Interview with Patty Froese

One of the biggest perks of being a writer is all the interesting people you meet both in cyberspace and in real life. Some pass by quickly, others become friends who share both joy and tears. For me, Patty Froese belongs to the latter category. She's a wonderful person with a great sense of humour, and I start most days with having a cup of coffee and reading her blog. Today is the release day of Patty's new novel, Legally Wed, and I have the pleasure of welcoming this brilliant Canadian writer to my blog!

Welcome Patty Froese!

It's great to see you here! How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?

Having a writer in the family is different from having a romance writer in the family... They were always very supportive of my writing, but when I turned to romance, they mocked me heartlessly! LOL They still call me up with "genius plot lines" for me to consider and grossly inappropriate titles.(I write Christian romance, so you can see how naughty titles would give them the giggles...) Gotta love family! They keep me entertained!

Too funny! Do you have a favorite object pertinent to your writing? (Pen, coffee cup, pet, blanket, chair…?

My computer, I would say. As long as I have my computer, I'm a happy camper. My husband is a techy guy, so he's always wanting to get me a Mac or something. But I don't like my skill set messed with. Besides, I have everything saved where I want it, and I hate starting new with a new computer.

I can relate to that. I love technology, but changing computers always freaks me out. What do you love about your latest book?
This one was just fun to write. I loved following two couples, especially Mildred, the scorned wife whose husband leaves her for the secretary. I felt like I could really crawl into her skin. She's plus-sized, she's gray, she thought she was secure, and then her husband left her. She really kept things interesting for me!
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that the readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?

Mildred is based on an ex-boyfriend's mother. Oh, it's true! (Now, every guy I ever dated is going say, "You calling my mama fat?") LOL! But real people worm their way into my books on a regular basis. I can't help it... Especially women! Women intrigue me, and when I find a woman I admire or just find infinitely interesting, aspects of her will show up all over the place.

Ahaha, I bet you'll get a few phone calls now with people trying to find out who she is. Anything else you want to share?

Yes! Come by my blog and share the quirky life of a Christian romance writer. http://pattyfroese.com
Or Facebook--I'm there a LOT. http://www.facebook.com/pattyfroese
I love to connect with readers and other writers. Keeps my feet on the ground. ;)


You have an amazing blog. I love it! Thank you so much for coming over!

Legally Wed Blurb:

When Rich McConaughey comes back to town, divorce papers in hand, he's in for more than he bargained for. Lisa Young, the woman he was married to for six months, hasn't changed a bit. His mother has though... she's gone from matronly to meow, and his father has taken off with the secretary. Does anything last anymore?

Lisa Young feels chained to the hardware store her family has run for generations. How can she tell her father that she hates the family business? When Rich walks back into her store asking her to finalize a divorce she thought was behind her, she thinks that the answer is to sign on the dotted line and move on. Except, Rich isn't making it so easy... and God has other plans.

For better or for worse, when you're legally wed, things can get complicated.



For more information:

• Visit Patty on Facebook
• Look her up on Twitter
• Read her blog
• See Legally Wed on Amazon.com
• See Legally Wed on the Publisher's Website

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My review of Legally Wed

Legally Wed by Patty Froese follows Lisa, single woman and owner of a hardware store in Charlbrook, a small town where everyone knows everyone. Her life seems planned and straightforward. Not necessarily exciting, but safe. That is, until her ex-husband walks in and claims they're not really divorced.

This is a Christian romance, and Christian readers will not be disappointed; Lisa and several other characters go to church and talk to God. It is also humorous, endearing, and entertaining. The fate and happiness of several people are at stake, and Froese makes you care about the characters.

I read through the book in two sittings; I HAD to see what would happen to everyone. I give Legally Wed five stars out of five, and warmly recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, humorous, and entertaining read.

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Welcome Tiffinie Helmer!

Today is a treat for me. I met Tiffinie Helmer in an author's group on Facebook. We tweeted each other's books for a while, and she fascinated me with saying she would be off line over summer because she was going fishing in Alaska. I'm sure I answered something eloquent along the lines of, "You're going to what and the what? Wow!" After a few months of chatting (yes, I'm slow, lol) I decided to try one of her books, and ended up reading nonstop for three days until I had plowed through all of them. I a delighted to introduce her here on my blog!

Tiffinie Helmer, Romancing Exotic Alaska!

Welcome Tiffinie, please tell us your latest news!

Maria, thanks for the invite.  It has been great getting to know you! 
BEARING ALL, the 4th book in the Wild Men of Alaska Series was just released.  I love this book.  Love, love the characters.  In one word, BEARING ALL is untamed.  Here’s the blurb:

All he wants for Christmas is her…
Former Russian spy, Sergei Lavinsky, code name The Bear, is hibernating on the edge of Alaska.  He lures the woman he loves to the Edge of Reason Lodge, hoping enough time has passed that her heart has softened and her knives have dulled.

All she wants is revenge…
Kate “No Mercy” Mercer is a CIA Agent sent to assassinate him.  Again.  This time she intends to succeed without ending up in his bed.  She has a dozen reasons to kill him, and one of them is personal.
They’ll be completely unwrapped before the holiday is over…

I love how the characters in your books intertwine; it's like revisiting old friends. Do you have all that planned out in advance, or does it just happen? 

It kind of just happens.  Character is the first thing that comes to me.  I am fascinated by people and why they do what they do.  As a writer, it’s fun playing God and doing things to my characters and seeing how they react.

Are any of your characters based on real people? 

I wish.  I’d like to meet them.  Talk about hanging with your peeps.  Plus, the men are HOT.  

Your books make me want to visit Alaska, and it's clear you know what you're talking about. Was it difficult to move away? Do you miss it? 

I miss it a lot.  Luckily, I do get to return for the summers, though commercial fishing is no vacation.  I love that “wildness” that living “Outside” in the lower 48 doesn’t allow me.  I need to be a little more civilized when I’m in Utah, where we live for the rest of the year.  Both my husband and I are from Fairbanks, Alaska and have lots of family all over the state of Alaska. So its home.  This time of year it’s killing me not seeing the Northern Lights. 

The fishing-in-Alaska part fascinates me. Is it something you've always done? A family business, maybe?

My immediate family started commercial fishing in 1977.  My grandparents and my uncle started in 1967.  So, yeah, we know what we’re doing.  When my kids were little my husband went fishing.  Now I take the kids (he has to stay because of his job) and they fish with me.  They are teenagers now.  Nothing like having teenagers work and earn money while all their friends are getting into trouble or wasting their summers.  I have great kids who know how to work and have serious skills in knowing how to survive. 

When did you discover you are a writer? Was there a specific catalyst? 

I always had a great imagination.  I used to get called out for “making up stories” when I was little.  That sounds so much better than lying. But in junior high writing saved me.  It was the best escape…and revenge.  You can do things to people with a pen and paper that you don’t get punished for.  Just change the names to protect the innocent and you are good to go.

Hahaha, I can relate. What type of scene do you enjoy writing the most? 

Well, with what I just revealed above you might be able to guess.  Killing scenes are my favorite.  Those and when the characters are rapidly firing with dialogue.  Love dialogue.  Believe it or not, the love scenes are the hardest (no pun intended, well, maybe a little).  For a love scene there has to be a reason for me.  It has to move the story and reveal more than what’s under the clothes.  They are difficult and time consuming.  I’d rather kill people. 

What's the biggest challenge you've faced in writing?

Time.  There is not enough time to do all that I want to.

Do you have a favorite object you need when you write?  

Music.  It helps me set the mood.  Most of BEARING ALL was written to tango music.  I hope, when readers read it, the music comes through with the action and the dialogue. 

What’s your favorite place you’ve visited?  Do you have a “must see” destination on your bucket list? 

FINLAND!  I was a foreign exchange student to Finland in high school.  The people in Finland and Sweden (I was so lucky to have spent a few days) were the nicest people.  Loved the place, the people, and the cheese!  I can’t wait to return and visit all of Scandinavia.

Yay! Finland is beautiful, but I'm patriotic, so I'll say Sweden is the best. LOL. Is there something funny about you people don’t know? 

I love onion rings but hate onions.  Go figure.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Check out the webpages below for more information on Tiffinie and her books!

Webpage: http://www.tiffiniehelmer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffiniehelmerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiffinieHelmer

See "Bearing All" on Amazon
Check out "Bearing All" at Barnes and Noble