Dance with Patty Gammons

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at a ballroom competition? 

Taffy Torkelson is a barista by day and a firecreacker of a dancer by night. Her "faux" french partner, Francois, is a dashing, dancing dynamo.

As they gear up for this year's ballroom competition, there are some sinister steps being taken and evil elements cooking up a damaging disaster for our dancing duo. Throw in some vile villians, crazy characters, conceited contenders, love and larceny, along with a story of redemption and restoration; all the ingredients needed for a creative and competitive caper. 

Caution: Hazards on the Hardwood could be dangerous to your funny bone! 

Introducing Patty Gammons

Patty grew up in Ventura, California and started writing poetry at eight years old. Writing was

genetic, starting with her great-grandfather, a clerk for an Ojai, California church. Her great uncle was the editor of the Santa Barbara newspaper for many years, and her grandmother worked in the printing business. Her mother had a journalism degree and Patty followed with her own brand of word-whirling. 

The gift surfaced while working in the airlines business in the 90s and continued with online newsletters and magazines.  Patty has written for a fifty-five and over newspaper, writing several articles for local newspapers, The Northwest Times and The Texas Blaze. 

She counts herself fortunate to edit several authors’ manuscripts and has made numerous writers’ acquaintances.  Currently, she's working on book two of this series, “Hazards on the High Road.”

Patty is the mother of four grown children and grandmother to one special granddaughter.

There are several other books waiting in this writer’s portfolio – they are on hold and will be revisited after this series is complete.

CLOVER: How often to you get lost in a story?

PATTY: Frequently if the truth be told.  There are some books that I will read over and over again.

CLOVER: Your book is centered around ballroom dancing. Is that something you have taken part in?

PATTY: I have taken part in one type of dance or another for most of my life.  I participated in a cotillion at the age of thirteen and like a tractor beam it drew me in and I’ve been dancing ever since.  I met my late husband at a dance studio and he became my instructor and then…we married and the “rest as they say is history.”

CLOVER: I heard you were able to connect with some ballroom legends. How did that come about?

PATTY: Social networking has been instrumental in connecting with people in the ballroom field.

CLOVER: Do you watch Dancing with the Stars?

PATTY: Yes, from the first season. Also, “So You Think You Can Dance.”

CLOVER: Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?

PATTY: The 1940s is my favorite era. I was born in the 40s and

have many photos of my mom in her fashionable clothes.  The Big Bands were terrific. I love that type of music.

  

CLOVER:  That sounds like so much fun. What do you do to unwind and relax? Well, besides dancing.

PATTY: Reading and visiting with friends at the local Starbucks.

CLOVER: I should have guessed that. Starbucks plays prominently in your book.

CLOVER’S GOTTA ASK:  What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

PATTY’S GOTTA ANSWER:   I was able to reinvent myself after several life-changing events happened. I always loved writing and the publishing of my first book is a “dream come true.”

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Patty is offering a copy of Hazards on the Hardwood to one lucky commenter.

Note: Please leave an email address for notification. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

And the winner is: Bn100! Congratulations. Patty will be getting in touch with you soon. 

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