Author Spotlight: Bone of My Bones by Debra Doggett

Debra Doggett is my guest today. She agreed to do a fun interview for me and is here sharing her new release, BONE OF MY BONES! Please help Debbie feel welcome!

INTERVIEW

You had me at “zombie” and “necromancer”. What inspired this book?

Actually two movies: Warm Bodies and Shaun of the Dead (I’m going to figure out a way to make Simon Pegg a romance hero yet, lol). I loved the humor and loved the thought of having to actually deal with someone you had a history with who was now a zombie. I mean, what could be harder than dealing with an ex-husband who’s a zombie? I’m a huge Laurell K. Hamilton fan and think necromancers are the coolest, so Matthias popped full-blown into my head.

Is Bone of My Bones part of a series? If so what’s next?

Yes, it is the first book in my ShadowWalker series. The next one, which is still in the writing stage, is titled No Bones About It and it takes Rose deeper into her new world while trying to keep a rogue angel from raising a dead army.

Rose grows prize roses…coincidence? Or a hint at who she really is?

The roses are part of Rose’s avoidance of her power. They’re sort of an anomaly. The desert isn’t the best spot to grow roses.

Which was your favorite chapter or scene to write? And why?

I loved writing Rose’s first meeting with Jokyu, her trainer. She’s reached1 the point of frustration where she pushes back instead of being nice as usual and she gets to be really snarky to fight off his arrogance.

Please share one random fact about you:

I spent three years working for the National Park Service where I was part of the curatorial team that packed up the museum collection’s human remains for reburial by the affiliated tribes. I will never forget holding a newborn infant that died 800 years ago. The baby was still wrapped in a turkey feather blanket.

What genre would you like to write that you haven’t tried yet? And why?

I would love to write straight historical fiction. I’ve got a lot of ideas swirling in my head, but I haven’t done it because I haven’t had the time for the    research it would require. Working a day job really cuts into my writing!

Share a little on your writing process?

I started out writing stage plays and that is the way my novels start as well, as scenes. I write down the scenes that come to me and flesh them           out. When I feel like I have enough scenes to make a coherent outline I plot out the story. Sometimes I even stick to the outline, lol.

You wouldn’t be caught dead where?

Hmm, that’s a tough one because I’ll go pretty much anywhere. I like to people watch, so I have no aversion to going to certain stores or fast food           places. I started to say I wouldn’t be caught dead on a long backpacking trip, but I probably would be found dead on one of those since I’m so out        of shape.

Something you can’t resist (your kryptonite)?

Soft drinks. I confess, I’m an addict when it comes to a cold fountain Coke. And I’m not a picky junkie either. I’ll take Pepsi if that’s what they have.

This or That (pick one):

• Winter or Summer: summer
• Read the Book Or Watch the Move: read the book
• Stilettos or Running Shoes: running shoes
• Scuba Dive or Skydive: jump out of a plane
• Mountains or Beach: beach
• City or Country: depends on my mood, probably city more often than country
• Host the Party or Just Show Up: just show up

Speed round, a la Actor’s Studio (one word answers where possible):

• What turns you on? humor
• What turns you off?  bragging
• What’s your favorite word? cool
• What’s your least favorite word? snowing
• What sound do you love? wind
• What sound do you hate? arguing
• What job would you like to try? stand-up comedian
• What job would you NOT like to try? police officer
• What’s your favorite swear word? the F word
• If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say as you enter the pearly gates? “Dinner’s ready.”

BONE OF MY BONES

Rose DeSalvo has had better days. Not many but a few. Especially since she left her cheating husband Eddie behind. But Eddie has turned up again to wreck havoc in her life. This time, though, he’s buried among her prize roses. Rose knows she’s got to find out who killed Eddie and get him back to the scene of the crime before she can be accused of his murder. That’s the reason she suddenly finds herself with a dangerously hot necromancer, a zombie ex-husband and a wild assortment of people who seem to know far more about her than she does about them. If she could only get them to tell her what she needs to know before she runs out of time, she just might uncover not only Eddie’s murderer but her own destiny.

The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

There was something about the etched design in the faded cowhide, sort of a scripted “E” all fancied up, that looked all too familiar.

“Hey, those are Eddie’s boots. Whoa!” With the aid of the side of the house, Leon got to his feet and peered at me with bloodshot eyes.

“What?” I kicked at the dirt with my slipper, trying to push enough of it aside to get a better view.

“You bumped him off.”

“What are you babbling about?” I shined the light around the edge of the hole Leon had dug. They really did look like Eddie’s boots. Please, please, please, don’t let the rest of him be in them.

“You bumped Eddie off, didn’t you?”

Leon staggered against me, giving me a good whiff of his breath. I wondered if you could get drunk from secondhand alcohol. Right now I could really use a stiff drink. I gripped his arm to keep him still. His wavering combined with his breath nauseated me. He peered into my eyes then looked back down at the ground.

“I mean, you always said you wanted to but I never really thought you would.” His voice held the kind of awe he usually reserved for major sports events and winners of monster truck rallies. It was the most respect he’d ever given my work.

I shook my head and hissed at him. “I did not bump Eddie off. You don’t know this is Eddie. It could be a total stranger.”

“You bumped off a total stranger?” The awe factor faltered a bit, replaced by a note of fear.

About the Author:

I’ve been many things in my life: actor, filmmaker, historian, writer, but putting words to paper is the most satisfying. After years of moving around the US, I’ve settled in the desert of New Mexico, a far cry from my birthplace in Louisiana. You never know where life will go.

The photo I’ve included isn’t a shot of me, but was taken during filming of my short movie. I wrote and directed it and was lucky enough to know some folks who worked in the film industry who filmed it for me. The title is Another Face in the Crowd and it’s an ode to working in a cubicle. Here’s the link to it if you’d like to take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV7CeFlCVT8&list=UU5zRFMf_4sJXDs8VkcmKMgA

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