Dawn DeBraal

Dawn DeBraal lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband Red, two rat terriers, and a cat. She has discovered that her love of telling a good story can be written.  Published stories with Palm-sized press, Spillwords, Mercurial Stories, Potato Soup Journal, Edify Fiction, Zimbell House Publishing, Clarendon House Publishing, Blood Song Books, Black Hare Press, Fantasia Divinity, Cafelit, Reanimated Writers, Guilty Pleasures, Unholy Trinity,  The World of Myth, Dastaan World, Vamp Cat, Runcible Spoon, Dark Christmas, Siren’s Call, Iron Horse Publishing, Falling Star Magazine 2019 Pushcart Nominee.

What book from your childhood do you remember the best?

It wasn’t so much a book but a series of books. Trixie Belden. My cousin lived next door to me. We would each get different books and were able to exchange them.  Why? I loved Trixie because she was a girl in charge of a group of older brothers and friends who solved mysteries in a time when women were trying to find themselves.

Which other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you be a better writer?

Julie Eger/AKA Copper Rose is a dear friend for many years. She encouraged me to write. We are in a writing group together. She was always head and shoulders over everyone. I wanted to be like her. There are several authors in Black Hare Press whom I admire, but I don’t like to name names. It a matter of comradery we all encourage each other.

Does writing energize you, or exhaust you?

It energizes me. When I get an idea, I need to write it through. Sometimes I can see the whole story in a flash, so I know where I want to go with it, and sometimes it takes on a life of its own. I love that when that happens. If you don’t know when the twist is coming, neither will your reader.

What’s your writing Kryptonite?

Lack of grammar and punctuation skills. I did terrible in English. I was encouraged to take more classes in high school, but I didn’t care if my participle dangled. I rely a lot on Grammarly.

What does literary success look like to you?

What I am doing now. Being able to entertain people with my stories. You don’t go into writing to make money; otherwise, you will be sorely disappointed. My husband said he wouldn’t take my writing seriously until I earn at least a thousand dollars. At the rate I am going, I may never be taken seriously.

Have you ever Googled yourself? I did. What did you find out that you didn’t already know?

I found out a few of my stories were published and was never contacted! That was a thrill. Also that some of the books I have contributed to are published in other countries and other languages. I think I will do it more often!

Were you an avid reader while you were growing up?

Yes, I come from a family of readers, my mother, gave me a synopsis book of great literary novels and wrote in the cover, “From one literary genius to another!” I have a book that I keep in my car so when I’m waiting in line, I don’t get frustrated, I read. I have an upstairs book and a downstairs book……

And finally……

How many half-finished and unpublished books do you have right now?

I have a finished, unpublished 43,700-word novel co-written with Copper Rose. “What the Hell Happened to Joan?” We are both excited about the project, but not sure on how to take it to the next level.  I have several good starts for books, but I never seem to finish them. It is why I love short stories so much. Short and sweet, and yes, it’s complete.

Things that Go Bump in the Night By Dawn DeBraal