Denise Patrick the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Optimistic, Trusting, Caring
2. How do you think others would describe you?
I think they would describe me as a person who is helpful, giving, and always willing to pitch in when there's something to be done.
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
My faith. Being a Christian is the center of my life and the thing I'm most likely to talk about when asked.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Nope, no pets - unless you count my kids!
5. What is your most precious memory?
The memories I have of my Mom and I when I was young. Until I was 10, she was essentially a single parent because my Dad was in the military and hardly ever there. The two of us became very close - she taught me to read and write, and to love books. She taught me games and was never too busy to sit down on the floor and play with me.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
I can't remember a single time. It's likely that I have suppressed all those embarrassing moments because I'm sure I haven't gotten this old without embarrassing myself at least once.
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
Well, since right now I'm only a part-time writer, I suppose I'd just be doing more of what I do the rest of the time when I'm not working, which is being involved in my church, sewing, and crafting, and playing a lot more tennis.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother - she loved God and projected that love to everyone she met. She wrote inspirational books about ordinary people who loved God, too, touching hearts as she did. She also indulged her love of history, the Regency period in particular, by writing wonderful, light-hearted stories of love and faith in times gone by.
She was a very active member of her church, leading the Youth Group for many years, and fondly remembered for being willing to spend overnights almost anywhere the Youth wanted to go. She will be sorely missed by her sewing and embroidery machines.
Denise Patrick the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
OK, that's a tough one. Was it when I first wrote "The End" on a manuscript? When I finalled in a contest? When I signed that first contract? Or, was it when my first book came out and I was able to hold it in my hot little hands? The second? The third? For me, all of those were new beginnings and the realization all over again that I'm a real writer and people actually are interested in reading what I write. It's a phenomenal feeling and I re-live it with each book.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I'm working on polishing up the third book in my Gypsy Legacy Series. There is a fourth book that is not part of the series, but I'm polishing that as well, getting it ready for subbing. I'm also working on a Regency Inspirational that I want to target to Harlequin's new Love Inspired Historical line. I'm hoping to finish it before June so I can pitch it at RWA if Harlequin sends someone interested in that line.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
I'd like to write and publish at least one or two books a year. I think, for now, that is a reasonable goal since I don't plan to quit my day job. (I'm too close to retirement.) Once I retire, I would like to concentrate on writing more and getting more books out, but that all depends on my health and my family.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
I work full-time and don't have the willpower to get up early, so I usually don't get a chance to write until the evenings. If I don't have a chat (I meet with my CP's through IM), I eat dinner, then get right on the computer. If it's a good night, I usually have a good three hours in which to write. Some nights are better than others, but if I'm on a roll, I'll write until I run out of steam. I do carry my current WIP on a USB key with me at all times, so if I decide to stay in my office to eat lunch, I might plug it into my computer at work and write a little on it. That's rare, though.
13. Why do you write?
I write because I love to create stories. I have always had an active imagination and sometimes I write just to get the voices out of my head and onto paper. That was the case with my first published book, Adopting Alyssa. I was actually working on another book, but this story kept cropping up and wouldn't let me be. So, I wrote it to get it out of my head.
14. What writer most inspires you?
That's a loaded question. There are so many authors that I love to read and am inspired by. Julia Quinn, Amanda Quick, Eloisa James, Mary Balogh, Celeste Bradley, Nicole Jordan, and the list goes on. Why? Because they can take a historical period and bring it to life in a way that no history book can. They can breathe life into characters and places, and drop you right into the middle of history - and make you care about the characters they've created. Sometimes when writing my own books, I might remember one of theirs and think, "Character so-and-so would be around during my book, too." It's too bad I can't refer to theirs as well. Of course, that would probably confuse readers, so it's probably a good thing we don't populate our historicals with other authors' characters.
15. How do you define your writing?
I consider them sweet fairy tales for adults. All of my stories MUST have a happy ending. And, since I write inspirationals as well as historicals, I created my slogan to reflect that: "Heaven begins with an HEA. . ." Heaven represents the happy ending and my inspirationals, and HEA is a play on the phrase "Happily Ever After".
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
She wrote inspirational stories in which love ALWAYS won the day.
Denise Patrick the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
I don't have a website - that's this year's project. Right now, my blog (http://denisesden.blogspot.com) has everything on it you might want to know about me, or a link to find it.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
My email is: denisepatrick@gmail.com (without the spaces, of course) I also have a forum on Coffee Time Romance (http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=296 ) where you can chat with me, ask questions, read excerpts and learn about contests.
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Adopting Alyssa from By Grace Publishing (Nov 2006) (Inspirational)
The Importance of Almack's from Samhain Publishing (July 2007) (Regency)
Gypsy Legacy: The Marquis from Samhain Publishing (November 2007) (Victorian)
Strikes Don't Matter from By Grace Publishing (January 2008) (Inspirational)
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
I hope they expect - and get - a well-written story that stays with them long after they finish the last page. A story that tugs at the emotions as well as provokes occasional laughter.
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
I'm a history-a-holic. I love Central European as well as English history. I also love fairy-tales and tend to weave fairy-tale-esque themes into my plots. Think Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. Even my contemporaries are likely have a reference to some historical fact buried in them.
I also love a good mystery and many of my books have a mystery element to them. Sometimes it's as simple as the identity of a character. Other times, it's something that could hurt the hero or heroine somehow. Because, as a reader, I love it when I figure something out, I ennoy it when a reader writes me and tells me they figured it out before the end of the book - that tells me that I did my job and left appropriate clues. Although I also don't mind the occasional surprise ending.
