By definition, a memoir demands a certain degree of introspection and self-disclosure to engage a reader fully. The narrator must make herself known and allow her self-awareness to inform the events she describes. Where to start is often a chilling, if not paralyzing, first question. Local author Patricia L. Brooks, a memoirist with three memoirs to her credit, has spent years perfecting her craft and guiding others in organizing their maze of memories into captivating and compelling personal stories.
Patricia’s newest book, Write the Memoir You’re Afraid to Write, is a practical guide for aspiring writers. It delves deep into tried-and-true methods, providing the tools to draft your compelling personal stories. Her nonfiction content takes you down the path of analysis and reflection, opening the window to a structured, well-organized design that can easily be followed. Patricia also shares excerpts from her experiences that transformed her life, showing that your story emerges as a powerful, page-turning piece of work with proper guidance. Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in St. Ignace, provided Patricia the magic in the changing seasons that would foreshadow her changing life paths. Patricia remembers her childhood home was always full of books. Her parents instilled in their daughters a love of knowledge, personal creativity, and generosity with others. Patricia loved the writing process throughout her life, forming the foundations for her later successful career as an author and publisher.
Patricia recalls one of the more influential individuals in her early school years was Mrs. Ellis, her drama and literature teacher in high school. She encouraged Patricia to expand her worldview and to remain open to new creative experiences. This encouragement would set Patricia off on one of her first ventures in writing at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where she wrote for the college newspaper. In 1977, Patricia's writing talents evolved into an opportunity to write for the Women's Council of Realtors local and national newsletter. She then completed a B.A. in Business Management and an MAOM in Organizational Management. Patricia is now involved in her third career. She says, "I am pivoting all that business expertise into selling books, marketing our publishing consulting business, and nurturing my writer's club, Scottsdale Society of Women Writers."
Patricia's workshops are not just about learning the writing craft but also about finding the courage to share your story. In Patricia's case, she describes her move to Arizona as traumatic. However, it would be the rebirth of her professional life. By 1993, she started her own seminar business, facilitating workshops for small businesses. She expanded her expertise into part-time teaching with Paradise Valley Community College and Arizona State University. As 2005 arrived, Patricia said "hello" to focus on her personal writing career. Along with marrying her third husband, Earl, with whom she founded Brooks Goldmann Publishing, LLC, she founded the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers and launched her first book, Gifts of Sisterhood.
Today, Patricia balances all endeavors from her home office as she connects with her vast network of writers, offering a unique approach that combines her business expertise with her passion for writing. One of Patricia’s many areas of focus is advocating for public awareness of domestic violence, a subject she addresses from personal experience in her book Three Husbands and a Thousand Boyfriends (2016). Her book, Sick as My Secrets (2018), delves into the subject of her own journey from alcoholism to recovery and asks the question, “How can this happen to a not-so-ordinary young woman with such a bright future?” Patricia's personal experiences have deeply influenced her writing, adding a layer of authenticity and resonance to her work.
Currently, Patricia turns to her ‘attitude of gratitude’ in reaching out to bring others forward in authoring their unique life stories. Her newest release, Write the Memoir You’re Afraid to Write, includes easy-to-implement activities at the end of each chapter to help you capture the essence of your content. She guides you through deeper regions of your heart and soul, enabling you to grasp the depth and feeling of your authentic story. Patricia’s unorthodox way of foraging into memories leads you through instructions, examples, and tips essential to birth an exceptional memoir and to pave the road to successful publication and loyal readership. Author Patricia L. Brooks speaks on love addiction, domestic violence, post-traumatic stress, recovery, and spirituality. She also facilitates workshops for Arizona State University’s Piper Writing Center and various local libraries on writing, publishing, and marketing books. For information on joining her workshops, Scottsdale Society of Women Writers, purchasing books, and her highly anticipated upcoming book launch, visit Patricia via her email or website.
Email: patricia@plbrooks.com
Website: www.brooksgoldmannpublishing.com
