Interview with Debra Sue Brice

Today we have an interview with Debra Sue Brice, author of Icing and Crossing Boarders, Christian contemporary romances, and the Danni Girl Mysteries, cozy detective stories.

Without further ado, interview! (That rhymed … quite by accident …)

Welcome to Reveries Reviews, Debra Sue Brice! First, could you tell us a little about yourself?

I absolutely love to write, but when I am not writing I am a first grade teacher, competitive equestrian, and business owner. I also enjoy spending time in the kitchen trying new dessert recipes.

Could you tell us a little about your latest novel, Icing?

Icing was a very fun and exciting story for me to write. It is all about living out your dreams and trusting God to take control of your life. He has so many blessings in store for all of us which is why Icing is so important to me. I want to encourage everyone that there is a plan for our lives. We just have to be patient and listen.

Where did you get your idea for Icing?

All of my characters are derived from real-life friends and family members, myself included. I love to bake so my main character, Denie, is a cupcake shop owner. I want my audience to be able to relate to at least one character throughout the storyline. I want them to be able to connect and feel like they are a part of the story. I am also a huge fan of our AHL hockey team, the Cleveland Monsters. Putting the two together and throwing in a little romance just seemed right!

What does your writing process look like?

I’m all over the place when it comes to my process. For larger novels, like Icing, I like to have a rough (very rough) outline so I have a general direction as to where I want to go. For the most part though, the story always changes by the time I get to the end. When writing my cozy mysteries, I just start with my main characters and let the story take over.

How long have you been writing for? Why did you start writing?

My very first novel was published in 2015 but I have been writing stories for fun ever since I was a little girl. I would write notes to my sister from her favorite actors and leave them in her locker at school. I also loved to write stories about adventures because so many ideas were always running around inside my head and I needed to let them out. My ultimate dream when I was little was to see my name on the front cover of a book. I have been very blessed to have a very encouraging family who continually tells me to never give up on my dreams.

Do you snack while writing? Do you listen to music?

I definitely listen to music, but it all depends on the type of novel I am writing. For Icing, I liked listening to my Etta James station on Pandora. As for snacking, I usually like to take breaks from writing to bake. But I will say, animal crackers (the vanilla kind) always seem to help with any mental blocks!

If you could go back a year and tell yourself anything (writing-related), what would that be?

There are many things you can learn through experience. Not all my experiences have been that great, but I am glad I was able to see the ups and downs of turning a manuscript into a final product. My advice to myself would be not to settle for the first person/publisher who is willing to take your book. Do your research and make sure you are putting your manuscript into the right hands to help you succeed.

What’s next for you as an author?

I want to inspire the world with more romance novels, both for adults and young adults as well. My main goal is to complete a dystopian YA novel.

Thanks for coming over to Reveries, Debra!

About the Interviewee

Horses, cupcakes, hockey, and murder. What can be better than that? In order to share my love of all these things I thought it would be best to write them down and put them in the form of a novel…or two, or more! When not living in my fictional world, I am a first grade teacher, avid baker, fanatic Cleveland Monster hockey fan, and successful equestrian. I was born and raised in Ohio which is where I continue to get inspiration and ideas for my stories. So stick around and enjoy the many journeys my characters will take you on in the wonderful world of READING!

What did you think of the interview? Are you ready to pick up a copy of Icing on Amazon? What about Crossing Borders or a Danni Girl Mystery? Ever read anything by the author? Are you a fan of hockey or cupcakes? Let me know in the comments!

~Kellyn Roth

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