I had the pleasure of meeting Pat several years ago at one of the first My Book Therapy writing retreats and gotten to know her as one of the Ponderers. And I can actually say, "I knew her when."
Since then she has won several contests, had her debut novel Shadows of the Past hit the bookshelves earlier this month, and she has a contract for several more.
I asked her to tell us what it felt like knowing she'd finally realized her dream. This is her story:
In the late afternoon hours of
December 24, 2013, I opened a package a UPS driver had just delivered. I wasn’t
expecting anything, so imagine my surprise and joy when I opened the envelope
and slid out a copy of my debut novel, Shadows
of the Past. My editor, bless her heart, had worked hard to get it to me
before Christmas. It was a wonderful Christmas present.
Since then, my book has released
and I’m living the dream I’ve had for so long. Thirty-four years, actually. As
people have congratulated me, they’ve also asked how I feel about the release.
And I have to tell them, I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong—I am excited and overjoyed.
But you see while I can touch the
book, read it, see it on bookshelves, I can’t really wrap my mind around the
fact that I have a book out. And my
publisher wants a fourth book. It is almost surreal. And then there’s that
thought—what if I wake up tomorrow and it’s all been a dream?
Seriously though, there were so
many rejections. Yes, they got nicer over the years, but still, they were
rejections. What if I had given up at year 20…or year 32? I could have, you
know. And look at what I would have missed.
So, I think if a writer were to
ask me for one piece of advice, I’d say—You’re kidding? Right? No writer can give
you just one piece of advice and stop. But if you are serious about writing, do
the hard work. Whatever it takes, learn the craft of writing whether it be from
books or going to retreats or from your critique partners.
And. Don’t. Give. Up.
Your turn: If you could ask an author
anything, what would it be?
Back cover copy:
Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor
Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she
wants most desperately to solve—the disappearance of her father twenty years
ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to
Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she is stalking the truth
about the past, someone is stalking her.
Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the
biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife—a
tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the
only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths
with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.
Connect with Patricia Bradley at:
Links to buy book:
Available at CBD: http://ow.ly/qIx2k and Amazon:
http://ow.ly/qIx90 and B&N:
Three words: GET THIS BOOK! Amazing read. Pat, so proud of you! Celebrating with you on the launch of your debut novel, AND your dream come true!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Reba! Jennie, I love your blog. Thanks for having me over!
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