Kathryn’s Inbox: Writers on Wednesday: Debra Borys

Kathryn White gave me a chance to introduce myself and the Street Stories series to her readers in Adelaide Australia.

Debra R. Borys

Kathryn White posted an interview of me last month on her blog Kathryn’s Inbox that I’d like to share even though I missed it earlier. Some of the information may be be bits you already know about me, but every interviewer always seems to have a unique slant to their questions.

Click throughto read my comments on the Street Stories series and writing in general.

Q: Indie Publishing, or Traditional Publishing?

A: I lean toward traditional publishing as a writer because I do believe that publishing houses serve as a filter, a first reader if you will, which means readers can have more confidence that my books are entertaining, well written, and with limited errors. Of course, I’m considering small presses part of the traditional publishing model–maybe that’s not what you mean? Small presses are, I think a better market for an author than the big houses, simply because…

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Get Behind Me, Now Listen

My edited podcast interview with Get Behind Me, Now Stay There is up on iTunes to listen to! Oh and they also talk with musician Joseph Strider and author Jim Harrison, and play some cool music. There is a host of other media news that is also very interesting so I hope you’ll listen to the whole podcast, but if you can’t my section starts about 53:50 (the whole podcast is an hour long).

If you listen from their iTunes page, the episode I’m in is #40 – Dec. 31. Or you can just click the play bar below to listen here.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/getbehindmepodcast.com/media/2013-12-31_get_behind_me_-_episode_40_-_itunes.mp3

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Interview at The Reading Frenzy

Debbie Haupt at The Reading Frenzy asked me some great questions about Bend Me, Shape Me and about street kids.  I hope you click through to read the whole thing, but here is a tiny taste of what I had to say.

Debra, you’ve volunteered working with what you term “throwaway youth.” What is one thing any of us can do to help even one teen off the streets?

The one thing everyone can and should do is very simple. Notice them. Smile as you pass, maybe even say hi. If they ask you for money and you don’t want to give them any, just smile politely and say, “Sorry, I can’t today.” Nine times out of ten, if you treat them with respect, they will return the favor. Being treated as invisible and contemptuous only erodes a person’s self-esteem which leads to antisocial anger and/or depression.

Once you start doing this, you might find yourself taking the next step, which is to engage with them. Offer to buy them a bag of chips or something from the local drug store. Stop and talk a minute. Learn their name. Find out more about them if they are willing to share. Seeing them as people not that much different from ourselves is the first step toward social changes that could make great strides in eliminating homelessness.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for any of these youth?

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if some of them don’t get there in time. It’s like Jack, the Night Moves therapist in Painted Black, says, “All you can do is try to save them all, and hope none of the good ones slip away.” Youth workers and volunteers around the country are making huge differences in the lives of individual kids through the many programs, opportunities and shelters out there. There is much more hope for the youth than there is for some of the adults who are chronically homeless. The kids still have time and enthusiasm and energy to help them fight through to the brighter side.

What’s the biggest false belief we have of homeless teens?

That they are the juvenile delinquent versions of the smart-mouthed egotistical teens we know with homes but no respect for others. I would trust most of the street kids I got to know and received more respect from them then I do from some privileged kids with bright futures and parents willing to bail them out of every jam. Street kids come in all sizes, ethnicities, abilities and personalities but I’ve found them to be more appreciative of what little they have than those who have pretty much anything they want.

via The Reading Frenzy: Interview with Debra Borys-Bend Me Shape Me-about the real life tragedy that is homeless teens.

 

Interview with Shelagh Watkins

Shelagh Watkins was one of the first people to interview me after the publication of Painted Black, so I am honored she found room for another round of questions and answers now that Bend Me, Shape Me is out.  I hope you will click through to read the whole article. I talk about writing, my inspirations and what I’ve been up to lately.  Here’s a teaser talking about where I got the idea for the plot.

“For Bend Me, Shape Me an article about a family suing their son’s psychiatrist planted the germ of an idea. Their autistic son had been exhibiting violent and dangerous behavior after beginning treatment and because the family insisted on further investigation, the police discovered the doctor was actually a paranoid schizophrenic who planned to brainwash his patients into becoming his own private security force. I simply asked myself “What if?” What if the patient had no family, no one who cared what happened to him? What might the end result have been? For me, the end result was this book.”

via Debra R. Borys | Literature & Fiction.

If you missed my interview with her last year, please CLICK HERE.