Ask the Author: Patrick Higgins
Answered Questions (5)
Patrick Higgins
I am presently working on the seventh installment of the "Chaos in the Blink of an Eye" series, and will have a release date in mind in the coming weeks. In truth, I was so spiritually tormented after finishing the 6th installment of the CHAOS series, that I had to take an extended break, not from writing, but from the series itself.
What persecuted me so deeply in my spirit—and profoundly impacted my health—was writing in vivid detail about the persecution Christ followers will surely suffer during the Tribulation period, as described in the book of Revelation. It’s so graphic in some places that I was prompted to include a warning to my readers up front—a first for me.
During my brief hiatus from the CHAOS series, I was able to finish my latest release, "I Never Knew You", which I started writing back in 2016. This story also focuses on our persecuted brothers and sisters who languish in prison for their faith in Christ, only in a present-tense setting.
Mostly due to the popularity of the CHAOS series, I was unable to put any time into it. It’s amazing how God works! Had I not taken an extended break from the series, this book would still be unfinished, and the many personal emails I’ve received from readers whose lives have been totally transformed from reading it—their words, not mine—would have gone unwritten. What an awesome God we serve!
What persecuted me so deeply in my spirit—and profoundly impacted my health—was writing in vivid detail about the persecution Christ followers will surely suffer during the Tribulation period, as described in the book of Revelation. It’s so graphic in some places that I was prompted to include a warning to my readers up front—a first for me.
During my brief hiatus from the CHAOS series, I was able to finish my latest release, "I Never Knew You", which I started writing back in 2016. This story also focuses on our persecuted brothers and sisters who languish in prison for their faith in Christ, only in a present-tense setting.
Mostly due to the popularity of the CHAOS series, I was unable to put any time into it. It’s amazing how God works! Had I not taken an extended break from the series, this book would still be unfinished, and the many personal emails I’ve received from readers whose lives have been totally transformed from reading it—their words, not mine—would have gone unwritten. What an awesome God we serve!
Patrick Higgins
Since all writers are different, we all have different styles and techniques. As for me, I do not write in chronological order. In fact, very seldom do I start writing chapter one first. What works best for me is just to keep writing, without worrying too much about formatting or editing, or about trying to make chapter 4 fit into chapter 1.
The hardest part for me is that I tend to overwrite. When I finish writing the bulk of a story, I envision a huge block of ice before me which needs sculpting. The shortening of the text is me taking a chainsaw and sculpting the block of ice until it becomes a beautiful sculpture, or in book jargon, a story worthy of being introduced to the marketplace. Believe me when I say, deleting parts that I work so hard to include in a story is no easy task! It can be just as grueling as writing the story itself.
The key is to keep writing. Everything else will get sorted out in the end. And while it’s beneficial to read the works of other authors—it’s even good to be compared to them—from a creativity standpoint, it’s vital that your readers are always convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that what they are reading is distinctly you, and no one else! In short, your work must be uniquely your own!
The hardest part for me is that I tend to overwrite. When I finish writing the bulk of a story, I envision a huge block of ice before me which needs sculpting. The shortening of the text is me taking a chainsaw and sculpting the block of ice until it becomes a beautiful sculpture, or in book jargon, a story worthy of being introduced to the marketplace. Believe me when I say, deleting parts that I work so hard to include in a story is no easy task! It can be just as grueling as writing the story itself.
The key is to keep writing. Everything else will get sorted out in the end. And while it’s beneficial to read the works of other authors—it’s even good to be compared to them—from a creativity standpoint, it’s vital that your readers are always convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that what they are reading is distinctly you, and no one else! In short, your work must be uniquely your own!
Patrick Higgins
Hi Jessica. Sorry for the late reply. I am not on Goodreads often. And when I am, I sometimes have difficulty navigating the site. Regarding Book 7, I am making significant progress and will have a release date soon. But, due to the popularity of "I Never Knew You", I am being pulled in many directions. But one thing I can say is, once Book 7 is released, I will begin at once on Book 8. I want to finish the series so I can take a year off and decompress. HAHA!
Regarding your comment, "Is it odd for you that some of the things you wrote about in the books are now common place? Face masks, and the economy being pumped with cash to try and 'balance' things out for example," all I can say is glory to God!
Thanks so much for your support of my books. I appreciate it so much. God's grace and peace be with you always...
Regarding your comment, "Is it odd for you that some of the things you wrote about in the books are now common place? Face masks, and the economy being pumped with cash to try and 'balance' things out for example," all I can say is glory to God!
Thanks so much for your support of my books. I appreciate it so much. God's grace and peace be with you always...
Patrick Higgins
Hi Kent! Sorry for the late reply. I have been buried in my writing. But now that it is published, I am catching up. Have you read it yet? It is approximately 200 pages in length...What book/s have you written?
Patrick Higgins
The seeds to my latest story, "The Unannounced Christmas Visitor" were planted last November (2013), as I was reading the book of Hebrews, one of my favorite books in the Bible.
When I got to chapter 13, verse 2, a verse I was quite familiar with, God prompted me to write a novel based on that verse which reads, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it".
Hence, this story, which takes place in a homeless community in Anywhere, USA..
When I got to chapter 13, verse 2, a verse I was quite familiar with, God prompted me to write a novel based on that verse which reads, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it".
Hence, this story, which takes place in a homeless community in Anywhere, USA..
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