#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Patti Lee
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I’d like to welcome Patti Lee to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!
Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing about being a writer is writing. Or more specifically, getting into that magical headspace where the ideas actually come. Sitting down to write is easy. Getting your brain to cooperate? That's the hard part.
Easiest thing about being a writer: The easiest thing about being a writer is writing. Hear me out – it can be both. Once you're in the zone, you've got the ideas, you've got the time, it's quiet, and the distractions have faded away, writing becomes the easy part. Then it's just a matter of getting the story out of your head and onto the page.
Things you need for your writing sessions: I need quiet and uninterrupted time to think, process, and write. My dream would be a little writing retreat where I could be alone when I need to focus, but also have the chance to sit somewhere and people-watch without looking like a creeper.
Things that hamper your writing: Any noise or distraction can derail me. Television, music, people, even my cats – anything can pull me out of the story. Once I’m in that writing headspace, even a small interruption can make it hard to find my way back.
Words that describe you: Some words that describe would be curious, loyal, compassionate and on a good day, witty.
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: There’s too many, so I’ll just go with overthinker. It's a useful trait when I'm editing a manuscript or solving a problem at work. It's much less useful at 2:00 a.m. when I'm replaying a conversation from three days ago.
Last best thing you ate: My grandsons came to visit last week, and we had fluffernutter sandwiches – haven’t had one in years, and it was delicious!
Last thing you regret eating: Other than that fluffernutter sandwich, I think I regret the whole last week of food – hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, candy, cookies, ice cream – I ate like an unsupervised 10-year-old, and my body has officially filed a complaint.
Favorite music or song: I love the soundtrack to Hamilton. I listen to it anytime I’m going to be in the car for more than 10 minutes. I love the way it tells a story through music – the lyrics, the energy, the emotion, and the way the characters come alive. I often wonder how much of the story is based in truth and how much is creative storytelling. I can listen to it over and over, still catch something new, and yet somehow still manage to trip over my tongue trying to keep up with the lyrics.
Music that drives you crazy: Opera would be the music choice that drives me crazy. It’s too hard to understand and the piercing vocals are just too much.
Things you always put in your books: Kids and animals. I think children and animals have a way of grounding a story. They bring out sides of people you might not otherwise see, and they often remind us what really matters. Whether they're making us laugh, breaking our hearts, or quietly stealing the scene, they add a layer of authenticity that I love.
Things you never put in your books: I'm not one to include gratuitous sex in my books. I think a story should speak for itself, and while sex is a natural part of life and relationships, it has to serve a purpose in the story. I'm never going to add it just for shock value or because it's expected. I started writing in 2019, and I’ve learned so much along the way. One lesson that has really stuck with me is that if a scene doesn't move the characters or the story forward, it probably doesn't belong on the page.
Favorite books (or genre): I love women’s fiction books. I don’t need a happily ever after or a burning romance – I want to read about things that others have or could experience, and I want to see how they navigated those situations.
Books you wouldn’t buy: I am not a horror reader anymore. I used to read all the genres, but I figure life as an adult is terrifying enough.
The coolest person you’ve ever met: Well, aside from some amazingly cool friends and writerly types, I have to say Bernie Sanders. Through my 9-to-5 job, I had the opportunity to go to D.C. and meet with some of his staffers, and he graciously took a few minutes to meet with us as well. What struck me most was how down-to-earth he seemed. He was funny and personable, and when one of my colleagues accidentally knocked over a chair, he joked that she was "throwing chairs around." It was such a small moment, but it captured his sense of humor and made him feel less like a politician and more like a regular person. It was a pretty memorable experience.
The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I went to a Melissa Etheridge concert years ago, and at one point she walked through the crowd – literally right past me. She was so close I could have reached out and touched her, although I was way too shocked to actually do it. The thing that surprised me most was how much shorter she was than I imagined. You see someone perform on a stage for years and your brain somehow makes them larger than life. Turns out, she’s actually pretty tiny.
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I took up acrylic painting. We moved into a home years ago and I wanted a large piece of art to hang over my sofa. I couldn’t find anything I liked that I was willing to spend that much money on, so I watched some videos and painted one for myself.
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Well, the painting referenced above is a good example. I thought I’d paint a couple of small practice pieces – inexpensive canvas boards – to get a feel for what I wanted, and then just paint the larger canvas. I spent a ton on brushes, paints, canvas and even bought an easel to help with my practice pieces. I ended up not actually ‘painting’ anything since I used a fluid pour process.
The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: I honestly don't remember the exact first album I bought, but I’m pretty sure it was either the Grease soundtrack or Shaun Cassidy’s first album. I was obsessed with Grease – John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, singing, dancing...what wasn’t to love? But I also loved Shaun Cassidy from The Hardy Boys, and the minute I found out he had an album, I knew I needed it. I probably used babysitting money to buy whichever one came first.
A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: I appreciate almost all music, but classical is probably at the bottom of my list. I admire the talent it takes to create it, but I’m much more likely to sing along to a good 80s song than sit quietly and contemplate a symphony.
About Patti:
Patti Lee is a Vermont author of women’s fiction. In 2021, she signed with RockHill Publishing, and her debut novel, Between February and November, was released the following year. Her second novel, Tanya, We Have a Problem, was released in 2026.
Patti has been married since 1988 and writes about the kind of situations that can happen to anyone - the unexpected twists, challenges, relationships, and moments of humor that make up everyday life. When she’s not writing or playing with her grandkids, she works as the director of a small nonprofit, where she gets to indulge her love of spreadsheets and lists while keeping her four cats and two dogs well supplied with treats and catnip.
Let’s Be Social:
Website: pattileewriter.com
Facebook: @PattiLeeAuthorPage
