I’m so excited to introduce you to a fellow Scrivenings Press author, Mary Pat Johns.
Mary Pat lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.
Christina: What is the title of your book?
Mary Pat: Waitin’ On Paige
Christina: When was it released?
Mary Pat: It’s new to the market, released on July 8th, 2025.
Christina: That’s great! Is it a series?
Mary Pat: Waitin’ On Paige can be read as a standalone, but it’s also the last book of my Romance in Valiant series.
Christina: Can you share your book blurb?
Mary Pat:
Tavo Morales has returned to Valiant, Texas, to stir the embers of a relationship with the woman he has never stopped loving, but hidden reefs from his past threaten to destroy his future.
Paige Munoz wants her new event planning business to be a success and won’t let anything stand in her way. But the path she’s on to make her dreams come true proves dangerous.
Is the love Tavo and Paige once shared strong enough to survive their secrets?
Christina: I love the name Paige for an FMC. What inspired you to write this book?
Mary Pat: I wanted to finish the series, and Tavo and Paige’s story was one that needed writing. They needed a second chance for a happy ending, though they had a tough time getting there.
Christina: What’s your favorite part of your writing process?
Mary Pat: I find first drafts daunting. My favorite part is editing plot holes and layering in emotion-evoking scenes.
Christina: I find first drafts scary, too! Can you share any challenges you faced during the research or writing process?
Mary Pat: It takes a while to get to know my characters. They can get annoyingly tight-lipped, and when they do share a tidbit, it never follows the story sequence. They also hide things. I have to dig deep to discover why they act/react in certain ways. Once I do, it requires more revising/editing.
Christina: If you could give one piece of advice to budding creatives, what would it be?
Mary Pat: You must choose a genre for writing and marketing purposes. Then, you need to learn and understand reader expectations for that genre. It saves a lot of time.
Christina: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Mary Pat: First of all, I want them to enjoy a lighthearted read that brings many delightful moments. And while we don’t live in a perfect world, I want them to reflect back on whatever the faith message is and think, yeah, that’s the way it should be.
Christina: I love that. Can you name something quirky in your workspace? And give a little backstory about said item?
Mary Pat: I keep a picture handy with the word, “Be Grateful.” 
Whenever I want to fuss about something, it’s a good reminder that, at long last, God has given me my heart’s desire–the ability to write full-time. There’s also a fresh handkerchief handy because when I write some scenes, they make me cry.
Christina: That’s awesome. It is such a blessing to share stories with the world.
What book are you reading right now?
Mary Pat: Currently, I’m reading Just Another Home by Kimberly Banet. She’s a new author to me, and I’m loving her writing style. So smooth.
Christina: If you could have dinner with any author, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Mary Pat: I’d love to have dinner with Lynn Blackburn. She’s my favorite romantic suspense writer because she gets the balance right between romance and suspense.
Christina: What upcoming writing projects are you working on?
Mary Pat: I’m revising and editing a Christmas novella for part of a collection that will release in 2026. It’s my first Christmas story, and it’s been fun to write. I’m also prepping for a new series. The working title is Gulf Coast Divers, and I’m making the jump from contemporary romance to romantic suspense. Lots of research, but I’m looking forward to it.
Christina: That sounds fun! Now, because every writer gets asked this, are you a Plotter or Pantser?
Mary Pat: I’m a little of both but growing more pantser with each book I write.
Christina: What are you looking forward to over the next few months?
Mary Pat: I’m attending a couple of writer conferences. ACFW is in September and ScrivCon in November. Seeing my writer friends and learning more about the industry always recharges my creative battery.
Christina: Thank you so much Mary Pat for taking the time to chat with me! It was fun!
To connect with Mary Pat and learn more about her books, please check out these links!
Amazon/Romance in Valiant series https://bit.ly/4hhJvLj
Waitin’ On Paige Amazon link: https://scrivenings.link/waitinonpaige
FB link: https://www.facebook.com/marypatjohnsauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marypatjohnsauthor/
Website: https://www.marypatjohns.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-pat-johns
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marypatjohnspin/_saved/
Newsletter signup and Longin’ for Valiant download: https://prnt.sc/P_ZMgoPwSSYd
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43636180.Mary_Pat_Johns