Blog Tour: I Can Handle Him by Debbie Lum

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Blog Tour: I Can Handle Him by Debbie Lum

For the month of July, I think that you will enjoy reading the book, I Can Handle Him by Debbie Lum. A romantic suspense novel, I Can Handle Him, is the perfect choice to add to your reading list for the summer.

If only it hadn’t rained.

Those five opening words in I CAN HANDLE HIM send a few important signals that some readers might miss. This scene sets the stage for Quinn and Tory to be arm-in-arm (showing their closeness), side-stepping puddles, when Quinn notices her frizzed-out hair in her reflection in a downtown storefront (showing her concern for her appearance.) Both of those traits, their closeness and Quinn’s insecurities with her looks, come up later in the book. But there is a deeper meaning in those five opening words. Much later, we find one of our characters back in that same parking lot, after a rain. But this character is side-stepping puddles alone. And she’s not gripping her best-friend’s arm; her hands are fisted in anger. There’s a chance that only serious, clue-hunting readers will pick up on something else too: the very, very important reason why I needed to have puddles of water on that parking lot. If only it hadn’t rained…

Purchase I CAN HANDLE HIM via Amazon.

Questions and Answers with Debbie Lum

Where did you grow up /live now? Tampa, Florida and now I split my time between Florida and Texas. As the saying goes, I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? For me it was more of what did I NOT want to be, and that was a doctor, nurse or anything medical. I get dizzy even thinking of medical questions and even fainted at one of my kid’s doctor’s appointments. Interesting though, when I write medical scenes, it doesn’t bother me at all!
What is your education/career background? I’m a proud graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa, with a B.A. in Mass Communications.
Do you have kids and/or pets?I’m the mother to two impressive young men, one in law school and the other a recent college graduate.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Or what first inspired you to write? Writing was something I had only done for work, writing speeches or press releases, so I never imagined writing anything like a novel. It happened by accident as a way to get a story idea out of my head. After much research (and work), I’m now the author of five novels!
Where/When do you best like to write? I’ve written three books in Virginia, and two in Texas, and those two in Texas were written in two different locations. So apparently it doesn’t matter to me where I write!
Do you have any interesting writing habits or superstitions? After I get a story idea in my head, I begin a “scribble book.” My scribble books are simple spiral-bound notebooks where I capture all of my ideas. The scribble books are so handy when you need to go back to check on something you researched or want to change a character’s name and need to remember the first names that had come to mind.
When you are struggling to write/have writer’s block, what are some ways that help you find your creative muse again? Flying on an airplane! That is where I do most of my story conceptualizing.
What do you think makes a good story? Characters that make you wish you were them (and characters that make you thankful you are NOT them too!)
What inspired your story? I wanted to write a story about two best friends at a turning point in their lives and the decisions they make.
How does a new story idea come to you? Is it an event that sparks the plot or a character speaking to you? Story ideas come to me when I am flying, or when I’m on the treadmill listening to music. I let my mind wander and there is a sweet-spot in daydreams where stories are born.
Is there a message/theme in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Believe in your friends, even when others around you are wanting you to question your friendship. Make your own decisions.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? How fun the research part would be! You begin by researching “X” but during that research you uncover “Y and Z”
On a Friday night, what are you most likely to be doing? My husband and I are creatures of habit, and we started getting barbecue to go from a local barbecue restaurant on Friday nights. Now, we’d much rather get our to go barbecue than go out to any restaurant on Friday nights!
What do you like to do when you are not writing? Talk to my kids! I have been fortunate to have raised two young men who are big communicators. They love to tell me about their days (in law school and college) and I love to listen.
Who are some of your favorite authors?Since I’m not a reader, I don’t have any favorites! I’m going to need to add “reading” as one of my New Year’s Resolutions and ask my fans for suggestions!
Do you have a bucket list? What are some of the things on it?I have travelled from Russia to Italy to Turkey but I have never been to Australia or the orient. Add that to the list!
What person(s) has/have helped you the most in your career?When I first began writing, I had kept it a secret. But one friend, Jill, pulled it out of me. She’s one of those friends who probes a little deeper, and then follows up with support and questions. She’s turned into my number one beta reader and is the first one I’ll tell when I am writing a new novel. She also sees the first draft. I appreciate her enthusiasm...it helps me through the not-so-enthusiastic times!
What’s the best writing advice you have ever received? Put your best foot forward. That was good advice from another friend and beta reader, Keri.