Meet Patricia Rose and her new release IRON MIKE
AUTHOR BIO: Patricia Rose was born a bookworm, and has never outgrown it. Her love of stories started with The Bobbsey Twins when she was five and continues today with the best offerings of science fiction, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. An avid animal lover, she shares her home with her husband, the wife of her heart, two dogs, four cats, a snake, and a tarantula. Her husband, Kevin, has strongly advised her to put down her hammer, chisels, and stone tablets and come into the digital age!
With me today, I have Patricia Rose with her first novel, IRON MIKE. I’ve heard a lot of really good things about your first book. I can’t wait to read it. So, tell us about your newest release.
My debut novel is called Iron Mike, and it released on September 27th, which is also my birthday! It’s available in either e-book format or paperback from Amazon, and it’s free on Kindle Unlimited.
What is the story about?
Iron Mike is the story of a 17 year old boy who has to become a man very quickly in order to keep his little sister safe after the aliens invade. There’s a lot of tension and drama as he tries to step into the shoes of a man before he’s ready. However, there’s also a lot of love and laughter as he risks his life not only for his sister but for a group of strays he picks up along the way.
Who is the main character?
Mike Sanderlin, aka “Iron Mike,” is the main character of the novel. Kari Kasoniak and Col. Richard Kasoniak, her father, are secondary characters. Hershey is a tertiary character, but he is a MAJOR scene-stealer, so many (including Hershey!) would argue that he’s the star of the book!
What inspired this tale?
I’m not completely sure. I do know the character of Hershey was inspired by a neighbor’s dog, a big, brown hound that is just full of personality, and is the friendliest dog in the world. It was nothing for my husband and me to come home from the store and walk into the house to find our neighbor’s dog sound asleep on our bed, having let himself in through our pet door! He would also routinely come into the house for snacks or playtime with my own dogs.
How did the story come to you?
It came a piece at a time, at first, and then all in one big woosh!
Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
There is a surprising amount of research needed for ANY novel, if you’re a meticulous writer. I had to do the most research about Fort Knox, the U.S. Depository (the “Mint”) and the travel routes between Fort Knox, Kentucky and Norfolk, Virginia.
If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
I think the sheer SIZE of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the large number of people found on that military base on any given day came as a big surprise to me. I suppose the reason it surprised me is that I essentially utilize only a very small portion of that post – the Commissary and, occasionally, the Pharmacy or Class Six (ABC store). I didn’t realize the scope of the post was as broad as that of a city!
Do you relate to your character?
I relate to all of my characters, including the invading aliens and Hershey, the dog.
Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
Meh. Not so much. He’s a 17 year old boy and I’m a 52 year old woman. We don’t really have much in common, other than both of us spending a lot of time inside my brain.
What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
I started the story wanting to do a coming-of-age tale for both a male and female character. Mike ended up telling HIS story with more energy than Kari told hers, so she ended up being an important, but supporting, character.
Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?
Obviously, it’s a fictional story. If it has any purpose at all, other than my own enjoyment, it’s to entertain you, and perhaps to make you think a bit. It is very clearly NOT a money-making venture, as I’m several hundred dollars in debt with it. This is, however, my debut novel and I am just starting out as an Indie author, so I may eventually break even. If you have read Iron Mike, please tell a friend or leave a review – that will go miles and miles toward helping me spread my name a little bit.
When will the novel be available for purchase?
It was released on September 27th
Okay, let’s learn more about you, as a writer. Who is Patricia Rose?
Wow. Okay, she’s a middle-aged, overweight housewife, happily married x2, an avid reader and an animal lover. We have two dogs, four cats, a snake and a tarantula – some of which are cuddlier than others!
What inspired you to start writing?
I started writing at the same time I started reading on my own, somewhere between ages four and five. Of course, the stories I wrote were very child-like, one or two sentences, but they stirred my imagination and they made me happy. I believe I was inspired to write because the land of imagination inside my head was a lot more fun than the lonely, mean-spirited place in the real world. I was pretty much a loner growing up, and I loved to read and write to escape reality.
What is your favorite book you have written and why?
Iron Mike is my favorite because it’s the only novel I’ve written that I believed was fit for anyone else to read; therefore, I actually opened it for publication.
When you are not writing, what do you do to recharge?
I SLEEP, when I can! For enjoyment, I love reading or listening to audiobooks, swimming, playing with my animals, talking with my friends or hanging out with my spice.
Are you an Indie Author or are you part of a publishing house?
I’m an Indie.
Do you read books within the genres you write?
Absolutely. My favorite genre as a reader is paranormal romance and I have not (YET) written anything within that genre, but I think I will soon. Science Fiction is definitely a close second favorite, and I both read and write in that genre.
Besides being an author, do you have a second job?
I’m a domestic goddess … well, maybe a priestess. Okay, I scrub the floors in the temple. But I’m still domestic!
What do you enjoy most about being an author?
I LOVE it when a scene comes together perfectly in my head and then just FLOWS from my fingertips to the keyboard, to the monitor, to the page, to someone else’s eyes and mind. Then – joy! delight! happiness! – they laugh, or cry, or cuss, as appropriate to the scene, and I am a very, VERY happy writer!
Okay, now it’s it’s time to meet one of your characters. Who are you? What is your name?
My name is Mike Sanderlin, but a lot of people know me as Iron Mike now. I kind of got stuck with that as a nickname.
Are you a fictional or historical character?
Huh? I’m as real as you are, lady.
What should we know about you?
I’m 17, but I’ve had to grow up fast. See, aliens came and killed almost all of us. My parents and grandparents are gone, and I had to protect my little sister, Jenn. It gets kind of complicated along the way, but we got to meet some really cool people … oh, and a hound dog who is convinced he’s a people, too.
Tell us about your story: When and where is your tale set?
It started this January, when the aliens destroyed all of the cities. I live in Louisville, Kentucky, but I’ve been trying to get to Fort Knox.
What is your personal goal? I mean, what do you ultimately want?
What I really want is to have everything back the way it was – oh, except for this really awesome lady I met, Karissinna. I’d like to keep her, no matter what happens. But I know things can’t go back to how they were before the aliens came, so I guess … what I really want is for them to LEAVE, and for us to have our home back the way it was.
What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?
The different alien races are in my way. Mostly the Feeders, but also the People, the Trois, and the Belvians. They all pretty much suck. Well … Scientist-Farmer maybe doesn’t suck as much.
How do I get a copy of your book? What is the title or working title for this piece?
Heh. They named it after me. It’s called Iron Mike.
Is it available now or when can we expect to see it released?
Thank you for joining me today, Patricia. You can connect with Patricia Rose at:
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About Sahara Foley
Sahara Foley, in collaboration with her beloved late husband, writes urban and dark fantasy, science fantasy, and the occasional horror tale. She is an international award-winner and the first book in her Excalibur Saga series has been an Amazon bestseller multiple times.
In 2018, she teamed up with friend and fellow author J.M. Northup to start Norns Triad Publications. They represent four authors under their brand.
Sahara was born and still resides in the Midwest. Insurance Guru during the day, on her time off she enjoys reading, gardening, traveling with her family, helping fellow authors, and her secret passion – gaming.
She is currently working on a new fantasy, time-travel story titled, Time Stones, slated to be released in 2022.
You can connect with Sahara below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksbysaharafoley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaharaFoley
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/saharafoley/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sahara-Foley/e/B00J9ST32U/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
