As seen in the December issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: In The Christmas Cowboy, we meet Tate and Kenzie, a book full of romance, the rodeo, and a feel-good ending. What inspires you to write in the Western romance genre? I’ve been a horse owner most of my life so I’m intrigued, do you have a background in the western way of life?

I grew up on a farm and always had a horse to ride. My family would probably tell you I was a bit of a horse crazy girl. When I was about three or so, I was supposed to be napping and snuck out of the house so I could ride my pony. I didn’t get the riding pad tight and ended up clinging to it upside down beneath the pony when my mom finally found me. (A girl just wants to ride, right?)

During most of my childhood years, my oldest brother worked as a buckaroo on remote ranches located on the edge of nowhere. He’d return home full of adventurous stories and sometimes bring along a cowboy or two who could use a home-cooked meal and a few days of “civilization.” They’d walk in the house smelling like sunshine, horses and leather and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world.

The western way of life is one I greatly admire and enjoy.

Uncaged: This is our holiday issue – can you tell us of some of your holiday traditions and some things you love to do during the Christmas season?

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. Growing up, we always made a trek to the woods (which was about an hour and a half drive) to spend the day picking out the perfect Christmas tree. We often hosted Christmas at our house for all the extended family, so we’d go sledding and ice skating and have such fun.

One tradition I started a few years ago is making home-made cinnamon rolls. I try to deliver them to friends and neighbors while they’re still warm, and the frosting is melting over the cinnamon-filled rolls in sweet, delectable puddles. Also, I love to decorate for the holidays and have a theme for each room in the house.

My husband, Captain Cavedweller, and I wed during the holiday season, so it’s just a wonderful, magical, romantic time of the year for us.

Uncaged: You also write in other genres, can you tell us about the different series you have published along with the wonderful holiday selection you have written?

I started out writing sweet contemporary romance then I decided to give writing historical romances a try. Goodness, I love writing both so much! I also have a few humorous books out (one based on my adventurous growing up on the farm), four recipe and entertaining tips books, and my first children’s book, Steve the Mule recently released.

One contemporary series I write is the Rodeo Romance series (The Christmas Cowboy is the first book in that series). The fifth book just released a few weeks ago and all the stories involve hunky rodeo cowboys, sassy women, laughter, heartwarming moments, and holiday cheer. Grass Valley Cowboys is another contemporary series I enjoy writing. It’s been popular with readers. The setting is a ranch in central Oregon owned by the three Thompson brothers. Among the characters are their widowed mother, a few cousins, and their close friends, the Morgan family. (The Morgans just happen to be cousins to Tate Morgan of the The Christmas Cowboy.) The first book in the series, The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan, is about a city girl who needs a change of pace so she comes to Grass Valley to visit her aunt. Trey Thompson needs a new cook and housekeeper after his retired, so he hires Cadi and from there, the holiday fun and romance begins.

I also have a World War II series called Hearts of the War. So far, there are two books out in it, but I have plans to write more. Historical accuracy is very important to me, so it takes a lot of research for these books, but I love every minute of it.

Historical series I write include Pendleton Petticoats, Baker City Brides, and Hardman Holidays. The Hardman Holidays series has been likened to Old West fairy tales and is such fun this time of year. The sixth book in the series, The Christmas Confection, releases December 5. It’s a story about a man in need of redemption and a baker determined to make him smile. Three fairy-godmother like aunts arrive to add to the chaos and holiday escapades.

Uncaged: As a reviewer, I’m always curious as to what authors can take away from the reviews, do you read them and what do you take away from the reviews?

I do read a lot of reviews and appreciate people taking the time to write them. Everyone is so busy, so when people actually take a minute to share their thoughts about a book, I think it’s important to read it. A well-written, thoughtful review can be so helpful to an author, even if it is pointing out something specific the author can do better. Constructive criticism is a great thing. Destructive – not so much. And the great reviews truly buoy our spirits and lift us up when we need a little boost.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?

Plans for 2018 include releasing books in several of my series. The next installment in the Pendleton Petticoats series and Baker City Brides series will be out in the spring. Most likely, I’ll have a new Hearts of the War book out around autumn. I do plan to release new stories in the Rodeo Romance and Hardman Holidays series, too. Additionally, I have a new secret project I’m working on and hope to have completed before the end of the year.

Uncaged: Where do you come up with your characters and their names? How much do you pull from people you know?

I love names that are different (that might derive from having a name most people don’t pronounce correctly). If I happen upon a name that is unique or different, I save it to a file I keep with character names (and those names include humans and pets!). Some names are inspired by people I know. The name of the heroine in Chasing Christmas is inspired by my niece.

As for developing characters, when I first started writing I tended to draw quite a bit from people I knew. Now, though, I let the characters blossom as I write. Each character is so unique and different, but I usually start by thinking about their personalities and go from there.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

The favorite part of being an author for me is writing the stories. I absolutely love sitting down and letting the words flow, the characters develop, the story reveal itself. And I feel exceptionally blessed to get up every day and so something that makes me so ridiculously happy.

My least favorite part would definitely be keeping up with social media trends and trying to stay on top of the ever-changing landscape of promotion.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

Beyond curling up with a good book, I love to bake and try out new recipes. I enjoy photography and like to snap a few photos when time permits. Home decorating and crafts are things I also like to play with. Pinterest is somewhere I could hang out for hours, studying craft projects, home ideas, and beautiful gardens.

Uncaged: I know that my favorites change as I read more and more books, but was the last book you loved? The last book you wanted to throw against a wall (good or bad)?

One of my readers recommended a book to me and I loved it. It’s called the Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof. Just a touching, wonderful story full of love and hope.

As for one I wanted to throw against a wall, I couldn’t do that to a book! I will admit, though, that if a book doesn’t pull me in by page three, I set it aside and don’t come back. I have such limited reading time just for fun, a book really has to grab my interest from the start or I won’t invest my time in it.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Fans are awesome and fantastic and so appreciated!

If any of them would like to join my Street Team, we hang out on Facebook at Hopeless Romantics where we share recipes, craft ideas, have weekly giveaways, and I shamelessly promote my books and expect them to do them same.

I love connecting with readers, so I hope to see you online!

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky heroes. When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.[/symple_box]

shannahatfield.com

Uncaged welcomes Patricia Eddy, as seen in the December issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: Mistletoe and Mochas is a contemporary military novella, but you also have other genres you write in, such as paranormal and BDSM. Can you tell the readers more about your different series? What influences the different genres?

Sure! I love all forms of romance. My first books were all paranormal romance, and I have a special place in my heart for creating rich worlds and lore. But, I just absolutely love writing the BDSM romances as well. They’re so much fun because I can just let loose.

All of my books and series have different inspirations. By the Fates came from a dark time in my life. In Blood came from a place of hope when I was feeling particularly good about the world around me. A Shift in the Water…well, werewolves are just fun. 🙂

Uncaged: This is our holiday issue – can you tell us of some of your holiday traditions and some things you love to do during the Christmas season?

I don’t usually have a lot of time to spend on all of the holiday trappings, but I do a few things every year. My family has always had a real Christmas tree, and when I have the time, I like to go cut it down myself. I collect Goebel Angel Bells, so those always go on the mantle. My most important holiday tradition, though, is baking my grandmother’s Christmas cookies—both sugar cookies and gingerbread men and women. We thought her recipes were lost for many years, but my cousin found them three or four years ago.

Uncaged: As a reviewer, I’m always curious as to what authors can take away from the reviews, do you read them and what do you take away from the reviews?

I read most of my reviews. With fourteen books out now, it’s hard to keep up sometimes. I look for the sentiment of the review. What part of my book spoke to the reader? What parts didn’t speak to the reader? I’m always trying to improve my writing, my plotting, and my characters. So it helps me to know what readers do and don’t like. For example, in my vampire novel, readers loved the connection between the two characters. In my werewolf series, they loved the vulnerability that my alpha wolf showed while he was also being strong. Those types of sentiments are the ones that help me shape future characters. It works both ways, as well. Negative reviews are just as valuable when trying to grow as a writer, even though they’re much less fun to read.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?

Next up, I have two books in the Restrained series. All Tied Up For New Year’s and In His Collar will both be released in the next two months. After that, I’m going to go back to Revelations in Blood and A Shift in the Earth.

Uncaged: Where do you come up with your characters and their names? How much do you pull from people you know?

There’s a little bit of me in every one of my heroines. But I try not to pull too much from those around me unless someone’s asked me if they can be in one of my books. In A Shift in the Water, a couple I know asked to be included. And though they are crazy in love and very happy, they both wanted me to work it out so that her character killed his in the end. So, I did it. I’m just glad they’re still together in real life.
As for character names…I use a name generator for many of them. Sometimes a name will just come to me, but most of the time, I go through a couple of names before I’m satisfied.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

My favorite part of being an author is hearing from fans. There really is nothing better than an email that says how much your book touched someone or how excited they are for the next book.

My least favorite part of being an author is all of the non-writing work that has to be done. Advertising, organizing, social media…I can work all weekend long and not take a single break and write zero words.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

Well, usually, some of the non-writing tasks that are required to be an author. But I also love to play GuildWars 2, I’m learning to play the guitar, and I enjoy yoga.

Uncaged: I know that my favorites change as I read more and more books, but was the last book you loved? The last book you wanted to throw against a wall (good or bad)?

Ha! I haven’t wanted to throw a book against a wall lately. The last book I read and loved was Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye. I’m currently reading Devil in Disguise by Cynthia Eden.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

To fans, I’d say don’t be shy about emailing if you have any questions. I know I’m an introvert—in person. I was at a writing conference two weeks ago and I couldn’t even force myself to go up to one of my author heroes and introduce myself. Despite being shy, though, I love chatting about books. Find me on Facebook and Instagram in particular and comment. Start a conversation. I also want to tell my fans that I really appreciate them being so patient with me while I took eighteen months off from writing in 2015-2016. I had some health and personal issues I had to take care of, and I know it was hard for fans not to have the next books in the series they loved. I’m back now, and I’m going to finish up all of my current series before starting another one!

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Patricia D. Eddy lives in many worlds. Witches, vampires, and shifters inhabit one of them, military men and women fill another, with sexy Doms and strong subs carving out the final slice of her literary universe. She admits to eleven novels (though there are at least five unfinished drafts on her desk right now), all while working a full-time job, running half-marathons, and catering to the every whim of her three cats. Despite this whirlwind, she still finds time to binge watch Doctor Who, all of the Netflix Marvel shows, and most recently, The Handmaid’s Tale. Oh, and she hopes to one day be able to say that she plays the guitar. Right now, she mostly tortures the strings until they make noise.[/symple_box]

patriciaeddy.com