In Conversation with Deborah Rodriguez | Author

The first Deborah Rodriguez book I read was The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul. It was given to me by my grandmother because she knew I love to read and travel. What makes it an even more fitting gift is the undercurrents of women empowering women that runs through the book. Each of Deborah’s books is set in exotic places and she writes in a way that makes you are there. We were luckily enough to be able to ask Deborah about her books, her inspiration and the travels she has been on. 

Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to start writing?

I always wrote as a kid. I never thought I would make a career out of it because I just wrote for myself. I always kept notes and journals about my day-to-day life ⎯ mostly boring, and mostly silly boyfriend stuff, up until the time I moved to a small island in the Caribbean and lived in a tent on the beach with my kids and new husband. Yes, I followed a man to an island.  What was I thinking?  You might think, “Wow, how cool.” It was not. We were eaten alive by bugs. A hurricane came through and we thought we were going to die. I was lonely for my family and my job back in my mom’s hair salon. Island life did not suit me well at all, nor did that husband.  In order to keep my wits about me, I wrote funny letters to my mom and all the people in the salon. After we returned to the states, we found those silly letters. Re-reading them dropped us right back into the middle of that island. Luckily, everything was a lot funnier in retrospect. I realized then the power of writing to remember. That is why, when I moved to Afghanistan I decided to write every day ⎯ not for a book, but so that I would never forget.

A lot of your books involve aspects of female empowerment, is this something important to you?

Having female empowerment as a theme in the books is very important. You will notice that all my books are female driven, with incredibly diverse characters. I am all about girl power, and I love it when people put aside their differences, whether cultural or religious or whatever, and band together to make a difference. 

Your books give a very atmospheric feel of the countries you write about, do you spend time in all the places you write about before you write your books?

I do spend time in all the countries that I write about. I personally need that connection with the country in order to really make it pop on the page. I want to know what my character smells or hears when they walk out their front door. It’s these little details that draw the reader right into the moment. Plus, it gives me a chance to fall in love with amazing places on the earth.

What is the hardest thing about writing a book, or do you find it flows easily?

I’m always looking for tales that are female driven, set in interesting or exotic locations, involve social issues, and hold cultural surprises. And, of course, also have a really good, strong story line. It’s not easy!

Sometimes it’s actually quite difficult to get all these all these things to dance together, but when it all falls in place, that’s when the magic happens. 

How much are your characters influenced by people you have met?

My friends would say, way too influenced by real people. I always say I am a collector of people and situations. I will see something and jot in down in my phone. I will meet someone, and if their personality, body language, or habits stand out to me, I jot it down. I have files full of interesting people who could end up in a book.   

You have travelled a lot. Do you have a favourite country you have lived in or visited? Where would you most want to go back to?

My favourite country is usually the one I am in at the time. I have actually not visited many countries that I have not enjoyed. There is something about Zanzibar that made me think, “Hmmm. I could live here.” I will go back and spend more time there, and would love to take my grand- children there someday. I find the place very magical. Also very high on my list of places that I love is Morocco. It’s so enchanting, and again has such an old world magical feel to it. So much color, and a feast for the eyes.  I could see Morocco as a setting for a book someday. 

Do you have any new book ideas which you are working on? What can you tell our followers about?

I am working on an amazing book now that takes place in Haiti. WOW.  What a place. Other than Afghanistan, I have never visited a country so full of strength and resilience.

Haiti is so surprising. I have remained in awe throughout the entire process of research and writing. The people are remarkable, and their situation is often so misunderstood, the efforts to help so misguided. Talk about cultural surprises! I can’t wait for this book to get onto the shelf.

To find out more about Deborah and her work please visit her website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter.

Instagram – @la.juniper       Twitter – @homeofjuniper     Pinterest – @lajuniper1      Facebook – @lajuniper

#fillyourhomewithflowers #homeofjuniper