Meet Patricia Gligor

Today on Reade and Write I welcome Patricia Gligor, author of the Malone Mystery series. She’s here to talk in particular about her newest book, Mistaken Identity. Glad you could be here, Pat!

Tell me about your new book.

In Mistaken Identity, the fourth book in my Malone mystery series, my main character, Ann, and her two young children leave Cincinnati to vacation on Fripp Island in South Carolina with Ann’s sister, Marnie. While going for an early morning walk on the beach the day after the Fourth of July fireworks, Ann finds the body of a young woman in the sand.

Who is the audience for the book?

A tough question. Although my main character is female, both men and women play important parts in the series and my characters encompass all ages from children to senior citizens. However, if I have to pick a specific audience, I would say “women from nineteen to ninety.”

Tell me about the setting of your book- how did you choose it, what kind of research did you have to do, why did you choose it?

In order to write about a place, I need to have a “feel” for it and I’ve visited (and loved) Fripp Island and Beaufort, South Carolina, the settings for the book. As I always do when I travel, I took lots of photos while I was there, and picked up pamphlets and maps to bring home with me. (I never know what places will one day end up in one of my books.) Of course, in addition to first-hand experience, I do some of my research online.

What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

I think the hardest part, the toughest decision for me in writing the book, was how much actual southern dialect to include because I wanted my readers to “hear” the characters speak.

Tell me about your other books. 

As I mentioned, Mistaken Identity is the fourth in the series. The first three are Mixed Messages, Unfinished Business, and Desperate Deeds. All three take place in Cincinnati, my (and Ann’s) hometown.

Are you in one or more critique groups or partnerships?

I am. I belong to the Queen City Writers Critique group and I wouldn’t trade the other members for the world.

Do you write every day?

Normally, yes. I usually write between two and four hours every morning. Sometimes though, “life” gets in the way and family obligations have to be the priority.

When you read a book, what authors do you like best? What genres do you like best?

I love mystery novels, from cozies to suspense. Mary Higgins Clark and Joy Fielding are two of my favorite authors and there are so many small press authors whose books I enjoy that the list is too long to post here.

Where would you like to go more than anywhere else on earth?

Just about any tropical Spanish speaking country with gorgeous beaches. Two of my favorite vacations were to Mexico and Puerto Rico.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Develop a social media presence BEFORE you submit your manuscript to an agent or a publisher. Set up a blog and/or website, join several social media groups including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Post on your blog and on the sites regularly and participate in the discussions. In other words, get your name out there FIRST because agents and publishers are sure to Google your name. If they come up with a blank, even the greatest novel of the century will most likely be rejected because they won’t even bother to read it.

That’s always the advice I give people, too, because it’s the best advice I ever received.

What is your favorite movie and why?

If I absolutely have to pick just one, I’d have to say Delores Claiborne starring Kathy Bates.

Describe yourself in three words. 

Gorgeous, sexy and brilliant. (LOL) I’m sorry, Amy, I couldn’t resist. I know I’m honest, loyal and determined but that sounds so boring – more like a cocker spaniel than a person.

Great answer!!

Is there anything I haven’t asked that you wanted me to?

Yes. I’d like to mention my WIP. I’m currently (slowly but surely) working on the fifth Malone mystery. If all goes as planned, Marnie Malone will be published before the end of the year.

Where can readers connect with you?

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/patricia.gligor 

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/patriciagligor 

My blog – http://pat–writersforum.blogspot.com/ 

Where can readers find your books?

My books can be ordered from any bookstore and they’re available at several online sites in paper and eBook versions. The link to my amazon author’s page is:

http://tinyurl.com/8sd2cz4

    

Thanks for being here today, Pat!

Until next week,

Amy