WingerBooks - Diane Winger | Updates

AI wrote a song about Ellie & Ruth

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I'll admit this is a bit disturbing, but also rather amazing.

I decided to try out an AI feature that writes a short song and creates a video based on my prompt, so naturally I thought of my characters, Ellie and Ruth. Here's what I asked Gemini:

"I'd like an upbeat musical piece inspired by 2 older women who love hiking and camping and having great adventures together."

If I were a songwriter, I'd be quite concerned about AI's ability. As a novelist, I'm also concerned. Yet, I think the song is pretty good.

No matter what AI is capable of, I still get a lot of enjoyment out of using my imagination and writing stories. I don't intend to let AI get in the way of my doing that.

Here's a link to the song/video:
https://gemini.google.com/share/9598c3973871

What do you think?

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Available for Pre-Order

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reserve your copy of the 8th book in the Ellie Dwyer series now!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYF9H1V6/

As they explored the deserts and mountains of the Western U.S., Ellie and Ruth shared a bond forged through a decade of camping and hiking. But now, at age 69, Ellie faces the daunting prospect of continuing her nomadic life without her beloved friend by her side.

Ruth was always the one to push Ellie out of her comfort zone, but now, approaching 90, she's given up the RV life. However, Ruth has one final, audacious "bucket list" goal that Ellie would never have considered on her own. With doubts and fears about her friend’s age and mortality weighing heavily on her, Ellie must decide whether to attempt this epic adventure with Ruth, or allow her fears to hold her back.

Ellie Dwyer's Ultimate Challenge invites readers to reflect on aging, friendship, and the transformative power of shared dreams, evoking laughter, tears, and a renewed sense of possibility.

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Cover reveal - Ellie Dwyer's Ultimate Challenge

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ellie is returning with a new book this Spring, 2026. I hope you'll enjoy the audacious challenge that Ruth has dreamed up for them to share.

Click to see the entire cover. More details coming soon...

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Ok, Diane. What's this Ellie Dwyer series you keep talking about?

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Embedded Youtube video removed, see original post to watch.

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The Daughters' Baggage - on sale!

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Sun, 5 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Happy new year, everyone!
The Daughters' Baggage is on sale for only 99¢ from January 4 - January 10. Don't miss out on your opportunity to download your copy.

OPENING:
If These Bags Could Talk

Joslyn flipped the old-fashioned sign on the front door of her shop so customers approaching from the street would read the “Open” message. She returned to contemplate the unusual little, green suitcase which she’d just acquired. Judging by the size and style, it was meant for a child of perhaps eight to twelve. It was one of those old bags that could be used either as a backpack or as a suitcase on wheels to be pulled along by a handle that extended from the back. Luggage like this had been quite popular in the early part of the century, but this one was unique. Which was exactly why she had been attracted to it.

Most antique shops that specialized in baggage preferred classic examples of each style, looking for pieces in pristine condition. Their customers wanted to find a piece that reminded them of one they’d seen as a child, perhaps a piece of luggage that their parents or grandparents had owned. Like the old rolling, “carry-on” bags that people once used when traveling. There used to be an entire industry that manufactured these pieces to fit precisely in “overhead bins” – storage compartments within the passenger areas of jets. She chuckled to herself. The old photo she displayed above the counter, circa 2020, showing crowds of people pulling rolling bags behind them in an airport always delighted her customers. What a sight!

Other dealers craved well-preserved samples of bags like those. Joslyn cared more about items that carried the unique stories of their previous owners.

“If these walls could talk.” That was an expression she’d heard from her grandmother, but she preferred her own version, substituting “bags” for “walls.” Walls could be witness to lives spent indoors, but a suitcase or backpack or trunk might travel anywhere in the world. Whenever she saw a used piece of luggage, she would begin to wonder. Where has it been? What did it carry? Who owned it? Where did they go? Why?

What is the story behind this bag?

Take this piece, for example. Joslyn picked it up again, examining it from all sides. Over the years, someone – or multiple owners – had affixed decals to the front. She could tell that there were actually layers of stickers, bits of the earliest ones turned gray and illegible. The most recent additions were intriguing. Had the owner actually traveled to the far-away destinations displayed, to Dubai and Islamabad, to what was once Afghanistan and to Ethiopia and Vietnam, the top-most stickers? Or were those destinations merely a dream?

Click here to download the book and read more...

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Now available for PRE-ORDER!

WingerBooks - Diane Winger — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ellie Dwyer's Disappearing Act is book #7 of the popular series, which has sold over 70,000 copies. (Thank you, dear readers!)

There are many ways to disappear...

Ellie, a spirited 69-year-old, finds solace in her active life on the road alongside her best friend, Ruth, who is nearing 90 but still possesses a zest for life that belies her age. As Ruth makes the difficult decision to trade in her beloved camper for a cozy home in an RV community, Ellie must confront the poignant changes that come with the passage of time.

The old friends can’t bring themselves to quit their mutual adventures entirely, but when they join together for one more trip in Ellie’s A-frame camper, things begin to go wrong.

In this gripping tale of disappearances, told with humor, nostalgia, and unexpected revelations, Ellie Dwyer's Disappearing Act takes readers on a heartfelt exploration of friendship, the realities of aging, and the audacious spirit of two women determined to embrace life—no matter how many unexpected twists it throws their way.

About the Ellie Dwyer Series - reader reviews:

"...definitely the best fiction book on RV life that I’ve come across"
“So excited when I found out this was a series. It was like visiting an old friend.”
“Very relatable, funny and heartwarming! Couldn't put them down! Made me want to take up hiking and get an RV!”

(Releases Febrary 7, 2025)
Pre-order your copy today!

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