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Debra was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Springfield, OH but has lived in the Memphis, TN area since 1997. She attended Marywood University in Scranton, PA and was the first student to win first place in two categories of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Beta Epsilon Chapter writing competition, in creative prose and in informal expository. Her poetry was published in literary journals while attending college. She holds a BA in English Literature. Debra has traveled extensively and worked as an independent travel consultant for several years. She has visited thirteen countries. She has also worked in banking, newspaper advertising, as city recycling co-coordinator, as an office manager, and as a belly dance instructor. Her first short story, published in the anthology More Monsters From Memphis, was a finalist in the Darrell Awards for best Mid-South short story. Her first novel, A Desperate Journey, a western historical romance, was a finalist in the Bobbi Smith Creative Writing Challenge. Not long afterward it was a finalist in the American Title II contest. For those not familiar with the contest, she describes it as similar to the American Idol contest, but for authors. Readers voted online and the prize was a publishing contract. A Desperate Journey was published a year later by Samhain Publishing. Debra's second western historical romance, Dangerous Ties, was published Feb. 15, 2012 by Desert Breeze Publishing in eBook and will be released in print April, 2013. Aboard The Wishing Star, Debra's first contemporary romance, will be released Oct. 11, 2012 by Desert Breeze Publishing in eBook. Trapping the Butterfly, a 1920's romance set in Hot Springs, AR will be released in April, 2013 by Desert Breeze Publsihing in eBook. When not writing, Debra enjoys dancing, primitive archery and medieval reenactment, yoga and traveling. For Debra, writing is about joy. The joy of creation and the joy of connecting with her readers. It is one of her greatest pleasures to hear from her readers. |
