Who Am I?

Debra is a refugee from Hollywood where she served as a financial executive for companies like Jim Henson Productions and Universal Studios. After garnering over 13 million on-line reads on Wattpad, her YA fantasy Mermaids and the Vampires Who Love Them, was published by Hachette Audio and released as a Chapters game. She lives in a magical redwood forest in rural Marin County and believes mermaids frolic nightly in her pond.

My Books:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/312297637-it-isn%27t-easy-being-queen https://www.wattpad.com/story/15146893-mermaids-and-the-vampires-who-love-them https://www.wattpad.com/story/104901409-my-crazy-hot-interstellar-affair https://www.wattpad.com/story/189309736-prince-charming-must-die

Follow Me on Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/debragoelz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debragoelz/
Facebook (fan page): https://www.facebook.com/DebraLGoelz
Website: https://www.debragoelz.com
Wattpad: https://truyen2u.com/tac-gia/BrittanieCharmintine

7 QUESTIONS

1. What prompted you to start writing on Wattpad and what do you like most about the platform as a writer?
In 2014, I had been writing seriously for about six years, but I never thought anything was good enough to publish. Then I read about a SciFi Magazine called "Lightspeed." They were doing a contest called "Women Wreck Science Fiction." I decided to enter. I worked really hard to make it as good as I could. I had about 30 friends read it and make comments. I went to upload it to the contest, and found I'd misread and missed the due date. I was pretty disappointed. That night I was reading on my iPad. I thought I should look at the NY Times. I never looked at the NY Times, and I have no idea why I did that night, but there was a headline that said: "The Future of Publishing." There was an article about this website called Wattpad. I checked it out. I liked the idea that the work didn't have to be perfect. In fact, no one expects the work to be. I decided to write something for Wattpad. The rest is history. And what do I like most about it? That has to be my readers. When people comment on my stories and tell me how much they enjoy my work, it's a special kind of thrill.

2. What has been your most rewarding Wattpad experience?
I once had a comment from a reader who lived in a retirement home. She told me my stories brought her so much joy. What more could a creator ask for than to make someone's life a little better.

3. If you had to describe your story in three words, what would they be?
I suppose that depends on which story. But for my new one, It Isn't Easy Being Queen, I would say: Romantic, humorous, evil

4. Tell us one thing about your writing process that has helped you the most.
The best way to bring the reader into the story and make her feel part of what is happening is by incorporating all five senses into the description. Smell is the most overlooked of all the senses. Readers have said to me that they felt like they were in the story, and to me that is the greatest compliment. Your main character is an avatar for the reader. When the main character feels, sees, tastes, smells or hears something, so does the reader.

5. What is your proudest moment as a writer? Do you have a memory you will never forget?
When I got the email that Wattpad wanted to make my story into a Hachette audiobook. I was boarding a flight from California to Sydney, Australia, about a 15 hour flight and saw the email right before take-off. I smiled for the entire flight.

6. Which of your books is your favourite, and why that one?
The newest one is always my favorite, so that would be It Isn't Easy Being Queen. And the reason is that I work very hard on my writing craft, so each story is a little better written than the last. Also, I think you need to be in love with what you're writing currently, because writing is such a difficult process, you have to believe in what you're working on, or it won't be fun. That being said, Mermaids and the Vampires Who Love Them will always have a special place in my heart and life. It was by far my most successful story and has brought me untold joy.

7. Share two Wattpad story recommendations:
Only two! Geesh. Let's see. One thing I love to do, other than write, is to edit. Here are two stories that I totally believe in AND I helped edit—one a few chapters, the other the entire book. These are two super-talented authors!

1. Under Covers by AmiSpeare: https://www.wattpad.com/story/307264294-under-covers and 2. How Not to Vampire by iamRodneyVSmith https://www.wattpad.com/story/221510371-how-not-to-vampire-season-1

Both books are humorous and fun and incredibly well written. Ami's story is steamy-sexy, and Rodney's story flips the vampire genre on its neck! You will be happy reading either of these stories. There are so many more great reads on Wattpad that I'd like to recommend, but I only get two. No fair!

You have questions! Ask in the comments!