Guest Author, Patti Shenberger

Today's guest author is Patti Shenberger, fellow Wild Rose Press author and Trisha Yearwood fan :). Patti's paranormal novella, The Laird's Lady, which recently came out in print, is the perfect read for a snowy afternoon at home.

And now, here's Patti:

Who are you?

I am Patti Shenberger. Wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, aunt, niece, and writer. I have been writing the majority of my life and was first published it 1994 in non-fiction and in 1998 in romantic fiction. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What type of stories do you like to write and why?

I write both romantic fiction and non-fiction. Everything from magazine length articles to full length romance novels. My first sale was a non-fiction piece on how to make potato jewelry for kids. Since then I have published over 20 fiction and non-fiction magazine articles, romance novels, novellas and short stories.

What type of stories do you like to read and why?

I love to read romance, but I also enjoy biographies. Right now I am reading a riveting book by Chip St. Clair called The Butterfly Garden. It is the true story of how he learned his father was a serial killer of children and he turned him in to the police.

When do you write?

I do my best work in the morning. The kids are grown and gone, and once hubby goes to work I find myself heading to the computer. That said, I do my very best work when I am under deadline. When not on deadline, I write in chunks, and not always in any order. I may work on the end of the book when only chapters 1-5 have been written.

When do you read? Where?

I read at night mostly. In bed, usually from 9- 11 p.m. But I always have a book in my purse, in the car, anywhere I go. Even on vacation! This past vacation I read three novels :).

Where did you get the inspiration for The Laird’s Lady?

I literally got the idea while listening to Trisha Yearwood’s song, How Do I Live Without You. I envisioned a woman, a ghost and a castle and ran with the idea. Hence, The Laird’s Lady. A true book of my heart.

Where do you go to think?

I do my best thinking at night, after the lights are out when I am lying in bed getting ready to drift off. Problem is I really need to write those ideas down as when morning comes I don’t always remember them. And that’s a bad thing because they were brilliant when I first had the thoughts!

How did you come up with your title and main characters’ names?

My last two books I ‘borrowed’ my third cousin’s first names :). They are Meg and Devin. I think they are wonderful names for heroes. For the hero – Laird Kyle MacLay – I used my great grandfathers name McLay and added an extra ‘a’. Titles are the first thing I come up with when I sit down to write.

How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?

I have been writing since grade school, won awards for my writing in high school, but didn’t get serious about it until after I married and had children. My first non-fiction sale was 1885, and first romantic fiction release was in 1998 with Womb For Rent. So a long time :).

Why do you write?

I write because it makes me feel good. And it also stops the voices in my head if I put their words on paper. Seriously though, I can’t imagine a better job than this. Writing what I love, and getting paid to do so. Who could ask for more?

Patti has been writing since she could put a pen to paper. She loves writing anything with a happy ending. Living in Michigan surrounded by family and friends gives her plenty of ideas for novels. When not writing, Patti can be found curled up with a good book, or off traveling to someplace warm with an ocean view. Currently she is hard at work on both a single title and a category romance. Please stop by www.pattishenberger.com and take a look around or email her at pattishenberger@comcast.net