"Words, language, books—all have held a life-long fascination for me," says Patricia, "ever since learning to read at age four. English is such a rich language, and part of the challenge of writing is in choosing the right word to portray the desired picture, or to achieve the desired effect."

Patricia enjoys reading any good book, but especially likes mysteries, sagas, and historical fiction of any era. She became interested in England's Regency period (early 1800s), and this led to her first book, A Very Proper Thief.

Her first ambition was to become a librarian, as she enjoyed working in the Public Library after school and during the summers. Then, in mid-stream, so to speak, she was drawn to teaching, graduating from Hamilton Teachers' College and from courses in Primary Education from the University of Toronto. "Teaching the primary grades is a real high. The children are so receptive, like little sponges. I hope I passed on to them my own love of reading and language."

After ten years, Patricia left teaching, and with husband Bill moved to the country to raise daughters Stephanie and Valerie, several Quarter horses, a German Shepherd named Zenta, and Serendipity, a Siamese cat. Next, the family (minus the animals) moved to Australia for several wonderful years before returning to Canada. Now empty-nesters, Bill and Patricia split their time between their home in Southern Ontario and their cottage "up north." Traveling is on the agenda, too. They have visited the U.K., especially Scotland, home of Patricia's parents, Hawaii, Singapore, Southern U.S., and of course, Australia.

Patricia's interests besides writing? Their granddaughter, oil painting, forests and everything in them, gardens, people, learning stuff, and anything Scottish. Oh, yes, and singing in the church choir.

Since writing "for real" Patricia has twice been a finalist in the Golden Heart contest of the Romance Writers of America.