Sit-down Saturday with Flo Fitzpatrick

Welcome to the Heartwarming Blog, Flo.  We're so glad you're here.  Today we're celebrating

So, FLO, where did you get the idea for this novel?  

I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND (SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STARGARTZ DISEASE WHEN SHE WAS IN HER TEENS.) I DEDICATED THE BOOK TO HER AND THE AMAZING WAY SHE'S LIVED HER LIFE.  I WANTED TO CREATE A HERO WITH WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A DISABILITY, DECIDED TO GIVE  RUSS A HEARING LOSS AND MAKE MIRANDA A SINGER, WHICH ADDED AN ELEMENT OF EACH OF THEM TRYING TO 'LIVE IN THE OTHER GUY'S SHOES'.

How long did it take you to write?  

FIRST DRAFT WAS DONE IN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

What is your favorite scene?  

I'D SAY THE SCENE WHERE RUSS AND MIRANDA ARE AT A DINNER PARTY AND MIRANDA PUTS EAR PLUGS IN (PRETENDING TO LISTEN TO HER PHONE SO THE OTHER GUESTS DON'T THINK SHE'S CRAZY ) IN ORDER TO BLOCK OUT ALL SOUND. RUSS REALIZES SHE'S DOING THIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HIS WORLD. THEY SHARE  OF SILENT COMMUNICATION THAT I HOPE HELPED MOVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

Who was your favorite character and why?  

THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT THE WOMAN WHO WILLS HER HOME TO BOTH RUSS AND MIRANDA, WHOM I NAMED "MISS VIRGINIA" WAS MY FAVORITE - EVEN THOUGH SHE'S ONLY 'ALIVE' IN FLASHBACKS AND HER DIARIES.


Tell us one thing you learned during research.  

I DISCOVERED SOME FASCINATING ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NORWOOD DISTRICT HERE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

What music would match the mood of this novel?

WHEN I WAS WRITING, I LISTENED TO A MIX OF DAN FOGELBERG, CHRIS DE BURGH AND PHIL OCHS (YEAH, ALL OLDIES) THEY'RE MUSIC MIXES ELEMENTS OF FOLK, ROCK, A LITTLE CLASSICAL AND COUNTRY.  I THINK ANY OF THEIR SONGS WOULD WORK FOR A SOUNDTRACK :) 
This is your 10th book.  Exactly what does that mean to you?

I THINK IT BRINGS ME A STEP CLOSER TO NOT FEELING LIKE A FRAUD WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME "WHAT DO YOU DO?" AND I RESPOND, "I'M A WRITER"!

What do you plan to work on next?  

I'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR PROJECT CURRENTLY UP AND RUNNING.  I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM MY HARLEQUIN EDITOR REGARDING TWO HEARTWARMING PROPOSALS.  I'M ABOUT ONE CHAPTER AWAY FROM FINISHING THE FIRST DRAFT OF A PARANORMAL/ROMANCE/MYSTERY.  I'M HALF-WAY THROUGH WHAT I HOPE WILL BE THE START OF AN AMATEUR SLEUTH MYSTERY SERIES.  I REALLY ENJOY WRITING IN DIFFERENT GENRES, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE MAKING ME A LITTLE NUTS:)

What are you reading for pleasure right now?   

I JUST FINISHED TWO LEGAL THRILLERS by ROBERT DUGONI: "BODILY HARM  and WRONGFUL DEATH."  AND A BOOK THAT WAS RELEASED IN 1984, A TIME-TRAVEL CALLED ELLEANDER MORNING by JERRY YUSMIN.