I wrote my first story, “The Blood Red Rug,” when I was 8. I dictated it to my sister who typed it with her toy typewriter. All my life, I’ve been a reader who planned to write a book. After years of writing stories in my mind, I finally wrote my debut novel, “Don’t call me Daughter,” in 2022 and published it in September. I’m very pleased with the results, and suggest you take a look at it on Amazon.

I conceived the idea for the book when I read an article about an old railroad trestle bridge in Southeast Georgia that spanned the Altamaha River. The unique thing about the bridge was when you spotted a train coming, you literally had 60 seconds to get off the bridge because the train took up the entire width of the bridge. There was only one spot you could jump onto about midway down the tracks. For two years, I plotted the book around this incident.

Although I have spent my life writing nonfiction and copywriting, it didn’t help at all with writing a book, and I spent a lot of time teaching myself fiction. I wanted it to be a book I would enjoy reading, so it had to be a little funny and unique with unusual characters. And romance, because I like romance and it’s my book. And a dog. Walter, the Bassett hound, did not have a speaking part, but was a prominent character anyway. Then I had to find a voice that readers would enjoy and identify with, and a story that moved quickly because I abhor boring books. I think it does all that and more.

The primary reason I write is to give readers a story that entertains them. I’m working on my second novel now, “The Book of Ruth,” which I plan to publish in 2023. I have invited the characters from the first book back, because I am fascinated by them, and hope you will be, too.

If you have any questions, just email pat@pj-childers.com.  Thanks for visiting my website!