Patricia is a Six Sentence Sunday friend who has been making me chuckle ever since I read the first of her weekly snippets. I fell in love with her humorous short story, The Yard Sale, which is about a heroine starting a new life while shedding her old possessions. You can fall in love with this story, and its colorful cast of characters, since it is FREE on Friday and Saturday. I love Pat's sense of humor, and I get to enjoy it on Twitter while we discuss Thor and Ichabod and other "writing-related topics". Without further ado, please welcome her to Friday Friends!
Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Don't worry. I told them you were going to say "all of them", so they've left the blog. You can answer freely now.) Why do you love them best?
I can’t single one out. They have all been favorites, especially when I’m writing about them. I love my couple, Elise and Jesse, in the historical I’m finishing up. Otherwise, I adore Darlene, my Marilyn Monroe wannabe from the 50’s, because she makes me laugh.
I love Darlene! Especially when she's with her kooky partners in crime. LOL What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (I can't even imagine if we were to run out of these!)
There’s a new episode of Walking Dead on tonight….I need to watch the Walking Dead marathon first….
Hey, can you count it as "research"? If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be? (Suitcases? I don't see any suitcases.)
New Orleans. Wouldn’t be much writing going on.
The Big Easy is one of my all-time fave places. I'm sure there will be plenty to write about AFTER the visit! What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?
Cuss words….:)
You mean like "dagnabbit"? LOL Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.
Move to New Orleans or France or Nashville. Don’t ask…
Hey, those totally work for me! Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:
Coffee or tea? Sweet Tea
Drafting or revising? Revising
Twitter or Facebook? Twitter!!!
Winter or Summer? Summer
Wine or beer? Neither. Hurricane.
Contemporary or historical? Both
Pirate or cowboy? Both
Heels or flats? Nikes
Abs or pecs? I guess abs cause I hate man titties.
Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Slurper.
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Author Bio
Patricia Preston is a Southern author who writes historical and contemporary romance as well as humorous Southern fiction. Her publishers include New Love Stories, True Romance, Affaire de Coeur, Cloverdale Press, The Blue and Gray Magazine, Sea Oats Review, and Carina Press. She won William Faulkner Award for Short Fiction, the Lone Star Writing Competition for Historical Romance, and Harlequin’s World’s Best Romances Short Story Competition. Her short stories have been best sellers on Amazon and listed on Amazon’s Top 100 in comedy. She is currently working on a historical romance series, Ladies of Louisiana.
Social Media Links
Website ~~ Twitter ~~ Facebook
Book Blurb
Rancher Austin Cade rides into Liberty looking for his old comrades, the James-Younger gang. He needs their help tracking down the horse thief who's stolen his prized mare. In town, the former gunfighter is reunited with Darcy, the first girl he ever kissed—and never forgot.
Young widow Darcy Branson owns a shop full of fashionable ladies' attire, but continues to wear mourning black so she won't forget her role in her husband's death. Austin stirs a passion inside her that has long been dormant, but can Darcy learn to believe in Austin—and love—enough to let go of her tragic past?
Time is rapidly running out... As a cousin to Jesse James, Darcy has attracted unwanted attention, thanks to her rumored association with the gang. Soon Austin and Darcy are faced with confronting not only their growing desire, but danger in the form of a deadly bounty hunter...
Excerpt
“I’ll be happy to do you a favor.” There was only one reason why men came to her shop. “You tell me what kind of dress you’re looking for, and I’ll see that you get it.”
His gray eyes widened. “You think I want a dress?”
“Well, no. Not for yourself, of course.” She laughed. “But for someone special, yes. And if you’re looking for something besides clothing, I do have a number of lovely gift items that any lady would love.” She reached for one of the bottles of perfume displayed on the counter, and she dabbed a bit of fragrance on her wrist. “This cologne is a very light orange blossom and lilac combined. It is one of my favorites. Do you like it?”
He sniffed her wrist and nodded. “I would buy it for a special lady, but I don’t have one.”
Much to her horror, his words thrilled her.
“I see you got married.” He gave her wedding band a pointed look.
She pulled her hand back and closed the bottle of perfume. “Yes, I was married. I’m widowed now.”
“You’re awfully young to be widowed.”
“Young men die too,” she said. Sometimes their wives get them killed.
Wow, that cover is delish! Great excerpt and blurb too. I have a soft spot for historical westerns. Nice to meet you, Patricia! :)
Posted by: Mae Clair | December 20, 2013 at 02:35 PM
I love the tasty ten, especially the nikes answer. Great cover. Love the...hat.
Posted by: Dee Lancaster | December 20, 2013 at 02:43 PM
Mae, Thanks for stopping by!!! Great to meet you, too.
Posted by: Patricia Preston | December 20, 2013 at 04:25 PM
Dee: Are you a Nikes gal too? Love comfort. The hat is nice. :)
Posted by: Patricia Preston | December 20, 2013 at 04:26 PM
Mae, I like historical westerns too. I'm looking forward to reading this one soon. :)
Dee, he's wearing a hat? Where? LOL
Patricia, I love comfort too. Although I do love cowboy boots. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 20, 2013 at 07:29 PM
I've been a follower of Patricia's for quite a long time (although I've been a very bad visitor lately!) She's a great writer and blog buddy, even to deadbeats like me! :)
Posted by: Becky Povich | December 22, 2013 at 12:12 AM
Becky, thanks for stopping by! And you're not a deadbeat -- we're all so busy, it's hard to do everything we want to do. :) Hopefully Santa will bring us more TIME. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 22, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Becky: Hi!! I'm just getting back over here. You're not the only deadbeat! LOL
Posted by: Patricia Preston | December 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM
No deadbeats here! It's just a busy time of year. Plus we're spending all our free time WRITING. *cough* LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 23, 2013 at 09:52 AM