Bio: Best-selling
author Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful
songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in
1984. He spent the next 26 years as a worship leader, seminar speaker, and
pastor in churches, and at retreats, seminars and conferences all across the
western United States .
In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish
his Apple Creek Dreams series. The books are historical Amish fiction and include
A Quilt for Jenna, The Road Home, and Jenny’s Choice. A Quilt For Jenna is currently the #1 best seller in Amish Fiction
on Amazon. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles and the first book in
the series, The Amish Heiress, is published by P&J Publishing. Patrick
is represented by the Steve Laube Agency. Patrick and his wife Judy make their
home in Idaho
and are the parents of two adult children and have five grandchildren.
Welcome, Patrick. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
The characters in my books are a real amalgam of many parts
of my own personality. Writer, musician, farmer, outdoorsman, searcher… Each of
my characters does show something of my own personality.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Hmmmm. Well, that is a very interesting question. Since I
lived in San Francisco
in the 60s, I was involved in quite a few quirky things, maybe too many to
relate here. I once met Janis Joplin in the middle of a concert in the
Panhandle in Golden Gate
Park .
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I published my first article in the school paper when I was
seven years old. I got such positive feedback from my teacher, my parents and
my friends that I realized this was something I could do well. I’ve been
writing ever since.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I like romance, adventure, westerns, mysteries, sci-fi,
classic, paranormal…the whole gamut of books. I’ve read hundreds maybe
thousands of books in my life.
I’m sure I’ve read
several thousand. I’m a voracious reader, too. How do you keep your sanity in
our run, run, run world?
I moved from California to Idaho a year ago. My
wife and I live on a small acreage outside of Boise in the country. We go on trips to the
mountains, read a lot, spend time in our garden and visit our family.
Sounds wonderful. How
do you choose your characters’ names?
By chance. I have to be really careful. In my third book I
realized that I had three characters whose name began with a “J.” In The
Amish Heiress, my editor pointed out that I had three minor characters
named Jonas.
So you’re hooked on J’s. I was at one time. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Getting my first series, Apple Creek Dreams, published with
Harvest House.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A horse I guess. I suppose I read too much Zane Grey when I
was a boy.
I read a lot of Zane
Grey when I was a teen. What is your favorite food?
Steak and eggs.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Dialogue tags, I hate them. “He said, she said,” used to
drive me crazy when I wrote. It broke up the flow of the story completely. Now
I almost exclusively use action beats. I think there are two or three dialogue
tags in The Amish Heiress, but that’s all.
I so agree with you.
I use action tags, internal thought tags, and descriptive beats with almost no
tags. This help make every word add to the story. Tell us about the featured
book.
When I was writing the Apple Creek Dreams series, I was going to tell the
stories of Jerusha Springer, her adopted daughter, Jenny, and then Jenny's
daughter, Rachel. But I fell in love with the character of Jenny, and then
there were two books about Jenny where I had only planned on one. Now I finally
get to tell Rachel's story. It's a different kind of story, but then I'm not
exactly known in Amish circles as someone who writes a typical Amish novel. I
think that's because I read too many Zane Grey books when I was a kid.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Rachel, my darling girl, how can I tell of the joy you give me. In the dark days when we thought we had lost your papa, I was adrift in my grief but you were my ray of sunlight, and precious memories were bound into your very being. In all those years when Jonathan was gone, you were my rock, the one person I could turn to that always had an uplifting word or a loving gesture. I know your heart ached as mine did, but somehow you held yourself above the pain and were always there for me. And for such a long time, you were the one who believed your papa would come home someday.
Rachel, my darling girl, how can I tell of the joy you give me. In the dark days when we thought we had lost your papa, I was adrift in my grief but you were my ray of sunlight, and precious memories were bound into your very being. In all those years when Jonathan was gone, you were my rock, the one person I could turn to that always had an uplifting word or a loving gesture. I know your heart ached as mine did, but somehow you held yourself above the pain and were always there for me. And for such a long time, you were the one who believed your papa would come home someday.
That is why it
surprised me when it was so hard for you when your papa did come home. You were
fourteen, you were becoming a woman, and Jonathan had missed such a big part of
your life. You and your papa were at odds for a long time. I think that you had
finally reconciled yourself to Jonathan being dead – you had moved on. And then
when he came home, you had to learn that relationship all over again. We were
so close, the two of us and then there was another person in the house, a man
who in many ways was a stranger to us both, especially on his “bad” days. I
think you felt like he came between us. So when the opportunity came for you to
go, you were ready, too ready…
Rachel
– From The Journals of Jenny Hershberger
I like Amish books
that are outside the norm. I can hardly wait until your book arrives. How can
readers find you on the Internet?
www.patrickecraig.com
My Website
Where can readers purchase my books?
http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg
(Amazon)
http://www.patrickecraig.com/my-book-store/
My website
The Amish Heiress is available at my website and on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and GoodReads.
The Amish Heiress is available at my website and on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and GoodReads.
Thank you, Craig, for sharing this new book with us. I know my blog readers are glad to have found out about your books.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
28 comments:
I just read another amazing review for this book earlier today. Not that I needed any more convincing. This is a series I am very excited for.
Terrill from Washington State
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. Enjoyed the interview.
Brenda in VA.
Sounds like an out of the ordinary Amish fiction book & that intrigues me! Thanks for coming to share about yourself, I enjoyed the author interview!
Trixi in OR
Definitely interested in reading this.
-Melissa M. in TN
Looking forward to reading this book.Jackie Tessnair N.C.
Sounds like a good one!
Melanie Backus, TX
A fabulous post & first page thank you.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Wow sounds like a good read. I love Amish fiction! I live in Milwaukee,WI
I am familiar with Patrick Craig's books. I've read the Apple Creek Dreams series and loved them! I can't wait to read, The Amish Heiress. Winning a copy would be great!
I enjoyed the interview with Patrick.
Blessings!
Judy B from Indiana
I have enjoy Patrick Craig's books previously and found his way with words creates a delightful read. I am sure this will live up to his previous writing as well.
In North Carolina
I think I may have found a new Amish author. I would enjoy your books. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
this sounds interesting. I don't know that I've read Amish fiction from a male author. love to win thanks
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Sounds like a good read. kamundsen44(at)yahoo(dot)com. Kim
This book is getting rave reviews and I am very anxious to read it. Thanks for this interview and giveaway.
Blessings,
Connie from KY
I'd love to read this book! Love Amish reads!
Thanks,
Tammy from Texas
This looks like a good book - Angela from Florida
I am not familiar with this author but always looking for more male Christian novelists. I'd love to read his books.
Edward A in VA
Thanks so much for the introduction to Patrick Craig. I enjoyed the interview and would love to read The Amish Heiress.
Britney Adams, TX
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
I have heard of this author but not read any of his books yet. I am looking forward to reading this.mi very much enjoy reading Amish books.
Deanne from Pennsylvania
Cnnamongirl at aol dot com
I've been wanting to read some of Patrick's work, thank you for a chance to win a copy of one of his books.
Wendy from FL
wfnren at aol dot com
I am looking forward to reading "THE AMISH HEIRESS.Thank you for the opportunity to win.PA.
Hello Patrick. your book sounds like it will really be good. I would love to win it. Thanks to you and Lena for the chance to do that. Maxie (TX) > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Enter me.
Blanch, NC
Looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for the chance to win. Lourdes in Long Island, NY
Cool. North Platte Nebraska.
I have read all of Patrick Craig's other books and am anxious to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win this!
Beth from IA
Thank you all for your encouraging comments. I've been on vacation so i missed interacting with you all, but I'm very gratified by the response. Blessings.
Patrick E. Craig
Post a Comment