Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters-in-Crime, the Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her novels include the three books of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series published by Solstice Publishing: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and Written in Stone. Debbie has also published a romantic comedy novella featuring a jewel heist caper, When Jack Trumps Ace, and has written articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres. Debbie will also be featured in the upcoming Plots & Schemes 2 anthology, due out soon from Solstice Publishing. She lives on Long Island with her husband Anthony, daughter Holly, and cat Stripey.
190 pages
Published March 22, 2018
eBook & Kindle Unlimited: myBook.to/RTD
Paperback: myBook.to/RTDpap
About the book:
Someone is strangling disabled people in the small town of Baxter, Connecticut. Detective Courtney Lang and her ex-partner and ex-lover, wheelchair-bound Bill Thompson, are paired up again and put in charge of the investigation. During the course of their search, Courtney uncovers information that points toward a connection between the murders and an unsolved series of muggings by a masked man, the same man who shot and disabled Bill a year ago on the night he proposed marriage to her.
Complicating matters for Courtney is her guilt about Thompson’s shooting, her affair with her new partner, Mark Farrell, and her unresolved feelings over the deaths of her mother and sister who perished in a fire while she was away from home.
As the deaths accrue and the “Handicapped Strangler” as the killer is coined by the press continues to rampage the town adding victims of different ages, sex, and disabilities to the murder count, Courtney discovers a clue that could crack open the case but may put her and Bill’s life in jeopardy.
Why did you decide to write this book?
I had a dream about it. Although I changed some of the plot, the main idea of the book came to me in my sleep. I woke up and jotted down what I remembered and then began writing.
What genre is your book?
Mystery Thriller
Do you consider your book character-driven or plot-driven?
Most of what I write is character-driven. That’s not to say the plots don’t advance the stories, but I like to get inside the heads and hearts of my characters and let their motivations drive the plot.
What makes your book unique?
The theme of disabled people being murdered is one I haven’t heard of before.
Do you plot ahead of time, or let the plot emerge as you write?
I’m a pantster which means I allow the plot to unfold as I write. I do some initial planning, but most of that is very flexible to allow for creativity and spontaneity.
How do you develop the names for your characters?
In most cases, I just make them up. I did ask for readers to submit character names for a contest for this book, but I only used a few of those.
Do you have a writing mentor?
No, but there are many authors whom admire and would like to emulate.
What’s your writing schedule? Do you have a favorite place to write?
I usually write in the morning before work. I try to write 1,000 words a day. It isn’t always easy because of other demands especially social media promotion.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve written in various genres, but I prefer mysteries. My new release is a standalone mystery thriller, but I also have a cozy mystery series. I also always include at least one cat and sometimes other pets in my books because I’m an animal lover and know that people enjoy reading books that feature animals.
Where can we find you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise
Amazon Author Page: Author.to/DebbieDeLouise
Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com
Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog: https://sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com
Cobble Cove Character Chat Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/
Nancy Wood 