Tag Archives: writer’s life

Sooo…. I see you’re busy…

27 Friday Dec 2019

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Writing during the holidays isn’t easy! First of all, I have our 11-year-old at home all day, so every time I start thinking some useful thoughts about Chapter Six, I get interrupted with:

  1. “Hey, Mom, look at this!”
  2. “Soooo… I see you’re very busy. What if I did this thing that you’ve told me repeatedly I can’t do today?”
  3. “Are you hungry? I’m hungry. Maybe I should start cooking this thing that has a very high risk of my burning our home down? Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
  4. “I thought I would just sit next to you and read over your shoulder while you type. Cool?”

 

My son is on vacation… and it’s kind of hard to work while he’s in vacation mode.

And then there is the fact that it just feels like holiday time, you know? The tree is still up,   our home is in that holiday-time disarray, and it has that lazy, cozy air about the place that isn’t exactly conducive to work. I can’t be the only one!

However, my husband is back to work again, so I’ll try to get back into it, too. I do have a manuscript that’s calling… and I’ve got this fantastic scene to write that I’m looking forward to working with. It’s just a matter of making that happen without my beautiful, blissful solitude.

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***

Coming in April 2020!

Pre-order now!

Thursday's Bride MMFor a proper young Amish widow struggling to begin again, encountering her reckless first love will test her forgiveness, resolve—and heart . . .

Overwhelmed by grief and tending twin baby daughters, Rosmanda Lapp is without options. She still blames her brother-in-law, Levi, for her husband’s accidental death—but she and her aging in-laws need him to keep their farm going. Yet as Levi takes on his responsibilities with a new determination and steadiness, she can’t help but regret that she chose his serious-minded brother over him. For Levi is still very much the passionate man she loved—and Rosmanda now has even more reasons to keep him at arm’s length . . .

Levi can’t blame Rosmanda for staying clear of him. He has mistakes to make up for and must finally do right by his parents. Still, he never got over his brother stealing Rosmanda away. And he can’t  deny the feelings that even now tempt them back to each other. And when a mistake from her past threatens her reputation, Levi will do whatever it takes to help her—and trust that faith and courage will at last help them claim a future together . . .

 

 

This is what tired looks like!

04 Monday Nov 2019

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If you meet me in public, I will appear to having things together. I DO have things together when it comes to meeting deadlines, writing books, keeping my family organized… I am a competent adult.

But the other day, I went to my parents’ place for dinner (mostly because I really didn’t feel like cooking, so we asked my dad to cook for us instead.) I poured a glass of Sprite for myself, and while I was saying something, I brought the cup up to my mouth, but obviously couldn’t sip because I was talking, so while I finished my sentence, I just dribbled Sprite into my lap.

That is what tired looks like! And luckily for all of you, it doesn’t seem to affect my writing, just my motor skills. 😉 It’s also generally fixed by a weekend off.

So when I came across these gems online, it made me feel infinitely better that I’m not alone in these things!

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LOL! And to everyone else who makes a fool of themselves when tired out, you have my sympathy. Here is to a well-timed REST! 🙂

 

****

Releasing TODAY!

9781335510914

Can a marriage of convenience…

…really last a lifetime?

Single mom Gabby Rogers needs help raising her newborn triplets, so when her best friend, Seth, proposes a marriage of convenience, she cautiously agrees—on the condition it doesn’t ruin their friendship. As far as the town of Eagle’s Rest knows, Gabby and Seth are the perfect couple, but the imaginary romance soon feels surprisingly real. With the triplets’ first Christmas drawing closer, will Gabby risk showing Seth how she truly feels?

Available now!

Coming November 5, 2019!

 

Stormy Moors

31 Thursday Oct 2019

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Thursday's Bride MM

Last weekend was a working weekend—I had page proofs to go over for my next release for Kensington Books.

Thursday’s Bride comes out in April 2020, and for those of you who have read The Bishop’s Daughter, this is the story of Sadie’s rebellious younger sister, Rosmanda.

Page proofs are basically what the page will look like once it’s printed out, and I have to go over each page looking for typos. It’s a big job, and I like to do this kind of work when my family is around, because looking for typos doesn’t require any creativity–something that I find difficult to get at when I’ve got my family at home with me.

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And there is just something official-feeling about handling a ream of pages like this. It makes the whole experience that much more physical than working on a screen. I feel like I should have a quill, and stormy moors outside my window.

In reality, when I spread all this out on my kitchen table, and instead of stormy moors, I had a rainy street outside my window. Life is much more dramatic in my head. 😉

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***

Until Rosmanda’s story releases, have you read my Christmas story in AN AMISH SECOND CHRISTMAS?

It’s on the shelves now! 

 

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For the Amish, the day after Christmas is for family, feasting, and exchanging simple gifts. And for three different couples, it will bring another precious chance for love . . .
 
THEIR SECOND CHANCE
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray
Amish nanny Hannah Eicher never thought she’d ever see Rob Prince again. There was no way a relationship between her and the handsome English fireman could overcome her family’s objections—and their personal differences. But when he saves her from a sudden blaze, Hannah longs to see if they can turn holiday hope into a lifetime of happiness . . .
 
HIS AMISH ANGEL * Patricia Johns
She’s too outspoken to be a proper Amish wife. So as advice columnist “Miss Amish,” Maggie Lapp helps Amish and English with their romantic problems. But when her tradition-minded former fiancé accidentally reveals her secret, Maggie will need more than a miracle to make things right—and find a perfect love for all the Christmases to come . . .
 
AN HEIRLOOM CHRISTMAS * Virginia Wise
Rachel Miller won’t let her disability keep her from selling heirloom plants and proving she can be independent. She certainly doesn’t need reckless Joseph Webber working at her greenhouse to pay off a disastrous Rumspringa stunt. But she and Joseph have more in common than they think—and their surprising holiday partnership might just blossom into forever joy . . .

 

 

Looking my age

29 Monday Jul 2019

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I’m taking a summer break. I know, I know, this is unheard of in the Patricia Johns world, but I’m doing it! Our son is home from school, and I wanted to be able to do some things with him this summer instead of distracting him while I work. So I worked extra hard to get my manuscript finished before he got out of school, and here we are! 🙂 The rest will do me good!

So, while my husband had some time off of work, we went into the city for the Royal Alberta Museum. I’ve been wanting to go for some time, and I finally convinced the two of them that it would be fun. So off we went. And it was fun! There was an exhibit on the Vikings, which I found interesting, but the part we all really loved was the dinosaurs. I mean, how could you not? Dinosaurs!

Anyway, we took a few photos, and the one thing I noticed is that I’m definitely looking my age. That’s not a bad thing–I’m forty, and there are worse things than looking forty. But it took me a little by surprise! I don’t look as young in pictures as I do in my head… The mammoth behind me probably feels the same way. 😉

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There were other exhibits, like Natural History that also caught my eye.

 

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And over all, we had a very nice time wandering around the museum. These are the sorts of things I’m trying to do more of this summer–just getting out with my family and playing tourist in our area.

*I’m sorry not to have included pictures of my family, but if you follow me, you know that I try to keep photos of them offline. In fact, Mr. Johns insists upon it! So you’re stuck with a picture of Yours Truly. 😉

 

You can’t compare

30 Thursday May 2019

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As an author, you have to be able to do this… because you can’t compare yourself! People know how to classify an accountant, or a lawyer, or a stay at home mom. They have a general sense of how much you make if you’re a manager or a bank teller. But as an author… where do you land? They have no idea! You’ve chosen a path that very few people choose, and you’re kind of on your own out there. Sink or swim, successful or not, when you walk into a room there isn’t another person who understands what you’re doing with yourself… or why! You’re going to be the odd one out.

But that’s okay. Because when I walk into a room, I don’t see people I need to compare myself to, I see a roomful of walking stories.

People are intriguing! They are all reacting to something, they’re all inspired by something and frightened by something else. And that unique combination of elements guides every single step they take.

So I don’t compare myself to others, I compare people to other people, and if you catch me looking at you all thoughtfully, it’s very likely that I’m wondering what it’s like to walk in your shoes… who you love… what you long for…

Because you’re interesting. 🙂

*******

Have you picked up my Amish romance? It’s on the shelves now in Walmart, Target and bookstores everywhere.

The Bishop's Daughter MMIn this poignant, beautifully written novel, a faithful young Amish widow is reunited with her wayward first love . . .

As a bishop’s daughter and good Amish mother, widowed Sadie Hochstetler teaches her young son that God blesses those who try their best to please Him. But her brief marriage taught her that life is infinitely more complicated than that. Older, and serious, her late husband seemed a sensible choice—especially compared to Elijah Fisher, the spirited boy with whom she butted heads and hearts. Then Elijah abruptly left for the Englisher world, taking Sadie’s beloved brother along with him—a double betrayal she still strives to forgive. Especially now that Elijah has returned . . .

Elijah plans to stay in the Amish community only as long as he’s needed, helping his family and working for Sadie’s ailing father. The outside world has changed him, leading him to question rules and restrictions that others take on faith. Once, he’d been head over heels in love with the bishop’s daughter—a girl he was judged unworthy of courting. Nine years have changed so much between them. Yet something remains—a spark that, for all their differences, might light the way home again . . .

 

Foot in Mouth

17 Thursday Jan 2019

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I’m new to being forty, but I’m liking it! I’ve noticed that Facebook’s algorithms are choosing a different type of ad for me now. Instead of diet fads and beauty hacks, they’re sending me adds for slippers and mukluks.

They finally get me! Because I’d actually like to buy a decent pair of mukluks now that I’ve seen multiple ads for them. 😉

The one thing I’m not very good with is realizing how old I look. In my head, I look a lot younger, it seems. And I’ve proven that by suggesting a 35-year-old woman was “my age.” This was not because she legitimately looked 40. She’s beautiful and really does look like a tight, well-maintained 35. But in my head, so am I! I immediately apologized when I realized my error (and she looked at me aghast) and told her that it it only reflects on how delusionally young I think I look still… Here’s hoping there are no hard feelings, because she’s kind of extended family, and I really like her.

Follow your dreams

 

But my forties are treating me well. Here are a few things I’m enjoying about them:

  1. No one expects me to be to be thin anymore. “Good Lord, she’s in her forties. Leave her alone.”
  2. Nothing is marketed for me. Except slippers and mukluks. And life is cheaper when the barrage of marketing passes you by!
  3. I’ve been working at my writing career seriously for almost twenty years, and that hard work is paying off. It feels good!

So there you are–I’m enjoying forty, but I’m still putting my foot in my mouth. Because apparently,  that’s my MO. 😉

*********

Have you picked up my book yet? You can get it online or find it on the shelves in your favourite bookstore all this month. 🙂

4.280109.512.9781335478924

 

Two stubborn hearts. One ranch.

Could Montana Twins unite them?

With orphaned twin infants to care for, Casey Courtright hoped to buy the ranch he works on—but he can’t match Ember Reed’s offer. Nevertheless, Casey agrees to show Ember the land she plans to use for her therapy center, but only if she’ll help him with the babies. And as the twins draw them together, Casey might just find that Ember is his perfect partner.

Housekeeping tips for writers

12 Monday Nov 2018

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When you work from home, there is the unique challenge of keeping your mitts off the messes in your home, and actually doing your work. It’s harder than it looks to balance it out. I’ve been writing full time for about ten years now, and I’ve realized that I have a choice–write full time, or clean full time. Pick one.

It might not surprise you to know that I’ve chosen the writing option. 😉 But that doesn’t mean that keeping up with everything else is easy! So I have a few tips for you work-at-home types.

  1. Delegate! You are not the full-time housekeeper. You are a writer, and your working hours are sacred. That means you don’t have time to do all the things people hope you’ll do. Learn to delegate jobs to other members of the family to make that workload a litter fairer.800px-Patsy_Grimm_helping_to_do_all_the_housework._8d29104v
  2. Wait before you clean the bathroom… just a bit. With your long hours of writing, there is nothing more irritating than rushing around cleaning up, to have nobody notice or recognize just how heroic your efforts are. That is why I recommend waiting two days longer than you usually would to clean the bathroom. I can guarantee that not only will your family notice when you clean it, they will thank you for it. You’re welcome.Doing_housework_(1993-1997),_bathroom,_1
  3. The dishes can wait. If you were in an office across town for 8 hours a day, you wouldn’t worry about the cereal bowls sitting on the counter. And neither should you worry about them during your writing time. Dishes, laundry, the carpet… whatever it is that irritates you just to see it–turn your back! You have a chapter to write. Get to work.800px-Housework_(5978829002)
  4. Don’t forget to rest. When your work hours are over, turn off the computer and spend that time with your family. It’s too easy to let work take over when it’s just a matter of sitting down at your computer and doing a little blogging or emailing to catch up. You love these people, remember? They deserve your time, too.

 

And there you have it–the best housekeeping tips I’ve got. You can tell that my writing hasn’t been going well when my home is sparkling. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t clean your home, but I AM saying the you and your family should do that cleaning outside of work hours. Because at the end of your work day, you can have a chapter written, or a clean floor/stove/kitchen/whatever. One of those is going to feel more satisfying to you. You have to decide which one you want.

Best of luck!

It smells so good!

17 Monday Sep 2018

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I got this little package from Kensington books. It had about twenty of these book covers–not the whole book, just the unattached covers. I don’t know what you call them… if you do, let me know!

But I have to tell you… they smell amazing! It’s that printing press smell of ink and paper. It’s intoxicating. Even more so when it’s your own book. 😉

 

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And it’s exciting, because this is my official cover for my very first Amish release through Kensington books. Can’t wait to see this one on the shelves in May!

Book signing! :)

13 Monday Aug 2018

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This weekend, I did my very first book signing. I was definitely intimidated. I’ve never done a book signing before, and since I’m 17 books deep with Harlequin, I figured it was high time. At the very least, it’s good for character, right?

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And now, I can tell you about my amazing friends. I didn’t exactly hide that this scared me to death, and friends from all sorts of different corners came out and found me, bought a book and made me feel loved.

So to all my friends who came out and supported me, a HUGE thank you! And to the one non-friend who bought a book–thank you, too! ❤

I took a selfie with my two local writing buddies. On the left you have my friend who is currently working on getting published. (And I have no doubt she’ll get there very soon!) And on the right, you have Taryn Leigh Taylor who also writes for Harlequin and lives down the street from me. They’re both great–and showed up at the same time.

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So there you have it–the book signing that didn’t kill me after all. LOL!

I have some really great people in my life. Just wanted to let you know. ❤

Little Coco

25 Monday Jun 2018

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I’m a bird person. I’ve had pet birds since I was a girl, and I get so very attached to them. They have their own personalities, and they’ll bond to people quite easily, if you know how to talk to them.

Well, recently, our little yellow budgie, Coco, had to be put down by the vet. It was a really hard choice to make, but she was getting sicker and sicker, and I think she’d just gotten to the end of her life span. I didn’t want the poor thing to suffer. So I made an appointment with the vet and brought her in.

The vet told me it was the right choice, so I made the painful decision to say goodbye.

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That was a few weeks ago, and I recently got a sympathy card in the mail from the vet’s office, and while I know that they do this for everyone who loses a pet there, I thought it was a really sweet gesture. All the staff signed it, and they even called Coco by name. It was thoughtful of them.

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Our Quaker parrot has been grieving the loss of his little friend, too. He asks for Coco on a regular basis, and I’m not sure how you’re supposed to explain death to a bird. I was hoping he’d forget her after a while, but he hasn’t yet. From time to time he’ll go over to where her cage used to be and ask me repeatedly, “Coco? Coco?”

We all miss her, even Pichu the Quaker. She was such a sweet little bird, and she’s left a hole. Isn’t it amazing how much we can love one little yellow budgie?