Pamela Fagan Hutchins writes award-winning mysterious women’s fiction and relationship humor books, and holds nothing back. She is known for “having it all” which really means she has a little too much of everything, but loves it: writer, mediocre endurance athlete (triathlon, marathons), wife, mom of an ADHD & Asperger’s son, five kids/step-kids, business owner, recovering employment attorney and human resources executive, investigator, consultant, and musician. Pamela lives with her husband Eric and two high school-aged kids, plus 200 pounds of pets in Houston. Their hearts are still in St. Croix, USVI, along with those of their three oldest offspring.
Her latest book is the mystery/women’s fiction, Saving Grace.
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Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Pamela! Can you tell us where you are from?
I live in Houston now, but prior to that, I spent nearly ten years on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Q: How did you come up with your title?
Saving Grace got its name from the jumbie house in the book. Her name is Annalise. I named her after my own rainforest jumbie house in St. Croix, Annaly. Both Annalise and Annaly mean “grace.”
Q: They say you can judge a book by its cover. Can you tell us a little about your cover and who designed it?
I love the cover of Saving Grace! The cover artist was Heidi Dorey, and I can’t wait to show the world her cover of the next book in the series, Leaving Annalise. We talked through conceptual ideas with Heidi, and she pulled together fifteen mock covers. We knew immediately that the picture of the red-haired woman jumping off a cliff was the right choice, and we loved that her face is hidden.
Q: Can you tell us something about your book that would make me run out and buy it?
If you’re at all inclined to be swept away to the islands to fall in love with a rainforest jumbie house and a Texas attorney who is as much a danger to herself as the island bad guys, then you’ll want to dive headfirst with Katie Connell into Saving Grace.
Q: Are there any messages in this book that you want the reader to know about?
Thematically, I was very driven to show a woman on the edge of control, finding herself. The message I wanted to send was that no form of escape can ever take you away from yourself, and the real work is within.
And there is a hidden image in the cover. Write to me if you find it: pamela@pamelahutchins.com.
Q: What was your most favorite chapter to write and why?
I loved writing the courtroom scene in the middle of the book where Katie melts down and hears a cat mewling, only to realize it is herself and everyone is looking at her like she’s lost her mind. My own face just burned with humiliation as I wrote it.
Q: Why did you feel you had to write this book?
Some stories just find a way to get told. The story of Katie and Annalise, which will unfold over a series, has been burning inside me for nearly ten years. I had to let it out.
Q: Now, some fun questions – What deep dark secret would you like to share with us?
I own three pairs of “sleepy sheep” pajamas, two winter versions and one summer version. I buy any pair I see of them.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
The Galapagos Islands, to see the incredible diversity of unique animal life. I am an obsessive animal lover. My husband and I swear that as soon as the last of our five kids graduates high school in 2015 that we’ll lock up the house and send the kids an email that says, “The parents have left the building. Next stop Galapagos Islands.”
Q: Are you a morning person or a night person?
I write best at night, but every year I get less and less enthusiastic about all night writing sessions. Sleep deprivation is worse than a hangover. Our three daughters swam competitively throughout their lives, so we’ve done 5:00 a.m. for too many years to count. I don’t think we are capable of sleeping late as a result.
Q: Are there any members in your family who also like to write?
My Uncle Paul is working on a series of chapter books for young children that are fantastic.
Q: As a child, were you a dreamer?
Yes, I liked to play alone, often riding my horse alone or taking long walks, so that I could enjoy my fantasy world uninterrupted. I was always the lead character in my adventures, of course.
Q: Last but not least, the magic genie has granted you one wish. What would that be?
Health and happiness for my husband and our children.
Q: Thank you so much for this interview! Do you have any final words?
You are so welcome, thank YOU! And all of you, keep on writing. Never, ever stop writing.
