Ask the Author: Patricia Loofbourrow
Answered Questions (12)
Patricia Loofbourrow
LOL!! Well, I'm glad you're looking forward to book 4!
I'm a bit Aspie so I'm not sure if this was a straight question or not. So to answer what you said: they say authors have a bit of all their characters in them.
But Roy Spadros ... without spoiling it, I'll just say his is a very sad story. I'm actually writing his story off and on, and it will be part of an anthology of various "side stories" from other characters in the Red Dog Conspiracy.
I'm a bit Aspie so I'm not sure if this was a straight question or not. So to answer what you said: they say authors have a bit of all their characters in them.
But Roy Spadros ... without spoiling it, I'll just say his is a very sad story. I'm actually writing his story off and on, and it will be part of an anthology of various "side stories" from other characters in the Red Dog Conspiracy.
Patricia Loofbourrow
Rivendell, before the Elves leave. I would love to talk to these people who'd lived all those thousands of years, get their advice and hear what they'd learned. I love their homes, open under the trees. Like Bilbo, I'd write books!
Patricia Loofbourrow
Great question! Unfortunately, I don't make summer reading lists - I just read whatever I feel like reading at the time.
Thanks for asking :)
Thanks for asking :)
Patricia Loofbourrow
My father disappeared for nine months when I was in college. We got a call that he was in LA in the ICU at the Veteran's Hospital there. I never got a good answer as to what happened or where he was all that time, and he never regained consciousness. Someone searching for what happened might make an interesting story.
Patricia Loofbourrow
My favorite science fiction book of all time is Dune by Frank Herbert. I love that whole series, actually (well, except the prequels).
My favorite hard science fiction book? I suspect it would be The Martian by Andy Weir, but I have not read it yet. Loved the movie.
A difficult choice! I'd have to say either Dragon's Egg by Robert L Forward, The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P Hogan, or The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. As a physician and microbiologist, I find The Andromeda Strain holds up almost as well today as it did when it was written - so maybe I'd pick that one. :)
Thanks for writing!
My favorite hard science fiction book? I suspect it would be The Martian by Andy Weir, but I have not read it yet. Loved the movie.
A difficult choice! I'd have to say either Dragon's Egg by Robert L Forward, The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P Hogan, or The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. As a physician and microbiologist, I find The Andromeda Strain holds up almost as well today as it did when it was written - so maybe I'd pick that one. :)
Thanks for writing!
Patricia Loofbourrow
Ooo, great question! I don't read much romance ... but I do like John Thornton and Margaret Hale (from the BBC miniseries North and South). :)
Thanks for writing!
Thanks for writing!
Patricia Loofbourrow
I go do something else. :)
Patricia Loofbourrow
The absolute best thing about being a writer is when someone really LOVES your work. Like the other day I was at an event and this woman came up, read the blurb on the back, and literally began JUMPING up and down squealing - and said, "I have to have this!"
(this happens at least once at every event and I love it!)
The second best thing is when someone reads your work and really GETS it, even if they don't go crazy about it. They get what you're doing and it touched them or made them think or engaged them in some way. That is very cool.
(this happens at least once at every event and I love it!)
The second best thing is when someone reads your work and really GETS it, even if they don't go crazy about it. They get what you're doing and it touched them or made them think or engaged them in some way. That is very cool.
Patricia Loofbourrow
Write a lot. I feel that the "million words" advice is good. You need to find your confidence and perspective, and you need to learn how to write. It's hard to do either if you've only written one or two stories. I began writing novels in 2005 and I think I'm close to the two million word mark. I'd have to go back and check.
Find a team. You can't do this alone. You need readers you trust who will tell you the truth. You need to learn how to take critiques. You need a fan section. This takes time. Start participating in writing groups while you write your million words, making friends, finding who's good and who's not.
Don't try to publish a novel unless you feel ready, because it's a lot harder than it looks. You have to want this more than anything and have a story you believe in. That said, once you decide to do it, create a realistic deadline for your book and draw a line in the sand. Tell everyone you know. Doing that made me step up to the plate in a way I never thought I could.
Find a team. You can't do this alone. You need readers you trust who will tell you the truth. You need to learn how to take critiques. You need a fan section. This takes time. Start participating in writing groups while you write your million words, making friends, finding who's good and who's not.
Don't try to publish a novel unless you feel ready, because it's a lot harder than it looks. You have to want this more than anything and have a story you believe in. That said, once you decide to do it, create a realistic deadline for your book and draw a line in the sand. Tell everyone you know. Doing that made me step up to the plate in a way I never thought I could.
Patricia Loofbourrow
Besides trying to get The Jacq of Spades launched? I'm currently writing the sequel!
Edited to add: As of May 2017, I'm currently revising the third book in the Red Dog Conspiracy (The Ace of Clubs) and writing the story of how Eleanora Bryce gets to Bridges (Vulnerable) for a dystopian anthology.
Edited to add: As of May 2017, I'm currently revising the third book in the Red Dog Conspiracy (The Ace of Clubs) and writing the story of how Eleanora Bryce gets to Bridges (Vulnerable) for a dystopian anthology.
Patricia Loofbourrow
My ideas sort of pop into my head at various times: while gardening, in the shower, while driving.
The idea for the Red Dog Conspiracy series came while I was trying to figure out what I was going to write for NaNoWriMo 2013. (I wrote an article about how it happened here: http://www.pattyloof.com/blog/how-i-w... )
After I decided to make this a series, I plotted the entire thing out, and the scenario in The Jacq of Spades seemed to be the best place to begin. I wanted something to drag Jacqui into this story which was both serious and personal, and I think it's worked out well.
The idea for the Red Dog Conspiracy series came while I was trying to figure out what I was going to write for NaNoWriMo 2013. (I wrote an article about how it happened here: http://www.pattyloof.com/blog/how-i-w... )
After I decided to make this a series, I plotted the entire thing out, and the scenario in The Jacq of Spades seemed to be the best place to begin. I wanted something to drag Jacqui into this story which was both serious and personal, and I think it's worked out well.
Patricia Loofbourrow
I guess I'm more of an addict: if I don't write for a while I don't feel right. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not but I really don't have trouble finding inspiration. It's all around me!
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