Let's welcome author Jessica Patch! Jessica has graciously offered to give away a copy of her new Love Inspired Suspense, Fatal Reunion! Post a comment to be entered to win!
SS: What genre do you write and why? I write romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
I’ve always loved romance and falling in love, so naturally it’s going to be in all my books. And I find that the greatest love is the love of Jesus. It’s a Divine romance of pursuing so I can’t help but weave that through the pages. I also write suspense because I love a good mystery (I tend to write more of a whodunit) and my main message is always hope. The world is full of evil and horrific things. When I write suspense, I have the opportunity to show love, grace, mercy, and the opportunity to rise above frightening circumstances and find hope in all that darkness.
SS: Tell us about your current release. Protective Duty is my 2nd Love Inspired Suspense and it follows Eric Hale, who was a minor character in Fatal Reunion, and FBI agent Bryn Eastman. They’re working to solve a serial murder case in Memphis, TN. It’s a little tense since they were once a couple until a tragedy ripped them apart, not to mention the killer sets his sights on Bryn. I love a reunion romance!
SS: Where did you get the idea for this book? Good question. As I wrote Fatal Reunion, Eric Hale was written for comedic relief but as the story unfolded, he let me know that he had a story to tell. So…I guess it came from my fictional character. Ha!
SS: Tell us about your main character. Bryn Eastman, is my heroine. She was once a swimmer with dreams to be a swim coach but a terrible event put her on a new path and she’s now an FBI agent specializing in victimology. She’s strong and brave, but vulnerable and trying to reconcile everything she’s been through in the last eight years. Eric Hale is a homicide detective for the Memphis Police Department. Eric is funny, brave, protective, and an all-around good guy. He hates how he and Bryn left each other but there really isn’t any way they can be together after what happened. So he’s just been getting by so to speak.
SS: Is there a spiritual message in your book? If so, what is it? The spiritual message of this book is: Sometimes our purpose is born from our greatest tragedies.
SS: What are you working on now? I am about to start the final edits for my 3rd Love Inspired Suspense (Concealed Identity), polish a proposal for another series with Love Inspired, and I’m going to begin a romantic comedy for a collection coming out in the spring. I’m staying busy! But I love it.
SS: Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I once sort of cheated on my husband during church. Ha! During prayer, our pastor asked us to pray with our spouses, so leaving my eyes closed, I scooted up on my knees, wrapped my arms around his neck and with my lips against his neck began to pray. It was then I realized, he didn’t smell or feel the same…I wasn’t latched on to my husband but the man who had just been released from prison (if I’m lying I’m dying) and was trying out church for the first time. My husband invited him to sit with us and then during altar time, my husband quietly went to pray. I had no idea! I didn’t know what to do, so I finished the prayer! Yes, I did! Then sat down humiliated.
2. I once crashed into a cop car in the turn lane, shattering his window all over him so he couldn’t get out. I didn’t get a ticket because technically it was his fault. The people gawking were wild.
3. I don’t like getting flowers. I know, I know. Flowers are romantic and I write romance but I’d rather have the cash. Isn’t that terrible?
SS: Where can readers find you on the Internet? I’m always on Facebook, Instagram, @jessicarpatch on twitter and of course my website.
SS: Anything else you’d like to share with us? I’d love for you to subscribe to my newsletter Patched In. I only share book-related news, sometimes FREE books, and I never give out your email address. Subscribe on my website to the Patched In.
Great to meet you here Jessica. The three things did surprise & had me laughing too.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Great to meet you too, Mary! Thanks for entering!
DeleteLove a good suspense. cheetahthecat1986(AT)gmail(DOT)com
ReplyDeleteMe too! Thanks for entering!
DeleteThanks for sharing. I think I would be embarrassed to hit a cop too. centraleast2 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteIt was defintely embarrassing to say to the least! Thanks for entering!
DeleteI enjoyed getting to know Jessica and would love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteYour three things had me laughing. I also don't like getting flowers.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
I'm glad you had a good laugh, Maryann. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't want to get flowers. Thanks for entering!
DeleteJessica, thanks for introducing us to your blend of romance and suspense, and for offering a copy of your book. I'd love to know what the man sitting next to you in church thought--did he come back, did he expect the same treatment the next time? That's got to be included in a book at some point.
ReplyDeleteHi Richard!
DeleteMy husband told me that after church I HAD to explain to the man what happened. So when it was over I told him what happened and he just smiled and said, "It's okay." To which my husband muttered on the way out, "I bet it was." LOL But he did come back to church a few times after that!
I love suspense and a spiritual note adds to it. I love your three things especially the church incident!
ReplyDeletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Gail! And thanks for entering!
DeleteLooking forward to a new read! Thank, Kristie
ReplyDeletetklovenestataoldotcom
Yay!Thanks for entering!
DeleteThanks for this introduction and for sharing the fun things that have happened to you. I also wondered if the gentleman thought this was definitely the church for him or if he "ran for the hills"?
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
He didn't run for the hills. He also didn't ask for my number. LOL I explained the rest of the story on Richard Mabry's comment! :) Thanks for entering.
DeleteI really don't like getting flowers either. I would rather get a book any day.
ReplyDeleteThereadmaster@me.com
Yes! A book or cash to buy books! :) Thanks for entering.
DeleteWow, what a story about "cheating" at church, Jessica! I laughed so hard! :) I'm also wondering what happened to that guy who was visiting--if he came back after that. Thanks for sharing your story and your calling to write for the Lord.
ReplyDeleteHappy to share. I wrote a full blog about it a couple of years ago. I finished what happened up in the comments on Richard Mabry's comment. He did come back! He did not sit by me. LOL
DeleteForgot to leave my email for the giveaway: jerusha(at)SDGwords(dot)com
ReplyDeleteJessica, you certainly gave me a good laugh in reading about the church incident! I think I would have just died! Thanks for the giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[com]
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got a good laugh. I was on staff at the church at the time so I told them all about it in staff meeting...I reminded them I was following our church vision 100%...LOVE. CONNECT. IMPACT. Bah! They got a good laugh too. Thanks for entering.
DeleteI don't want flowers either. Our cats pull them out of the vase!
ReplyDeleteMartha T. @ CRPrairie1(@)imonmail(dot)com
They do? That's funny! Only flowers cost good money. :) Thanks for entering.
DeleteEnjoyable interview. Would really enjoy reading your book. Thanks for sharing your memorable moments. I do enjoy flowers, but usually get them out of my garden.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
It was fun to share. I just moved to a house full of flowers and I've been enjoying the fresh cuttings on my dining table! Thanks for entering.
DeleteEnjoyable interview. Would really enjoy reading your book. Thanks for sharing your memorable moments. I do enjoy flowers, but usually get them out of my garden.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Enjoyed the interview. Love to learn about new authors (to me). Would love to read the book.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha! Jessica, your church story was hysterical! No wonder your books have such great humor entwined through the plot.
ReplyDelete:) Thank you, Marji!
DeleteI love the unusual events you shared with us. That made my day. Put me in the drawing: lill dot kohler at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lill. I'm so glad you got a good kick out of it. Thank you for entering!
DeleteI've heard so many wonderful things about this book, I can't wait to read it for myself!! alander87 at allcom dot net
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your books!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love your books, from your comments about the Great Romance, mystery and divine-centered insights. Also, who can resist someone honest enough to share 3 private but red-faced moments!
ReplyDeleteJanice
pjrcmoore@windstream.net
Jessica, I enjoyed your interview. I laughed so hard at your church story, I am sure you gave that gentleman the surprise of his life : ) I would love to read your books, who doesn't love a little romance.
ReplyDeleteStacy Simmons stacy.t.simmons@gmail.com
This is really nice having a new author added to my list of books an also having a chance to make it double being a lucky person that will win one of her books on top of it. I love reading all kinds of books then the best job is doing a review on it for her an letting others know what a great book she has written. thank you for this chance.
ReplyDeleteKaren at khsmith97217@yahoo.com
Somehow the prayer doesn't surprise me. ;-) Can't wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. I really don't like getting flowers, either. Not because I'd rather have the cash (which WOULD be nice), but because they die. I'd rather receive fake flowers that last forever....and that I can use in my crafting down the road. The book sounds very good.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com