The Life and Times of a Romance Writer

I am just now learning how to storyboard! I wrote my first story. It's about me! Go ahead, click on the link and see.
http://storybird.com/books/the-life-and-times-of-a-romance-author/?token=fnkwwh

Just Another Manic Monday

Pamela Tracy here, and what you see above is really a chalk drawing on the cement. An amazing artist in England, Julian Beever, create it. I like this one because of the suspense. How did he get up there? Who (or what) chased him? What happens when he falls? Will he be a victim and I'll have to come up with the killer and then someone who is in danger (maybe the man on the poles wife or girlfriend or maybe an innocent witness)? If he makes it down alive, will he be wounded? Chased?

This is why I love writing suspense: all the possibilities.

So, what do you think? Will he make it to the bottom of the pole?

Pamela Tracy's current release (this month!) is not a suspense, really, but there is a mystery... who took the money? Why was Joel framed? When he figures out the answer, will it cost him the woman he loves?

Buy the book and find out!

I Am Eunice

Pamela Tracy here. If you read this blog yesterday, you'll realize I switched out pictures. This new one is really me playing the role of Eunice.

It’s Vacation Bible School at my church this week. It started last night. I’m playing the part of Eunice, Mary’s busybody neighbor, who always comes over when Mary has friends over – to be nosy, to talk about Mary when she’s not around, and basically to let the crowd know that I’m better than Mary.

It’s actually great fun. I’m wearing a plain gray dress with a tie belt. I have a scarf over my head. I’m wearing sandels. I took off my watch so I’d be in character.

Here’s the only thing I couldn’t do. I couldn’t get my nail polish off. See, I had a wedding a few weeks ago so I tried that new permanent nail polish. Well, it really is permanent. Nail polish remover didn’t so much as take off a nano of a smudge. I either have to go back and let them scrap the polish (and nail topping!) off or I let the nail grow and soon have a nail that is top-part polish, bottom-part fingernail.

This is a problem I’m sure Eunich didn’t have.

Are you having VBS, too? And, what are you or what have you done during VBS?

Pamela Tracy's next book, Once Upon a Cowboy, is not a suspense, nor is there a character named Eunice is it. As a matter of fact, VBS isn't mentioned either, but it's still a good read. It hits the shelves in August.

Let's Talk Books

My name is Pamela Tracy and I am a Bookaholic. Yes, I am one of the 75% of Americans who read a book last year. Twenty-five percent of Americans didn't. Me? I cannot imagine not hearing the call of hundreds of unread books calling to my from my overflowing stacks...

"Pam, come read me! It's my turn. I promise I'm a page-turner. Remember how excited you were when you found me on the shelf. Please come pick me. I'm gathering dust here!"

I am a statistic as far as being a part of the "I read" portion of the statistic, but then my habits go off the charts, and I'm pretty comfortable that if you're reading this blog, you're off the charts, too.

The average American reads 3 - 6 books a year.

The average adult reads about 300 words a minute, that's 5 words a second. So, reading a typical Harlequin books, say my August release, at 214 pages, takes three and 1/2 hours. If I were to only read 6 such books a year, I'd have spent roughly 21 hours reading.

Six books, in one year, equals 21 hours of reading.

The average American watched television 35 hours a week.

In February, I started keeping track of what I read. I wish I'd done this years ago before I had my son, so I could compare my reading to when I had reading time against having to carve out reading time.

Here's what I know. I don't read six books a year; I read six books a month. Most of them are longer than the Harlequins.

What about you? How many books a year, month, week, do you read?

Pamela Tracy's next Harlequin is an August release.

Help! A Cop Dropped Into My Story!

Last weekend as part of the local Sisters in Crime writers' group, I co-taught a workshop at the Civic Center Library. The woman in charge teamed me up with a, gasp, cop. We did a workshop on how someone like me - Gilmore Girlish, teacher, mother, have another brownie - type person can possible write dark suspense. My partner, Isabella Maldonado, was a twenty year veteran of a special task force: think Angelina Jolie in Lora Croft. She - all Angelina Jolie professional, cop, mother - wants to soften the reality, be more creative. I definitely came out the winner of the tagteam because I learned so much from Bella.


One of the more interesting things she did was take my first suspense Pursuit of Justice and look at what I did well and what I didn't quite manage to get right. I'm going to post some of the examples. Look below.

1. Rosa should never have purchased this car. Statistics showed that red
cars were pulled over for speeding more often than any other color...

2. The afternoon sun bounced off his mirrored glasses, giving him a
peculiar insect sort of look.

3. He grabbed the radio from his belt and called a Code One
Thousand.

4. He flinched as a gun's report rendered him momentarily deaf.

5. He had her on the ground in two seconds flat and finished giving the
Miranda to the back of her head.

Three are misses; two are hits. Can you guess the misses and why?

Go ahead, comment. I'll tell you how you did this evening.

The Great Easter Bunny Heist, Part Seven, by Pamela Tracy

Richard had two choices. He could take out the man in the boat and save Mrs. Candy and maybe finally return the Russian egg. Or, he could hurry to Ellie.

His feet were halfway to Ellie before his mind fully registered he had a choice. Behind him, the rev of the boat’s engine got dimmer and dimmer.

“I can’t believe it,” Ellie sputtered, getting up before he reached her. “In every romantic novel, every romantic movie, whenever there’s a chase scene, the heroine trips right before the bad guy gets her.”

Richard looked behind her. “No bad guy.”

“I know. The bad guy was running away from us, not chasing us, and still, what did I do? Trip!”

“Well, there was the gunshot,” Richard said glumly. “That’s enough to make a person stumble.”

“Gunshot.” Ellie went pale. I thought the boat backfired.”

Richard shook his head and looked her over carefully. “I take it nothing is broken.”

“Only my pride.”

“Doesn’t the Bible say pride cometh before a fall’?”

“Actually,” Ellie said, “Proverbs says that pride goes before destruct-.”

She didn’t get the whole word out.

A deafening blast shook the airwaves.

Instinctively, Richard had Ellie’s head in the top of his hand and was pushing her to the ground, shielding her body with his. But, the debris from boat’s explosion didn’t make it to the docks. It rained back down on the water.

Last Weekend

Pamela Tracy here, and I'm the one sitting down. Susan Cummins is standing up. She's a mystery writer I just met.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working at the Tucson Festival of Books. Great fun. I headed up Friday after work (Honey, have fun with the small being who looks and acts just like you!) I arrived a little after six. My first adventure was at a restaurant. I joined the wonderful ladies who belong to the Romance Writers of America Tucson chapter. Plus, almost everyone had brought guests. I sat next to a prepublished author who was so excited about the books in her future. I remember feeling that way. I sat across from Patti Knoll (a great writer) and Deb Werksman (editor at Sourcebooks). After dinner, I spent the night with Roz Denny Fox (SuperRomance author) and fell asleep while she and Carrie Weaver (another Super author) gabbed. My best friend, American author Cathy McDavid was asleep when we finally got home. Hmm, guess I am getting old.

Saturday I headed for the Festival and found the room where I'd been speaking. This year they teamed me up with Judy Duarte. We spoke on characterization. It was the biggest audience I've (okay, we've) had. 61 people! After the talk, I explore the expo, had lunch, and then went to the Sisters in Crime booth. I joined Sisters in Crime just three months ago, and boy am I glad I did. I sat in their booth for an hour and sold six books. Color me happy. Then, I explored some more (and purchased really neat nightshirts that have bookish sayings on them.)

Saturday evening a bunch of us ate at the Claim Jumper. I'm between Roz and Patti.

Sunday I attended workshops. My favorite was a true crime panel that featured the author who investigated Chandra Levy's murder. I also attended one called "Kill All the Lawyers." Funny thing, it was full.

Sunday afternoon I headed home and greeted my husband who asked, "Have fun?"

Oh, yeah.

Memories: Old Friends

Pamela Tracy here, and, yes, you'll be once again hearing about things I found when I REALLY cleaned my office over Christmas. Let me jog your memory. The last time I chatted about this I chastised myself because I'd kept check stubs from 1979 (first job).

Some things I discovered, however, were not so mundane. I found my autograph book from the seventies. I'm having a blast going through it. I've listed some teachers (I remember two). I do remember many of the kids. And, I'm amazed at how personalities come through.

For example, Bob Worden wrote on fifteen pages of my autograph album. He wrote the same two words in sprawling, giant letters: PAM WHO?

Joleen Staats wrote: I auto this; I auto that; but in this book I autograph.

My good friend Robin wrote: You are my best friend, besides Lisa.

Marian Ballenger wrote: When you are old and out of shape, remember that girdles are only $2.98.

Lynne Eppenbaugh wrote: When you get married and have some twins, don't come to me for safety pins.

Every page of my autograph book is filled. As I first cruised through it, my finger touching the faded words and names from my past suddenly shimmering into shapes before me, I realized I miss my friends of old. Yet, what a treat, their words are right here in my autograph book.

Courtesy of Linda Farris: Big ships, little ships, they never made a ship like friendship.

Did you have an autograph book? What does it say?

Eeek, I love my new washer and dryer!

Pamela Tracy here, and I just want you to know I'm a proud member of the 'I Hate Housework' organization. I'd carry a card, but it's probably lost in one of the piles of paper that litter my office.


My mother was a housewife. Our home was spotless, and I think, if I didn't work full-time plus write, that maybe my house would be spotless, but hey, I love my life so when I look around my home, I think, "Spotty is good!"


Here's an email my cousin sent me, and yes, I can remember going to grandma's and watching her use this washer, only hers was white.

History of this recipe:

Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave a new bride this advice. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook -spelling errors and all.

WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work britches and rags.
To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.
Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.
Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.
Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
================================================

For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse

Top Ten Bestsellers of 2010

Pamela Tracy here, and I do like lists, probably because I make so many. My lists are boring:

[] Mikey to school by 8:00

[] Work by 9:00

[] Take papers to testing center by 12:00

[] Enter grades

[] Take library books back

Well, you get the idea.

Every end of year I look forward to seeing the top ten books. I like to see what I've read. There've been years where I've read most of them, and years when I've read none of them. So, without further ado, compliments of Barnes and Nobles tallying, here are the top ten fiction bestsellers of 2010. At the end of the day, I'll tell you which ones I've read. Fill free to check off the ones you've read (and think about whether you liked them or not , note the ones you mean to read, and speculate on the ones you're going to pass on.

[] Diary of a Wimpy Kid

[] The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

[] Mockingjay

[] The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

[] Delivering Happiness

[] Decision Points

[] The Help

[] The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

[] Dead in the Family

[] The Girl who Played with Fire

An Evening with Lisa Gardner

Pamela Tracy here. Last Monday evening, I sat in the audience of a well-known suspense writer and spent a lot of "Aha, Ohhhh, ewwww, hmmmmm" moments. Here's one thing she said that really resonated with me. (Set-up: she was talking about how her suspense novels changed over time. She'd started her career writing romantic suspense, went to serial killer suspense, and then after getting married and having a family, she wrote what she called domestic suspense.)

"If I went to bed worrying about something a mother worries about, then nine
months later, it was a book."

The author who so had my attention was Lisa Gardner. I read her way back when she wrote for Silhouette as Alicia Scott (back then I couldn't wait for either Alicia Scott or Susan Brockmann to have a monthly release).

Wanna hear about the whole talk? Good. Here it is. The Poison Pen is a well-known and most wonderful mystery bookstore that happens to be only ten minutes from my house. It's housed in old-town Scottsdale, which only adds ambiance to the best type of store there is: a bookstore. I don't go there often because of a serious afflication I suffer: Enter books store weighing (You don't think I'm really going to tell!). Leave book store weighing ten pounds heavier (due tothe books I"m carrying.) Due to the fact I had to feed husband and son, I arrived at the author talk at 7:01 instead of 7:00. I am so impressed at myself. I'm always late, but hey, one minute is not bad. Still, there are only four seats left (There were probably fifty people there. Memo to self: Put this type of signing on goal list right after making the New Yorks Times Bestseller List and win a RITA).

Lisa entered wearing a cute little blue dress (It would fit one of my legs and still be tight) and heels (I'd trip) and impressed me with her skill of jumping onto a tall stool in a dress not designed for jumping. She did this while smiling. That's when I knew my evening would be well spent.

"I was seventeen when I started writing. I published my first book."

(The only reason I didn't fall out of my folding chair, while wearing stretch jeans and a comfy shirt, was I'd heard Lisa's story before, years ago, at Nationals.) Lisa spoke about her early years of writing. As Alicia Scott, she wrote romantic suspense. She admitted that from the beginning the suspense part of her writing really took off. Seemed she wasn't the only one noticing. One day her agent said, "Why don't you write a suspense?"

The rest, they say, is history. Lisa has 39 books to her credit. She's had a made-for-television movie (Oh, another thing to put on my goal list. I must stop going to author talks so that my goal list doesn't exceed the word count of my current work in progress.) and she, now, gets to go to really, really, really neat places.


The neatest place I've gone, per research for a WIP, is a high-dollar suite at a hotel/casino. (I was inside drawing it and the maids kept asking me if I was from deportation. Remember, I live in Arizona.) Lisa has been to The Body Farm. When talking about The Body Farm, she made lots of reference to autopies and such. I want to go!!! (And, yes, I probably would faint.)


Lisa gave a few more writer tips: She researches for three months, writes the book in six months, and then the next three months her daughter has summer vacation (not much writing done.) Her newest book Live To Tell sounds fabulous.

A perk to going to Lisa's walk and signing was I got two authors for the price of one. Lisa and author Mike Lawson did the Your Turn; My Turn bit. Mike had some great things to say. He started writing because he read a book by a well-known author, wasn't impressed, and said, "I can write a book that bad." He also talking about trying to find an agent. He actually signed one, and a year later, she dropped him because she thought handling two clients overtaxing. Mike did win me over. I want to read him. Unfortunately, I didn't realize when I perused the book store that all his books were up by him and not on the shelves.

All in all, last Monday, was a great day. Tess Gerritson speaks this Thursday evening. Looks like I'll be batting my eyelashes at my husband and saying, "Guess where I'm going...."

Toy Story Three

Pamela Tracy here. Today we, the whole family, went to see Toy Story Three. Here's the ultimate compliment. My son is five. We've only made it all the way through three theator movies. Toy Story Three was the first one that kept him rivoted. He did not ask to move seats. He did not ask to go home. Halfway through, when he absolutely had to take a potty break, he ran. He enjoyed the whole thing! And, because Daddy came along, we were a half hour early to the movie. Yup, the minute the cleaning ladies came out, we entered the theator and then sat for thirty minutes (Daddy hates being late; Mommy hates being early). And, in case you're wondering... Toy Story Three has suspense. Will the toys ever find their way home? And there's romance times two. First, there's Barbie and Ken. BTW, Ken has some really cool retro clothes. Then, there's Buzz Lightyear and Jesse. Buzz went all Antonio Banderas for awhile. All in all, a good day.

Where the Road Ends

Pamela 'the explorer' Tracy here.

A few weeks ago, my family went exploring. Lately, we've found ourselves gravitating toward the Globe, Arizona, area (Yes, I'm thinking about setting a book there). This particular day, we parked the van and headed toward a waterfall that we'd see from the highway. The waterfall was cool (from a distance) but the jewel we stumbled upon was unexpected. See, we were following what we thought was a trail to the waterfall, but it was really an old road. Overgrown, broken, and thoroughly fun to explore. We picked our way past broken bottles (We were not the first to explore this road), crawled over trees stumps, and traversed mounds of dirt, and finally came to the jewel: an old bridge. Down below, the water quickly flowed and my son and his friend threw rocks and watched them splash. Me? I stood on the bridge and looked at the next place the old road would take me - right into the packed earth that lay beneath AZ 88.

We found the old road that connected Apache Junction to Globe. The new highway traveled beside it some and then was formed over it. The road we traveled abruptly ended into a wall of dirt.

Our writing is like that. Sometimes we know our story, but get excited about a side plot. We travel with our new idea - totally happy - and then hit a wall and can go no further.

Let me add to that: we can go no further at that moment.

Backtrack a little and you might find a different way to turn your story. Or, maybe it's okay to end with a road leading into a wall of dirt. My son wants to go back, not to the wall of dirt but to the stream. Maybe next time I go, my plot... I mean our adventured will follow the stream and we'll find another jewel.

CLANDESTINE COVER-UP INTERVIEW

Today we're welcoming Vince Frenci, the hero of Clandestine Cover-Up by Pamela Tracy, a December 2009 release.

Ileen the Interviewer: Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

Vince: First, let me tell you about my family. The Frenci’s have been in Sherman, Nebraska, a century. I’m pretty sure the ground our family tree sprouted from was soaked from moonshine hence a boot-legger ancestor. We have a picture of GreatGrandpa with Jesse James. They’re standing in front of a bank. I met my grandfather once. We drove three hours to the prison he was sentenced in. My father, well, he went to the store to get bread when I was in junior high and never came back. The branches of my family tree all look like leg shackles.

Ileen the Interviewer: Except for you?

Vince: Accept for me. I got in trouble once, just out of high school, and that, plus knowing how much help my mother needed with my little brother, put me on the straight and narrow. Of course, I didn’t realize that I needed a good woman (Tamara Jacoby) to help me stay straight, and I didn’t realize I needed God to help define the narrow.

Ileen the Interviewer:. So, I’m still curious about the suspense, but I’m sure we’ll get there. During the book you met Tamara Jacoby. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Vince: I met her for the first time at her sister’s wedding. She started out by ordering me around. I’m a contractor, see, and she was helping with decorations at the church. Then, one day (more than a year later) when I was driving home from work, I saw her again. Well, first I saw her car. I knew a little bit about why she’d moved to Nebraska. She’d had some trouble with a stalker back in Arizona. I stopped to see if she was okay. She wasn’t. But, I gotta tell you, she has spunk. Someone had painted YOUR NOT WANTED HERE on the front door of the old building she’d purchased. Any other woman might have turned tail. Tamara, she stood and fought. Not necessarily wise, but very impressive especially after what she’d just been through with the stalker. Ah, you ladies and your love questions. I wish I knew the exact moment. Tamara asks me that same question about every three weeks. I think I knew it was love at Yano’s Restaurant, when I was sitting across the table from Tamara and some friends – one of whom the restaurant owners had tried to fix me up with – and I realized they all knew something I didn’t. Yup, that something was the way Tamara and I acted together.


Ileen the Interviewer: What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

Vince: I can put almost anything together and fix most things, including gadgets. I’m a big guy. I tend to either scare people or make them feel very safe. Luckily, I made Tamara feel very safe. My greatest weakness is I let my family bring me down. It was only after I found God that I realized sometimes the family is not just blood but can also be community.


Ileen the Interviewer: What scares you?

Vince: Being responsible for other people. My family took up plenty of my time and it all seemed to be damage control. Why would I want more family. Tamara showed me the opposite of damage control – well, once we figured out who was after her. I confess, I still get shaky hands at the thought of my wife. She takes my breath away. On one hand, I cannot believe she wants to be with me. On the other hand, I have to protect her. Did I mention she’s a criminal attorney. Nope, I couldn’t marry a nice safe teacher. Nope, not me.

Ileen the Interviewer:. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Vince: I married into a family where there’s a banker, a teacher, a lawyer, etc. I’m sitting here with just a high school degree and suddenly thinking it’s not enough. I’m pretty sure I’ll go back to school and major in business. Maybe someday instead of working for others, I’ll work for myself.


Ileen the Interviewer: Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

Vince: God invited me through the back door. As we were trying to figure out who was after Tamara, it became clear that one of the Main Street Church ladies had insider information. We had to go to church to meet her. Then, we had to go again, and again. Pretty soon we were going to church when we didn’t have to. Tamara’s more questioning than I. I think that’s the lawyer in her. Me, I can wrap my mind around a carpenter’s son.


Ileen the Interviewer: You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Keep in mind, in Sherman, Nebraska, the last name Frenci was pretty tainted. I mean, we were the town’s Capones.


Ileen the Interviewer: If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

Vince: Ack! A girl question. Let me go find Tamara. I’ll let her answer this one.

Ileen the Interviewer: Hmm, he sure looks good in his gray construction uniform. I can certainly see what Tamara saw in him. Not only looks, but a teddy bear protector. Guys, I don’t think Vince is coming back to share his favorite dessert. So, everyone, go ahead and grab your own personal favorite and join us next week for another Love Inspired Suspense hero or heroine interview!


Thank you Pam for letting our guest interview Ileen ask Vince some pressing questions. This sounds like a great read!

Fugitive Family Interview

Today we're welcoming Alexander Cooke, the hero of Fugitive Family. His life went from riches to rags and then rags to riches in Pamela Tracy’s August Love Inspired Suspense.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
Just a year ago, I was an ordinary guy. Maybe too ordinary. I had a wife, a daughter, and a job – only I didn’t think of them in that order. I usually put my job first. I was a bank manager, a pretty posh position which allowed my family to enjoy a pretty posh life. Then, someone robbed the bank and framed me. Worse, that someone kidnapped my wife! Since blood – my wife’s - was found at the scene, the cops figured I’d offed my wife, intending to also take off with the bank’s money and start a new life. The cops didn’t seem to be able to believe I was innocent, and since I have a five-year-old daughter, I had to act quickly before whoever was doing all this got ahold of her.

2. So, during the book you Lisa Jacoby. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
After escaping from the police, I snatched my daughter and went into hiding – trying to do what the cops were not doing: find the real bankrobber. Amy and I took different identities. Amy became Amber. We met Lisa because for Amy’s well-being, she needed to be in school, around kids her own age, and have a somewhat normal childhood. Lisa Jacoby, the heroine (not a strong enough word to describe who she really is) was Amy’s first grade teacher. My first impression wasn’t too wonderful. I plowed into her car the day they discovered my… my wife’s body. I was trying to escape what I’d just heard on the news. Even then, Lisa was a study in patience. See, I didn’t have car insurance. I’m pretty sure most fugitives don’t! My real first impression concerned just how she brightened my daughter’s world. Pretty soon – thanks to a church softball league we were both on – she started brightening mine. Only I couldn’t let her know. Whoever killed my first wife was still out there!

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
Strengths? Well, I get things done. From work, and then when I was first arrested, until now. As a bank employee, I was highly respected, honest, and progressed up the ladder quickly. When I was first arrested, I quickly figured out if the killer was going to be found, I needed to do it, and I did. That leads me to my greatest weakness. I always that ‘I’ had to be in charge. I didn’t rely on God, only self – which lead to selfishness. Throughout this whole ordeal, the one plus has been the relationships I’ve built not only with my daughter, but with God.

4. What scares you?
Are you kidding? What scares me is knowing a madman can change your life in a blink, leaving you vulnerable and your family at risk.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
How long I relied on self. My first wife never had my full attention, devotion. Now, thanks to my daughter, her teacher Lisa, and God, I know the power, the wonder, of devotion.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
LOL. My faith was non-existent. I only knew about God because of one foster family. A family I didn’t manage to keep for long. My God was money and position.


7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
“Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yah, I will help thee; yeah, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
This verse from Isaiah says it all.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
After I escaped from police custody and grabbed Amy, I was truly alone. I had never felt so alone, not even when I traversed through the foster system. I first attended church because I knew to keep my identity a secret, I needed to do everything I could to ‘not’ be the old Alexander Cooke. Alexander Cooke, a year ago, was not a church goer. Alexander Cooke, today, is not a church goer, he is a church.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?
I’ve not told you enough about Lisa Jacoby, and how she’s a rock in my world. If I have to be a dessert, I want to be whatever dessert she’s drawn to.

Thank you Pam for sharing Alexander with us. This sounds like an exciting read. Can't wait to get my copy.