Interview with author Patti Hultstrand - BK Walker Books virtual book tour

As I continue to host the BK Walker Books Authors Promoting Authors virtual blog tour, today I welcome author Patti Hultstrand.

Welcome, Patti!

Please tell us about your current release, Rescue in Time.
Rescue In Time is book 2 in the Chasing Time series, behind last year’s Time Conquers All.

In Time Conquers All, Tamea, a nineteen-year old warrior princess from the India region of the world in the late 1500s, is being plagued by disturbing dreams and visions of the future. Tamea is assigned to protect a visiting king from a neighboring country while their two countries solidify a treaty that will benefit both countries. This king brings with him assassins that want to kill him and his family who are hiding a bigger secret regarding the origins of his country.

This king is not who he seems, and Tamea must unravel the intrigue that surrounds him and his country, but even more important, she must find out why he has been haunting her dreams and visions.

In book 2, Rescue In Time due to release this month, we find Tamea and Parker are connected by more than just their countries' alliances, but have a destiny to discern. Tamea continues to have the disturbing vision where Parker dies in her arms from a successful assassins bullet. She is subconsciously trying to solve the outcome to save his life in the future.

Meanwhile, in the 1500s, Tamea and Parker must take their countries to war with their neighboring country of Bengal who have been implicated as the mastermind behind the assassination attempts on both of their families' lives. Tamea must learn that not all those close to her can be trusted, maybe not even the man she loves.

What inspired you to write this book?
I gummed on Ray Bradbury's stories back in Jr. High and became my first love. When I met Mr. Bradbury back in 1986, I started following some of his writing theories and life lessons. I used one of those when writing Time Conquers All: in writing your story, not stopping until it is written, then go back and edit, edit, edit.

What exciting story are you working on next?
In my own writing: I have been working on Mahal which is a historical romance about the fictionalized story behind the Taj Mahal. And I am working on The Bad Easter Bunny for release early next year. (I may be changing this title – not sure yet). And I am working on a set of short stories all set in “The Center of Time Bar” which will also be written as a screenplay for television.

While I do these projects, I will also be sending to edit, book 3 and 4 in the Chasing Time series, both for Ebook release by end of this year, but not out in print until 2011.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was asked for my autograph, I knew I was an author. Then I reconfirmed I was a writer when I received my first review.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
It would be the latter. I own and run several businesses in graphic design and book publishing and work at a print shop as work comes in that I am needed to design. I have been a graphic designer for over 20 years, and have been a graphic design business owner for over 16 of those years. It has been since 2008 that I added book publishing services and website design to my list of business interests.

How do I find time to write?
That is the toughest question – because I really don’t write as much as I would like and probably should.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmmm – I write directly from my thoughts into the keyboard. My most effective way to write has been to fly by the seat of my pants, so to speak. I have tried other peoples’ methods of writing an outline and writing scenes, then going back and pulling them together. These methods don’t work for me and is why Book 5 in the Chasing Time series is still such a mess. So, I’m not taking any more advice.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A ballerina and a singer. Unfortunately, I have weak ankles and can’t sing all that well. But, I can dance and have rhythm. And I ooze way too much creativity to not do something with it all, so I became a graphic designer, web designer and a writer.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I am a more complicated reader so I write more complicated plots that when I finally solve the core conflict, it is my belief that people will wonder how in the world I came up with this resolution. And then they will want to go back and read them again to see how I did this. Example of my kind of complex epic would be the Amber series by Roger Zelazny.

I had an agent recently tell me that they loved the idea I was leading in this series, but he felt I couldn’t hold the overall story arc together to complete the series. It is my goal to prove him wrong and to bring another complex series with characters you will miss when the overall story is done.

People can learn more about me at my blog: http://azpublishingservices.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your time, Patti. I wish you all the best with your writing and publishing endeavors!

Readers, leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win one of several gifts from promoter of this VBT, BK Walker. Gifts include: a $25 Visa Gift Card, book light,a free-of-charge virtual book tour, or one writing package which includes a journal, pen, book light, and book marker.

My next guest for the blog tour is June 28 - Janet Friesler