Upcoming Author of the Month: Patricia Bridewell

From A Writer’s POV is starting something new this month; highlighting upcoming authors. This month I sat down with Patricia Bridewell. I did an article on her for the month of February in our magazine www.fromawriterspovmagazine.com Today I am posting the interview I had with her that’s a little more personal. Check it out

Dominique Watson (DW): Congrads on being featured as the upcoming author for our February Edition. Becoming a published author is a big step in a writer’s life. What has been your experience?

Patricia Bridewell (PB): My experiences were probably similar, if not the same as most beginning authors’ challenges. We all know that rejections are the norm, especially for first-time authors. I had done a lot of research on the literary business, but I still could not find all of the answers I needed. There was so much information out there until it was like sorting through dirty laundry trying to find a clean shirt.  I did not personally know any other authors at that time. My question was how could I possibly know which advice to follow?  After my manuscript had been edited, I waited several months and then submitted it to several agents. I received the infamous rejection letter from one—no answers from the other two. Next, I submitted my manuscript to two publishers, and one offered me a publishing contract.

DW: What have been some of your challenges as a new author?

PB: My challenges have been to try to maintain an equal balance between my regular jobs and my author job.  Leisure time and rest fall somewhere in between.  Rest is imperative. I take my work seriously, and I tend to dive in—full force. I am a registered nurse, who hung up my uniform four years ago to become a college professor, and I absolutely love teaching. My classes are four days a week. I own a small nurse consulting/CPR training business, and I write. I had a ton of things going on.  After the book was released in March of 2009, my fiancé took over the small business. 

DW: How do you market your book?

PB: I have a publicist, and my book is  marketed and promoted online.  I visit local book stores and talk to the owners,  I distribute promotional information, write articles, and blogs, attend  literary conferences, blog radio shows, and network with other authors and people in the business.

DW: Are you apart of any social networks or groups that help you as a writer?

PB: Oh yes.  Social networks have become a huge part of my life.  I am sure that I have joined at least twenty-five plus social networks, including Facebook and Twitter. I am also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. They have a large number of various author critique and discussion boards, and so many other benefits for members.

DW: Have you stepped out of the authors seat and stepped into owning your own business or providing a literary service? Most authors do this at this point in their career.

PB: Aside from my business, I have thought of some day providing a literary service for new authors.  I like to help and encourage other people, and this would be something I could do to give back.  Most of what I have learned came from other authors who were willing to share their information.

DW: Are you working on another book yet? if so, tell us about it.

PW: My second novel is in the editing phase. I contributed a short story to the anthology, Gumbo for the Soul: Women of Honor, Special Pink Edition. The title of the story is Forever in My Heart: Her Quiet Strength.  This anthology pays homage to women who are fighting or have lost their battles with breast cancer.  It will be released in late 2010. My story was a tribute to my late mother.

DW: Where can your book be purchased and how can we see more about you?

PW: My book can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org
autographed copies— visit my website www.patriciabridewell.com
www.patricia-bridewell-reflections.blogspot.com
Google – Patricia A. Bridewell for articles and other websites.

DW: Congrads on everything you are doing and be sure to come back to From A Writer’s POV when you publish your next book!

PW: I certainly will.  Thank you so much for the opportunity to be featured in POV Magazine.

Be sure to check out the article writtern on Patricia Bridewell. www.fromawriterspovmagazine.com

Before we end today’s blog…

Find out how you can be the Upcoming Author of the Month: http://fromawriterspovmagazine.com/issue/january-2010/article/upcoming-authors-spotlight

Signing Off,

Dominique Watson