From Engineering To Escapism: How Motherhood Helped DG Rampton Become A Bestselling Romance Author

Motherhood changes us in ways we often expect: less sleep, more responsibility and a completely different version of what everyday life looks like. But sometimes, amongst the chaos of raising children, motherhood can also uncover a part of ourselves we had forgotten or never had the confidence to explore. For DG Rampton, becoming a bestselling romance author was not the career path she originally imagined. Before transporting thousands of readers into worlds filled with witty heroines, grand houses and timeless romance, Diana built a career in civil engineering, a world built around structure, precision and logic. But quietly, creativity had always been waiting.

When asked about the moment she realised she could no longer ignore the pull towards writing, Diana says it was not a dramatic overnight decision. “I wish it was something interesting sounding, like a flash of divine inspiration, but in reality it was a gradual process over many years,” Diana shares. “I didn’t have the confidence in myself as an author to go all in, so I dipped my toe, then my ankle, and by small degrees I was eventually immersed in writing romance.”

For many parents, there is something deeply relatable about reaching a stage of life where you start questioning what else might be possible. For Diana, motherhood did not stop her from chasing something new; it became the chapter where she finally allowed herself to begin. “By then I was a full time mum and my all consuming corporate career was a distant memory. Motherhood was the perfect time to give in to my creative urges.”

Finding Her Voice: How A Bestselling Romance Author Found Her Era

Inspired by the timeless storytelling of Jane Austen, Diana found herself drawn to the Regency era, a world of handwritten letters, grand conversations, social expectations and complicated relationships. But while the fashion and settings may belong to another century, the reason those stories continue to resonate is because people have not changed as much as we think. “Jane Austen was a master at observing the world around her and making her characters wonderfully relatable and amusing at the same time,” Diana explains. “Human nature has not changed in the last 200 years. We are still imbued with the same quirks, foibles and traits.”

For this bestselling romance author, the Regency period creates the perfect backdrop for romance because it allows readers to step away from the speed of modern life. “The strict manners and etiquette, the fashions, the intellectual and social pursuits of the aristocracy and wider society, even the modes of transportation, horses and carriages, make that period a wonderful playground for a romance author.”

Why We Still Need Happy Endings

Diana’s novels have gone on to achieve incredible success, including more than 100,000 Amazon downloads, with readers connecting strongly to her combination of humour, romance and escapism. It’s the kind of track record that has helped cement her as a bestselling romance author among Australian parents looking for an easy escape. In a world where parents are constantly juggling responsibilities, news cycles feel heavy and everyone seems busier than ever, sometimes there is power in simply reading something that makes you feel good. “The humour and feel good romance,” Diana says when asked what she believes readers connect with most. “Romance novels always have a happy ending, but some are darker than others. I prefer to focus on the lighter side of life and try to give my readers a fun experience with lots of smiles and laughs. We all have enough darkness and heaviness to contend with in our lives. I want my stories to offer an escape from all that.”

For the parent reading after bedtime, listening to an audiobook on the school run or finding ten quiet minutes between everyone else’s needs, that escape can mean something.

Creating Women Who Push Boundaries

One of the reasons readers connect with the books from this bestselling romance author is her strong, intelligent and sometimes rebellious heroines. They are women who challenge expectations, speak their minds and refuse to simply fit inside the roles created for them. When asked how much of herself she sees in those characters, Diana laughs. “Ha! I wish! I like to think of myself as feisty, however, my heroines take it to another level altogether. And that makes writing their interactions so much fun. I can have them speak and act in ways that are quick witted, amusing and push boundaries, my own included.”

Have We Lost The Art Of Slowing Down?

Although Diana writes about the past, some of the themes feel surprisingly relevant for families today. We live in a world where communication is instant, calendars are overflowing and many people are more digitally connected but less personally connected. For Diana, there is something beautiful about the slower moments we have left behind. “There is immense forgotten pleasure to be had in writing and receiving letters, or sitting around a fireplace at night and reading out loud to your family, or paying ‘morning calls’, which is basically dropping in on your friends and gossiping over tea and cake. What better way to while away a few hours!”

She believes our need for real connection has not changed. “Our human condition is such that on an elemental level we all need meaningful human contact and strong ties to our local community.”

Balancing Creativity, Motherhood And Discipline

Like many parents building something around family life, this bestselling romance author discovered that passion alone was not enough. Creating books required structure and commitment. “When I’m writing a new book, it’s a five day a week job, though it always extends to seven towards the end,” she says. “I need that structure to be able to finish one book a year.”

Interestingly, the school years actually helped create boundaries. “When my daughter was at school I found it easier to program my work day as it had a hard start and stop, based around her drop off and pick up times.” Now with her daughter at university, Diana says she has to be even more intentional about protecting her writing time. “If I’m not disciplined, I can easily end up wafting through the weeks and months without really achieving anything.”

Taking The First Step Before You Feel Ready

Perhaps one of the most powerful parts of this bestselling romance author’s journey is that confidence did not come first. Action did. Like so many people starting something new, she battled self doubt along the way. “I felt like an imposter for years and it wasn’t until my third book that I felt I could finally call myself an author.”

Her advice for anyone sitting on an idea, whether that is a book, a business or a completely new direction, is simple. “Don’t wait for inspiration or perfection, or overwhelm yourself by trying to figure out in minute detail how you will get to your destination. Take that first step. Then the second step will become clearer, and so on.”

From engineer to bestselling romance author, Diana’s story is not just about changing careers. It is about giving yourself permission to begin again, even when the timing is unexpected and even when you are still figuring it out along the way, because sometimes the next chapter is the one you were always meant to write.

Ready For Your Own Little Escape?

For anyone craving a moment to switch off from the endless to do lists, school runs and everyday noise, this bestselling romance author’s Regency novels offer exactly what she set out to create: a little pocket of joy, humour and feel good escapism. Whether it is a quiet chapter before bed, an audiobook while multitasking, or finally making time for yourself with a cup of tea and a story that transports you somewhere completely different, sometimes the best thing we can do is give ourselves permission to pause.

Discover DG Rampton’s books and step into the world of Regency romance at www.dgrampton.com.

Disclaimer: Parenthood360 was gifted copies of DG Rampton’s books for the purpose of review and editorial consideration. All thoughts and editorial opinions remain our own.