Q/A with YA Author Debbie Brown

What’s the hardest part about writing YA lit?:

I started working with younger kids back when I was fourteen years old. I was hired as a figure skating coach for the 4-5-year-old beginners and since then I have always worked with kids and teens. I have an amazing resource of colorful characters and situations that find their way into my characters and situations.

The stories simply flow from within. I have not had to lot them out or force details. My challenge lies in being able to type fast enough to keep up with the scene playing out in my mind.
When exactly did you know you wanted to be a writer?: Strangely enough, a lot of people around me kept telling me to be a writer. To which I’d answer, “And write what?”
I have always been an avid reader and I liked creating stories, but it wasn’t until the loss of my daughter (and my mobility) that I turned to writing to keep my sanity. I needed to create a place where people cared about people, and Amethyst Eyes was born.

Have you found any clever ways to market your books to YA readers?:

I am lucky enough to be able to visit  high schools to present my work. I introduce the students to what goes on behind the scenes from thought to book on a store shelf. I stimulate their love for writing through an interactive story creating game. Hopefully, I pass on my love for reading as well.

What YA books have had the biggest influence on your writing?:

Strangely enough, I don’t claim to be an avid YA reader. I read quite a lot of non-fiction, adding to my knowledge, but I mostly read sci-fi, woman’s lit, adventure and the occasional romance novel or YA novel.
Short author bio: All her life, Debbie has spun stories in her mind, watching characters come to life, seemingly by themselves. After working as a nurse, a teacher, a martial arts instructor, an artist, and CIC officer in the Canadian military, to name a few, her life reads like a story itself. And yet, her favorite thing is still a cozy fire, a good book, and country living with her husband JP and three of her five children. After graduating from the Institute of Children’s Literature’s advanced writing course, she is finally devoting herself to writing these stories down, taking us all on a ride we won’t quickly forget.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amethysteyes01
Website: http://welcometomywritingworld.weebly.com/index.html