The Family That Stays Together (A Sister Nun Mystery)
One of Deborah Plummer
Bussey’s favorite childhood memories is visiting the local library where
she first immersed herself into the world of books, but she never
thought that one day she would become a writer. She is now releasing her
third book in summer 2013.
Bussey lived in Cleveland, Ohio,
until she was recruited to the University of Massachusetts Medical
School in New England. She holds a Master of Education degree in
community consultation and a doctorate in psychology. She is a
psychologist and human resources professional with expertise in
diversity management and organizational development.
After a
lengthy career as an academic, she discovered a passion for writing.
Bussey’s nonfiction self-help book, “Racing Across the Lines: Changing
Race Relationships Through Friendships,” released by Pilgrim Press
received the publishing company’s Mayflower Award for Best Publication
in the church and state category. She is also the editor of the
“Handbook of Diversity Management: Beyond Awareness to Competency Based
Learning” from University Press of America.
Having spent more
than a dozen years of her life as a nun, Bussey is the creator of the
Sister Nun mystery series. Half Dozen Publications released her debut
novel, “They Still Call Me Sister,” in December 2011. Her newest book,
“The Family That Stays Together,” is due out in June 2013. Bussey lives
in Westborough, Mass., where she is a regular blogger for The Huffington
Post.
INTERVIEW:
What initially got you interested in writing?
One of my fondest childhood memories was going to the county library
that was located at the end of my street. In those days, absent video
games, Xboxes, and iPads and when television only had three channels, I
spent a lot of time at the library checking out book after book. My
parents encouraged my reading and challenged me to read more than the
ten books for the library’s summer reading club. That was always such
an easy contest.
My sisters and I spent lots of time outdoors making up stories about
each other, entertaining ourselves and showcasing the tales to a
neighborhood audience. While a Girl Scout, my Scout Leader, Mrs. Ford
surprised me with a blank journal as gift. “I noticed you liked to
write,” she said when she handed it to me. I wondered how she knew that
and at the same time wondered if it was true. Did I really like to
write? I knew I liked to read, but was I a writer? I ended up majoring
in English along with psychology and learned that I really did like to
write and was encouraged to write professionally.
How did you decide to make the move into becoming a published author?
Because I was in academia it was publish or perish if I wanted to
succeed. I was first published as a psychology researcher. I then
decided to write a non-fiction book on friendship patterns for a wider
audience than the professional academic community. After that process, I
wanted to keep writing because I loved the process but wanted to have
more fun doing it. A friend, an attorney who writes fiction in her
spare time, encouraged me to write fiction.
What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?
I hope that is sparks the kitchen table kind of conversations about
contemporary diversity issues—the tension between sexual orientation and
religion, cross racial friendships and interracial marriages,
stereotypes about age-appropriate behavior, the susceptibility of
materialism as a way to achieve happiness. I also hope that they really
like the characters and want to have Kathy and Tina as friends.
What do you find most rewarding about writing?
I write fiction because it is cathartic to make something up and not
have to have citations for every thought that you put on paper as you do
in academic writing.
What do you find most challenging about writing?
It takes a long, long time to write even a really good paragraph. The editing process is also grueling.
What advice do you give people wanting to enter the field?
The more you write the better writer you become. Also have a lot of
diverse friends and experiences that will broaden your way of knowing
and being and enhance your writing.
Is there anything else besides writing that people would find interesting about you?
In my next life, I am coming back as a Beyonce. If not as Beyonce
then I will come back as a celebrity chef. However, a good friend of
mine called dibs on Beyonce awhile back, so I have to have a second
option. Since I love to cook it would be good to be a celebrity chef.
What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?
Please visit my website
www.dlplummer.com or like my Facebook page
www.facebook.com/DeborahPlummerBussey and follow me on twitter @SisterNun
Thank you!
