My Progress Report
I told you in January that I had made only one New Year’s Resolution, which was to finish my first novel. Although, I’ve making progress, I’m still struggling to carve out the time required to get it done.
I get distracted by my blog and writing devotionals for a couple of places. Plus, the demand that a writer build a platform (an audience) keeps me conflicted. The truth is once you publish your book, you’re only halfway there. You have to market it.
A Win-Win Proposition
That’s why for the next few weeks, I’ve invited some of my writer friends to tell you about the books they’ve written. Hopefully, it will expand their audience and keep my blog active.
Meet Pat Laster
Today I want to introduce you to Pat Laster. Pat and I met at my first writers’ retreat at the Hemingway Pfeiffer Educational Center in Piggott several years ago.
Afterwards, Pat invited me to her critique group, Central Arkansas Writers, where I met three more dedicated writers. Not only did these women give me the courage to write my novel, but they also taught me a great deal about the process. Although I don’t meet with them anymore, I am grateful to each one and for the friendships that developed.
Music and Language
Pat is a multi-talented lady. A music major, she taught music in the public school and served as a church musician. After she shifted from teaching music to the talented and gifted program, Pat became interested in writing.
She says it took her from 1998 until 2010 to complete her first novel, A Journey of Choice. Shortly thereafter, she began the sequel, Her Face in the Glass, which she published last year.In addition to her novels, Pat writes a weekly column for The Amity Arkansas Standard. She’s also a frequent contributor to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette guest editorial column and serves as the poetry editor for Calliope; A Writer’s Workshop by Mail. In addition, Pat has written 120 book reviews on Amazon.
I asked Pat to share some details about the development of her novels, A Journey of Choice and Her Face in the Glass.
The Interview
Are your characters based on people you’ve known? What drew you to them? Do you have a favorite?
I answered the first question earlier. No, except for the aunt and uncle, who soon exited the scene, the only other character loosely based on anyone was Frona Lee. Of course, Liddy is my favorite. There were a few autobiographical bits included in her dialogue. I said in Journey’s… dedication that if you thought you saw yourself, it was your problem––I didn’t put anyone there.
Is it set in current time or did you choose another period? If so, why?
Since Journey… started in the 1930s, Her Face … had to follow, so it was during WW2. It was the period of my childhood, though the only war experience in my family was that my father helped build Fort Leonard Wood. Three missing fingers kept him from the regular service.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your book?
Where can we buy your books?
Learn More About Pat
www.PatLaster.com
To read some of Pat’s prose jump over to her blog, Pittypatter-Pittypatter at
You can read some of her verse at Pittypatter
I hope you’ll get better acquainted with my talented friend.
Copyright ©Reflections from Dorothy’s Ridge 2016. All rights reserved
If not for the two of you, Dorothy and Pat, I'm not sure I would have ever found the confidence to write. Thank goodness for writer friends and Hemingway-Pfeiffer.
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If not for you, I wouldn't be blogging. I agree HP is a great place. I'm forever grateful to Mary Lester for taking me there.
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Thank you Dorothy, for thinking about and supporting your published-writer friends. Looking forward to the next… and the next….xoxo
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My pleasure! xoxo back to you.
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Good post. Thank you, Dorothy for sharing your space while you work on your book. May it move along smoothly.
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I'm happy to. Like I said, its a win-win proposition.
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