Today we welcome author Candice Patterson to The
Diamond Mine!!! Here's a little taste from her book, How to Stir a Baker's Heart:
Certified mental health therapist Olivia Hudson has spiraled into a dark depression her own training can't pull her out of. Since Olivia can’t return to her practice when she can’t even help herself, she moves to Stone Harbor, Maine, to heal and help her dementia-ridden grandmother run her once-famous bakery. Blake Hartford is living his dream of farming blueberries and restoring a Victorian farmhouse on his coastal property, while his beloved community withers away under a rocky economy. Blake joins the town board to help revamp things and boost the much-needed tourism that can turn his community around. After a misunderstanding with the bakery owner's granddaughter and the town board's suggestion they lead the tourism project together, life in Stone Harbor gets a little bit sweeter. But when the truth of Olivia's past comes to light, Blake is forced to confront his own. How to Stir a Baker’s Heart is a story of healing and forgiveness, proving God can mend our brokenness and soften even the hardest of hearts.
Well,
that was a tasty portion!! Welcome, Candice. I'm glad to host you on The
Diamond Mine today! Now let's learn a little about you!
When did you first
decide you wanted to write a book, and how did you get to that decision?
The writing bug bit me when I was sixteen. I've
I also remember
speeding through numerous Janette Oke books! It sounds like you became serious
about writing at a young age, and never let go of that goal. Good for you!
Do you base any
of your characters on real people or on yourself?
Main characters, no. I do, however, like to slip names of people I
know or family members into my novels for secondary characters.
I do that, too!
One of my stories had a lot of secondary characters, and I decided to use all
my nieces and nephew’s names for the characters. It was fun!
How do you get
your inspiration for story ideas?
It depends. Sometimes the setting comes to me first, and I build a
plot around it. Other times, the plot idea comes first, and I build the setting
around it.
What is your
favorite genre to write, and why?
Romance! I write contemporary and historical romance. They’re so
different when it comes to research and plots, but both have wonderful
qualities I enjoy diving into.
I agree! I do
especially enjoy the research that goes into writing historical novels.
What do you want
your readers to experience when reading your stories?
I want readers to feel as if they’ve gone on a journey. I want to
experience the sights, sounds, and smells, as well as the emotions.
What do you
experience when writing your stories?
Writing is therapeutic for me. What’s going on in my life at the
time determines my experience.
That’s very true
for me also. Writing can indeed be very therapeutic!
What do you like
best about being a writer?
I love the process of layering everything together to create a
story. An artist paints layer upon layer of oils on a canvas to create the
whole masterpiece. Writing is the same way. One layer at a time, it all comes
together to create a novel.
That’s a great
analogy!
What do you like least about writing?
Days when the words just won’t come. It’s not writer’s block, per
say. It usually happens to me when our schedule is super busy, with everyone
going separate ways, and when I do get that smidgen of time to write, I’m too
tired to think.
I know what you
mean! Sometimes the inspiration just isn’t there, and getting some rest can
make a big difference with that problem.
What are you
working on now?
I
just finished the first book in a brand-new contemporary romance series set in
South Dakota. It’s a twisted and complicated plot with lots of humorous scenes
as well.
Sounds like a
wonderful series we can all look forward to! Thanks for visiting at the Mine,
today, Candice!!
And here is a short bio of Candice, followed by her social and purchase links!
Candice Sue
Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active
member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her
husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s
not tending to her chickens, watching her kids play sports, or helping children
discover a love for reading as an elementary librarian, she’s working on a new
story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide
with faith. She is represented by Linda S. Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency.
Social Media Links
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/candicesue_patt
PINTEREST:
https://pinterest.com/candicesuepatterson
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-stir-a-bakers-heart-candice-sue-patterson/1130792584?ean=9781522302162
No comments:
Post a Comment