
