Author Interview + Two GIVEAWAY Opportunities ~ Debbie Lynne Costello

Debbie Lynne Costello has been writing since the young age of eight. She went to college for journalism. She enjoys medieval settings and settings set in nineteenth century Charleston, South Carolina. She loves the Lord and hopes to touch people's lives through her stories. Debbie Lynne lives in the beautiful state of South Carolina with her husband of 40 years, their 4 children, 2 Tennessee Walking horses, 2 Arabians, miniature donkey, 6 ducks, and 3 dogs. 

Connect with Debbie Lynne online: 

My website: DebbieLynneCostello.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbielynnecostello 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebiLynCostello 

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/276616916748/debbielynnecostello

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Welcome, Debbie Lynne! Rebecca, Rachael, and I are delighted you’re here today and sharing with us about your writing journey. We’ve collaborated on some questions that we hope our blog readers will be interested in hearing the answers to.

Please share with us a little about your current work and/or recently published book?

My new release is Bride by Blackmail. It’s set in Charleston, SC in the late 19th century. A young woman from a fairly well-to-do family finds herself the object of a very handsome Scot’s attention. Charlotte is strong willed and feisty but she loves her sisters so much she’s willing to sacrifice her happiness to ensure theirs. Duncan is a spy in America, looking for the man who betrayed his country and caused the death of his brother. What he doesn’t anticipate is that the lovely Miss Jackson would not only catch his eye but steal his heart. Problem is she’s in love with another man.

My WIP (work in progress) is the sequel to my debut novel, Sword of Forgiveness. Sword of Trust picks up where Sword of Forgiveness left off.

They both are stand alone novels but Sword of Trust continues on with life, and has much more history in it. It is set in a time where there was much turmoil between king and his nobles. I’ve done a lot of research and picked a British friend’s brain so much she probably dreads seeing my emails as they cross the sea to her inbox. I hope to have SOT out by the end of this year, Lord willing.

What is one of the most important pieces of advice you received early in your writing career?

Don’t head hop! LOL. Learning POV wasn’t hard for me but I’d written my first novel in the old style of head hopping. There was a huge learning curve when I started so much more than one thing. I was also told to write what you love. I love historical and so I’ve stayed here. I think when one loves where they are at it shows in their stories.

Have you seen significant changes in Christian fiction since you were first published? If so, have they caused you to have to adapt the way you write and/or publish your stories?

Unfortunately I have to answer yes to this. So many of the big publishers want to water down the Christianity in the books. I’m not saying all, but more and more are. I guess in some ways it has caused me to change. I still write what God puts on my heart. I’m not willing to compromise there.

But it is part of what made me indie publish some of my books.

Do you keep a journal of ideas for future books?

Oh my goodness, yes! I have notes on my phone, voice notes on my phone from when I’m driving and have an idea and can’t write it out. I have notes in word on my computer and a folder for just ideas.

Do your ideas for stories come all at once, or do they reveal themselves one character at a time?

I get a basic idea and sometime I run it past my hubby and we brainstorm so I get the basic structure of the story. Then I start to write. The first 3 to 4 chapters are always the hardest for me as I develop and learn my characters. But once I start writing them they take me often to places I never knew I was going to go. And many times they change the direction of the story.

Do you write during large chunks of set aside time or do you let the ideas run away with you when they feel like showing up?

I try to set time aside every day to write. It’s much easier for me to continue daily with the story. Otherwise I forget!

What were some of your favorite stories growing up?

As a young child I loved Henry and Ribsy books and Mickey Sees the USA.

Around twelve, I started reading Hardy Boys Series and The Three Investigator series by Alfred Hitchcock. And then when I got older I loved Gone with the Wind. I will say that a book that left a lasting impression on me was Flowers for Algernon. I wouldn’t say that was a favorite but it was a thought provoking book.

Do you have a hobby that helps you de-stress?

I have lots of hobby but some of cause stress. LOL. To distress, I’d say my favorite hobby is to take our horses out and go riding. That to me is the most relaxing thing to do. I love to ride trails through the woods where it’s unusual to see another person. It’s so peaceful. Another hobby I enjoy and does help me distress is crafts. If I see something that catches my eye, I enjoy sitting down and doing it at my leisure. Painting is relaxing to me as well, but I’ve painted so many pictures I don’t know what to do with them.

It’s been a crazy year so far for all of us. If you’ve taken a vacation this year, where did you go? If not, is there a local place where you live that you’d like to visit for a day trip?

We went to Houston, Texas, though it wasn’t a vacation. It was for Joe’s tests. But we have two very dear friends there so visiting with them is like a vacation. We plan to go to Maine and visit our son and daughter-in-law.

Like us, they are building their own home. We love to go up and help them out.

I know many of us readers snack while we consume books. What’s your favorite snack while you write? Do prefer tea (iced or hot), coffee, or soda?

If it is morning, I’ll drink hot tea. If it’s after morning tea I drink cold peach tea. I try not to snack during the day but if I did it would probably be Terra vegetable chips.

Is there something you’d like to ask our readers here at Stuff & Nonsense?

I’d love to know if they prefer series books and if they like to see the characters from the previous book appear in the new book.

Thank you for having me on! It has been a pleasure and fun questions to answer.

Debbie Lynne is hosting a Rafflecopter Giveaway for a paperback copy of Bride by Blackmail here >> https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/aac1581d10/ 

You can purchase a copy here >> Amazon

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And Debbie Lynne is also graciously offering one of my blog readers a choice of ANY of her books!!! How sweet is that???

Please leave a comment answering the above underlined question from Debbie Lynne along with an email address in a non-spammy format (hot at dog dot com) in case you win. 

The giveaway ends Sept 29th. A winner will be chosen using Random.org. US only due to postage costs. 

Here is a list of Debbie Lynne's books:

Bride by Blackmail  Book 1 in Moonlight and Magnolia Series Coming in September 15th 2020 
A Cup of Christmas Cheer (Guideposts Books) 
Sword of Forgiveness Book 1 in Winds of Change Series (Medieval)
Sword of the Matchmaker Novella in the Winds of Change Series

The Perfect Bride Novella in the Winds of Change Series

Sword of Trust Book 2 in Winds of Change Series coming 2020

Shattered Memories Book 1 in The Charleston Earthquake Series

~Happy Reading~