Keep Me In Mind Tour: Pat Henshaw’s What’s in a Name
Keep Me In Mind Tour: Pat Henshaw’s What’s in a Name
Today Pat Henshaw stops by to talk about herself, her writing and her new release What’s in a Name?
Welcome Pat, since this is the first time you been on my blog, tell everyone a bit about yourself.
I’m originally from the United States’ Midwest and have lived on all three coasts—Northern Virginia, Texas, and now California. I started out to be a theatrical costumer, but became a book reviewer when I was hired by the Houston Post. Until I reviewed a book that started with a detailed description of a serial killer flaying a woman in Central Park, I reviewed mysteries. After that, I quickly switched to reviewing romances to get away from the gore. On the family front, my husband and I have two grown daughters and twin grandchildren.
You’ve just started to publish, but before this you’ve been a voracious reader and reviewer, how many books do you read and review a year?
I’m no longer reviewing books for the publications for whom I was working at the first part of this year. In 2013, my last full year of reviewing, I reviewed a little over 150 books for three places: All About Romance, Booklist, and The Romance Reviews. My guess is that I read another 50 or so in my free time. Last year was considerably less because I was writing, and this year will follow last year.
Your new book, What’s in a Name? is your first published work isn’t it?
What’s in a Name? is the first book from an independent publisher. In 2013 I self-published a novel, The Vampire’s Food Chain, in which I mix vampires and gods. It’s the first of three novels in the series. I’m currently writing the second vampire book, Devil’s Food, in which the gods ask the viewpoint vampire to go to hell and make a difference there. Finding hell isn’t as easy as one might think.
What did that feel like when you got the contract?
Breathless. Stunned. When I was actually is granted my childhood wish, there was also a sense of disbelief. It also energized me to keep writing.
Take a few sentences and tell us about the book.
When barista Jimmy Patterson is dumped by his boyfriend on his birthday, who should rescue him but the hunky bar owner of Stonewall’s? Since the barkeep wears a different name badge every night, all Jimmy wants to know is the guy’s name. The bartender nicknamed “Guy” challenges Jimmy to guess his not-for-publication first name. Jimmy quickly accepts the challenge and Guy’s good-ole-boy courtship. As their relationship heats up, someone attacks Jimmy’s coffee shop. As a relative newcomer to the Northern California Sierra community, is Jimmy being targeted as a warning to the Bay Area gays who are moving there?
What made you set this in a coffee shop?
Good question—especially since I’m a tea drinker and really don’t enjoy coffee all that much. Who knows where writers’ inspirations and thoughts come from? I once interviewed Arlo Guthrie who said that he didn’t so much write his songs but pluck them from the songs around him. His theory was that the air is filled with songs and a songwriter only had to be in tune with them. I’m starting to feel the same way about writing. The stories are all around me and I just pluck the one that appeals to me and write it down. This one happened to feature a coffee shop.
What part of the book was the most fun to write and why?
I loved writing the scene at Adam’s mountain restaurant because it reminded me of similar dinners I’ve eaten with my husband. We both like food and cooking, so anytime I get to write about my characters in cafes and restaurants is a good writing day.
What part made you struggle them most?
The scenes with Tommy Thompson, the town enforcer, were a struggle for me because I’m a normally peaceful, live-and-let-live person. A character who is mean or confrontational goes against my grain and therefore is difficult to write without overwriting.
Tell us something interesting that is not in the blurb?
While each book can be read independently, readers will encounter them in future books too. Not a big surprise, but it needs to be said. Also, the fourth book was going to feature Junior, the son of the Rock Bottom Café’s owners Bud and Lorraine until one reviewer mentioned wanting Adam’s story. That idea took hold, and Adam is the fourth story in the series. Who said reviewers don’t make a difference?
You recently signed a contract for Redesigning Max which is the sequel to What’s In A Name? is this going to be a series?
Yes. Redesigning Max is about interior designer and architect Fredi Zimmer who is Jimmy and Felicity’s friend. The Behr Facts is about Abe Behr, CEO of Behr Construction who works with Fredi and is a friend of bartender Guy.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
I love the imagination part, building a contemporary reality that is plausible. For example, Bud and Lorraine’s Rock Bottom Café doesn’t exist, but I’ve eaten in a lot of cafes that could have been the Rock Bottom. Making a reality from the bits and pieces of my past is fun as far as I’m concerned.
What’s your least favorite?
Does this have to be directly about writing? The least favorite part for me is the weight gain from sitting in front of a computer screen for hours, days, weeks, and months at a time. I also abhor the editing because I’m never sure what I’m taking out isn’t the best part of the scene.
Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?
See above. I switch back and forth between at least two writing projects. I get stuck in one book and go to the other until my thoughts about the first book congeal and I’m ready to go back to writing it.
What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?
The last few books I’ve read are Rick R. Reed’s Blink and B. G. Thomas’ Red. I also reread Blinding Light by Renae Kaye which is a comfort read for me. I’d highly recommend all three books.
If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Well, the authors of the three books I mentioned above, I’d love to meet. I’d also like to meet Will Parkinson, who is promoting my book. All four of them seem to be incredibly interesting people, and ones I could sit and listen to for hours.
Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?
I make quarter inch miniature structures and furnishings. Quarter inch is a scale measurement—one quarter inch = one foot. I make them from scratch and from kits I buy online. I also enjoy photography and participate in a photography group.
Last question is all yours – feel free to talk about anything you want your readers to know about you, your book, anything at all.
One of the things that got me interested in writing gay romances is that many of the students I taught in junior college were gay men—both younger and older men. The first essay they were assigned to write was an autobiographical one about an incident in their lives that was a defining moment for them. Many of them wrote their coming out story while some wrote about a time when they were bullied, beat up, or suffered as a gay man. Quite a few of them wondered if they were deserving of love, would ever find someone who would love them, and/or might have a partner and children in the future. As their instructor at a state school, I couldn’t comment on these questions, but in my books, I want to reassure them not only is this possible, but it’s also very probable. We all deserve to have our dreams come true.
Blurb:
Barista Jimmy Patterson thinks it’s a good idea to get rip-roaring drunk on his birthday after he’s dumped by his boyfriend. When the burly owner of Stonewall’s Bar rescues Jimmy, the night starts to look up.
Now Jimmy just wants to know the bartender’s first name since he’s worn a different name tag every time Jimmy’s seen him. “Guy” Stone gives Jimmy seven guesses, one for each night he takes Jimmy out on a date.
While Jimmy’s trying to come up with his name, he’s distracted by the destruction of his coffee shop and what looks more and more like a hate crime.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyD
Sales Links:
Dreamspinner Press eBook:
Excerpt:
Stonewall [Saloon] was chaos when I got there. Guy and another bartender were mixing drinks as fast as they could. I squeezed in at the end of the bar near the hatchway and sat on an abandoned stool there.
I didn’t think Guy had seen me come in, so when there was a lull in the frenetic pace and he was nearly within arm’s reach, I called out, “What’s a guy gotta do to get a drink in this place?”
Guy looked up, grinned at me, and yelled back, “Fuck the bartender.”
A slim man sitting next to me perked up, gave Guy the once-over, and yelled, “Okay!”
Guy’s startled gaze met mine, and we broke out laughing.
The man next to me sighed and slumped over his beer. “I knew it was too good to be true,” he mumbled.
I patted him on the shoulder.
“Maybe next time,” I commiserated with him.
“Right,” he answered glumly
About the Author:
Born in the Heartland of Nebraska, Pat Henshaw has made America hers by living in Texas, Colorado, Northern Virginia, and Northern California. She has found joy in visiting Mexico, Canada, Europe, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Egypt, and relishes trips to Rome, Italy, and Eugene, Oregon, to see family.
Pat has spent her life surrounded by words: Teaching English composition at the junior college level; writing book reviews for newspapers, magazines, and websites; helping students find information as a librarian; and promoting PBS television programs.
Two of her fondest memories are touching time when she put her hands on the pyramids and experiencing pure whimsy when she interviewed Caroll Spinney (Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch). Her triumphs are raising two incredible daughters who daily amaze her with their power and compassion. Her supportive husband keeps her grounded in reality when she threatens to drift away writing fiction.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998437.Patois
Book website: http://whatsinanamenovella.blogspot.com
Website: http://patbooked.blogspot.com
E-mail: whatsinanamenovella@comcast.net
Tumblr: http://phenshaw.tumblr.com/
Tour Dates:
28-Jan
4-Feb
11-Feb
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
18-Feb
25-Feb
Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews,
4-Mar
11-Mar
Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings
18-Mar
Sales Links:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5965
Giveaway:
Click the Rafflecopter link below for a chance to win One of Two Starbucks Gift Card:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This Forget Me Not Tour is a Pride Promotions event. Click the badge for more information about Pride Promotions:
Thanks for the interview and contest! My favorite coffee drink is black coffee made from freshly ground beans.