Future Author Spotlights to look forward too!
Republished Author Interview of Kathleen Irene Paterka
Welcome all!
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Kathleen Irene Paterka author of The Other Wife, which I recently reviewed here on the blog! 
Hi Kathleen, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Terry, thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today. I’m excited to be here. I’m an author of women’s fiction (six novels and one non-fiction work to my credit), a lover of books (too numerous to mention), a wife (Steve and I are coming up on our 35th anniversary), a mother (to Abby, who is now grown with children of her own) and a grandmother (to twin boys who love to read). I live in Northern Michigan, where our glorious ten weeks of summer make up for any inconvenience due to the nine other months of cold snowy weather throughout the year. And just like most writers (95%, in fact), I have a day job. Mine, however, is rather unique: I’m staff writer at a real American castle where I’m surrounded by romance and royalty. It’s a wonderful life.
Which writers inspire you?
I’ve always loved the women’s fiction genre, for I love a good, emotional read. When searching for a new book, I turn to authors such as Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Elizabeth Berg, and Eileen Goudge. All of them are superb storytellers. I also love anything by Stephen King. He is, without doubt, a living literary icon. His masterpiece 11/22/63 is one of my favorite books of all time.
So, what have you written?
I’m the author of five novels besides The Other Wife. Four of the novels are part of a stand-alone series (meaning that you can read any of the books, out of order, and still follow the thread of the storyline). The four books – Fatty Patty, Home Fires, Lotto Lucy, and For I Have Sinned, all take place in the fictional resort community of James Bay, Michigan. My fifth novel, Royal Secrets, is set in Las Vegas, and tells the story of a family-owned wedding chapel. Fun fact about Royal Secrets: the family is distantly related to the British royals.Where can we buy or see them?
My James Bay novels are all available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. Readers interested in Royal Secrets can find the book on Amazon.com. It’s easiest to find each avenue by clicking into my author website page for the different books:
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
The Other Wife actually revolves around two main characters: Eleanor and Claire. The novel begins in Eleanor’s point of view, who wakes to find her husband Richard dead in bed beside her. Eleanor, married to Richard for 38 years, is devastated by the discovery. She’s even more horrified to discover, at the end of Chapter One, that Richard was keeping a deep dark secret, and has left all his money to another woman. In Chapter Two, we meet Claire, a 30ish professor of psychology at the University of Chicago. It’s not long into the book before Claire learns that her husband Richard has died… and not only is he dead, he left behind an earlier wife… a valid marriage to another woman. The discovery that her marriage is a sham is a horrible blow to Claire. While Richard has left her all his money, Eleanor is the one who has the title of Richard’s wife, something Claire thought was hers alone. How these two women come to terms with ‘the other wife’ is the basis for the storyline.What are you working on at the minute?
My next book will be a return to James Bay. It’s a book about Chuck’s Tavern and Grill, and centers on the restaurant owner, Chuck, who was featured in the first four books. Each chapter will have its own recipe. I’m excited about being able to play with the customers who frequent the restaurant, and involving characters from my earlier James Bay novels.
What genre are your books?
I love reading women’s fiction, and that’s the genre I’m most comfortable writing. Women’s fiction is about a woman’s emotional journey through a particular issue she’s dealing with in her life. The books may contain a touch of romance, but romance is not essential to the storyline. The Other Wife is about the emotional journey of two separate women, and how each of them struggle to come to terms with issues of grief, resentment, betrayal, and revenge.
How much research do you do?
Each book is different. For The Other Wife, I visited the University of Chicago, where I interviewed a professor of psychology who gave me a personal behind-the-scenes-tour of the psychology department, the classrooms and lab. I also spent some time visiting a manager of a large department store in a mall, who gave me background information on the world of retail. For my new book about Chuck’s Tavern and Grill, I’ve already spent some time with local restaurant owners. I’m constantly amazed by how open and willing people are to share their knowledge when an author asks for assistance.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
I don’t really have much choice. I hear people chatting away in my head, and writing down their stories is the only way I know to stop the voices from babbling incessantly. I’ve talked with other writers who have experienced the same thing. It’s rather disconcerting at times, to be living in the real world and have another ‘just-as-real’ world going on inside your head.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
I prefer to use my computer when I’m working on a rough draft. I also carry a notebook with me at all times. When the random thought or inspiration comes, I need to be able to scribble it down before I forget!
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
For women’s fiction, I prefer Jodi Picoult, Eileen Goudge, and Jennifer Weiner. For suspense and mystery, I choose Stephen King. And for general fiction, I love the easy flow of John Grisham’s novels.
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I’m a devout fan of our local public library, where I pick up a weekly selection of hard back books. But my Kindle is never far from my side. I love being able to browse through ebooks and download them at a moment’s notice.
What book/s are you reading at present?
I just finished John Grisham’s The Associate. Grisham is a favorite of mine.
Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.
Since The Other Wife embraces the dark themes of death and grief, a black cover seemed appropriate. My cover designer Kim Killion and I worked together to design the cover. She suggested a few images, and we searched until we found the right one. I think the image of the man and woman holding hands, with the wedding ring showing, is perfect for the story line.
Who designed your book cover?
The Other Wife has a fantastic cover, which was designed by Kim Killion of the Killion Group.
Which social network worked best for you?
I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Goodreads. I’ll admit right now that I find Twitter hard to follow (the feed moves so fast!), and Goodreads is also difficult to navigate. Pinterest is fun, and I like pinning and posting things that reflect how I’m feeling at any given moment. But Facebook remains my favorite of all social media outlets. I like being able to carry on conversations with people. And, as an author who tends to have a difficult time editing herself, I appreciate being able to finish a thought on Facebook without being consigned to 144 characters, such as on Twitter.
In what formats is your book available?
My books are available digitally and in print copy.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Website:
Blog:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Pinterest:
Amazon Author Page:
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview, it was wonderful to get to know you better!
Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Terry!