Interview with Patricia Bradley

Today we have the honor of hosting one of our very own contributors from Stitches Thru Time, Patricia Bradley. Patricia is a Romantic Suspense writer living in the Deep South. Her short-stories have been published in Woman’s World, and her debut novel with Revell, Shadows of the Past, released on February 4, 2014. She won the 2012 inspirational Daphne du Maurier award, the 2012 Touched by Love award, and was also a finalist for the 2012 Genesis award. An abstinence/healthy relationship speaker, Patricia has spoken to many students…and adults. When she’s not writing or speaking, she throws mud on a wheel and tries to make something beautiful. You can find her on the web at http://www.patriciabradleyauthor.com/.

Heidi, thank you so much for having me on Stitches Thru Time. I’m really looking forward to it.

Backcover copy: Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself

on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve—the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is stalking her.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife—a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.

Join the chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a promising and already award-winning writer.

I first met Patricia a few years ago at a Deep Thinkers Retreat in Florida hosted by Susan May Warren. A week of craft taught by Suzie and Rachel Hauck and free time spent writing, heaven on earth! Patricia, congratulations on your debut novel, Shadows of the Past. The blurb sounds exciting and page turning, what was your inspiration behind writing Shadows of the Past?

Thanks, Heidi. Wasn’t that a great retreat! As for my inspiration, one morning as I’m sitting in my favorite spot for my quiet time, this character entered my thoughts. I immediately knew two things. It was a woman, and someone was trying to kill her. And the idea just grew from there. 

Who/What spurs you to write?

Good question, except I don’t have an answer other than God. It’s like I can’t not write. Something inside me drives me to the computer—and did even in the lonely years when no one wanted to read it. 

Where do your story and character ideas come from?

My story ideas pop into my head, and there is usually at least one character along with the idea. Sometimes, the idea has a whole cast of characters. It’s hard to explain. 

How do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?

As I’ve grown in my faith, it’s become a natural part of who I am. Usually, whatever spiritual question my characters are dealing with, so am I. Even in the general market manuscript I’ve written, there is a spiritual thread running through it. 

I love plotting and am always looking for tips. How do you plot a novel? How close to the final version does the first draft read?

I plot my book by doing an in-depth look at my characters, finding out who they are, the lie they believe, their wound,  then I figure out what’s the worst thing I can do to them and do it. J I plot my stories out, usually on a big desk calendar, using each day as a scene. I’m a visual person, so I have to “see” the progress of my story. The first draft of Shadows of the Past looked nothing like the finished product. Even the characters’ names changed. But the final version of book 2 looked like a polished version of the first draft. I’d learned a lot in the five years from starting book 1 and writing book 2.

Time for a fun question . . . You are alone and stranded on a desert island and can have ONE food product and ONE drink, what would they be?

The drink would be water, hands down. The food……..a vegetable pepperoni pizza. That way you get your veggies and bread and meat. :-)

Oh Patricia . . . veggies, bread, and meat. I was kind of thinking diet pepsi and chocolate, but if you want to go healthy on me . . . Back to books! What advice can you give to aspiring novelists to produce a sound novel that’ll sell?

Learn the craft. Study books like James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure, and Susan May Warren’s From the Inside Out and Kiss and Tell. And find a good critique group and/or a community of writers. Like My Book Therapy.

Great advice! Tell us about future books planned.

I’m working on book 3 of the Logan Point Series, and A Promise to Protect, the 2^nd book in the series comes out in October, 2014. The hero is the sheriff from Shadows of the Past. Here’s a blurb: 

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn’t heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn’t mean he can get her—or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago—out of his head. When she calls out of the blue it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But when Tony dies just days later, Ben is charged with a different task—protecting Leigh and her nine-year-old son, TJ, from the killers. But how can Ben keep an eye on Leigh if she’s doing everything in her power to avoid him? And could the secret that Leigh is keeping change Ben’s life forever?

Sounds like a great read. Patricia, thank you for your time today, it was fun! 

FREE book opportunity: Revell is doing a give away on Goodreads from January 18-February 18.  Enter to win!

Patricia, congratulations again on your debut novel Shadows of the Past.