 |
| BOOK I BROOKLYN MONARCHS SERIES |
When I last walked the halls of
Romancing the Genres, I was in the process of releasing Campaign for Her Heart,
the twelfth book in the Decades: A Journey of African American Romance series.
Decades consists of 12 books, each set in one of 12 decades between 1900 and
2010. Each story focuses on the romance
between African American protagonists, but also embraces the African American
experience within that decade.
I was giddy with excitement over the
release of a new title and the release of this first-of-its-kind series. But I
also was overwhelmed. I’d recently been laid off from my day job and was
struggling to get my career back on track. I was in negotiations for a new
contract with my first publisher. My wonderful agent was retiring. And I’d
entered the new-to-me-world of independent publishing; there was a lot to
learn. A lot. Something had to give. With great reluctance, I bid adieu to
Romancing the Genres.
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| BOOK II BROOKLYN MONARCHS SERIES |
During the almost two years that I’ve
been gone, I still haven’t gotten my career on track. My first publisher has
stopped taking my calls. But before I reach for that bottle of diet Mountain
Dew to drown my sorrows, there is some promising news. After my wonderful agent
retired, I was fortunate to get another wonderful agent who’s helped me get a
contract with a new publisher. (We’ve just finalized the contract. I don’t have
a release date yet, but the formal announcement is coming soon.)
On the independent publishing front, I’ve
re-issued two of my contemporary romance back titles:
·
Sweet Deception
·
Heated Rivalry
I’ve also re-branded my Brooklyn
Monarchs contemporary sports romance series and announced its re-release
schedule:
·
Fast Break, Book
I, February 2020
·
Smooth Play, Book
II, March 2020
·
Keeping Score,
Book III, April 2020
·
Game Plan,
novella, May 2020
The Monarchs series features the
fictionalized professional basketball team. In the first three stories – Fast
Break, Smooth Play and Keeping Score, readers meet the members of the
perennially losing franchise and cheer them on during their Cinderella season.
Game Plan takes place in the off season, after the team has won its first title
in franchise history.
 |
| BOOK III BROOKLYN MONARCHS SERIES |
·
Game Time
Decision, Book IV, July 2020
·
Her Greatest Fan,
Book V, September 2020
·
Watch and Learn,
Book VI, November 2020
In these final three Monarchs stories,
the team returns intact. The franchise hopes to repeat its championship run,
potentially its first back-to-back title in its history. However, the same
problem that almost cost them their first title is back – with a twist.
That’s my 2020. I’m doing my best to
strategize for a stronger 2021. Thank you so much for your interest in my
career. I appreciate your encouragement and support.
Before I sign off, I know we’re in highly
unusual and intensely stressful times during this pandemic. My heart aches with
every tragedy and is lifted by each act of kindness. Please stay safe and be
well.
About
the Author
Patricia Sargeant is a national
best-selling, award-winning author of mysteries and romance. Her work has been
featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA
Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery
Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book
Reviews. She writes romances as Patricia Sargeant and mysteries as Olivia
Matthews.
Website: www.PatriciaSargeant.com
Facebook: @AuthorPatriciaSargeant
Facebook: @AuthorPatriciaSargeant
Twitter: @BooksByPatricia
12 comments:
Patricia, we are so happy you were able to spend some time with us this weekend and catch us up. Are you a basketball fan? I've always wondered how authors write sports romance ... I love college football and one of my brothers and my son played in high school and a bit in college, but I can't image me setting a story in that milieu.
Good to see you again, Patricia! Your perseverance is a great example for us all. And your Monarch series sounds like so much fun--I will have to check it out! Take care of yourself.
I'm so glad you are continuing your Broooklyn Monarch's Series!!! Congratulations on your contributions to DECADES: A Journey of African American Romance. What is your alter ego, Olivia Matthews, up to?
OK, this is me, embarrassed. LOL! I can't remember how to reply to specific comments. I'm so sorry!
Judith Ashley, thank you so much for the opportunity to visit again with the Romancing the Genres community. I really appreciate it. Yes, I'm an NBA and college hoops fan. I'm also an NFL and college football fan. And I really enjoy track and field. It's not only the events that I enjoy, though. I love finding out how athletes got started in the sports and what they did to excel - physically and mentally - in their field. What goes on "behind the scenes" as far as their preparation during the season and during the off season. How do they maintain the "mind of a champion"? For example, when a quarterback throws an interception, how does he put it behind him for the next series?
Sorry. I do go on. LOL!
Lynn Lovegreen, hi! Thank you so very much for your encouraging words. A part of me was embarrassed to be so chatty. No one wants to share their failures. I believe human nature is to emphasize our successes. But I think, when we stumble, it helps to know we aren't the first or the only one who has ever stumbled. And, as hard asit may be to accept, we're probably going to stumble again. But always remember that others have stumbled. Remember the Chinese proverb: Failure is not falling down; it's refusing to get up.
Thank you again so much, Lynn. I hope you enjoy the Monarchs stories. All the best!
Sarah Raplee, thank you so very much for your cheers!!! I really appreciate them. Big hugs! And thank you for asking about Olivia Matthews. LOL! I've recently signed with Hallmark for a cozy mystery. Just waiting for the final contract. (The waiting is the worst!) I'm also launching an indie cozy mystery series next year, which I'm tremendously exciting about. In fact, I'm smiling as I'm responding to your post. LOL!
That's wonderful news! Congratulations on the contract. Looking forward to following your career and reading more books.
Patricia - catching up on my RTG blog reading. Welcome back. Love the premise of both your series. I'll have to check them out. And congrats on you perseverance in getting these titles back out, finding a new agent, creating new work for you existing series, and all the work it takes to indie-pub. Come back and visit again!
OMG - I totally missed the part about the Hallmark M&M contract. Be sure to get word to us about when that will happen. So exciting! HUGE Congrats!
Hi, Sarah Raplee and Deb N.! Thank you both for your cheers on my Hallmark contract. Just to clarify, it's a publishing contract, not a contract for one of their shows. :) But I love this project a lot. I'm very excited to get it "out there." LOL! Wishing you both all the very best!
I'm also catching up on older posts. Thank you so much for letting us all know what has happened in your career. Congrats on both fronts--the Indie career and taking control of your backlist, as well as the new contract with Hallmark Publishing.
I often speak with authors who have only been trad published and worry about the Indie side of things. I always give the same advice. "What do you have to lose?" Any new publisher is unlikely to pick up your backlist. You might as well exploit it. In learning how things work from the publisher's side, you will be even more prepared and savvy next time a contract comes along.
It looks like you are proof of that, Patricia. Again, huge congrats!
Maggie Lynch, thank you so much for your kind words and for your cheers. Both are so greatly appreciated. And I agree with you 100 percent about taking a chance on indie publishing. I was one of those hesitant and reluctant traditionally published authors, but you're right. If an author has a story to tell but without a publisher to take the chance on the story with her, what does she have to lose? Independent publishing is providing me with a whole new perspective on my career. I feel as though for the first time, I can see the entire picture.
Very best wishes to you for great happiness, health and success.
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