Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Debby Giusti! Everyone, say hello to Debby! Debby has graciously offered to give away three copies of her book! Leave a comment with your email address by Saturday evening to be entered. Without further ado, let's get to know Debby and her book Amish Christmas Search.
Author Bio:
USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author Debby Giusti is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write. Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband--then a Captain in the Army--at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful Army Brats of their own and eventually settled in Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul.
Debby has more than a million books in print, and her stories have won numerous awards, including two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Inspirational Suspense, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, Golden Quill, the Beacon, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Write Touch. Her twenty-sixth Love Inspired Suspense novel, AMISH CHRISTMAS SECRETS, released in October and HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS will be available in the spring of 2021.
In addition to full-length fiction, Debby has written magazine articles for Southern Lady, Woman’s World, Our Sunday Visitor, Army and Family, and served for over twelve years on the editorial advisory board of ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory.
Here's Debby!
STORY TRIVIA:
The beach is my happy place so I set the beginning of Amish Christmas Search in Pinecraft, Florida. Established in the 1920s as a tourist camp, the once rural section of Sarasota County has long been a favorite destination for Amish and Mennonite families eager to trade the harsh northern winters for Florida’s blue skies, salt air and sunshine.
From January to April each year, some 5,000 folks travel on chartered buses to the historic district, now surrounded by the sprawling city of Sarasota. Approximately 700 homes—a mix of bungalows and trailers--rent to the influx of vacationers, with many families reserving lodging a year in advance. Bikes, either traditional or three-wheel tricycles, are the favorite mode of transportation, and everyone from grandparents to youngsters can be seen peddling along the backstreets, waving to neighbors or stopping to chat with friends.
Pinecraft Park provides a central gathering spot, along with shuffleboard and bocce ball courts that are always in demand. At night, concerts of bluegrass or gospel music entertain folks who tap their toes or nod to the strum of banjos and guitars. On warm days, a city bus takes the vacationing snowbirds to Siesta Key, where they bask in the sun or frolic in waves that wash up on the sand.
The various Amish and Mennonite sects remain segregated at home, yet they mix and mingle while on vacation. Many of the rules under which they usually live are loosened or disregarded. Even their aversion to photographs eases, and while they don’t pose for picture, they don’t shy away from the camera either.
Just as seasons change, vacations come to an end, and saying goodbye is always hard. Warm hugs and hearty handshakes, coupled with the promise to return again next year, help soften the separation. As they’ve done for decades, Amish and Mennonite families will continue to find rest and relaxation in the tranquil community that encompasses 178-acres known as Pinecraft, a vacation oasis found in my October release, Amish Christmas Search.
MY WRITING PROCESS:
When I chat with readers, I’m often asked about my writing process. Folks want to know the inspiration for my stories, but they also want to hear about the techniques I use to get words on the page—or on the computer screen. Writers know that the best way to improve their craft is to write, and after penning twenty-seven books for Love Inspired Suspense and three stories that I’ve independently published, I’ve settled on a process that works for me.
I start with a fairly detailed outline of my story. Most editors, including mine, request a story synopsis along with the submission of a new proposal. Using the outline as a guide, I write a synopsis that reveals the major plot points, the faith arc and how the characters change and grow. I also add what the hero and heroine learn and the obstacles, both internal and external, they overcome to get to their happily ever after. Then I write the first three chapters and submit them, along with the synopsis, to my editor.
At that point, I turn to my AlphaSmart, a word processor that runs on three AA batteries. The small device was developed for special needs school children so it’s durable and portable. Only four lines of text are visible on the small screen and the editing functions are limited, which keeps me moving forward as I write my first draft. The AlphaSmart has eight files, each holding about 5,000 words of text that can be downloaded into a computer. Once I have a first draft written and in my computer, I start revising and rewriting. That’s the part of the process I most enjoy. The fine-tuning takes my very rough manuscript and turns it, eventually, into a compelling story.
Writing a first-draft on my AlphaSmart works for me, but I’d love to learn the way other folks craft their stories and hope you’ll share any techniques you use in the comment section. Whether you write stories or enjoy relaxing with a good book someone else has written, I’m glad we could be together today. Thanks so much, Sally, for inviting me to your blog.
Amish Christmas Search Blurb
An Amish girl’s disappearance is a mystery…
and the clues lead straight into danger at Christmas.
Convinced her friend didn’t run away as the police
believe, Lizzie Kauffman searches for the truth—but
someone will kill to keep it hidden. Now the Amish
housekeeper and her friend Caleb Zook are on the
run for their lives. And if they want to find their
missing friend, Lizzie and Caleb must figure out
a way to survive the holiday.
Purchase Link:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y2zltr7x
Debby loves to hear from her readers. Connect with Debby in the following ways:
Website: www.DebbyGiusti.com
Email: Debby@DebbyGiusti.com
Blog: https://seekerville.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debby.giusti.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbyGiusti
Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Debby Giusti and Amish Christmas Search.
Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address by Saturday evening to be entered for the giveaway!
Thank you so much for joining us, Debby!
If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/
