Ask the Author: Patty Blount
Answered Questions (34)
Patty Blount
Hi, Kal!
I've asked my publisher this question, but they're not interested in publishing a sequel. I am, though, so I did indeed post "The Missing Epilogue" on my website. You can find it under "Dan's Blog" at pattyblount.com.
I'm so glad you're invested in Dan's journey. He remains my favorite character to date, probably because he was my first!
I've been playing around with converting SEND into a school play but writing plays is actually much harder than writing the novel. It's going to take me some time.
I've asked my publisher this question, but they're not interested in publishing a sequel. I am, though, so I did indeed post "The Missing Epilogue" on my website. You can find it under "Dan's Blog" at pattyblount.com.
I'm so glad you're invested in Dan's journey. He remains my favorite character to date, probably because he was my first!
I've been playing around with converting SEND into a school play but writing plays is actually much harder than writing the novel. It's going to take me some time.
Patty Blount
Hi, Izzy! Thank you so much for your question. You've totally made my day. I just finished 2 projects. One is a romantic suspense that I hope will be the start of a series and the other is a young adult Christmas romance that's a comedy. I'm crossing my fingers that both sell soon.
Meanwhile, I'm dusting off an old project that I plan to self-publish. This is a young adult ghost story that I just love. It's old and needs updating (people still have flip phones!!) but is so much fun. It's loosely based on Supernatural.
My plans for a Some Boys sequel fell through. I did write Someone I Used to Know as a companion story to it and Grace and Ian make cameo appearances. If you subscribe to my newsletter on my website, you get a free short story called One Girl, which picks up after Some Boys leaves off.
Hope this helps! Thanks again for reading my work.
Meanwhile, I'm dusting off an old project that I plan to self-publish. This is a young adult ghost story that I just love. It's old and needs updating (people still have flip phones!!) but is so much fun. It's loosely based on Supernatural.
My plans for a Some Boys sequel fell through. I did write Someone I Used to Know as a companion story to it and Grace and Ian make cameo appearances. If you subscribe to my newsletter on my website, you get a free short story called One Girl, which picks up after Some Boys leaves off.
Hope this helps! Thanks again for reading my work.
Patty Blount
Hi Ara! yes, it's true! SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW is now out in the world. You can find it online, in stores, or in libraries. Grace and Ian make cameo appearances in this story.
I really hope you'll read it!
I really hope you'll read it!
Patty Blount
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Patty Blount
OMG, I listen to pretty much everything but rap and jazz. (They give me headaches).
In my playlists, you're as likely to find Drowning Pool, Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Stone Sour, and Metallica as you are Neil Diamond. I'm not much of a pop music girl but I like Gaga, Pink, and totally love Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon. I also like some country music like Dierks Bentley, Benton Blount (no relation to me), and Zac Brown Band.
I use music to help me find the right mood to write certain scenes. When I was writing Some Boys, I listened to Rhiannon and Eminem sing Love the Way You Lie so I could write that scene in the cafeteria where Ian sells out Grace. When I was writing Nothing Left to Burn, I listed to Say Something by A Great Big World on repeat so I could nail Reece's scenes with his dad.
I don't often write TO music, though, because the song lyrics may end up in the book. I use music to influence my state of mind.
In my playlists, you're as likely to find Drowning Pool, Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Stone Sour, and Metallica as you are Neil Diamond. I'm not much of a pop music girl but I like Gaga, Pink, and totally love Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon. I also like some country music like Dierks Bentley, Benton Blount (no relation to me), and Zac Brown Band.
I use music to help me find the right mood to write certain scenes. When I was writing Some Boys, I listened to Rhiannon and Eminem sing Love the Way You Lie so I could write that scene in the cafeteria where Ian sells out Grace. When I was writing Nothing Left to Burn, I listed to Say Something by A Great Big World on repeat so I could nail Reece's scenes with his dad.
I don't often write TO music, though, because the song lyrics may end up in the book. I use music to influence my state of mind.
Patty Blount
Hi, Kaitlyn,
Let me investigate this... the short story link should be automatically emailed to you when you sign up for the newsletter. Meanwhile, if you go back to my website and click the Contact link and send me your email address (don't put it here), I'll email you the short story.
I'll try to see what's going on....
Let me investigate this... the short story link should be automatically emailed to you when you sign up for the newsletter. Meanwhile, if you go back to my website and click the Contact link and send me your email address (don't put it here), I'll email you the short story.
I'll try to see what's going on....
Patty Blount
Let me clarify your question... if you're asking if someone close to me experience rape and did I react like Ian, the answer is no. When people close to me confide in me something as serious as sexual assault, I believe them. It's not my job to presume innocence until proven guilty. That's for the justice system. It IS my job to provide support to someone who survived sexualized violence and that begins by not judging them, not blaming them.
Patty Blount
I adore the Harry Potter movies. I believe they were as magical as the books.
I also love the Outlander series, though that's TV, not film.
I've tried adapting SEND, my first novel, to stage. I think it would make a great school play. It is NOT easy. Any time a beloved book is adapted for a visual medium like TV, film, or theater, trade-offs have to be made for timing, for the lack of internal thoughts, for drama.
Harry Potter's whimsical details were all brought to vivid life in the films. I truly love them.
I also love the Outlander series, though that's TV, not film.
I've tried adapting SEND, my first novel, to stage. I think it would make a great school play. It is NOT easy. Any time a beloved book is adapted for a visual medium like TV, film, or theater, trade-offs have to be made for timing, for the lack of internal thoughts, for drama.
Harry Potter's whimsical details were all brought to vivid life in the films. I truly love them.
Patty Blount
Sure, just turn on the news.
Okay, okay. A serious horror story. This is from THE SKY WAS SCARLET, an unpublished young adult horror story.
"Tingling with excitement, I started the car, shifted into gear, and hit the open road with the wind in my hair. When I glanced into the rearview mirror, I discovered it wasn't the wind at all..."
Okay, okay. A serious horror story. This is from THE SKY WAS SCARLET, an unpublished young adult horror story.
"Tingling with excitement, I started the car, shifted into gear, and hit the open road with the wind in my hair. When I glanced into the rearview mirror, I discovered it wasn't the wind at all..."
Patty Blount
Ever, as in all time? I don't know if I can pick just one. I adore the Harry Potter series because that was what finally encouraged me to try writing professionally. I love JD Robb's In Death books and have read every one of them. I am a huge Katie McGarry fan and I really enjoyed Angie Thomas's THE HATE U GIVE. There are just so many! Jeff Somers' Avery Cates series. Nora Roberts' Chesapeake Bay Saga. I read all of the Goldy Schultz catering mysteries, too.
It's like picking my favorite chocolate. I love ALL chocolate. :)
It's like picking my favorite chocolate. I love ALL chocolate. :)
Patty Blount
There are several fictional book worlds I'd love to visit.
First, Hogwarts -- of course!
Second, Blue Heron Winery -- from Kristan Higgins' series.
Third, Saint Christopher -- the fictional Maryland town where Nora Roberts set her Chesapeake Bay Saga.
Fourth: 1740's Lally Broch so I can meet a certain red-headed Scot. :)
First, Hogwarts -- of course!
Second, Blue Heron Winery -- from Kristan Higgins' series.
Third, Saint Christopher -- the fictional Maryland town where Nora Roberts set her Chesapeake Bay Saga.
Fourth: 1740's Lally Broch so I can meet a certain red-headed Scot. :)
Patty Blount
I would LOVE if my books were made into movies. I keep hoping a big Hollywood producer will read one of my books and offer to adapt it to screen.
So far, no nibbles. Maybe one day, when I'm a best-selling author, that may happen.
So far, no nibbles. Maybe one day, when I'm a best-selling author, that may happen.
Patty Blount
I have lots to read! I picked up piles of new-to-me authors when I was at the RT Convention this year.
I want to read Sarah Dessen's ONCE AND FOR ALL, Jennifer Armentrout's Wicked series, and a teenage Mulder / X-Files from Kami Garcia.
There are a bunch of adult contemporary books I will read, too. Marie Force writing as MS Force has a series I want to explore.
I want to read Sarah Dessen's ONCE AND FOR ALL, Jennifer Armentrout's Wicked series, and a teenage Mulder / X-Files from Kami Garcia.
There are a bunch of adult contemporary books I will read, too. Marie Force writing as MS Force has a series I want to explore.
Patty Blount
hahaha! This has me laughing because the 'mystery' lately is where did I put that thing I urgently need now but put away in a safe place and can't remember what it is.
Seriously, aside from memory issues, one of my grandparents (all of whom are deceased) had an interesting back story. He was born in Argentina. We're of Italian descent, so no one is entirely sure what his parents were doing in Argentina at the time he was born. One story is that his father had to flee to escape debtors' prison. Another story is that immigrants en route to New York's Ellis Island were re-routed because of a flu outbreak so they settled in Argentina until the ban was lifted.
I've tried to use sites like Ancestry to get the answers, but it's proved unsuccessful.
Seriously, aside from memory issues, one of my grandparents (all of whom are deceased) had an interesting back story. He was born in Argentina. We're of Italian descent, so no one is entirely sure what his parents were doing in Argentina at the time he was born. One story is that his father had to flee to escape debtors' prison. Another story is that immigrants en route to New York's Ellis Island were re-routed because of a flu outbreak so they settled in Argentina until the ban was lifted.
I've tried to use sites like Ancestry to get the answers, but it's proved unsuccessful.
Patty Blount
Hi, Jamie,
Not annoying! I love talking books and love even more to talk about my own books because I still can't believe this is my life now. :)
To tell you about the Some Boys inspiration, I have to back up even more to Send's inspiration, because it began there. You see, I'd wanted to be an author for many years. I was writing a contemporary romance series. Book 1 was finished and I'd gotten about six chapters into book 2 and had book 3 all plotted out when I began imagining this teenage boy character.
I had no story; just him. I'd gone through a tough time with my oldest son being bullied and at work, my boss asked me to learn Twitter. Discovering how people use Twitter led me to also discovering how they abuse it and other social networks for bullying. And that gave birth to this new character.
He became so real, so life-like, I abandoned my series idea and started writing his story. I saw him as this conflicted, guilt-ridden kid who was branded a bully, but really just made a huge, un-un-doable mistake (sorry; I know that's not a word, but it's how he thinks.) I wrote the book that became SEND and it became my first published novel, making my life-long dream come true.
And then I floundered for a long time, looking for my next idea. At this time, the news was full of stories about a rape case in a town called Stuebenville. It appalled me when the media suggested we should all feel sorry NOT for the victim, but for the four boys accused of her assault because they'll never get their football scholarships. The more I read about this case, the angrier I got. And then I learned similar cases were happening in Maryville and in Canada, where Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons committed suicide when it happened to them.
And suddenly, a new character was born -- a teenage girl. I saw her as a girl that was misunderstood. A girl a lot of people think isn't so 'good' and maybe even ASKED FOR IT (I really, really hate this!) and so, Grace was born.
Dan in Send and Grace in Some Boys became alive to me and I had to write their stories to see what becomes of them. But I also wanted to write it in such a way that people who may have once looked at a girl's clothes or behavior and called her a slut or blamed her for getting raped would close the book and say instead that it's NEVER the victim's fault. Ever. I wanted boys who read the book to recognize themselves in Ian or other characters and change their behavior. Maybe they won't cat-call girls they don't know, or assume that just because a girl can't say no, it means they can do whatever they want to her.
I'm working on a sequel now, as well as a companion story that approaches the same subject matter in Some Boys but from a different angle -- specifically, how an entire family learns to heal. Grace and Ian will make appearances in this book, providing some much-needed advice to the new characters.
Not annoying! I love talking books and love even more to talk about my own books because I still can't believe this is my life now. :)
To tell you about the Some Boys inspiration, I have to back up even more to Send's inspiration, because it began there. You see, I'd wanted to be an author for many years. I was writing a contemporary romance series. Book 1 was finished and I'd gotten about six chapters into book 2 and had book 3 all plotted out when I began imagining this teenage boy character.
I had no story; just him. I'd gone through a tough time with my oldest son being bullied and at work, my boss asked me to learn Twitter. Discovering how people use Twitter led me to also discovering how they abuse it and other social networks for bullying. And that gave birth to this new character.
He became so real, so life-like, I abandoned my series idea and started writing his story. I saw him as this conflicted, guilt-ridden kid who was branded a bully, but really just made a huge, un-un-doable mistake (sorry; I know that's not a word, but it's how he thinks.) I wrote the book that became SEND and it became my first published novel, making my life-long dream come true.
And then I floundered for a long time, looking for my next idea. At this time, the news was full of stories about a rape case in a town called Stuebenville. It appalled me when the media suggested we should all feel sorry NOT for the victim, but for the four boys accused of her assault because they'll never get their football scholarships. The more I read about this case, the angrier I got. And then I learned similar cases were happening in Maryville and in Canada, where Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons committed suicide when it happened to them.
And suddenly, a new character was born -- a teenage girl. I saw her as a girl that was misunderstood. A girl a lot of people think isn't so 'good' and maybe even ASKED FOR IT (I really, really hate this!) and so, Grace was born.
Dan in Send and Grace in Some Boys became alive to me and I had to write their stories to see what becomes of them. But I also wanted to write it in such a way that people who may have once looked at a girl's clothes or behavior and called her a slut or blamed her for getting raped would close the book and say instead that it's NEVER the victim's fault. Ever. I wanted boys who read the book to recognize themselves in Ian or other characters and change their behavior. Maybe they won't cat-call girls they don't know, or assume that just because a girl can't say no, it means they can do whatever they want to her.
I'm working on a sequel now, as well as a companion story that approaches the same subject matter in Some Boys but from a different angle -- specifically, how an entire family learns to heal. Grace and Ian will make appearances in this book, providing some much-needed advice to the new characters.
Patty Blount
Hi, Madison,
That's an ongoing problem for me. I work fulltime so I am often too tired to do anything but that. And I struggle to find new ideas I think I can develop into compelling stories. I frequently have long stretches where I don't -- or can't write. It helps to have characters who feel so realistic to me, the writer, that I can't wait to hang out with them.
I try to write every single day, no matter how tired I feel. There are days I can write no more than a sentence and other days, where I can write a thousand words in an hour. For me, it's important I make writing a habit. I now write in the mornings, before work. I get up about 5:30, dress, drive to work, and write at my desk before everybody gets in. If I'm not dog-tired when I get home, I may write again after dinner, instead of watching TV.
When my characters feel real, writing feels less like work and more like hanging out with good friends. I have a new book coming out in August called THE WAY IT HURTS and Elijah, the hero, is one of those characters I can't get enough of. I had to write some song lyrics for this book and even though it's done, I still find myself writing songs for Elijah. I'll have to start posting them on my website at some point after the release just for fun.
But yeah.... motivation has to come from within. I'm not rich, famous, so I don't write for those reasons, even though I know writers who have become both and hope that happens for me one day. Writing feeds something inside me... a need to change minds, to make people feel what I feel when I read a great book, to matter somehow. When I don't write, I don't feel whole. So I keep to my schedule even though some days, the words totally suck and look for those moments when the characters feel like they're sitting right beside me and the real world fades away.
That's an ongoing problem for me. I work fulltime so I am often too tired to do anything but that. And I struggle to find new ideas I think I can develop into compelling stories. I frequently have long stretches where I don't -- or can't write. It helps to have characters who feel so realistic to me, the writer, that I can't wait to hang out with them.
I try to write every single day, no matter how tired I feel. There are days I can write no more than a sentence and other days, where I can write a thousand words in an hour. For me, it's important I make writing a habit. I now write in the mornings, before work. I get up about 5:30, dress, drive to work, and write at my desk before everybody gets in. If I'm not dog-tired when I get home, I may write again after dinner, instead of watching TV.
When my characters feel real, writing feels less like work and more like hanging out with good friends. I have a new book coming out in August called THE WAY IT HURTS and Elijah, the hero, is one of those characters I can't get enough of. I had to write some song lyrics for this book and even though it's done, I still find myself writing songs for Elijah. I'll have to start posting them on my website at some point after the release just for fun.
But yeah.... motivation has to come from within. I'm not rich, famous, so I don't write for those reasons, even though I know writers who have become both and hope that happens for me one day. Writing feeds something inside me... a need to change minds, to make people feel what I feel when I read a great book, to matter somehow. When I don't write, I don't feel whole. So I keep to my schedule even though some days, the words totally suck and look for those moments when the characters feel like they're sitting right beside me and the real world fades away.
Patty Blount
Oh, boy! Great question and it's SOOOO hard to pick one. I adore Eve and Roarke from the JD Robb books. I like how they both came from the same sort of abuse and made something out of themselves in spite of it. I like how they are able to love and didn't become terrible people because they'd both been treated so terribly. They broke their own bonds.
I absolutely love Echo and Noah from Katie McGarry's PUSHING THE LIMITS books. Both of these teenagers want normalcy. So many teens want anything but normal so I love that Katie's characters crave it. And the part that always reduces me to a puddle of patty tears is when Noah is willing to risk everything to give Echo what she wants, just like she's wiling to risk the same.
Finally, I am head over heels for Jamie and Claire in Outlander. I've read all the books in the series and despite the time differences, Jamie is quite a progressive thinker. I love that he doesn't try to control or change Claire for who she is. And she doesn't try to change him. Oh, they butt heads often but they never forget how deeply they love each other and under that love is an even deeper and lasting respect.
I absolutely love Echo and Noah from Katie McGarry's PUSHING THE LIMITS books. Both of these teenagers want normalcy. So many teens want anything but normal so I love that Katie's characters crave it. And the part that always reduces me to a puddle of patty tears is when Noah is willing to risk everything to give Echo what she wants, just like she's wiling to risk the same.
Finally, I am head over heels for Jamie and Claire in Outlander. I've read all the books in the series and despite the time differences, Jamie is quite a progressive thinker. I love that he doesn't try to control or change Claire for who she is. And she doesn't try to change him. Oh, they butt heads often but they never forget how deeply they love each other and under that love is an even deeper and lasting respect.
Patty Blount
To any aspiring author, I always give the same advice I was given when just starting this journey -- READ! Read both in and beyond your genre so you know how stories work and how they don't. Read to inspire yourself to think in new directions. And then write the stories that scare you the most.
Thank you so much for reading my work! I'm glad you enjoyed Some Boys.
Thank you so much for reading my work! I'm glad you enjoyed Some Boys.
Patty Blount
Hi, Angie,
To be honest, I had to stop reading negative reviews, which is why it took me 18 days to answer this question -- I have to stay off Goodreads to preserve my sanity and confidence. Now, critiques and negative reviews aren't the same thing... I do seek out critiques from people I trust like beta readers, author friends from my writers' group. They will tell me where I can improve, why certain scenes don't work and do it a way that doesn't make me feel like I should never touch the keyboard ever again. Sadly, some reviews get way too personal and insulting so I had to simply stop reading them.
To be honest, I had to stop reading negative reviews, which is why it took me 18 days to answer this question -- I have to stay off Goodreads to preserve my sanity and confidence. Now, critiques and negative reviews aren't the same thing... I do seek out critiques from people I trust like beta readers, author friends from my writers' group. They will tell me where I can improve, why certain scenes don't work and do it a way that doesn't make me feel like I should never touch the keyboard ever again. Sadly, some reviews get way too personal and insulting so I had to simply stop reading them.
Patty Blount
Hi, Bre,
Sort of! I am indeed writing a Some Boys sequel but it has not yet been green-lighted by my publisher. It's just something I want to write. If it doesn't sell, I may self-publish it -- I'm not yet sure, but yes -- a sequel is in progress.
Sort of! I am indeed writing a Some Boys sequel but it has not yet been green-lighted by my publisher. It's just something I want to write. If it doesn't sell, I may self-publish it -- I'm not yet sure, but yes -- a sequel is in progress.
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