Wednesday 19 April 2023

A Slice of Cake With... Debbie Manber Kupfer

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Debbie Manber Kupfer. 

Debbie grew up in the UK in the East London suburb of Barking. She has lived in Israel, New York and North Carolina and somehow ended up in St. Louis, where she works as a writer, editor, and freelance puzzle constructor of word puzzles and logic problems. She lives with her family including two very opinionated felines. She believes that with enough tea and dark chocolate you can achieve anything.

What kind of books do you write?

I write an interconnected crazy diverse world of shapeshifters, filled with an array of characters and creatures. I’m very fond of morally grey characters as I believe the world is not black and white.

Can you describe your writing why?

I have a whole world inside my head pushing its way out. I have to write just so I know what happens next!

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Although I enjoy writing all my books there was nothing the magic when I began the very first book in my saga. Here’s the short prologue of P.A.W.S. where it all began.

Vienna, October 20, 1941

Today was Celia’s tenth birthday. This was not how she imagined celebrating it. She was with her family – her mama, Miriam; her papa, David; her elder brother, Issel; and her baby sister, Sara. They were huddled together in the back room of their tiny two-room apartment in Grosse Spielgasse, in the dark, barely breathing.
 
Outside the building, the boot steps got nearer and nearer. Celia heard shouting, screaming, gunshots. She crouched down even closer to the ground, wishing that somehow they could all melt away into the shadows. Celia clutched her cat, Max, tightly in her arms, feeling his warmth, his soft tabby fur close to her skin, willing him to stay quiet. 

Her mama cradled little Sara at her breast, nursing her so she would not cry out. Outside, the pounding footsteps were getting closer, closer: “Juden, Juden, Heraus, Heraus, Schnell, Schnell!” Now they were at the door of the neighbors – the Wassersteins. She heard crying and a single gunshot. 

Miriam beckoned to her. “Celia, mein Katzerl, come here,” she whispered. “I have something for you, for your birthday.” 

Celia approached Miriam cautiously, still clutching Max to her. “What is it, Mama?” she asked, gazing into Miriam’s blue, blue eyes. She studied her prematurely wrinkled face, memorizing every crease. Mama, my mama, she thought. 

Still holding baby Sara with her left hand, Miriam reached around the back of her neck with her right and unclasped the chain that she always wore beneath her clothes, close to her heart. It was a silver chain with a cat charm on it. “Take this, Celia, mein Katzel. Wear it always, and remember I love you. Ich liebe dich.” 

“I love you, Mama,” Celia whispered as she fastened the chain around her neck just as the doors burst open. Six Gestapo soldiers rushed into their home – “Juden, Heraus, Heraus, Schnell, Schnell...” Celia watched as her family was herded out of the door.


Tell us about your latest project

I’m currently working on book 10 of my P.A.W.S. Saga which I plan to release this June on the tenth anniversary of the release of book 1. 

The book which is called Madarak and features a convention of avian shapeshifters. It was inspired by the sci-fi/fantasy conventions I’ve been to over the years. 

What is your favourite cake?

Cheesecake – and my all-time favorite cheesecake was one I had in a pub in London once called an Irish Bash. It was a white-chocolate cheesecake with oodles of Irish cream poured all over it!


You can connect with Debbie here:


Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Kristina Gruell. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please get in touch. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me virtual tea & cake through Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

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