Q: Tell us the first thing that pops into your head when I say: Tell us about yourself.
I am a wife, mother, writer, and librarian who's fortunate to have a wonderful family, great friends, and the opportunity to do what she loves.
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? What was the biggest influence on this decision?
I can't remember not writing. This might sound weird, but I need to write. I'm driven.
Q: Tell us about the first thing you ever wrote.
The first thing I remember writing was when I was six and I wrote a story for my cousin. The first time I was published was when I was seven in the Boys and Girls Republic.
Q: Tell us about the genre in which you write and why?
I write romantic comedies (Talk about Love; It's in His Kiss; My Favorite Flavor; One Starry Night; Marriage 101) for the sheer joy of it. I write non-fiction books (Romance Today: An A-Z Guide to Contemporary American Romance Writers; The Suffragists in Literature for Youth: The Fight for the Vote: Crash Course in Library Supervision; The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List) to exercise my mind and share information. I write for What Do I Read Next? and Novelist and review for Booklist and Library Journal to help get the word out about great books. I write articles when I have time. And I write limericks (more than 600 so far) just because it's fun.
Q: Tell us about your latest book. Is it with Avalon or another publisher? What is your most recent or next Avalon Book?
My latest book, Marriage 101, is an Avalon book. I wrote it with my friend, Deborah Mazoyer--we write as Deborah Shelley. Here's a little bit about it:
Danny Riccuci thinks divorce is hereditary. After all, his family could be the poster child for failed marriages. The only exception is his sister, Maria. And she’s married to the church. Danny’s so sure he carries this divorce gene that he’s never bothered to challenge the family curse. Rachel Levin’s a teacher of human relationships. She knows all the scientific reasons for mutual attraction. She knows the basis of the human needs that drive people into relationships. She knows the statistics of almost every aspect of her field. In fact, Rachel knows everything about human relationships—except what it’s actually like to be in one. Together, Danny and Rachel learn there’s a lot more to love than what’s in a textbook, and that sometimes, genetics are highly over-rated.
Q: What do you like to do besides write?
I love to do things with my family--we took a road trip this summer that lasted almost a month and covered 5,000 miles. I enjoy hanging out with my friends. I like to read and go to the movies. Traveling to new places and trying new foods are high on my list of favorites. I like chilling with my cats, Ada and Chewie. I love to listen to music--all kinds--and sing along. What I don't like is doing anything domestic, including cooking and cleaning!
Q: What would you like us to know about you or your writing above anything else?
I worry about the poverty and hunger in America. There are foreclosures all over my neighborhood. I know so many people who have been laid off. We all need to do something to end this!
Q: Where?
www.deborahshelley.com. I'm also on MySpace and Facebook.
7 comments:
"Marriage 101" sounds delightful and you, Deborah, sound like someone I would like to know. Glad we're Avalon siblings.
sounds like a good book and I like to read the Avalon books, they are small and I can read one in a night,
Thank God for small favors
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Great interview! It was good to learn so much about Deborah. I'd like to know how you like writing with a partner. Have you done that before? Do you have to have rules or set boundaries or does it just flow?
Jane
Sandy, I'm glad we're Avalon siblings, too!
Edna, I really like the length of the Avalon books, too. They're a good night-time read!
Jane, I've written with Deborah since 1993. We just sit down side-by-side and write. When we finish a scene, we read it to each other to see if everything flows well. I also write non-fiction with other people, but we usually write separately and combine our work later. I'm lucky to have friends who like to write, too!
Thank you all for your kind comments!
Sandy, I'm glad we're Avalon siblings, too!
Edna, I really like the length of the Avalon books, too. They're a good night-time read!
Jane, I've written with Deborah since 1993. We just sit down side-by-side and write. When we finish a scene, we read it to each other to see if everything flows well. I also write non-fiction with other people, but we usually write separately and combine our work later. I'm lucky to have friends who like to write, too!
Thank you all for your kind comments!
Love the title, Shelley! I'm one of those people who buy because of titles...and covers...and the back blurb....lol.
Can't wait to read your book.
Thanks, Carol. A good title will also draw me to a book. There are so many clever titles, like Ken Wheaton's The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival, Pamela Morsi's Red’s Hot Honky-Tonk Bar, and Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd Gone Wild. I get a kick out of the names for funny paranormals, such as Annette Blair's Gone with the Witch, MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unwed, and Victoria Laurie's Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend.
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