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Lately, I’ve been featuring new-to-me-authors who happen to write for the Wild Rose Press – as do I. Today, I’ve got another newbie, but by no means a new author. Just check out her Amazon author page and you’ll see what I mean. Let me introduce you to Debby Grahl, who has  new book coming out soon titled HIS MAGIC TOUCH – and isn’t that a great title?! Debby agreed to be interviewed by me and she’s also giving us all a little peek at her new book, so sit back and learn a few things about this prolific author.

Here’s Debby.

Debby Grahl, the Writer

1. What drives you to write?

I have a disease of the retina called Retinitis Pigmentosa which causes gradual vision loss. I lost the ability to read in my early twenties, but even when I had sight, seeing the printed word was always difficult for me. Reading a book would take me twice as long as  a person with normal sight. I became frustrated with this and  began to make up my own stories. It wasn’t until the invention of computers and wonderful screen reading software that I was able to put my stories into words. Everything I type is read back to me aloud. This enables me to do my research, use the online dictionary, post on Google Plus and Facebook. This has truly opened a new window of opportunity for me.

2. What genre(s) of Romance do you write, and why?

I write both contemporary and paranormal romance. I’ve always liked reading books with ghosts and witches.  In writing, I like using them because they’re so versatile. You can have nice or mean ghosts.  You can have those who can be seen or not. I also enjoy using ghosts of historical characters. My witches are normal people with different levels of power. With contemporary books, I like to set them in interesting places. Rue Toulouse and His Magic Touch are set in New Orleans. My work in progress, Mountain Fire, takes place outside of Asheville NC.

3. What genre(s) of Romance do you read, and why?

Again, I love paranormal books with ghosts and witches. I’m a history nut and love visiting England, so Regency books are a must read for me. I love reading the queens of mystery cozies: Agatha Christy, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy L Sayers.

4. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write every day?

I do my best writing early in the morning. I usually get up around five-thirty, work out, then start writing. If the words are flowing, I’ve been known to  write nonstop until dinner time.

5. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table?

A few years ago I had back surgery. Recovering at home, I found my desk chair too uncomfortable. I discovered sitting in the love seat with my feet up worked best for me. I got so used to this, I still write with my feet up.

6. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnel-vision?

No, not at all. I get distracted too easily if there’s any kind of noise or commotion around me.

7. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? If not, why not?

Sometimes I listen to  a certain kind of music to get me in the mood, such as Cajun or jazz if my story takes place in New Orleans. Normally though, I find music to be too distracting. I find myself singing along and not writing. I’m amazed at the number of authors who write with music blasting.

8. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP?

My husband and I love to visit New Orleans. It was while we were there for a conference which took place in a historical hotel known to be haunted that the idea for His Magic Touch was born. (Peggy interjecting here: I lovelovelove New Orleans, too!)

9. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why?

The plot. I choose my setting, outline the story, then add the characters.

10. What 3 words describe you, the writer?

Determined, imaginative, disciplined.

Debby, the Gal

Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing! I met my husband doing Civil War reenacting.

Who was your first love and what age were you? Boy I’m going to be giving my age away, but my first love was an actor named Ben Murphy. I was thirteen when Alias Smith and Jones was on TV and I didn’t miss an episode. (Peggy here – sorry I keep interrupting but I LOVED THAT SHOW, too!!!!)

If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and….This is a hard one, but I think it would have to be the day I received my first book contract. After going through so many rejections, finally receiving an offer was the most incredible experience.

Do you like a guy in boxers, briefs, or commando? LOL! Commando!

If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it beauty item, what would it be? Dyeing my hair.

What three words describe you, the person? Loving, courteous, energetic.

If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be? I Did It My Way

If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any time line, who would it by, why, and what would you do together? Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. She could teach me magic and how to go back in time.

Bonus round

I love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it: 

1. Favorite sound: ocean waves.
2. Least favorite sound: an animal is distress.
3. Best song every written: I am woman. Hear me roar! (Peggy again – I adore Helen Redy!)
4. Worst song ever written: Tip Toe through the Tulips.
5. Favorite actor and actress Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? ( It can be anyone living or dead): Katherine Hepburn. I loved her style and personality.
6. What turns you on? A good looking man, slow sexy music, and a crackling fire
7. What turns you off? Overbearing pushy men.
8. Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date ( here’s mine: “Is that your real hair?”): How can you eat that?
9. What’s your version of a perfect day? A day in which everything goes smoothly!

HIS MAGIC TOUCH

The night before Jared Dupre’s wedding, a spectre warns him that the demonic witch, Adam Montief, has kidnapped his brother, threatening  to kill both him and Jared’s fiancée, Kendra O’Connell, in a centuries-old vendetta Jared knows nothing about. A powerful witch himself, Jared tracks Adam from New Orleans to a remote island off the coast of Connecticut. A sword fight ensues where a final thrust of Jared’s blade sends Adam over the cliff into the sea below.

But when Jared returns to New Orleans, he finds a triumphant Adam alive and intent on seducing Kendra. Kendra, not knowing Jared was forced to break off their engagement to save her life, has turned to a new man, unaware he’s Adam who has vowed to kill the man she truly loves.

With help from his grandmother’s spirit, Jared discovers the motive behind the Montiefs’ vengeance, while fighting to win back Kendra before she is drawn into Adam’s world of sadistic evil and assure Adam’s final destruction .

Excerpt

In the stifling heat, Angelique Montief flicked her wrist and set the bamboo ceiling fan spinning. Kneeling on a woven mat with sweat coating her body, she lifted a small wooden brass-bound casket from the bottom of a large trunk, inserted a gold key, and opened the lid. Inside two objects lay wrapped in thick cloth. She carefully unwrapped the smaller bundle to reveal a pentagonal mirror, a gift handed down to her by her grandmother, its ancient oak frame carved with tiny pentacles.

She glanced over her shoulder at her locked bedroom door, then stared into the mirror and whispered, “Show him to me.”When the glass remained blank, fear clutched at her chest. Again, she said the words, and the image of a plantation house engulfed in flames appeared. “No, please, he can’t be dead. ”Tears blurred her vision. The fiery image changed to reveal a human form lying beneath flowering bougainvillea. “Show me his face.”

She saw his indigo blue eyes blink open.

“I’m coming, my love.”

She rewrapped the mirror and placed it into the smaller casket among cloth bags of herbs and potion-filled vials. Relocking the lid, she hung the key on a chain around her neck, dropped a jeweled dagger into her pocket, and tucked the casket under her arm.

Augustus had locked her in, placing what he thought would be an impenetrable shield across both doors. Her husband’s biggest mistake was underestimating her.

Buy Links Wild Rose Press  // Amazon // B&N //

A little more about Debby

Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David, and their cat, Tigger. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books.
Her first published book, The Silver Crescent, won the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers’ Choice award. Her second book, Rue Toulouse, a contemporary romance set in New Orleans, was a finalist in the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award and was selected as a May, 2016, ‘local read’ by Hilton Head Monthly.
Her most recent book, Decorated to Death, is a holiday mystery cozy. She also has stories in three anthologies, The Haunted West, Never Fear / Christmas Terrors, and Ebb and Flow from the local Island Writers’ Network
Debby was featured in the January, 2016, Hilton Head Monthly article ‘Intriguing People of the Low country’. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Florida Romance Writers, and First Coast Romance Writers.

Connect with Debby here: Amazon // Website // Facebook //

Peggy here for the last time!!! I promise. Debby, it was an honor getting to know you. I feel like we’re sisters from other misters! Good luck with your writing and I’m proud to have you as Wild Rose sistah!)