MEET DEBBIE HERBERT

USA Today bestselling author Debbie Herbert presents a thrilling story of murder and madness set in the darkest corner of Alabama.

COLD WATERS

Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.

After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.

As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.

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Debbie Herbert writes psychological suspense, romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels. She's always been fascinated by magic, romance and Gothic stories. She is traditionally published by Thomas & Mercer and Harlequin as well as Indie published. She is a USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author and a 2017 Romance Writers of America®  RITA® finalist for Paranormal Romance.

Married and living in Alabama, she roots for the Crimson Tide football team. Debbie enjoys recumbent bicycling and jet skiing with her husband. She has two grown sons and the oldest has autism. Characters with autism frequently land in her works, even when she doesn't plan on it! 

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THE Q&A

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

DEBBIE: At least once a week. I’ve always been a bookworm. It’s so ironic that once I started writing books, my reading time significantly decreased.

ANGI: What’s your favorite thing about your book’s hero?

DEBBIE:  There is no hero per se in Cold Waters since it’s psychological suspense. But my favorite thing about the heroine, Violet, is her journey to forgiveness and redemption.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

DEBBIE:  Rainman. I have an adult son with autism, so this show is particular meaningful to me. Hits me with all the “feels!”

ANGI: Salad or soup?

DEBBIE: Soup. I could eat vegetable soup every day, often for breakfast.

ANGI: Would you put yourself in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

DEBBIE:  Fairy Tale! I have a real “thing” for fairies and mermaids. I started my author career writing paranormal romance (both Indie and Harlequin Nocturne). For most of my fans I will always be the “mermaid lady!” What’s life and romance without a little touch of magic?

ANGI: Favorite TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf? 

DEBBIE:  Big Bang Theory. My husband and I just love Sheldon Cooper and his gang of nerds.

ANGI: Favorite date night…fancy or at home? 

DEBBIE:  Home, for sure. We are very casual people. My idea of a perfect date night is ordering a pizza and chilling out by the pool or lounging on the sofa watching college football. (Roll Tide, yall!)

ANGI: Champagne or Soda?

DEBBIE: Diet Coke—elixer of life.

ANGI: Geek or Jock?

DEBBIE: Jock. Those muscles . . . yum.

ANGI: The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?

DEBBIE:  I worked as a Correctional Officer in both a male and female prison before eventually working PR for the Department of Corrections. That prison job was pretty daring some days!

 

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  SHOW ME YOUR FAVORITE SHOES…

DEBBIE’S GOTTA ANSWER:  I think I am missing some feminine gene. My friends all tease me because I claim a gal only needs four pair of shoes—sneakers, sandals, black flats and black pumps for formal occasions. My weakness is skincare, makeup, crystals and books. Lots of books. At least my cat, Grendel, perks up my boring sneakers photo!

  

UP NEXT for DEBBIE:

UNMASKING THE SHADOW MAN

Harlequin Intrigue October 2019

In a race against time. Can they defeat an unseen foe? 

Officer Liam Andrews knows trouble when he sees it, and trouble should be Harper Catlett’s middle name. Especially considering the mysterious goings-on in the home where Harper’s sister died decades before. Secretly working undercover, Liam is soon roped into Harper’s amateur detective work as she probes Baysville’s sordid secrets. But together, can the pair solve these long-buried crimes…before they both wind up dead?

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PREVIOUSLY RELEASED by DEBBIE:

APPALACHIAN PREY

Lavender Mountain, Book 1

Star-crossed lovers on Lavender Mountain…Danger awaits them both.

After her father’s murder, pregnant Lilah Tedder dreads facing deputy Harlan Sampson, her child’s secret father, who left her heartbroken. Though she still wants him, Lilah knows his professional ambition won’t let him associate with a moonshiner’s daughter. But when a killer targets Lilah, Harlan becomes more than her protector. Now they must uncover old family secrets or pay the ultimate price.

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APPALACHIAN ABDUCTION

Lavender Mountain Book 2

A small-town cop must protect
a beautiful rogue undercover detective.

Trespassing, fleeing a peace officer…hell, she’d aimed a gun at his chest! Officer James Tedder can’t help but admire her fight. And undercover detective Charlotte Helms will never quit. She’s on a personal mission: rescue her best friend’s daughter…and bust the child-trafficking ring that lured her away. When they’re forced to become partners, James must trust Charlotte to have his back. But can he trust her with his heart?

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DEBBIE is giving away an autographed, hardcover copy of Cold Waters. U.S. ONLY

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YOUR HOST, Angi Morgan

Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot 

DEBBIE WANTS TO KNOW: Superstitions are heavily featured in Cold Waters. Are you superstitious? I’d love to know if you have any unusual superstitions! One of the superstitions of my character is that she raises her feet off the car floorboard whenever crossing a railroad track to prevent bad luck.

Alzheimer's & Romance? Is that possible?

Robin & Angi

All I can say is that FORGOTTEN SECRETS is excellent. If you think I'm bias you can check out any of the 573 5-star reviews.

It's always my pleasure to have my cuz, Robin Perini as a guest on the blog. Today she's talking about her best selling book and one that's dear to her heart. She'll tell you why... 

An Unexpected Calling

First, I have to thank Angi for allowing me to be here today to share a story that’s near and dear to my heart. Please bear with me, dear readers, while I share my very unexpected calling and a blessed inspiration.

Life doesn’t always follow the path we expect, does it? I dreamed of being an author for as long as I can remember. In 2011 my dreams came true when I sold not just one, but seven books. No one was more excited for me than my mom. She’d been my cheerleader from the time I showed her my first, very bad, manuscript. She always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

I understood then that my family would be travelling down a tough road. We’d known since 2008 that my mom was afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. In 2011, her short term memory was impacted, but she’d responded well to her medication, and while life wasn’t the same as before, it was okay. My family learned to live by a new edict: Be thankful and appreciative of what you still have, not resentful for what you have lost—and continue to lose.

Fast forward a few years. I put out three books a year for a couple of years, and then my mom’s medication stopped working. In a period of less than six months, my mom went from being able to travel and spend time with the grandkids to being unable to communicate or take care of any of her bodily needs. For our family, life stopped.

I pushed aside many of my outside activities to focus on my mom. With the kindness and support of my publishers I adjusted my deadlines so I could help care for my mom and I learned more than I ever wanted to know about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Did you know that 1 in 3 seniors will face dementia. Did you know that of the top ten causes of death in the United States, only Alzheimer’s has no treatment, much less a cure (current medications only mask the symptoms; they don’t treat the disease).

Our family needed help and support. In those months, we came to rely heavily on the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. My dad attended (and still attends) several support groups. We even took part in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. At that event I was inspired by a high school student who raised $5000 for the cause by hosting a spaghetti supper. In that moment, I realized that I had no desire to host a dinner, but that I was an author. That I could use my passion for writing to educate and raise money for the disease that was stealing my mom from me, piece by piece.

Shortly thereafter, the idea for a book came to me. A book in which the only witness to a crime has Alzheimer’s Disease. Forgotten Secrets was the toughest and easiest book I had ever written. Take care of my mom changed me. For the better. But when the book came out, I didn’t anticipate the response I received. I have been unbelievably moved by the words of my readers. So many have written, thanking me for bringing awareness and for showing a slice of truth about Alzheimer’s. Some have the disease; some are caregivers; some have lost a loved one; some have never known anyone with Alzheimer’s but have thanked me for showing them a small window into the world of this difficult illness. I have been so gratified and encouraged. Sometimes I wonder if this moment in time is why I became a writer in the first place.

Even so, I felt like I had to do more. So I created a four-pronged plan to support the organization that had so helped our family so much. The Alzheimer’s Association has been a God-send to me and my family in so many ways.  Apart from the education and personal support, they were the ones who helped my family realize—finally—that we are not alone. The Alzheimer’s Association’s vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. I pray for that day.

And I wanted to do my own small part.

1)  I added an Alzheimer’s section to my website that has information on Alzheimer’s and even a few blogs from my dad and I about our journey with mom.

2)  I donate 10% of the royalties from Forgotten Secrets to the New Mexico Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

3)  I started the #1MemoryChallenge. The reason: I so wish that I could talk to my mom again, share memories, ask her questions about her life as a child, growing up, as a young woman. I can’t do that, but I can share my memories with loved ones. I can record them so they won’t be lost. And I can encourage others to do the same. Because once those memories fade (whatever the cause), they are gone. Taking part is easy:

a.       Record a memory through a video, photo and/or writing a story and post it on social media.

b.      Challenge 2-5 others to share a memory and tag them.

c.       Give them 24 hours to accomplish the challenge or to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association (or another organization).

      4) And I participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer's disease There are two ways to help: participate and/or donate. I’d love to have you on my team! J

I said earlier that the scope of my life had narrowed. The truth is, my life has become more complete and blessed than I ever imagined. I still write. I have learned how strong my family (especially my dad) is. I’ve met amazing people, including our caregiver, Bobbie, who is an angel.

My mom is still with us. She doesn’t speak and can no longer walk, but just last night I received a butterfly kiss from her when I helped my dad put her to bed. I love her more than I can ever express, and though I miss the mom I used to know, I am certain that she would be pleased that her book has touched so many lives. I’m blessed to have the mother I do. She is my inspiration.

Looking for more information on my expected calling? Try below.

Donation Pages

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team Perini 

Robin’s Mom Tribute Donation Page

Alzheimer’s Association 

1 Memory Challenge

#1MemoryChallenge Website | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | 

PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM

FORGOTTEN
SECRETS

At age ten, Riley Lambert watched helplessly as her sister was abducted from her bedroom. Fifteen years later, she’s channeled the pain of her past into a career as an FBI profiler. Riley devotes her life to bringing violent criminals to justice…and secretly uses government resources to search for her sister, who was never found.

When Riley gets a call from the only man who’s ever swept her off her feet with a killer two-step and dangerous smile—ex-Navy SEAL Thayne Blackwood of Singing River, Wyoming—it stirs up dark memories. Thayne’s sister, Cheyenne, has been kidnapped. There are no leads, and the only witness is the victim’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandmother.

Desperate to find Cheyenne, Thayne needs Riley’s expertise. With time running short, they delve into dangerous small-town secrets while fighting against an increasingly ruthless adversary. But when her past and his present collide in a shocking revelation, can they overcome the secrets that have kept them apart?

ROBIN PERINI is a RITA Finalist, award-winning and national bestselling author, devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin has since sold fourteen novels. 

Website  | FB Fan Page  | Twitter @RobinPerini | Amazon

   Goodreads  | Pintrest  |  Book Trailers on YouTube 
Sign up for Robin’s email newsletter

GLIAS Interviews

Step Into the Crossfire 

with the first of THREE Series!

Montgomery Justice Novels - In Her Sights

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Carder Texas Connections - Finding Her Son 

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Singing River Legacy - Forgotten Secrets

Kindle | BN | iBooks 

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Have you heard about the Memory Challenge or participated?

Montlake Author Cindy Kirk!

I'm thrilled to welcome Cindy back to the blog with her latest release...

BE MINE IN GOOD HOPE

 

Celebrated hairstylist Marigold Bloom knows how to tease beauty out of chaos…until her own life becomes untamable. After losing her prestigious job in Chicago, Marigold returns home to Good Hope, Wisconsin. But her plan to lay low and consider her next move is complicated by an unexpected blast from the past.

Sheriff Cade Rallis has never forgotten the blissful weekend he spent with the irresistible Marigold in Door County. Seeing her again is like a one-two punch to his heart, and he knows he can’t lose her a second time.

Marigold never meant for her stay in Good Hope to be permanent, and she certainly never meant to fall for Cade. As Valentine’s Day approaches and her dream job beckons, will Cupid’s grip on Marigold be strong enough to keep her in Good Hope? Or will the lure of fame and fortune in the big city prove impossible to resist?
*GIVEAWAY BELOW*

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Cindy Kirk started writing after taking a class at a local community college. But her interest in the written word started years earlier when she was in her teens. At sixteen she wrote in her diary, “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.”

It took Cindy years to return to her first love---writing. Unlike some writers, Cindy wasn’t interested in shorter works of fiction. She jumped feet first into book length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance because she believes in the power of love and in happily ever after. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.

Cindy hopes that once you read her books you’ll be able to tell she is an eternal optimist, one who truly believes in the power of love. She invites you to kick off your shoes, pick up one of her books and get to know her.

Jan Schliesman: Do you ever get lost in your own stories?

Cindy Kirk: Yes. I often get lost in my stories. Not only when I’m writing them but once the book is done, I love to listen to it on audio. Seriously, I find myself listening…eager to hear what comes next! lol 

Jan: Name three things on your desk right now.

Cindy: A Contigo coffee mug, a wrapper of a Fiber One Peanut Butter Protein Bar and a bottle of Evian.

Jan: Do you struggle to find fresh ideas or do they come naturally?

Cindy: They come naturally. I find the more I let myself “get lost in the story” the more ideas I have.

Jan: What do you love most about your latest release?

Cindy: One of the early reviewers said it best, “The story of Cade and Marigold is not only a beautiful and romantic love story, it is a story of family, friendship and of what matters most in life.”

Jan: What are you currently reading?

Cindy: I’m currently reading “A Lot Like Love” by Julie James. I love her writing style and storytelling. Yep, I’m lost in the story. J

Jan: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Cindy: I believe in attraction, a chemistry, a connection at first sight. Interestingly, the connection between Marigold and Cade from the moment they met is at the heart of Be Mine in Good Hope.

Jan: If you had the skills to be in any other profession, what would it be?

Cindy: There is nothing I would rather do than write. I had a professional career before I left it to write full time. I’ve enjoyed the positions I’ve had over the years, but writing is my passion.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Cindy: A Grand Mediterranean cruise that lasted seventeen days and took me to so many countries, it was difficult to keep track of where I was at any given time. I loved every second!  

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: My hubby works for Tombstone/DiGiorno. What do you like on your pizza?

Cindy’s GOTTA ANSWER: Everything but anchovies, please!

Find CINDY KIRK:

 Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

UP NEXT: Forever in Good Hope, August 15, 2017

PREVIOUS RELEASES: Christmas in Good Hope, Summer in Good Hope

THANKS SO MUCH, Cindy, for all your great answers. Cindy is offering a copy of her latest release, Be Mine in Good Hope, to one lucky reader!  She'd love for you to answer this question in the comments section below:

Tell me which of these top 3 romance tropes is your favorite: 

1) Friends to lovers 2) Soul mate/fate 3) Second chance at love

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Can't Get Enough of Colleen Thompson!

I'm thrilled to welcome romantic suspense author Colleen Thompson to the blog with some fun questions. But first, a little about her September release:

THE OFF SEASON

Winter winds off the Atlantic have turned the tourist mecca of Seaside Creek, New Jersey, into a ghost town. Dr. Christina Paxton, however, is growing accustomed to living with ghosts. Recently widowed, the emergency room physician has returned to the shore with her young daughter, house-sitting a sprawling beachside Victorian home. One night, her two-year-old calls her by a name that makes Christina’s blood run cold and sends her thoughts spiraling back thirty years.

Deeply unnerved, and certain someone else is in the house, she flees with her child into the cold night, only to come face-to-face with Chief Harris Bowers, a former classmate with whom Christina has a complicated history. Now divorced, Harris hopes to mend their past, but Christina is wary of being played for a fool again. As threats emerge, Christina and her small family find themselves in grave danger. It seems there is no one she can put her trust in—least of all herself.

BUY THE BOOK--Available to pre-order, September 13th release date

RITA-nominated, bestselling author Colleen Thompson writes stories that explore how love can kill, and how it can also empower us to seek healing and justice. From her fast-paced contemporary romantic thrillers to her sweeping historical romances (written under the pseudonym Gwyneth Atlee) she puts the reader in the heart of the story... when she's not busy exploring remote corners of her adopted home state of Texas, working with her rescue dogs, or speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Colleen Thompson: As often as possible. I try to read at least a couple of books a week—or maybe I should say try to limit myself to that number so I can keep up with my writing!

Jan: What are you reading?

Colleen: I’m halfway through an advance copy I scored of RITA finalist Loreth Anne White’s IN THE BARREN GROUND. A chilling (in every sense of the word) murder mystery with a light touch of romance, it’s set inside the Arctic Circle—the perfect antidote to the brutal summer heat in Texas, where I live.

Jan: What’s the best part about writing romantic suspense?

Colleen: I love the complexities of murder mysteries—trying to choose from among the suspects while avoiding the compelling distractions of red herrings. Romantic suspense allows me to amp up the emotion in the puzzle—creating layered characters the reader can fall in love with, root for, and worry over as they fend off danger and fight their way to justice—and possibly each other along the way.

Jan: Does your heroine have any of your character traits?

Colleen: I’d like to think Dr. Christina Paxton, the heroine of The Off Season, is an idealized version of certain attributes of mine. She always reaches for the logical, fact-based solution, even when her two-year-old begins speaking of things (in the dead of night) that she seemingly has no way of knowing. And the recently-widowed Christina will doing anything to keep her loved ones safe, just as I’m sure that under the right (or wrong, as it were) circumstances, I could be pushed to such extremes.

Jan: Most writers have to find their zone before the words start flowing. Describe your ideal writing day.

Colleen: After tea or coffee, I putz around on my computer, responding to any e-mail requests and generally wasting time until the pressure builds to write. Then I get to it through the late morning and afternoon, at least until I’ve hit my daily goal.

Jan: I keep a case of Dasani in my office. What’s your go-to beverage of choice?

Colleen: Right now, it’s iced coffee or iced tea. But that’s Houston’s summers for ya.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Colleen: San Francisco, because it’s deliciously cool in the summer. Can you tell I’m not enjoying our recent heat wave?

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: My hubby works for Haagen-Dazs, so what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Colleen’s GOTTA ANSWER: More coolness! Yea! I’m pretty much in favor of all ice cream flavors, but lately, I’m especially enamored of a smooth and simple classic: plain vanilla.

FIND COLLEEN THOMPSON:

 Contact, Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads Previous GLIAS interview

  

PREVIOUS RELEASES: “Rescuing the Bride” in Cowboy Christmas Rescue, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, November 2015 and The Best Victim, Montlake, April 2014.

THANKS SO MUCH, COLLEEN, for sharing part of your writing world with us. One commenter will win a preordered copy (e-book or paperback) of The Off Season (releasing 9-13-16) or any of her past romantic suspense titles. If your book will need to be mailed rather than sent electronically, she's happy to send to anywhere the Book Depository mails to. See the list HERE. And answer this question:

What's the last great romantic suspense novel you've read? Who are your go-to authors in the genre?

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