The Debutante Ball

Seven debut authors. Seven books. One big dance toward publication.

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  • Melissa Chadburn
  • Jennifer Fawcett
  • Flora Collins
  • Sonya Singh
  • Cleyvis Natera
  • Sarah Grunder Ruiz
  • Carolyn Huynh

Author: Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Before becoming a writer Elizabeth was a waitress, a pollster, an Avon lady, and an opera singer. Her stories and essays have appeared in Ploughshares Blog, The Idaho Review, The Rumpus, and elsewhere, and have received multiple Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. Her debut novel, MONA AT SEA, was a finalist in the 2019 SFWP Literary Awards judged by Carmen Maria Machado, and is forthcoming, Summer 2021, from Santa Fe Writers Project. Originally from South Texas, Elizabeth now lives with her family in Oakland, California.
  • Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Interview with Brenda Peynado, author of THE ROCK EATERS

We are thrilled to welcome Brenda Peynado to The Debutante Ball this week! THE ROCK EATERS is a haunting and…

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  • Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2021Wednesday, May 26, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Back to the future: Misadventures in exposition

If you’re thinking of writing a novel and wondering where to start your story, a good rule of thumb is:…

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  • Posted on Monday, May 24, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

[News Flash] May 24, 2021

Many thanks to our last two guest authors, Mary Pauline Lowry and Angela Super! Mary Pauline Lowry spoke to us…

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  • Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2021Tuesday, May 11, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Interview with Mary Pauline Lowry, author of THE ROXY LETTERS and WILDFIRE

We are so excited to welcome Mary Pauline Lowry, author of the hilarious novel, THE ROXY LETTERS, now in paperback,…

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  • Posted on Monday, May 10, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

[News Flash] May 10, 2021

This week we were very excited to speak with Olivia Black, author of KILLER CONTENT and NO MEMES OF ESCAPE.…

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  • Posted on Thursday, May 6, 2021Wednesday, May 5, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

The Purge! (or, Getting that first draft out of your system)

Ernest Hemingway famously said all first drafts are garbage, except he used a way more *effluent* term instead of garbage.…

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  • Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

[News Flash] May 2, 2021

This week we were excited to interview Antoinette Walker, Co-Founder of The Chaptr, an exciting new monthly book subscription box…

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  • Posted on Monday, April 26, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

[News Flash] April 26, 2021

Thanks to Amanda Skenandore, author of THE SECOND LIFE OF MIRIELLE WEST, for joining us this week. Read her full…

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  • Posted on Monday, April 19, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

[News Flash] April 19, 2021

Many thanks to Pamela Skjolsvik for joining us to speak about her delightful novel of an eternally menopausal vampire, FOREVER…

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  • Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2021Wednesday, April 14, 2021
  • by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

My favorite bookstore: East Bay Booksellers

Independent Bookstore Day is on April 24th, and so we’re celebrating our favorite indie sellers here at the Deb Ball.…

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About Us

Since 2007, the Debutante Ball has been celebrating first-time authors and their books. Learn more.

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Current Topic: Welcoming the New Class

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Tues. 8/31: Lyn says good-bye from the 2021 Debs

Wed. 9/1: New Class Takes Over

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