Thursday Author Spotlight: Patrick E. Craig

I had the privilege of meeting and working with Patrick last year at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. His first book was recently released from Harvest House. I reviewed it here and really enjoyed it.

Here are a few questions (and answers) from Patrick.

 

You are a man who writes Amish fiction and there are very few out there. Why Amish?

In late 2010, I read a blog by Nick Harrison, a senior editor at Harvest House Publishers, whom I had met at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. Nick said for the first month of 2011 he would accept story ideas, and he liked Amish and quilting stories.

At first I thought, I’m a man and I know nothing about the Amish or quilting, but I felt compelled to go for it anyway. I didn’t realize it at the time, but God had put a wide-open door in front of me. I went for it and sent Nick a one-sheet for a story called “A Quilt For Jenna.”

What happened then?

Nick really liked the story idea and proposed that we consider it for an anthology of short stories. He asked for some sample chapters so I wrote three short ones, thinking that we were working on a short story.

So you were writing short chapters for a short story. How did it become a novel?

The 2011 Mt. Hermon Conference was coming up and I sent the chapters to Steve Laube, a literary agent, for a critique. At the conference, I met with Steve. He asked if the story could be a novel and if I could make a three-book series out of it. I took a deep breath and said that I could. I spoke with Nick, and he also encouraged me to make it into a novel.

So did you get your book deal then or later?

Much later. I left Mt. Hermon in April with a mission—to write two chapters a week and finish by August. I sent the complete manuscript to Nick and Steve on September 15th. Steve contacted me about representing me, and Nick pitched it to the editorial committee at Harvest House. Then three weeks later, I got an e-mail from Nick that said, “It’s a yes!” I signed with Steve, he negotiated the contract, and we were on the way. In a few short months I had gone from knowing nothing about the Amish or quilting to having a three-book deal with Harvest House and a top literary agent to represent me. I’m now working on the second book, “The Road Home.”

What did you learn from this experience?

I learned two things: first—if the Lord opens a door, step through it, and second—you must let the Lord put you in the way of people who can help you. Writer’s conferences are great for that, and Mt. Hermon is one of the best.

____________________

Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career to follow Christ in 1984. He spent twenty-six years as a worship leader, seminar speaker, and pastor. He signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers for his Apple Creek Dreams series. The first book, A Quilt for Jenna, was released February 1, 2013. You can contact Patrick by email at Patrick@patrickecraig.com or on Twitter @patrickecraig.

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Wednesday! The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I’m thrilled to be a part of The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. It’s kind of like a chain letter for writers and bloggers. I was nominated by Victoria Pitts-Caine who talked about her new books coming out from PRISM Book Group.

Read on for details about my current project. At the bottom, I’ve nominated five other writers who will post their own answers to these questions next Wednesday, December 5th.

What is the working title of your book?                                 

Against The Peace

Where did the idea come from for the book?

That’s a long story. I was watching a Lifetime movie about a young actress who goes to live with a “normal” family, though I don’t remember why. She looks around and mutters something about being in the Witness Security program. I couldn’t hear her enunciate and had to back it up several times to try and hear if she was saying “Witness Protection” or “Witless Protection.” I never did decide for sure which it was. Later, while I was walking in the neighborhood, it occurred to me that Witless Protection would be a great name for a humorous suspense story about the Witness Security Program. I finished the story but found there wasn’t much of a market for humorous suspense. The story has evolved from a love triangle between a young woman, her boyfriend and the marshal protecting him to a straight romance between the woman and the marshal. Instead of her boyfriend being in peril, the bad guys are after her because she witnessed them murder one of her janitorial company’s clients. Along with the boyfriend, I had to lose the too humorous Witless Protection name.

What genre does your book fall under?                            

Romantic Suspense

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?                                                                             Cricket Spencer is Amy Adams.

U.S. Marshal Lucas Holden is Jeffrey Dean Morgan.                                                   

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

What if a woman who hated violence and guns is threatened and her only hope lies in a man who carries a gun every day and makes his living on the edge of violence?

          Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

           I’m still hopeful that it will find a home with a traditional publisher, but if not, I’m happy to             self-publish it.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?   

The original Witless Protection took about 3 months, including 50,000 words during NaNoWriMo a few years ago. The new version is still being written, another NaNoWriMo project.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?   

I love Dee Henderson and Irene Hannon’s romantic suspense. I would never presume to compare myself to them, but I wouldn’t be hurt if someone else did.  

Who or What inspired you to write this book? 

See above for the whole story, but it started with the original name, Witless Protection. As the story changed and progressed, it became obvious the name no longer fit. My local Sisters in Crime chapter once had a speaker who was a former London police officer and he said many of the phrases and words in the British penal code would make great book titles. Like “Against the Peace.” That stuck with me and given that a marshal’s job is to protect people from violence, it seemed fitting.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

Cricket Spencer is a “green” cleaning lady. She owns a janitorial company that uses only eco-friendly products. Her parents are aging hippies who live out their convictions. They escaped a cult-like leader’s compound when Cricket was a child. The ensuing gunfight left her with a deep and abiding fear of guns.

Now, I nominate five other writers. Check their blogs next Wednesday, December 5th to read about their projects. I’m so thankful to each for participating with me. I can’t wait to read what they’re working on.

My friend and critique partner: Beth Shriver

My friend and once upon a time critique partner: Lisa Lickel

My ACFW associate: Kathy Harris

My Mt. Hermon buddy: Patrick E. Craig

My friend and trusted advisor: Julie Carobini

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