It is such a pleasure to have National Best-Selling author Debra Webb here today! She’s one of the most wonderful people I know and I hope you’ll enjoy our interview below. Deb’s fans old and new, will be thrilled to know Deb’s offering up a digital copy of her new novel, Dirty as well as…wait for it…the latest Colby Agency trilogy: Missing, Damaged, and Broken!
AWESOME, right!?!
So without further ado, here’s Deb:
RB: Jackie Mercer, the star of DIRTY, just leaps off the page! I love all the layers and nuances of her personal and professional relationships. (The weekly confessional with prizes cracked me up). How did you create Jackie and why did you choose Houston as the setting for Dirty?
DW: When I decided to write Jackie there were few heroines over forty. Desperate Housewives hadn’t hit the airwaves, certainly not Body of Proof (the previous heroine of a show like Dana Delaney is doing was way younger, you might recall Crossing Jordan). I had just passed the 45 milestone myself and I decided it was time to show a vital, hardworking, sexy heroine over 45! When my husband was in the military we lived in Texas for two years and I loved it! Since my Colby Agency series is set in Chicago, I wanted a very different local. Texas was perfect and Houston is my kind of town.
RB: You’ve blogged about music encouraging and inspiring you personally. Is it the same when you’re writing? Do you have a different ‘soundtrack’ for each book?
DW: I do love music. When I hear a favorite song it moves me. I want any story I write to make folks feel the way a favorite song makes me feel. Most of my stories have a theme song!
RB: Readers are fortunate with your Colby series and so many of us have fallen in love with your dynamic characters. How do you keep yourself fresh while writing a longstanding series?
DW: The Colby Agency feels like family to me. I am so fortunate to have so many who love the series. It is the biggest series, in terms of the number of books by one author, in Harlequin’s history! Number 50 comes out next year! I look at the characters as real people. You have lots of folks who have similar features and traits, but none are ever the same. I may have several “wounded” heroes but the reasons/reactions/etc is always unique for each individual character. I try to keep in mind that no matter what qualities people have in common, each one has an individual psychology.
RB: I’ve always admired (and aspired to) your work ethic and productivity. What are your favorite things to do when you’re not writing?
DW: Junking! I love it. Whether scouring cast offs the evening before trash pick up day, yard sales, or thrift stores, I love junking! And working in my garden (flower and vegetable).
RB: What would you like readers to know about Pink House Press and your upcoming releases?
DW: Pink House Press was named after the home where I grew up. My mom and dad were farmers. Life was tough, but my mom always believed the next day or week would be better. She never lost her optimism and never gave up her dreams. When I was four she and dad bought an old farmhouse (slightly larger farm and house than the previous one), and she painted that old house pink. It had a spooky old attic that had been turned into a second floor and a musty basement. A massive yard and lots of pastures and woods. I loved it! By the time I was nine I was writing stories all the time. A couple years later my mom bought me an old manual typewriter on which I banged out many other short stories! I felt it was fitting to name my publishing company after that old house!
DIRTY, the first Jackie Mercer novel, is my debut title with the Pink House Press. She is available as an ebook only at the moment but the tradepaper version is in the works! I’ll also be releasing several sassy romances over the next few months (my work from the early years–all polished up, of course!). In November comes my first paranormal romantic suspense, UNFORGIVEN. I started this one last year before my injury so I’m just now getting back to it. I’m hoping folks will love it. It’s very dark and sexy!
Right now BROKEN, my latest Colby book, is out from Harlequin Intrigue. In September there will be a free online read at eharlequin.com featuring Victoria and Lucas. Then CLASSIFIED in October and DECODED in November winds up this year’s Colbys.
Bio: Debra Webb, born in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has penned nearly 100 novels. Visit her at www.debrawebb.com.
About Dirty:
DECEPTION
Jackie Mercer can’t abide deception. Hey, a woman who single-handedly built the Mercer Detective Agency from the ground up has a right to expect honesty in a relationship. Tell that to the creep who, only this morning, she thought might be Mr. Right. Wrong!
DANGER
Her day only gets worse from there. An ominous message arrives accompanied by the photo of a man she hasn’t seen in ten years: You were the last one to see him alive.
DESIRE
Jackie’s own first rule is simple: never mix business with pleasure. Unfortunately the only applicant for the investigator position she badly needs filled is a hunky younger man. Derrick Dawson has pleasure written all over his rock-hard body and soon both her business and her world quickly spin way out of control. Time for chocolate and a shot of Old No. 7—not necessarily in that order.
DISASTER
She’s in real trouble when a second message, this one including a dead body, drops into the mix. Jackie does what any smart Texas woman would do: she kicks butt and takes names, while the mystery spiraling around her long lost lover and her attraction to Derrick Dawson plunge her into a tangled web of shocking secrets and deadly deceptions.
Jackie Mercer can’t abide deception. Hey, a woman who single-handedly built the Mercer Detective Agency from the ground up has a right to expect honesty in a relationship. Tell that to the creep who, only this morning, she thought might be Mr. Right. Wrong!
DANGER
Her day only gets worse from there. An ominous message arrives accompanied by the photo of a man she hasn’t seen in ten years: You were the last one to see him alive.
DESIRE
Jackie’s own first rule is simple: never mix business with pleasure. Unfortunately the only applicant for the investigator position she badly needs filled is a hunky younger man. Derrick Dawson has pleasure written all over his rock-hard body and soon both her business and her world quickly spin way out of control. Time for chocolate and a shot of Old No. 7—not necessarily in that order.
DISASTER
She’s in real trouble when a second message, this one including a dead body, drops into the mix. Jackie does what any smart Texas woman would do: she kicks butt and takes names, while the mystery spiraling around her long lost lover and her attraction to Derrick Dawson plunge her into a tangled web of shocking secrets and deadly deceptions.
Jackie has her hands full and her heart on the line—time to play DIRTY.
Live the adventure!
Thanks for joining Deb here today! Please leave a comment for Deb along with your email address if you’d like to enter the giveaway!
Good morning!
Morning Deb! I’m so glad you’re here today!
How nice to hear of a heroine who is mature. I’ve asked a few authors I know why they don’t write a book about a middle aged woman with saggy boobs and cellulite. I can relate to that. Love to enter
lvs2dv@gmail.com
I’m with you! What’s wrong with a real woman who has the stretchmarks to prove she is a mother? Or who regrets the fact she needs reading glasses but does what she has to do? We older women are still sexy!
Amen! 😉
Hi Regan, Hi Deb!
The book sounds very interesting, especially the relationship between a mature woman and a younger man 🙂
If the giveaway is international, I’d like to enter. Thanks!
Daniela.
Daniela, I really need to learn to specify, don’t I? (some day I promise) Dirty- as an ebook, is definitely open to everyone, living anywhere! Thanks for joining us and being so patient. 🙂
Absolutely, Daniela! I’m very excited about DIRTY! The book has gotten great reviews so far and I’m looking forward to Jackie and Dawson’s next adventure!
Would so love to win the TRILOGY! 🙂 As I already have DIRTY! 🙂 *GRINS*
Thanks for the contest & the Blog!
LOVE DEBRA! 🙂
Vanetta@ymail.com
Me too, Vanetta!
Waving to Vanetta!
Looking forward to these books!
Please enter me in this contest.
chiquitaq@yahoo.com
Thanks, Elisa!
These sound very exciting..
Please enter me for a chance to win.
I am really excited to have a chance to win. : )
Christine S.
chrissy6341ataoldotcom
Hey, Christine!
Love reading ebooks….My daughter Vanetta turned me on to you!!
That’s fantastic, Phyllis! And our thanks to Vanetta, too. 😉 Debra writes such wonderful books.
Vanetta is a good daughter!
I always love stories based in Texas-maybe it’s because I’m a native. Been reading Deb’s stories for years, so glad to see an over 40 heroine.
Thanks Deb for recognizing women over 40 are sexy, strong and still kicking butt and taking names!
saragillispie at ymail dot com
I have loved reading Debra Webb since she first started out and the books were sold at Walmart. I love her technique and style and can only hope to write just a awesome as her one day. Keep up the great work Debra…
Lib
I agree with you, Libby. Debra is fantastic! Thanks so much for visiting her interview here!