In Celebration...

Of Independence Day in the good old USA I invite all to visit this site.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Okay, Dads, time to kick back and enjoy the day.

Cooling Off

I thought the cover of DEADLY ARROWS might help cool off those experiencing a heatwave in their neck of the woods. Reading an excerpt might also help. So here goes.

My boots dug into the crusted snow as I swung my bow forward. A twig snapped nearby and I jerked my head around fearing a hunter. I listened. Silence. I ordered myself to remain focused.

The postal truck rounded the curve and slid to a stop alongside a rotted two-by-four supporting the mailbox. The driver reached out the window and stuffed a bundle of envelopes into the rusty box. Then the vehicle’s rear tires spun on a patch of ice before it launched forward and disappeared around the bend in the road.

Just like clockwork, she appeared at the cabin door. Wearing only a tee shirt and jeans, she dashed for the mailbox. As she came around to the front of the box, I pulled back on the string, hesitated, then released.

The arrow hurtled between the trees. The direct hit sent a spine-tingling thud through the forest. I sucked in a breath of frigid air as I watched her stagger backward then crumple to the ground.

It was done. Time to go. Read more...

Purchase the book

Forgetting

No, I haven't forgotten to blog. I just haven't had much of anything I wanted to say. For those following my post about attempting to bring down my cholesterol, that's where the forgetting comes into play. I keep forgetting to get on the scales to see if I've dropped any weight. I think this is an intentional lapse of memory since I haven't been on the treadmill for a while. I could say I've been too busy, but that wouldn't be the honest to God truth. I could make the time. The good news is, I haven't become a couch potato either. I've been filling my flower beds with an assortment of summer beauties. Add pulling weeds to this along with other yard work and I figure I'm getting a good amount of physical exercise. It's certainly a lot less boring than walking on a treadmill. Oh and I've been trying to add more fruits and veggies to my daily intake of food.

My third Fay Cunningham mystery is going slow. Things are becoming more complicated than I'd planned. A few characters refuse to do or say what I think they should. Even as I write this blog, one of my characters is talking to me--interrupting my train of thought. She's insisting I give the manuscript another subplot. I don't see it happening. At least not in the first draft of the work. Then again, it might not be such a bad idea. It would certainly add more conflict to the pages. And conflict on the page is a good thing. My character is on the verge of winning here. Time to go do some serious thinking--outlining.

Until Next Time...Debra

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Wishing Mom's around the world a Mother's Day they will cherish forever! Debra

Illegal Drug Questions

Okay, here's the deal. I'm working on my third Fay Cunningham mystery and have some questions. In this book, young people are dying. I don't have the story line all worked out. But, the book opens with the suspicious death of a recovering heroin addict. There are two reasons why my first victim in this new book is a heroin addict in recovery. One, there have been a large number of deaths in my neck of the woods due to heroin overdose in the past several years. Arrest are being made, but that hasn't stopped the growing number of overdose deaths. Two, I have a family member struggling with this devastating addiction. So here are my questions that I'd like your answers to.
1. Do you believe someone should be put in jail for using an illegal drug? Before you answer, remember that I'm only asking about if they should be jailed for using the drug.
2. Do you believe the billions of dollars the US government spends annually on the war on drugs is working?
I'm asking the second question because I'm having a hard time believing it is. In my quest for answers, I've run across an interesting organization. LEAP(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition).
So I guess my third question for all to ponder is, do you think it's time to listen to what these folks at LEAP are saying?

Until Next Time...Debra

The Pounds Are Finally Coming Off!

I'm back to report that I haven't fallen off the treadmill, though you might of thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth since I haven't posted lately. The weather's been terrific around my neck of the woods lately so I do my walking outdoors, mostly. If I don't get the workout in before the sun goes down, look out treadmill, here I come. Looks like I'll be doing more of the indoor exercising the next several days since the weatherman painted a dreary picture for the days ahead.

The good news is I finally stopped gaining weight(muscle) from all this working out. I've actually lost two whole pounds.

Anybody read any good books lately? I'm having a terrible time finding one that keeps me turning the pages. Usually when this happens, it means I'm about to take the plunge and start writing a new one. I've been seriously thinking about a new mystery series. I'm waiting for a character to begin talking to me. Several keep popping into my thoughts. But that special one has yet to be heard from.

Until Next Time...Debra

It's Not Snowing, but

I got a treadmill. If you read my last post you know I need to get my cholesterol down before my next doctor visit. I never used a treadmill before. So the other night when I hauled one home and talked my husband into helping me put it together, I stepped aboard. I read somewhere you get a better workout if you don't hold onto the handrails. So I let go, began swinging my arms, then tapped the button on the console to increase the speed. If not for those handrails I grabbed, I would've done a nose dive into the floor. Ouch! Carpet burns on the face would be a bit difficult to explain, don't you think?

The only time I ever stepped onto scales to do a weight check was on my yearly visit to the doctor. Since I decided to exercise and watch my diet, I've been checking my weight. Tonight when I stepped on the scales I know shock radiated from every facial feature. I've now gained a total of six pounds. Wait a minute, I thought diet and exercise made you lose weight. The workouts, added fruits and vegetables to meals doesn't seem to be working. Must need some sweets. A hefty slice of leftover Milky Way cake from a family member's birthday is sitting on the counter waiting for someone do something with it. Need I say more?

Until Next Time...Debra

More Snow

I'm not sure why I haven't posted since our last snow storm. Could it have something to do with the white stuff drifting across the land? I've swept off my front porch a dozen times today. Each time I put the dog out, I get a workout with the broom. I figure if I wait until the storm's over I'll have to do some pretty heavy shoveling. I don't think I'm in shape for that just yet. Although I did take several long walks this week, giving the legs a hefty workout. I couldn't resist the sixty and seventy degree temperatures we had here earlier this week. Then again, there's a good chance the walks had more to do with trying on my swimsuit from last year and taking a look in the mirror.

Here's the real truth behind the walks. I finally decided I was long overdue having my cholesterol checked since I never had. Come to find out it's higher than it should be. I'm not in the danger zone yet. A little exercise and watching what I eat should keep me from needing to go on meds. Okay, the day I get the news, I decide to start exercising and watching what I eat. A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Yum. The exercise is a half hour of weight lifting or a long walk. Three weeks of the oatmeal and exercise and I gain three pounds. When I mention this to a neighbor, he says I'm bulking up from the weights. So that explains the clothes fitting tighter. Wonder what it's doing to my cholesterol numbers? The doctor gave me six months to get the number down. I'm checking into treadmills next.

Until Next Time...Debra

Snow Storm

Here we go again. On Valentine's Day we got hit pretty hard. The snow's supposed to be coming again tomorrow. Though the weatherman seems determined it won't be as bad as the Valentine's Day storm. Let it snow. The cupboards are stocked and so is the refrigerator. Should the power go out, I'll be okay. I can cook on the grill in the garage and stay warm by throwing wood on the fire. I can read by candlelight and fantasize about being on a sunny beach instead of in Pennsylvania during a winter snow storm.

Even if the weatherman is wrong and we get hammered again, you won't hear me complain too much. After all, once the last storm passed I spent a big part of the afternoon sled riding with my three year old grandson. Haven't had that much fun in ages. The real kicker is I had no trouble getting out of bed the next day when I figured every muscle in my body would retaliate from being overworked. Guess I'm in better shape than I thought.

Update: I'm on myspace and recently revised my page. If anyone wants to run over and have a look click here.

Until Next Time...Debra

Sidney Sheldon

I was saddened to hear of Sidney Sheldon's passing. He was an incredible writer. The Other Side Of Midnight was the first book I read by him, though not his first. I went on to read all of his books. I don't think another writer affected me or my writing quite like Mr. Sheldon. So, this is a tribute to you, Mr. Sheldon.

New Blog Look

Okay, okay, I've been neglecting my blog again. Sorry. But you have to give me some credit. I spent the last hour tinkering with a new look for the blog. So what do you think? In my humble opinion it's much easier reading on the eyes. For newcomers, the last blog had a dark blue background with white lettering.

I won't bore anyone on what I've been doing since the new year arrived. But I will say it's been a rip roaring start for 2007. I'm hopeful this means the year will end more peaceful.

I just finished an online writing workshop that has been helpful with tearing apart the manuscript I'm working on. The fun part will be putting it back together without doing damage. So wish me luck!

Until Next Time...Debra

Happy New Year To All!

I want to begin 2007 with a sincere wish to all for a peaceful, rewarding and wonderful year.
See you all soon...Debra

Another Computer Nightmare

Another computer nightmare

It seems like just yesterday I had my last computer nightmare. But I know it was probably over a year ago. Only this time my problem wasn't with the hard drive.

My nightmare began a week ago. These annoying sounds began coming from my computer. Bells and whistles going off for no apparent reason. The little arrow my mouse points wouldn't go where I wanted it to go. I couldn't type the letter y. I never realized how many times I use that letter.

Call tech support, this little voice inside my head said. No way. Been there, done that many times before. In most of those incidences I ended up fixing the problem myself. Determined to solve the problem on my own, I went to work. Three days later, the computer is on its way out the window when I caved in.

Two hours on the line with tech support running the same test I'd already done and the tech guy tells me I need a new keyboard. He'd transfer me to hardware so I could order it.

Tech support cost me $41.00. New keyboard, $29.00, shipping included.

Next time I'm going directly to the hardware department.

Today the frustration has passed. My new keyboard arrived. Three days before it was due to ship. Imagine that!

Until Next Time...Debra

Organic Farming

I just watched a news report on the growing demand for organic food. When I began my Fay Cunningham Mystery Series, you heard little news about organic farming. Over the years I’ve been known to do things before others. Perhaps that’s why Mitch Malone, one of my main characters, retired as police chief to become an organic farmer. Wish I could remember exactly how I came up with Mitch’s new line of work. I’ll have to dig out the original notebook I used for character sketching when I began the series.

It seems agents and editors don’t want a mystery series unless it has that super powerful hook. We have hooks that include, recipes, wineries, hairdressers, house cleaners, veterinarians, and a ton of others.

Dare I say it? Have I been incorrectly marketing my series? After all, I don’t recall a series that teams a retired police chief, turned organic farmer with a menopausal small town newspaper publisher. You have to admit the odd pairing makes creating conflict on the page inevitable. And of course a whole lot of fun for me.

Until Next Time...Debra

Interview

As promised, Lonnie Cruse posted the interview she did with me on her blog today. For those interested, just give a click here to read it.

Comments would be appreciated. Until Next Time...Debra

Redemption

A Book Trailer For My Thriller Redemption

Interview

Maybe if I post it here, I'll remember-or someone can remind me-Lonnie Cruse will be interviewing me on her blog October 14th. She's interviewed a lot of authors so you might want to go have a look now. Here's the link.

Until Next Time...Debra

Deadly Arrows by Debra Lee

A NOVEL trailer for Debra Lee's new Fay Cunningham's mystery, Deadly Arrows

My Publisher Works Fast

And I mean fast. Deadly Arrows just went live on my publisher's website. Now don't forget, this is only available as an ebook. But that shouldn't be a problem. It's not a thick book, just long enough to tell the story I needed to tell. I have an excerpt posted on my website

But if you're ready to make the purchase now, give a run over to my publisher's website.

I'm anxious to hear what readers have to say about Deadly Arrows. If you're one of them, give me your thoughts on the book.

Until Next Time....Debra