Deborah Perdue Interview Published on: 27, May 2022

We were at a good movie. My parents came and told us we had to go. I was mad. It turns out they had brought two horses to us from Utah, we all 3 daughters loved horses. So they introduced us to the two beautiful mares. I wasn’t mad anymore that they yanked us out of a movie.

I have always written since a young child. Journaling was something I’ve always done. Then in school I continued writing and reading wonderful authors. Eventually, I got a B.A. in English (emphasis: Creative writing) and I’ve been writing ever since.

I found the power of a gratitude practice when a minister gave us all blank journals and told us to write 5 things we were grateful for every day for 40 days and that our lives would change for the better. It worked. Now I love to share gratitude in my books and gratitude journals.

Wow, how can I pick one?! Pick a genre you like, for instance, I like modern psychological fiction – one author I love is Kristin Hannah. Start there, read all of her works and then find similar authors.

I chose self-publishing because it allows us to have freedom and get our books out there, rather than trying to get a traditional publisher to take notice and take us on.

I am also a book designer! (www.illuminationgraphics.com) so I place more importance than most people on cover design. Very important to have a professional book cover. An engaging title is also crucial and good when you can put important keywords into a title and/or subtitle too.

The Grace of Gratitude Journal has been published for quite awhile. I hear from many that it has greatly impacted their lives in beneficial ways to start a gratitude practice using my beautifully-illustrated, inspiring journal.

I have a subscriber list (you can sign up at www.graceofgratitude.com) I have been writing thoughts of gratitude Mon-Fri for about 7 years! In both of my Daily Gratitude Reflections book, I took the cream of the crop for these daily guides.

I feel the author needs to have passion for the genre they write in. If the author is passionate, like I am for being grateful, the readers will feel the sincerity and react very positively.

Here is a short one that I particularly love:
“Keep the vibrations of love flowing! The Daily Gratitude Reflections that Deborah Perdue writes and sends daily are deep and wondrous, and touch my heart.
-P. Singh

I have a daily practice of writing and that keeps me engaged and motivated always.

I didn’t realize that marketing is so important, even if you have a traditional publisher. Your “job” is not over when you write a book. Getting the word out is very important.

Taking walks with my dogs, nature, swimming, artwork, my book design business, friends and spirituality.

I plan to write another book about Radical Gratitude. I have started it. I feel there is always something you can find to be grateful for, even when something harrowing happens in your life. I will use examples from myself and others to show how to find gratitude in a tough situation.

A marketing person who was helping me found it for me. This was in 2021 when my new book was launched.