Today is a SPECIAL day! It’s launch day for awesome debut romantic suspense author Patricia Bradley…let’s all give a collective “YAAAAY!”
I met Pat very early in my own writing journey. We met during a MBT retreat in beautiful, sunny Florida and I remember thinking Pat had this gentle and calming presence about her. She is kind and funny and a stellar writer…
And I’m SO excited about her series of suspense novels releasing from Revell. The first book is called Shadows of the Past. You’re in for such a treat! Check out her Q&A below (you’ll see her sense of humor shine through) and be sure to read all the way to the end to find out how you can enter to win a copy of her debut novel.
1) Can you give us a little peek into your writing journey?
Waaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1980, these strange people came to live in my head. And they wouldn’t go away. They would talk to me in the dead of night when I couldn’t sleep, telling me their story. They kept bugging me to write it down, and I did just to get them to shut up.
Then I submitted it to Woman’s World mini-mystery and wonder of wonder, they bought all 4500 words of it. It was only supposed to be 2000 words. The editor, bless her heart, cut it to the correct word count. After that, they published two more of my stories, and I thought I was on my way.
Thirty-four years later my debut novel comes out. Go figure.
2) What made you choose romantic suspense as a genre? Did you have to do quite a bit of research with that?
Romantic suspense really chose me. That’s just the way my mind works, you know, murder and all that. And yes, I did a lot of research. Criminal profiling, doctorate degrees, GHB, guns…I would hate for the FBI to look at my computer.
3) Who would play your main characters in a movie?? 
Taylor—Stana Katic. Nick—Nathan Fillion. Yeah, I know. Don’t go there.
4) What’s your favorite piece of writing a story…brainstorming? Plotting? Drafting? Editing? What’s the most difficult?
First draft is like pulling teeth. (Melissa: Amen, sister) I have to keep telling myself I can’t edit what I haven’t written. So, I like editing but I also like plotting. It’s new and exciting and the hard work hasn’t started yet.
5) And for fun, three little known facts about you are…?
At my advance age I can still bend over and touch the floor with my palms. (Only because of Pilates).
I ride my bicycle everywhere in the summer except to Walmart.
I can swim a mile.
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Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and is a former abstinence educator and co-author of RISE To Your Dreams, an abstinence curriculum. But her heart is tuned to suspense. Patricia’s mini-mysteries have been published in Woman’s World, and her debut novel, Shadows of the Past, is the first of three set in Mississippi and will release February 4, 2014. She will present a workshop, Writing 50,000 words in 30 days, at the Midsouth Christian Writer’s Conference in Collierville, TN on March 8, 2014. When she’s not writing, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
Comments 76
Loved this Q&A! I laughed at loud when you said who would play the characters, I love Castle and those two are great together, sadly my brain just made the connection of a male writer and a female involved with the police!
I had the amazing opportunity to get this book for review (I LOVED IT!!!) so I’m not entering the giveaway but I can still give a random fact about myself! *stops to think* I guess the two most random things are the fact that I hate ketchup and always use Ranch instead, and that I despise wearing “real shoes” and/or socks so unless the snow is more than 1/2 inch I wear flip-flops year round and I only wear socks when wearing shoes or if I have an injury that needs the added protection!
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Abbi, one of my siblings hates ketchup, too. I can’t remember which one–does that make me a bad sister? Anyway, you’re not alone there. 🙂
Wow, Abbi! flip-flops the year round. And then you mention snow. You’re tough! So glad you enjoyed my book.
And Melissa thank you so much for hosting me!
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SO fun to have you here today, Pat. I’m so excited for you!
I love reading mysteries and suspense that leaves me sitting on the edge of my seat.
Lisa, I hope you find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat when you read mine! 🙂
I would definitely pick this book off a shelf to read- looks really good! My good random facts I used to use are now obsolete. I used to say I have been to 5 continents but never to the ocean (but have since been to the ocean) and that I have never paid for a haircut in my life (but as of 2 wks ago, at age 31, I did have my first haircut I had to pay for). I guess I’ll still use those.
Wow, five continents, Laura. I really need to hang out with you! Let’s see, I’ve been to…1. But I have been to the ocean. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I’d love to win Pat’s book. It looks like a great read! How can a story go wrong w/ Castle as its inspiration 🙂 Congratulations on reaching your dream, Pat.
A fun fact about me is that I whistled before I talked. My older sister would take me for a walk when I was stroller age & boys thought she was the one whistling! . . . But, actually, I don’t think she minded the attention all that much . . .
🙂 I bet your sister walked you in that stroller every chance she got, Renee! So glad you stopped by.
I love to find new authors and I cannot wait to read this book. Great blog! I was riding horses before I could walk!
I love to ride, Pamela, and passed that love on to my granddaughter. She is training for her junior rider level in dressage. I hope you enjoy my book.
This book sounds really good. I can’t wait to read it.
I hope you enjoy it, Susan.
Fun Fact–Love to dance with my grandbaby
Dancing with our grandbabies are so much fun, Lisa. Except my youngest will soon be 18 and I don’t think she would dance with me now…especially since I kind a dance like Elaine on Seinfeld. 🙂
A couple of things about me: Love to read and share children’s books; I collect horse models (can’t afford the real thing unfortunately); and I’m a Civil War buff.
Dancing with our grandbabies are so much fun, Lisa. Except my youngest will soon be 18 and I don’t think she would dance with me now…especially since I kinda dance like Elaine on Seinfeld. 🙂
I don’t know how the duplicate comment happened. lol
Heidi, when I was small, I had a plastic palomino that I played with, then my girls played with it and then a grandchild played with it until the legs broke off. And you need to come visit me. Corinth has a great Interpretive Center and I’m only 20 miles from Shiloh.
I had to laugh when you were talking about your web search results. I have a background in law enforcement and my co-workers and I joke about the same thing. One random fact about me is that I once got stuck in a prison cell when I was taking a tour of a new (not opened yet) prison and the door opening mechanism malfunctioned!
Kelly, I would not want to be locked in a cell, new one or not. 🙂 And I’m about to research succinylcholine. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I’m so excited for you, Pat!! I’ve heard about how long you’ve waited for this part of the journey and hope you find great success! Will you be at Deep Thinkers this year? Hope to see you.
Oh, Lindsay, I’m afraid I won’t be at Deep Thinkers, as much as I wish I could. I have a March 1 deadline…I hope you have fun!!
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Waaaah I wish I was going to be at Deep Thinkers. 🙂
Great post. Thanks for sharing. This book looks interesting.
Totally forgot to say something fun about me…hmmm…I write quirky YA fantasy. Love Jane Austen. Serious coffee drinker… 🙂
Janelle, I just downloaded Pride and Prejudice! I read it when I was in high school, and I wanted to read it again.
A fun fact about me…I once rode on a camel
Naomi, what was it like to ride on a camel? That had to be awesome.
I loved your Q&A! It is fun to see your sense of humor coming through in your answers. So excited for you to see you debut novel and dream becoming a reality! I really look forward to reading this novel. I have had it on my wishlist for a little while now. As for a fun fact about myself…hummm…some people are addicted to coffee…I am addicted to Twinings tea! Love it! 🙂
Love Twinings tea, Stephanie! I box a tin of loose leaf Lady Grey at Christmas. Actually 6 tins. 🙂
I really like white chocolate mint condition mocha’s from Caribou Coffee. Especially on cold snowy days like today. Oh- and I especially like that we have a great boss who treats us with these yummy drinks occasionally.
Patricia’s book looks so good!! Looking forward to checking it out 🙂
Wow, Kristin, it sounds like you have a great boss. Thanks for stopping by.
I love finding new authors! Thanks so much for sharing Patricia with all of us. My random fact is that my husband is six years older than I am, we had been married six years when we had our first child, our children are six years apart and we were both 30 when one of our children were born. All of this was unplanned but funny.
That’s a lot of 6’s Melissa. Very funny. Glad you stopped by!
Yay! I love crime novels! A random fact about me is I love watching What Not to Wear re-runs.
I’ve watched What Not to Wear twice, then couldn’t find it again, Alyssa. I especially need to watch it. lol
I like ketchup on my scrambled eggs.
So do I, Vanessa. Much to the dismay of my sister. 🙂
This sounds like a wonderful book. I adore mysteries and suspense. They are even better with a little bit of romance mixed in. 🙂
A random fact about me would be that I hate talking on the phone. I think cell phones are for texting only.
That’s funny Jessica. Sometimes I think my cell phone is glued to my ear. 🙂
I enjoy all genre’s but suspense and romance are my favorites which is especially terrific when they are combined!
I am a grandmother of two beautiful 3-year-old granddaughter…not twins. One is brunette and the other is blonde.
Awe, I bet they are the apples of your eye, Debbie. They are so much fun at that age.
Congratulations on the release of your debut novel, Pat! It sounds like such a great book! Fun fact….I am married to a twin and my brother is married to a twin. What are the odds?!
Well, I tried to look it up, Britney, but Google didn’t have those odds. But I’ll bet it’s rare. So glad you stopped by.
I would love to win Patricia’s book, sounds very interesting. A fact about me is I love entering contests on the internet. I also have had a lot of Mary’s in my life. My mother was named Mary, my grandmother was a Mary, my sister-in-law was Mary, my mother-in-law was Mary. I have had the Lee name in the family too. My father’s first name was Lee, my husband’s last name was Lee, my brother’s middle name is Lee, my nephew’s middle name is Lee, and my mother-in-law’s name was Mary Lee Harrison Lee, whew!
I think Mary is probably the all-time favorite name for a girl, Connie. And Lee is a very good name, too. My uncle’s name was Lee. 🙂
I loved the question and answer! She sounds like a wonderful lady and I cannot wait to read her books! As for a fun fact, I hope to become a writer one day and I love college football. 🙂
I hope you become a writer, too, Ashley. And that is my granddaughter’s name! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the interview ! I would LOVE to win this book. Love the look of it . I am always looking for new Christian authors to try. This sounds so good, because my favorite genre is romantic suspense. A fact about me is that I am our church librarian and do the book ordering. If I were to win this book, I would definitely donate it to our library ( after reading it myself first of course LOL ) so it would get a lot of exposure !
Hmmm, Carla, wouldn’t want to be accused of fixing a contest, but….seriously, I’m glad you like my cover. Thanks for stopping by.
Great interview, Pat! I’ve used Nathan a time or two myself as a hero role model…well, maybe not the “role” model. LOL. He’s Canadian, eh. 🙂 So excited about your debut. And looking forward to having you over at my blog next week!
Thanks, Sandra. Yes. Nathan is a great hero. And he’s a hard act to follow. 🙂
Thanks for introducing us to another author. I’m sure the book will be wonderful.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Sarah.
Congratulations Patricia on your Debut novel. And knowing you will write two more. And, many more I imagine. I know I’m older than you but I wish I could do just half of what you do. I can’t even walk around the block because it makes my hips hurt too bad. I did used to be able to touch the floor with palms, but that was before I started getting so stiff and had so many problems. And, I can’t swim very far at all because after a little I feel like I’m going under and then I panic.The only funny thing I can think of about me is I can’t ride a bicycle. If you saw me try you would see why I Look funny. I can ride it ,but all over the road. I have tried many times, but just can’t control where I go. My husband didn’t believe me until he started to ride close to me one time after bugging me to ride with him. Well, it didn’t take him long to learn why I told him not to get close. But he never ask me again. I had no trouble learning to drive and go in a straight line. I would love to win your book. Thanks Melissa for having Patricia here today for a give-away.
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Maxie, I’m afraid I cheat a little on the swimming–I use a snorkel. That way I don’t have to try and breath on both sides. Tried that and almost drowned. lol Thanks for stopping by.
Loved reading this q&a with Patricia. 🙂 One random fact about me: I’m allergic to pickles!
Oh, no Brooke. I love pickles! Glad you enjoyed the interview. It’s been so much fun.
So excited for you Pat! I can’t wait to read Shadows of the Past! Thanks Melissa for this great interview! One random fact about me: My first kiss happened on stage in a musical. I was 18. But my real first kiss was with the man I married. 🙂 (Leave it to a romance writer to divulge details about my own personal kissing scenes.)
Andrea, that is just so neat that your first “real” kiss was with your husband-to-be! Another random fact–we met in Clearwater at a Deep Thinkers!
Pat, YAYAYAYAY! I’m so, SO excited for you! I am excited to read your book. I hope I’m in as good as shape as you after I hit 49 (that IS how old you are, right? 😉 ). Congratulations on your book release. I am thrilled for you. You’re an inspiration sticking with writing for that long. Love it. 🙂
Yeah, Jeanne, I’m 49…or some anniversary of it. 🙂 My daughter actually celebrated her 22nd anniversary of her 29th birthday last year. Thanks for stopping by.
I was an elevator operator in a fancy department store when I was in college.
Merry, was it one of those wooden paneled ones? Those elevators are so pretty. The Peabody in Memphis still uses elevator operators on some of theirs.
Fun fact: I’m a special ed para at an elementary school who was home today and yesterday for snow days.
Shadows of the Past sounds like a book I’d like to read since I do enjoy romantic suspense. Congratulations to Patricia!
That’s a wonderful job, Pam. Snow days. I.AM.SO.Ready.For.Spring!! Thanks for stopping by!
I love suspense and romance… and I have 5 kids!
Ladette, I’ll bet your household is lively! Thanks for stopping by.
Fun Fact: I am married 40 years to a guy who hates winter but I love winter and cold weather. We are spending the majority of winter in Arizona this year and I am not sure I am going to be happy about missing winter in the upper midwest. I am feeling cheated out of my favorite season. I know most of you will not agree with me…
Elaine, you know us well. lol. I like the crispness of winter…when the sun is shining. But then, I live in Mississippi and we mostly have very mild winters. Until this winter. Thanks for stopping by!
I have an identical twin.
Donna, I just think that to have an identical twin would be the neatest thing. Did you try to fool the teachers when you were in school?
Shadows of the Past sounds like a fun book. Can’t wait to read it!
Fun fact about me: I was 20 years old the first time I ever ate a PB&J sandwich and found out I love them!
I love the smell of books – the older the better! I’m in heaven when I walk into a library because they smell so good and if they made an air freshener the scent of books I would be in hog heaven!