Pat's News:
(Last Updated 5/2/08)

New Anthology Pat's micro-fiction story, "A Chilling Clue," is in the just released Crime and Suspense Anthology I: 200502006. See Books page for details.

Pat's signing books! See the events page for info

Book Reviews Wanted Read the Bridget O'Hern books? Read Pat's Update seeking reviews

ello-----Stay a bit and look around. I wear two writing hats-one as a mystery author and the other as a grant writer. Surprisingly, there are parallels between the two, and I do workshops about both of them "Parallel Universes: Writing the Grant and Crafting the Mystery." If you wish to reach me, just click on the e-mail link and drop me a line. You'll also find links to information and organizations that I care about on this site. If you know of some additional and appropriate ones, please let me know. My first mystery novel featuring series sleuth Bridget O'Hern is Death Stalks the Khmer, and the first chapter is here for your reading pleasure. With the help of webmistress Lisa Logan, I'll update this website with fresh news and contest news from time to time.

 What else can you find on the site? There are recipes from Bridget's sidekick, C.J. Johanson, who run's C.J.'s Café in Bridg's adventures, and I've also included some writing tips and more. Before you go, please sign up to receive my periodic newsletter. It will have announcements about upcoming book signings, what's going on with my mysteries, and more. I'm glad you came. Please drop by again.

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Fun Update from Pat It pays to be able to multitask. I do that, but I'm not always sure how well. Since I wear two writing hats, writing mysteries and writing grants, it can be confusing at times. I just finished a grant that has brought in updated technology to an agency serving Southeast Asian refugees. When something like that happens, it always makes me feel good. On the other hand, I have to mentally switch gears as I'm trying hard to finish Murder Visits Antigua with Aunt Amelia and also have started on Death Tours in Ireland with my sleuth Bridget. Culturally, I'm quite confortable, which is a feeling that surprises me. I'm switching back and forth from a 1930s period with Aunt Amelia to current days with Bridget O'Hern. From an Antiguan culture to a Celtic one and then traveling, so to speak, to Southeast Asia. Perhaps this multitasking, at least trying to understand how others think and feel and why, goes along with the territory of being a mother and grantmother. Hmm. Maybe there's an article in there somewhere. Cheers and yours in mystery, Pat

What Pat's Blogging: MULTI-TASKING: WRITING, PROMOTING AND CHARACTERS THAT WANT TO TAKE OVER Writing the darn novel and also doing pre-promotion or marketing is a challenge. "Why bother? You ask. Because the nature of fiction writing for authors in these days is not only finishing the blooming novel but also hoping it to the world at large. READ PAT'S BLOG

E-mail at pharrin107@aol.com