Today we're talking to Debbie Zello, the author of Why We Don't Die in Dreams and See You in September, Refuge Series Book One.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My family moved to Connecticut fairly soon after I was born. I lived in Southern California for about a year as a teenager, too!
My family are big believers in visiting our country so every vacation we took was to a new state. As a result, I've been to 48 of our 50 states. My favorites are, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

How and when did you become a writer?

I wasn't an English major or interested at all in writing. That is until I was given the gift of time and the voices began. I was diagnosed with cancer. I had surgery and began chemotherapy. The night after my first dose, I began dreaming full stories.

The characters would sit on my bed and tell me everything. All about their lives and exactly what they wanted me to write. I ignored them for the longest time. It was Gavin, the character in Why We Don't Die in Dreams, that kicked me into writing. He was relentless and if you read the book, you'll understand.

What genre do you write?

I have three Historical Romances, three Contemporary Romances, four Short Story Romance Collections, and one Erotic Thriller Romance.

How would you describe your writing style?

I write at my desktop computer listening to Josh Groban. I can't write listening to any other artist. I have to wait from time to time for my characters to visit me.

What makes you different from other writers?

I am not a traditional writer. I'm a storyteller. I sit you down with a glass of wine and give you the story.

Who inspires you?

I have added scenes from my real life to a book. So friends and family do share experiences thinking they should go in a book.

How did you come up with the title?

Why We Don't Die in Dreams was just Dreams for a long time. A conversation with a fellow author about titles that grab you created this title.

See You in September is directly out of the book. One character says it to the other.

How did you come up with the plot?

I don't plot my books. It would be impossible for me to write to a diagram. The book comes together all by itself. It has surprised me, on more then a few occasions, where the book went. I wake up usually at 4:30AM and write what I dreamt the night before.

Who is your favorite character and why?

With ten published books and five more completed but not published yet, that's a hard question to answer. I guess Gavin is the most interesting character. He has four distinct sides.

We live in divisive times. Should your religion/politics influence your writing?

I'm very opinionated on politics. I do get involved in heated discussions on social media. My writing does not reflect my views. None of my characters venture into discussions on religion or politics.

What are you working on now?

I have the second book in the Refuge Series releasing in October, A Snow Covered Nightmare. I have five manuscripts in various stages of writing. I write whomever is talking to me. I put down a story and start another regularly.

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Don't be afraid to do what you've never done before. Don't be afraid of failure. Write even if it doesn't get published. Share it. Rewrite it. Polish it.