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Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith including the award winning and bestselling FIRE AND ASH (TRR’s 2010 Best Inspirational winner, and CBD & Amazon Bestseller), KILL SHOT (A finalist in the 2011 Grace Awards, 2012 CAPA nominee, and CBD & ARE Bestseller ), TRESPASSES (2012 CAPA Award winner and CBD & ARE Bestseller), OUT OF THE DARKNESS (2015 EPIC finalist and CBD Bestseller), SECRETS (2015 Carolyn Readers' Choice Award finalist, ACRA 2015 Readers' Choice Heart of Excellence Winner, and Amazon Bestseller), and VENGEANCE (2016 IDA Award Winner & Finalist in CRW's Award of Excellence). She's a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Find Anne at on Facebook (www.facebook.com/anne.patrick.98), GoodReads (www.goodreads.com/AnnePatrick) and Twitter (@suspensebyanne). She loves to hear from her readers!
More than you probably want to know:
As a kid growing up in a rather boring neighborhood it was up to me and my friends to generate our own excitement, so when other kids were off playing with their dolls and army men we were out solving make believe crimes in the neighborhood. Each day was a new and exciting adventure with danger lurking around every corner. Then in high school I discovered the wonderful world of romantic suspense and I’ve been spinning stories every since. Hey, we can't all be normal...
More than you probably want to know:
As a kid growing up in a rather boring neighborhood it was up to me and my friends to generate our own excitement, so when other kids were off playing with their dolls and army men we were out solving make believe crimes in the neighborhood. Each day was a new and exciting adventure with danger lurking around every corner. Then in high school I discovered the wonderful world of romantic suspense and I’ve been spinning stories every since. Hey, we can't all be normal...
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I've been blessed with the awesome opportunity to participate in some short-term mission trips to Central America and Jamaica. The Lord showed and taught me so much on these trips. The people I served with and the ones I met on my journies have all been a great inspiration in my life. If you're ever given the opportunity to go on a mission trip, I highly recommend it. It's a life changer!
If you would like to read about some of my journeys into the mission field click here. |
Favorite Quotations
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~ Walt Disney
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." ~ Winston Churchill
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." ~ Helen Keller
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Some people exist just to annoy me!" ~ Garfield
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." ~ Winston Churchill
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." ~ Helen Keller
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Some people exist just to annoy me!" ~ Garfield
Questions from some of the interviews I've done.
How long have you been writing? As a kid I had a hunch I was either going to be a writer or an actor because I was always planning crazy adventures for me and my friends. After some encouraging from my mother, when I was a teenager, I began to write the adventures down. I didn’t get into as much trouble that way *grin* Later, I took a creative writing course and lucked out when I was placed with a teacher who was a multi-published mystery writer. She, like my mother, was very encouraging, so after completing the course I started submitting my work. A folder full of rejections later, I was finally published. Unfortunately, my mother had passed away by then, but she must have known it would happen because she’s the one who came up with my pen name.
When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
To land on the NY Times bestseller list of course. Hey, when I dream, I dream big. Just to be published is a dream come true, and to have over a dozen books contracted…well, let’s just say I feel very blessed. Honestly, the most important thing to me is for my readers to come away from one of my books feeling as though they not only went on an adventure, but that they were touched by it in some way. My books are suspenseful, but they also carry messages of hope.
How did you come up with ideas for your books?
My writing muse comes at me from many different directions: newspaper articles, dreams, while driving, walking the dog, or conversations with friends. Here’s an example; recently I was having lunch with friends and one of them was talking about the disappearance of some guy in a nearby state. Almost immediately I slipped into my zone. Then I hear one of my friends laughing and I look over and she’s handing me a pen and napkin. “Better write it down before you forget it,” she says. It’s scary how well they know me sometimes!
Which books on writing have been the most helpful to you and why?
Stephen King’s book On Writing. It’s straight forward and very inspirational.
When do you accomplish your best writing? I’m a night owl, so usually about the time most normal people are sound to sleep in their comfy beds I’m creeping along dark alleys either searching for a killer or looking for my next victim.
After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind? Music. Not only do I write by it, I can’t go to sleep without it. Now if it’s during the day, a long walk at the lake or a game of Frisbee with my German Shepherd, Zoe, usually does it.
Do you have a favorite author?
Hands down, it's Dee Henderson. Her O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes series are both awesome! She mixes just the right amount of suspense, romance and inspiration in her books. I want to write just like her when I grow up :-).
Why do you use a pen name? If you knew my last name you wouldn’t ask that question :-). Actually my mother came up with my pen name, Anne Patrick long before I was even published. She always knew it would happen someday. Thanks for always believing in me, Mom.
How do you get to know your characters? Sometimes they visit my dreams, other times I do character profiles. I’ll have a picture in my head of what they might look like so I’ll write out a description of them; I then add their characteristics and personality traits etc. I keep all of this in a character file that I can refer to as I’m writing their story.
What is your writing schedule and where do you write? Since I still have a day job, I write in the evenings and on weekends. And I can write just about anywhere. I’m never without a pad and pen. My most comfortable spot is a rocking chair. Bet you don’t know too many authors that rock and write at the same time :-).
Are you a plotter or a pantster? I’m a pantster and I love it! I’ve tried plotting out my stories in detail but it never worked for me. I’ll write a brief outline of how I think the story should go, but once my characters come to life I turn the wheel over to them and just hang on for dear life.
What's your biggest challenge when writing? Staying focused on WIP’s in the midst of promoting and editing other books under contract. It gives a whole new meaning to multi-tasking. But I love doing it!
Do you put yourself in your books? I think every writer offers a piece of themselves in everything they write. For instance, say you’re writing a scene where the character is hurting emotionally. In order to make the scene as believable as possible, a writer must draw on personal experience. Some dark valley that they’ve gone through, in order to express the feelings the character is going through at that moment.
Do you do a lot of research for your books? And if yes, how do you go about researching the information? I get my research from a variety of sources, including books and the internet. Just recently I learned how to work with abused horses and how to care for them by watching videos on YouTube. If possible, when dealing with a characters career, I try to find individuals in the line of work in which I’m writing about and interview them. Case in point, when I was working on Fire and Ash I enlisted the help of a fire investigator. His help was invaluable on many levels during the creative process.
If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one because I put my characters through so much I’m not sure I’d want to trade places with any of them. If I had to choose though, I would pick Maggie O’Brien. She’s the high spirited widow in my Inspirational Romance, Reservation for Two. Her zest for life and adventure is infectious. Maggie was inspired by a group of some very special ladies in my life. That’s why the book is dedicated to them.
Of the books you’ve written, which is your favorite and why? I really don’t have a favorite, but I did have more fun writing Reservations for Two than some of my others. Actually, it pretty much wrote itself…or should I say the characters did. God planted the idea Thanksgiving Day 2008 and by New Years Day the first draft was done. Nine months later, it had a home.
What piece of advice do you have for aspiring writers that you wished someone told you when you started?
Promoting your work is harder than the actual writing. I’m a shy person so that has been the most difficult part for me. But I’ve made some wonderful friends though the various author sites and yahoo groups. The most important thing is never give up! Keep writing and keep submitting your work.
Do you ever suffer writer’s block, if so how do you handle it? There is nothing more frustrating than pulling up a WIP on your laptop only to find out your writing muse has taken a hiatus. When this happens to me, I usually load Zoe (my German Shepherd) in the car and head for the lake for a hike. Like a lot of writers, I’m a people watcher, so meeting people on the trail or watching a group of campers usually gives my muse the kick in the rear it needs to get back to work. I’ve thought up some of the most bizarre scenes at the lake.
Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carryover into your characters or the plot of your books?
Hiking, fishing, camping, and I love to travel out of the country. Oh, and I also like to play video games. I’m a big Tomb Raider fan!
What is your favorite reality show?
I'm not a big fan of reality shows. About the only one I do watch, whenever I get the chance, is Duck Dynasty. I love the Robertson family, especially Jase!
Any other TV shows? How about movies? I like a lot of the crime shows. CSI, Bones, The Closure are some of my favorites. As far as movies go, I like most the Stephen King movies, Alfred Hitchcock movies, Hannibal, and the original Halloween. I also like romantic comedies. Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, French Kiss (can you tell I’m a big Meg Ryan fan *grin*), and The Family Stone. Although that one isn’t really a romantic comedy I don’t think. It's more of a family drama - but hilarious in most parts of the movie.
When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
To land on the NY Times bestseller list of course. Hey, when I dream, I dream big. Just to be published is a dream come true, and to have over a dozen books contracted…well, let’s just say I feel very blessed. Honestly, the most important thing to me is for my readers to come away from one of my books feeling as though they not only went on an adventure, but that they were touched by it in some way. My books are suspenseful, but they also carry messages of hope.
How did you come up with ideas for your books?
My writing muse comes at me from many different directions: newspaper articles, dreams, while driving, walking the dog, or conversations with friends. Here’s an example; recently I was having lunch with friends and one of them was talking about the disappearance of some guy in a nearby state. Almost immediately I slipped into my zone. Then I hear one of my friends laughing and I look over and she’s handing me a pen and napkin. “Better write it down before you forget it,” she says. It’s scary how well they know me sometimes!
Which books on writing have been the most helpful to you and why?
Stephen King’s book On Writing. It’s straight forward and very inspirational.
When do you accomplish your best writing? I’m a night owl, so usually about the time most normal people are sound to sleep in their comfy beds I’m creeping along dark alleys either searching for a killer or looking for my next victim.
After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind? Music. Not only do I write by it, I can’t go to sleep without it. Now if it’s during the day, a long walk at the lake or a game of Frisbee with my German Shepherd, Zoe, usually does it.
Do you have a favorite author?
Hands down, it's Dee Henderson. Her O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes series are both awesome! She mixes just the right amount of suspense, romance and inspiration in her books. I want to write just like her when I grow up :-).
Why do you use a pen name? If you knew my last name you wouldn’t ask that question :-). Actually my mother came up with my pen name, Anne Patrick long before I was even published. She always knew it would happen someday. Thanks for always believing in me, Mom.
How do you get to know your characters? Sometimes they visit my dreams, other times I do character profiles. I’ll have a picture in my head of what they might look like so I’ll write out a description of them; I then add their characteristics and personality traits etc. I keep all of this in a character file that I can refer to as I’m writing their story.
What is your writing schedule and where do you write? Since I still have a day job, I write in the evenings and on weekends. And I can write just about anywhere. I’m never without a pad and pen. My most comfortable spot is a rocking chair. Bet you don’t know too many authors that rock and write at the same time :-).
Are you a plotter or a pantster? I’m a pantster and I love it! I’ve tried plotting out my stories in detail but it never worked for me. I’ll write a brief outline of how I think the story should go, but once my characters come to life I turn the wheel over to them and just hang on for dear life.
What's your biggest challenge when writing? Staying focused on WIP’s in the midst of promoting and editing other books under contract. It gives a whole new meaning to multi-tasking. But I love doing it!
Do you put yourself in your books? I think every writer offers a piece of themselves in everything they write. For instance, say you’re writing a scene where the character is hurting emotionally. In order to make the scene as believable as possible, a writer must draw on personal experience. Some dark valley that they’ve gone through, in order to express the feelings the character is going through at that moment.
Do you do a lot of research for your books? And if yes, how do you go about researching the information? I get my research from a variety of sources, including books and the internet. Just recently I learned how to work with abused horses and how to care for them by watching videos on YouTube. If possible, when dealing with a characters career, I try to find individuals in the line of work in which I’m writing about and interview them. Case in point, when I was working on Fire and Ash I enlisted the help of a fire investigator. His help was invaluable on many levels during the creative process.
If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one because I put my characters through so much I’m not sure I’d want to trade places with any of them. If I had to choose though, I would pick Maggie O’Brien. She’s the high spirited widow in my Inspirational Romance, Reservation for Two. Her zest for life and adventure is infectious. Maggie was inspired by a group of some very special ladies in my life. That’s why the book is dedicated to them.
Of the books you’ve written, which is your favorite and why? I really don’t have a favorite, but I did have more fun writing Reservations for Two than some of my others. Actually, it pretty much wrote itself…or should I say the characters did. God planted the idea Thanksgiving Day 2008 and by New Years Day the first draft was done. Nine months later, it had a home.
What piece of advice do you have for aspiring writers that you wished someone told you when you started?
Promoting your work is harder than the actual writing. I’m a shy person so that has been the most difficult part for me. But I’ve made some wonderful friends though the various author sites and yahoo groups. The most important thing is never give up! Keep writing and keep submitting your work.
Do you ever suffer writer’s block, if so how do you handle it? There is nothing more frustrating than pulling up a WIP on your laptop only to find out your writing muse has taken a hiatus. When this happens to me, I usually load Zoe (my German Shepherd) in the car and head for the lake for a hike. Like a lot of writers, I’m a people watcher, so meeting people on the trail or watching a group of campers usually gives my muse the kick in the rear it needs to get back to work. I’ve thought up some of the most bizarre scenes at the lake.
Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carryover into your characters or the plot of your books?
Hiking, fishing, camping, and I love to travel out of the country. Oh, and I also like to play video games. I’m a big Tomb Raider fan!
What is your favorite reality show?
I'm not a big fan of reality shows. About the only one I do watch, whenever I get the chance, is Duck Dynasty. I love the Robertson family, especially Jase!
Any other TV shows? How about movies? I like a lot of the crime shows. CSI, Bones, The Closure are some of my favorites. As far as movies go, I like most the Stephen King movies, Alfred Hitchcock movies, Hannibal, and the original Halloween. I also like romantic comedies. Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, French Kiss (can you tell I’m a big Meg Ryan fan *grin*), and The Family Stone. Although that one isn’t really a romantic comedy I don’t think. It's more of a family drama - but hilarious in most parts of the movie.
