about
Polyester Press is a small, independent press that publishes killer mysteries with arresting style.
actually, IT'S more than that.
We believe books can change your life. Even humorous ones. (We believe the same thing about shoes—well, not humorous shoes, but you get the point.) We believe you can escape your world for a few hours with a good book and feel lighter and happier when you finish, having solved a mystery with an amateur sleuth or laughed at her antics along the way.
So what’s with the Polyester? Polyester used to be the joke of the fabric world. Even now, there are fabric purists who refuse to use it. But polyester changed the way women dressed, made fashion more accessible and durable in the sixties, allows us to pack stuff that holds color, doesn't wrinkle, and will probably outlast us all. We think it's okay to be the thing people laugh at because nothing bad came from laughing too much.
So what’s with the Polyester? Polyester used to be the joke of the fabric world. Even now, there are fabric purists who refuse to use it. But polyester changed the way women dressed, made fashion more accessible and durable in the sixties, allows us to pack stuff that holds color, doesn't wrinkle, and will probably outlast us all. We think it's okay to be the thing people laugh at because nothing bad came from laughing too much.
where diane WAS
In 2011, I was a fashion retailer who wrote on the side. I’d been writing for years but felt trapped on a hamster wheel where I wrote but nothing came of it. I read hundreds of blogs, joined industry groups and participated in discussions, attended conferences, and networked among successful authors, all of whom provided encouragement. I entered my manuscripts into contests for feedback and won. I felt like I was onto something, but my job occupied most of my time, leaving early mornings and lunch breaks for writing.
I started to lose faith in the system. One day, I had the idea to take control of my career. I shifted my research from how to get published to how to start a publishing company, then put the foundation in place and planned my first two novels for 2012.
Polyester Press published Designer Dirty Laundry in June of 2012, and Pillow Stalk in October. The books, each series starters, were met with positive response, netting reviews in respected trade journals and earning me panel spots at conferences.
I focused first on my main series and then expanded into humorous science fiction mysteries. I also went into the ocean with a book of mermaid mysteries and published a non-fiction book of essays that talk about all the things I love: fashion, writing, personal growth, goals, and snack food. You know, the stuff you can’t live without.
I started to lose faith in the system. One day, I had the idea to take control of my career. I shifted my research from how to get published to how to start a publishing company, then put the foundation in place and planned my first two novels for 2012.
Polyester Press published Designer Dirty Laundry in June of 2012, and Pillow Stalk in October. The books, each series starters, were met with positive response, netting reviews in respected trade journals and earning me panel spots at conferences.
I focused first on my main series and then expanded into humorous science fiction mysteries. I also went into the ocean with a book of mermaid mysteries and published a non-fiction book of essays that talk about all the things I love: fashion, writing, personal growth, goals, and snack food. You know, the stuff you can’t live without.
where I'm going
Now, I write mysteries where sleuthing is always in style. My books are set in Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Outer Space. No matter what time, place, or universe, I'll always bring humor and style to make your reality more entertaining. So pull on your high heels/slippers/moon boots/sneakers, grab a book, and settle in for some fun.
Polyester Press is the recipient of the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grant in 2023.
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Polyester Press is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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About diane:National bestselling author Diane Vallere writes funny and fashionable character-based mysteries. After two decades working for a top luxury retailer, she traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. A past president of Sisters in Crime, Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since. Find out more at dianevallere.com.
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About the polyester posse:Our Review Crew.
Want to join? Click the image to apply. Positions open annually. |
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About the d.i.a.:Top secret. I'd tell you, but then we'd have to . . . you know.
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