Deborah M. Piccurelli Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A.I consider myself an advocate for sanctity of life, which is why I write about such subjects as abortion and fetal harvesting. I have two published books, and am currently working with an editor on a novella for which I’ve recently signed a contract. I’m married and live with my husband and two sons in New Jersey.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. As a young girl, I had begun writing a couple books at different times, but I never told anyone about it, not even my parents. So I had no encouragement, and they eventually went by the wayside, especially when teenage life moved in. It wasn’t until after I was married and had my children that I picked up on it again.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A. There really aren’t any highlights. In fact, it’s a very boring story. LOL! I studied writing on my own, wrote a few manuscripts, and after a ton of rejections, finally sold my first novel to a small publisher. I was really green, and knew nothing about marketing and promotion. That book is now out of print, except there are some left and still selling on Amazon.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release HUSH, LITTLE BABY?

A: Here’s the back cover blurb:

Investigative journalist, Amber Blake, is a little person bent on payback for the death of her average-sized twin sister. Enlisted by her former partner and estranged husband, Evan, she poses as a counselor in an abortion clinic to expose the doctor responsible for fetal harvesting. As a Christian, she struggles with concealing her beliefs to maintain her cover, while the doctor’s romantic overtures tumble her stomach. Amber agrees to date him for the sake of the story . . . but nothing prepares her for what’s behind a mysterious door in his office.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for HUSH, LITTLE BABY?

A: A couple things. For the story, I got the idea from a clip about fetal harvesting I saw on Good Morning America back in 1999, advertising for a segment of 20/20 that would air that evening. I had never heard of it, and it sounded like something people should know about. I scribbled a short note on a scrap of paper and deposited it into my “story idea” notebook.

For the characters, I had noticed that little people seemed to be exploited on TV. In my heart, I knew I wanted to write a book someday showing them to be not so different from the rest of us. When it was time to write about these characters, I searched through my story idea book. The last piece of paper had the sentence I had written about the fetal harvesting, and I knew they would fit together perfectly.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: There’s always a cause for what I write, so for this story, it is awareness of the horror of what can happen through abortion, and that we, as citizens and children of God, should do what we can to help stop it.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: I like lots of the scenes, but I guess my favorite would be the romantic scenes between the estranged husband and wife.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A. When I come across a subject that tugs on my heart, usually some type of social issue, then I’m compelled to write about it.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?

A: Other authors may feel differently, but the marketing part is much more difficult than I thought.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A: Don’t get discouraged.c Keep writing. The more you write, the better you get at it. Never give up!

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A. There’s the novella I mentioned above, titled LOVE COMES CALLING. Though I mostly write cause-related romantic suspense, this story is pure romance. But I am also working on another romantic suspense manuscript within my brand.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A. I like to spend time with my family, or get together with friends; read, of course. I especially like to spend time with the Lord.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A. My website is www.deborahmpiccurelli.com; www.facebook.com/deborah.piccurelli; Twitter – @DebPiccurelli; pinterest.com/DebPiccurelli

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to Life Dynamics, the pro-life organization that conducted the real-life investigation into this horrific activity and brought it to Congress. They were extremely helpful in my research, and they work to stop abortion and all its components. Thank you so much for interviewing me!