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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Author Interview with Patience Griffin and Giveaway


PATIENCE GRIFFIN grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River, living life in a close-knit community. She loves to quilt and has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. With a master’s degree in nuclear engineering, she’s a nerdy girl to the core, but loves to read books which make her laugh. She lives in Texas with a hyper Sheltie, a Bishon-poo and a bulimic stray cat.

Find Patience at:

A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less.
Welcome to the Scottish seaside town of Gandiegow--where a spunky reporter and a sexy movie star write their own unforgettable story of love.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?
I really enjoy the scenes that have a lot of emotion in them because to me that’s what reading is all about. It’s fun to right a scene where everything goes wrong for the hero and heroine because their emotions are heightened. Sad scenes can be very satisfying because the emotions are raw. Resolution scenes are particularly gratifying because all the emotions can be wrapped up to make the reader feel like they themselves had a happily-ever-after.

If you could have dinner with any three authors (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?
The first person who came to mind was Jane Austen. I didn’t find Jane until I was twenty-two and a new mother. She completely transported me to her world and I’ve been crushing on Mr. Darcy, Colonel Brandon, and Captain Wentworth ever since. It wasn’t until later when I read her letters that I thought it would be a hoot to be in her inner circle, her confidante. She had a wicked wit about her that I can appreciate. I’m sure I would’ve been scandalized by what she said, but constantly laughing.

The other two were harder to pick. Here’s the great thing about being a romance writer and involved in RWA—I’ve met a lot of the women writers with whom I would like to hang out. Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Janet Chapman to name two. And in a few weeks I’m going to a tea with Diana Gabaldon as the guest of honor.

Taking all that into consideration, I finally chose my last two dinner mates— Amy Tan and Olivia Goldsmith. I don’t expect to run into them at a conference or share a shuttle with them (that’s how I met Vicki Lewis Thompson). Amy Tan made me feel what it would be like to walk out of China, helped me to live past my own experiences, gave me a different perspective on life. I found a sisterhood in Olivia Goldsmith’s books, a common ground. In Switcheroo, when she drove the car into the pool, I laughed so hard that I cried, because I had experienced that kind of desperation in my own life.

Thank you for that great question. I enjoyed making a list of all my favorite authors and thinking about why I love their stories so much. You made me think!

What are you favorite types of stories to read?
I love Scotland set romances—historical or contemporary. Give me a wee bit of plaid and a man in a kilt and I’m there. I love books that are smart and funny with big plots and lots of subplots. And of course, I love happy endings.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
Right now, I am completing the third book in the Kilts and Quilts series. I’m having a lot of fun with it. One of my critique partners is seriously in love with the hero in book three. I told her, if she doesn’t stop swooning over the hero, that I’m going to rat her out to her husband.


To escape your daily life, do you submerge yourself with books, television, people, or shopping? What is your cathartic routine?



Welcome to the charming Scottish seaside town of Gandiegow—where two people have returned home for different reasons, but to find the same thing.…

Caitriona Macleod gave up her career as an investigative reporter for the role of perfect wife. But after her husband is found dead in his mistress’s bed, a devastated Cait leaves Chicago for the birthplace she hasn’t seen since she was a child. She’s hoping to heal and to reconnect with her gran. The last thing she expects to find in Gandiegow is the Sexiest Man Alive! She just may have stumbled on the ticket to reigniting her career—if her heart doesn’t get in the way.

Graham Buchanan is a movie star with many secrets. A Gandiegow native, he frequently hides out in his hometown between films. He also has a son he’ll do anything to protect. But Cait Macleod is too damn appealing—even if she is a journalist.

Quilting with her gran and the other women of the village brings Cait a peace she hasn’t known in years. But if she turns in the story about Graham, Gandiegow will never forgive her for betraying one of its own. Should she suffer the consequences to resurrect her career? Or listen to her battered and bruised heart and give love another chance?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |



Check out what's up for grabs.


Up For Grabs: 
  • 2 copy of To Scotland with Love

To Enter: 
  • Please answer Patience's question: To escape your daily life, do you submerge yourself with books, television, people, or shopping? What is your cathartic routine?
  • US shipping ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Patience Griffin & Penguin for sponsoring this giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

36 comments :

  1. I come home from work and watch TV - Once I have unwound alittle then I pick up a book.

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    1. Good morning, Debs Desk (great handle!),
      I use a little TV to unwind, too. I know THEY (whoever they are) say not to eat while watching TV, but it's the only time I really get without the computer in front of me. Lunch is usually a salad, catching up on the news or the Big Bang Theory. Nice escape.

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  2. I love to read to escape! Thanks so much for sharing ;)

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    1. Erin, I read before bed...a dangerous, sleep-depriving activity.

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  3. I usually go to exercise classes in the morning and then go home. I see friends a couple of times a week, read books, and get on my computer. Also love to play with my yorkie-chihuahua.

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    1. I love my dogs too. Scout, my Bishon-poo, sits in my recliner with me while I write. I bet your yorkie-chihuahua is adorable.

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  4. I love to read and can't even imagine a life without books.

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    1. I understand where you're coming from. My daughter used to sleep with her books instead of stuffed animals.

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  5. Replies
    1. Reading is a huge stress reliever, isn't it? If only there were more hours in the day!

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  6. I definitely read for escape & don't watch much TV. No $ to shop at the moment!

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    1. I'm not a shopper. But I had to buy some clothes last week. Apparently it isn't acceptable to go to a booksigning naked. Enjoy your books!

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  7. Books, Bunnies, and TV. I love reading and listening to books, but I have my 2 bunnies in the Rec Room. Coco's cage is next to my chair and Scotchy's is on the other side of the room. The boys have been in bunny jail for chewing on electrical cords, but playing with them while watching the tube, absolutely will decompress me.

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    1. Pets certainly have a way of helping to alleviate stress. My husband's family had a rabbit. My mother-in-law would put it on a leash and take it for walks around the neighborhood. They have fond memories of their rabbit.

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  8. After working in Health care, I escape with books and the felines along with gardening. Looking forward to your book!
    Dawn Pttravelingspirit@hotmail.com

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    1. Hi, Dawn,
      Gardening is a big stress reliever. I love to be outside which is difficult to do in the summer here in Dallas. The heat can be brutal. But I love my flowers out front and really enjoy them, no matter the weather. I hope you're having a lovely Sunday. Keep in touch and let me know what you think of To Scotland with Love.
      Take care,
      Patience

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  9. I have found my cats to be a great stress reliever. Just listening to them purr does it for me. Look forward to reading to this book.
    rjprazak6@gmail.com
    Becky Prazak

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    1. Hello, Ms. Becky,
      Nice to see you here. I hope you're having a great day and your weather is good. My cat is 150 years old. She's a stray that ran into our house 15 years ago when we lived in Iowa. We looked for her owners for three weeks and stopped when the vet told us that she was probably dumped. She loves to sit beside me while I'm writing. And yes, the purring can be relaxing.
      Take care,
      Patience

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  10. I definitely use books to escape the daily stresses of life but my poodle Chloe helps too :)

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    1. My Bishon-poodle mix thinks it's his job to keep me sane. He gives me love 24/7 and asks nothing more than to sit beside me and get scratched. He's a great way to keep the blood pressure down.

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  11. I read and have cats and dogs to escape. :-)

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  12. Hi, everyone! I thought I would chime in here. I really like to walk around my neighborhood to relax. Sometimes I listen to the soundtrack of the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice which has a lot of piano music. It kind of transports me to place outside of my worries.

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  13. I love to submerge myself in books. There is nothing better. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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    1. Anita,
      Do you think we could petition for more hours in the day so we could read more? I wonder who we can talk to about that...
      Take care,
      Patience

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  14. I escape by reading and watching TV. :)

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Marcy,
      What is your favorite TV show? Or shows? I'm rather fond of the Hallmark channel and have trained PhD to watch the movies with me. He's a good husband, isn't he?
      Best,
      Patience

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  15. I escape from the real world in the pages of a good romance.

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    1. Cherly C, there's nothing like a good love story to help us escape! I'm to an age where I only want to read happy endings. Life is too short otherwise.
      Take care,
      Patience

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  16. I read or take a walk with my iPod and listen to an audiobook

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  17. Books books and more books.. With the tv on in the background ;)

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    1. Okay, Krysten, I have to know what's on in the background? Is it HGTV or NCIS? I'm a huge Deadliest Catch fan (but I've missed a chunk of this season due to book launch stuff).
      Take care,
      Patience

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  18. When I have some time to relax I usually read a book.

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  19. It used to be friends and going out but now that most of them have gotten married and had children (eek!) LOL I've settled into a more relaxed life. I much prefer life in front of the tube or cuddle with a book...

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  20. My escape is and always has been through books. It lets my imagination flow, my hope soar. It's the most relaxing thing I can do.

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