Hello All! I’m V.J. Patterson author of When the Crows Fly Low. This is my first ever post thanks to the very talented, very feisty Daniela Ark over at www.danielaark.com who challenged authors to discuss their current WIP. I happily accepted her challenge so here we go….

At the moment I have four possible novels in the works. All bouncing around in my very crowded head. It’s total madness at times. I love all types of books so right now I have a romantic comedy, a Sci-Fi trilogy, a horror, and a young adult romance in the works. When I get bored with one I work on another. The one I have spent the most time with and feel will be my next release in 2016, is currently untitled. I have an idea what the title will be but titles change as stories progress as all writers know.

I’ve always heard it said that authors write what they know. Here is what I know...southern towns, rich accents, lovely scenery, decent hardworking people, laughter, sadness, and a belief in something greater than myself. My life experiences have brought me much happiness, but as is the truth with every human being, we never really can live life without getting a few scrapes and bruises along the way. I find myself pouring all my scrapes and bruises into my writing. My grandmother, whom I was very close to, died of a very aggressive brain tumor ten years ago. I had been lucky because at twenty-seven years old I had never lost anyone close to me. While my newest novel isn’t about my grandmother per se, I definitely used what I knew about her cancer, some of her experiences and our deep conversations in what I’ve wrote so far. Tapping into those memories is hard at times. Going back and feeling that sadness, of knowing the end is coming and being powerless to stop it, and praying to God for a miracle but knowing deep down her time was near…well it’s one of the hardest things I’ve dealt with thus far. But for me, delving into those sad memories is when I write the best.

My next release will be a young adult novel that as with the theme in my first novel is not only about learning to survive life’s scrapes and bruises but learning to live despite them. The story is told through Rowan McElroy’s eyes. At seventeen years old, life has roughed her up a bit. Family drama, the loss of her mother, moving back to Kentucky to live with a father whom she had rarely seen since the age of nine, it’s safe to say she is overwhelmed. Meeting Mason Griggs, the town hero and the high school baseball player who is going to put Centerville, Kentucky on the map, brings her back from the gray world she’d come to exist in. Rowan knows as she begins to fall in love with Mason that life is a game of opposites. Good has evil. Birth has death. And happiness has sorrow. Life had taught her it was impossible to experience one without the other to follow. Just as happiness is within Rowans grasp, life bruises her yet again. She is faced with a difficult decision and no matter which path she chooses heartache is waiting for her at the end. It will be a beautiful gripping story that pulls at the heartstrings. Yep, another one of those. One of these days I promise I’m going to write a novel that doesn’t make readers cry!

Okay…more to come soon. For now, my challenge to authors is to delve into the scrapes and bruises life has dealt you. Use them in your writing. You may find that some of your best writing comes from them.

One other note I wanted to share because I've started talking now and can't shut up! But it’s such a big part of my writing process and I'm curious about other writers processes. With each novel I choose a song. It’s weird I know but it gets me into writing mode. I always picture my novels as movies, as do most writers. For me music is such an integral part of movies. It sets the mood. A death scene can go from sad to gut wrenching with a sad song playing. As I write I play my chosen song over and over. While writing my first novel When the Crows Fly Low, I listened to A River Flows in You by Yiruma. For me the music set the tone, encompassing the love and sadness in the novel.
For my untitled book two, I have chosen, Wherever You Will Go performed by Charlene Soraia. I had never heard of her before. I had heard the song performed by The Calling and loved it but it was paced to fast to be the song for this book. When I heard her version I fell in love with it. It was perfect for a young couple trying to hold on to the last bit of light before the sun sets.

I’m curious if any other authors out there use music when they write? If so I’d love to know your song choices!

Bye for now…


Veronica J. Patterson