EL DuBois Interview Published on: 21, Aug 2018
Where were you born and raised? What is your favorite spot in the city?
I was born in a small town in Texas but moved to a suburb of Houston when I was a child. I moved back to that small town about 5 years ago and I would have to say my favorite spot is the peace of my own back porch.
Who all are a part of your family? Do they give you any story ideas to write on?My husband, daughter, mom, dad, and brother. My husband and brother are writers as well so we are always bouncing ideas off of each other.
What is it about travelling that you really like? Which is your favorite place you have been to?I love new experiences, and I loved the Grand Cayman Islands.
What kind of art do you like creating? Have you ever exhibited it?I paint, and I write. Years ago a few of my paintings were displayed in a museum.
Which is your favorite genre of music?Anything that speaks to my soul and makes me feel something.
What is the one lesson you have learnt from the abuse and harassment that you went through?No one has the right to silence you or abuse another person.
How important do you think it is to give voice to these issues that are stigmatized and tabooed by the society?Very important, I wrote my story so that my silence would be broken and my voice finally heard.
What inspired you to start writing? How did you begin?I have always been a "storyteller" and it just came naturally. This book came from real experiences and I felt it needed to be written down.
What brought to you the idea of ‘The Glass Mask’?I was going through a healing process and writing down all I had been through. One day it hit me that I needed to be brave and share my story with the world.
How difficult it is to expose something so personal to the public and their critical scrutiny?It is very difficult to bare your soul, sins, and lowest moments of your life so completely. But I knew it had to be done. With the Womens rights issues and current movements like MeToo and TimesUp I looked at those courageous women and knew I needed to tell my story for myself and others.
How were the reviews for ‘The Glass Mask’ and how have they helped you grow as a writer?I have had 5 star reviews and it has been amazing to have so much love and support from all around the world. It validated that I made the right decision in breaking my silence.
How did you family react to ‘The Gass Mask’?They have been very supportive but only my husband has read parts of it. It is far too painful for my family to read. Part of me wishes they could so they would understand certain aspects of what happened but I know that ultimately it would be to painful for my parents and brother. My daughter wants to read it when she is older. They are of course curious since they are all in the book but it is best if they do not know the true extent of the abuse I suffered.
What advice would you like to give to anyone who is suffering from any kind of abuse/harassment?You are not alone and you deserve better. There is help out there. Never lose hope.
Which is the next book you are writing?It is written and I have already started another one. The next book is called Ransom, TX and is a paranormal thriller my husband T.J. DuBois co-wrote with me. It will be published sometime next year and we are really excited about it. The book is the first in the series and the second one is already outlined. In the meantime I have started a romance novel and my husband is working on a horror. We are a family of creative individuals. Our daughter is an actress and my brother is working on his first novel so as we say in our house "Team DuBois"
