Hi, Debbie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, Nerd Daily readers! I’m Debbie Mason, and I write small-town Contemporary Romance, Romcoms, and Women’s Fiction with heart, humour, family drama, a little spice and a little mystery. My first contemporary romance, The Trouble with Christmas, was the inspiration for Hallmark’s Welcome to Christmas. When I’m not writing or reading, I’m trying out new recipes on my holiday-loving family in Ottawa, Canada.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

When I was young, my mom, sister, and I lived for several years with my grandparents. My grandfather, who was an author, passed on his love of reading and writing to me. He told me I was going to be a writer just like him, and he was right.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Ookpik the Ogling Arctic Owl by my grandfather, Dudley Copland
• The one that made you want to become an author: Inspired by my grandfather’s book, I wrote children’s stories (unpublished) for years before switching to historical paranormal romance(published) after reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: My current WIP (work in progress)

Your latest novel, The Christmas Getaway, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

A feel-good holiday read.

What can readers expect?

A sunshiny small-town librarian who loves the holidays

A grumpy single dad who doesn’t love the holidays

A fake relationship with a duke

A Christmas market in Edinburgh

A castle in the Scottish Highlands

A Christmas ball

A book-loving tween who loves the holidays

An adorable Highland Coo (Cow)

A whole lot of love and humour and holiday cheer

Or maybe you’ll get a better idea of what to expect if Charlotte tells you.

I hold up another finger. “Number two, Matilda is important to me. I don’t want her to doubt that I’m here for her and not for you.” I raise a third finger. “I read romance novels. My friends also read romance. We read so much romance, I’d go so far as to say we’re experts on the genre. And do you know how often the sheroes convince themselves they’ll just have a fling only for it to turn into a whole lot more?”

“From the way you’re waving your finger in my face, I’m guessing the majority of the time.”

“Give the man a prize.”

He laughs. “Can I pick my prize? Because I know what I want. You.”

“You really don’t.”

“Trust me, Charlotte. I really do.”

“Then you haven’t listened to a word I said.”

“I have, but you’re using plots from fictional works as the basis for your argument.”

“Your mother and your daughter aren’t characters in a book, Ewan.” I ignore the thought that the three of them very well could be. Single dad who just happens to be a duke with a castle in the Highlands. A grieving tween, and a mother whose grief has turned her into a Snow Queen (or in this case, a Snow Duchess)? Oh yes, I’m pretty sure I’ve read this story before.

Where did the inspiration for The Christmas Getaway come from?

The inspiration came from a proposal that I sent my editor for another holiday story with the same title. She wasn’t a fan of my Scottish wedding planner FMC or my American Olympic medallist snowboarder MMC, so I went back to the drawing board. I’d just picked up a cute piece of wall art for my office at the time that read “Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved books.”

From there, my small-town, romance-book-loving librarian Charlotte Webb was born. Ewan was born from the lie Charlotte blurted when she realized her friends and family think she’s still in love with her ex, who’s getting married at Christmas. Her ex believes she is too.

I smile and say the first thing that pops into my head. “I’d love to attend your wedding, Andrew, but I’m leaving next week to spend the holidays with my boyfriend in Scotland.” Mic drop.

“You have a boyfriend?”

Wow, he actually looks and sounds stunned. “I do, a very hot highlander. I’ve been keeping our relationship under wraps, though.” I search my brain for a reason why I would be doing so and glom on to the plotline of my latest holiday read. “He’s a member of the aristocracy.”

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved writing the banter between Charlotte and Ewan. Their chemistry is undeniable, yet they both try very hard to deny it. Charlotte more than Ewan, who is all in for a Highland Fling but nothing more. The story has lots of fun moments, many that have to do with Charlotte’s book-related wardrobe choices. No spoilers, but I especially loved writing the Fated Mate sweatshirt scene. It’s not all light-hearted moments though, and I loved exploring and writing about the underlying issues that were keeping many of the characters stuck in their lives and holding them back from healthy, happy relationships.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

The Christmas Getaway is the first book I wrote in first person. After writing more than thirty books in close third person, it was a bit of a challenge to break the habit. But I loved the intimacy of first person, and the book I’m currently writing is in first person too.

What’s next for you?

I’m keeping my current writing project under wraps, but I’ll give you a hint. I’m following my advice to other writers and writing what I love to read.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?

I’m sending my book to my editor next week, and I’ll be rewarding myself with a binge reread of Sarah J. Maas’s ACTOR series before picking up a copy of A Court of Splintered Harmony. After that, I’ll be waiting impatiently for the release of A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12.

Will you be picking up The Christmas Getaway? Tell us in the comments below!

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