Interview with Deborah Malone

Recently, I interviewed Deborah Malone.

Bio: Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega" is now available. She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

I've always loved to read. I think I was a teen-ager when I first tried my hand at writing. I didn't finish, but I guess that could be considered my first attempt at writing.

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

My genre of choice to write is cozy mysteries so cozy writers have had the most influence. A few would be Anne George, Patricia Sprinkle, Kathy Trocheck, Alice K. Arnez, Dana Mentink, just to name a few!

The one writer who influenced me most on Christian writing would be Margaret Daley.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

We always hear: go to conventions, read writing books, etc. and all of this is good. But the main thing that helped me was encouragement from other authors on "not to give up." It takes a while to get published and every author has a story about their journey. You have to hang in there for the long run! These are three books that helped me the most: Write in Style by Bobbie Christmas, Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon and after you're published Stress Free Marketing by Renea Winchester.

YOU TAKE AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS. HAVE YOU EVER BASED A SCENE ON A PHOTOGRAPH YOU’VE TAKEN?

Thank you. I've had to take many photos for my research for my magazine articles so I've used them several times for scenes. That was a great question!

 TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

"Death in Dahlonega" is my debut cozy mystery. It is based on two friends who find themselves in a bit of a scrape. Trixie is a magazine writer and she is on assignment in Dahlonega, Georgia and her friend Dee Dee has tagged along. Dee Dee owns an antique shop and this will be the perfect place for her to shop for antiques and other goodies. The girls are watching a film at the gold museum when Dee Dee has to go to the bathroom - this is not unusual for Dee Dee. While she is nosing around in the rooms she happens up on a dead body. She automatically pulls out the pick axe and winds up being the main person of interest. The handsome sheriff is ready to retire and run for mayor, so Trixie doesn't think he's trying very hard to find the real killer. So she and Dee Dee take matters in their own hands. The question is will they find the real killer before Dee Dee ends up in the slammer?

I am working on my next two releases with Trixie and Dee Dee the first one is "Murder in Marietta" and the second one is "Terror in Tybee Island."

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

I like to visit the area and take lots of pictures as well as interview people that are familiar with the area. Then I continue to do research throughout the whole book to keep it fresh in my mind. I don't really know how much time, but it is a good bit. Research is imperative.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

Well, I don't know about what I learned, but I do have a funny story. When I went to the gold museum and talked with the real ranger about taking pics/interviewing them etc. for the book she hurriedly called her boss and then preceded to tell me I couldn't write about their security system. Of course, I didn't know about their security system so it was funny to me. I really don't think she knew what a cozy mystery was.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Now that I've been published I don't have as much time to do other things, but I like to take photographs. I'm enjoying meeting people through my marketing of "Death in Dahlonega."

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

You can contact me by going to my website deborah-malone.com. I would love to hear from my readers and if anyone wants a signed copy I'd be glad to do that and my email is debbiejeanm@gmail.com.  Thank you for having me on your blog!

Back Cover: Winner in American Christian Fiction Writers' Category Five writing contest!

A friendly adventure turns to murder and mayhem in the north Georgia mountains. Historical writer Trixie Montgomery is asked to cover Gold Rush Days in the picturesque Georgia mountain town, Dahlonega. Trixie seizes the chance to mix business with pleasure and asks her best friend, Dee Dee to tag along. Their well laid plans go awry when Dee Dee is discovered standing over the lifeless body of prominent citizen, John Tatum - the very man she'd had a run in with earlier that day - holding a bloody pickax in her hands. Can Trixie find a way to finish her assignment and keep Dee Dee out of the slammer?

Giveaway:  Deborah has graciously agreed to host a giveaway of her novel. The giveaway will be a paperback book, and the only requirement to be entered in the giveaway is to visit her blog and sign up as a follower. The address is deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com. More details to follow.

Update--please be sure to leave a comment here and sign up for Deborah's blog to enter the giveaway. The giveaway ends February 29th!

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