Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! I’m always excited when I have a friend as my guest, and this week I am so pleased to have Debbi Migit as my guest! I loved reading how the headlines we all know and recognized influenced her decision to become a writer. She’s giving away a copy of her latest release — and it sound so good! I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did. Read on to see how you can enter to win!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Award-winning author and speaker Debbi Migit lives in central Illinois, surrounded by pumpkin patches and cornfields. She is the author of the Justice, Montana series, which so far includes September Shadows, October Outlaw, and November Knight. She writes stories filled with adventure, friendship, faith, and romance.
Tell us about your book: October Outlaw is the second book in the Justice, Montana series.
Two sisters. Two brothers. Two Outlaws. All headed for Justice.
Jess Thomas is being tracked by two outlaws–one is a man, and one is a beast.
When Jess finds evidence concerning her parents’ deaths, she gains the attention of a very dangerous man. And when a cougar terrorizes Justice, Montana, Jess risks her life to save those she loves.
Cole McBride respects Jess’s courage, but he fears someday she will take one risk too many.
Sly Thomas is adjusting to her new responsibilities as guardian of her two sisters. But just as she begins to hope for the future, her blossoming relationship with Deputy Nick McBride is threatened.
If you knew ahead of time your book would benefit only one person on their spiritual journey, would you still write it? Yes, that is especially true of my first book, Child of Promise, which tells the true story of our trans racial adoptions. Just knowing that my faithfulness to tell our story has encouraged others to adopt a child is a profound honor.
What is the first major news headline that you can remember and what do you remember? Yikes, I’m old! I was eight years old when President Kennedy was shot. I remember being in the hallway at school when I heard crying coming from the main office. Later I was watching TV with my family when we saw Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald. Even at that young age I became aware that the actions of one person could affect millions of lives.
As a pre-teen I read about the Viet Nam war and often stayed with a family friend whose husband was deployed there. Then, at age thirteen I was listening to my little transistor radio when it broadcast the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. There was so much confusion and misrepresentation of the facts that I decided I wanted to become a journalist and give the people the truth.
But I became disillusioned with that idea when I watched the reporting on Watergate. I turned to writing fiction instead, where I could make my own world and tell my own truth.
But there’s still a part of that young girl in me who daily follows the news trying to sift through the lies to uncover the truth.
Do you write your books for your own enjoyment or more for what you think people would want to read? It probably sounds selfish but I first write for my own enjoyment. Writing is HARD work! I have to be engaged in the story to keep motivated. Then, when I’m done I figure I have at least one satisfied reader!
Which of your characters most reflects your personality? If you’ve read any of the Justice series you know that Jess is adventurous, almost to her own detriment. She is loyal, brave, and determined, which sometimes leads her into dangerous situations. She’s who I want to be.
I’m actually Grace, the steadfast friend who tries to keep Jess out of danger. But when Grace sees that her friend won’t be budged, she joins the adventure and tries her best to protect Jess. Grace and Jess together are probably a combination of me. I really enjoy their banter and sense of humor.
What do you do when you hit a roadblock and have NO idea what to write? I don’t think I’ve ever had that problem. I have so many ideas that I sometimes feel like a deer caught in the headlights, not knowing which way to jump. But that can be as bad as having no ideas at all. Welcome to my world. LOL
Do you talk out plot lines with others, and if so, who? My cousin Krista is such a blessing in that regard. We were raised by readers-we even started our own library with our siblings. Now here we are, sixty years later, still sharing ideas, almost on a weekly basis. I honestly don’t know if I could write this series without us talking through plot lines and possibilities. Sometimes we laugh more than we work, but that’s the icing on the cake!
Krista is an artist and author too, but she’s always willing to spend time with me in Justice, Montana. She’s a gift!
How hard is it to come up with names for your characters? What are some of the sources you use? I’m kind of a name junky. I have baby name books and I sometimes write down unique names that I come across. My main characters live in my head for a long time, so they seem to grow into their names until I’m ready to introduce them into the story.
One of my pet peeves is when writers give their characters the same or very similar sounding names. Yes, that happens even with some best-selling authors. With the more prolific writers I’m sure it’s challenging to come up with new names all the time. But, really, does there have to be a new character (or two) named Jan in every single book? I’m easily confused LOL
How old were you when you wrote your first book? I was nine. It was a children’s book titled, How the Giraffe Got Its Long Neck. It was a masterpiece. LOL
Find Debbi online!
https://www.tiktok.com/@debbimigit
https://www.facebook.com/authorDebbiMigit/
https://www.instagram.com/christian_romance_debbi_migit/
Find Debbi’s book online:
Debbi is giving away a copy of her latest release! Here’s how you can enter to win:
2 comments
Thanks for sharing ladies! I have always loved the name Grace, and it sounds like I might be more like her that the main character Jess! Always the steadfast reliable one.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.