Featured Interview With Patricia Hopper
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My name is Patricia Hopper Patteson. I was born and raised in Ireland. I married an American and came to live in West Virginia where I had two children. I now have a grandson, Jackson, who is the apple of my eye. He is on his way to becoming an Irish Mountaineer.
My historical novel KILPARA was published May 2015 by Bygone Era Books. It takes place in 1866. The Civil War is over and the future looks bright for Ellis O’Donovan, until an urgent telegram sends him home to find his mother seriously ill. More disturbing is her desire to return to her birthplace, Ireland, to die and be buried at Kilpara, the O’Donovan ancestral home. Fulfilling this request is more difficult than Ellis anticipates. He must confront the aristocratic Englishman who refuses his mother her wish; the strife-ridden Irish who want an O’Donovan reinstated at Kilpara; and his growing attraction for Morrigan Purcenell, granddaughter of the man who bought Kilpara for a pittance.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was always interested in books. I didn’t start writing until I attended West Virginia University as a non-traditional student. I intended to get a degree in Business, but when I took English classes, and more specifically Creative Writing classes as part of my core requirements, I was hooked. I changed my major to English. Kilpara was born as part of my creative writing senior seminar. But it wasn’t until years later that I actually fleshed it out into a novel.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like many genres. In historical fiction I like Philippa Gregory, Edmund Rutherfurd, Peter Ackroyd, Morgan LLywelyn, Sue Monk Kidd. In mystery I like Michael Connelly, Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter. Other, Kristin Hannah, Jodi Picoult, Margaret Atwood, Kim Edwards, Linda Kavanagh, Martina Cole. A couple of my favorite books by James Joyce is Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, and The Dubliners.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My novel is a historical novel. It could be explained as (a) An estate lost and a family exiled, (b) A mother’s dying wish spend her last days in her homeland, (c) A son’s journey toward self discovery. The story takes place in north-western Maryland after the Civil War and journeys to Ireland. It is the first novel in a two-part family saga. It is about family and the meaning of honor, loyalty and responsibility. It contains elements of adventure, self-discovery, love and romance. The story is told from the point of view of Ellis O’Donovan, a young bachelor, who believes the worst is behind him now that the war is over. His career is on the rise; he has relationships with women, but has no intention of getting married, and he spends his time the way he pleases with no responsibilities. Until his mother calls him home…
As mentioned I started the novel while I was an undergraduate. From there I went on to graduate school. I continued writing but only short stories and non-fiction pieces which were published. But life got in the way and I would pick the book up and work on parts of it from time to time. I became serious about really writing it about three years ago. Then it became two novels. After that I spent time finding an agent, which I did. She was not successful in getting it published. When the contract ended I began querying small presses and Bygone Era Books picked up the novel.
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