Patricia Waddell is a multi-published author in both historical and futuristic romance. Her historical, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, was a Rita Finalist.

Pat writes for the pure joy of escaping the day-to-day confines of reality, the reason she thinks most of us pick up a book. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Pat races home after a full day as a professional accountant to take up her second job as a romance writer.

A firm believer that life can never have too many happy endings, Pat enjoys creating strong, outspoken characters with a touch of humor and a sprinkling of the unexpected.

Pat currently resides in Florida with her husband, Phillip. Writing is her passion, and she loves to walk through the fictional looking glass into the world of romance, past, present and future.

An Interview with Patricia Waddell

PNR: Welcome back Patricia, please tell readers a little about yourself; what do you enjoy doing when not writing?

Patricia W.: When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job as a professional accountant or I'm reading. My husband is the active one in the family, but whenever he makes a trip to the beach for a little surfing safari, I can be found sitting under an umbrella on the beach with a good book.

PNR: In 1999 when you released THE ALLIANCE for a small press, NYC was not buying Futuristic Romance. Following that you signed a multi-book contract with Kensington and published a number of Historical Romances for them. THE ALLIANCE was critically acclaimed and you decided to write another entitled WHISPERS IN THE STARS for Dorchester. By this time Futuristics were taking off among paranormal enthusiasts due to the success of writers like Susan Grant, Catherine Spangler and Robin D. Owens. In our last interview in March 2003 you predicted another of your futuristic titles could be expected in 2004. Instead we saw more historical romances including your well known Gentlemen's Club series also with Kensington. Readers are delighted that a new futuristic romance is finally making its way to the shelves. Why the delay?

Patricia W.: The Gentlemen's Club series dominated my writing schedule for a full two years, there simply wasn't time to write anything else.

PNR: TRUE BLOOD is published by Tor Books a publisher well known for SF/Futuristic novels and more recently for the romance variety. Do you feel that the mainstream romance publishers are still not on board with Futuristic romance or was there another reason for the move?

Patricia W.: No. Actually, I think Tor is right on the mark when it come to the paranormal genre. They'd been satisfying sci-fi and fantasy readers for years, and they know what it takes to makes a good book. I'm thrilled to be writing for them.

PNR: Recently historical romance has been on the wane, and several traditional regency lines have been closed. You've had some experience with the mercurial nature of the publishing industry. Will you continue to write historical romances or do you think it's best to adapt and change direction?

Patricia W.: I love writing historical romance, and while I'm currently concentrating on my new series for Tor, I can't say that I won't write another one. As for adapting and changing direction, I've never been one to follow the rules. I write what I enjoy writing. My first book was a historical, my second a futuristic, and I just finished a contemporary for the Silhouette Bombshell line.

PNR: Let's talk about your new release, could you tell readers a little about TRUE BLOOD?  How did the idea for this story develop?

Patricia W.: Actually, the idea for this story had been buzzing around in my head for some time. TRUE BLOOD is a dark futuristic romance suspense. Again, something new for me. I had the opportunity to meet Anna Genoese at a writer’s conference in South Florida. She had read WHISPERS IN THE STARS and she asked me to pitch her an idea. I literally pitched the concept for TRUE BLOOD off the top of my head, and she liked it!

PNR: How do you approach the world building for your futuristic societies? How much research goes into its development? 

Patricia W.: I can't say that I do 'research' when I'm writing a futuristic. I've always followed the premise that if something has happened in the past or happening now, it can happen again in the future. I just pick a theme and let my imagination run with it.

The world building is the fun part. I love creating new cultures and customs. If I can take the reader into my 'world' and keep them there, then I’ve done my job as a writer.

PNR: The plot in TRUE BLOOD centers on politics, power and intrigue; could you tell us about the development of this storyline? Is this a universal plot, regardless of setting?

Patricia W.: Yes, I've have to say that it's universal. The events that take place in TRUE BLOOD certainly have a political theme, and could easily be related to what's happening in our world today. There are two major galactic powers, The Korcian Empire and the League of Planets, but the outer regions of deep space are controlled by a corporate cartel known as the Conglomerate.  The initial conflict is political, but it doesn't take long for the hero and heroine to discover that the politics are personally motivated, which again, isn't all that different from what we heard on the news everyday. But the political theme doesn't prevent the personal, emotional side of the characters from coming through. This book is packed with emotions, in fact, I think it's the most emotionally stimulating story I've ever written.

PNR: Could you tell us a little about Danna and Cullon? Was it difficult to bring two alien cultures together and find common ground? Do you have a favorite character you have written?

Patricia W.: Cullon and Danna were fun to write. Danna is a diplomat. Cullon is the perfect warrior. They personalities clash from the moment they meet, and yet their sharing of a common goal forces them to accept one another.

I don't really have a favorite character in this book, but I do think that Cullon is the sexiest hero I've ever written. 

PNR: Do you feel your writing is plot driven or character driven?

Patricia W.: I've always been a character driven author, but again, this book is different from anything I've written in the past. It has a very strong, action-packed plot. To me the plot is the stage that I put my characters on to perform, if the plot is strong the characters have to be strong enough to act their way through to the end of the story - so one compliments the others.

PNR: Could you tell us about your plans for the world you created in TRUE BLOOD; will we be seeing more of this futuristic society?

Patricia W.: Yes, TRUE BLOOD is the beginning of a series for Tor. The second book, TRUE DECEPTION, will be out in 2007. The series will be a continuation of the story concept, not the characters, although Danna and Cullon will be making cameo appearances in each of the new books.

PNR: Your Futuristics are very popular with readers, THE ALLIANCE and WHISPERS IN THE STARS were both finalists for PEARL Awards. How does it feel to have such positive recognition for your work?

Patricia W.: I'm always pleased with readers identify with and enjoy my characters.

PNR: You have written in the historical and futuristic genres; what is your favorite genre to write?  Is there any style or genre of story that you would like to try but haven't yet?

Patricia W.: I can't say that I have a favorite genre. I can say that writing a good futuristic challenges me in ways that writing an historical doesn't.

As for other types of stories, as I mentioned, I just finished my first contemporary. JUSTICE FOR ALL will be released by Bombshell in 2007. 

One day, I think I'll like to try my hand at pure fantasy. I've been a reader of fantasy for years and have always enjoyed the genre.

PNR: Could you tell us about your current projects, what can readers expect to see in the coming months?

Patricia W.: More futuristics. I don't plan on writing anything else. I've found a series of stories that I want to tell, and a publisher who is eager to put them on the shelf.

PNR: Thank you Patricia, for taking time out to speak with us; where can readers find out more about your work?

Patricia W.: Thank you, please visit http://www.patriciawaddell.com/

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Futuristic Titles

Tor Books
August 29, 2006
ISBN #0765354640
Paperback

TRUE BLOOD
Someone's out for blood . . True Blood

The unexplained explosion of the space freighter Llyndar brings the League of Planets and the Korcian Empire to the brink of war. The Korcian Guard is on full alert, and the League is depending on Officer Danna MacFadyen of the Diplomat Corps to defuse the situation. At the request of her superiors, Danna puts her psychometric skills to work. Was the explosion tragedy or terrorism? But Danna's soon burdened with another question . . . Can she work side-by- side with Cullon Gavriel, a handsome Korcian Enforcer, without losing her heart?

Fighting isn't just in a Korcian's blood, it's in his very soul. An Enforcer by trade and a loner by choice, Cullon Gavriel arrives on Ramora with one purpose in mind: to find out who's killing True Bloods. What he finds is a beautiful Terran female with the ability to step into the past. But can the information Danna gleans from her dreamscapes prevent future murders?

As the pieces of an explosive puzzle fall into place, Danna and Cullon step into a conspiracy that stretches across the galaxy to the capital city of the Korcian Empire, where shocking secrets are waiting to be discovered, and where the lines between power and politics, and life and love cross unexpectedly.

WHISPERS IN THE STARS - The only female sovereign in the galaxy, Lady Zara is descended from women who can telepathically sense people's emotions. But her gift feels more like a curse as she faces the raw strength of her betrothed—a stranger sent to uncover her secrets, to breach her defenses both as a monarch and a bride. As Commander of the Galactic Guard, Logan has sacked many a stronghold, and the defiant ruler of Nubria will be merely one more conquest. As he schools his new spouse in the ways of passion, though, Logan longs to trust the whispers in the stars that speak of a warrior and a priestess joined by the love that links their very souls.

Reuel Shatar, the handsome Governor of Pyrali and its three moons, is noble to his galactic core and duty bound to produce the next ruler of the Alliance. His choice is to blackmail a beautiful dissident into his mating chamber or have the House of Shatar fall into disgrace.

Christa Kirklan is as stubborn as her Earthling heritage and as unpredictable as a cosmic storm. Faced with exile to a frigid asteroid for her treasonous dialogue, or marriage to the man who represents everything she hates, Christa reluctantly chooses marriage.

What better arena to voice her discontentment with the empires prejudice and archaic social culture than the Alliance's own dais? What better way to raise her people from outcasts to noble citizens than to put an Earthling on the future throne of the galaxy?

Pyrali watches as Lord Shatar pledges his allegiance to an alien, while Christa vows to find the real reason behind Reuel's seductive scheme. United in a political union, forged by a man's hidden shame and a woman's quest for freedom, the Alliance trembles under the final test of their love.