Featured Interview With Debra Barton
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I currently live in the Piney Woods of East Texas and a lot of my upbringing is rooted in deep southern traditions. Helping out neighbors anyway we can, family is the center of our universe, fried everything with a big helping of gravy on the side. Women call you “hun” and the men call you “darlin'” with no innuendo intended. Gentlemen still tip their hats and hold doors open for the ladies, “thank you”, “sir”, and “ma’am” are common courtesies that you still hear even from our children.
I have two amazing kids (my third child passed away when he was eleven). My daughter is the best mother in the world for her own daughter and my son is in the Army. For anyone who has a son or daughter in the military, you know the fear that strikes you when you get that call that they are being shipped to a foreign land to protect our great country. I didn’t sleep a wink for the nine months my son was in Afghanistan. God bless our soldiers and if you happen to know one or pass one on the street, please go out of your way to thank them for their service! They are all someone’s baby.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Being a writer has been a dream of mine for many years, dating back to high school. But life happens, and I put away my typewriter (back then) and spent time with my family, raising three children and then going back to work full-time.
Recently, I read a book that revived that yearning to get my ideas and passion down in book form and thus the journey to become a real, honest-to-goodness author began.
My passion is helping people and I like to write books that are motivational or inspirational in nature. It’s like giving everyone who reads my books a virtual group hug. A lot of people have helped me on the road to follow my passion and I have the desire to pay it forward.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My interests in reading cover a wide variety of genres as I believe it broadens your knowledge and helps you become a better writer no matter what genre you may write in. I used to devour true-crime books and mystery/thrillers. I love to be surprised.
I am inspired by other authors that may not be that well known. They struggle with their writing, but they pound the keys every day, they get their books out there and they keep writing. That is the true measure of a person’s tenacity that they keep going even when it’s difficult. It lets me know that it is possible for me to be successful in this business of writing if I just keep at it and work hard.
I am inspired by ordinary people who do extraordinary things. They push through difficulties instead of letting that be an excuse for holding back. This is what gives me my drive to keep moving forward.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book Dream Launch was inspired by a friend of mine. She has given up on herself and her life ever being any better than it is right now. I found, through my research of the book, that there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way. In some ways, so did I. They have hopes and dreams and aspirations, but they have come to the conclusion that they will never be able to attain them. Others have told them it’s impossible, they are met with negativity even from their friends and family, so they give up. My heart aches for them. I want to help them.
I wrote this book to motivate others to take that first step and to keep taking steps even when it is difficult. Don’t let others define you or take away your passion. Difficult steps are still steps in the right direction, moving forward. Don’t give up on your dreams!
This was not an easy book to write as I struggled with what voice I wanted to project. Do I write it from the standpoint of the caring mother or like a drill sergeant. Read the book and I’ll let you decide.
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