Welcome back, Patricia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. My characters are taken from personalities of people I know. For this release, The Descendant’s Daughter, my characters are based on real people who lived more than two hundred years ago. I imagined how my family ancestors might have lived and what their lives may have been like. Though my family history is rich with tales of adventure and amazing incidents, the individual day-to-day living components were missing. I researched what life might have been like in their time period, historical events that may have affected them, and how they may have reacted to their surroundings. My great-great-great-grandmother lived where runaway slaves arrived in increasing numbers and slave hunters came behind them. There’s no indication she played a role in that, but as she was the daughter of a Puritan minister I can’t imagine her not having some exposure. So I added that element to the story. Fiction allows that.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done? Early in our marriage, my husband and I decided
to spend the summer tent camping around our state. One weekend we wound up at
The second night we stopped at an off-the-road site with a fire pit and little else. We cooked our dinner and popped Jiffy-Pop corn over the flames. We took a box of crackers with us into the tent to snack on by flashlight. In the middle of the night, a storm woke us and we heard the noise of an animal rooting around outside. We immediately thought bears since we’d been conditioned to watch for them the night before.
We didn’t know what to do. We had the crackers which we knew the animal could probably smell. We were ready to toss the crackers and run for our car when a lightning flash revealed the shadows of three deer. The next morning we discovered the jiffy-pop container licked clean and deer scat on the ground. Forty years later, we’re still laughing at how frightened we were of an imagined bear sighting.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? Actually it was the encouragement of a first grade teacher that planted the seed in me to pursue writing. She thought my simple twenty-five word paragraph was remarkable for a child my age. Since then I’ve always written something—but not everything was worth reading.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I love to read contemporary fiction as well as historical tales and biblical fiction. I’m a fan of Deb Raney, Melanie Campbell, Camille Eide and Lauraine Snelling. I love historical stories by Laura Frantz, Elizabeth Camden, Lynn Austin, Karen Barnett, and Sarah Sundin. These authors write a wide range of novels. I enjoy being transported to another time and place through the means of story. My most recently read novel is Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Last year, 2020, was a difficult year for all of us. Staying ahead of the virus, keeping hopeful in the wake of endless isolation, and continuing to pursue my writing efforts became a venture in faith. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I often found myself on the edge of despair, fighting to keep my spirits up. My creative muse slowed to a standstill several times, but the time I spent in Bible study and prayer kept me going. Our Lord is an ever present help in times of trouble.
Yes, He is. How do
you choose your characters’ names? For
this release I used the family names of the historical characters. These were
real people and much of what I tell is based on the lives they lived. For the
contemporary characters, I chose names based on their personalities, trying to
mirror the players in the historical section of the book.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? My husband and I have been married 46 years this July. In this world of throwaway relationships, I consider that an achievement. We’ve had many challenges thrown at us and we survived the storm.
I understand that. James and I will celebrate our 56th anniversary in November. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Cats have it made. They sleep when they want, get their food served to them, and pick and choose who or what will entertain them at any given moment. A king on his throne couldn’t have it any better.
What is your favorite food? Dutch Brothers makes a blended iced coffee drink that I never refuse. I’ll order one of those before I even consider ice cream, cake, or garlic beef enchiladas. And that is saying something.
I love enchiladas, almost any kind, but I’ve never had them with garlic. I need to try that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Research often takes me down rabbit trails which may be interesting, but they can be of very little merit to the story I’m trying to tell. I have to focus on the direction of the novel and discard a lot of information I cannot use. When I find I’ve strayed off the beaten path I make the painful decision to cut and discard to put the story back on track.
Tell us about the featured book. The Descendant’s Daughter is a timeslip novel based on a true family story. I’d heard the tales of my great-great-great-grandfather while I was growing up but it wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I realized what a great accomplishment it was to cross the prairie three times to homestead in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He must have been quite a rugged individual to ride a horse from
In this story I imagine a twenty-first century heroine who is a descendant of his. But her story is one of surprise when she learns who she is. Here’s a sample of what to expect:
Halle Jayne Murphy can’t imagine change.
She loves her career. She shares an apartment with her best friend. She’s happy.
She has lived an idyllic life in
But one Sunday while she’s working, her mother slips at
church and falls, the head injury claiming her life. At the memorial service,
the pastor presents an envelope of documents that he says will rock
Garrett James has studied the life and adventures of his
great-great-grandfather
Will this pixie of a girl allow him to look for answers or has he stumbled upon a greater treasure?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
The candles flickered in the drafty chapel as bits of light danced on the brass trappings of the coffin waiting at the front. Detailed insets of painted carnations adorned the casket, cheery flowers in hues of champagne, cotton candy, and peppermint taffy—colors indicative of the dynamic woman who had chosen this for her home going. The pink embossed steel container seemed more fitting for a praise service, as if death had not visited this room.
But it had, and the contradiction mystified Halle Jayne Murphy. She sat alone on the family pew, sorrow contained behind huge gulps of air and empty swallows, her late mother the one she mourned. A packet of papers lay on the pew beside her, their contents unknown. Pastor said he’d be back to explain. She didn’t want to know.
As her roommate, Piper Flanagan, and other mourners passed by and exited the memorial service, they glanced sideways at her with nods and sympathetic smiles. Piper cast an upraised eyebrow her direction, as if to ask, “You okay?”
Shock, disbelief, and despair still warred inside her since her mother’s accidental death last Sunday. How could one so full of life suddenly be gone, slipping on a wet step and tumbling to the concrete sidewalk at church? The cement stair rail stopped her freefall, but not before her head smashed the immovable post. By the time the paramedics arrived, the massive hematoma inside her skull had claimed the life for which the rest of her body fought.
Halle had been working Sunday, her job as a docent in San
Francisco’s lineup of museum tours keeping her away from church more often than
her mother liked. Leaving Mom to attend church alone after Dad died always
riddled her with guilt. Mom would have welcomed her company, the two remaining
Murphys facing the world together. But as the newest docent,
Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook: @patricialeebooks
Twitter: @lee_patricia__
Website: www.authorpatricialee.net
E-mail: patricialeewrites@earthlink.net
Pinterest:@corneliushills
Newsletter: Come Chat with Pat (recipes, giveaways, book promos, inspirational thoughts)
http://authorpatricialee.net/mailing-list/
Thank you, Patricia,
for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read my
copy, which arrived a few days ago.
Readers,
here are links to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us
where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the
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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.
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16 comments:
I was hoping to see a definition of a "time-slip" novel. Is it a plot that has the main character(s) traveling back and forth in time?
Lee Carver:
Time slip usually involves two separate timelines, one from the past and one in the present, that are connected by a physical object. . .like a diary, a piece of jewelry, or in the case of my novel, a house.
Characters from history live within their time frame and the contemporary characters function in theirs. No character goes back and forth. That is called time travel, I believe.
Hope that helps.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Sounds like a book I would thoroughly enjoy!
Melanie Backus, TX
A captivating and wonderful novel which is a real treasure. I enjoy time slip novels since they are unforgettable and meaningful. Thanks. Anne in NM.
I enjoyed learning about this historical and the author's writing and background. Impressive story and memorable. Pearl- NM.
I love books like this. There's something about a good Historical book that catches my attention and intrigues me. This book sounds and looks like a fantastic read. Love the book cover and excerpt. Would love t read and review this book in print format.
Love the story line of this book.
Look forward to reading this book and getting to know the author and their books better.
Hope I Win.
Crystal from Bruin, PA in the USA
Sharon , you are entered in the giveaway.
Melanie Backus, I'd love to hear what you think of the story when you finish it.
Anne in NM: I'm a fan of time slip, too. There are so many good ones out there.
Pearl, thanks for stopping by. I'd love to know what you think.
Crystal, I accepted your request this morning. Great to have you on my list of readers.
I couldn't post on each one. Something about the computer didn't let me. But I left a message here for each of you.
Thanks all, Pat
Sounds like such a great book please enter me in the giveaway Thank you Sarah T. from Ohio
This looks really good!
Abigail in VA
This sounds really good. I need to check it out!
Jan in Pennsylvania
Time slip is one of my favorite genres. Thank you for the wonderful chance. Blessings from WV.
Sarah T from Ohio: You are entered in the giveaway. Good luck!
Abigail from VA: Let me know what you think of the story. I love to hear from my readers.
Jan in Pennsylvania: I hope you enjoy the story. Let me know your thoughts.
Lucy in WV: I'm a time slip fan myself. And there are so many to choose from.
Thanks all, Pat Lee
Historical Christian fiction is my favorite genre to read, and I really enjoy reading time slip stories! The Descendant’s Daughter sounds so intriguing! I started reading the sample of it on Amazon...and I'm hooked! Thank you for a chance to win a copy of this book!!
Alison Boss from MI
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
I hope you enjoy it, Alison. There will be a second installment soon. Watch for that as well.
Sorry, I just noticed a typo in my email address.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
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