Debby Giusti Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. Susan, thanks so much for inviting me to be with you on The Suspense Zone. As a little background, I’m an Army brat and Army wife. My family and I moved every two to three years, which gave me the opportunity to see our beautiful country firsthand and to meet a lot of wonderful folks. I lived in Japan for three years as a child and in Germany with my husband. I used to joke that if I haven’t been somewhere yesterday, I’m sure to go there tomorrow. Eventually, my husband and I along with our three children settled in Georgia, not far from Atlanta. The kids are grown now and have blessed us with four wonderful grandchildren.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I grew up loving the written word and wrote my first book—a rather short manuscript—in third grade. English and science were my favorite subjects in school, but my mother encouraged me to have a profession so I studied clinical science in college and graduated with a bachelor of science in medical technology. I published a few articles when my children were young, then I put my writing on hold to raise my family. When we moved to Georgia some years ago, I realized if I didn’t start writing in earnest I never would.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. Soon after moving to Georgia, I joined Georgia Romance Writers and took advantage of the many programs and presentations offered to the members. It was through GRW that I honed my writing skills, got to know other writers and networked with publishing professionals in the industry. When a Love Inspired Editor visited my GRW chapter, I pitched a story I was working on. The editor said she would be interested in seeing a proposal if I added a faith element. As soon as I made the changes, I knew I had found my home in the Christian market. Soon thereafter, the editor called to offer me a contract. Nowhere To Hide, my debut novel, released in 2007.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Amish Christmas Secrets?
A: Amish Christmas Secrets is the fourth and final book in my Amish Protectors series. I’m thrilled it made the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers List, thanks to my wonderful readers. The series features three sisters caught in a human trafficking ring in the North Georgia mountains. The fourth book is Rosie Glick’s story, an Amish woman and single mom determined to protect her son from the man who killed his father.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Amish Christmas Secrets?
A: Every once in a while, a character takes me by surprise and appears on the page of my manuscript quite unexpectedly. Rosie was that type of character. I hadn’t planned for her to have a major role in the series, but she demanded to have her story told and ended up being one of my favorite heroines.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: Rosie has to overcome the mistakes she made in the past. Hero Ezra Stoltz has to, as well. Rosie and Ezra learn that forgiveness sets us free, although forgiving ourselves is often the hardest thing to do. I hope readers will embrace forgiveness and let go of past mistakes so they can enjoy life to the full.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. God inspires me to write. It’s part of who I am and the way He made me. If I couldn’t write, a part of me would wither and die…the joy part, the creative part, the part that needs to weave words into a story that, hopefully, touches the reader’s heart.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I’m working on a new Amish suspense series set in an Amish community in Georgia. I write Christian romantic suspense so, along with the romance, I’ve added murder and mayhem and a little whodunit that I think readers will enjoy.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. I’m active in my church, and when I’m not writing, I’m usually involved in some church project or ministry. Daily walks and trips to the gym are part of my routine, but my most favorite pastime is being with my grandchildren.