Author’s Choice with Debra H. Goldstein

Please welcome Debra to Author’s Choice.

Dear readers, here’s where you get to play along. The author will tell us two truths and one lie (ed comment –I randomized the order). At the end of the questions, we’ll reveal what really happened. Remember, we write crime fiction, so lying is in our nature . . .

Two Truths, One Lie

Truth or Lie?: I was on Jeopardy – and lost.

Truth or Lie?: I write a minimum of 250 words a day – even if they aren’t good words.

Truth or Lie?: I balance my hours sitting in a chair writing with walking and going to a trainer.

Eight Quick Questions

Now for some fun insight into today’s author. Here are eight forced choice questions.

1.         First draft: longhand, keyboard, or dictation? - keyboard

2.         Plotter, pantser, or plantser (that chaotic middle ground)? – depending upon the piece I’m working on, I’m a true pantser. It’s only when I have a book contract and the editor requires a synopsis that I become a plantser.

3.         Editing as you go, or vomit draft first and fix it later? – Editing as I go.

4.         Writing snack: sweet, salty, or "I forget to eat"? – If a piece is going well, I stay in the zone and forget to eat. If it isn’t, dark chocolate, pizza, or ice cream, please.

5.         Character names: meticulously researched, stolen from real life, or whatever sounds right? – Whatever moves me at the moment – which means I invariably revise the names later.

6.         Writing space: coffee shop chaos, library quiet, or home sweet home? – an oversized chair that was made for my father’s long legs and that as a child my sister and I played on using it as the base for forts, imaginary horsey rides, and whatever else struck our fancy. 

7.         Social media for authors: necessary evil, genuine fun, or absolutely not? – Necessary. Fun most of the time.

8.         Deadline approaching: calm and prepared, thriving on adrenaline, or full panic mode? – Depending upon what’s been going on in my life, I’m usually wrapping up with an adrenaline rush.

About the Book

Enough about you, let’s turn to three questions about your book.

Q: If your main character in this novel showed up at your door right now, what would be the first thing they'd say to you (and would it be a complaint)?

A. “Is there something we don’t know about you that makes you like to write about sinning and redemption?”

Q: What's one thing you hope readers take away from this book?

A. From any of my books, I hope readers close the cover having had an enjoyable experience that blocked out the real world for a while.

Q: What question did you want me to ask, and what is your answer? 

A. If you could write any type of book, what would it be? I’d really like to write a strong suspense novel or light thriller, but the reality is that while I always incorporate some of the elements from those genres, I can’t avoid softening my works with humor.

The Big Reveal

Now let’s see how good a sleuth (or guesser) our readers are. Please reveal all.

The lie is that I write every day. I only write when the muse strikes me or I have a deadline.

Truth 1 – I intentionally graduated from the University of Michigan after three and a half years in December so that I could go to New York (2 days later) to try to fulfill my goal of obtaining a job in publishing and getting on Jeopardy. In case things didn’t work out, once I was in New York, I typed law school applications at night for the following fall. Things did work out but I realized I didn’t like being at the bottom of the publishing heap and the money I won on Jeopardy wasn’t going to go too far so it was time to go to law school.

Truth 2 -  I’ve always been a couch potato, but since moving to Atlanta this past year, I’ve turned over a new leaf. Although I’m spending a lot of time in my writing chair, I’m balancing those hours with walking and using a personal trainer.

Here’s a blurb for and some links where you can find Debra's latest:

Book Blurb

With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying, is a collection of eighteen award-winning short mysteries, from cozy to dark, centering around family and friends, their sins and their sometimes redemption.

[Amazon]       [Misti Media Bookstore]       

Want to know more?

For more information about Debra https://www.debrahgoldstein.com