Interview with Patricia Bradley, Author of Silence in the Dark

Heidi here. Today we are hosting Patricia Bradley.

Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and loves to write suspense with a twist of romance. Patricia’s books include the Logan Point series and two Harlequin Heartwarming romances. When she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.

backcover copy:

In one of the most dangerous states in Mexico, Bailey Adams is running for her life . . . again.

When Bailey Adams left Logan Point two years ago for the mission field of Chihuahua, Mexico, she thought she was getting away from her problems. Running into her ex-fiancé Danny Maxwell was not part of the plan—neither was being chased through the city by the local drug cartel, the Calatrava. Now despite her best efforts, Danny is her only chance of escaping the people chasing her and getting back to Logan Point safely. Can Bailey find the strength to face what’s coming? And in the midst of the chaos, can she keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again?

Patricia, thank you for stopping by to visit with us today and congratulations on your new novel, Silence in the Dark. I’ve enjoyed all of your Logan Point novels, what instigated you writing this series?

First, let me thank you for having me on Stitches in Time. I just love this blog! I’m not sure I had a series planned when I wrote the first book, Shadows of the Past. I would have been deliriously happy with one published book. Thank goodness God does more than we can imagine or dream! But as I wrote the first book, I knew I wanted to write Ben Loan’s story and that’s what precipitated APromise to Protect.  And then I had to know what happened to Robyn—she’s the one who had been missing for two years in Shadows of the Past and that was Gone Without a Trace. And this last book, Silence in the Dark came about when Ben Logan asked Danny Maxwell if he’d heard from Bailey in the second book. When Danny said no, I knew I’d have find out why and where Bailey was. So, it’s like one thing leads to another.

Ah, the mind of a writer :-) What advice can you give to aspiring novelists to produce a sound novel that’ll sell?

Learn the craft by studying craft books and taking classes every chance you get.  Some of my favorites are Susan May Warren, James Scott Bell, and Randy Ingermanson. But most of all, don’t give up.

Awesome tips, all three of those novelists are master teachers. I love plotting and am always looking for tips. How do you plot a novel?

I panstered my way through the first book and it took five years to get it publishable. With nine month deadlines, I didn’t have the time to repeat that, so I used a plot board to create twenty chapters and in each block I put what would happen in that scene. I wrote two books that way before my WIP said it didn’t want to talk to me and tell me what I needed to know. Now I used James Scott Bell’s 14 Pillars to sort of outline my book, but I don’t fill out all 14 pillars, just the main ones. Like The First Door of No Return, and the Point in the Middle where either something new is revealed that sends the character in a different but correct course, or the character realizes he can’t keep doing the things he’s doing and overcome his obstacles. I don’t know always exactly how it will end or who the villain is. Does that help at all?

Absolutely! I think most pantsters are plotters to a certain extent.  I'm curious, how close to the final version does the first draft read?

I usually only write 2 drafts before I turn it in. The first draft is to lay down the suspense thread, the second to beef up the romance and make sure the spiritual thread is complete. Then it will go through at least 2 more edits once it gets to the publisher. However, often I start out with one person in my mind as the villain and sometimes it turns out to be someone else. :-)

  

Interesting, sounds like you have a solid editing path. Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?

Meeting Susan May Warren and going to four Deep Thinker retreats. I learned what I was doing wrong and what I was doing right.

I second the Deep Thinker Retreats, awesome time away and Suzie is the best teacher ever! 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?

Coffee!!! And Spaghetti. :-)

Oh Patricia, that is simply crazy! What about chocolate and Diet Coke? Anyway, can you tell us about future books planned?

I am currently working on the second book in the Memphis Cold Case series and it is set at the Pink Palace there. The first one, Justice Delayed, is set mostly in East Memphis, and I’m thinking of an Elvis and a Beale Street theme for the other two. All the books will feature a cold case that ties to a current case and it will go back and forth in time.

Wow, that sounds super exciting! Patricia, thank you for your time today, it was fun! And congratulations again on your newest novel SILENCE IN THE DARK.

Shadows of the Past--A Review

I've been hearing how good this book is, so I had to check it out for myself. The standards for Christian romantic suspense are high--Dee Henderson and Irene Hannon to name a couple.

Patricia Bradley is on her way to joining those ranks with her novel Shadows of the Past. Criminal profiler Taylor Martin has one case she can't solve--her father's disappearance twenty years earlier. When someone begins stalking her, Taylor must go back to the day her dad disappeared to solve the case.

The suspense in this book is great--the author threw out different options, and while I knew who was involved, I wasn't sure how. The pace and action grew steadily to a fantastic finish.

The romantic part was sweet. I liked Nick, the author who is determined to defend his brother against Taylor's accusations.

But, what I liked best was the balance in the book. At times, it felt like a women's fiction book in character development, which was nice.

Shadows of the Past is a don't-miss book, and Patricia Bradley is an author to watch.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.


*Don't forget that a comment on any post this week enters you to win a copy of The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson.

Laura Jackson loves books--reading and writing them. Her debut novel Worth the Wait released in February.
She's a fan of books, trees, and the Houston Rockets.
Find her at http://authorlaurajackson.blogspot.com/.

An Interview with Sandra Robbins...

by Patricia Bradley

Today I am excited to welcome my friend Sandra Robbins to Stitches Thru Time. 

Her first book, Pedigreed Bloodlines, was published by Barbour in 2008. Since that time she has written for Love Inspired Suspense and Harvest House. Her books have been finalists in the Daphne du Maurier Contest for excellence in mystery writing, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for romance, the Holt Medallion, and the ACFW Carol Award. In Barbour’s 18th Annual Heartsong Awards for 2010, she was one of five authors voted by readers as favorite new authors, and The Columns of Cottonwood which went on to be a finalist in the ACFW Carol Award was voted by readers as one of ten favorite historical romances of the year.   

Patricia:    Beyond These Hills is the last of the Smoky Mountain Dreams series that is set in Cades Cove, Tennessee. What sparked the idea for setting a series in this area?

Sandra: As a lifelong resident of Tennessee, I have always loved the Smokies and enjoy visiting there. I especially enjoy the Cades Cove area where the cabins and churches are preserved. You can see how the people lived there for hundreds of years. The story, though, of how the residents had to sell their homes and move out so the Great Smoky Mountain National Park could be established is very sad. I wanted to let readers who hike or camp or are just interested in the history of the area know that there were those who had to sacrifice so that generations to come could enjoy the beauty of Cades Cove.

Patricia:  Were there any particular challenges in writing the series?

Sandra: I wanted everything to be historically correct, so I did a lot of research. It’s amazing what I was able to find. I knew, for instance, that their was a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Cades Cove, but I was able to find a picture of it. Writers today are so fortunate to have the internet. When I was writing the scene where Laurel and Andrew hike with her father up Gregory’s Bald, I found a YouTube video that a group had filmed when they did that same hike. The video showed all the azaleas on the mountain top. That was the easiest hike I ever took.

Patricia: I love what we can do with the Internet, just wish it didn't eat up so much time. :-) Beyond These Hills has a very strong faith-based theme. What role has your faith played in your writing?

Sandra: I knew when I started writing that my faith would guide what I write. I grew up in a strong Christian family, and my faith guides me in my life each day. I’m glad I can share it with people I will never meet through the books I write. 

Patricia:   What do you like most and least about writing?

Sandra: I love thinking up the stories I’m going to write. When I first started, I thought that’s what writing is all about. After I became published, I found out you have to do a lot of marketing, and that’s difficult for me. I’ve never been one to push myself on other people, and sometimes I fear doing that when I’m trying to promote a book. But I try to remember what a boss I had one time used to say--”He who tooteth not his own horn gets it not tooted.”

Patricia: I know. Marketing is the hardest thing for me, too. What advice do you have for beginning writers?

 Sandra: I’m sure beginners have been told to attend conferences, get a critique partner, and write the story on their hearts. I think two of the most important things that any writer can do is write a lot and read a lot. Reading what other people are writing can help to challenge you in your own pursuits.

Patricia: Great advice. Tell me, are you a plotter or pantser?

Sandra: I’m both. I plot my story before I begin it. Once I start writing, however, my characters can just take charge and go off in an entirely different direction. So I go with them to see where it’s taking us.

Patricia: What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection?

 Sandra: It may sound callous, but I would say “get used to it.” Rejection is a part of being a writer. Not everybody is going to like what you write, and you have to adjust to the fact that it’s not personal. This is a business, and publishers are in to make money. If your story isn’t one they think will sell, they won’t buy it. I know it hurts, but it’s something we all have to deal with.

Patricia: One last question: What is the most difficult thing about being a writer?

Sandra: For me, it’s the marketing. It’s one of those necessary things that we have to do, so I try to approach it with a smile.

Patricia: I feel your pain. Thank you so much for joining us on Stitches Thru Time. 

Check out Sandra's other 2013 releases:

MountainHomecoming -- March, 2013 from Harvest House

                              

A Lady’s Choice -- April, 2013 from Guideposts

DangerousWaters -- September, 2013 from Love Inspired Suspense

YuletideJeopardy -- December, 2013 from Love Inspired Suspense 

Readers: What's your favorite genre?