Argomenti trattati
Each week I introduce readers to an author who brings a distinct voice to the bookshelf. In this installment the focus is on Pat Arneson, a writer whose life work includes decades as a licensed clinical therapist, certification in equine-assisted therapy, and a love of storytelling that stretches back to childhood. Pat’s books spring from a blend of professional insight, real-world observation, and an eagerness to live well-crafted adventures. This profile covers her beginnings, creative process, publishing choices, and practical advice for aspiring authors.
Background and books
Pat says she wanted to be a writer for most of her life but took a circuitous route into publishing, gathering life experience along the way. Her debut novel, Simply Dead, launches the Maguire Mystery Series and introduces Abby Maguire, a clinical therapist who becomes an amateur sleuth. The tone is traditional mystery rather than graphic thriller, and Pat has followed up with The Empty Dark. She is now working on book three and plans to expand beyond mysteries in the future while keeping the human-centered storytelling that informs her work.
How she writes: process and tools
Pat describes herself as a devoted plotter—a writer who outlines and plans the story arc before drafting—so her office walls become a map of scenes, tensions, and character relationships. Even with detailed planning she revises outlines multiple times as characters reveal new directions. She keeps discarded scenes and ideas in a digital “cutting room floor” file for future use and concentrates on a single manuscript at a time, despite having many seeds and fragments waiting in reserve. Her workflow relies on a long Microsoft Word document for drafting and Atticus for formatting, then she uploads print and ebook files to IngramSpark for distribution.
Definitions and practical notes
To clarify, Pat uses the term plotter to mean a writer who sketches plot beats and scenes in advance, then lets the draft evolve. Her background as a licensed clinical therapist gives her characters psychological depth and ethical complexity without making the mysteries bleak. These professional lenses inform the pacing, stakes, and emotional realism in the Maguire Mystery Series, and she often highlights technical terms and key plot devices on her wall where they remain visible throughout revisions.
Research, workspace, and influences
Setting and accuracy matter to Pat. Her series takes place in present-day environments close to where she lives, so she draws on local details and lived experience. She also conducts interviews and consults specialists when scenes require expertise beyond her own, which strengthens authenticity. As a certified equine-assisted therapist, she occasionally weaves equine themes into events or promotion. Her physical workspace is a quiet basement office lined with notes and visuals; she purposely walks upstairs for coffee to break the day and move the body between drafting sessions.
Collaboration and real-world testing
Pat prefers to experience settings when feasible—visiting locations, asking questions, and validating small details—so readers feel transported. She values input from people whose routines differ from her own and sometimes adapts plot elements after those conversations. This approach to research keeps scenes grounded, supports credible dialogue, and reveals fresh story possibilities that wouldn’t surface from desk-only research.
Publishing, promotion, and practical advice
After about a year and a half of exploring publishing routes Pat chose indie publishing because it fits her lifestyle and temperament. She notes there are pros and cons to every path and that this choice lets her manage timelines and partnerships directly. For promotion she blends social media with in-person events—bookstore signings, library talks, author panels—and reaches out to local newspapers. She also enjoys guest interviews and blog exchanges with other writers and recently saw her work featured on the website of an international organization for equine-assisted therapy.
Goals, links, and parting advice
Short term, Pat wants to return full force to her current manuscript after life events delayed progress; readers are eager for the next installment and she’s motivated to meet that demand. Long-term she envisions more entries in the Maguire Mystery Series and a possible pivot to new series or stand-alone novels. Her advice to new writers is simple: take your time, protect your process, and enjoy the craft—the author’s enthusiasm shows in the work. Visit Pat’s website at https://patarnesonauthor.com/ and her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572177377112. You can also find all my books and sign up for my newsletter at www.nickrussellbooks.com. To leave you smiling, remember: “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” —Terry Pratchett