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A CHAT WITH AUTHOR PATRICIA ELLIOTT

One of our latest books Her Lover’s Face, by Patricia Elliott, is now available at a pre-order sale price of $2.99 until the release date 23rd February.

I was chat chatting with Patricia, asking her a bit about her background and the way she writes:

Life at home has been a bit challenging over the last decade. Accidents and illnesses have taken up a fair bit of our time, and they actually stopped me from writing for about ten years. But I’m back in the game and determined to make up for the lost time. Most of my writing is done at work. I’m blessed to have a job that allows me to write when it’s quiet.
I started writing about 28 years ago. I can still remember sitting on the railing of our back porch, out in the country, with a notebook on my lap. My childhood was fraught with bullying and writing became a way of escape for me.  I couldn’t control what other kids did, but they couldn’t stop me from dreaming, couldn’t stop me from believing that there was more to life than their cruel words. Eventually, writing became so ingrained in my life that it became a part of who I am.

I find the ideas come easily; staying on track is another matter. My mind is always running off somewhere.  Books take an average of about 6 months to write.  I try to treat it like a normal job and write Monday to Friday. My daily goal is to write at least one scene or reach a total of 1000 words. It doesn’t always work out that way, but it keeps me moving forward.  As for the process, I’m what you’d call a pantser. I start off with a basic ‘what if’ question and run with it. I love the freedom that going with the flow allows; it lets me be as surprised as my readers when the story takes an unexpected turn.

I enjoy reading a lot I’m a sucker for romance novels, especially ones with a touch of mystery and suspense. A couple of my favorite authors are Nora Roberts and Lisa Jackson.

One of the biggest struggles I’ve noticed in the writing world is our inner critic. Many people don’t manage to finish their manuscript because they are too busy editing it along the way and slowly grow more discouraged with each attempt.  I’ve learned that you’re always going to find something you dislike in your own work, so the best thing to do is to keep on writing and save the editing for after the story is written. Your primary focus for the first draft should be to just get the story down on paper.

Many of us grew up watching fairy tales and believing in happily ever after. Sadly, in our world, many lives are struck with tragedy and in the midst of our pain and suffering, we forget that there is more to life than our circumstances.  My next story follows a woman who learns that love is worth a second chance, even if it took them twenty years to get there.
I have one manuscript that is a crossover between sci-fi and fantasy, but I do have a few other sci-fi ideas that I hope to work on in the future. Does anyone know how to add more hours in a day yet?

I would like to thank Patricia for taking the time to chat.

In the meantime here is a taste of her book.

Laryssa Mitchell is one of the lucky ones. The death of her abusive husband finally allows her to live again on her own terms, making her own choices. Her first official decision is to take back what was lost – her independence and her old job. But she soon finds herself in a living nightmare when she meets her new boss. If her husband is rotting in hell, then who is the man standing in front of her with a dead man’s face?

Alexander Richards doesn’t expect to catch an unconscious woman in his arms on his first day of work, nor does he envision himself willingly setting foot in the hospital again, reliving his painful loss.  But that’s exactly what he chooses to do when Laryssa needs his help. Why?

She has a story to tell. He has a mystery to solve. In the midst of danger, passion sizzles between them, taking them by surprise. What will happen when all is brought to light?  Will they be able to overcome their traumatic pasts and find love in each other, or will their ghosts have the final say?

 

Our latest and soon to be released books. Black Velvet Seductions

Out of the Shadows by Gabriella Hewitt is out now!

A Woman’s Secret by C.L. Koch is out now!

Her Lover’s Face  by Patricia Elliott is now available at a pre-order sale price of $2.99 until the release date 23rd February

Naval Maneuvers by Dee S. Knight  the release date is March 9th