An Interview with Author

Patti Hornstra

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Tell us a little about yourself? 

I’ve been married to an amazing man—my best friend—since 1987, and we have four adult children.  We also have an adorable white fluff ball named Caly who is spoiled rotten.  Becoming an author has been my dream since childhood! 

How would you describe the story you tell in Unholy Scandal?

Unholy Scandal is the story of a Catholic Priest who is accused of abuse that was alleged to have happened over twenty years in the past. The story follows Father Paul Freemont’s journey as he attempts to prove his innocence.  It is a work of fiction, based on a true story.  

Has this been published? If yes, who is the publisher, what is the publication date, and why did you choose this publishing path? In what formats will Unholy Scandal be made available?

Publication date is March 1, 2022.  It will publish under Team Eleven Publishing, which is my private imprint—meaning it is essentially self-published.  I chose this path to publication in order to bring my work to market sooner and to maintain control over marketing, distribution, etc.   It’s actually available for pre-order as I write this, in ebook and print, on Amazon.  I may have an audiobook produced at some point.  

What prompted/inspired you to write this book? Why did you want to write it now? What has the publication meant for you? 

That’s a big question!  Unholy Scandal is fiction, but the main character is based on a dear friend. He asked me many years ago to write his story,

but we both decided that his situation should be the basis of the story, but that the story itself should be fictionalized.  The main character reminds me so much of him, as I intended. My friend was a priest and was accused of abuse, that part is true. Details beyond that are fiction.  I’ve worked on this book off and on for sixteen years, so there is so much closure for me in its publication.  It was a hard book to write, it was very emotional.  Publishing this is a way of honoring his memory. Although it’s a work of fiction it draws attention to the pain and complexity of this type of situation, especially when the accused person maintains innocence throughout.  

What do you hope readers take away from your story? Anything you want to tell your audience?  

Yes!  I hope that you’ll read it, and when you do I hope that you’ll smile sometimes and shake your head in frustration at other times. I hope that, in some small way, you’ll feel a sense of enlightenment after you’ve finished reading it.

What were your greatest challenges in writing this book? Satisfactions?

The biggest challenge was writing the ending.  I really struggled with that.  Being a work of fiction, I had the option to end it any way I chose, and that was a real challenge for me.  When it was completely finished, I was very pleased with the ending; it’s probably one of my favorite parts of the book! 

Which authors inspire you? 

Martha Beck. She wrote my favorite book of all time, Expecting Adam. 

Other works you have published? What are you working on next? 

My first book, When He Was Ann: A Mom’s Journey Into the Transgender World, which was published in 2020. It’s a memoir, a two-year snapshot of my life as a mom who found out that her fourth child is transgender.  This was also a pretty emotional book to write; it’s very raw, no B.S.  

Next up will be a children’s series, Totally Tessa, which I’ve already started. It’s for young readers, six to eight years old.  After that I’ll write some non-fiction eBooks (based on my decades as a real estate broker) to guide agents and consumers through the challenges of the real estate market.     

Biography:

Patti Hornstra is a native of Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with degrees in Marketing and Business Education.  She married the love of her life, Curtis, in 1987 and together they have raised four children.  The have adjusted nicely to life as empty nesters and eagerly await life’s next great adventure.  Patti is the author of Unholy Scandal and When He Was Anna: A Mom’s Journey Into the Transgender World.  Follow her at www.authorpattihornstra.com

Contact links for you? www.authorpattihornstra.com 

Facebook & Instagram @authorpattihornstra

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