Page 56 - Reader's HouseMagazine - Issue 62

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Patricia D’Arcy Laughlin is a visionary storyteller whose bold narratives, rich characters, and global insight elevate modern romantic fiction beautifully.
Interview Highlights
• Multicultural upbringing deeply shapes her story- telling
• Strong, indepen- dent female pro- tagonist challenges stereotypes
• Artistic back- ground enhances visual storytelling
• Settings span continents—from the Caribbean to the Alps
• Emphasises life experience as key to compelling sto- rytelling
• Aims to adapt her series for the screen
not only a passionate creator, but a woman of resilience, insight, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of art and literature.
You were born in Trinidad and educated in the UK and the United States. How have these diverse cultural experiences influenced the themes and settings in your Sacrifices and Kingdoms series?
What originally inspired you to write Sacrifices for Kingdoms, and how did the idea for Elizabeth and Prince Michael first come to life?
I wanted to write a Contemporary Romance with historical influences between passionate lovers. My series is multi-genre, just like life. Living from birth with royalty influences, it was natural for my male protagonist to be a Prince, however, he had to be emotionally accessible, generally relatable, and definitely expressive of his passions, whether it be cli- mate change, duties, or the woman he desires.
Your novels explore complex emotional relationships and moral dilemmas. How do you develop characters who feel so layered and authentic?
That was easy for me. I love people, and
it seems people get this because even new acquaintances often take me into their confi- dence about their most intimate experiences. I’m a good listener, and thankfully, I still have a good memory, so my characters naturally re- flect that nuance and multi-dimensionality. My own life has been overloaded with diverse ex- periences so I have that to draw from as well as the often unusual experiences of others.
Elizabeth is portrayed as a strong and independent woman navigating difficult choices. What message did you hope readers would take from her journey?
Having spent a good bit of my life on two British islands, Trinidad and England, then living in the United States, and world-trave- ling, I’ve been lucky to experience and learn about many cultures. I wanted my stories to not just entertain, but to enlighten readers about the diversity of cultures which are often influenced by religions all around the globe. My female protagonist, Elizabeth, like me, comes from a multicultural background, and is also well-traveled. She gives equality speeches and educates audiences about the history of religions, including the damages of patriarchal domination of the planet, which was inspired by the research from my own travels. I did
not want her to be sheltered, but open-mind- ed. She is no Cinderella. The series crosses continents and cultures, taking inspiration from some of my favorite places including the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and most European countries.
Before becoming a novelist, you were known as an award-winning artist. How has your background in visual art shaped your storytelling and creative process?
They go hand-in-hand, since I have painted a lot of international settings and people. One of my painting series was called “Faces of Places,” and featured portraits of males and/or females from certain countries with culturally significant adornments on them, representing their respective historic eras, inventions, and contributions to our collective humanity. Inventing my own medium, “Unique Stainings on Wood,” taught me patience, diligence, and perseverance, which were essential in produc- ing my stories, from researching and writing to editing, and eventually, independently publishing/marketing.
“MYSTORIESARENOTJUSTTOENTERTAIN, BUTTOENLIGHTEN 56 II Reader’s House READERSABOUTTHEDIVERSITYOFCULTURES.”
Elizabeth endures every emotion imaginable. Betrayal and disloyalty threatened to destroy her and she has to battle against the temptation to give up. In writing her character’s journey,
I wanted women readers to feel empowered to be their authentic selves, sharpen their minds, not allow themselves to be influenced by the narrow-minded judgement of others in their societies, and above all, to be strong, perse- vere, and hopefully, excel. The main dilemma Elizabeth and other characters face in the se- ries is, “We each have our own Kingdoms for which we make Sacrifices.” I hope that readers will feel emotionally freed and inspired to make changes in their thoughts, lives, and therefore, contribute to making our world a better place for all.
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