Jessica R. Patch is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her dry wit, signature twists, and complex characters. She loves reading true crime books, discussing cold cases with her girlfriends while inhaling chips and salsa, and hunting down serial killers in her romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers.
She resides in the Memphis area with her husband and her spoiled tricolor Shetland Sheepdog since her kids have flown the coop leaving them empty nesters (and she’s not sad about it). Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.
Visit Jessica Patch online
The Garden Girls
On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past. FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape. Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger. As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…
- ISBN: B0C7L9V7XW
- Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Interview with Jessica R Patch
Congratulations on the release of your new book, The Garden Girls. Describe it in five words and tell all the readers out there why they’re going to love reading it.
Dark, twisty, thrill-ride, whodunit, light.
This is your 24th suspense release. How do you ensure you keep plot points, twists and storylines fresh?
Honestly, I just spend a lot of time in prayer and trust that the story God gives me is relevant and a needed message for readers for that time. And that’s all.
Tell us a little about the research you did for The Garden Girls.
I spent time in the Outer Banks (annual author retreat) and I studied hurricanes like crazy and reached out to friends, especially fellow author and friend, Jodie Bailey who is an armchair meteorologist and knows all things hurricanes! It’s why I named it after her.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Not until my late twenties, early thirties. I have always been a storyteller and wrote but never thought about it as a career.
What was your favorite book as a child?
A young child, The Monster at the End of the Story with Grover from Sesame Street. Then I moved on to Little House on the Prairie and in my teenage years, Sweet Valley High books.
How important is it to you that you weave your faith into your stories?
I think it’s critical and organic. Any person, whether a writer or not, sees themselves and the world through the lens of Jesus Christ which means the way we view difficulties, challenges, and dark moments have to be viewed, responded to, or reacted to through what we believe about God. I don’t think the faith message has to be overt or preachy but the biblical principles will be evident. They must.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I’m definitely a plotter, though I used to be a pantser. My publisher requires a long synopsis prior to every book so I had to learn how to do it, and I’m thankful now for it. I write about 2k a day on average as that’s all I want to write and it might take an hour or two or it might take 4-5 hours depending on how many squirrels I chase!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I’m watching TV or reading and in the warm months sitting by my pool listening to a book. You can also find me eating tacos at my favorite restaurant down the street from my house.
What is your biggest challenge in writing fiction? And what is your biggest joy?
The biggest challenge is always the words. ☺ And the biggest joy is when you find the right ones. It’s funny because it’s true.
When things get tough, what is it that motivates you to keep going?
Things are always tough. In writing, in life, friendships, marriages, children etc... What keeps me going in any tough time is my faith and that God is always good and faithful, working things out for good, and by good I mean my overall spiritual good that creates fruit—Christlikeness—in my life.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming Christian suspense authors?
Be patient and don’t try to rush to make things happen. If God truly called you to be a published author, then He will accomplish His purpose in your life. His word doesn’t return void. Also, do seek wise counsel, but overall stop making things harder than they have to be. Seek God in prayer for the story, the characters, the conferences you should attend, the agents/editor/publishers you should pitch to. At the end of the day, this journey is about you and God alone and you don’t need anyone else’s direction but God’s. It will save you heartache, anxiety, and fear. I promise you. God knows and He will guide you to the perfect places in His perfect timing which is often longer than you’d like but if you genuinely trust Him, you can wait in peace for the duration because you believe He’ll make it happen. But you have to firmly know that God has called you and it’s not you enjoying writing and hoping He’ll bless your efforts. It doesn’t and hasn’t ever worked that way. God accomplishes HIS purposes for others and uses people to do it.
Tell us what we can look forward to from you next!
My next trade, The Other Sister, is a psychological thriller that follows a twin sister who assumes her sister’s life and is thrown into a dark, twisty dumpster fire! I’m also working on my next Love Inspired Suspense series which follows former law enforcement from FBI to spies that form a team of private bodyguards. Per usual from me, you’ll see serial killers, high stakes, twist galore and whodunits!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Sign up for her weekly newsletter and get a free Victorian romance novel: https://edwinakiernan.com/freebook
Dark, twisty, thrill-ride, whodunit, light.
This is your 24th suspense release. How do you ensure you keep plot points, twists and storylines fresh?
Honestly, I just spend a lot of time in prayer and trust that the story God gives me is relevant and a needed message for readers for that time. And that’s all.
Tell us a little about the research you did for The Garden Girls.
I spent time in the Outer Banks (annual author retreat) and I studied hurricanes like crazy and reached out to friends, especially fellow author and friend, Jodie Bailey who is an armchair meteorologist and knows all things hurricanes! It’s why I named it after her.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Not until my late twenties, early thirties. I have always been a storyteller and wrote but never thought about it as a career.
What was your favorite book as a child?
A young child, The Monster at the End of the Story with Grover from Sesame Street. Then I moved on to Little House on the Prairie and in my teenage years, Sweet Valley High books.
How important is it to you that you weave your faith into your stories?
I think it’s critical and organic. Any person, whether a writer or not, sees themselves and the world through the lens of Jesus Christ which means the way we view difficulties, challenges, and dark moments have to be viewed, responded to, or reacted to through what we believe about God. I don’t think the faith message has to be overt or preachy but the biblical principles will be evident. They must.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I’m definitely a plotter, though I used to be a pantser. My publisher requires a long synopsis prior to every book so I had to learn how to do it, and I’m thankful now for it. I write about 2k a day on average as that’s all I want to write and it might take an hour or two or it might take 4-5 hours depending on how many squirrels I chase!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I’m watching TV or reading and in the warm months sitting by my pool listening to a book. You can also find me eating tacos at my favorite restaurant down the street from my house.
What is your biggest challenge in writing fiction? And what is your biggest joy?
The biggest challenge is always the words. ☺ And the biggest joy is when you find the right ones. It’s funny because it’s true.
When things get tough, what is it that motivates you to keep going?
Things are always tough. In writing, in life, friendships, marriages, children etc... What keeps me going in any tough time is my faith and that God is always good and faithful, working things out for good, and by good I mean my overall spiritual good that creates fruit—Christlikeness—in my life.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming Christian suspense authors?
Be patient and don’t try to rush to make things happen. If God truly called you to be a published author, then He will accomplish His purpose in your life. His word doesn’t return void. Also, do seek wise counsel, but overall stop making things harder than they have to be. Seek God in prayer for the story, the characters, the conferences you should attend, the agents/editor/publishers you should pitch to. At the end of the day, this journey is about you and God alone and you don’t need anyone else’s direction but God’s. It will save you heartache, anxiety, and fear. I promise you. God knows and He will guide you to the perfect places in His perfect timing which is often longer than you’d like but if you genuinely trust Him, you can wait in peace for the duration because you believe He’ll make it happen. But you have to firmly know that God has called you and it’s not you enjoying writing and hoping He’ll bless your efforts. It doesn’t and hasn’t ever worked that way. God accomplishes HIS purposes for others and uses people to do it.
Tell us what we can look forward to from you next!
My next trade, The Other Sister, is a psychological thriller that follows a twin sister who assumes her sister’s life and is thrown into a dark, twisty dumpster fire! I’m also working on my next Love Inspired Suspense series which follows former law enforcement from FBI to spies that form a team of private bodyguards. Per usual from me, you’ll see serial killers, high stakes, twist galore and whodunits!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Sign up for her weekly newsletter and get a free Victorian romance novel: https://edwinakiernan.com/freebook
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