DEBRA GLASS is the author of over thirty books of historical and paranormal romance, non-fiction, and folklore.
She is the recipient of the National Society of Arts and Letters Alabama Screenwriter Award and went on to win the NSAL Empire State Award for excellence in screenwriting. She was a nominee for best erotic author of 2009 and two of her books were nominated for best erotic historical romance of 2009 by The Romance Studio. She is a finalist with two historical romances in The Passionate Plume, the only Romance Writers of America all erotic romance contest for published authors.
Debra is a member of Romance Writers of America, and the Professional Authors Network. She is also a member of RWA's Heart of Dixie chapter.
She lives in Alabama with her real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts, and a diabolical black cat.
For more information about Debra, check out her site. Click
HERE
Here's a selection of questions that Debra is asked on a regular basis.
- Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes. I don’t remember a time when I did not enjoy creating characters and stories. My first stories were picture books about my family. When I was in third grade, I self published books I’d written and allowed my classmates to “check them out” library style. I still have one of the first ones I wrote about a seahorse.
While I majored in German and history, and earned an MAed with emphasis in history, from the University of North Alabama, I always enjoyed the arts more that what I’d studied in school. After teaching German, part time, for two years, I resigned and began teaching piano privately, both at home, and as a private contractor at a local parochial school. After buying a fifty year old business, Ryan Piano Company, in 2001, I passed my piano students onto a friend, and began my career as a merchant.
Little did I know my tenure at Ryan Piano Company would bring me back to my first love, writing. After a surprise encounter with the spirit of the deceased founder, I was inspired to pen my first collection of regional ghost stories.
Skeletons in the Closet, and the subsequent books in that series, were so successful, I decided to devote myself to the craft and write full time.
- How many books have you published?
I’ve lost count! So I suppose that’s a good thing. I’ve published nearly thirty-five books in regional folklore and romance. In addition to several independent projects, I write for five different publishing houses. My numerous articles have appeared in historical magazines and in Fate Magazine.
- You’ve written several books about ghosts. Do you believe in ghosts and what are your religious views?
I grew up watching Night Gallery and Twilight Zone at an early age. WTBS showed Dark Shadows and scads of Vincent Price movies during that time, and I made sure to see every one. I suppose I was drawn to movies and stories with paranormal elements because I enjoyed the fantastical characters, the magic inherent to those stories that amped up the story line, carrying characters on a larger than life journey.
Yes, I do believe in ghosts! I have seen two spirits. Neither experience frightened me, but rather amazed me. I grew up in a Southern Baptist home and church, where I even briefly taught Sunday School. I also attended an Episcopal church whose teachings I related to more than those I learned as a Southern Baptist. I follow and respect the teachings of Jesus Christ, and believe that we are spiritual beings, made in the image of the Creator God.
- What’s your writing day like?
I write daily. When I’m not actively working on a new project, I’m promoting, updating my website or blog, or helping other authors promote their work. Life often interrupts in the form of my diabolical black cat, Severus, my two daughters, my insanely supportive husband, or the pool.
My day usually ends at the time I pick my youngest daughter up from school. By the time we’ve attended her daily swim team practice and finished her homework, I’m ready to relax.
I also spend time helping my oldest daughter with her budding career as a singer / songwriter.
I write on a desktop computer. I abhor laptops and choose not to write while away from my home office. My home is wired for sound and connected to my computer. While working on a project, I make a playlist of music that inspires me. Favorites include, the
Fried Green Tomatoes score by Thomas Newman, anything by
Sarah McLachlan, various other soundtracks, and of course, original songs by my supremely talented daughter,
Zoe Welch.
- Where do you get your ideas?
I am inspired by all sorts of things. Music, television shows, movies, books, news stories, and even people I know.
Rebel Rose was inspired by the story of Confederate spy,
Rose Greenhow. I got the idea for
Bought and Paid For while studying the plight of nineteenth century women who’d found themselves widowed by the Civil War.
Gatekeeper came about from my studies of
Civil War Brigadier General Thomas Benton Smith. And
Watchkeeper was inspired by Charleston, South Carolina, and the story of gentleman pirate,
Stede Bonnet. If you’ve followed the
50 Shades of Grey fad, (which began as fan fiction based on the
Twilight saga) both history and fan fiction motivated me to write
Scarlet Widow. I love
CW’s The Vampire Diaries, but was frustrated by heroine, Elena’s, indecision about brothers Stefan and Damon. I thought, if this were an Ellora’s Cave book, Elena wouldn’t have to choose between the two very different, distinctly sexy brothers. In
Scarlet Widow, bad boy brother, Hardin’s, conflict is based on an actual historical account of
Dee Jobe and DeWitt Jobe Smith. Some believe the story of Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) was also based on the legend of Jobe and Smith.
I’m also inspired by the wonderful, committed relationship I have with my husband. He is my #1 fan and supporter and without his love and help, I would have never been able to realize my dream to become a published author.
- How do you respond to those who criticize your books as something less than romance?
I am a member of Romance Writers of America, the largest writers’ guild in the world. My novels fall under the wing of romance. The characters are committed and even if “true love” isn’t obvious to the characters, it’s obvious to reader by the first time the characters become intimate. Since the modernization of the romance novel in the 1970s, romances have incorporated explicit love scenes. Today’s romance heroines embody admirable qualities. Romance readers want heroines that they’d like to be. They want them to make sense and to be smart, and they want them to fall hopelessly, and permanently in love with a worthy hero who earns this love.
- Are any of your books autobiographical?
While all my characters are a little bit me, none of my books are based on my own life experiences. Even though I’ve used historical characters or have been inspired by historical accounts, my stories are pure fiction.
- Do you write for any blogs?
In addition to my own blog,
http://DebraGlass.blogspot.com, I am a contributor to bloggers who write for my editor at
The Romance Kittens.
I do not, nor have I contributed to, any blogs or websites which do not bear my real name.
- What is your favorite of your own books?
My favorite is usually the one I’m writing at the moment.
Gatekeeper, since it was my first published romance, will always be dear to my heart. My editor’s favorite is the second in my Phantom Lovers series,
Shadowkeeper. My best seller is
Badcock. But the one that makes me cry every time I read it is
More Than a Mistress. I adore my young adult paranormal,
Haunted, which is set in Middle Tennessee, where my grandmother grew up.
- What do you do besides writing?
Every year during the last week of October, I conduct the
Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk Tour in my hometown, Florence, Alabama.
- Where can I buy your books?
Buy links from various retailers are available on my website. For romance, visit
http://DebraGlass.com and for my folklore collections, visit
http://DiscoverTheShoals.com
If you’d like to buy one of my books from me in person, I am often a part of booksignings at Cold Water Books in Tuscumbia, Alabama, at the Heart of Dixie Romance Readers’ Luncheon, and the Southern Magic RWA Chapter Readers’ Luncheon. I can usually be found at Downtown Florence First Fridays but I only sell my folklore collections there since my romances are distributed by my various publishers.
*
Under penalty of law, no part of this page or website may be reproduced without express written consent of Debra Glass. Copyright, 2012, Debra Glass
