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Welcome to my blog about life as a writer and the craziness it involves with struggles of daily life. Make yourself at home but only if you don't mind a little messiness from time to time. This isn't the Home and Garden blog or Martha Stewart so don't expect cute little crafts with homemade goodies. That's not happening in the world of vamps, weres, and other things that go bump in the night...well...maybe homemade blood cakes topped with 'scream a la cream' sweetness along with the sexy alpha males who serve it up.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Writer's Wednesday...Patricia Preston


Well, today on the blog, I like to welcome Patricia Preston.  Hello, Patricia!  *Waves and grins* Thank you for being my guest.  I'm so pleased for your visit.  Patricia writes charming historicals which will lure readers to enjoy true romance at it's finest.

Hey! Thanks for the invite, Kellie and I hope you enjoy my enticing answers to all your questions.

I'm sure I will along with everyone else.  So let's get this party started.

Ok, let's first talk a bit about your road to publication.  Was it a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?

Let me change the word, tiring, to painful and I’ll go with that. Or maybe that should be infuriating jog…or even laborious jog…how about nerve-wracking…I could go on all day.

LOL!  I understand.  With that being said, let's share a bit about your recent release, Almost An Outlaw, with everyone.

My novella, Almost An Outlaw, is a short, fun read that contains a tall, dark handsome rancher, a dazzling heroine, a few famous outlaws, a really bad guy, some steamy scenes and suspenseful moments. Amazon link: http://amzn.to/zjO9gL.  Get it while it is still a 4-star read!



What Reviewers Are Saying…


"ALMOST AN OUTLAW by Patricia Preston is a worthwhile read for an easy afternoon. A little spicy, a little sweet and overall delightful, this is a short story you won't be sorry you picked up."~Lisa Jo, Romance Reviews

Book Blurb:


Rancher Austin Cade rides into Liberty looking for his old comrades, the James-Younger gang. He needs their help tracking down the horse thief who's stolen his prized mare. In town, the former gunfighter is reunited with Darcy, the first girl he ever kissed—and never forgot.

Young widow Darcy Branson owns a shop full of fashionable ladies' attire, but continues to wear mourning black so she won't forget her role in her husband's death. Austin stirs a passion inside her that has long been dormant, but can Darcy learn to believe in Austin—and love—enough to let go of her tragic past?

Time is rapidly running out... As a cousin to Jesse James, Darcy has attracted unwanted attention, thanks to her rumored association with the gang. Soon Austin and Darcy are faced with confronting not only their growing desire, but danger in the form of a deadly bounty hunter...

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

April 1874 Liberty, Missouri

“I wouldn’t wait nine years on any man.” Darcy Branson spoke to Emma Nash as they stood in the fitting room of Darcy’s dress shop. The upcoming marriage of Darcy’s cousin, Jesse James, to his longtime sweetheart, Zee Mims, was the subject of speculation among those who knew about the secret wedding. Darcy thought nine years was an unreasonably long courtship.

Of course, there was a lot to be said for waiting. If she had waited that long before marrying Stephen, she might have learned the truth about her Prince Charming before it was too late.

“At least Zee isn’t going to end up an old maid like everyone thought,” Emma said.

Darcy nodded as she helped Emma try on a lovely gown of topaz silk faille. However, there were much worse things than being an old maid. Like being a vengeful wife who had gotten her husband murdered. That was, indeed, worse.

Emma smiled with excitement as she looked at her reflection in the cheval mirror. “I do love this dress,” she said. “I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”

“You owe me nothing.” Darcy smiled, happy that she could provide a pretty gown for Emma, who could not have afforded it otherwise. Some of the well-to-do old biddies in town said she was too generous toward the less fortunate. She didn’t think so. Generosity reaped its own reward. “Mister Caruthers will be completely smitten with you.”

Blushing at the mention of her beau’s name, Emma turned to Darcy. “Why don’t you wear that emerald gown you bought in Saint Louis to the wedding?”

“No.” She always wore black.

“It is time—”

“No.” It would never be time.

“Stephen has been dead for almost three years now. Long enough that no one would think ill of you if you put aside mourning colors.”

Darcy removed the tape measure that hung around her neck. She was a graduate of the San Francisco Academy for Young Ladies, where she had been taught good manners and social graces. She knew exactly what was and was not proper. She sighed. “The rules of etiquette change nothing.” They were only words in a book. “They can’t change what is inside me.” They couldn’t change what she had done. She splayed her hand over the waist of her black bodice. “Black suits me.”

The jingle of the bells attached to the front door of the shop came as a welcome diversion. She left Emma to admire herself in the mirror and went to wait on her customer. She stopped short when she saw the customer was a man. Rarely did a man enter her dress shop, only the occasional local business owner looking to buy his wife or sweetheart a gift. The tall, dark-haired man standing with his back to her as he looked at the ready-made frocks on display looked more like a gunman than a gentleman. A black duster fell from the wide span of his shoulders to his knee-high boots, and he held a center-dented black hat in his left hand. Men who dressed like him lived in the saddle. Uneasiness spread through her. The large bounty offered for her cousins, Frank and Jesse James, had brought a number of unsavory men into the town of Liberty. It was a dangerous time, especially for those connected to the outlaws. No one trusted outsiders.

The customer appeared particularly interested in the expensive emerald gown that Emma had suggested she wear to Jesse’s wedding. It was a lovely dress. One she had fallen in love with the moment she saw it in Saint Louis.

She squared her shoulders as she made her presence known. “May I help you?”

            ******************************************
I'm so intrigued by this gem of a story!  I love historicals and I am anxious to read Almost An Outlaw.  Thank you for sharing it with us and congratulations on the wonderful reviews as well!  Well, let's continue on with the interview, shall we?  Yes.  Good.  *rubs hands together and giggles*  Where is your favorite place to write?

In my writing room. It is the only place where I am surrounded by all my stuff. Research books, music, corkboard with notes pinned all over it. And, a magnolia coaster for my glass of sweet iced tea.

Sounds perfect to me.  I always love listening to all kinds of different music.  What music are you listening to lately?

I listen to a lot of soundtracks. It depends on the story I’m writing. It was old rock for The Yard Sale. Right now, it is bluegrass for Laid to Rest.

I love how a story can have its own soundtrack.  Speaking of stories, please tell us about your real life romance.

Well, I’ve been married three times. You know, I took this test in the new issue of Psychology Today and found out I am “single at heart”. Who knew?

Wow!  That's some interesting bit of information there.  If you could switch places with one of your characters would you?

Yeah. I’d switch places with the heroine in Lady Silver. Why? Because Nicole is living in the French Quarters and she has a rugged army captain infatuated with her. Of course, living in 1814 would have its drawbacks like no shampoo, no deodorant no penicillin. I’d probably end up with chronic head lice and strep.

What is your favorite dessert?

Hot fudge cake hands down. You can tell that from my big ass.

Ha.  That sounds like me too. I love hot fudge and I have the big ass to prove it, too.  LOL!
What is your favorite time of year?

Fall! I love the fall weather and, of course, the colors. I love deep reds, oranges and gold. October is my favorite month.

What vacation do you prefer?  Tropical or European vacation?

European. I don’t care anything about sunny beaches and getting skin cancer. I would love to go to France. I’d love to explore some castles and see quaint villages. Rick Staves has a dream job, don’t you think?

Ok, we have time for one last question.  Would you please tell us a little about your work in progress? 


Mamaw Pat is writing the funniest story ever! 
I am writing a series of humorous Southern short stories known as Down Home Humor. The first one, The Yard Sale, is about a gal who has lost her job, the bank has foreclosed on her house and her husband has run off with another woman. A shorter version of the story made the finals in several writing contests. I’m hoping to release the extended version in April. Following it will be Laid To Rest, a Southern comedy featuring Darlene Higginbottom (my Madea) and Lady Silver, a historical romance set in New Orleans.
I love Twitter and would love to have you follow me @pat_preston http://bit.ly/y0Ip80 and I also have an author page at Facebook. http://on.fb.me/ugF43b

You can check out my webpage at http://www.patricia-preston.com/. It will be undergoing an overall soon. And, my Welcome to Dixie blog is at http://www.patricia-preston.blogspot.com/

Thank you again for joining me today on the blog, Patricia!  Oh and thank you for providing the the pictures especially the cute picture of your grand babies with the quote, too!  I love it!  I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule. I can't wait to have you return for another visit.




12 comments:

  1. Nice to get to know you Patricia! The book sounds great :)

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  2. I have NEVER laughed out loud reading a blog interview...until now. Pat, that comment about head lice and strep was 'coffee-spewed-through-nose' funny. I'm so with you on that and no interest in beaches and the skin cancer comment. Two summers from a tanning bed left my too, too fair skin with spots that'll never go away. UGH!
    LOVED this interview and the excerpt. I love me some cowboys...and yes...every one of my books has its own distinct soundtrack.
    Will definitely look you up on Twitter and Facebook!
    Great interview ladies!
    Lori Leger

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  3. JD, thanks for having Patricia on your blog today. :)

    I've read Almost an Outlaw and I can tell you Austin is VERY sexy. Great novella, Patricia!

    Can't wait to read The Yard Sale! I've heard so much about it. Wishing you the greatest success!

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  4. Hey! I'm home a few minutes from work and I want to say thanks, gals for stopping by! Kellie, nice you stopped by! Lori, I'm just such a hoot sometimes. LOL! If you like funny, you will enjoy my short stories. Will keep you posted. To Kathy Bone, who looks 20, big hugs!! The Yard Sale has a Prince Charming.

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  5. Good to meet you here, Patricia. I'm a huge fan of historicals and yours sounds great. Not only that, it's set in Missouri, not all that many miles (ok--not all that many hours) away. Good luck with it--and with those Southern humorous stories, too.

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  6. Hi ladies,

    Thank you all for stopping by today to visit Patricia and I. It was definitely a blast to have her as my special guest. Patricia, you are such a delightful and funny lady. I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you again and please stop by anytime.

    Hugs,
    JD :)

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  7. Hi ladies,

    Thank you all for stopping by today to visit Patricia and I. It was definitely a blast to have her as my special guest. Patricia, you are such a delightful and funny lady. I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you again and please stop by anytime.

    Hugs,
    JD :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi ladies,

    Thank you all for stopping by today to visit Patricia and I. It was definitely a blast to have her as my special guest. Patricia, you are such a delightful and funny lady. I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you again and please stop by anytime.

    Hugs,
    JD :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi ladies,

    Thank you all for stopping by today to visit Patricia and I. It was definitely a blast to have her as my special guest. Patricia, you are such a delightful and funny lady. I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you again and please stop by anytime.

    Hugs,
    JD :)

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  10. Thanks for stopping by, Barb! Glad you took the time to comment. Thanks for having me, JD. It was a fun interview. Hey, I think your publish button went crazy.

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  11. LOL! I just noticed that. Sorry about that everyone. Yeah, great going there, 'smart' phone. LOL.

    Hugs,
    JD :)

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  12. If you think this post was funny, wait until you read "Laid to Rest"! You'll laugh so hard, you'll leak.

    And I love Almost an Outlaw...Austin is my dream man!

    ReplyDelete