A Book(ish) Life: Interview with Pat Arneson
From Pat: “It took me over half a century to start a novel, but I got a lot of experience and a lot of material in those years.”
I am so excited for today’s feature, fellow Guppy Pat Arneson! Pat is the author of Simply Dead, and she’s here to talk about her work as a writer and a therapist, and her decision to be an indie author. Take it away, Pat!
Welcome to Book(ish)! Please introduce yourself, and share a little bit about your latest book (or your work in progress, if unpublished).
I’m so excited to be here! In addition to writing, I’m a licensed clinical therapist and certified equine therapist—partnering with horses for healing. I thought that would be a hilarious setting for a mystery, and my protagonist, Abby Maguire, came to be.
Simply Dead is a traditional mystery. A therapist who has worked in high-trauma settings for too long takes a gig at an equine therapy ranch. The learning curve is much higher than she expected–and then she finds a body in the barn.
Simply Dead has a strong sub-theme of hope and healing–while solving the murder, Abby takes on PTSD, fear, grief and loss—processing her own and leading others on the rocky path to freedom and release. This is woven into the plot, part of the roller coaster ride from tension, to laughter, to tears, and around again. It’s a romp at times–laughter is healing, and I like it better than sitting with the angst.
I’m currently working on book two, the sequel, which has a different presentation of murder, tension, intrigue, comedic antics, and blueprints for healing.
Are you traditionally published, or self-published? What made you choose this path?
After nearly a year of researching traditional publishing, I chose to Indie publish, to retain control of the entire publication. Abby’s work as a therapist is a large part of the setting and context of each book. That needs to be handled respectfully. Also, I won’t water down the powerful segments that may not fit the algorithm of what is selling most predictably in today’s market. For some readers, the story of healing woven into a murder mystery will hit them like a sucker punch. Hope, right between the eyes. For others, it’s just a really great story. Blending them together is my passion.
Describe your ideal writing scenario. What would a perfect writing day look like for you? Where would you be?
I have a basement office with a huge window looking out on my backyard and a tiny, scrubby woods. I love long stretches of quiet alone time, just me, my laptop, and coffee.
If your book had a themed scented candle made for it: what would it smell like?
Um…actually, it’s set on a horse ranch, so….but in the woods! So, pine trees. We’ll go with that. Yes. Pine trees, saddle leather, and coffee.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? How long did it take you to reach publication?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I realized that both stories and the written word existed. It took me over half a century to start a novel, but I got a lot of experience and a lot of material in those years. Simply Dead took a little over a year to write and revise, about three years from conception to release date.
How long does it generally take you to write a book? What does your process look like?
I’m only on my second book, but I am a meticulous plotter. I have outlines, graphs, charts, character studies all over the walls. I outline the entire book first, then fill in the scenes, with flexibility to change anything along the way.
What are your favorite types of books to read? How do they inform your writing?
I’ve read mysteries since kindergarten, but I love different genres, styles, voices, perspectives. I love discovering what each author does best, and studying how they did it. I go back to certain authors for their mastery of body language, setting, plot, dialogue. Smoothly moving characters around in their environment. I love the surprise of laughing out loud.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your writing career?
Your characters will try to break out of their roles, so you have to decide whether to let them go, or rein them in. I didn’t believe it. I was working up a good diagnosis based on that statement. Then one of my minor characters blew up his entire storyline, took over, and made it exponentially better than what I planned. (It was Max. He was meant to be a one-dimensional ranch hand, just because a ranch has to have one.)
Tied for first: tell your story in your voice. Own it. Rock it. Nobody else can tell this story, and it’s a big, wide world of readers out there. Your audience is there.
About Simply Dead
“I fell in love with the protagonist…and the rest of the colorful cast…Intriguing with lots of potential suspects and several non-obvious twists. I hope Abby Maguire will be back in another book…” Dean Hovey, award-winning author of the Doug Fletcher, Whistling Pines, and Pine County mysteries. Suspenseful, deeply moving—a gripping murder mystery laced with hope, healing and laughter.
She walked away from danger. Death followed her.
Therapist Abby Maguire is no stranger to violence. After years of counseling killers and victims, she needs a break. Her new job doing Equine-assisted Therapy should have been a stroll in the countryside—instead, she is surrounded by secrets, sabotage, and murder.
Abby struggles to escape her own past, while grappling with ghosts in the hearts of others.
Headstrong and relentless, Abby won’t stop until she finds the truth—unless the killer finds her first.
Buy Simply Dead: Barnes and Noble | Bookshop