New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Deborah Bladon has written 32 novellas (parts of serials) and four stand alone books.
Maya Fleischmann (MF): On your homepage, it states; “Deborah Bladon has never read a romance hero she didn’t like.” What are a romance hero’s top three traits?
Deborah Bladon (DB): I love a multi-dimensional romance hero. For me he needs to be kind. His love for the heroine should be an extension of his compassionate heart. He does what he can to help others, even if it’s not in the most obvious way. I think a romance hero needs to have courage. That encompasses a lot but he should never back down from something he has a strong belief in and he needs to be willing to do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves. Integrity is also a must have for me when it comes to a hero. The heroine needs to know she can trust him and that he’ll honor the commitment he’s made to her.
MF: What makes for a “perfect couple” in your books?
In my books, I think a “perfect couple” has to have imperfections. I write about flawed heroines and heroes who manage to find a way to overcome everything in their path to love and protect one another. I think real love is imperfect and that’s what I want to capture in my books.
MF: Tell me about New Year’s Eve 2013.
I had been working on my first serial, Obsessed, for more than a year at that point and there were so many things in my life that I wanted to do. Publishing a book was at the top of the list, so I decided that 2014 would be the year that I would do that. I worked through January of that year to get Obsessed – Part One ready for release and then I took the plunge in February. All of 2014 is a blur to me now. I wrote virtually non-stop but I’ve surpassed every dream I’ve ever had about being an author.
MF: What’s the hardest thing about self publishing that you did not expect?
The amount of work involved was surprising to me. In addition to writing, there are many other aspects of self-publishing that I hadn’t considered. I work very hard, on a daily basis, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love every minute of it. I’m so grateful that readers have fallen in love with my books.
MF: What’s the easiest?
The easiest (and best part) is interacting with readers whether that’s on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email or in person at book signings. I love getting to know my readers and hearing their feedback.
MF: Only a handful of your books are standalone novels. What do you like about the novella with the cliffhanger endings?
I like writing both standalones and novellas but I’ve always been in love with cliffhangers. The anticipation of what’s waiting around the corner and that unwavering hope that the couple will eventually find their HEA is why I have written so many serials with cliffhangers.
MF: If e-publishing wasn’t available, how would it affect your writing as it stands today?
I can’t say for certain if I would have pursued a traditional publishing route for my books. When I began self-publishing, I had very little grasp of everything that the process entailed. I was also running a successful online marketing company and that was my primary focus. I’m not sure if I would have invested the time or energy to chase a traditional publishing contract.
MF: How have you incorporated writing into your schedule and role as a mom?
I write full-time. I don’t have a set schedule but I do make a conscious effort to write each day. That might be during the day or sometimes it happens in the evening and into the early hours of the next day. I have two amazing children who are both very supportive of my work. That’s meant the world to me.
MF: How do your romances stand apart from other romance novels?
I’ve always tried to write stories that resonate with my readers by writing about characters that face the same every day issues that many of them have experience with. I also have created a world for my characters. In many of my books, characters from my other books will pop up. It creates a familiarity that my readers have really embraced.
MF: You have a huge fan base. What is the number one question your fans ask you?
The most frequent question I’m asked is when I’ll be releasing another book. My readers are so generous with their words that I’m often sitting in front of my laptop in tears because of their sweet and kind messages. I’m still overwhelmed with how wonderful romance readers are.
MF: What would be your number one question to your fans?
Who do you want me to write about next? I often get messages from readers asking if I’ll write a story about a particular character that was introduced in one of my books. I enjoy writing about the characters they long to know more about.
MF: Does their feedback influence where you will go with stories or do you already have an idea about your character’s journey?
I generally have an idea about the journey of each of my characters. One character, Noah Foster, from my Vain series, was one who the readers would often ask me to write an additional follow-up story about so I did that early this year in a novella titled Shiver. I’m planning on doing something similar later this year for readers who enjoyed Jax Walker, from my Obsessed series.
MF: Who is/are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I have so many that it would be impossible to share them all. I am a huge Danielle Steel fan. I’ve loved her work for so long and I’ve always found her words to be captivating and her characters complex. I was a huge fan of Jackie Collins as well. I’m also a big Melissa Foster fan! I met Melissa in New York City last year. She was incredibly gracious to me. Her writing is amazing and I admire her commitment to her craft.
MF: Do you have a favorite quotation from your book or character? What is it and who says it?
I do. It’s a quotation that embodies romance to me. There’s little I love more than a strong man wanting to do whatever he can for the woman he loves, but recognizing that she’s capable of accomplishing anything she desires. Gabriel Foster, the hero in Haze is in thought about the woman he loves, Isla. “I will fulfill each of her dreams and if I can’t, I will stand next to her as she does it herself.”