So I asked her to be one of my Women in the Arts interviewees. I was delighted when she said yes!
1. What do you tell other people you
do? (such as author, teacher, designer)
I tell other people that I am an
author. With fifteen published books I don’t have any qualms telling people
what I do if they ask. But I don’t walk up to people and say, I’m an author,
here are my bookmarks. It has to come out in conversation. Before I was
published I told people I wrote. Which I did write novels and worked as a
freelance reporter for local newspapers.
I also let people know that I ranch—cattle and hay are what my husband
and I raise and sell.
2. When
did you know it was time to stop treating your art as a hobby and start it as a
career?
When my kids were in high school and
no longer required as much of my time I began thinking of writing as a career.
Granted, it took me nearly ten years to finally have a book in my hand to show
it wasn’t a hobby, and then six more years before I was making more than I was
spending on ink, paper, computers, conferences, and books.
3. What
are some of the aspects of your job that people don’t see? For example, most
people don’t understand how much marketing is done by the authors themselves
instead of a publisher, and most audience members don’t see how costumes and
props are designed/chosen.
There are many aspects they don’t see
that go into the book. One is the planning. Bringing the character to fruition
in my head and then on paper. Sometimes this may require some research for a
time period or profession. Using a trivial and sometimes not so trivial thing
that sparks a premise and then researching and digging up the info to make the
tidbit work for a believable premise. And once the story is written then, in
the case that I self publish, there is surrounding myself with people who help
me perfect the story and then the hours of formatting (I don’t always pay to
have the books formatted) and promotion. Also coming up with the right cover
that catches the eye and shows a bit of the story. And after all the writing,
editing, formatting, and cover; I spend two thirds of my computer time doing
online promotions. Blogs, like this. Forums with other authors to learn
industry news and promote. Leaving comments on other blogs, tweeting, and using
Facebook to give people a glimpse of the person behind the books. I also love
to speak and give presentations at conferences.
4. Who
inspired/inspires you on those inevitable rough days?
My inspiration for writing came from
my love of reading as a child. Books took me to places I could never travel,
taught me about people and places I may never see, and showed me there was more
out there than a rural life. I began writing as a challenge to myself to see if
I could write a story as good as the ones I read. And I found by writing my
overactive imagination had a place to vent. When I have a rough day of writing,
I think of all the books over the years that made me laugh, cry, and took me to
another place and realize what I am doing can do the same for others. Then I
shake off whatever is making it a rough day, be it, a bad review, an unkind
remark, or just words not flowing and read one of those books that inspired me
to read and write.
5. Name
a few of your current projects. For example, conferences, publicity, design
process, what you have for sale.
Are you sure you really want to know?
LOL I have a blog tour coming up for my latest release, Secrets of an Aztec Temple. The tour is an excerpt only tour and
will be from March 4th – 15th. I’m giving a presentation
on writing fiction at a high school career day. April, I’m teaching a workshop
on Promotion for an editing business and a critique workshop for my local
writing group.
In June I’ll be at the
RomCon in Colorado Springs, CO. I’m
putting together presentations for the talks and making swag to give away at
the conference. The swag will be small tins filled with survival items like my
heroine in the Isabella Mumphrey books.
I have fifteen books for sale, some strictly ebooks some both print and
ebook. The books that I’m most excited about are my Spirit trilogy [ Spirit of the Mountain, Spirit of the Lake, Spirit of the Sky] that is set among the Nez Perce tribe of NE
Oregon in the late 1700’s to the late 1800’s. The books have sibling Nez Perce
spirits who find love among the mortals and work to keep the Nimiipuu (Nez
Perce) alive and free. 
My latest books, Secrets of a Mayan Moon and Secrets of an Aztec Temple, are about
Isabella Mumphrey, a brilliant anthropologist who specializes in Native American
cultures. She has a “survival” vest she goes nowhere without. It has items in
it that will get her out of nearly any situation. The hero is Augustino
Constantine a Venezuelan who fled his homeland as a child with his family because
of their opposition to the government. After Tino’s family died when their
plane was shot down by a drug lord, he became a DEA agent and made it his
mission to take out the drug lord. Their attraction is as hot as the steamy
Guatemalan jungle where the meet. I also
have eight historical western romance books. The five book Halsey series is my
favorite of the historical books. And I have two contemporary westerns, Perfectly Good Nanny and Bridled Heart, that were fun to write.
6. This
question is a chance to meander or talk in greater depth if you’d like. Here
you can talk about what hobbies you pursue, how you refresh your well of ideas,
what you would recommend to other women interested in a career in the arts.
I like to ride my horse and be
outdoors as much as possible. I grew up on 200 acres at the base of the Wallowa
Mountains. I spent nearly every summer day exploring the mountain side on my
horse, Junebug. So replenishing my well comes from being outside and doing
tasks that require little brain activity.
My husband has learned to not worry
when the tractor stops in the middle of the field. I’m not broke down. An idea
or scene came to me and I’m writing it down. I always carry a pad and pen with
me when I’m harrowing, raking, baling, or swathing. The monotonous back and
forth lets my mind wander and I come up with some of the best scenes and ideas
that way. I’ve also been known to get a good idea while painting. Not artistic
painting, painting the outside of the house or rooms. I’ve always been a cup
half full person and one who never backs down from a challenge so I say to
anyone who has a penchant for any kind of art; painting, pottery, writing,
drama, jewelry, whatever, start out learning the craft of the medium, gather
supportive people who make you work to be your best not pat you on the back all
the time and tell you you’re great, and then reach for the stars! You can’t
succeed if you don’t try.
Places you can connect with Paty:
Website Blog Goodreads Facebook Twitter Pinterest Thank you so much Paty!
