A conversation with Debra Glass

Author Debra Glass is a full time freelance writer, a historical buff, author of more than fifteen books from Paranormal to historicals, but also, is well known for steamy romances—one of which, Lucid, was just released via Ellora’s Cave, and we’ve reviewed it here for you, previously. Recently, Debra took time out of her busy schedule to speak with us, and so… for your reading pleasure, we’re happy to present it here:

A Conversation with Debra Glass.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Debra. Firstly, then, how did you first come to write romances and/or Erotic romances?

Debra: I pilfered from my grandmother’s romance library in the heyday of the bodice rippers and fell in love with stories by Johanna Lindsey and Karen Robards. When I began writing, I realized my stories gravitated toward romance so I joined the Heart of Dixie Chapter of Romance Writers of America and began writing romance full time.

What was your first published story, and when did that take place?

Debra: I published an article on Mediumship with Fate Magazine in the 1990’s. Since then, several of my articles have appeared in Fate. I’ve written historical articles along with military historian, Heath Mathews, for various Civil War Magazines. My first romance to be published was Gatekeeper, with Ellora’s Cave in 2008. I’ve been writing for EC since but hope to break into the young adult romance market soon.

Wow. So you write all over the map. :) So who would you say are your biggest influences?

Debra: Johanna Lindsey, Phillipa Gregory, Brenda Joyce, Julia London, Jane Austen, the Brontes, and Margaret Mitchell, of course!

Oh, yeah. Gotta love the classics! :)

In terms of your career, what are you most proud of?

Debra: Recently, two of my historical romances, Bought and Paid For and Bad Kitty, were nominated for Best Erotic Historical of 2009 by The Romance Studio. I was also nominated for Favorite Erotic Author. I enjoy writing the stories in my head and it’s icing on the cake to be recognized by reviewers and readers alike.

Congrats on those nominations! :) I just personally enjoyed Lucid very much. Can I ask, where did the inspiration for the story come from?

Debra: I have always been a fan of Lord Byron’s poetry, especially "She Walks in Beauty" but when my friend and (sic) X-husband gave me a bottle of Lucid absinthe, I just knew I had to write the infamous drink into a story.

I must say, you did a fine job with it! The setting of Lucid seems so vivid; how much research did you do to bring it so vividly to life in the story? Did you visit the castle, or if not, how did you accomplish the drawing of it?

Debra: I have never been to Switzerland where Villa Diodati is nestled on the shore of Lake Geneva but I have been to mountain lakes in Germany and Austria. In Europe, I got the opportunity to visit houses that had been built in the time of Villa Diodati, so I pulled from those experiences to bring the setting to life. My dear friend, Janet Bell, had visited the area where Villa Diodati is now a private residence and she described the setting in wonderful detail for me.

She sounds like an awesome friend! I see you write historical novels as well, how did you get started in that genre? Any particular favorite historical fiction author or historian you’d like to recommend to our readers?

Debra: My degree is in history and secondary education so I come by my love of history honestly. I live in the south where the air just seems to hold a sense of the past and the people who lived in distant times. I love delving into historical romance where even holding hands was considered daring. The characters seem to have much more at stake than contemporary characters.

Very true.

Debra: If you enjoy Victorian era, Brenda Joyce is my favorite historical author. I recently read a historical by Julia London and have become a fan. She writes hot Scots. I’m looking forward to delving into Lynne Connolly’s Yorkshire later this afternoon.

Do you ever suffer writer’s block and if so, how do you deal with it?

No. I have more stories playing in my head than I have time to write.

I’m sure you’re not the only one to know what that’s like! What can longtime fans expect next? Any new projects in the works that we can look forward to? Can you give us a little teaser?

I just submitted a Regency tentatively titled Having Patience. 

(Debra gave us a sneak peek of this title; you may see that at the end of this article.) Thanks, Debra for providing this tantalizing tidbit!

And for those out there who might be inspired to write themselves, after your example, what advice do you have for aspiring Romance and/or Erotic Romance authors, or even historical fiction authors?

My husband gave me the best advice anyone has ever given me about writing. If you want to write for a living, then treat writing like a job.

I connected with other authors, began attending RWA meetings, conferences, writing queries, and learning the business of which editors were looking for what, etc.

When I did that, writing ceased to be a hobby for me and that’s when I received “the call” from Ellora’s Cave.

And finally, do you have any final thoughts for the readers?

The romance genre is vast and offers stories for all tastes from sweet Inspirationals to erotic romance that will have you fanning yourself even on the coldest winter day. Find an independent bookstore in your area and befriend the owner. He/she can learn your reading taste and steer you in the direction of fabulous books you might have missed by perusing the shelves at a chain store.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us today, Debra; we sure appreciate it!! And good luck with Lucid, Having Patience, and all your future endeavors!

Folks, if you’d like to learn more about Debra Glass and her works, do check out her website,  blog, and her page at Ellora's Cave that includes all her EC titles. And if you like, don't miss the snippet of her forthcoming Regency novel that we've set up for you below.

Thanks for joining us on this latest of our conversations; we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did bringing it to you!
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An "unedited teaser" of Having Patience by Debra Glass

“What’s this?” Patience asked. She couldn’t imagine.

James lifted the lid off one of the boxes before withdrawing a book.

“What on earth?” she began but James thrust the book into her hand.

Her gaze dropped to the title. The Rose and the Rapier. “What is this?” she demanded.

“A romantic novel.”

“A what?” she inquired but she knew very well what it was. Her handmaiden, Millie, read novels such as these all the time. Patience did not see the benefit of reading such trite writing. Why had James brought her these? Surely he knew she preferred the philosophical musings of the ancients to this drivel.
“M’lord, you insult me,” she said, wagging the book at him in an effort to get him to take it back.

He cocked an eyebrow and for a split second, Patience forgot about the book. She had agreed to call him by his given name. “James,” she said softly. Something warm and liquid swirled within her at the intimate utterance of his name. The fact that he’d practically commanded her to use his name instead of some other formal address only added to the mysterious feelings churning inside her.

“My gift is not intended as an insult,” he told her.

“We have…known each other for nearly a year now. Have I ever given you the notion that I would read…this? For heaven’s sake, James, The Rose and the Rapier?”

One corner of his mouth pulled into a partial smile.

“What then?” Patience was confused. “Are these for Millie?”

And then the horrid thought occurred to her that he might have pursued a sexual relationship with her handmaiden until he said, “Of course they’re not for Millie. They’re for you.”

“I don’t understand.”

James folded his arms over his chest. “I think perhaps that you did not get a good education from your governess.”

Patience suddenly comprehended the meaning of the books. A torrid blush infused her cheeks. Anger knotted her stomach. “Are you insinuating that I might learn how to…how to submit to you by reading this…this twaddle?”

His shoulders rose and dropped with a sharp breath. “Not in the least. I’m not insinuating anything. I only hope to learn what pleases you.”

Patience laughed and the high-pitched, almost hysterical sound of it seemed as if it were coming from someone else. She shook her head. “There’s surely nothing in those books that would please me.”

His dark eyes narrowed into vicious slits. He gestured to the book. “Well I suggest you better find something in there that does.”

She realized she was shaking. And yet, this was the very opportunity for which she had yearned. Here and now, she could make him angry enough to take her, to claim her.

Something clenched inside her—something between her thighs. She summoned courage. “No. I’ll not do it.”

Two steps closed the distance between them. She gasped as James hauled her against him. All at once she was aware of the heat of his body, the sinister gleam in his eyes, the cruel twist of his lips, the hard feel of every unyielding inch of his chest, his thick, powerful thighs, the spicy, male scent of him and the warmth of his breath fanning her face.

Oh do it now! Make me. Please, make me.

But instead, he glared. “You will read each and every one of these books and you will take a pen and underline what you will allow me to do.”

He snatched the book from her hand and opened it at random. “Here,” he said and began to read. “Rose yielded as Sir John pressed a kiss to her breast—”

“Stop!” Patience wailed. What was she saying? She really wanted to beg him to do just that right now. Where was her pen and ink?

“Furthermore,” James said, “you will bring me an underlined passage each morning and then you and I will enact it the following evening. Each and every evening.”

Gnawing her bottom lip, Patience nodded.

He continued. “I will do no more or no less than is indicated by your pen.”

“I understand,” she said.

He stared as if he hadn’t expected her to capitulate to easily. “So, we are agreed?”

She nodded.

He gave her a little shake. “Say the word!”

“Yes,” she gasped.

“Very well,” he said and handed her the book. Shock was evident in his voice but it was short-lived. Almost at once his initial severity returned. “You have exactly one hour to deliver a passage to me. After that, we will dine and then we will adjourn to this room.”

Clutching the book to her chest, Patience nodded again. Already, her blood was hot and pulsing in thick bursts through her veins.

Wow, that sounds like an awesome story! Can’t wait to read it, can we fans? Thanks again to Debra Glass for providing us this little sneak peek. :)