Pat Spencer. The Person
In this week's Feature Friday blog, I have the pleasure of introducing to you an amazing author who writes with passion, dedication and is such an inspiration, I had to share her amazing journey!
Pat was born in Tampa, Florida and has been married for over 50 years! She and her husband have a son and a granddaughter. She expresses being with them is one of the greatest joys of her life.
We all have hobbies and Pat is no different. Other than reading and writing, she enjoys playing golf, walking the beach, cooking with her granddaughter, attending book clubs and writing groups, and hanging out with family and friends.
In this interview you can expect questions and answers that are lighthearted, inspiring, thoughtful and most of all fun! Let's dig in, shall we?
Childhood Inspiration
1. Pat, can you share a childhood memory that ignited your love for storytelling?
Pat: "Campfire Girls provided my first experiences with the fun of good storytelling. Of course, we each tried to tell a tale that was more terrifying than the previous girl’s. The more shivering and squealing we could elicit, the more fun we had, and the more one’s reputation as a storyteller soared."
Journey as a Writer
2. Oh, that sounds adorable... and horrifying, lol. How long have you been creating magic with a pen (or in modern times, a laptop, lol)?
Pat: "I began writing professionally in the early 1980s, but I have always loved writing. As child, I was the student who was overjoyed when the teachers assigned research or term papers. I guess that makes me a nerd."
Writing Process
3. Not at all, Pat! You just had so much creative energy that it spilled over into your schoolwork. Now, what does your writing process look like? Any quirky habits?
Pat: "I write every day. I feel a bit unhinged, like something is terribly amiss, if I go more than two days without writing."
Alternate Career Path
4. If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
Pat: "If I weren’t a writer, I’d do more charity work and read more. And I would probably exercise and play golf more, cook more, and maybe even do a better job of cleaning my townhouse (or not)."
Sources of Inspiration
5. Haha! Yes, been there, still there, lol. Tell me, Pat. What’s the most unusual place you’ve found inspiration for a story?
Pat: "I find my inspiration in my daily life and in that of others. When I was writing only nonfiction, my work centered on my career. While teaching Cosmetology at Riverside Community College, I wrote about fashion, beauty, and women’s issues. I was fortunate that two magazines and a local newspaper published everything I wrote. Now that I write mostly fiction, my inspiration still comes from real life, generally a combination of my life experiences and research."
Writing Challenges
6. That's awesome! So, what's the most challenging part of writing a book for you?
Pat: "The most challenging part for me is that authors are now expected to do their own marketing and that requires using the new technologies to create appealing social media posts, colorful and clever advertisements, trailers, videos, etc. Unfortunately, I have technophobia. My process of developing these materials includes sweating profusely, biting my nails, cursing at my laptop, then finishing the process off with a glass of wine."
Favorite Moments
7. Lol, I know exactly what you mean, Pat. It can get hella frustrating at times. On a more bookish note, do you have a favorite scene or chapter in your upcoming or latest book? Why is it your favorite?
Pat: "Picking a favorite is hard because the characters in my books always surprise me with what they think and do! However, the stories Eshile tells throughout the Sticks in a Bundle trilogy pull at my heartstrings, and she is never far from my mind. In Book I, The Early Years, Eshile promises the ancestors that she will always keep her younger sister safe. But she is a child herself, so that’s not as easy as it sounds. Just thinking about her efforts causes me to either smile or tear up."
Life Beyond Writing
8. Yeah, reading Sticks in a Bundle had me tearing up at times. Eshile's life was hard, but she was also an inspiration and the definition of strength to me. What’s a day in your life like when you’re not writing?
Pat: "A wasted day!"
Title Selection
9. Short, sweet, and true... at least for us authors anyway. How do you choose the titles for your books?
Pat: "Titles usually come to me as a part of the inciting incident. The deep dive into the emotional core of the story usually reveals what the title needs to be."
Future Projects
10. What’s next for you? Are you working on any new projects or books?
Pat: "I hope to release The Unfortunate Conversation in the winter of 2025. Here’s what it is about":
On a desperate winter night in 1938, Isabelle, an emotionally overwhelmed fifteen-year-old, abandons the moral code by which her parents raised her. When the swole of her belly reveals what she’s done, her father, the Very Reverend Patrick Maguire of Galway’s Collegiate church of St. Nicholas, banishes her to the infamous Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home.
Her father’s rejection leads Isabelle to run away in search of the American couple who purchased her child from the nuns, and a life in which she won’t be judged by her past mistakes. Grand adventure or catastrophic mistake? That is yet to be told. The Unfortunate Conversation is a powerful tale of love, desperation, betrayal, and determination to find happiness against all odds. Fans of Small Things like These and The Light Between Oceans will be drawn to The Unfortunate Conversation.
Main Character Insight
11. Oh, that sounds intriguing! Can't wait for more in the coming months! Can you describe your main character (in your upcoming or latest book) in three words?
Pat: "Caring. Resilient. Loyal."
Character Reflection
12. Which character in your latest or upcoming book is most like you, and why?
Pat: "I’m a bit like three characters from the Sticks in a Bundle trilogy. I’m similar to Eshile in my determination to achieve my goals, somewhat like Umama in my child-rearing philosophies, and a whole lot like Ubaba in that I avoid doing work I do not enjoy."
Reader Takeaways
13. What do you hope readers will take away from your latest or upcoming book?
Pat: "In all my books, I write with purpose. I want to entertain by offering readers intriguing stories inspired by real life. But even more, I hope to inspire conversations that lead to new ways of thinking about the issues society tends to push down, out of sight."
Character Development
14. Are there any characters in your latest or upcoming book that were particularly fun or difficult to write?
Pat: "Oh, my. You ask hard questions! This one is difficult to answer because this trilogy contains a vast array of strong, unique people, none of which are without their own set of flaws. Of course, I especially enjoyed writing Eshile because she is strong, clever, and resilient, and her life makes a difference in this big, wide world. And there’s Ubaba who seems destined for failure but surprises everyone, and Umama, who is fierce, loving, and acts upon the teachings of two different gods.
I must also mention Auntie Grace, the sangoma, for her wisdom, healing powers, and homemade marula wine. Then there’s Eshile's seventeen-year-old, generous, compassionate, gang-leader uncle. And the sisters, how could I not give them center stage? Onele, funny, whiney, demanding, the apple of Eshile’s eye, and Asanda, the white sister whose existence makes the entire family structure illegal under apartheid, leaving them at risk of arrest, every day of their lives. Oh my, and Niko... On second thought, I’ll wait and let you see Niko through Eshile’s love-struck eyes."
Personal Influences
15. No fair, Pat! Now, you have me emotionally invested, lol. Well, Either way, I'm here for it! Are there any personal experiences that influenced your latest or upcoming book?
Pat: "This trilogy is inspired by stories told to me on a rickety, repurposed school bus during a dusty, bone-jarring ride from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe. These stories brought me back to the childhood years I spent in the Deep South and how, like Eshile, I struggled to understand certain aspects of the society I found myself in."
Sneak Peek
16. Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming book?
Pat: "Book III of the trilogy, Sticks in a Bundle: The Decision, to be released on December 15, is the final piece of Eshile Mthembu’s powerful and poignant tale. Eshile travels the bumpy road of leaving behind her teenage years and entering womanhood. On this journey, she struggles with the complications that come with maturity—love, duty, and accountability. She’s strong and resourceful, yet battles self-doubt when called upon to resolve challenges greater than any she ever envisioned for her future.
The 1980s bring no relief from apartheid or the devastation it wreaks on Eshile’s family, friends, and community. Publishing her words and thoughts in South African underground newspapers places everyone she loves in harm’s way. Will she risk everything to fight prejudice and discrimination? Does she follow her dreams or accept the responsibilities asked of her? Eshile must balance what her heart craves against the safety and expectations of others. Which life will she choose to live?"
Conclusion
There you have it folks! This week's Feature Friday author interview with the talented Pat Spencer. I hope you've enjoyed getting to know this amazing author a little more just as much as I did!
I encourage readers and writers alike to check Author Pat Spencer's thought-provoking, inspiring work out. Her website, amazon page & social media platforms below. Why not give her a follow!
Website: https://patspencer.net
Twitter/X: https://x.com/DrPatSpencer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpatspencer/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Pat-Spencer/author/B07FS9DJJB
It was great fun to do this interview with you!