Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?
I love in North Georgia (this my
Georgia titles). I have two grown girls Leah and Niki. I live with my husband,
Travis, and our dachshund mix, Pepe.
Now, what got me started writing? This is
a good question. I always say I came out of the womb reading! I’ve loved to
read since I can remember. I also remember being so happy when it was time to
go to our elementary school library. I can still smell the library and
associate that smell with books. (It could have been mold or dust, but I loved
it!). When I was 45 I went back to college to get my degree (in Human
Services) and took a class in creative writing. This class sparked a fire in me
for the love of writing. I began to write short stories and poems. I didn’t do
anything serious, but in 2001 my boyfriend (now husband) and I went to a
historic restaurant. The building was beautiful. I suggested someone should
write this for “Georgia Backroads,” magazine. He said “Why don’t you?” So I
did. And to my pleasant surprise it was accepted. I’ve been writing for them
since then. I started on my first novel in 2002, but life got in the way and it
wasn’t published until 2011. Since then I’ve had four more books published with
a goal to write one a year.
I think/write best in the afternoon.
I don’t write every day, but the more often you write the easier it is. You are
in the flow and know what your characters are doing. If you wait too long
between writing times, then you have to refresh your memory by reading over
what you’ve written. You really have to make yourself sit down in that chair
and write. It takes a lot of discipline.
How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some
other method of getting your words down?
I used to write on the couch with my
laptop. Lately I’ve been going into the study so it will be a quiet atmosphere
with nothing to distract me. I’ve found this works better for me. I love my
laptop!
What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite
part about writing?
Oh my – I guess my favorite thing
about writing is “the end.” Just kidding! The best part for me is to see it
coming together. Usually about halfway through everything seems to fall into
place and I see where I want the plot to go. The least favorite part by far is making
myself sit down to write. It is so hard to get started on that new book (when
you are staring at a blank page and know you have to fill up a book with 50,000
or more words) or begin a new chapter.
How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your
book?
I’ve always loved mysteries and
especially cozy mysteries. So I think I just naturally began writing cozies. My
main character in the Trixie Montgomery series is a magazine journalist for a
Georgia magazine like me. That’s kind of how I got started. It took several
years for my first book because many things were happening in my life and I was
still learning. Now I can write on in about six months.
What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?
Wow, *I could write a book on this. LOL
I love marketing and teach marketing classes at writer conferences. I will sell
books where I can. I speak at libraries, conferences, book clubs, women’s
conferences and sell my books at art festivals, literary festivals, in
gift/book shops, independent books stores, any store that is interested in
carrying them. These are just a few marketing areas.
(From Kathryn: I actually wrote a book on marketing! Every year I update it to include the best links and information on marketing for that year)
What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book
out?
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| Get the Book at Amazon |
My latest book came out in November
2015, “Buckhead Dead.” This is my second cozy mystery series. It is the Skye
Southerland Cozy Mystery series. All my books have real settings so if you know
the area you’d recognize the roads, buildings, restaurants, etc. I’m working on
the second book of the series, “Decatur Dead.”
Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.
I have all kinds of ideas running
through my head. I’ve started on a few that I’ve had to put by the wayside for
one reason or another. I’d love to write a book on marketing, but there are
already a lot of those out there. I’d also like to write a romantic suspense.
But, so far they are just ideas.
What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish
but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?
I think all writer’s go through this
some time or another. Especially before we become published/established. I
can’t tell you how many times I’ve become discouraged and said I wasn’t going
to ever write again. My husband just laughs when he hears that now. LOL Don’t
give up!!! The writer that perseveres is the writer that gets published.
Thank you for having me!
***
Thank you, Deborah!
Learn more about Deborah:
www.deborah-malone.com
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