Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Patricia Sargeant

Urban Reviews: Tell our readers about Sweet Deception.
Patricia Sargeant: Sweet Deception is a contemporary romance, featuring a dutiful minister's daughter who leads a secret life as an erotic romance author. When she begins a love affair with a more famous author, her secret is revealed, and she has to choose between duty and desire.

Urban Reviews: Where did the idea for this storyline stem from?
Patricia Sargeant: My stories are driven by the theme I'm exploring. With my first book, You Belong to Me, I wanted to explore the theme of family. How do we define family and, when push comes to shove, what would we be willing to sacrifice to save them? The theme of my second book, On Fire, is trust.

Sweet Deception's theme is identity. Do we define ourselves or do we allow other people to define us? In life, we wear so many different hats. As women, we're mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend, career professional. We're pulled in so many directions. Sometimes we forget who we are as individuals separate and distinct from our other roles. What would happen if we stepped off the merry-go-'round and asserted our identity? Would the people around us accept us? Or would they force us back into whatever compartment they'd assigned to us? If they did, would we let them?

I thought the most dramatic illustration of this dilemma would come if I featured a character who was both a minister's daughter and an erotic romance author. Technically, those are two very different identities.

Urban Reviews: What made you want to become a writer? Do you see yourself doing this long term?
Patricia Sargeant: When I was 9 years old, I read Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken. That story was such an adventure. I wanted to write a story that would give other people the same wonderful ride that story gave me.

I do see myself writing stories for the long term. And, hopefully, I'll continue to be published. There are stories in me that demand to be written. I can't stop. I think most storytellers are the same way.

In addition to contemporary romance and romantic suspense, I'd eventually like to publish an epic fantasy and paranormal romances.

Urban Reviews: What things are you doing to promote your novel to the world?
Patricia Sargeant: Well, first, I'd like to thank you again for interviewing me for Urban Reviews. I'm also grateful to you for reviewing Sweet Deception for Urban Reviews.

I prefer going directly to readers with news about my upcoming releases. This is my third single title, but my fifth release. (I've had short stories included in two anthologies.) My experience has been that readers are much more welcoming and easier to reach.

In addition to seeking reviews from sites such as Urban Reviews, I've posted an excerpt from Sweet Deception on my Web site, www.PatriciaSargeant.com. I've also posted a book video on YouTube. Here's the link, in case you'd like to take a peek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAy_SrBObok

Urban Reviews: What has been the best advice you've gotten so far from another author in the business?
Patricia Sargeant: The best advice I've ever received from another author is to write the very best book I possibly can write. The best promotion authors can do for our next book is a very well-written current release. That's why I continue to read books and articles on the craft of writing - characterization and plotting in particular. Characters pull readers into a story. A strong, well-paced plot keeps readers turning the pages.

Urban Reviews: What has been your biggest lesson learned about the book industry itself?
Patricia Sargeant: Wow. This is another really excellent question. One of the most significant lessons I've learned in the publishing industry is that success is not a sprint. I thought I knew that going into publishing, but I don't think I really understood that I wouldn't build an instant readership with my first book.

There's a lot of pressure to be an overnight success. We put pressure on ourselves. And people outside of the publishing industry think that, if you have a book at Barnes & Noble, you must be rich. You know that isn't true, but it still puts pressure on you to be an overnight success.

Success in the publishing industry - as in many other industries - is a very deliberately paced marathon. We're in it for the long haul. One book at a time; one mile at a time.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any ideas or planned releases for the future?
Patricia Sargeant: Radiah, thank you so much for asking about my future releases. I appreciate it.

My next contemporary romance, Heated Rivalry, is scheduled for release April 2010. The heroine is an art director who's desperate to win the respect and affection of her emotionally distant father, and land a promotion within his agency. However, the hero, the charismatic junior partner, is standing in her way. The heroine's attempts to outshine her business rival land her right into his arms.

I'm also shopping some ideas for romantic suspense novels. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books?
Patricia Sargeant: I have many, many favorite authors. I'll name just a few: Beverly Jenkins, Francis Ray, Shirley Hailstock, Ann Christopher, Gwyneth Bolton, L.A. Banks, Shiloh Walker.

Urban Reviews: Who has been your biggest inspiration outside of the book business?
Patricia Sargeant: My parents. Without a doubt. They always encouraged me to follow my dream. They believed in me from the beginning. In addition to that, they were my role models. I witnessed their courage and determination in following their own dreams, and that inspired me.

Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
Patricia Sargeant: Yes, thank you. I wrote Sweet Deception first with the goal of providing readers a few hours of entertainment. I hope it does that. I hope readers enjoy the story. But I also hope Sweet Deception inspires readers to evaluate whether you're defining yourself or whether you're allowing others to define you. I'd like to encourage you to be true to yourself, and to live life out loud.