1. When did you first start writing?
I’ve been writing ever since I was small, but only recently had the confidence to show people my work.
2. Is P.A.W.S. your first book?
This is the first book I’ve finished and had published. I wrote a children’s fantasy many years ago that I never finished. I remember there was a very cool ogre in it!
3. How did you get the idea of P.A.W.S.?
Ever since I read the third Harry Potter book, The Prisoner of Azkhaban, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of animagi and always felt if I was an animagus I would be a cat. Cats are definitely my favorite creature.
The idea for P.A.W.S. came to me in a flash last October. I clearly saw a young girl being given a silver cat charm by her grandmother and instinctively knew her story. I told my daughter my idea, and she encouraged me to write it.
4. The start of P.A.W.S. reminded me a little of “The Diary of Anne Frank”, was this your intention?
I am flattered as The Diary of Anne Frank is one of my favorite books, but no, my intention was not to invoke Anne Frank. My family came out of Vienna and I’ve intentionally written some of my family’s history into P.A.W.S. and there will be trips back into their history in future books in the series.
5. Tell us a little about the story.
P.A.W.S. is the story of Miri, a young girl who is given a silver cat amulet on a chain by her omama, Celia on the day before she dies. Celia tells her it's important that she keeps it with her always. Miri is then sent to live with her uncle and aunt who not really wanting children ship her off to a private boarding school where she's bullied by her classmates. One day a group of bullies chase her up into a tree and then something unexpected happens . . .
6. Will there be a sequel?
Yes, P.A.W.S. is the first of a series. I’m currently working on the first sequel.
7. Do you have a special place where you work?
I work on my PC in a messy corner of the living room, though sometimes for inspiration I will go on walks and sit in cafes and people watch.
8. What do you do when you're not writing?
When I’m not writing, I’m puzzling. I write word and logic puzzles for magazines, and for my blog Paws4Puzzles. (http://paws4puzzles.wordpress.com/puzzles/)
9. Where can P.A.W.S. be found?
P.A.W.S. is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and directly from Rocking Horse Publishing.
http://debbiemanberkupfer.wordpress.com/p-a-w-s/
(Links to everywhere it’s available on this page of my blog – along with a cover picture and synopsis)
Thank you Debbie and good luck with the book.