Looking Out the Window: Deborah Malone Talks about Death in Dahlonega and her Writing Journey

Deborah will give away a copy of Death in Dahlonega. To enter to win leave a comment and your email address.

DEBORAH’S WRITING JOURNEY

Gail, first let me thank you for having me as a guest on your blog. I like that you are doing something different. Now I just have to think of what I’m going to write. I guess I should start at the beginning. I’ve always loved to read. I think I came out of the womb reading. I remember going to the library at school and how I loved to look and smell – yes that is smell- the books.
     When I got a little older and started going to the big library downtown I thought I’d died and going to book heaven. I think I read every mystery they had. My love of books has not diminished over time. When I was about eleven or twelve, I remember thinking ‘oh I can write a book’ I did write about three or four pages, but never finished. I’ve learned it’s a little harder than it looks. LOL
     Although I continued my reading in adulthood I didn’t try my hand at writing until much later. I wrote some short stories and poems, but not anything serious. Then around 2001 I went to eat at a restaurant that was housed in a beautiful old building. I suggested to my friend someone should write about it. He said “Why don’t you?” And I did. That was the beginning of my writing for “Georgia Backroads” a historical magazine devoted to Georgia history.
     Somewhere along the way I decided I wanted to write a cozy mystery. I finished the manuscript in about a year, but then set it aside to take care of my dad and my daughter that is disabled. In the meantime I learned about “Christian fiction” and ACFW. I knew that was how I wanted to write my book. I rewrote the manuscript and then started on the editing. I had a lot to learn and it took me several years to get it to the point of publication.
     I submitted it to small publishing houses and Lamp Post Publishing offered me a contract. I was ecstatic. There was still about six months of editing and work before the final product was ready to put on the market. “Death in Dahlonega” was officially published in October of 2011.
     My emotions have been on a roller coaster ride since then. There are many high points, but one thing I didn’t expect was how exposed I would feel. A writer puts so much of their heart and soul in a book and then sends it out into the world to be read and reviewed. It is kinda like giving birth – and sending your baby out into the big, bad world. It is nice to see all the hard work and all the times I’ve wanted to give up, but didn’t, have paid off.

Here’s a little about Trixe and Dee Dee’s adventure in “Death in Dahlonega.”

       Trixie Montgomery has gone through a rough divorce. She has moved back to her home town of Vans Valley, Georgia where she moved in next door to her mother and great-aunt Nana. Trixie goes to work to supplement her income. She writes for “Georgia by the Way” a historical magazine. Her best friend Dee Dee accompanies her on a trip to Dahlonega, Georgia where Trixie is working on an article about Gold Rush Days – an arts and crafts festival. They are watching a film on the actual gold rush days when Dee Dee excuses herself to go tinkle. While she’s gone she decides to snoop around and she stumbles upon a dead body. Not thinking she automatically pulls out the pickaxe and is found holding the bloody murder weapon. The victim, John Tatum, happens to be a man that Dee Dee had a run in with earlier that day. She rises to the top of the suspects list and when the town sheriff doesn’t seem to be looking for anyone else, Trixie decides to help her best friend. Together they must find the real killer to keep Dee Dee out of the slammer!

     This is a short, easy read and I hope it will be something my readers can sit down and read for pure enjoyment after a hard, stressful day. I hope Trixie, Dee Dee and Nana’s antics will give you a laugh out loud moment.
     Please visit me at my website www.deborah-malone.com or my blog www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com. I would love to hear from you. “Death in Dahlonega” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Lamp Post Publishing.