Sunday, May 17, 2009

Patti Lacy - WHAT THE BAYOU SAW - Free Book

Welcome, Patti. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Lena, I’m passionate about sharing the secrets women keep and why they keep them. And ever since I read People and Places, a primer my great aunt used when she taught teach third grade, I’ve dreamed of sailing away to exotic countries. Now you see why the tagline “Spanning Seas and Secrets” fits me like a girdle!
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
When I gave birth to each of my children. My daughter, born December 22, was an early Christmas present, and also an early bird. I held the delicate little doll so close and sang her my favorite carols. Songs about the Holy Infant pierced my soul, and I saw Him in a wonderfully different way! My precious son was born March 13 and was an early birthday present. Because of his blue eyes, I sang “Baby Blue” to him. Even though he was a newborn, his gaze fixed on me, and I fell in love…forever.

How has being published changed your life?
Because of book signings, library appearances, and guest speaking, I have opportunities to share “all my broken pieces” with more people. In each book I write, I try to show, kaleidoscope-style, how God can make a lovely, unique piece of art with shards of glass and bits of metal. He can do the same with us if we give all those pieces to Him.

That is so true. What are you reading right now?
Jill Eileen Smith’s Michal. I just finished The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner and End of the Season by Linore Rose Burkard. Also Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth. Another great book for the summer will be Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana, by Melanie Dobson (I got a sneak peak at this one!) As you can see, I’m an avid reader and truly believe that every good book I read teaches me something about the writing craft. Books have been my friends since I was five, and oh, I have so many friends now! They’ve taken me around the world, gotten me in awful fixes and into some lovely times. Oops! Back to the question. Shape of Mercy helped with dialogue and tightening a framed story. Linore had great flow and control. Mary got me into the heart of a young teenaged boy (not easy!) Melanie has captured the fear of oppressed people. Great job, writers!

What is your current work in progress?
My Name is Sheba. Here’s the tag line: Preacher’s wife Sheila Alexander loves a husband who doesn’t know her and a son she never knew. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a young soldier and a prostitute, and threatens to expose her deceptive ways. I’ve been to New Orleans and St. Paul and Thailand with this book, the latter two, only in my imagination and through those best friends, books! Thank you, Sandy Sperrazza, for your willingness to share this story. I’m actually going through a second edit to add “visceral reactions” and “tighten the POV.” Those are my “areas of learning” right now!

What would be your dream vacation?
Right now, China, scene of my next work in progress. My husband and I also yearn to plod the cobblestones of Italy and be steered along the waters of the grand canals in Venice before they sink in the ocean. I’ve also heard of a place, Cinque Terre, where five villages nestle in green rolling hills, all in view of an azure sea. Sigh…maybe one day…

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Setting becomes a character in my book and pulses in the lifeblood of the other characters. In My Name is Sheba, my bold little twelve-year-old skips through the noisy farmers markets, ducks into the seedy alleys, and stands behind the artists at their easels in 1940s New Orleans. I usually hear a story that inspires me, like Sandy Sperrazza and her time in a Home for Unwed Mothers in St. Paul, Minnesota, then research that area through either visits, books, or lots of interviews with the inspirer.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Besides family and friends, I’d say Billy Graham, who has led so many to the Lord through the Holy Spirit’s work. In My Name is Sheba, I seize upon a historical appearance Graham made in Chicago to include him in my main character’s conversion. If things really went well, his daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, one of my favorite writers, might be seated across the table!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Since an old boyfriend introduced me to jogging in college, I’ve loved to clear my mind and move my stiff limbs by running. It’s a cheap—and easy—way to exercise my dog, Laura, who is used to sitting for hours while I pound away at the keyboard. My family also looks forward to vacation times, when we can hike the national parks. Sarah, my daughter, just returned from her second mission trip to Costa Rica, and she wants to gather us up and take us there soon. We all have been bitten by the travel bug!

I love to travel, too. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Adding emotion and visceral feeling to my work! Also, unlike many of my ACFW friends, I tend to write slowly, so my day starts at five a.m. to get my set number of daily pages behind me.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Read, read, read, and write for the Audience of One.

Tell us about the featured book.
Since leaving Louisiana, Sally Stevens (of An Irishwoman’s Tale) has held her childhood secrets at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband Sam, has heard the truth about what happened to her when she was twelve years old.
Now a teacher in Illinois, Sally has nearly forgotten the past herself. But when one of her students is violently attacked, Sally’s memories of segregation, a chain link fence, and a blood oath bubble to the surface like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally’s story comes to light, the lies she’s told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last—whatever the consequences.
I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Oh, I’d love to have you visit http://www.pattilacy.com/! I host monthly contests for a $15 Barnes & Noble card and post book reviews of some of ACFW’s latest good reads.
Thanks, Lena, for hosting me today! Happy writing—and reading!
And thank you, Patti, for spending this enjoyable time with us.
Readers, here's a link where you can order What the Bayou Saw:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The winner announcement post on this blog will be the only notification you'll receive. So be sure to check back a in two weeks to see if you won. Or you can sign up for Feedblitz at the top of the other column, and all the posts will come into your Inbox.
If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

18 comments:

Carlene said...

I have read several great reviews on this book and it is on my wishlist. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net

Anonymous said...

I, too, have great reviews on this book, plus I read an excerpt. Sounds VERY mysterious and thrilling.
Please include me in your contest.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

windycindy said...

Happy Sunday! I very much enjoyed her book, An Irishwoman's Tale!
I know this book would be enjoyable to read, also. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

CarlybirdH said...

I have heard such great things about this book. Please enter my name in the drawing. Thank you.
carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

Patti Lacy said...

Carlene, Desert Rose, and Carly, thanks SO MUCH for reading those reviews and staying up on CBA releases! You mean the world to ALL of us writers! Cindi, glory to God that you "got" the message of An Irishwoman's Tale.

Happy reading for all of y'all!
Patti

Jo said...

I have read some great reviews on this book. Would love to read it. Please enter me in the drawing.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Sheila Deeth said...

Your books sounds fascinating. I like your advice to write for an Audience of One. And I like the idea of putting the broken pieces together in a book.

Carole said...

Although An Irishwoman's Tale is the only book I've read so far, I am drawn to Patti's writing. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of What the Bayou Saw.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Megan said...

Patti! I'm reading your copy of an Irishwoman's Tale, that I won, and I love it! You are very gifted! I love to travel as well.

And I also love the "Love Finds you..." series, I finished Humble, Texas. So cute!

Please sign me up for this book as well!

megan.nadalet at gmail dot com

Helga Marie Bee said...

I loved Irishwoman's Take, and would love to read this one as well... please count me in
QallieQ[at]gmail[dot]com

Patti Lacy said...

Jo, thanks for your encouragement!
Sheila, the problem with my platform of the Audience of One is God keeps reminding me to take my own advice. Life's definitely a journey, isn't it?

Carole, Megan, and Helga Marie, I'm humbled that An Irishwoman's Tale found its way into your hands, especially with so many choices out there today!

Sigh, so many books, so little time...All we can do is read on!

Laura in Texas said...

The brief synopsis makes the book sound fascinating. I'd sure love to win a copy. lauramctx at yahoo.com.

Patti Lacy said...

Howdy, Laura in Texas!
This winter, the DFW, San Antonio, and Corpus hosted this Southern transplant!
Love our weather, though, THIStime of year!

Thanks for the encouragement!
Patti

Marla said...

This book sounds very good. Would love to win. Thank you so much for the contest.

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Patti Lacy said...

Thanks, Marla. The cover drew me in from the moment I opened the computer file and stared at the precious little girl faces.

Blessings,
Patti

peachykath said...

This book sounds really good and I would love a chance to read it. Please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks,
Katherine

peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

Norma said...

Sounds interesting - please enter me.

Patti Lacy said...

Thanks for stopping by, Peachy kath and Norma! Hope you found lots of potential reads on this great blog!
Patti