JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Paticia Haley, author of Destined
(Simon & Schuster / Gallery Books)

Chosen started the war. Destined continues the feud. The Mitchell brothers, pushed by their mothers, are poised to battle for ultimate control of their father’s multimillion-dollar ministry in the captivating second novel from Patricia Haley’s provocative new series.

Inspired by the biblical kings David and Solomon, the drama picks up in the lobby of the family’s business. The oldest brother, Don, has returned from exile in South Africa at the pleading of his mother and former love interest because they can no longer idly watch baby boy, Joel, careen down the path of personal, professional and spiritual demise, as he drags the ministry with him.

The only hope to save the family’s legacy is Don’s intervention. However, he’s torn between maintaining his livelihood on another shore or coming back to Detroit and wholeheartedly battling his out-of-control half-brother for a company that his father didn’t deem Don worthy to run in the first place. His estranged sister shows up too, spurring confusion.

The bitter family war between the brothers and their mothers kicks into high gear, forcing Don to realize that some challenges are destined if he is to fulfill his purpose. Their ability to forgive and to let go of the past may be their only saving grace.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Destined?

Patricia Haley: The inspiration behind my Chosen series came from one of my all time favorite characters in the Bible, King David. He is an imperfect man plagued with family tragedy, personal failures and constant battles. Yet, he is regarded as someone highly favored by God.

What I love about David is that no matter how many mistakes he made, particularly in his younger days, he learned the great tools of forgiving and forgetting. Once he repented and God forgave him for his shortcomings and poor decisions, David forgave himself and moved on determined to fulfill God’s purpose in his life, guilt free and not caring about what others thought.

That’s not always easy to do, but he became a master at it. In writing Chosen and Destined, I wanted to bring the stories of Kings David and his son King Solomon into modern day with the same kind of dysfunction and drama balanced with triumphs.

First, there was Chosen (2009) which pits David’s two sets of children against one another for control of the family business. Both of his sons and their mothers are ready to fight to the bitter end. At the conclusion of Chosen , readers weren’t satisfied with only an epilogue ending. They wanted more, so Destined was born. The story picks up where Chosen left off, in the lobby of the family’s business.

JP: What sets Destined apart from other novels in its genre?

PH: In my new series, Chosen and Destined infuses more corporate intrigue than is typically found in the faith-based novels. Adding spiritual themes, family tension and romance hopefully makes the novels a nice addition to anyone’s personal library who is seeking a blend of drama, sprinkles of comedy, relationship woes and an inspirational faith-based message subtly woven into the fibers of the story. Ideally the modern-day interpretation will keep readers riveted until the stunning conclusion, when the entire fate of a family rests on their ability to forgive and willingness to let go of the past.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Destined getting out to the public?

PH: Recognizing that God has given me the talent of writing/storytelling is the first key to successfully getting my book to the public. Then there comes the discipline of getting the book written, going through the effort of editing, packaging and putting together a promotional plan.

Whether you’re published through a major house or self-published, the same level of work and commitment is required to achieve what you deem to be ‘your desired’ success. At the end of the day it comes down to a willingness to work hard at getting your book into the hands of those God intended to read it, despite the ups and downs.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Destined?

PH: Typically it takes me about six weeks to draft a 320 page manuscript, that is after I spend 2-4 weeks finalizing the story line, getting to know the main characters, laying out the outline and deciding on who’s point of view is going to tell the story.

Throughout the year, I do not write daily, except during the time when I’m working towards a manuscript submission. Starting my day of writing begins somewhere between 4 am and 6 am, when the house is quiet, works best for me. I’ll write for three to four hours and call it a day. Thank goodness I’ve never had to stay up all night or work around the clock to finish a novel. I think my mind would overload if I did.

JP: What’s next for Patricia Haley?

PH: There is a long list of fiction and non-fiction projects that I want to complete. The next book slotted for 2011 is Broken, the third installment in the Chosen series. The family battle takes a twist when the estranged daughter returns to stake her claim, disrupting any short lived peace the family has managed to find. I expect 2011 to be busy as I will also be carving out more time for motivational speaking and inspiring others to discover and fulfill their purposes.

Patricia Haley is the trailblazing, Essence bestselling author of seven faith-based novels, including her latest titles Destined and Chosen . She’s a project manager with an engineering degree from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago . She is a born again believer and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Patricia lives with her husband and daughter.

http://www.patriciahaley.com/
info@patriciahaley.com

Facebook: Become a Facebook friend of Patricia Haley-Glass or Join Fan Page of Author Patricia Haley
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Patricia-Haley-Fan-Page/113087875385064

http://www.patriciahaley.com/biography/awards.php

[include file=current-advertisers.html]