Page Turning Books: Author Interview

Author Interview – Debbie Heaton

Tell us a bit about your family. I have 5 siblings, 2 brothers, 3 sisters and we are all scattered around the Southwest. I have an adult daughter who has a Siberian husky she refers to as my “grandson.”

What’s your greatest character strength? I would have to say that my humanity, my tendency to help those in need, would have to be my greatest strength. I enjoy working with families and children with the hope of preserving the family as a whole and protecting the children from harm. I also donate my time as a domestic violence advocate and work hard to help them gain self-confidence, courage and life without boundaries.

Why do you write? As a mental health worker, I spend long hours a day focusing on the problems of others. Writing has allowed me to organize my thoughts and bring clarity to my life. With the exception of the parenting column I write for the Eastern Arizona Courier, I choose to write fiction which allows me to channel my thoughts in a healthy manner. I love to read and there’s no greater feeling for me than to know that maybe I have written a story that someone else can enjoy while escaping their day-to-day routines.

Have you always enjoyed writing? Absolutely—writing empowers me to unleash my imagination and let it run wild!

What motivates you to write? My biggest motivation for writing is the opportunity to step away from day-to-day life and stand in someone else’s shoes for a moment and see life through their eyes. It may sound a little cliché, but I find inspiration in the people around me whose lives I touch. In turn these experiences motivate me to take what I have learned from them and instill those qualities into my characters as I write.