About Debbie De Louise:
I’m a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island and have been involved with books and writing for over 30 years. I received the Lawrence C. Lobaugh, jr. Memorial Award in Journalism for my work on the Long Island University/C. W. Post student newspaper as a Features writer and, more recently, the Glamour Puss Award from Hartz Corporation for my article on grooming that appeared on Catster.com. I’ve published a short mystery in the Cat Crimes Through Time Anthology and two novels, Cloudy Rainbow and A Stone’s Throw. The latter was published by Limitless Publishing, November 2015. I am currently seeking to publish a sequel and possible Cobble Cove mystery series and am also at work on a psychological thriller. I live on Long Island with my husband, daughter, and two cats.
What inspires you to write?
I get my inspiration and ideas for writing from various sources. Some are found within the pages of books I’ve read and enjoyed. I don’t duplicate any plots, but I try to emulate the writing styles of my favorite authors and repurpose some of the themes they feature in their works. Another source of inspiration comes from my own experiences that I fictionalize. I find that I can describe situations and feelings more accurately by having lived through them myself.
Tell us about your writing process.
Usually, when I sit down at the computer and put myself in a writing mode, ideas tend to come to me. I don’t focus on the mechanics of the writing initially. I just let the ideas flow almost subconsciously to the page. I find I’m at my most creative in the mornings, so I try to spend an hour writing before I have to get ready for work and my family is still in bed. Most of the outlines and character sketches I create in my mind as I write. I sometimes jot notes in a pad while I’m working and then reread my material in the evening when I do some light editing. I don’t do any major editing until I’m completely finished with the manuscript. I create separate Word documents that contain important plot points and character information that I add to as I go along. It’s not uncommon for my writing to grow in a different direction than I’d anticipated
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters play a big role in my writing. I like to feature ones that people can identify with and that have their own unique voice. I allow my characters to find themselves and change or develop through the story. My characters sometimes surprise me, and it hasn’t been unusual for some of them to become killers or be murdered when I hadn’t planned that at the beginning. My characters also have a way of letting me into their skin so that I can feature them in short stories and follow-up books or possibly a series because I become so familiar and attached to them that I can write about them in various scenarios.
What advice would you give other writers?
I would advise other writers to keep writing. Like anything else, writing requires daily practice. It doesn’t matter if you write a page a day or many chapters. Most new writers also work full-time jobs, but it isn’t necessary or productive to spend hours writing before or after work. However, I’ve found that reviewing the material in your mind throughout the day or at night can often inspire you when you are able to sit down and write. It’s also important to realize that most writers find writing much easier than publishing and promoting their work. You need to keep learning and network with other authors and professionals in the field. There are so many opportunities to gain experience by attending conferences, classes, and clubs. Don’t spread yourself too thin. You want to produce the best product, but you also want to learn the business. Try to make friends with readers and fellow authors. Most of all, don’t give up. Remember that even popular authors are rejected many times before becoming well-known.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’ve been both self-published and published by a traditional small publisher. There are pros and cons to both methods. Some Indie authors have been very successful, and there are more opportunities for them today. However, many still find traditional publishing appealing. I’m open to both at this point. I’m hoping to eventually find an agent and/or a larger publisher, so my books can be more widely distributed. I realize authors don’t sell a lot of books or make much money right away, so my focus is on building a fan base and reaching more readers whether I do that on my own or with a publisher.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I’m a librarian as well as an author, so I have faith that books will continue to be published in various forms. There is still an audience for print books. I, myself, prefer to read these. However, I also have a Kindle Fire and a nice collection of eBooks. There are many who like to listen to audiobooks, and I hope to have some of my books published in this form one day. Books and the written word are an essential part of our culture and history, and I believe there will always be a desire for them to satisfy our quest for knowledge and entertainment.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Women’s Fiction, Mainstream Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Debbie De Louise Home Page Link
Link To Debbie De Louise Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
