Charmaine Gordon, Author of Sin of Omission, Talks Writing, plus #Giveaway

My guest today is fellow Vanilla Heart Publishing author, Charmaine Gordon. Years of experience as an actor on daytime drama, stage, spokesperson and commercials plus writing sketches for Air Force shows helped prepare Charmaine Gordon for the wonders of a writing career. Of course, she states she didn’t realize it at the time when immersed in the written words of others, that she insists she was like a sponge, soaking up how to construct a scene, write dialogue, and paint the setting.

Anne – Welcome, Charmaine. Before we talk writing, tell us a little about your time on stage.

Charmaine - I kissed my acting career goodbye, leaving on a high note with the lead in an Off Broadway play, “The Fourth Commandment” playwright Rich Knipe. It was great fun and time to move on. Movies like “Working Girl”, “Road to Wellsville” and having the pleasure of Anthony Hopkins company at lunch, working with Mike Nichols in “Regarding Henry” and singing outside with Harrison Ford, crying with Gene Wilder over loss on another set, When “Harry Met Sally” with the whole gang singing It Had to Be You. Lots of fond memories. My first job as stand-in leg model for Geraldine Ferraro in a Diet Pepsi commercial with Secret Service men guarding her and her daughters. A sweet time.

Anne – What wonderful memories! Now, let’s move on and talk writing. What one or two lines best sum you up as an author?

           

Charmaine - I’m surprised to find myself involved with fictional characters who refuse to let go. They disturb my sleep, whisper in my ear, force me to solve their problems. And I do.

Anne – Only writers talk about hearing voices, and only writers worry when there is only silence! Tell us about your latest release.

Charmaine - Tada! I’m thrilled to introduce Sin of Omission. Here’s the blurb:

Seems easy enough. Jimmy Costigan will deliver supplies to sister Charlie's project Haven, a respite for the needy, and leave. Simple.
Instead, Shelley Jackson answers the door, says she needs him and soft-hearted Jimmy stays to protect the family seeking refuge from a sociopath. He didn't count on falling in love.

A twist of fate intervenes when Shelley keeps a secret that threatens to break apart the Costigans and her future. A mysterious client, Deanna Rose, enters Haven, victim of a savage beating under strange circumstances. Using Internet resources, Shelley digs in to find Ms. Rose has an unsavory past.

With the reputation and safety of Haven at stake, Shelley is at risk to lose everything ... and everyone she cares about.

Anne - Would you like to share an excerpt of Sin of Omission with us?

Charmaine - Nice of you to ask, and yes, indeedy!

Chapter 1

“I need you, Jimmy Costigan.”

Words he’d heard since childhood chilled him. Not again. Oh please, not again.

Strong hands gripped the tall cowboy and spun him around and he wasn’t an easy man to spin. In high heels, Shelley Jackson faced him eye to eye.

“Just when I was makin’ a clean getaway. Whatcha need now?”

“You. I’m with hostage survivors and no one to help me ‘til tomorrow morning.” She talked low and fast, no time to waste.

“Hostage?”

“Didn’t your sister tell you?” He shook his shaggy head, a frown forming. “Or maybe you weren’t listening.”

“Whoa,” he said, holding up a calloused hand. 

“Sorry. One minute I’m sitting in my office downtown minding my own business. Then Kirk Richards called with the emergency. We all knew this day would come so I raced around locking up, grabbed my packed suitcase at home like an expectant mother, God forbid, and got here in record time.”

He stood there still not comprehending. “What happened? I just came by to deliver supplies and planned to hightail it back to the big city.” You sound like a hick after less than a day in Utah. Shut your country yap.

“Here’s a quick rundown. This morning, Lila Olsen called 911, said she and her kids were held hostage by a guy for maybe a week or more and now he slipped on spilled soup and hit his head. She found his cell phone and called for help. The mother is in my study and her three little kids are in the playroom. My job as psychiatric social worker is to get background for starters, then serve dinner and send them off to shower and bed.” She stopped, caught her breath and listened. Quiet so far. “How are you with small children?”

Profound pain hit him in the gut.

“The best.”

“Well, great. See if they’ll confide in you.”

Jaw set, Jimmy loped down the hall, man on a mission ready to help whenever kids were involved.

Anne – Love it! Thank you. Okay, let’s go to where the muse helps you create. Describe your home office as appears right now.  Is this a good thing or bad?

Charmaine - Picture a 10 x 12 room: wrap- around desk at one end complete with lap top, copy/FAX machine. So far, so good. Books and papers spill from shelves with leaving little elbow room. And what is this? Scuffed very small ballet slippers perched on top of a box of paper clips. Hmm. The rest of the room is a mine field packed with a toy box, tiny figures too dangerous to step on, shelves of books for my grandest four-year old granddaughter and stuffed animal treasures, a drum, keyboard and activity desk. I write a steamy scene while she plays a rhythmic beat on the pink piano. My space is now reduced to ¼ of the room. Complaining? No. It’s a good thing.

Anne – It sounds like just the perfect place for you to write! Do you belong to a critique group?

Charmaine - Happy to say, I do. A small group of RWA authors meet every other Tuesday night for two hours. Invaluable help.

Anne - Does one character hold a special place in your heart? Why?

Charmaine - Carly Evans in NOW WHAT? is special to me. Without realizing it, I began writing about a woman suddenly widowed and her journey as a single person. The story is fiction yet parallels my life in many ways.

Anne - Complete this sentence: I will do everything to promote my books except…

Charmaine - I will do everything to promote my books except use the casting couch.

Anne – LOL, Char. Final question: Where can readers find you online?

Charmaine – At my author blog and Six Sentence Sunday site. Sin of Omission is also available on Smashwords, and All Romance.

Thanks for inviting me today, Anne. To each commenter, I’d like to gift an ebook copy of Sin of Omission. I hope they enjoy the journey as much as I did writing it.

Anne – How generous of you! Readers, please include your email addy with your comment and use this format to keep it safe: youremailaddy AT gmail DOT com. Thanks so much for dropping by today, Charmaine. It’s been a blast!

* * *

Murder, Mayhem & the Fall 2012 Mystery We Write Blog Tour

If you enjoy reading mysteries, or writing them, the MYSTERY WE WRITE BLOG TOUR may be of interest.

The Mystery We Write Blog Tour began in 2011 when two authors met online and discussed virtual book tours. Since then more than 20 mystery authors and countless readers have joined forces to participate in three Mystery We Write Blog Tours. Tour number four will take place this fall.

Readers enjoy interviews with their favorite authors, plus the opportunity to win FREE books (ecopy and print editions). For the writer there's how-to advice, plus personal tidbits on the ups and downs of the writing life.

If you're an author and interested in joining the tour, email me at annekalbert AT gmail DOT com. Your name will be added to the mailing list, and when the time comes (usually late August) to get tour number four organized, I'll send info on the who, what, when, where, and why.

In the meantime, check out the Mystery We Write Blog Tour Authors and Readers FACEBOOK Group. We'd love to have you join us!

* * *

Stephanie Burkhart, Author of "A Polish Heart", Talks Writing

Please extend a warm welcome to romance and children's author, Stephanie Burkhart. Steph was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. Wanting a grand adventure, she joined the US Army and spent 7 years stationed in Germany. She met her husband while in the Army and they were married in Denmark in 1991. Since leaving the service, Steph has worked for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. She loves traveling, watching Dancing with the Stars and the New England Patriots are her favorite football team.

Anne - Thanks for being here today, Stephanie. It’s a beautiful spring day, just the kind of day to do my favorite thing…talk writing! So, if you’re comfortable, Stephanie, let’s get down to business. Tell us about A Polish Heart.

Stephanie - Rebecca J. Vickery put out a call for a spring/Easter romance for a 2011 Anthology and I took up the challenge. For me, growing up, Easter was a big deal for my family. My mother's family is Polish/Ukrainian and we would visit my grandmother every year, share a mass and Easter dinner. Then we'd visit the extended family. For A Polish Heart, the Easter traditions I grew up with inspired the story. Here’s the blurb:

Darrin Riverton, an architect from the United States is assigned to a challenging project which requires a trip to Poland. Sofia Buraczynski is assigned as his translator and his first sight of her heats his blood.

With Sofia as his guide, Darrin discovers Poland and many new things about himself, as well. When a chance is presented for him to remain in Poland, will he leave behind family and all that is familiar to follow his heart?

The story is meant to be a family/inspirational one and the heat level is "sweet."

Anne – Many authors promote their stories with book trailers. Do you have one?

Stephanie – I do. It’s on Youtube:

Anne – That was lovely! What are readers saying about A Polish Heart?

Stephanie – Here are three comments:

“Luckily, the Almighty seems to have a hand in this simple, straight, and heart-warming tale of romance, to make the reader feel satisfied with the ending.” ~ 5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Amazon Reader

“This is an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. When the hero literally turns his life upside-down to be with Sofia, it just touched my heart. I'll definitely be looking for more stories by this promising author.”~ 5 Stars, Vikki McCombie, Amazon Reader

“Poland has always been a stronghold for Christian faith so it was refreshing to see it against the backdrop of the high holy days of Easter. Totally enjoyable read.” ~ 5 Stars, Tara Manderino, Amazon Reader

Anne - Let's return to the more mundane...the writing process. How long does it take you to write a book?

Stephanie - About three months for a novel length book. For a short story, about a month.

Anne - Do you belong to writer organizations, critique groups, or depend on a beta reader?

Stephanie – I’m a member of EPIC. I also belong to an online writing group called Writing.com. When I first starting to really sharpen my craft in the mid 2000's, Writing.com gave me a lot of feedback and guidance. I also use a beta reader. I've really come to treasure my reader, Kathy. She tells it to me like it is, and I appreciate that.

Anne – I agree! Beta readers are worth their weight in gold, and I trust and cherish their feedback. Is there one book you are most proud of writing? Why?

Stephanie - Regarding my romances, I would have to say it is "The Count's Lair," Book 2 in my Budapest Moon Series. I've discovered I like to write contemporary, paranormal (werewolves) steampunk and fantasy romance, so I've written romance stories in all three genres. The Count's Lair is a paranormal romance. I'm proud of it because Anton and Amelia's story really spoke to me. It's a 2011 Silver Winner in the Reader's Favorite category Romance: Sci-Fi Fantasy. It was also nominated by Long & Short as a book of the week. 

Regarding my children's work, I would have to say I'm very proud of "The Giving Meadow." This was originally a play written for my church's Sunday preschool. It's about a caterpillar who travels through the meadow learning to share and make friends.

Anne - Are you a glass half-empty or a glass half-full kind of person?

Stephanie - Half full. I really try to see the positive things of life because I don't like getting depressed when I take the glass half-empty look.

Anne - How many rejections did you acquire along the way to publication? What kept you going?

Stephanie - I received a ton of rejections, and looking back, I understand why. In hindsight, I'm glad to have received them. Writing.com really helped me develop as a writer. To work on my word counts, I enter Writer's Digest Annual Contests and Popular Fiction Contests and I've always done well in them. In 2008, my short story, "Spontaneous Decision," won 8^th place in Mainstream Fiction.

Anne – Congratulations. The Writer’s Digest is a prestigious award. Do you have any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?

Stephanie - Keep writing and have patience. Today's world is full of the "instant gratification" message. Writing, then editing, then publishing a novel or a short story is not an instant thing so don't expect success overnight. It takes patience.

Anne – Final question: Where can readers find you online?

Stephanie – At my website, on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and YouTube. Anne, thank you so much for having me here today.

Anne - It’s my pleasure, Stephanie. It’s been fun. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and A Polish Heart with us.

Readers, your comments are always welcome and appreciated. To ensure you do not miss a single Anne K. Albert post, interview or giveaway, become a follower on either GFC (Google Friend Connection) or NetworkedBlogs, or subscribe by email. It’s as easy as a click of the mouse, and I will be eternally grateful. Until next time, happy reading!

* * *

Madison Johns, Author of Armed and Outrageous, Talks Writing

My guest today is Madison Johns. Madison resides in Saginaw, Michigan, with her husband and two children, and delightful cat Misty. She has written everything from dark fiction to cozy mysteries.

Anne – Welcome, Madison. Let’s get down to business and talk writing! Tell us a something about yourself you’d normally only share with close friends.

Madison - I'm horribly insecure when it comes to people that I work with. I don't think anybody really gets who I really am.

Anne – Few people understand writers. Just ask my husband. He starts to sweat whenever I talk about where I should hide the body!  When did you first realize you were destined to be an author?

Madison - Deep down I always knew I was destined to be an author. I mean, I've had stories inside my head for my whole life. Four years ago, I starting writing them down. I had no idea how much I'd love writing. It's the most fun you can do by yourself, well almost.

Anne – LOL. I won’t even ask about what that 'almost' might be. What one or two lines best sums you up as an author?

Madison - Madison Johns writes humor the way most of us live it. Being versatile must be Madison Johns' middle name.

Anne - Tell us about your debut release, Armed and Outrageous.

Madison - Agnes Barton is not your typical senior citizen living in Tadium, Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron. She drives a red hot Mustang, shops at Victoria's Secret, rankles local police officials, and has a knack for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.

What does a murder that happened forty-three years ago have to do with missing tourist Jennifer Martin? Agnes makes it her personal mission to find out, and she's not letting the fact she's seventy-two get in the way. Butting heads with Sheriff Clem Peterson is something she's accustomed to, but lately Clem seems to be acting even more strange, making Agnes wonder what he may be hiding ala the Martin disappearance.

Agnes’ partner in crime, Eleanor Mason tags along, Watson to her Holmes. Together, they unearth clues. If only Eleanor would behave, as although lovable, she has a knack for getting into trouble by tangling with her rival, Dorothy Alton, or flirting with anyone—male or female—and gossiping! She's incorrigible, but she does carry a Pink Lady revolver in her purse, one that has proved useful at times.

Life for Agnes and Eleanor are shaken up when Agnes' former boss and secret crush comes to Tadium. Before long, the lady sleuths have more on their hands to content with as goons roll into town and bullets begin to fly.

Anne – It sounds like a great read. Would you share an excerpt of Armed and Outrageous with us?

Madison – Here you go!

We both laughed for a minute while Eleanor retrieved her keys. "I’m driving."

"I don’t think, th-that’s a good idea."

"Don’t be silly, Agnes. You might want to move out of my way. I would hate to lose a good friend at my age."

Eleanor went into her garage and backed out her gray 1980 Cadillac Seville. It only had 50,000 miles, but that was hard to believe with the damage on the body—part of the reason I wanted to drive. They say a Cadillac is built like a tank, one of the main reasons I raised money and bought her the car. 

Eleanor didn’t have much luck in her life except inheriting a house from a nephew who’d died unexpectedly a few years back. Her only son, Edward, had nothing to do with her. I met her at the Mikado bingo, quite a distance from where we lived. We were surprised to learn we lived only a mile apart from one another. I was immediately taken in by her quick wit, and I thought of her as a sister I never had—the perfect partner in crime.

Eleanor opened the car door for me. "Don’t be afraid, I promise I can see much better with these new glasses."

I had my doubts about her driving skills, but I climbed in nonetheless. Right on cue, Eleanor hopped in, cranked the engine, and slammed her foot on the pedal. Rocks flew up and tinged the roof; hot tin roof came to mind. She tore off down the road toward Quick Stop. She swerved and didn’t stay in her lane, but we made it there without incident, thanks to the grace of God.

Anne – Sounds like a fun ride! Do you have a fear, phobia, or habit you’d rather no one knew about?

Madison - I have a severe fear of heights. It's so bad that even an elevator ride is a nerve wracking experience. Don't you dare try to get me into an elevator with glass doors.

Anne – I suppose that rules out going to the top of Toronto’s CN Tower or Seattle’s Space Needle, huh?! How long does it take you to write a book?

Madison - It depends on the book. I wrote Armed and Outrageous in two months, but I was crazy obsessed about finishing it. Of course, the rewriting and editing took much longer. I have a thriller that took me a year to write and it's still in need of revising.

Anne - How many rejections did you acquire along the way? What kept you going?

Madison - I received over ten rejections both from agents and publishers. Of course, then ebooks started to take over the market, and I decided to publish my book myself. I hired editors, a proofreader, and a great cover artist. I guess nobody thought senior sleuth mysteries were a good sell. All the writers and other friends on Facebook were so helpful and supportive.

Anne - If you could snap your fingers where would you visit, return, or move to? Why?

Madison - I'd love to visit London. I have read so many historical romances, and I'd love to visit some of the places I have read about. It would be great research! I wonder if they have a Jack the Ripper tour?

Anne – They certainly do! London is one of my favorite cities. Where can readers find you online?

Madison – At my website, and blogs:

http://madisonjohns11.wordpress.com/ and 

http://mysterywritermadisonjohns.blogspot.com/.

Anne – It's been great chatting with you, Madison. I wish you every success with Armed and Outrageous.

A final note to readers: Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. To ensure you do not miss a single Anne K. Albert post, interview or giveaway, become a follower on either GFC (Google Friend Connection) or NetworkedBlogs, or subscribe by email. It’s as easy as a click of the mouse, and I will be eternally grateful. Until next time, happy reading!

* * *

Kaye George, author of Choke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery, Talks Writing

My guest today is Kaye George. An Agatha nominated short story writer, Kaye is the author of CHOKE: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery (Mainly Murder Press), as well as A PATCHWORK OF STORIES, a collection of a few of her previously published stories. Her stories appear in print and online magazines as well as anthologies, such as ALL THINGS DARK AND DASTARDLY, GRIMM TALES anthology, and FISH TALES. She serves as President of the Guppies chapter of Sister in Crime, reviews for "Suspense Magazine", and writes for several newsletters and blogs. She, her husband, and a rescued feral cat named Agamemnon live together in Texas, near Austin.

Anne - Welcome, Kaye. I’m excited to talk writing with you, so let’s get started. Do you have a fear, phobia, or habit you’d rather no one knew about?

Kaye - I sure have a phobia I wish I didn't have. Public speaking. Since writers are called upon to give readings and presentations in order to sell books, I wish I were much, much better at this! I'm told that it gets better if I do it more. I'm trying that. And, to be honest, the events where I speak are the ones where I sell books.

Anne - How long does it take you to write a book?

Kaye - That depends on the book. I think I worked on my first (still unsold mystery) for about ten years, but only by fits and starts between raising kids, moving around the country, and holding down lots of different jobs. I wrote another one, then another. That third one took about ten years, too. That's the one I seriously queried, well over 100 agents, to no avail. I wrote its sequel and queried the heck out of that one, too. Then I decided to write a book that had been bugging me for a long time, a Neanderthal mystery. I REALLY queried the heck out of that one, but those last two took only a year or so to write. Then I wrote CHOKE (my now published novel), which took less than a year. I think I'm learning how to write mysteries!

Anne - Describe your home office as appears right now. Is this a good or bad thing?!

Kaye - Not tidy. It's useless to straighten it up. I can do it, but that only lasts a few days. It's all right. I know where everything is. Mostly.

Anne - What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Kaye - Time is the hardest part. I could use a lot more hours in each day. I'm convinced we evolved from beings that came from a planet with at least 30 hours in each day. That's what we could all use.

Anne – I agree. I always feel like I could use another six hours per day. Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person? 

Kaye - Glass half-full! My question, though, is what's in the glass? If it's Diet Dr. Pepper or Scotch, half full, a good thing. If it's something yucky, like vegetable juice, let's call it empty and pour it out.

Anne – LOL! For me, it’s half full of chardonnay! Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?

Kaye - If any writer is reading this that doesn't have a writing friend, I hope you know that you are not alone. There are others like you. I'd advise you to seek them out either online or at home. The journey is easier with company. And persist. Persist well past the point where a sane person would quit. You are not sane. You are a writer. You are not like other people.

Anne - Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?

Kaye - My children and my grandchildren. I thought I was a free spirit in my late teens and early twenties. My goal was to have a career interpreting and to jet around the world. I didn't really want to get married because that would tie me down and my life would be nothing but dishes and laundry, or so I thought. If I got married at all, I didn't want kids, but would maybe want to end up marrying a diplomat or an ambassador. That was a good plan because I like to travel and like having lots of money. Instead, I got married to a fellow scholarship student during finals week. And those kids I didn't think I wanted? What would I do without them? I can't even imagine.

Anne - Where can readers find you online?

Kaye - At my website, my solo blog, and All Things Writing blog.

Anne – You’re giving away one ebook (international) and one paperback (US resident only) copy of CHOKE to two readers who leave a comment below. Do you have a specific question for them?

Kaye – I do. I think being a writer is great because I can try on lives I never lived. My life plan would probably have been fun, but I've learned that what happens, happens, and it doesn't happen according to my plans! Readers, do you have plans that never materialized? Are you still planning on fulfilling them someday? Or is it just as well they didn't happen and are you content to follow the path you carved, however unintentional and offbeat?

Anne –Thanks, Kaye, for dropping by and chatting. Just a quick reminder for readers, please include your email address, (Example: annekalbert AT gmail DOT com) with your comment. The winner of CHOKE will be selected at random and announced here on May 18.

Last, but not least, to ensure you receive every Anne K. Albert post, interview or giveaway, become a follower on either GFC (Google Friend Connection) or NetworkedBlogs. It’s as easy as a click of the mouse. Thank you, and until next time, happy reading!

* * *

ATTENTION READERS: My apologies for the problem, but Blogger is giving us grief today. If you try to leave a comment and cannot, please send me an email at annekalbert AT gmail DOT com and your name will automatically be added to Kaye's Giveaway Draw. Again my apologies... :(

Patricia Gligor's Mixed Messages

My guest today is Patricia Gligor. Patrica lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. She enjoys reading mystery/suspense novels, touring and photographing old houses and traveling, especially to the ocean to see lighthouses. She has worked as an administrative assistant, the sole proprietor of a resume writing service and the manager of a sporting goods department for a local retail chain but her passion has always been writing fiction. Mixed Messages is the first novel in her Malone Mystery Series.

Welcome, Patricia, I’m so glad you could drop by. Tell us about your most recent release.

Patricia - Anne, thanks for inviting me to be here today. Here’s the blurb from the back cover of Mixed Messages.

It is estimated there are at least twenty to thirty active serial killers in the United States at any given time. There’s one on the loose on the west side of Cincinnati.

It’s the week of Halloween and Ann Kern struggles with several issues. Her primary concern is her marriage which, like her west side neighborhood, is in jeopardy. Her husband is drinking heavily and his behavior toward her is erratic. One minute, he’s the kind, loving man she married and, the next minute, he’s cold and cruel.

Ann dismisses a psychic’s warning that she is in danger. But, when she receives a series of ominous biblical quotes, she grows nervous and suspicious of everyone, including her own husband.

As the bizarre and frightening events unfold, Ann discovers a handmade tombstone marked with her name, pushing her close to the edge. Will she be the Westwood Strangler’s next victim?

Anne – I’m already shaking, wondering what will happen. What a super blurb! Is there a message in Mixed Messages you want readers to grasp?

Patricia - That’s funny: a message in Mixed Messages, but yes, actually there is. In a word: hope. As we all know, the world we live in can be quite challenging at times and it’s very easy to get discouraged, frustrated and even depressed. The same thing applies to the fictional world in which my characters live. Not only do they have problems and obstacles to overcome, but they frequently find themselves in dangerous, even deadly, situations. Hope gives them (and us) a reason to persevere in even the worst of circumstances.

Anne - How long did your journey from wannabe writer to published author take?

Patricia - That depends on how far back we choose to go. I’ve wanted to be a published author since I was ten years old and saw my byline under the title of a poem I’d written for my Sunday school magazine. The idea for Mixed Messages came to me back in 1995 but I didn’t actually start to write the book until 2002. The reason it took me ten years from chapter one to published novel is that I didn’t make my career as a writer a priority. I let job, family, etc. get in the way of my dream. 

Anne - If you could just snap your fingers and go, where would you visit, return to, or move? Why?

Patrica - Mexico. I love the Latin American language, the culture, the people, the food, the music. In 2006, a friend and I went to Los Cabos on vacation. We stayed in Cabo San Lucas and visited San Jose, taking in all the sights of the two cities. I had so much fun practicing my Spanish when speaking with the locals. One day, we took a bus trip to Todos Santos and I fell in love with the picturesque town. It was the first time in my life that, when I came back from vacation, I felt homesick for the place I’d just left.

Anne – I love it when that happens. It’s a rare gift and says so much about the place you long to be. Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?

Patricia - I would say I’m a half-full kind of person. I think of myself as an optimistic realist. Having said that, I strive to be optimistic, but I don’t wear rose-colored glasses. In other words, I try to see things as they really are, but I’m always hopeful that everything will work out for the best. I have a deep faith and I draw strength from that.

Anne - What makes you cry? Laugh? Lose your temper?

Patricia - I lost my father last May and I miss him more than words can say. I’m not normally a crier but, when I hear certain songs or other things that remind me that he’s gone, I cry. Also, I get teary eyed when I see the commercials on TV for abused or abandoned animals. In fact, I can’t watch them; I flip the channel.

Laugh? So many things! I find humor all around me every day. I deliberately watch an upbeat, funny sitcom while I eat my dinner because I find it aids digestion a lot more than watching the news!

Me? Lose my temper? Actually, I find that I don’t lose my temper nearly as much as I used to. I think part of the reason is that, as I get older (not that I’m old!), I don’t react as strongly to slights or inconveniences as I once did. I realize that most people are doing about the best they can and, if they say or do something to upset me or make me angry, it’s usually a reflection on their state of mind, not on me. Of course, there are times when I get angry enough to lose my temper. For example, when I’m driving and someone comes close to slamming into my car because they’re talking on their cell phone and not paying attention, I have a few choice words for them!

Anne - Quick. Your five favorites – author, actor, movie, song, quote.

Patricia - Mary Higgins Clark, Harrison Ford, The Godfather, Hotel California by the Eagles, “Live the life you love. Love the life you live.” (Bob Marley)

Anne - Where can readers reach you online?

Patricia - I’m a member on several sites including Face Book, Booktown and She Writes and I have a blog, which I post to weekly. http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/

Readers can order a copy of Mixed Messages on my publisher’s website or at Amazon.com. 

Anne – Thank you so much for visiting today, Patricia.

A note to my wonderful readers: To ensure you receive future Anne K. Albert posts, interviews or giveaways, why not become a follower on either GFC (Google Friend Connection) or NetworkedBlogs? It’s as easy as a click of the mouse. Thank you, and as always, happy reading! 

* * *