Today, we sit down with an author from Texas who is becoming known for her contemporary romances set in her favorite fictional town of Valiant.
Mary Pat lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.
Come along as we hear from our Texas author about a couple whose conflicting values are interfering with their efforts to reconnect.
Jenny: Hi, Mary Pat. It is always so good to talk to you. To start with, tell us about your favorite authors and what you have learned from them.
Mary Pat: Lynn Blackburn is a favorite. She writes romantic suspense the way I enjoy reading it. I’ve learned from her that it’s okay not to have one disaster after another in the suspense part of my story—for me, that gets repetitive, and I appreciate seeing it modeled through her books.
I also enjoy Laurel Blount. Her books are fun to read, and I love her smooth writing style. She handles difficult subjects with grace and sensitivity. Though I write about different topics, I strive to employ the same approach she does—it helps raise issue awareness in a reader-friendly way.
Jenny: Interesting. Both of. your favorites have the same initials: LB. It is so true that authors notice the way our favorites craft their books. You are no longer a “debut” author. When did you feel as if you had “arrived”?
Mary Pat: Some days I still wonder if I’ve arrived, but I’m finding out that’s fairly normal for writers. When I finished my Romance in Valiant series, I felt like it was a major accomplishment. It also helps to have a contract—deadlines for when the story is due makes the whole author-thing very real.
Jenny: I think you ‘re right. Most of us are still “pinching ourselves” when we think about our status as real authors. So, tell us about your latest story. What was the inspiration for this book? Did a real event in your own life play a part in the story?
Mary Pat: In my July release, Waitin’ On Paige, the last book of my Valiant series, I knew one aspect of the story was about Christian values versus the things that Hollywood embrace. Getting it on paper was a challenge, but I started making progress when I embodied typical Hollywood ideals in a character.
I also wanted to write a second chance romance about high school sweethearts who go their separate ways, then reunite. My personal love story wasn’t like that, but I know many people who married their high school sweetheart and are still happily married.
Jenny: I’m one of those people! Right high school, right sweetheart. God is good. Every author has an idea of the major takeaway the readers will get from their book. What would you like your readers to take with them?
Mary Pat: There are two takeaways. The first one is that true Christian values and Hollywood values won’t ever really mesh. The other takeaway is that working through issues and communication is vitally important in a relationship. Most of Tavo and Paige’s problems stemmed from personal issues they weren’t aware of, but once they dealt with their internal baggage, the confusion about their love for each other faded.
Jenny: Dealing honestly with your own internal issues is a great way to begin a life together. As a quick change of pace, tell us quickly about some of your favorites:
Day of the week? Why? My favorite day of the week is Sunday. I try not to work on that day. Attending church refreshes my spirit, and it’s also the day I spend time with family.
Holiday? Easter! Best holiday ever because it’s the day we celebrate the risen Christ.
Genre other than the one you normally write? I love historical romance. The settings play such a great role in the stories. I particularly enjoy books about when America was becoming a nation.
Jenny: We are kindred spirits, Mary Pat. I write contemporary, but love historical, too. Maybe both of us will dive into a different genre some day! This has been such a good interview. Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Mary Pat: It’s a true joy to connect with people who love to read! Reading is my all-time favorite hobby. Just last week, as my husband was trying to leave the house, I was following him around telling him about the book I was reading the night before. As long as we’ve been married, I should know he’s never been into books like that. He does love me, though, and that’s what counts.
Jenny: That makes me laugh. My husband says my first book was the best Christian fiction he ever read. It was also the only Christian fiction he has ever read. I think that’s why I love being published by a traditional press. Scrivenings Press is helping me connect with my readers!
Here’s how you can connect with Mary Pat and her books:
Link to Romance in Valiant series https://bit.ly/4hhJvLj
Website link: https://www.marypatjohns.com
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