An Interview with Author Debra Whiting Alexander

Debra Whiting Alexander is among the many wonderfully inspiring authors I’ve met online — the internet can be a beautiful place when you meet such interesting people! Debra and I share many things in common, aside from our love of writing and reading. Our bond has deepened through talks about our challenges caring for loved ones. Debra had been an amazing supporter, who has shared her wisdom and advice with me about navigating the health system and finding the best resources for my autistic granddaughter.

I admire Debra for helping readers understand the inner world of those struggling with mental health conditions, and for opening our eyes and hearts to the experiences of others. I believe reading helps us see the world differently, and Debra’s books certainly make an impact.

In this interview, she tells us how her years of experience working on psychiatric units have helped her craft stories with multi-dimensional characters, emotion and meaning.

Debra Whiting Alexander: Shining a Light on Mental Health Topics Through Engaging, Award-Winning Novels

Lines to Savor:

“I may not be able to do a lot of things, Mama. And some things I may never get right. But I can love. I can do that.”
Debra Whiting Alexander (A River for Gemma)

Where are you from, and where do you currently reside?

I was born and raised in San Diego but my career has spanned over thirty years in California, New York and Oregon.

Tell us about your books and what inspired the writing.

As a mental health practitioner for more than 30 years, my books always shine a light on an important mental health topic. My novels blend my personal history with my professional background. My grandmother, who died in a psychiatric hospital at the age of 41 and left behind seven children, inspired my debut novel, ZETTY. Working for twenty years with individuals with developmental delays inspired A River for Gemma, and my granddaughter, diagnosed with Tourette’s last year, inspired Eliza Jane Finds a Hero.

Were there any particular challenges you faced while writing?

There were so many challenges I encountered and continue to encounter. The number one challenge always seems to be TIME! When I started ZETTY I was the mom of a young daughter and working full-time as the Executive Director of a non-profit counseling agency. In addition, as a specialist in PTSD treatment, I was a first responder nationally to various traumas. So, it only took fourteen years to complete my first novel! (Ha, ha!)

I’m now semi-retired so my second novel only took three years.

My second greatest challenge was making the leap from non-fiction to fiction. I published seventeen books before breaking into fiction. There was a huge learning curve! I not only read books on the craft of writing fiction but I hired excellent editors to critique my drafts. And critique they did. I learned so much during that time and figured even if ZETTY never saw the light of day, the brain aerobics of challenging myself with learning something new was worth it! ZETTY went on to win eight awards, so I am glad I persevered. There were times I gave up but the story wouldn’t leave me alone until I finished it.

What inspires your creativity?

People inspire my creativity. I love people watching and I find myself unintentionally eavesdropping. My career is listening to people I work with, but I’m talking about overhearing random conversations in public. I often find myself jotting down notes about them. Interesting people, conversations, or words sometimes spark a whole scene in a story. I’ve been writing since I was a child, so I literally have boxes of writing to pull from. But my personal history, professional work, and friendships can be equally powerful to draw from. Nature is my next biggest inspiration. I grew up on the beaches of San Diego where ZETTY takes place, but A River For Gemma and Eliza Jane Finds a Hero are filled with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest where I live now.

Are there any pages or lines you’ve written that now make you proud or stand out in your mind?

In ZETTY, I’m most proud of creating the alternating chapters of point of view between the characters Zetty and Marjorie. I wanted to help readers understand the inner world of her mother as realistically as possible. I drew from my years of experience working on psychiatric units for those chapters where her mother is institutionalized.
In A River for Gemma, two favorite lines about Gemma are: “I may not be able to do a lot of things, Mama. And some things I may never get right. But I can love. I can do that.” And, “…the world would not accept the truth about Gemma Porter—even though it radiated from her like Creator’s flaming medallion in the sky.”
And from Eliza Jane Finds her Hero, I especially love this line: “You can’t expect yourself to be like anyone else. Or them to be like you. That’s the fun part—don’t you know? Learning about each other’s differences makes life an adventure!”

Do you have a project on your desk or one that’s stirring in your heart right now?

Eliza Jane Finds Her Hero launches September 2023, so I haven’t started a solid draft for my next book yet. I have ideas but until I become consumed by inspiration for something new, I’ll be focusing on our book launch, which is especially fun and exciting to do this time with my granddaughter. Until then, I’ll walk, listen, and wait for the next thing I simply have to write!

Bio:

DEBRA WHITING ALEXANDER holds a PhD in Psychology and has written both non-fiction and fiction. Her work has won numerous prestigious awards including the WILLA Literary Award, Will Rogers Medallion Award, Sarton Women’s Book Award, Eric Hoffer Awards, and many more. She lives near the hazelnut orchards in Oregon, where she loves walking with her granddaughter who is the co-author of her most recent fiction book, Eliza Jane Finds Her Hero. They found their inspiration for the story and setting while strolling through the fields and orchards near their home.

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