Exclusive Interview with
Deborah L. Perdue
When did you start writing?
I wrote poems and essays throughout my teenage years and then as an adult. In 2012, I published my first Gratitude Journal, Grace of Gratitude Journal. Since then, I have continued writing on gratitude, and have since published 4 more books.
What makes writing your passion?
Gratitude fuels my passion of writing. Every day, I sent out Daily Gratitude Reflections to my email subscribers. I love to express my thoughts on feelings through my writing passion.
How long have you been writing?
Since a young girl.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Excitement and it was a thrill!
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I write non-fiction self-helps books.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
There is no annoying part of the writing part of my career.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I think that writing every day on gratitude alleviates any writer's block.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
Keep going! If writing is your passion, you will find it rewarding and fulfilling no matter what.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
You are going to grow and change in amazing ways! Love yourself.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
It's hard to read reviews that are not super-positive.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
I love to hear how I have helped someone find more gratitude in their own lives.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Book covers are very important. They are the first impression.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I always reply to my gratitude subscribers. I love chatting with others.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
It's wonderful. It means the world to me.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
I have many favorite authors. In non-fiction, some I love are Deepak Chopra, Florence Scoval Shinn, Brene Brown, Mark Nepo, Ernest Holmes, Wayne Dyer, to name a few.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
I would love to have a huge audience, like Brene Brown does.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
What would you say to your readers?
You can do whatever you decide to do, at any age! The world is our oyster.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I live in the forest in beautiful Southern Oregon, with three rivers nearby. I am married and have adult stepkids who I adore, and two cute grandsons.
What is your day job if you have one?
I am a freelance book designer, and love my day job.
www.illuminationgraphics.com
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Swimming, walking in nature, enjoying spirituality and all my like-minded friends.
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes, we lived out in the country and spent time outside, climbing trees, riding horses, swimming in our pool.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
Finding the path of gratitude spurred me on to publish journals and books about the subject.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
I think that more focus should be on life skills for children. Also, bring back art into the classroom.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
That more people realized we are more alike than different so that we could have more peace and harmony in the world.
That I become wealthy so that i can be a philanthropist and give more freely.
That i live a long life, over 100 years old, healthy in body, mind and spirit.
What is your favorite music?
Spiritual music is my favorite, but I love many styles including classic rock and reggae. The Grateful Dead are my all-time favorite band.
Share a secret with us 🙂
I have had two incarnations in this life -- the first part of my life was wild and hedonistic. Now I have settled down and focus on all the good in this world and share it.