Did you know authors get excited about new books written by other authors? Especially new, up-and-coming authors?

We do! Which is why I am so excited to introduce you to — that is if you don’t already know her — Patricia Raybon!

I’m very blessed to have help seeking new authors writing great books. In this particular case, the folks of Tyndale House Publishing send me a list of upcoming releases. Soooo many great books, but I have to choose a limited number because I need to read them and review them, then feature them on my YouTube series — TOP PICKS and A2A and this A2A blog.

What sets a book and/or author apart from a list of wonderful offerings? For me, if I’m not familiar with the author, I begin with the title. When I came across Patricia’s title, Double the Lies, I was intrigued. Next I consider the cover. Oh, yay! I ordered the book!

And once I read Double the Lies, I was hooked on Patricia Raybon’s writing style and fascinating and exciting story.

So, who is Patricia?

Patricia Raybon is an award-winning Colorado author, essayist, and novelist who writes top-rated books at the daring intersection of faith and race. Her first fiction—a historical detective series set in Colorado’s 1920s Klan era—was launched with All That Is Secret: An Annalee Spain Mystery, selected as a Parade magazine fall 2021 “Mysteries We Love” and picked by NBA all-star and MVP Stephen Curry as the March 2022 choice for his Literati Book Club. AND won a Christy for First Novel!

A former journalism faculty member at the University of Colorado Boulder, Patricia’s notable books include two memoirs: My First White Friend and I Told the Mountain to Move: Learning to Pray So Things Change. Patricia is a regular contributor to Our Daily Bread Ministries and teaches at writing conferences nationwide. She and her husband, Dan, a retired educator, have two grown daughters, one son-in-law, five grandchildren, and a kind grand dog Max.

Impressed? I sure am! But, let’s learn more about Patricia and her latest release, Double the Lies.

After the critical and popular success of your first novel, All That Is Secret, how did you approach writing Double the Lies?

I dreamed, plotted, and wrote with fear and excitement. I’d been warned that book two of a series tests most authors. First, fans of book one have certain expectations. They’ve fallen for the characters and want to see more of them in a similar situation. A braver approach, I learned, is to drop characters into a brand new story—something readers don’t see coming. So I allowed a surprising new predicament—one I didn’t see coming either. Fiction allows these detours. As I surrendered to those swerves and curves, I found myself enjoying writing book two, and I pray Annalee Spain fans enjoy reading it.

A2A Insights, Writers! Did you catch those writing tips in the previous paragraph? Patricia has given some practical approaches to writing that second book in a series.

What themes do you explore in Double the Lies?

The taut tension between truth vs. lies is the core theme. Annalee battles people who lie, both in high and low places, but comes to realize how lying—especially to herself—may be her weakness, too. She’d come to think that Jack, the young pastor, was the one with the lying problem in book two—or even on a larger scale, that the Klan and its lies represented falsehood in her world.

As the story unfolds, however, she has to confront her own ability to lie when it’s convenient—but don’t we all? The story invites all of us to examine that tendency in ourselves.

Finding Truth

In these times, when truth is often a pastiche of revisionist untruths—tainted with conspiracy theories or bans against studying the full truth of human history—Double the Lies dares to argue that truth matters, especially if we’re willing to unearth it and talk about it.

In that way, the truth of racial injustice also continues to operate as a real-life theme in the Annalee Spain Mysteries. With Double the Lies, one of the characters is a wealthy Jewish banker whose family story is heavily impacted by the anti-Semitism they encountered going back generations. That religious hate rears its head again as the banker, Simon Wallace, finds himself a target of Klan-led efforts to thwart his plan to help the city of Denver finance a new municipal airport. When Wallace concocts a scheme to outfox the Klan, he and his family pay a high price, as Annalee’s sleuthing finally reveals.

What can readers learn from your protagonist, Annalee Spain, in Double the Lies?

I didn’t see it at first, but Annalee Spain invites readers, through her fictional journey, to personally meet a young woman of color. To engage with her life story, understand her lived reality as a target in a prejudiced world, and surrender to cheering for her—both to solve mysteries and to discover an affirming path in her life.

Meeting new friends at Barnes and Noble

Long overdue is all I can say. Thank you for taking on the role of a pioneer in this genre.

I’ve been buoyed during book club discussions to hear white readers identify with a young Black female protagonist and hear them rooting for her. Thus, for all women of color fighting to stand and thrive, these readers also bravely explore racism, sometimes even their own. Fiction is amazing like that. It lets us look safely at hard, scary things.

That’s what I love about fiction, too. It’s a safe place to explore the difficult issues like hidden racism, spousal abuse, child abuse, sex trafficking, and the sex industry. We give life to characters who work through these issues and discover GOD’s path for them. Conviction. Forgiveness. Illumination. Grace. Mercy. Salvation.

What are you working on now?

I’m nearing the finish line on book 3 of the Annalee Spain Mystery series. It’s another exciting murder mystery filled with filled with brave sleuthing, romantic suspense, and spiritual searching. Onward, Annalee! Hold on for the ride!

We can’t wait, Patricia!

The February A2A Giveaway!

Yes! Thanks to Tyndale House Publishing, this month’s giveaway is a copy of Patricia’s latest in the Annalee Spain series, Double the Lies! Thank you, Tyndale House!

Isn’t this exciting! And you could be the WINNER! How? Well, by entering! Not just once, but up to SIX times!* Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to this newsletter and receive a free gift from me — and an extra entry.

NOTE: WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS INCREDIBLE GIVEAWAY?*

Check out my YouTubeA2A interview with Patricia. Because, in the video interview she will read an excerpt of Double the Lies, answer different fun questions! And writers: Patricia gives some incredibly helpful writing tips! By Liking and Commenting on the video episode, you will have one more entry.* Sharing the video, another entry.* Subscribe, and you have TWO entries for a chance to win.* 

The Deadline is February 9th!

Author Highlight with Terri & Patricia

That means, my friends, if you comment and subscribe -– or are already a subscriber -– to my blog, then watch the video and LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on the VIDEO, then Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, your name will be entered SIX TIMES!*

If you already have a copy of Double the Lies, be sure to let you friends and family know so that they can enter!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Patricia— I sure did!

Next month’s Author Highlight is the award-winning and bestselling author Stephanie Landsem.

Thanks for stopping by! God bless and KEEP READING!

*So sorry, entries from the contiguous US only.