The debut thriller novel "Staccato" published by Second Wind Publishing is now available from the publisher, Amazon, Kindle, and independent bookstores. This psychological suspense thriller is the first book of the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela trilogy.

Three time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, Deborah has written three suspense thriller novels and seven original screenplays. Her style is reminiscent of Lisa Gardner in quick pace, Greg Iles's inventive plots, and William Diehl's complex characterizations. All of her works delve into the psychological aspects of her vivid characters.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

6.15.09: Desert Sleuths, the Arizona chapter of Sisters in Crime, acquires "A Christmas Tail" for their holiday anthology "How Not to Survive the Holidays"

3.23.09: Gulf Coast Writers Association acquires the literary short story "Sighted Brother" for their upcoming anthology "Sweet Tea and Afternoon Tales" scheduled for publication June, 2009.

10.08: Forge Journal literary magazine nominates "Cuba Bound" for the Pushcart Prize. This becomes Deborah's third nomination for the Pushcart Prize.

4.2.08: Forge Journal literary magazine acquires the mainstream short story "Cuba Bound" for their summer print issue to be released June, 2008.

4.1.08: "Graves of Echo Canyon" appears via podcast on Sniplits.

2.18.08: AnthologyBuilder acquires the previously published literary short story "For Katie".

2.13.08: Twisted Dreams Magazine acquires the short story "The Troublesome Drawer" for their June 2008 print issue.

12.13.07: Gather.com announces that Deborah's suspense thriller novel entry to the tru TV (formerly Court TV) Crime Writer contest moves on to the semi-final round of 25. STACCATO finishes #6 of 269 entries.

4.25.07: Indie Excellence 2007 Book Awards announces Red Coyote Press' "Map of Murder" Winner in the short story fiction category. Deborah's story "Smoky Mountain Inquest" appears within the anthology.

Red Coyote Press announces the short story "Smoky Mountain Inquest" will be published in their upcoming anthology "Map Of Murder", currently available through Red Coyote Press and Amazon, ISBN #: 0-9766733-3-9

July 2006, Deborah is accepted for membership to the Mystery Writers of America assocation.

Deborah receives her second nomination for a Pushcart Prize from Red Coyote Press for her short story "Stella".

ARIZONA LITERARY MAGAZINE nominates Deborah J Ledford's "For Katie" to the Pushcart Prize for their consideration.

Arizona Authors Association 2005 National Literary Contest awards FIRST PLACE for the short story "For Katie".

"For Katie" is currently published in the ARIZONA LITERARY MAGAZINE's FAll 2005 issue.

"Stella", is currently featured in "Medley of Murder", RED COYOTE PRESS' collection of short stories. Avaliable through Red Coyote Press and Amazon, ISBN #: 0-9766733-6-3

Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine (FMAM) announces Deborah J Ledford as third place winner of their 2005 Flash Fiction contest for her short story "Graves of Echo Canyon".

Member of Mystery Writers of America (SoCal), Sisters In Crime, Desert Sleuths, Moderator for the Scottsdale Arizona Writers Critique Group.

Suspense thriller novel, ICE ON FIRE: Swain County, North Carolina’s, first African-American sheriff, STEVEN HAWK, and his team of deputies provide security for Native-American pop music sensation, KATINA SALVO, who has been receiving death threats. Adding to her ill-fated concert appearance, and unbeknownst to Katina, her manager has kept from her the fact that her father has just been released from prison for killing her mother 22 years earlier.

STACCATO is a suspenseful psychological thriller set against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. Celebrated classical pianist Nicholas Kalman's charmed existence is suddenly challenged when he finds the dead body of his lover, leaving him to speculate who killed her, and if he's next. Could it have been his vindictive rival, or their psychopathic mentor--his own uncle? Nicholas's six-day journey rises in crescendo until his fate is at last decided.

Deborah is currently writing her fourth thriller and mainstream short stories for publication.

BLIND OBSESSION, the short film from Deborah's original screenplay, BLIND OBSESSION, won third place in Scottsdale, Arizona's first film festival. BLIND OBSESSION was also awarded honorable mention at the Tucson, Arizona film festival.

International banking experience cultivating clients to invest in motion picture production.

Ten years experience as a professional scenic artist and master carpenter for films, theatre and international commercials.

Psychological Suspense Thriller novels: ICE ON FIRE, STACCATO and BLIND OBSESSION are completed manuscripts, approximately 90,000 words in length.

Seven original Screenplays are available for consideration as well.