The Interrogation Room with SH Pratt

Please welcome romance writer SH Pratt to the blog this week!

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What were you like at school?

A nightmare. LOL I went to a very small (like graduating class of 69 people small) Catholic school filled with teachers who had no clue what “gifted” meant because it was a thing that didn’t really exist in reality of education at the time. Testing for intelligence then meant taking the MENSA test which for anyone under 18 it’s frowned upon, or was at that time. Therefore, I was that bored student who pissed off teachers by either sleeping through, reading through, or otherwise occupying themselves through every class and maintaining the high GPA without effort. I hated high school to the point that I literally counted the days until I could get out. I was nearly flunked by a history teacher because I knew more Constitutional law than he did and when he challenged me, I was right and he was wrong and I’d shown him up in front of the class. There was probably a week long party when I finally left. LOL

So, what have you written and Where can we buy or see them?

I have 11 full-length novels available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes, as well as a decent portfolio of short stories stashed away on Writing.com. They are:

Standalone Novels:

Shy of Tomorrow amzn.com/B00LU2DW0M/

barnesandnoble.com/w/shy-of-tomorrow-s-h-pratt/1119967474

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shy-of-tomorrow

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shy-of-tomorrow/id962134121

Life’s Perfect Moments

amzn.com/B00NU30N2O/

barnesandnoble.com/w/lifes-perfect-moments-s-h-pratt/1120403789

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/life-s-perfect-moments

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lifes-perfect-moments/id962124540

The Gentleman’s Lady

amzn.com/B00KGK9L0O/

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gentlemans-lady-sh-pratt/1116803309

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-gentleman-s-lady-1

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-gentlemans-lady/id962122617

Always My Love

amzn.com/B00KGK9A8C/

barnesandnoble.com/w/always-my-love-sh-pratt/1116031959

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/always-my-love-2

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/always-my-love/id957666823

Epic Romances:

Heart’s Desire:

Into the Heart of Desire (book 1)

amzn.com/B00GLX2BB6/

barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-heart-of-desire-a-hearts-desire-novel-sh-pratt/1117435450

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/into-the-heart-of-desire

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/into-the-heart-of-desire/id962127045

Desires of the Heart (book 2)

amzn.com/B00ILSKQE8/

barnesandnoble.com/w/desires-of-the-heart-sh-pratt/1119952095

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/desires-of-the-heart-6

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/desires-of-the-heart/id962132481

The Artist’s Touch:

The Artist’s Touch (book 1)

amzn.com/B0182GFLNE/

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-artists-touch-sh-pratt/1122984743

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-artist-s-touch

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-artists-touch/id1056843125

The Artist’s Love (book 2)

amzn.com/B0195YIWZQ/

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-artists-love-sh-pratt/1123147349

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-artist-s-love

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-artists-love/id1067663498

Series: The Green Brothers Novels

Crazy Mountain Series (Austin Green):

This Crazy Love (Book 1)

amzn.com/B00RSRKJQI/

barnesandnoble.com/w/this-crazy-love-sh-pratt/1121124450

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/this-crazy-love-1

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/this-crazy-love/id962135753

This Crazy Heart (Book 2)

amzn.com/B00UQUCEG2/

barnesandnoble.com/w/this-crazy-heart-sh-pratt/1121437745

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/this-crazy-heart

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/this-crazy-heart/id976876991

Picture of Love Series (Adam Green):

The Art of Loving: (Book 1)

amzn.com/B00XB5UKBA/

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-loving-sh-pratt/1121904037

store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-art-of-loving-2

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-art-of-loving/id993393264

My portfolio at Writing.com is: http://Writing.Com/authors/quiltingmama

What are you working on at the minute? What’s it about? If this book is part of a series, tell us a little about it?

Currently, I am working on… a lot. LOL I have Book 3 of the Crazy Mountain Series (This Crazy Life); Book 2 of the Picture of Love Series (The Art of Forgiving); A couple novellas for a side project called The Peace Series; A novella for an anthology for the Reader & Writer Event in Seattle; and at least one other WIP with the working title of In Angel’s Arms… among a bazillion other ideas/WIP seeds that I jot down daily.

The two Green Brothers Novels (This Crazy Life and The Art of Forgiving) are continuations of Austin and Adam Green’s stories. These twin series are for the twin brothers and they take place concurrently – meaning events in Austin’s series overlap with and coincide with events in Adam’s. This gives two times the POV experience for the major events that take place. As I’ve said, Adam and Austin are twin brothers who have fallen for best friends, Angie Hartman and Fiona Harper, respectively. The bulk of the Crazy Mountain Series takes place in the heart of the Crazy Mountains outside of Big Timber, Montana while most of the Picture of Loves Series is set in Olympia, Washington.

The Peace Series is still largely under wraps but I can say that it is going to be a collection of novellas all based in one small town Montana that have been written by a variety of different authors. I’m super excited about this set of books, but I have to nail down a few more details before I can reveal more.

In Angel’s Arms is a darker romance than I’ve ever written before. As always, it is heavily based in psychological trauma and drama. Malaki James is a haunted man…has been since he was a teen. He’s forced to return to the one place in the US that triggers every nightmare he’s ever had to face a new and equally horrible nightmare, only his best friend, Connor, and Emsley Dalton, his parent’s next door neighbor, keep Malaki from completely losing his mind.

How much research do you do?

A ton. I spend countless hours seeking specific information online, at the library, and discussing my stories and their direction with specialists. To date, I have a psychologist who specializes in PTSD; a family psychologist; a state police detective; and a handful of medical personnel who work with me to get my facts right. I try very hard to make sure that what I write is correct and that my characters are relatable.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I have always been a writer. I remember loving to put words on paper when I was in grade school and I read voraciously in an effort to absorb everything other writers had to share.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

*raises hand proudly* Pantser all the way. I am only sharing tales that characters within my head dictate. They start and I’m along for the ride. It’s for this reason that my stories range from sweet (my Peace Series stories) to almost erotica (The Heart’s Desire epic) and everything in between. LOL

Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

I have a rather complicated way of editing that is technically self-editing. I have a great group of beta readers who catch a lot of my timeline and wording errors. I also have a certified editor who is also an author and she reads through everything for me. I do the same for her. Plus I edit as I write, read every manuscript forward (several times), backward (literally) and out loud so that I catch as much as possible. So, while I don’t actually pay anyone to edit my work, it is thoroughly edited.

Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about. Who designed your book cover/s?

Each cover I have speaks to the story within. Some have more symbolism than others but they are absolutely story driven. There is no models, male or female, on my covers because while sex sells, I’d prefer my books be classy and be read for the story rather than the body on the cover. My husband, Art, takes a lot of flower pictures and then puts them into my covers. I usually have a strong idea what the cover needs to have and be and, because we’ve been together for 20 years, he knows how to hear the blather that spills from my mouth to create the right thing. Fonts are usually our biggest and longest discussion.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

All honest and constructive reviews are spectacular. Whether they are 1-star or 5-star is irrelevant. If the reader hated the book, that’s cool… but tell me why without being a jerk. If the review is to bash the author not review the book then that’s a garbage review (thankfully I haven’t gotten any of those *knock on

wood*) but if the reader has valid reasoning for disliking the book (the character development was garbage; the plot had more holes than Swiss cheese; that sort of thing) then please, please tell me. I cannot improve on my writing if you don’t. I personally like dual or multiple POV books and having inner thoughts shared but some readers HATE that… it’s a personal thing and I respect that. I seriously don’t mind when bloggers have a less than 4-star review and I appreciate every review as long as they are honest.

Did you format your own book? In what formats is your book available? If formatted by someone else, how did you select them and what was your experience?

I format my paperbacks. I find it oddly fun in the challenge to see if I can get Createspace to approve it on the first try. LOL Yeah, I’m a bit warped. I have a great guy, Paul Salvette, who is an American Vet living with his Thai wife and child in Thailand, who does my eBooks. He’s super reasonable, super fast, and super amazing to work with. Paul was suggested to me by Kallypso Masters, who writes the Masters at Arms Saga. I absolutely and very highly recommend Paul to anyone who asks.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Oh geez… where to start. LOL First: Don’t give up on college. Keep going with the creative writing and psychology courses. You may think you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up, but deep down, you do. Second: Don’t marry Jason. He’s a dipshit and has never been faithful. Just buy the wolf hybrid dog and forget the guy. Third: Don’t spend so much time doubting yourself. Slow down, enjoy life, explore more, and believe that things will work out the way they’re supposed to… stop rushing for heaven sake.

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

I would love, love, love to spend a day with Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett. They are good friends and two women I look up to. I probably wouldn’t be able to even speak but to just be in their presence would be enough. LOL