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May 6, 2008
Observer-Reporter, Washington PA
Waynesburg Author Reins in Readers With Romance Novel
By Jon Stevens, Staff writer
WAYNESBURG - When Valerie J. Patterson of Waynesburg wants to escape from her
"real world" ..., she creates places and people she hopes her readers will
enjoy.
Last week, Patterson was at Bowlby Public Library, signing copies of her latest
book, "Montana Reins," a western romance.
Montana Reins always has
been a loner. Her mother died when she was born, and she's spent her life moving
from ranch to ranch with her father, learning his trade -
horse trainer. She's never
had the opportunity to make any permanent friends ... which makes it hard to let
people into her life - especially someone like Ethan Sterling.
Ethan Sterling hired Montana Reins because of the reputation that went with the
name - the best horse trainer alive. When Montana shows up, he's more than a
little disgruntled to learn he actually hired the daughter and not the father.
Their first introduction is even less than auspicious - Montana saves him from a
trampling under the hooves of his prized stallion.
This character-driven story propels the reader along in a maelstrom of emotions
.
Her first novel, "The Lincoln Room," is a taut thriller that combines suspense
and mystery with history and a touch of the paranormal. That book was published
in 2006 and released in paperback by Asylett Press of Little Plymouth, Va., an
independent publisher that publishes in both paperback and electronic formats.
Asylett Press also published "Montana Reins."
Patterson is a graduate of
Waynesburg College. "The setting I chose for 'The Lincoln Room' is
actually a room in the university's library, where I spent a lot of time
studying and writing. I used to sit in that room and think it would be an
excellent place for a story," Patterson said.
While at Waynesburg College, Patterson said she had many influential professors,
including Dr. Anne Bower, Dr. Roger Bower and Dr. William Sipple, but said it
was the contact she had after graduation with Dr. Fred McEwen that benefited her
most.
"Dr. McEwen and his wife were very encouraging long after I graduated from
college. I can easily recall sending my first completed manuscript to Dr. McEwen
for his comments and review. It was a romance, which he very graciously passed
along to Mrs. McEwen. It was the combination of what Dr. McEwen taught me and
the honest feedback Mrs. McEwen gave me that encouraged me to pursue being a
writer," she said.
Patterson also has had several short stories published. Most recently, her story
"Green and Red Trappings," first published in June 2003, was included in a
compilation book of Sherlock
Holmes pastiches, "Curious Incidents Volume 2: Being a Collection of the
Further Adventures of Sherlock
Holmes." Her short story "Tag, You're It," published in August 2005, won
the Donard Publishing writing competition.
Patterson's husband, Steven, designed the covers for her books.
Both "Montana Reins" and "The Lincoln Room" can be purchased at Barnes and
Noble, online at
Amazon.com and through
several other online bookstores.
Both books can be purchased for half price directly through the publisher's Web
site at
http://www.asylett.com/asylettzstore/.
Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
For More Information Contact:
Valerie J. Patterson
Internet:
valerie@valeriejpatterson.com
Sandra Dugas, Asylett Press
Internet: Sandra@asylett.com
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