Interview with Author Patricia Sargeant

Dyanne: Once again RSJ family I’m back with short but insightful interviews. If you haven’t yet seen the interviews you’re dying to see keep waiting. Better yet, email the person and tell tem to contact me. I hope you’ve all had a glorious month and wish the same for each of you for May. I’d love for the readers to email me so we can turn the spotlight on you. Think about it. It’s painless. I promise. Patricia Sargeant is our first author interview for May.

Hello, Patricia, and thank you for doing the interview. Would you tell us a little about yourself please?

Patricia: Dyanne, thank you for including me in these wonderful Romance Slam Jam interviews. I’ve enjoyed reading them, and I’m honored to be included. For a brief background on myself, hmmm, ... My husband and I have lived in Columbus, Ohio, for years. But I'm originally from New York, and still consider Brooklyn home since my family lives there. (Anyone from Brooklyn in the house?) I come from a family of voracious readers and have wanted to tell my own stories since I was nine years old. There's a great quote by Barry Lopez, "Sometimes we need stories more than food to survive." My hips may not bear it out, but I do agree with the sentiment behind that quote. I've been lucky enough to have three titles published to date, two single titles and a short story in a benefits anthology. My first release is You Belong to Me. It's a romantic suspense that reunites a divorced couple in a race to unmask a serial killer. The story asks the question if you had a second chance, what would you do to ensure your happily ever after? My second release is On Fire. It's also a romantic suspense in which adversaries become allies when they realize a string of arsons are connected to a series of murders. The theme of this story is trust. I believe to love someone unconditionally you have to trust them completely. Would you agree? My third title is The Power of Love. It's a romance anthology featuring original short stories from 12 award-winning and best-selling authors. The goal of the anthology is to raise money for a battered women's shelter in Ohio, and awareness of the issue of domestic violence. I'm very proud to be a part of that project. I have two releases scheduled for June - my first contemporary romance, Sweet Deception, and another multi-author benefits anthology, Tails of Love. Tails of Love will raise money for a no-kill animal shelter in Ohio as well as awareness of the needs of abused and abandoned animals and pets.

Dyanne: Patricia, I wish you the best of luck with all of your books, but most especially the anthologies. I hope you all make lots of money for two very worthy causes. Changing the tone a little bit. What's the craziest thing you've ever had happen in your career?

Patricia: I've given this question a lot of thought. It's an excellent question. The publishing business itself can be pretty crazy. Would you agree? The craziest thing I've ever had happen in my career is the way I got my first contract. I'd heard Kensington was launching Dafina, its African American imprint. I think this was late 2003 or early 2004. I submitted a proposal - a synopsis and the first three chapters - of the story that would become You Belong to Me to the Dafina editor. When I didn't hear anything within the stated response time, I followed up with a letter, and then I called. The editorial assistant explained they'd never received my proposal and asked me to send the complete manuscript. I put aside the project I'd been working on and revised the manuscript again. I wanted to be certain it was as clean as I could get it. Then, I sent it in - and waited. I mailed a letter, made a phone call, sent an e-mail. Within two hours of sending the e-mail, the editor responded that she'd read You Belong to Me and would be calling me to discuss it within two weeks. You could imagine how excited I was. Over the moon. A couple of months went by; still no contact. It's now 2006. I put You Belong to Me completely out of my head and concentrated on my new project. That's when the editor called offering a contract for You Belong to Me. It was a pretty crazy ride.

Dyanne: First off, yes I totally agree with you that the publishing business is crazy. But your story is indeed the reason for my two favorite mottos. Preserve, and never ever give up. Truth is way stranger than fiction. Wow Pat!! I can’t wait to see how you answer the next question. Share your most selfish decadent wish (G-rated).

Patricia: Oh, Dyanne. This one is hard. I think my most selfish, decadent wish is being able to support myself completely with my fiction writing. I have this dream of being able to sleep for eight hours every night. Of being able to read for hours on end solely for pleasure again. Of using vacation time to actually vacation instead of extra time to meet a deadline. Of getting back into a regular exercise routine so I can get healthy and stay healthy.

Dyanne: I could use this moment to reiterate how many people don’t think writers really work. Your answer to the question just proved them wrong. Again. Patricia, What's on your plate for 09?

Patricia: Thanks so much for asking about my 2009 schedule, Dyanne. I'm pretty jazzed about it. My first contemporary romance, Sweet Deception, is a June 2009 release. The theme is female empowerment and identity. The story features a dutiful minister's daughter who leads a secret life as an erotic romance author. When she begins a relationship with another more famous author, her identity is revealed, and she's forced to choose between obligation and passion. I think, especially as women, we wear so many hats – wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, career professional – we sometimes lose track of who we are individually. Who is Dyanne Davis? Who is Patricia Sargeant? Sometimes we allow other people to define us rather than taking the time to define ourselves. Also in June, Berkley will release the romance anthology I mentioned, Tails of Love, which features original short stories by Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Dianne Castell, Kate Angell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Sue-Ellen Welfonder and me. My short story, “Scaredy Cat,” features a heroine whose adopted stray cat plays matchmaker. I feel silly admitting this, but I fell for the guy the cat chose for the heroine, too. If you read the story, let me know what you think of Paul Strahan. Also for 2009, I hope to shop a couple of romantic suspense projects. I love writing contemporaries and hope to continue. But I’d also like to continue writing romantic suspense.

Dyanne: Patricia, you’re a terrific interview. Thank you. You do know I’m wondering if Paul is fact or fiction don’t you. I’ll have to make sure to get a copy of the book. I promise this is the last question. How do you want to be contacted by readers?

Patricia: I love hearing from readers! I love talking about my books, Dyanne’s great books, other author’s books, yada, yada, yada. Please feel free to e-mail me at BooksByPatricia@yahoo.com. In the interest of full disclosure, I admit that, while I’m on deadline, I’m not able to respond as quickly as I usually do. However, I do appreciate the communication and I always respond. Just sometimes not that quickly. Dyanne, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. This truly has been great fun!
SWEET DECEPTION, Kensington Publishing, June 2009TAILS OF LOVE, Berkley Publishing, June 2009 http://www.patriciasargeant.com/ Romances To Die For

Dyanne: Thanks Patricia. I really enjoyed the interview.

Interview with Author J.S. Hawley

Dyanne: Next up we have an equally fascinating interview with author J.S. Hawley. J.S. you’re up. Tell the RSJ family about J.S. Hawley.

J.S. The one thing about me is that my friends and family are always in my heart. That I still smile at strangers and say good-morning. No I don't know the guy on the cover of my first book Come With Me but the guy described inside is based on a real man. When I knew him ('97-'98) he had long hair, nipple piercings, light skin, and he (let's call him 'Leslie') got me. I'd love to put out a national ad (and reward) and see if I could locate him. So if you know the guy...

Dyanne: I haven’t had a chance to see any guys with nipple piercing but I see anyone matching his description I’ll let you know. LOL. So, tell us, what's the craziest thing you've ever had to happen in your career?

J.S. Getting published. I stumbled blindly and fell in face first. I got very lucky. A friend who had never read a word I'd written, told a friend, who had a friend who was an editor. They harassed me through thick and thin patiently waiting for my life not to be soooo crazy and for me to complete the manuscript I'd been working on for five years. I've lost each of my manuscripts a handful of times. Once one of my 'Cheerleaders' (I was a coach at the time) gave me a magnet when she returned from vacation. I stuck it in my bag and it found its way next to my disk and magnetized the sucker. Another time I was working on the document and we had a power outage. Another time I stuck my hand in my pocket only to fine the perfect little thumb drive sized hole. I also had a fire in my home and a robbery, believe me when I say didn't think the manuscripts would ever get done. However my work turned out to be a solid piece of writing if nothing else. I thank the powers of the Universe that the timing was right. Just shows that sometimes the bad does have a silver lining.

Dyanne: WOW! To me that mean your being a writer was meant to be. How about if now you share your most selfish decadent wish (G-rated)

J.S. Right now I wish I could write the love affair I just ended with my ex. For me he was a very sweet and caring man but I was too busy 'fixing myself' and couldn't commit. Wish I could swallow my pride the way characters do in books and march over there and tell him how I feel and have him feel the same way. You know write our love affair including the HEA ending. Either that or fitting into a pair of size 12 jeans again.

Dyanne: Ahhh, that’s so sweet. The writing the love affair that is. What I wouldn’t give to get into a size 12 again myself. Maybe my third born. (note: I have one child. LOL) What's on your plate for 09?

J.S. With two inter-racial contemporaries on the shelf, I hope to put out a Historical Romance, also with inter-racial overtones, a Romantic mystery, a sci-fi/fantasy/romance, an urban romantic mystery and as many others as I can get to. I'm working on an e-published anthology submission with Isabo Kelly and Tori Anne.

Dyanne: As expected you have a full plate. Congratulations. Last question. J.S. How do you want to be contacted by readers?

J.S. Readers can reach me at J.S.Hawley@hotmail.com, myspace: www.myspace.com/jshawley and even Facebook @ Jae S. Hawley. I've also got a blog up on amazon.com. Thanks for the opportunity Dyanne. Hope to hear from you again.

Dyanne: Thanks Jackqueline/aka J.S. Great interview.

Interview with Aspiring Author Kathy Thigpen

Dyanne: Now we have an interview with an aspiring author, Kathy Thigpen. Welcome Kathy. At this point in the journey do you see your writing as a hobby or as a career you're aiming for? (There are no wrong answers here)

Kathy: Both, my immediate goal is to finish my manuscript to fulfill a pact I have with my nephew. He hands me a college degree I hand him a book. The pact didn’t specify published book so for now writing is my hobby. Long term I am aiming for a career. I see this as one of my part time retirement jobs. My retirement goals are to go back into the classroom and teach management at a HBCU and write (romance and in my academic field of management and organizational development ). By the time I retire in xx years, I’ll be a multi-published author with an agent and big name publisher that loves my work.

Dyanne: I love your goals. Let’s see how hard you’re working to make it happen. How many hours per day do you devote to your writing?

Kathy: I try to write at least one page day except on Wednesday and Fridays when I write for four to six hours. I also have a goal to do something every day to advance the cause. I count everything that relates to developing my self as a writer. Going to RWA meetings, working with my critique group, and I even include reading since now I’m a writer I read differently.

Dyanne: Very good Kathy. Are you actively doing things to take you to the next level? Ex: doing this interview, going to conferences, honing your skills, submitting your work, learning the industry?

Kathy: First doing this interview, is a big step in claiming my identity as a writer, thank you for the opportunity. I’m the assistant news letter editor for my RWA chapter and I write a column called “Letters to My Unpublished Self”. It’s a public diary that chronicles what I’m feeling and learning on this journey. For my educational goals I plan to take a grammar seminar this year, to brush up on my comma usage. I am also preparing to begin submitting my work in June. And thanks to my participation in contest I have a query letter and synopsis!

Dyanne: I really like the idea of Letters to My Unpublished Self. Kathy, let’s say that I can do just that. I have the power to grant you one wish what do you wish for?

Kathy: Besides the cash? I just need 1 million dollars once. But since you are my literary fairy Godmother, please tap my work-in-progress with your magic wand and make it complete and publishable.

Dyanne: Well now, there are many things your literary fairy can do including tapping your work and making it complete. But I don’t think that would be in your best interest so I won’t. The best part of your fulfilling your goal is the hard work that goes into it. So you will have to do all of the writing. That’s what you are. A WRITER. Do you have a website?

Kathy: I don’t have a website but I do have a blog. http:/signifysoftly.wordpress.comThe blog is primarily for another project of mine but the topic is related to my platform. My blog is dedicated to celebrating the softer side of sisterhood and embracing the power of acting like a lady. In my opinion Steve Harvey is 98% right, he should have titled his book Act like a Lady, Out Think Any Man.

Dyanne: Thanks Kathy. I wish you all the best in your writing. It looks like you’re heading in the right direction. Persevere.

Well RSJ family, we’re still looking for readers to talk. Contact me. Let’s Talk. Until next month I wish all of you the best. Happy Mother's Day.

Dyanne