I'm pleased to bring you my stop on the Partners In Crime blog tour of Patricia Hale's novel In the Shadow of Revenge. Our interview and all pertinent tour information too!
So sit back and enjoy the show!

ISBN-13: 9781426895845
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication date: 7/15/2013

My Interview with Patricia Hale

Patricia, welcome to The Reading Frenzy.

Debbie - Tell us a little about your novel In The Shadow of Revenge.

Patricia - First and foremost, In the Shadow of Revenge is a mystery/suspense novel, but it is also a story about an unbreakable bond between three friends. At nine-years-old, the girls witness a tragic event that shapes not only heir friendship but also their lives. Eighteen years later they get a chance to set things right, but what they realize in the process is that justice comes with a price.

This is your debut novel.
How long did it take you to write it?

I work full time at a holistic veterinary hospital and I live with my husband, my daughter and two grandsons, ages 4 and 6. As you can imagine time is elusive as is quiet, but I try to be disciplined and write every morning, at least for an hour or two before I go to work and Saturday and Sunday mornings until noon. At that pace, In the Shadow of Revenge took about three years from the start of the writing process to date of publication.

What surprised you most about the whole process?

My dream has always been to be published. I’ve always believed, as does any unpublished writer I’m sure, that publication will be nirvana. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to finally have reached that goal, but I’ve found that it’s not nearly the fun I thought it would be. There’s so much promotional work that goes along with it that it becomes overwhelming, at least for me. I’m an introvert, so putting myself and my work “out there” doesn’t come naturally or easily. It’s emotionally exhausting. I’m thrilled to be published and very grateful to all who supported and assisted in that endeavor, but I can’t wait to get back to sitting in the quiet of my office and writing another story. For me, the writing is the fun part.

Are there any plans for having a print edition of the novel?

Carina Press is a “digital-first” publisher, so at this time In the Shadow of Revenge is only available in a digital format.

You belong to a number of writing groups.
What’s the most beneficial aspect for you personally in networking with peers?

I belong to SINC (Sisters in Crime) and I’m connected to the Carina Press author group on-line, but my most beneficial connection has been with the Sebago Writers Group. It’s a group of five writers. We meet in person twice a month and critique each other’s work. The on-line groups are wonderful for advice on publishing or on specific issues, but in my experience personal critiques have been the most helpful. There’s nothing more valuable than an extra pair of eyes on your work to point out the things you can’t see. You just have to get past being defensive. One of the things I love most about writing is the solitude, but after I write I look to my writer’s group for critique. Their advice and suggestions always help me take my writing to a stronger and deeper place.

Who and what genres do you enjoy reading?

I mostly read mystery suspense, however my all time favorite book is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I read the best writers in order to learn from them. Robert Parker is the best there is for dialogue. I also look for novels with PIs to see how they interact with police and how much they can get away with doing on their own. Right now, I’m reading Dennis Lehane’s novels with the team of Kenzie and Gennaro because I’m creating a male/female PI team in the book I’m working on now. When I look for something to read, I try to find a writer or story that will provide insight and expertise to whatever I’m doing at the time. Tana French is a favorite of mine because her plot and characters are so well crafted. Stephen King is also a favorite because I love his style. His writing is very personable and fun. Reading King always reminds me to enjoy the process. He motivates me to sit down and write.

Some people say write what you know.
Does this saying apply to you?
Explain.

In the past I’ve written things that were based on experience, but my current release, In the Shadow of Revenge, is completely fictional. I did live in Maine for twenty years so I am familiar with the Portland, Maine area and the surrounding towns. A lot of the story is about a friendship that begins when the girls are only nine-years-old. I guess you could say that part is based in experience. I met my best friend at nine-years-old and fifty years later, we are still best friends. We’ve been through a lot together and many of our experiences have shaped our relationship. So when it comes to the bond between the girls in the story, I guess I did write what I know.

Will there be another novel in your future?

I’m currently working on a novel that I hope will be the first in a series featuring a male/female PI team. In this one, they are tracking a serial killer and I’ve scratched out an idea for the next one in which the female character will go undercover into a religious cult in search of a missing girl.

So the day’s jobs are all done and it’s time for some serious R&R, what’s some of your favorite past-time activities?

I have three dogs, two German Shepherds and a Beagle mix. I spend a lot of time with them walking and hiking the trails near our house and snowshoeing in winter. I love the quiet of the woods and the company of my dogs. I also kayak and bike with my husband. I spend so much time inside at my computer that my favorite ways to relax and unwind are always outside.

If fans want to get to know you better how can they make a connection?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has enjoyed my book (and even those who haven’t). The best way to reach me is through my website. http://www.Patriciahale.org

Patricia thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. Good luck with the new novel!!

Thank you and thanks for having me, it was a lot of fun.

In the Shadow of Revenge

by Patricia Hale

on Tour September 1-30, 2013

Book Details:
Genre: Mystery/Suspense Published by: Carina Press Publication Date: July 15, 2013 Number of Pages: 280 ISBN: 978-14268-9584-5 Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

Everybody thought brilliant Cecily would leave dead-end Miller's Falls for something better. But a two-decades-old tragedy locks her in place. Few understand the fierce bond that Cecily and Amelia share with Hilary, who was assaulted one summer as the two other girls watched helplessly. It's a bond of love and guilt…and a desire for vengeance that cuts clear to the bone. So Assistant DA Cecily Minos waits, eager to see the guy in her courtroom. When Amelia meets a man who has the tattoo the girls remember seeing that day, they think they've finally caught a break. But the police refuse to reopen the case, and it's up to Cecily and Amelia to pursue their suspect. Their investigation soon uncovers secrets best left buried. But the law is slow, and they've waited long enough for revenge…

Read an excerpt:

My lungs were tight as fists and the voice inside my head said run, but my legs couldn’t be trusted. Standing up wouldn’t have gotten me out of there, it would only have drawn attention to the pee that was warm in my shorts and it might have gotten Hilary killed if he was serious about running that blade across her neck. All of a sudden the man stood and keeping his back to us, lowered the kerchief and put a cigarette in his mouth. Hilary never moved though I saw her blink. She was looking at something far away like she was somewhere else entirely and I hoped that that was true so she wouldn’t have to know what happened. He pulled his baseball hat low over his face the same way it’d been when we first climbed into the railcar and without ever looking at us he jumped to the ground and walked away. “Stay here,” I’d told Amelia, though I knew she wasn’t going anywhere. And I ran. I ran faster than I’d ever run not even caring about the pee burning the inside of my legs. I’d taken the woods instead of the path, running in the opposite direction from the way he’d gone. My legs were scraped and bleeding by the time I’d reached the road and the stitch in my side had made it almost impossible to breath, but I just kept thinking of Hilary laying there and I couldn’t stop until I was pulling open my own back door. I ran into the kitchen and through the house until I found my mother kneeling beside her bed, rosary beads draped around her prayerful hands like a spider web. I stood in the doorway and looked at her, imagined wrapping my arms around her neck and her drawing me in, holding me. I imagined feeling safe. She glanced at me standing there then dismissed me with a nod of her head, knee deep in Jesus. I turned and ran for the telephone.

Author Bio:

Patricia Hale is a graduate of the MFA program at Goddard College in Vermont. She is a member of Sister’s in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, NH Writer’s Project and Maine Writer’s and Publisher’s Alliance. Her essays and articles have appeared in New England literary magazines and the anthology, My Heart’s First Steps. When not writing, she enjoys hiking with her dogs and kayaking on the lakes near her home. Patricia lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two German shepherds.