We were lucky to catch up with Deborah Daughetee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Deborah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was working as a contracts administrator for a computer software company. I had a 401K, 2 weeks vacation, and my own secretary. A writer friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to interview as a writer’s assistant on the television show Tour of Duty. I jumped at the chance. I got the job which had no stability, no 401k, no vacation pay, and a salary that was less than half of what I was used to. But I wanted to write and felt this was my way in. I was right. I sold my first script on my next job on The Trials of Rosie O’Neil. If I hadn’t taken that risk, I would still be working some boring desk job.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started writing when I was eight years old, but thought I wanted to be an actress. It wasn’t until I was 30 years old that I settled on being a writer. I already wrote about my first break that got me into television. I was on a show called Touched by an Angel when I became very ill. Turned out I had a rare lung disease that took 50% of my lung capacity, and I no longer had the stamina to write for television.

So I started my graphic novel publishing company, Kymera Press. My first project was turning a pilot I had written into the graphic novel Gates of Midnight. My most recent book, Mary Shelley Presents, won the Bram Stoker Award for excellence in a graphic novel.

I continue to write short stories and novels, my most recent in the world of Kolchak, The Nightstalker. It was wonderful to write in that world. I also was able to write some Dark Shadows Audio Dramas. It’s amazing to be writing in all of these shows I watched as a kid.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to get stories out there that can make people stop and think. My publishing company uses all women artists and writers and strong female protagonists with realistic bodies. We also believe in diversity.

I have received letters from women suffering from PTSD, saying that reading about Raven struggling with PTSD in Gates of Midnight has helped them to know that they are not alone. I love that kind of response.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One of the things I’ve run up against with non-creatives is that they think writing is not work. Because I stay at home and don’t have to go into an office, they think I’m available to hang out. I’m not. I’m working.

I’ve also had friendships end because I had a deadline and had to cancel plans for dinner.

And finally, when you are with a writer, nothing you tell them is sacred. We take our inspiration from everything we come in contact with, including our friends and family. So don’t be surprised if something you told your writer friend ends up in a story sometime.

Contact Info:

• Website: DeborahDaughetee.com, Kymerapress.com
• Facebook: Deborah Smith Daughetee, Kymera Press
• Linkedin: Deborah Daughetee