Debra Zannelli Author

I have always been particularly proud of this, my first book. Today, I get to be even prouder. I’ve just been notified that Dark Night of the Soul has been selected as a finalist by the American Legacy Awards. It’s quite an honor. Writing Dark Night was a labor of more than love. It was the fulfillment of a life long passion and a way to express my feelings as I recovered from brain surgery. Though I intended to write only one book, it soon became a series. Marcus had more to tell. An unexpected life, a man who faced difficulties far beyond any nightmare he dreamt of, couldn’t be told in one book.

Now, years later, I’ve decided to revamp(sorry if that seems like a pun) the covers of all five books. I’m also having Dark Night made into an audio book. The release date is not yet known, but I will let you know when it’s available.

I hope you enjoy the book and want to know more about the man I created. There are many lives he saved, but the one that means the most to me, is mine.

I’m going to make Dark Night of the Soul, book one of the Darkness and Light series into an audio book. Recording begins this Friday. I’m going to the best recording engineer, George Dussault of Galilee Productions in Rhode Island. I have a man with a voice I could listen to for hours no matter what he’s saying. Richard Johnson, a child of Rhode Island, is an actor, a singer and a friend. I’m lucky he’s available. Though I’m more than happy with the choices I’ve made, this is still far out of my comfort zone. As usual I’ll plod along, fearful but determined to do anything I can, to get my book out there. I’ve created a character I’m proud of, giving him the strength I hope I’d have if I were to walk in his place. His message of doing right even when it’s hard, or in his case there’s hell to pay, is important in any age. Of course I wish he were real though I don’t think he’d be very happy with me, not after all I’ve put him through.

With new book covers and an audio book, I hope to rejuvenate book’s sales. If you haven’t read or bought the books now may be the best time. There’s a discount if you buy the books with the old cover. If you don’t have time to sit with a book, I’ll let you know when you can listen to it.
Whether the day is sunny, cloud covered, raining or snowing, remember they are the days you have. Make the best of them.

The Wickford Art Association launched their 2025 Reading Circle Program yesterday. I was honored to read my short story published in the ARIA Anthology Green. I was very proud to stand beside such talented authors and also happy to say I didn’t cry.

No Green Eyed Monster is a very personal tale. Some memories are painful even as they help us become who we are today. I’ve carried some of those feelings into my books. Marcus, from the Darkness and Light series, has childhood memories that are in many ways my own.

I hope you have a chance to pick up a copy of Green, or any of the ARIA Anthologies, and enjoy the stories within.

The series will be getting new/better covers. Wait till you see them. I hope you’re as excited as I am. Here’s a sample. Though they aren’t completely finalized, the new covers will soon look something like this.

I had to post a picture of me with my award. Second Place Science Fiction published 2024 by BookFest. It makes all those hours worth while. Wish I had a better hair cut but at least I like my smile. They also gave me recognition for the cover I created. So totally happy with this. Now I need another idea. Keeping my fingers crossed that one will be coming soon.

Though I loved writing it.

Sister World, finished, left me bereft but I’m happy to say I have new ideas and plenty of dreams left to make real. I’ve written 8 books and they’re heavy to lug around. I’m asking you to come to Comic-Con and buy some so I don’t have to take them home. On a more serious note, I need to tell my readers and especially those who haven’t read my books, how proud I am of having been able to fulfill a life long dream. I’ve included quite a bit of me in each character. The angry man was once the angry girl. Angry that the world had set boundary’s I longed to break. Life wounds us, both physically and psychologically. All wounds leave scars. I’ve tried to let us feel angst without despair, fear while knowing we’re safe and hope. Hope that there is something more. Though no one I know has had to face the monster’s I’ve created, I’m pretty certain that except for a lucky few, we’ve all faced monsters. They don’t all look the same, but they are very much alike. They play a part in who we are. I managed to grow old with some compassion. How do I know I have compassion? Here’s one example. It’s kind of odd, but it’s me. This morning I removed a worm from where it was walking on Boots, my dog. I threw it in the toilet, closest way to discard it and saw it struggling to live. Fishing it out, I took it outside, gently sitting it on my porch. Ten minutes later I checked to see if it was still there, struggling to breathe. I was relieved to see it had gotten away, as I so often crawled away from my hurts. It was just a creature trying to live and I knew in the depths of my soul, I had no right to take that life.