Patti I would like to welcome you to A Romance Review. I am so glad you have made the time to do this interview and let our readers find out more about you and your writing career.

First off, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?

I work for Northwest Airlines as clerical support for 757 Engineering. Being part of the airline industry has given me some wonderful opportunities, not only to learn more about aviation and aircraft, but to travel as well. I've been able to see most of the United States and I've also been to really interesting places like Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Yukon Territory. I don't fly as much as I used to because I spend most of my vacation time writing now.

What made you decide to write and how long after that did you decide to try and become published? Did you pursue any formal training for a writing career?

When I was in 8th grade, I had a friend who was writing a story using all the kids in our class as characters. I didn't like what she did with "me" and she wouldn't change it, so I decided to write my own story thinking I would have control. Little did I know that my characters are the ones with the control and that the best I can hope for is to negotiate with them! But this is what hooked me on writing. I loved it and kept going.

I always wanted to try to become published, but I never truly committed myself to writing, I just dabbled. Then I started "Ravyn's Flight" and that's when I did make the necessary commitment, so I guess it was about the year 2000 that I became serious.

I graduated with a degree in Advertising Copywriting from the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism. I also took a lot of different writing classes at the university and a few more after I finished school.

What made you choose romance and in particular futuristic romance as your subject matter?

I would go to the library and pick up books from all the genres, anything that looked interesting, but if there wasn't a romance in it, I created one in my head as I read. And I won't tell you how involved my storylines were for my Barbie and Ken dolls even when I was six! I guess I was a romance writer in training from a young age.

What fascinates me most, I think, about romance is the interaction between the hero and heroine. I love watching the interplay and how both of them change and grow over the course of the story. Oh, and I love happy endings.

I'm not sure why I became so interested in futuristic romance because it happened before I knew the sub-genre existed. Maybe I'm fascinated with it because anything I can imagine is possible and it gives me a chance to put my characters in some really intriguing situations, things they wouldn't face in the here and now.

You first release, "Ravyn's Flight" won raves from readers as well as several industry awards. Can you tell us a little about this book and how it came into being?

"Ravyn's Flight" takes place about 40 years in the future. Ravyn Verdier is the communications specialist for a Colonization Assessment Team stationed on a planet being studied for possible settlement. The other nineteen members of her team are murdered and she's the only survivor. The hero is Damon Brody, a Special Operations captain for the Western Alliance Army. He and his team are on a training exercise on the planet when they hear the emergency beacon go off. They rush to the rescue, but they're too late. When Damon's men end up dead, he and Ravyn are on the run together, trying to reach an abandoned alien settlement and survive until help can arrive from Earth.

The whole story came because, in my mind's eye, I saw a clock blinking 12:00. I was curious why I was seeing this, and when I asked what was going on, I saw Ravyn huddled on the floor. I knew something bad had happened, but I didn't know what and I had to keep writing to find out.

Did the success of "Ravyn's Flight" make the next book easier or more difficult to write and why?

"Ravyn's Flight" didn't really have an influence on the writing of my next book, but it did play a role in which book I sold next. The story I worked on after Ravyn was much more of a traditional futuristic and it was more character driven than suspenseful. While I had an opportunity to sell it, there wasn't much enthusiasm and it would have required a revamping. In the end, I opted to withdraw the book rather than revise it since it wasn't loved by the editor. Basically, everyone wanted another "Ravyn's Flight" type of book from me, so I've tried to stay with action romance stories since then.

Speaking of the next book, that was "The Power Of Two", the fourth installment of the 2176 series published in November. This book threw you in the company of some very talented authors, Sue Grant, Kathleen Nance and Liz Maverick. First off can you tell me how you came to be selected to participate in this project?

This is a great story because it shows how life puts things into motion long before we realize it. One of the assistant editors at Dorchester line edited "Ravyn's Flight" and loved it. When she talked to Sue Grant, she told Sue about the book and sent her the galley to read, so this would have been in August or September of 2002. Sue read it and liked it, which was a huge thrill for me!

Now fast forward to 2003, I think it was April or so. Sue talked to me and asked if I was interested in putting in a proposal for her 2176 series because she liked my voice and thought it would fit the series. It sounded intriguing, so of course, I said I was interested. I ended up with 12 days to write a proposal and send it in. Then I had to wait. And wait. After four months, I was pretty sure I hadn't sold the story, then at the beginning of September 2003, my agent received the offer. The editor liked my idea and we went from there. The whole thing, though, really started with my galley being sent to Sue almost a year before I joined the 2176 series, so I find it all really cool!

I have read all the books in this series and I must say that it is without a doubt some of the best writing of 2004. You all seemed to have the same vision for what this series should be and each author although creating her own stand-alone book also stayed true to that vision. Can you tell me how you went about accomplishing this? What guide lines were you given in creating your story?

Thanks, Barb! I'm so glad you've enjoyed the books.

We received a series bible that gave us the big picture of the world and what had happened to bring Earth to where it was in 2176. Each book had a little update on what was going on while that story was taking place and there was a goal that we needed to achieve in order to move the series forward. Really, other than fitting into the world and meeting the story goal, the rest was up to the individual writer to create.

For continuity issues, we had a loop where we discussed items and passed on terms and other things that we were using. Sue and I had to do a fair amount of coordinating because our stories were the most closely connected, so we had a few phone calls and emails were zinging back and forth for a while there. It was actually a lot of fun since writing is normally such a solitary endeavor and this time we were able to share with other authors.

Can you tell our readers a little about your contribution to this series, :The Power Of Two"?

For the past five years, Cai Randolph has sat in a control chair and transmitted data through a set of neural implants to her partner, Special Forces Captain Jake Tucker. Jake thinks Cai is a computer, but when the mission to capture Banzai Maguire is assigned to his team, Cai steps out of the shadows. She has to go with him to the Raft Cities. It might be the only place she can find answers about her missing parents and she'll do anything to get them--even face Jake's anger.

This story came to me differently than most do. It began with the concept of nanotechnology, something I'd read about years ago, and I started thinking about what would be cool to do with that. When the thought came about a hero and heroine who were mentally connected, who knew each other intimately, yet had never met in person, I knew I had something fun.

Most heroes and heroines meet, get to know the outer persona and then develop the emotional intimacy as the story progresses. Jake and Cai already had emotional intimacy, but they needed to reconcile that with the face they showed the world and they needed to learn about each other on all levels. This couple was great to work with. They were so loyal and protective of each other from the start, and I found that very sweet.

"The Power Of Two" is only your second published release. Were you at all intimidated at working on such an intertwined project with Sue, Kathleen and Liz?

While I was writing the book, no. I was intimidated by a few other things, though. Like the fact this was my first time selling on proposal, that I'd be trying to pick up and write a story that I hadn't touched for months, and the short deadline. The time I had to write the book was the scariest thing for me. I only had four months and my previous fastest time for writing a whole book was a year. I can't even tell you how tightly wound I was until I finished "The Power of Two."

The intimidation about being part of the series came later, after the first three books got such fabulous reviews. Then I started getting panicked about how I'd compare. Before that, I'd been worried about measuring up to "Ravyn's Flight," but this was more frightening since both Sue and Kathi had been must-buy authors for me for years and I had their books on my keeper shelf!

At this point in time you still have a "day job". How do you find the time to write as well? What is a typical day like for you when you are working on a book?

It's not easy to squeeze the writing in, especially when I work really early hours and by the time I get home, I'm tired! The last thing I usually feel like doing is buckling down and writing. Plus, life makes it hard because there are errands and chores as well. But when I'm working on a book, especially if I have a deadline, I'm writing every spare minute. I'll write before I leave for work, I write on lunch, I write when I get home from work and I write on the weekends. While I was on deadline for "The Power of Two," all I did was go to work, write and sleep.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer and your greatest weakness?

I believe my greatest strength is my characters. They seem to take on a life of their own while I'm writing and I think that makes them come across as real.

Greatest weakness is probably plotting. I'm a seat of the pants writer and very steeped in my characters, so when I'm looking to end a chapter on a high note, I usually pick something revealing about the hero or heroine or a turning point that's going to force character growth instead of suspense/plot item. I'm learning to think of story now, not just characters, and I believe I'm getting better at it. At least it doesn't seem quite as hard as it used to.

Is there anything about the reality of being a published writer that took you totally by surprise and if so what?

I always thought that once I was published, the insecurities about whether or not I was good enough would go away. It really surprised me that they not only stayed, but that I added a whole new set of worries and insecurities on top of them. I used to think I was pretty grounded and balanced, but I haven't been able to say that since I sold "Ravyn's Flight."

Can you share with us anything you are working on now that will be coming out in 2005?

My next story will be the third book in the Crimson City series. My hero and heroine are both half demon and half human and have issues to deal with because of this. I'm not very far yet, but I'm really enjoying Mika and Conor. Both of them are edgier than characters I've worked with before and Mika has this mischievous streak. Since she's so unusual for me, I think it'll be a writing challenge, but then every book presents at least one of those.

Do you plan to stay with the futuristic theme or perhaps try different sub genres?

The Crimson City series, while set in the future, seems more paranormal to me, so I'm already kind of branching out into other areas.

I also have a paranormal proposal making the rounds about a heroine who's a troubleshooter for a society of magic users. Talk about kick-butt heroines! Of course her issue is that she has something to prove. And I have a romantic suspense proposal that I'm working on and hope to have out there at some point.

What is the best way for your readers to get in touch with you?

Readers can email me at patti@pattioshea.com I'd love to hear from people!

What would you like to see yourself writing wise is say 10 years?

I'd like to be writing full time in 10 years and not have to juggle the day job with my writing time! That's the biggie. Other than that, I hope I'm writing stories that touch people in some way and make the reader happy they spent a few hours with my characters.

Thank you for spending some time with me and answering my questions. I wish you much continued success.