Interview with Patricia Sargeant

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Patricia Sargeant. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Heated Rivalry. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Kim, thank you very much for inviting me over to Much Cheaper Than Therapy. I enjoy your blog site very much and it’s a great honor to be here. Thank you.

Thank you also for asking me about Heated Rivalry. It’s a single-title, contemporary romance. The hero, Steven Crennell, is a former NBA superstar who’s suffered a career-ending injury and has started a second career as the junior partner of a family-owned advertising agency. Valerie Parker, is the agency’s senior art director and daughter of its founder. When Steven’s ex-fiancée returns wanting him to manage her account as well as her bed, Steven fakes an engagement to Valerie. The Heated Rivalry book video as well as an excerpt and back cover copy are on my website, www.PatriciaSargeant.com, if you’d like to take a look.

Heated Rivalry is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The story is about the rivalry between Steven and Valerie. The book pretty much named itself.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

It was actually my editor’s suggestion. I’d started in romantic suspense with You Belong to Me and then On Fire. At first, I didn’t think I could plot a story without a dead body. Then I realized for me, the difference between romantic suspense and contemporary romance is that the villain in a romantic suspense is external. With contemporary romances, the characters are fighting internal demons, their personal fears and insecurities.

Are you a plotter or a pantser and how did it affect the writing of this book?

I’m a plotter. I need a road map when I write. But recently I’ve noticed certain details bloom during the writing process that add interesting twists to the story. For example, when I was plotting Heated Rivalry, I hadn’t realized one of Steven’s internal demons was a compelling urge to please other people even at the risk of compromising himself. That self-destructive desire has a significant impact on the story.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? What are your favorite research books or sites?

I didn’t have to do as much research for this story as I’ve had to do with other stories. I use Google and Google Earth (for location checks) a lot.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Oh, so many. I love Jayne Ann Krentz’s dialogue. I love the emotion in Nora Roberts’s stories. I love the way Tami Hoag makes us face the gray areas between right and wrong.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Studies have shown that word of mouth is the most effective promotion. If you ask readers how they choose books or how they found their favorite authors, nine times out of 10, they say through recommendations by friends, family members and review sites. That’s why I like to send advance reader copies to readers who agree to post reviews on sites such as Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. I also participate in author giveaways, hoping to attract new readers to my stories.

What do we have to look forward next?

Thank you for asking. I’m taking on a pseudonym, Regina Hart, for my contemporary romances and keeping Patricia Sargeant for my romantic suspense. I’ve just turned in the manuscript for the first book of my contemporary trilogy featuring a fictional NBA team based in Brooklyn, New York. The title of the first book is Fast Break. It’s a 2011 release, although I don’t have a specific release date. The heroine, Jaclyn Jones, is the co-owner of the Brooklyn-based NBA team. The hero, DeMarcus Guinn, is the rookie head coach. During the story, the couple deals with their struggle for power as well as a traitorous business partner.

Thanks, Patricia!

Thank you, Kim. It’s been a great pleasure visiting with you. All the very best!

To celebrate her book release, Patricia Sargeant is offering a free book of Heated Rivalry to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio.

Award-winning author Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance.

A voracious reader, Patricia first realized she wanted to be a published author at the age of nine. She was drawn to write romances because she loves happy endings. Her romantic suspense novels feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Her contemporary romances reveal characters struggling to overcome their inner demons.

In addition to reading, Patricia’s hobbies include music, jogging and hiking. She loves movies and she’s addicted to crime dramas and TruTV.

Patricia loves to hear from readers. Her e-mail address is BooksByParicia@Yahoo.com

Raised in New York City, Patricia now lives in Ohio with her husband. Check out author’s website at www.PatriciaSargeant.com

Buy http://www.amazon.com/Heated-Rivalry-Dafina-Patricia-Sargeant/dp/075823144X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_5