What’s your one line pitch or teaser for the book? Grab a reader’s attention with one line.
The biggest mystery is why we lie to ourselves.
The Art of Always is the story of an art-history student trying to research the life of a charismatic 1920s painter, who disappeared from public view at the verge of stardom. That means the story has a mystery to it. However, in the process of putting the events of that life together, the student starts to realize what she has been hiding from and avoiding in her own life, thus the idea of mystery and lies in the teaser.
Tell readers a little about your main character or characters?
Darcey is the protagonist of this story. She is an American graduate student in the late 1990s. The other main character is her counterpart in the 1920s—Brazilian painter Ana, whose career Darcey is investigating. Ana is larger than life, and Darcey is an insecure young woman, who is harboring a big secret. Darcey’s trajectory starts to change as she gets “closer” to the woman she set out to profile, who happens to be the great-grandmother of her love interest—Archie.
Where do you like to write? Do you have an office or writing nook?
I am a 15-minute writer, which means I take advantage of any 15 minutes I can get. I write at desks, cafes, on shuttle buses, in airport lounges, you name it!
What is one of your best marketing tips for other authors?
I think it helps to choose one social media outlet that you really enjoy and focus on it. It is hard to be everywhere, and not every media speaks to every person, so I prefer to concentrate my efforts in one or two. I think it is important to have fun in the process, or else it is hard to sustain the effort for very long. Do things that fulfill you the same way that you write stories that you want to read.
What websites or tools have you found that offer the best results?
I have had the most success with Instagram and with BookBub promotions. I have fun writing my newsletter as well.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Think of yourself as a writer already. I think a lot of us have imposter syndrome, so it helps to start the “marketing” with oneself. Introduce yourself as a writer, and think of yourself as a writer; if you print business cards, have “writer” spelled out under your name.
Patricia Friedrich
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Historical
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: Jan 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1509237791
ASIN: B09KQY4W8L
Number of pages: 372
Word Count: ~ 90K
Cover Artist: Diana Carlile
Tagline: The biggest mystery is why we lie to ourselves
Book Description:
Art history student Darcey Mendes needs a new topic for her thesis in order to graduate, but time is against her. Family debts are pressing. She fears she must give up all hopes of an academic career. Yet, without her degree, would she earn enough to provide for her secret daughter's future?
Archie Northwood, rich and from a privileged family, suddenly reappears in her life to offer the chance that could save her--the story of his Brazilian great-grandmother. His ancestor was Modernist painter Ana Eça, who, on the verge of stardom in the 1920s, mysteriously vanished from public view forever.
Choosing to unveil Ana's story is a complicated proposition for them both. How will they be able to work together to resolve the decades-old mystery when Darcey cannot allow Archie to guess her secret?
Excerpt:A thin mist had covered the city. Inside the fog, cobblestone pavers and streetlamps gave the streets a dreamlike feel, which Ana experienced from the other side of her window. Watching the movement of neighbors hurrying to catch a train or walk to work, she knifed a small wedge of butter and slathered it on a piece of toast. The flavors of the morning, fresh coffee and jam, delighted her. It was a moment of perfection, a fleeting one, full of ideas about art and success, so she took full notice of it. But soon the pleasure of warm French bread and sweet coffee was replaced with worry. Her morning with Joaquim and the strange intuition she had about it kept her heart prisoner and made her attention falter. The strange prophecy and the knot in her stomach alerted her to be careful. As she fell asleep the night before, she had made up her mind that the recent encounter would be their last time together. She reminded herself that no matter the powerful hold Joaquim had on her, she could do whatever she wanted.
About the Author:
Patricia Friedrich is a Professor at Arizona State University, having received her Ph.D. from Purdue University. She teaches courses in composition, linguistics, peace, and culture. She writes non-fiction about the intersection of those areas. Her non-fiction work has appeared in eight books and in over 40 book chapters and journal articles. Her fiction has been published in several literary magazines including Eclectic Flash, The Linnet's Wings, and Birkensnake, as well as in the anthology Flash in the Attic. Her novel The Art of Always was awarded first place at a regional RWA competition, was the winner of a National Indie Excellence Award, and was published in 2022 by The Wild Rose Press. She is also an author of historical romance under the pseudonym Eliza Emmett. All the Parts of Your Soul, her next novel (with Jen Jensen), is forthcoming. She lives in Arizona.
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