The year her daughter started junior high, the family moved to a modest home on the banks of the Ninnescah River in a place called Zyba, Kansas. Pat once again had room for a horse and some great fishing right outside her back door. In the late 1980’s, she and her husband became archery enthusiasts traveling throughout Kansas and neighboring states to compete in 3-D archery tournaments. They won the men’s and the women’s outdoor state championship in the same year. Pat even managed to do a little hunting with her bow. If you ask her, she’ll tell you that her years in Zyba were among some of the highlights of her life.
Unfortunately, life in the country came to an abrupt end when the family lost their home and most of their possessions in a fire in 1993. When the flames died away, all that was left was a stone chimney standing guard over a pile of smoldering ruins. The family was devastated.
It was hard starting over, but with undeterred faith, the help of her family and many friends, Pat and her husband returned to Wichita and settled into a roomy brick home just 15 minutes from their work. The one true bright spot in Pat’s life then was the arrival of her grandson. A short year later her husband became disabled due to a degenerative spinal disorder and their life once again changed directions.
The next few years proved gloomy for Pat. Financial difficulties, her husband’s uncertain health and her daughter’s divorce followed by an ugly custody battle took their toll. But there were some bright spots, as well. Pat’s prayers for a granddaughter were answered with the birth of an adorable little girl who just happens to be the spitting image of her mother.
It was during those years that Pat decided she would write a novel. With her husband’s encouragement, she launched herself into learning the business of writing and joined a local writing group called The Wichita Area Romance Writers. Pat credits WARA and their parent organization, Romance Writers of America, with giving her the tools she needed to craft a publishable book. It wasn’t easy. It took seven years and many, many rejections, but in 2003, after meeting inspirational author, Deborah Raney, Pat found her niche in the romance market. In 2004, Joan Marlow Golan, the senior editor at Steeple Hill Books, bought His Bundle of Love and Pat’s career as a published author took off. 2006 saw the release of her first three books from Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired.
In 2011, Pat's husband passed away from cancer following a brief illness. She retired from nursing in her beloved NICU to write full time. Some days she regrets that decision, but writing keeps her busy. That and traveling. She has been to Cancun twice, took an Alaskan cruise and fulfilled a lifetime dream of riding in a dogsled. Remember those books she devoured as a kid? Among her favorites were Call of the Wild and White Fang, by Jack London. In 2012, she took a Rhine river cruise. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
Writing has allowed Pat to travel and to meet hundreds of people all over the United States. She happily shares her story and the lessons she has learned along the way with other writers and readers in church and civic groups. If you’d like to have Pat speak to your group, contact her via the e-mail link above.
