#WriterWednesday Interview with Kim Davis

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Kim Davis to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Finding the time to sit down and actually write! I’m an integral part of caring for my special needs granddaughter and have her 3 days a week. On the days I don’t have her, I have the usual household chores, errands, appointments, blogging, book marketing (which, as you know, Heather, takes up way too much time), cooking, etc. that always needs my attention. It can sometimes be weeks without writing on the next book.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Procrastinating, lol! When I finally find that rare window of time to write, I often fall down the rabbit hole of “research”. In my case, it’s researching the theme of the book (with my latest book featuring the theme of Día de los Muertos, I had costumes, makeup, food, history, and traditions to research). Plus, I generally have ten recipes in each of my Cupcake Catering Mysteries, so I hunt down ideas for what I’d like to include and start cobbling together recipes to experiment with, which takes me to the kitchen instead of my computer to work.

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Caffeine! I start with coffee in the morning and then move on to tea when the afternoon slump hits. I have to time the afternoon tea just right because if I wait too long to drink it, I won’t be able to fall asleep that night.

Things that hamper your writing:

My mini-goldendoodle, Missy, gets annoyed with me for not paying her enough attention. She can be very loud in demanding a walk, or another treat, or needing me to throw the squeaky ball for her when she’s done with me being on my computer. I’ve trained my husband not to interrupt me when I’m writing… now if I could only do the same with our dog, lol!

Last best thing you ate:

We recently made a trip up to Solvang for a few days, and I hit the Danish bakeries (for research, you know…). One of them had Sarah Bernhardt Cookies, a delectable base of almond cookie, topped with chocolate cream, and then dipped in dark chocolate. Oh, goodness… swoon-worthy!

Last thing you regret eating:

Some chili beans. Unfortunately, I have a variety of food allergies, one of them being foods from the nightshade family. I really have to avoid tomatoes (or tomato-based products), peppers, potatoes, eggplant, etc. The tomato-heavy chili beans were so good though, but my tummy paid the price because of those darn allergies.

The last thing you ordered online:

Groceries. While I’m blessed to have several grocery stores nearby, when I’ve got a lot of deadlines staring down at me, I often order groceries to be delivered. Since my husband and I both have several food allergies, it’s a lot easier to find substitutions online (i.e. dairy-free and gluten-free) than for me to walk up and down every aisle, reading labels. I’ve also found that while the physical store might not have the product I need, the warehouse or central local store will.

The last thing you regret buying:

The wrong size leggings for my special needs granddaughter… now I have to track down the receipt to return them and hope I find the right ones 😊

Things you’d walk a mile for:

Those Sarah Bernhardt Cookies mentioned above! Heck, I’d walk two miles for one of those!

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room:

Any creature that belongs outdoors and NOT in my house… like spiders, insects, rodents, lizards, etc. Big heebie jeebies!

Things you always put in your books:

Recipes! Even if it’s not a culinary cozy, I can’t help but put a supporting character who bakes into the storyline, and then I have to find recipes to go along with whatever they’re sharing.

Things you never put in your books:

Steamy romance… which I’m not opposed to, but it doesn’t fit with what I write. True story: I was at my very first writers’ conference, and I sat next to a lovely young woman during lunch and started chatting. Turned out she was one of the writing instructors, so I asked what her class was about. We were in a loud environment, but I was positive she said she taught neurotic writing… “Well, count me in! I’m neurotic,” I said. She almost fell off her chair laughing so hard… she taught erotic writing!!! Yeah, I skipped that class.

Things to say to an author:

Keep up the good work! Or if their work isn’t your cup of tea, say something like you admire their dedication to all the hard work it takes to create a book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

“I’d write a book if I weren’t so busy, but I have the perfect plot, so I think you should write it instead.” And then go on and spend 15 minutes telling you about the story and how you should go about writing it.

Now, I will say that authors like collecting ideas and hearing about real-life happenings from our family, friends, and readers, but we don’t want to be lectured on how to put those ideas or headlines into our next book. For example, in my latest book, Catering to the Dead, I spent 1-1/2 hours stuck in gridlock traffic trying to get my youngest granddaughter to LAX airport Thanksgiving week last year. We passed the time talking about what the themes of my next couple of books should be. She tossed out a lot of ideas, and we finally landed on the Dia de los Muertos theme because her parents had thrown an elaborate party several years before. Brainstorming together or mentioning a headline you’ve seen is MUCH different from lecturing and giving point-by-point instructions on what you think an author should write and how they should write. But of course I know without a doubt none of you would be that presumptuous!

Favorite places you’ve been:

Hawaii. There truly is something magical about the islands. I had the good fortune of getting married (second time was the charm) on Kauai, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Places you never want to go to again:

Lake Havasu, Arizona, in August… 118 degrees (F)… need I say more?

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

Decorating elaborate cakes and cookies. Once my granddaughters came along, I decided to take some cake decorating classes so I could make their birthday cakes. As time went on, my birthday cakes and end of school year summer pool party cakes and special party cakes all became bigger and more intricate with each passing year. In fact, the cake featured on the cover of Catering to the Dead is the cake I designed and made for my family’s Día de los Muertos party.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:

Creating so many recipes has brought about quite a few kitchen disasters. The biggest disaster I had was while developing a recipe for cocktail cupcakes using Fireball Whiskey. When I opened the oven to rotate the cupcake tin, the cupcakes all flambéed, shooting blue flames that filled the oven! Fortunately, the flames died out when I slammed the door shut. The next day, my husband placed two fire extinguishers in my hands to keep in the kitchen just in case I ever had another fire-related disaster. Oh, and I finally got the recipe figured out after another couple of tries, and it’s featured (along with my disaster) in Cake Popped Off, the second book in my Cupcake Catering Mysteries.

Your favorite movie as a child:

While not a movie, I was obsessed with Scooby Doo. My love of mysteries started early, especially those featuring dogs!

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult):

The Shining really did a number on me, even though I was in my 20s when I saw it. It took me a week or more to stop having nightmares. To this day I have a strong dislike of Jack Nicholson simply because of that movie. Apparently, I can read horror books without too much distress… my brain downplays the violence and the super scary bits, but there’s no escaping it on screen.

About Kim:

Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, and the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series. For over ten years she’s written the Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder culinary cozy mystery blog, and has recently joined the permanent group of bloggers at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Let’s Be Social:

 🧁 Sign up for Kim’s newsletter – I frequently have subscriber only contests:

https://kimdavisauthor.com/

 🧁 Visit me at:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Davis-Author-1532277473479031

https://www.facebook.com/Cinnamon-Sugar-and-a-Little-Bit-of-Murder-187400864778608

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/authorkimdavis/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kim-davis-899e51b0-5661-401c-98b1-ec4c2973d58a

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kim-Davis/author/B093NRS3F2

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14713259.K_A_Davis





Things to Think about When Doing In-person Author Events

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This fall, I did a lot of in-person events, and I noticed some things as I watched those around me. There were a few (usually newer authors) who complained about the crowds and their sales, and then there were the authors who had a lot of success.

Here are some things that the successful authors had in common.

The Presentation:

  • Always bring a tablecloth and make sure it’s not wrinkled.

  • If you make signs or handouts, make them attractive and readable.

  • Always give out something. Everyone I talk to gets a bookmark. You never know who will buy an audiobook or an ebook later.

  • I stopped giving out candy when I had some melt in the summer. I have little trinkets for kids (and adults) that relate to my books. Lately, I’ve been giving away sparkly “Pearly Girl” bracelets, and plastic marine animals for the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. Kids tell everyone where they got cool swag.

  • Make your table attractive and inviting. Don’t clutter it with stuff. And don’t pile things so high, they can’t get close to talk to you.

  • Don’t stack hundreds of books on your table. That gives the person the idea that there are lots and no one is buying them. Put only a few out and create the illusion of “get ‘em before they’re gone.”

  • Take a look at your display from the front after you set it up and make sure it looks the way you want it to.

Your Look:

  • Dress for the event. Some authors have props or a hat. They attract attention. If that’s not your style, then look professional and dress as comfortably as you can.

  • Wear colors that stand out. You want to be seen in the pictures, and bright colors draw people’s attention.

  • Stand up if you can. You look more approachable.

  • Smile and greet people.

  • Even if people are just walking by, ask what do they like to read or what their favorite type of book is. Know what other authors are near you and point out ones with genres they like if you can.

  • Do not sit and scroll on your phone. You look bored and boring. People will walk right by.

  • Look like you’re having fun. Talk with your tablemates. Take pictures with friends. Take pictures with people who buy books. People like to see what’s going on, and they don’t want to miss something. And they tend to gravitate to tables that look interesting and fun.

  • Have your quick tag line ready and be able to tell them about your books in a succinct way. No boring dissertations.

  • It is hard to start conversations with strangers, and it feels weird to talk about yourself so much. If you’re introverted or shy, you need to psych yourself up. Smile, look people in the eye, and talk to them. Not everyone is going to buy a book. But you’ll be surprised at the people you’ll meet. I have recruited a lot of mystery lovers to our Sisters in Crime chapter from these conversations.

  • Caffeine and candy are good for quick energy boosts to keep you going.

  • Be willing to answer questions. People want to know about you, your writing, and your path to publication. And sometimes, you’ll get some questions that you don’t want to answer, and that’s fine. If that happens, be a good politician and steer it to an answer that you do want to give.

  • And don’t forget to invite them to sign up for your newsletter list.

Before and After the Event:

  • Before the event, make sure you have all of the contacts and logistics information.

  • Make sure you share the event on your website, newsletter, and social media sites. If you have followers in the area, they may stop in to see you.

  • After the event, make sure to post pictures of all the fun you had. The group pictures are great for this. People love to see who was there. And tag everyone you can on social media.

  • Make sure to thank the sponsor/coordinator. Their teams work hard to put on these events.

What would you add to my list?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Diane Floyd Boehm

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Please help me welcome Diane Floyd Boehm to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest part of writing for children is making sure every word is age-appropriate and engaging. Editing is a labor of love—it always feels never-ending, but I know it’s essential for a good story.

Easiest thing about being a writer: The easiest part is coming up with ideas; inspiration seems to pop up everywhere I look!

Something you’re really good at: I love performing in musicals, whether it's in the chorus or a small role. There’s real joy in helping an audience forget their worries and seeing smiles at curtain call.

Something you’re really bad at: Advanced math isn’t my strong suit. Arithmetic is fine, but once you get to trigonometry, I’m out—I’m all about creativity over calculations.

Last best thing you ate: A homemade pimento cheese sandwich from a local restaurant—absolute perfection.

Last thing you regret eating: Sushi. It’s just not for me. I’ll take good old barbecue any day!

Favorite music or song: My taste is broad—showtunes, Karen Carpenter, Anne Murray, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston. Anything with story and emotion.

Music that drives you crazy: Heavy metal is a bit much for me—it gives me more headaches than happy feelings.

The last thing you ordered online: Pirate ship decorations for my grandson's birthday cake. Creating themed cakes is one of my favorite traditions, and practicing icing waves brings me joy!

Favorite places you’ve been: Travel has been a gift. Two favorites: joining a group of women to the Arctic with Mountain High, where I learned sled dog care and explored ice caves for breast cancer research; and Kenya/Tunisia with Free the Children, building a library before heading out on safari to see wildlife in its natural habitat.

Places you never want to go to again: Honestly, I’d revisit any place—I find wonder in every journey, and some trips, like the Badlands of South Dakota, are so awe-inspiring I’ve returned just to share them with loved ones.

The first record/cassette/CD you ever bought: The Carpenters—Karen Carpenter’s pure voice brings magic to every song.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Heavy rock just doesn’t speak to me the way storytelling music does.

My favorite book as a child: Little Golden Books—especially when my mom read Hansel and Gretel with dramatic voices. Her witch voice was unforgettable!

A book I’ve read more than once: Beautiful Joe, which our class read in fifth grade, fascinated me with its unusual history and heartfelt story—I still return to it.

Your favorite movie as a child: Pollyanna, starring Hayley Mills. My mom loved the book, and watching the film together made it a family favorite that shaped my love for optimism.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night: The British drama Silent Witness. My husband and I have watched every season, some episodes are so intense they gave me nightmares—thank goodness for Home Improvement to lighten the mood afterward!

About Diane:

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children’s books and young adult historical fiction. Her stories inspire kindness, peace, and self-love, encouraging children and adults alike to “Embrace Imagination.” In addition to her writing, Diann loves connecting with audiences through school visits, book signings, and speaking engagements.

She is the co-host of Royally Confidential with Helena Chard on USA Global TV™ and Radio and brings a background in musical theatre and education to everything she does. Having lived in the Philippines and Dubai, Diann weaves her global experiences into her work while calling Austin, Texas home.

A wife, mother, grandmother, and humanitarian, Diann is dedicated to inspiring others through storytelling, creativity, and community service. Learn more about her books and projects at https://www.diannfloydboehm.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Diann-Floyd-Boehm/author/B019HR4KXE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1757365263&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4ff1f87c-fb42-49bf-8a69-2537e70da4c7

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/diannfloydboehm/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/diann_floyd_boehm/

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/diannboehm/

X

https://x.com/diannfloydboehm



#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Doug Lawrence

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I’d like to welcome Doug Lawrence back to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need a creative environment to work within. I did a private writing retreat one time that seemed to work alright. I was able to write 30-40 pages of content.

Things that hamper your writing: Trying to write in a place where there are too many distractions.

A few of your favorite things: My favorite thing is my laptop. I would break into a cold sweat without it. I took a short break and went to visit a dear friend for a week. I was without email and other things for a few days and I was panicking. Sounds funny but it was stressful.

Things you need to throw out: I have two closets of clothes that I need to cull out. I also had some food in the pantry that needs to go. I had a friend who was kind enough to help me purge some of the stuff but we could do more. It is like a new beginning.

Favorite foods: I like steak and mushrooms

Things that make you want to gag: Liver and onions. I can handle the onions but the liver is definitely off limits.

Something you’re really good at: Mentoring others to help them grow personally and professionally. That would include help with their healing journey from mental health and grief related issues.

Something you’re really bad at: I wouldn’t say I was bad at something. I would say that I had room to grow. Using negative connotations doesn’t improve things.

Last best thing you ate: Schnitzel

Last thing you regret eating: Liver and onions

Favorite places you’ve been: Dubai

Places you never want to go to again: Shanghai

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Ken Blanchard or Oprah Winfrey

People you’d cancel dinner on: I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head. I would look at this as an opportunity to learn more about someone and to also learn something more about myself.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Mentor a young entrepreneur with mental health challenges

Biggest mistake: Allowing a mentee to not be accountable for her mentoring sessions. Only happened once and that was the last time.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Zip line in Mexico

Something you chickened out from doing: Bungi cord jumping

About Doug:

Doug Lawrence is the founder of TalentC® and is focused on all things mentoring as a solution provider. Doug Lawrence is an International Certified Mentor and holds two Mentor Certifications; Certificate of Practice – Mentor and the Certificate of Practice – Journey Mentor from the International Mentoring Community. Doug is the only one to hold the Certificate of Practice – Journey Mentor in the world today.

He has over 30 years of mentoring and leadership experience and is recognized as a thought leader in the mentoring space. Doug authored the book entitled, The Gift of Mentoring and his second book entitled, You Are Not Alone became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in North America and the UK and is a bronze medal recipient in the Global Book Awards. Doug’s third book, Grief, The Silent Pandemic was published April 20, 2025 and was the recipient of two bronze and one silver Global Book Awards. Doug is an International Best - Selling Author.

Doug works as a volunteer mentor with the Sir Richard Branson Entrepreneur Program in the Caribbean and with American Corporate Partners (ACP) in the United States helping military personnel transition from service life to civilian life.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doug.lawrence.1610/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglawrence-mentor

Twitter: @DougLawrenceJM

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE4YC1GkfHrQtFYgYrf8baQ

Website: https://www.talentc.ca


Writerly, Bookish, and Fun Resources

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I subscribe to a lot of newsletters and podcasts, and I want to share some interesting ones with you. These are great for research and ideas.

Newsletters - I love keeping up with authors and what they’re writing, and bookish events. Here are a few that are worth checking out:

Podcasts

What are your favorite newsletters and podcasts?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with J. Kent Holloway

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I’d like to welcome the amazing J. Kent Holloway to the blog this Thanksgiving to celebrate his new Christmas mystery.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Prioritizing the zillion story ideas that spring to my mind unbidden at any given moment so that I can actually finish a book.

Easiest thing about being a writer: World building and plotting ideas.

Words that describe you: Vivaciously infectious!

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Dwarf-like (but in a fantasy sense…in high school, my nerdy Fellowship of the Ring nickname among my peers was Gimli!).

Something you’re really good at: Dreaming big. There’s nothing I feel like I can’t accomplish if I put my mind to it.
Something you’re really bad at: Holding a grudge. Sometimes I’d like to just be angry at someone for a few minutes.

Favorite music or song: Big Band music of the 1940s…oh, and Oingo Boingo!

Music that drives you crazy: Definitely rap. Or maybe Taylor Swift. It’s a tie.

The last thing you ordered online: Meta Quest 3S VR with Batman: Arkham Shadows.

The last thing you regret buying: A new shirt that didn’t fit right (see the Dwarf-like comment above).

Things you always put in your books: Lots and lots of folklore (usually folklore involving various mythologies of Death (Grim Reaper, Psychopomps, etc).
Things you never put in your books: Romance or sex. Also never use cuss words.

Things to say to an author: I love your stories…they’re so creative and fun!
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I wrote a book with AI…will you read it and give me a blurb?

Favorite places you’ve been: St. Petersburg, Russia
Places you never want to go to again: New York City

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries with supernatural or fantasy elements.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Romance or erotica.

The funniest thing to happen to you: Performing an autopsy, I got blood all over my clothes and had no spares. After taking a shower at the morgue, I had to put on a Tyvek (white paper) suit…which was basically see through because I didn’t have a towel after my shower. Then I had to scramble into the parking lot, covering my nethers with my hands (front and back) as I ran to my car to drive home and get new clothes!

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: Um, see above!

My favorite book as a child: Pippi Longstocking (the whole series)!

A book I’ve read more than once: The Lord of the Rings (read it at least twelve times).

About J. Kent:

Bestselling Christian author Kent Holloway isn't just a storyteller. He isn't just a forensic death investigator. He's also a Bible Teacher, preacher, speaker, and best of all...Santa Claus (this year, he saw over 500 kids alone at his Santa engagements!)!

For the last 30 years, Kent Holloway has lived on death. Literally. As a forensic death investigator. he's seen it all. Experienced the worst that life has to give. Yet he never let it dim his sense of wonder or humor or, most importantly, his Faith in Jesus Christ! 

Now, he brings all this experience, along with a zeal for living an abundant life to the written page with fun, adventurous mysteries, middle grade fantasy, and an upcoming library of exciting and inspirational nonfiction similar to his book I Died Swallowing a Goldfish and Other Life Lessons from the Morgue!

Kent Holloway also has a Master’s degree in Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (yes, he's very Southern Baptist). He has served as singles minister, evangelism pastor, and director of discipleship and education. He is now focusing on three very important ministries to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentHollowayAuthorPage

 

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Patrick Sangimino

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I’d like to welcome Patrick Sangimino to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Most of all, I need to be ready to write. It’s a mental state. Once there, music is a requirement, with no lyrics. Jazz or classical. With words, I find myself singing, which hinders my ability to get lost in the story I’m trying to tell.

Things that distract you from writing: Conversation. Human interaction. I love good conversations. Unfortunately, they can’t happen when I am in a writing zone. Years of working in a newsroom – surrounded by others – trained me. I learned to put on headphones when it was time to write.

Favorite snacks: Without question: Nothing fancy. Poporn or chips and salsa. Maybe some fruit.

Things that make you want to gag: tofu, definitely tofu.

Something you’re really good at: I’ve been told I am a great storyteller. I’ve made a living telling stories in the written form but have entertained loved ones with my ability to tell a story that will cause laughter.

Something you’re really bad at: Playing any kind of musical instrument, guitar especially. I have a profound respect for musicians and their ability to make magic. Much of that respect comes from my own lifetime of musical failures that have become some of the stories in my repertoire.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: Originally, I wanted to be a lawyer, but that ambition changed the first time I saw Jack Klugman in the old sit-com “The Odd Couple.” From that point on, I wanted to be a sportswriter.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: After years as a newspaper columnist, writing a book always seemed like a bridge too far. And then I found the wherewithal to write one. Holding it in my hand for the first time – seeing my name on the cover – was an emotional experience.

Something you wish you could do: I wish I could play the piano. I always wanted to be that guy who could walk up to a piano at a party or crowded barroom and belt out something that would leave people speechless.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: While paining houses – interiors and exteriors – is a good skill to have acquired, it’s something that friends and family members have taken advantage of over the years. As if helping to paint your best friend’s house over the course of a weekend can be compensated with pizza and beer. The things we do for love.

Last best thing you ate: The crab cioppino at a small family-owned Italian restaurant in San Francisco.

Last thing you regret eating: The four-alarm buffalo wings at a national chain. The wings were good at that moment. The heart burn that followed wasn’t nearly as pleasant.

Favorite places you’ve been: St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Great beaches and weather. Clean place with friendly people. Wonderful food and a good place to recharge.

Places you never want to go to again: Las Vegas. Sin City earned its monicker. And while, I’m not a prude, such sin comes with a heavy price tag – figuratively and literally – I’m not willing to pay anymore.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Billy Joel, Warren Buffet, Paul Giamatti and Tiger Woods.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Any politician, television evangelist or anyone who judges someone else simply by who they voted for.

Favorite things to do: I adore being outside, working in the garden or playing golf. I also enjoy going to a ballpark on a warm day to watch school-aged kids – say, ages 12-18 – with a passion for the game and enough skills to catch my attention – play baseball.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Paying the high-dollar costs for parking, concessions and entry to the ballpark to watch professional ball players, without a doubt world-class athletes, often times go through the motions while taking part in a game once meant to be played by children. Ironically, there was a time when I earned my daily bread by chronicling their daily endeavors. Sports writing, it’s been said, is a young man’s game.

Best thing you’ve ever done: My daughter is evidence that I did something right in this world. She is smart (an attorney), funny and grew up with a love for “Seinfeld” reruns and an early knowledge of how to read the Major League Baseball box scores each morning. She’s a daddy’s girl and the apple of my eye.

Biggest mistake: My biggest regret is failing at marriage. Two meaningful careers took precedence over what should have been a happily-ever-after. We never factored job relocations into the equation. Happily, my ex-wife has become a dear friend, but our divorce is my greatest failure.

The funniest thing to happen to you: Running a five-kilometer race the morning after staying up to hit a late-night deadline was an achievement, especially since I ran a personal best. However, just a few steps from the finish line, I threw up, sending my morning coffee spewing like a geyser toward those congratulating the finishers. It was a moment that was captured and chronicled in my best friend’s next column.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: My embarrassing moment has evolved to shame. My bad behavior as a boy after my father’s best effort to turn my bicycle into a motocross by painting my handlebars black and screwing a broomstick across the bars, a makeshift renovation that was ridiculed by my friends. Years later, I am more embarrassed by the way I lashed out at my father, who was only trying to give me something our family just couldn’t afford.

About Patrick:

Patrick Sangimino worked as a journalist for over forty years, writing for large newspapers throughout California and the Midwest. He worked during the print journalism golden age and saw it slowly shift into the digital age. From beat reporter to award-winning columnist, Patrick wrote about some of the biggest sporting stories of all time, including eight seasons of the National Football League, World Series games, and local legends who made athletic history.

A self-described “ink-in-the-veins” writer, Patrick was not merely a journalist, he was a weaver of tales. His craft was motivated by a native curiosity, relentless doggedness in pursuit of fact, and the deeply human understanding that accompanied membership in the communities he served. His columns were read devotionally, acclaimed for their humor, pathos, and biting acuity.

Having retired in 2024, Patrick devoted himself to fiction. But whereas his columns were anchored firmly in the real world, so too is his fiction. Dogs Chase Cars is his first novel, but it feels like the accumulation of a lifetime of experience unvarnished, perceptive, sometimes self-aware, always uncompromisingly truthful.

Sangimino now spends his retirement doing what he’s always done best writing. Whether looking back or making up stories for the future, his pen still pursues meaning, memory, and perhaps a little bit of mischief.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.patricksangimino.com

Instagram: @patricksangimino

Twitter or XL: @psangimino

 Facebook: @patsangimino