Today I'm interviewing our very own Patricia Bradley about her new book, Standoff, Natchez Trace Park Rangers, Book 1. And she's giving away a copy of STANDOFF! (US addresses e-book for all others) Good to have you here, Patricia.
Thanks, Nancy. It's great to be here on the other side!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wasn’t one of those people who knew from pre-kindergarten that they wanted to be a writer. I was a reader. Still am. But around my 35th birthday, I got the writing bug when a man appeared in my imagination and told me his life wasn’t supposed to turn out like it had. He would leave me alone until I started writing about it, and then he disappeared. At least he left me with more ideas. 😼
I wasn’t one of those people who knew from pre-kindergarten that they wanted to be a writer. I was a reader. Still am. But around my 35th birthday, I got the writing bug when a man appeared in my imagination and told me his life wasn’t supposed to turn out like it had. He would leave me alone until I started writing about it, and then he disappeared. At least he left me with more ideas. 😼
How long does it take you to write a book?
From my first sketchy idea of a book to the end? About six months. Two to think about the plot and characters and three to actually sit down and write.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
When I finally sit down and actually start writing the book, I get up each morning by 5:30 or 6 and write until I have between two and three thousand words. Sometimes that takes four hours, but most of the time it takes all day.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
From my first sketchy idea of a book to the end? About six months. Two to think about the plot and characters and three to actually sit down and write.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
When I finally sit down and actually start writing the book, I get up each morning by 5:30 or 6 and write until I have between two and three thousand words. Sometimes that takes four hours, but most of the time it takes all day.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmmm. Let me get back to you on that.
How do you research your books?
How do you research your books?
Mostly the internet--Google is my best friend. And YouTube. Did you know there are videos that show you how to blow up something? I also like to ask experts in whatever field I'm writing about. For my cold case novels, I made friends with the Memphis Cold-Case Unit detective. For the Natchez Trace Park Rangers, I interviewed the chief ranger on the Natchez Trace Parkway. And I called a couple of rangers who worked the Trace.
For my last question: How many books have you written and which is your favorite.
For my last question: How many books have you written and which is your favorite.
That's two questions, and you know better than to ask which is my favorite. lol That's like asking which daughter is my favorite. I love each of them uniquely, and it's the same way with my books, which by the way, I have written (I actually have to stop and count) twelve. And three novellas.
But I really love this first Natchez Trace book. Let me tell you a little bit about it. This is from the back cover copy:John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?
STANDOFF releases May 5 and can be found at
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