This week it is my pleasure to interview Dr. Pat Spencer. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Pat and share something about your life.

My father was in the Air Force, so as I child I lived in many different places. My husband and I love to travel. People met on these adventures are a source of characters and plots. Growing up I wanted to be a writer, but in the career guidance class I learned that very few writers earn enough to pay the rent. So, I went into teaching and on the side, authored columns for The Press Enterprise and Inland Empire Magazine, as well as publishing a textbook and trade and scholarly articles. I began my academic career as a community college teacher and retired as a college president. I received degrees from Riverside Community College, University of La Verne, and University of California, Riverside. Working on my Doctorate of Philosophy at UCR provided me with experience in empirical research and understanding how the human consciousness informs behaviour. All this prepared me to write my current novel, international thriller, Story of a Stolen Girl.

When did you write your first book and how did it come about?  

Story of a Stolen Girl is my first novel, published July, 2018. I am outraged by those who abuse children and young women and how society turns a blind eye. Through my writing, I hope to shine a light on sexual exploitation and human trafficking. I donate from the sale of this novel to organizations that either fight human trafficking or provide services to the victims.  

Every year, 800,000 children, women, and men are trafficked. When those not transported across international borders are included, the number increases to between two and four million people. Approximately, 75-80% of human trafficking is for sex.

Most Americans believe human trafficking is a problem only in poor and underdeveloped countries, too far away to be our concern. However, statistics report over 50,000 slaves in the United States, with another 17,500 being trafficked every year. There has never been a country or time in history when it did not occur. If this book stimulates conversation that makes a difference for any of these children and young women, I am satisfied with its results. 

Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?

I both read and write across genres. My first novel, Story of a Stolen Girl, is an international thriller. My second, still in development, is a bit of a genre mashup. 

When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and collect ideas on paper beforehand?

I let the concept and the characters ramble around in my head for a year or more while I do my research. Second, I write the jacket blurb. Then I open a new document on my laptop and start writing. I write whenever my characters talk to me. I really like to sleep, so I wish they wouldn’t strike up conversations at four in the morning. But they do. 

Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?

Story of a Stolen Girl--A door slammed and reverberated like a gunshot through a tunnel. Darby pulled her knees up, hugged them to her chest. When the vibration spent its energy and fell silent to the floor, she opened one eye, a tiny slit, to a room engulfed in darkness. She thought she called out, but no sound escaped her lips. In the distance, muffled voices…men…talking, laughing. She strained to hear what they were saying. They weren’t speaking English. Their accent was familiar, not Spanish, maybe Middle Eastern, but she didn’t comprehend a single word.  

Struggling to turn toward the voices, her body convulsed. Darby couldn’t tell whether from fear or cold. She covered her mouth as heavy footsteps moved her way. She prayed they wouldn’t hear her whimper. 

Who is your favorite character and why?

Mothers tell me they would go to hell and back to save their child. Nina Richards is my favorite character because in Story of a Stolen Girl, she does exactly that. 

Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?

Working on the book I am now writing is my favorite thing to do. I think that is because Tale of Three Sisters is so different than anything I have written before.

What is the best marketing tip you have received?

I do not have a grip on marketing at all. Every tip I have received is jumbled up in my mind, and since I would rather write than market, I am not making much progress on straightening it out in my brain. The piece of marketing that makes me feel good about what I do is to speak to service organizations, book clubs, parents and educators on the topic of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. 

How would you describe yourself?

Creative, funny, happy, active, driven, emotional. Passionate about the cause to fight child exploitation.

What do you do when you are not writing or reading?

Golfing, reading, walking on the beach, or hanging out at book clubs or with family and friends. And during all of this, when I am not writing, I am thinking about writing. 

If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?

Anywhere by the sea.

Anywhere by the sea.

I look for a strong plot and characters that rise off the page. I want a book that I can learn from. When I select a book, I read the jacket blurb and the first page. If I like it, I buy it. I belong to two book clubs so much of my reading time is spent on the books we decide on as a group. 

Yes. http://patspencer.net.  I am also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

I am working on two short stories and a novel with the working title of Tale of Three Sisters. The novel, set in South Africa, delves into love, family bonds, racism, apartheid, kidnapping, and child human trafficking.

When my short stories are complete, I will offer them for free on Amazon and to those who have signed up for my email list. If you would like a copy, either write to me at spencerp04@verizon.net or sign up on my website, https://patspencer.net