Welcome to Patricia Tighe, our first guest of 2018! Patricia is author of LIFE IN THE NO-DATING ZONE, LIFE IN THE LUCKY ZONE, AND LIFE IN THE DANGER ZONE (yes, you guessed it, that’s a series!). Her newest novel, ABOUT LAST SUMMER, is about a girl who assumes a fake identity on a dare, which is all fun and games … until she runs into the boy she dated (you guessed it again!) last summer!
What gave you the idea to write this novel?
For ABOUT LAST SUMMER, I was playing around with the idea of secret identities and what might happen if someone showed up who knew who you really were. And what if that someone happened to be your ex? From there it was just a matter of putting my couple in a setting where they couldn’t get away from each other.
How many books have you written, and how many have seen the light of day?
I’ve completed nine books — two middle grade that will probably never see the light of day, two YA fantasy novels that I still might do something with, and five YA contemporary romance novels published by Swoon Romance. Four are out now and the fifth will be out this Spring.
What types of characters are your favorite to write?
I love writing characters that make me laugh. If I can have at least one character that’s a little bit nuts or unusual, I’m a happy writer. It may be that I’m the only one who laughs at that character’s wit, but I still enjoy it.
Kissing scenes: Do you find them they easy or more challenging to write?
I’ve always found kissing scenes challenging to write, not because of the actual physical aspect but because of the emotional component. It’s so important to get that right. Well, at least as right as possible. There’s give and take and character growth to take into consideration. And within all that, you have to bring the swoon!
How did you find your critique partners?
The majority of my critique partners came from the time I spent at Seton Hill University where I earned a master’s in Writing Popular Fiction in 2008. Having worked together for so long, I know I can trust them. Each individual will point out a different aspect in my work that I need to address. It’s wonderful.
What is a typical comment you’d get from your critique partner?
Ha! In almost every manuscript I’ll see: “You’ve got a cluster of passive sentences in that paragraph. Maybe rewrite.”
Ah, yes. Active sentences are definitely better! And on that note, let’s move to the speed round!
- Alpha males vs. sensitive types: Sensitive types with a sense of humor!
- Red roses vs. blue violets: Blue violets.
- Morning glory vs. night owl: Night owl. And I always live to regret it.
- Tropical island vs. mountain getaway: Tropical island in the shade.
- Wizards vs. vampires: Wizards!
- French fries vs. cookies: Cookies. All the cookies.
Thanks so much for visiting our blog, and please, please keep bringing the swoo! Here’s where fans can find Patricia:
The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dog. She eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. On the bright side, she also reads and writes teen fiction. She promises to include as much romance, angst, and adventure as possible in her books.
This is great! And I’m so glad I’m not the only one who loves to have a character that makes me laugh. And I often worry I’m the only one who thinks they’re hilarious…