Interview with Patricia Hale

Interview with Patricia Hale
Tell us about your latest book.

Interview with Patricia Hale
http://amzn.to/2hoKD6o
The Church of the Holy Child is a mystery/suspense novel set in Portland, Maine. Britt Callahan and Griff Cole are the PI team hired to investigate the disappearance of a woman escaping an abusive marriage. With the discovery of her body, missing becomes murder and all eyes fall on her husband. When two more bodies are found under similar circumstances Britt and Griff begin working alongside the Portland Criminal Investigations Unit. One person knows who the killer is. Father Francis at The Church of the Holy Child listens to the murderer’s confession after each kill and wrestles with his conscience over going to the police or upholding the secrecy of the sacramental seal.

Who are your favourite authors?

Stephen King is a favorite, not because of his plots, but because of his writing style. He’s a terrific storyteller. I think it’s his down-to-earth, no pretense style that makes me feel like I’m spending time with a friend when I read his books. Another favorite is Lionel Shriver. She is always challenging and insightful. I just finished her book, big brother. It hit home in many ways. Other favorites are Dennis Lehane and Tana French.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Don’t give up. Writing can be tremendously frustrating. There are constant ups and downs and second-guessing yourself. Do the best you can. Find supportive friends. And put one foot in front of the other.

What’s your favorite quote about writing?

“Writing is something you do alone. It’s a profession for introverts who want to tell you a story, but don’t want to make eye contact while doing it.”  John Green

Where can people find out more about you and your writing?

My website is: www.patriciahale.org
My Facebook page is: @patricia.hale.102
And I’m on Goodreads.

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired when I read a really great book. Whether it’s a perfectly executed plot or writing at it’s finest, that’s what motivates me to go to my desk and get to work. It’s not a competitive response, but feeling like, I want to do that too. When I lose that drive, I often pick up Stephen King’s book, On Writing and read random pages. It never fails to put me back on track.  

What is your work in progress?

The Church of the Holy Child is the first in a three book series. In the second book, Durable Goods, Britt goes undercover looking for a missing girl and ends up over her head in the sex trade industry. The third book in the series is Scar Tissue. Britt and Griff are hired to investigate a young girl’s suicide. In their search for a reason why, they uncover the lines parents will cross to insure success as well as revenge. Both of these will follow The Church of the Holy Child, but I don’t have release dates yet.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

As a child I spent an inordinate amount of time in the children’s room of our local library. When most kids want to go to the park, I wanted to go to the library. At that time I loved reading biographies. I started with A and made my way through to Z. Louisa May Alcott and her character Jo March may have planted the seed.

Interview with Patricia Hale
What are you currently reading?

I’m reading Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. It’s both a comic and tragic look at marriage, parenting and middle age in contemporary America. It’s not a quick read, but Franzen’s understanding of the threats, anxieties and fantasies of the middle class are worth every minute spent reading this book.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

I work full time at a holistic veterinary hospital. Between that and writing, I don’t have much down time. A priority is a daily hike in the woods with my dogs. Enya, is a 7 year old German shepherd and Muddy is a 6 year old Beagle/Dachshund mix. They are my constant companions and never fail to force me away from my desk for playtime. I’d be lost without them.

Thanks so much for this opportunity to talk with you about my work. I’d love to hear from your followers if anyone has questions or comments.



2 Comments

  1. Unknown22 August 2017 at 12:05

    Thanks so much for having me on Writers and Authors and for bringing attention to my new release, The Church of the Holy Child. I enjoyed the interview and look forward to comments from your followers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CMash22 August 2017 at 13:58

    So glad to see that there will be more books in this series since I read this one and loved it. Little Women was also the book that hooked me on reading as a child.

    ReplyDelete

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