Can you give us a
sneak peek at your new release “Murder in Marietta?”
Trixie and Dee Dee head off to
Marietta, Georgia for another assignment. They visit the Marietta History
Museum where they spend the night to see if they can sight the resident ghosts.
Sometime during the night a murder takes place in the museum and the director,
Doc Pennington, is put on the suspect list. He asks Trixie and Dee Dee to help
him find the real killer. Nana takes a larger role in this book and she won’t
disappoint you with her antics. All of
this together makes a recipe for murder and mayhem.
Update: My third book in the Trixie Montgomery
series “Terror on Tybee Island” should be out in December.
What inspired this
book?
I’ve always
loved to read so I think it was natural that I’d transition into writing.
Mysteries have been my genre of choice since I was a young girl and loved to
read Nancy Drew. Cozy mysteries are one
of my favorites and Ann George has been a big influence on my writing. As for
writing Christian Fiction – Margaret Daley’s books were a big influence.
How did you know you
were called to write?
I’ve
always wanted to write, but while I was writing my manuscript I wrote it as a
secular book. While I was writing it I was thinking I’d like to write it in a
manner that wouldn’t be offensive. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as
“Christian fiction.” I had finished the manuscript when I read one of Margaret
Daley’s books and went to her website where I ‘discovered’ Christian fiction. I
couldn’t get enough. I joined ACFW and began to study how other writers wrote
their books. I went back and rewrote my manuscript as Christian fiction.
Are you a panster or
do you outline?
I’m definitely a panster. I have a
general outline on how I want the manuscript to progress, but that’s it. Then I
might do a general outline for each chapter, but none of it is done in detail.
Now after I’ve written a chapter I will go in Microsoft One Note and detail the
chapter so I can keep up with my characters, timeline, setting, etc.
How long have you
been writing?
I started writing seriously in 2001
when I started writing for “Georgia Backroads” a historical magazine. I am still
writing for them. I started on my book in 2002, but life got in the way and so
I came back to it around 2009/10.
Tell us something
silly about you.
My friends and
family could probably answer this better than me. The one thing I can think
about is that I love to sing – but I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. So I sing
in the car with the windows rolled up and the radio/CD’s going to cover up my
singing.
What do you hope
readers will take away from this book?
There aren’t any deep messages in “Murder in Marietta, but
there is a theme of forgiveness and faith. For the most part I hope I make
someone laugh and take them away from the stresses of real life for just a
while. I want them to have some laugh out loud moments
What is your favorite
season?
Spring
What project are you
currently working on?
My third book in the Trixie Montgomery
series “Terror on Tybee Island” should be out the first of December. Trixie and
Dee Dee along with Nana and Trixie’s mama Betty Jo have gone to Savannah/Tybee
Island, Georgia for a vacation. Of course they are going to have to help
someone find a killer. My next book in the series is “Chilled in Chattanooga.”
What has been your
most challenging experience writing a book?
I don’t think I can list just oneJ Learning the craft/rules of writing was a big
curve for me. Then there is the editing. Then there is submitting to
publishers. And then when you are finally published you think you are home free
– not! Then there is the marketing. It seems there are always new challenges to
learn in writing and publishing a book.
What is your favorite
color?
Blue
What is a fond
childhood memory?
I have many fond memories, but one
that stands out is when my grandmother bought me a horse. My parents weren’t
able to afford one so she chipped in to help and one Christmas they surprised
me. Boy was I surprised.
What book are you
currently reading?
I just finished “Honored Redeemed” by
Loree Lough.
Links where you can
find Deborah:
: Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the
American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was
also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She
has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine
“Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her
writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a
member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and
Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction
Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.
