The first day of the new year has long passed but it’s never too late to think about change. 2020 holds so much in store for me personally and professionally.

On the personal front . . . my husband and I will be moving into a lake house sometime either later this month or in March. It’s long been a dream of ours. Most summer days you’ll find us on Lake Jordan either jet skiing or boating in the Titus, Wetumpka, or Slapout, Alabama area. Once we move, we won’t have to drive the twenty miles to get to the lake but can step out of our house and walk to the boathouse. Heaven!

My writing career has also significantly changed over the past year and will continue in this new direction. The first books I wrote, and later self-published, were young adult paranormal romances. I was hugely inspired by the Twilight series. Then, almost seven years ago, my first book, Siren’s Secret, was published by Harlequin Nocturne. I ended up writing six paranormal romances for Harlequin and they were a blast to write. I absolutely loved writing about magic, but after these books my interest shifted to romantic suspense and I wrote five novels for Harlequin Intrigue. Two of those books, Murder in the Shallows, and Appalachian Peril, will be published later this year.

But in-between writing the romantic suspense books, I tinkered with, and eventually wrote Cold Waters, a psychological suspense that was published last year by Thomas & Mercer. Writing this story about the relationship between two sisters and a dark mystery from the past is when I felt I’d found my niche. I’ve always adored southern literature and gothic books. I grew up reading Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. They had a strong influence on me as I could identify with the strong sense of place in those books.

The journey of writing suspense continues this year with the recent publication of Scorched Grounds. My next suspense novel, Not One of Us, will be released in February 2021. Even though I’ll no longer be writing romance, I am a fan of the genre and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Wishing all of you much success, happiness and wonderful changes in the coming year!

Debbie