Welcome, Debra St. John

Welcome, Debra, to From the Pages. I'm so glad you stopped by to chat today!

Where do you write?

I write in a lot of places. "Home base" is in my den, which has my PC and all of my bulletin boards. Last summer I finally invested in a lap top, so now I tend to "wander" while I write. Sometimes it’s on the living room couch or the front porch on a nice summer day. The back porch is also a favorite spot.

How did you celebrate your first contract?

First I hugged and kissed my wonderful hubby, then I called my parents and all of my friends and relatives. My local writers’ group (Chicago-North RWA) has a great chocolate tradition. When you sell a book you don’t simply say "I sold a book", but you bring a box of chocolates to a meeting. When the President asks for good news, you pull out the candy with a flourish and announce, "I brought chocolate!" My first chocolate moment was fabulous. It couldn’t have been more perfect if I’d written it out myself!

How wonderful!

Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on now?

Right now I’m working on the sequel, or maybe spinoff if a better word, to "This Time for Always". For those of you familiar with this book, this is Zach’s story. I figured he deserved a girl of his own. "Wild Wedding Weekend" is currently with my editor at Wild Rose. Once I get it back from her I’ll move on to final edits and galley approval for that book.

Love your titles!

The question most readers want to know but never get the chance to ask, do you ever write in your pajamas?

Every chance I get! In the summer my routine is to sleep in, wander downstairs in my jammies, fire up my lap top, and sit on my back porch and write for a couple hours. It is usually an extremely productive time.

How did you meet your significant other?

We met at a country bar. The bar later became the setting for "This Time for Always".

When did you know you’d "made it" as an author?

When I held a copy of my book in my hand for the first time.

What are you reading now?

I’m really hooked on the "Twilight" saga by Stephenie Meyer. I’ve read all four books three times already and have plans for a fourth go-around in the near future.

Do you listen to music while you write?

I listen to music while I write, but not while I edit.

Have you ever laughed so hard something has flown out of your face?

When something strikes me as really funny I have a tendency to laugh until I cry.

Do you collect anything?

Mickey Mouse items. I have hundreds of them. Unfortunately they are all hidden in boxes in my unfinished basement. Someday when I get that million dollar royalty check, I hope to given them a room of their own.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

I’d simply like to thank everyone who has supported, encouraged, and cried with me on my incredible journey to becoming a published author. It’s been a life-long dream, and I continue to be amazed at the new things I’m learning and discovering everyday. I look forward to continuing the journey for many, many years.

Thanks so much for visiting today, Debra! I've enjoyed getting to know you. Best of luck with your writing career. I hope your Mickey Mouses get their own room very, very soon!

http://www.debrastjohnromance.com/

The purchase link for "Always" is here.

Blurb for "Always":

As the manager of a local bar, The Corral, Sharlie Montgomery has put the past behind her. That is until Logan Reed walks back into her life, turning her world upside down. His presence brings back painful reminders of the past: the love they had once shared, the money he took from her father, and the baby she’d given up for adoption. Logan wants to buy The Corral, and he’s come back to town to prove he was able to make it on his own without the Montgomery money. Sparks fly whenever Sharlie and Logan are together. Anger, fear, and jealousy aren’t enough to erase the love they once felt for each other. But is love enough? Logan wants a family - the one thing Sharlie can’t give him. -------