Hi, Debra. Welcome to Romance Books 4 Us. I have to say I am a huge fan and especially devour your new Faces of Evil series. We're so glad to have you here today.
Wow I can’t believe another year has come and gone! It’s
2014! I’m so excited about starting a new year. It’s like a fresh start that
comes around every twelve months. You have a chance to do the things you meant
to do the year before. You can make changes that are healthy or that just make
you happy. I’m looking forward to what 2014 holds for me. Today, I am so
thrilled to be here with the amazing Desiree Holt!
How did you get started writing your great romantic suspense
books?
Well, let’s see, I’ve written stories since I was about nine
years old. I tell folks that I started my career as soon as I could string
sentences together. The first stories were romance stories with a little humor.
My very first short story was Is This Anyway
to Rob a Train? The story involved Frank and Jesse James who were bumbling
outlaws rather than the slick ones we’ve all seen in classic Western movies. Of
course there was a hero, the sheriff, and his love interest, a saloon girl. My
love for suspense actually blossomed while my husband and I were assigned to
Berlin, Germany. This was in the mid eighties when the Wall still divided the
city and people were shot when they tried to cross without the proper papers.
Where did the Colby series come from?
The first story in the series, Safe by His Side, was one I
had dreamed up years before I actually wrote it. I wanted an ongoing series and
I wanted a woman to run it. Victoria Colby burst onto the scene. I had no
choice but to write the series!
Ditto Faces of Evil?
I started the Faces of Evil series years ago (around 2006).
At the time it was called the Scales of Justice. I had watched a special on the
levels of evil and I was enthralled. So I came up with my own “scale” of evil.
No one seemed interested in the series at the time. I finally stopped trying to
get a traditional publisher to bite in 2008 and set it aside. After my life
altering injury in 2010, I was drowning in medical bills and needed to think of
something fast. Dear friends urged me to see if I had any completed projects I
could self publish for extra income. I had self published a few romantic
comedies from my Kensington Precious Gems days and the sales were kind of sad.
So I was a little skeptical. But my friends persisted. So I pulled out the
Scales of Justice and started thinking. I realized two things. The name was
wrong (sounded more like a legal drama) and I didn’t have the villain for book
one right. So, I revised and polished and revised and polished. I self
published book one and then book two six weeks later. It was a hit! Saved my
home!
What’s your daily writing routine?
Since I’m pretty much the one-armed writer now it can be a
little grueling. We still have to do physical therapy on the hand and arm three
times a day. I work four times as long to do less than half the work. BUT, I am
immensely thankful I can still work. In the past few months my husband has
insisted that I take more time off.
Do you have favorite characters from any of your stories? I
know I am in love with Jess and Dan from Faces of Evil.
Oh, I truly do love Dan and Jess! Victoria Colby and Lucas
Camp will always hold special places in my heart as well.
Is there any one person or persons who have influenced your
writing?
When I first started writing with the goal of publication in
late 1995, my mother was my biggest supporter. She helped me believe I could
really do it. There are many great authors whose work I admire. But really the
biggest influences have been my family. If not for their tireless support and
encouragement I might not have come this far!
What do you enjoy when you aren’t writing?
I love gardening! Love, love, love flowers. Also love
vegetable gardening. My passion is discovering and repurposing old stuff. In
fact, one of my goals for 2014 is to get in good physical condition so I can
fit into the amazing vintage clothes I find at junk stores!
What’s up next for you?
I’m working on VILE, book 8 in the Faces of Evil series,
which will be released March 21. I have a short story coming out in February in
a collection called MY EVIL VALENTINE with a group of extremely talented
authors. My story is connected to the Faces of Evil.
DEBRA WEBB wrote
her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t
until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron
Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true
calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since
then she has penned more than 100 novels including her internationally bestselling
Colby Agency series. Her debut romantic thriller series, the Faces of Evil,
propelled Debra to the top of the bestselling charts. Visit Debra at www.thefacesofevil.com or at www.debrawebb.com.
For more information about Debra and her books, visit her author page at http://www.romancebooks4us.com.
I enjoyed your interview, Debra. I love scrounging through junk stores too. That's treasure hunting to me. :)Best luck for a great 2014.
ReplyDeleteHi Debra! I am so excited one of my very favorite authors is visiting here today. I am such a fangirl. And I absolutely love the Faces of Evil series.
ReplyDeleteI love your novels, Debra. It's nice to visit with you here. Have you ever considered using a voice activation software to write? It might take some time pressure off and be easier on you physically. Wishing you ongoing success. Can't wait to read Vile!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra. I haven't heard of you and love learning more about authors. I love your drive and the serendipity that writing is what you should be doing.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best!
Debra,
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to find out a little bit more about a wonderful author-- even better to know she shares my passion for scouring the thrifts:)
Hi Debra,
ReplyDeleteIt was great reading about you and your work! Thanks for taking the time to visit us here at RB4Us and share with all of our readers.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I'm another thrift shop fan. You can find the most amazing things. Very interested in your comments on self-publishing. I've never tried it and it sounds like a load of work. A Blessed New Year to you and yours...
ReplyDeleteDebra, I love romance suspense! Your Faces of Evil series is wonderful. I wish you many happy writing hours in this new year. Thanks for spending time with us!
ReplyDeletePolly
Debra, I don't know what happened to you, but I hope the therapy gets you back in shape soon.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of your books, but they sound like what I read and write. Smile! I've got to pick one of your books.
Great interview, Debra. I'm a thrift shop junking...never know what you might find!
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview and great job Desiree! It is so exciting to learn of new authors to me by the RB4U Blog. I read outside what I write and your Faces of Evil series sounds intriguing. Good luck with your therapy to get you back on track to write more.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview and "meeting" you. I admire your accomplishments and your determination. Your books sound great. I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried using the Dragon program that converts speech to text? Might help while you're doing therapy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on our RB4U blog today!