Debra Gauthier

On December 3, 2011 we were at the Madhouse Coffee Shop for a book signing event. Some of the guys who I worked with on the police department surprised me with a visit.
Wayne, who used to run long distance races with me, showed up on his Harley. ‘Soupy’, as we used to call him, was one of the first sergeants that I worked with and Mark, a fellow academy classmate, also stopped by. Last but not least was Nick who told me he came all the way back from Iraq so he could get an autographed copy of my book.

It was wonderful to see everyone again and to greet my new friends whom I have met on the book tour.

When the book was released I wasn’t sure how the officers would react to it. Many contacted me through Facebook and were curious if I had mentioned them in my book. “You’re going to have to buy my book and read it to find out”, I told them.

I like to say my former enemies are now my friends on Facebook. My book, Bright Lights, Dark Places, has been instrumental in rebuilding relationships and bringing healing to others.

Writing is truly a gift that can open up possibilities that may never have been achieved unless we are willing to become transparent and share our lives with others.

In July, 2011 my first book, Bright Lights, Dark Places, was released by Tate Publishing. We hit the road running!  The following month I left my job as a professional guide for Pink Jeep Tours so I could devote full-time to the marketing of the book.  It was a tough decision because I absolutely loved my job as a guideGtF taking people from all over the world to my favorite places in the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and Death Valley!

It’s a funny story how I got the guide position.  My neighbor John, approached me one day as he was checking his mail.  “Hey Deb, have you finished writing your book?”  He asked.  “Yes, John just finished it!”  “Great!  Give me a copy of your resume because you would be good at my company,” he said.  “What’s your company? I asked.  “Pink Jeep Tours.”  I laughed and told him that there was no way that I was going to drive a pink jeep, afterall how could a tough cop ever live that down?!  He was persistent and asked me to send him my resume.  I humored John knowing that there was no way I was going to be seen in pink!

You know what happened next!  I was hired and joined the company in August, 2010, after I finished writing the book.  I was only with the company for a year but I logged more miles in that year than you can imagine and visited some of the most beautiful places in the Southwest every single week.  You can view the photos in my albums on Facebook….enjoy!

We kicked off 2012 with a book signing event at the Green Valley Library in Henderson, Nevada. I was literally sitting in the ‘bright’ light in the lobby when a Jewish Rabbi approached my table and asked what my book was about. I shared with him some highlights of my experiences. He purchased a copy, called me three days later to invite me to his home. He had read my book and was fascinated by the supernatural journey out of darkness.

I met with he and his wife. He introduced me to his good friend, a Muslim Imam. The Rabbi wanted me to sign a copy of my book for his friend. I love that the message in my book transcends all religions!