Tell about yourself (family, pets, favorite foods, hobbies, where you grew up, etc.) and two or three things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing.
I live in Alberta, Canada, with my husband and our teenaged son. The winters here are long and cold, which can keep me inside a lot—and writing! We have a Quaker parrot who needs exactly 12 hours of sleep every night, and if he doesn’t get it, he becomes a complete menace. And as for hobbies, I absolutely love dollhouse miniatures! I have three dollhouse rooms set up in the cubbies of my desk—just random little rooms tucked into my desk space—that I’m always working on. They’re a lot of fun.
What genre (s) do you write?
I write inspirational romance for Love Inspired and Kensington Books. I also write sweet romance (which means it only heats up to a kiss, but there is no faith element) for Harlequin Heartwarming.
Are you Indy, or traditionally published, or both?
I’m traditionally published. I admire Indy authors, though. You have to be good at so many things to self-publish, and I admire that combination of skills that lets them do it well.
What are you working on now?
I’m always working on a new book! At the time of answering these questions, I’m working on a book for my Butternut Amish Bed and Breakfast miniseries for Harlequin Heartwarming. (The first book in this miniseries comes out in the spring of 2023, so there is a lag between writing a book and getting it to my readers.) I’m really enjoying writing these books, though—they’re cozy and let me delve into the lives of the guests who pass through the bed-and-breakfast. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself!
Do you read outside of your genre? If so, what other genres do you like to read?
Oh, I read all sorts of different genres. I read murder mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, classic literature… I find it helps my writing to read broadly. A writer has to bring ideas to her books, and you have to find them somewhere. For me, this is the trick. (And “the trick” is different for everyone!)
Did the first book you wrote get published? How long were you writing before you were published?
Oh, heavens, no! The first romance I wrote was absolutely terrible. Embarrassingly terrible. I wrote for several years some small presses writing some historical fiction, and then some romance for some e-presses. After getting my confidence back up again that I was indeed capable of writing a book, I decided to give my dream of writing romance for Harlequin another shot. That book was a good romance, and it almost got accepted, but then got turned down because my hero’s job, that was central to the story, wasn’t quite what they were looking for at the time. (He was a lawyer.) I was crushed at first, and then I got determined. I’d come so close, and I really wanted that contract! So I tried again with a different story. That book, His Unexpected Family, was published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired in 2013.
When you are writing, do you like complete silence, or do you like to listen to music? If so, what kind of music do you like? What are your favorite writing snacks?
I like silence. I need the quiet to get into my own head and let the story flow. As for writing snacks, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I eat toast, sometimes popcorn, sometimes cut fruit… My desk is set up in the living room, so I’m close to the kitchen, and it shows.
How long have you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always loved writing. It’s just how my brain works. As a little girl, I’d sit up in my room writing story after story, and I never really stopped. So I think I was born a writer, and I’d dreamed of getting published for almost as long.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
My 42nd book is on the shelves right now, The Amish Matchmaker’s Choice. My favorite book is always my current one! I’ve worked so hard to bring this one out into the world, and I really want to share it with my readers.
If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?
I actually DID write a spinoff miniseries off of The Amish Matchmaker’s Choice! In this story, Adel wants to be the matchmaker for her community and she has to prove herself to the bishop. Unfortunately, she finds herself falling for her client. So when she marries him (I hope that spoiler doesn’t ruin anything for you), what will she do for the women she tried to introduce her husband to? She feels terrible! What kind of a matchmaker does that? So she is determined to find them all matches. And that begins my next miniseries, Amish Country Matches. The first book in that miniseries comes out in September
Learn more about Patricia and her writing here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaJohnsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorPatJohns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpatjohns/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/patricia-johns
Here are some links to Patricia’s The Amish Matchmaker’s Choice
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335759276_the-amish-matchmakers-choice.html
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-amish-matchmakers-choice-patricia-johns/1140558672?ean=9781335759276
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/search?filter=&id=8388281320105&query=The+Amish+Matchmaker%27s+Choice
