Interview Debbie Hull

by

Andrea Crisp

1).        Tell us a little about Deborah Hull the author.

I’ve always been an avid reader, and assumed the natural progression was, reader, writer, published author, famous person! The year I had another one of those birthday’s with a zero at the end, made me realize I’d better get busy. Even though I wasn’t a “romance reader”, I took a continuing education class on how to write romance novels, since I figured I should start somewhere, and was hooked. I joined Romance Writers of America, MoRWA which is the St Louis Chapter of RWA, and I’m a member of a small critique group; three of our members are also Wings authors. Look for a yellow rose by our names on our book covers.

2)                  What inspired you to write The Men Of Her Dreams?

I had this dream years ago, I got lost in George (yes, Beatle) Harrison’s maze outside his cottage in the English countryside. He rescued me and we spent hours in his recording studio, singing and playing music. Forget the fact I’m a horrible singer, and a sorry excuse for a piano player, but hey it was my dream. When I thought that might be a great way for a couple to meet, I had to pick another hero and heroine, since both George and I were married to other people.

3)                  How long did The Men Of Her Dreams take you to write?

From the time I started to put it on paper, until I wrote “The End”, it was probably around fifteen months. Of course then I wrote, and re-wrote and re-wrote some more, printed off five copies and put them in a box in the back of the closet in a spare bedroom. And, that’s where it stayed until my critique group encouraged me to send it to Wings.

4)                  How long have you been writing?

I’ve been “making up” stories all my life, but almost six years ago (refer to questions 1) I decided to get serious about it.

5)                  Who is your favorite author(s) and why?

I’ll read anything and everything I get my hands on, including my husband’s car racing and golf magazines. I love Patricia Cornwell, and look forward to any new book she writes about Kay Scarpetta. My dear neighbor Clara recently picked up some books by Elizabeth Lowell, and we are both hooked. Wow, does that lady do some research! John Grisham, Thomas Harris, Tom Clancy, John Irving, Sandra Brown, Jill Marie Landis, Margaret Mitchell, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and I could go on and on and on. My all time favorite author is Harper Lee who wrote my all time favorite book “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I grew up in Alabama and lived most of my life there, (just like Nelle as she’s known to friends) and she captured the true flavor of the south. I do wish she’d written other books. It’s rumored she’s said since To Kill A Mockingbird was such a huge success, the only way to go from there is down. Maybe one day she’ll change her mind.

6)                  Do you have any projects in mind for the future?

I have another romance that’s about two thirds finished. Since I do have a day job, I’m not able to devote the time to writing I’d like to. I’ve written a few short stories, and a children’s book I’d like to do something with. I also am a few chapters into a story narrated by a young southern girl growing up in south Alabama in the 1960’s.

7)                  Where do you see yourself, as a novelist, twenty years from now?

In twenty years, I’ll be retired from “the day job”, and hopefully living on my own tropical island. It would be nice to have a few successful novels under my belt, and maybe a movie or two. It bothers me to see some authors settle for telling the same story over and over again. They just change the names and places. I’d like to make sure all my stories are totally different and appeal to a wide variety of readers.

8)                  Do you believe you’ve reached all of your goals as a writer, or are there still things you wish to achieve?

I’m just getting started. There’s always more to learn, more genre’s to discover, and more stories waiting to be told.

9)                  What do you consider the most challenging aspect of writing?

Time. There’s never enough of it. It takes a lot of discipline to make yourself write when you can think of a million excuses not to.

10)              Are you planning a sequel or any kind of continuation to The Men Of Her Dreams?

Can readers expect to meet up with any of its characters again? I had a brief moment after I’d finished the story of Flynn and Robert, when I knew that I would miss them, and didn’t want to let them go. There might be a romance out there for Flynn’s Aunt Liz, we’ll have to see.