How I Began Writing

I didn’t read my first book until I was 10 years old. Somehow, I was able to hide my lack of reading from my teachers. However, in grade 5, I ran into Mrs. Markham who insisted I read Mrs Pickerell Goes to the Moon. I loved it.

From that point onwards, I became a voracious reader and read any book I could get my hands on. An underlying dream was to create one of my own. I wanted to bring people to my words as the authors I was reading.

As a young child, I wrote poems about dragons. I did that for a few years, then tried my hand at short stories. I wrote a few over the years but found them difficult. Never tried to publish any. Didn’t think they were good enough.

One morning, years later after I had returned to Hamilton from overseas, I woke up with a full dream in my head. I sat down at the computer and wrote. I worked 12 hours a day for 4 months until Locker Rooms was completed. I had written my first novel and I felt a great thrill.

Then it was edited. Since it needed so much work, I put it in a drawer. I was disappointed that I hadn’t written a best seller. I forgot about writing for a few years. Then, took it out and dusted it off. I made the editor’s corrections and wrote publishers.

While receiving rejections, I began another novel. I kept at writing for a few years always hoping for a publishing deal. Then I learned about self-publishing.

My five novels have now been self-published. I accept writing like a job and write every day from 9-10 a.m. until 4 p.m. I’m so happy when the words flow. I love writing and will continue as long as possible.
have fun,
Patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Getting an Interview

I have to admit, I love doing interviews. It's so much fun talking about yourself. You can't really do that much these days without sounding arrogant or self-absorbed. But, in an interview, all the questions revolve around you and your books. You get to enjoy that pleasure.

Tim Knox interviewed me for his website Interviewing Authors. It was so much fun and it turned out great. If you'd like to hear it, you can listen to my Interview here.

I've done a few written interviews with Kevin Peter, Motewriter for my novels Locker Rooms, That Truthful Place and A Discerning Heart. You can read the full interviews on my site Interviews here.

Here is an excerpt from the Locker Rooms Interview:
KP: What was your inspiration behind ‘Locker Rooms’?
PL: Actually, it was a dream. I woke up one morning with the novel in my head. I sat down at the
computer and wrote for twelve hours a day for four months until the novel was finished. But, it
took me five years to edit and complete it satisfactory.
KP: How would you describe your lead character Alida on whose strong shoulders the entire plot line rests?
PL: She’s me and how I would react in those circumstances. I fashioned her after various aspects of my personality. I wrote her to be able to accomplish whatever she desired. 

This is a bit from the That Truthful Place Interview:
KP: What was your inspiration behind ‘That Truthful Place’?
PL: The telepathic idea originated from Deanna Troi, a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
I always loved her telepathic abilities and wished to create characters who were telepathic. I
picked 13 year old children because, at that age, they change from children to adults.
KP: Who is your favourite character and why?
PL: I love all the characters equally. They are all a part of me. Every year growing up, I wished to
begin a different career. These children are me as I would be if I had their abilities.

From A Discerning Heart Interview:
KP: ‘A Discerning Heart’ – give the short take on it?
PL: Its about a poor man who dreams of becoming rich and famous. He sets out to achieve greatness only to fall victim to the mighty ocean. Saved by a mermaid, his life changes.
KP: What was the inspiration behind this book?
PL: I was chatting with a guy named Jim who said I should marry a rich fisherman. I said only a poor fisherman would want me and then Dim Jim was born.

I'm redoing my website and the new site will be up soon.

have fun,
Patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Do You Chat Online?

For the past ten years, I have been chatting online. I started with Yahoo until they closed their site. Then I moved to ICQ where I stayed for many years until it recently closed. Now I'm chatting on a site associated with ICQ. It's not a bad place to meet people though enough idiots can be found there.

My first book is non-fiction about chat. It's entitled Shall We Chat? Revealing the Secrets of Chatting Online. There are ten chapters revealing everything you always wanted to know about chatting online. It's an honest, direct view and you'll laugh often.

An except from the book:

The wonderful world of chatting online can almost but replace people’s real and private lives because of its ability to connect people from all over this great world. The principal purpose people enter a chat room is to make a new friend, either for friendship or sexual reasons. The whole purpose of the chat conversation is to conduct a naturally flowing discussion about mutual experiences and interests, relating to someone about their world. It is possible to meet genuine and interesting people from whom to learn and enjoy chatting with for a few hours. However, for most chatters, their sole reason for entering a chat room is sexual in nature.

What is a chat room? Firstly, find a chat website by using Google and search the term: "chat room". Pick an appropriate chat site and then the preferred chat room. A small box will open to provide an opportunity to choose a suitable screen nickname. After clicking ‘Enter’, a large square box will appear taking up the majority of the computer screen. Immediately, there is the hectic view of the constant conversations by the regular chatters. This is called the main room. Usually, a vast community of people chat in this public area. Everyone can read and join in the open conversations of these constant chatters.

On the right side of the main room, there is a list of every chatter’s nickname. Double click on one of those chat nicknames and now it is possible to privately chat with someone. When choosing to chat privately, a small box will appear with the chosen person’s nickname at the top and a small empty space where the chat conversation can be held. This chat conversation is technologically private so no one but the two chatters can read what is being written.

For someone who is alone at home most of the time, chat is helpful. I have a few good friends with whom I can have interesting and fun conversations. I can share my life and look forward to their comments and suggestions. No, I don't meet these people in person and that is accepted. We just enjoy each other's company in this limited fashion but, at least, it's a distraction.

Chatting isn't for everyone. It helps to be a fast typist and someone with many interests upon which to discuss. But if you are interested in know what chat is all about, check out my book.

Have fun,
Patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser