Debra Webb is one of the most productive authors on the planet. In 1998 she sold to a publisher her first novel. 17 years later the master of romantic suspense’s books are highly respected by the readers and critics. Her series Colby Agency and Faces of Evil are well known around the literary world. We’ve got a chance to speak with USA Today bestselling author about her latest projects, self-publishing and herself.

– Your last book Bone Cold is about missing children. You are specialist in crime thrillers, but what is the different in this one?
– Bone Cold leans more toward romantic suspense. I’ve done a number of missing children stories and this one is particularly close to my heart.

– How did you decide to write the story?
– I actually started this story long ago after righting Bone Deep. Since no publishers were interested at the time, I put both stories aside. It wasn’t until I accidently stumbled upon the proposal that I remembered starting the story. I am so glad I found it!
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– The heroine in this story is a police detective and the mother of a missing child. It was a tough act to balance when she’s assigned to a missing child case.
– Tell us something more about your main characters Sarah and Tom Cuddahy? Are they close to someone from your real life?
– No, they are purely fictional—but, I always grow very attached to my characters and they feel like family.

– The Dying Room will be released in March 20. What the fans of Faces of Evil series may expect?
– The Dying Room takes the series in a new direction. The books will no longer be focused primarily on Jess and Dan, though both will be in the story. There will always be a murder mystery, but the case will be a secondary plot. The primary focus of the book will be on one of the characters that fans have come to love. In The Dying Room, Sylvia is the focus character!
– Which is tougher for you – to write a new book in series or a single novel? Please explain the difference in your approach?
– With a single novel, you’re writing about new characters. It takes work to create and fully develop each character. The up side is that you’re creating a new world so you don’t have to worry about whether or not you missed a detail from previous books. In a series, though you know the characters and they are certainly easier to work with, there are hundreds of details from the previous books you must recall and weave into the new story! That’s where an outstanding editor comes in and I have one!
– Who are you?
– I am a storyteller. I have dozens of characters living in my head—all of whom want their stories told. I’m a wife and mother and, more recently, a grandmother. I adore old houses and antiquing. I am in love with a man I met when I was sixteen years old and we’ve been married since.
– What are your writing habits?
– Five years ago I would have told you that I write two or three hours a day and then I have a life. Unfortunately, five years ago I was injured and I lost a great deal of the use of my right hand. Now I spent many long hours creating the stories I am able to publish each year. When I’m not writing, I love exploring off the beaten path places with my husband.
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– I have a Facebook page and twitter as well as Instagram. I have my websites and newsletter. Most importantly, I have an amazing Street Team! That’s about it! I do a Weekly Briefing on my http://www.thefacesofevil.com page!
– When we will see your next project after The Dying Room?
– I hope to have two new stories out this summer, the titles are still a work in progress.
– You worked five years for NASA. If it’s not a secret would you tell more about those times?
– Yes! I worked in the Space Shuttle Project!
– Your right shoulder and arm were injured in 2010 and your career as writer was in question. What were the most important things that kept your will strong during the months of recovery?
– My family and friends. I have to tell you, I realized from the day I was injured how many dear and wonderful friends I have. They propped me up and carried me along. My family’s support remains relentless! Also, I must thank Amazon for forging the way for authors to take control of their careers!
– Self-publishing industry is growing up. You are one of the modern examples of the new wave. What are the positives and negatives in the new option for authors?
– The definite positives are control over every aspect of your work—the writing, the editing, the packaging, the pricing—basically everything.
The negatives are much the same. Making all those decisions can be tough. There are two very important things to remember: 1) Write the very best story you can and have it properly edited, proofread, and formatted. 2) Pay attention to your readers.
– With over 50 books in The Colby Agency series, do you consider to attack the Guinness World Records for number of novels in series?
– Well, there was a time when that was truly a huge feat. Very few authors have kept readers coming back for that number of books in a series. However, there are a couple out there who are reaching that point!
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be?
– Why, after more than one hundred books and a life-altering injury, do you keep writing? Because storytelling is more than what I do, it’s who I am. I have an obligation to my readers and to all those characters living in my head!

Learn more about Debra Webb at her Web page
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Take a look at some of her books:
<a href="The Dying Room ” target=”_blank”>The Dying Room: A Faces of Evil Novel
Bone Cold
Depraved (Faces of Evil Book 10)
Against the Wall (Dangerous Protectors Book 1)