Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Author Interview and Giveaway with Debra Brown

Welcome everyone. I would like to introduce Debra Brown, author of The Companion of Lady Holemshire. She is here today to answer a few questions and give away two e-book copies of her book, The Companion of Lady Holemshire. All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment. Winners will be drawn on October 26th and we will forward each winner a copy of The Companion of Lady Holemshire in whatever format you require for your e-readers. Remember to enter a comment to participate.

Thank you, Debra, for being our guest today and participating in the giveaway. I'm sure everyone is anxious to learn a little more about you.

So, Debra, tell us your latest news.I started a blog for authors of English Historical Fiction. It has been a huge success, with more than a hundred followers and over 2,000 unique visitors in less than a month online.

Tell our readers when and why you began writing?I had lost my job and my little business with the economic downturn, and had the time to indulge my desire to write a story like the ones I enjoyed as period movies. It was only for my own enjoyment, in the beginning, but it developed into a book that I wanted to share!

What do you like to do when you are not writing?Endless period movies would be perfect. :) With some chocolate and whipped creamy cakes.

What inspired you to write your first book?It was actually because I ran out of the movies that I had watched while making jewelry for my past business. I thought that more stories were needed, and quickly.

What do you think makes a good story?I love some mystery woven throughout, but for me, the polite society of Regency and Victorian times is the frosting on the cake. And the frosting is more important than the cake.

How do you want readers to feel after they read your stories?
Of course, they would have to like my genre, but during the reading, I would like them to feel as if they were swept away from modern cares and concerns back to a time when they are pampered by servants and have an overabundance of everything. (Oh, well.) But after they finish the book, I want them to be saying, Wow, how did I miss that? Now it all makes sense!

What is your favorite character out of all the books you have written?I love Genevieve from my one and only published book. She is a strong woman that had to go against the role for women at the time to become happy.

What influences your creativity of your characters?That is so hard to say! I write, not an outline, but a number of paragraphs which eventually each become a chapter. Then I just have to start filling in all the details, and the characters seem to take on a life of their own. Where their personality comes from, I don’t know.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?Yes, thank you. I am writing a Regency story, again, a mystery with some sweet romance. It is about an eccentric woman who lives on a country estate with her twentyish twins. She has elaborate and strange house Rules, including that the twins cannot go near the gate. That means, basically, that they cannot leave the property. The young gentleman, Dante, begins to grow desirous of seeing other parts of the country. His sister is fearful of his breaking the Rules and wants him to leave well enough alone. It is really a book about obsession.

What are some of the goals and future plans with your writing?I would love to write a book each year, or a little more, if possible. I would like to see this become my career for the rest of my life.

Debra also requested that we post a link to another blogspot she participates in http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/

Thank you, and please rememember to enter a comment for your chance to win an e-book copy of The Companion of Lady Holmeshire. Good Luck!

Congratulations to Julie and Margaret for winning a copy of The Companion of Lady Holmeshire. I'll drop you an email.


12 comments:

  1. Good luck with you're book. I always find it interesting to see where an authors inspiration comes from.......great interview!

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  2. I am a follower of that wonderful blog Debra started and meandered my way here to this site in time to read this informative interview.
    Thanks for posting and the giveaway opportunity.

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  3. Very good and honest interview. I like the idea of writing a paragraph for each chapter.

    Marsha Cook
    www.michiganavenuemedia.com

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  4. Wonderful interview, Debra! Love it when you stated that more stories were needed when the movies had run their course... Good stuff! -- Joseph Beekman

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  5. Thank you for the giveaway! I've been wanting to read this book!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  6. Lovely interview. I think the idea of endless period movies (and chocolate of course) would be ideal. lol The book sounds wonderful and I'm thankful for a chance to win it.

    margaretmetz_writer at yahoo dot com

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  7. Intrigued by the Austen/Dickens intersection. I love one and really am not knowledgeable in the other. Historical fiction is a genre you don't have to convince me to read.

    poofbooks [@] gmail [.] com

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  8. The whole idea of more Austen-inspired books makes me smile. I love historical fiction! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

    katsaddress AT gmail. DOT com

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  9. Wahoo! I am a compulsive reader and Jane Austen is among my favorite authors so I would love to something inspired by her writings! Please enter me in this drawing.

    ctr1linda@q.com
    www.lindasnook.blogspot.com

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  10. I'm happy to see so many entries! Thank you all for coming.

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  11. I would LOVE to win a copy of this book! It definitely sounds like something I would enjoy reading! Thanks for the giveaway:)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  12. Found my way here through Goodreads; may be too late to enter, but I would LOVE to have a copy! It was a great review and sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you!

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