Pat Bertram
Pat Bertram is a native of Colorado and a lifelong resident. When the traditional publishers stopped publishing her favorite type of book — character and story driven novels that can’t easily be slotted into a genre — she decided to write her own. Daughter Am I is Bertram’s third novel to be published by Second Wind Publishing, LLC. Also available are More Deaths Than One and A Spark of Heavenly Fire.
Daughter Am I: When twenty-five-year-old Mary Stuart learns she inherited a farm from her recently murdered grandparents-grandparents her father claimed had died before she was born-she becomes obsessed with finding out who they were and why someone wanted them dead. Along the way she accumulates a crew of feisty octogenarians-former gangsters and friends of her grandfather. She meets and falls in love Tim Olson, whose grandfather shared a deadly secret with her great-grandfather. Now Mary and Tim need to stay one step ahead of the killer who is desperate to dig up that secret.
More Deaths Than One: Bob Stark returns to Denver after 18 years in Southeast Asia to discover that the mother he buried before he left is dead again. He attends her new funeral and sees . . . himself. Is his other self a hoaxer, or is something more sinister going on? And why are two men who appear to be government agents hunting for him? With the help of Kerry Casillas, a baffling young woman Bob meets in a coffee shop, he uncovers the unimaginable truth.
A Spark of Heavenly Fire: In quarantined Colorado, where hundreds of thousands of people are dying from an unstoppable disease called the red death, insomniac Kate Cummings struggles to find the courage to live and to love. Investigative reporter Greg Pullman, is determined to discover who unleashed the deadly organism and why they did it, until the cost — Kate’s life — becomes more than he can pay.
Bertram’s publisher says: “I was told by some other small publishers with whom I had done research that I was going to get mountains of unacceptable crap for every worthy thing I received. So when I got Pat’s manuscript for A Spark of Heavenly Fire, which was like the first submission to Second Wind, I thought, ‘OMG, is this possible?!’ I knew in the first 20 pages that she was the real thing.”
Reviews
“I love the story of More Deaths Than One. Pat Bertram blends mystery/suspense with history very well. Her characters are strong, and I love the slow reveal of who Bob really was/is. The hints and clues Bertram drops come together for me with the jungle nightmares.The descriptions of the places Bob and Kerry visit are exquistely done; the places sound real. I enjoyed this story very much.” Rachael Wollet, freelance editor.
“Wow. I read A Spark of Heavenly Fire twice. The first time for the story, the second for editing. Though I’m not sure I caught much because I got so engrossed in the story…even the second time through. Bertram’s characters are heartbreaking and real. I love Kate. Absolutely love her. The description of everything seems spot on. Sounds much like New Orleans post-Katrina. Bertram clearly did her research on this one. Fabulous.” Rachael Wollet, freelance editor.
“Full of intriguing dialogue and interesting characters one will not soon forget, “A Spark of Heavenly Fire” is a truly satisfying read I highly recommend. Captivating visuals and an original theme kept me turning the pages at a rapid rate. I look forward to more work from this gifted writer.” Deborah Ledford, author
“Pat Bertram, author of More Deaths Than One and a Spark of Heavenly Fire, is one of the best of the new crop of writers. Pat’s work is insightful, superbly crafted, and completely involving. I would unhesitatingly recommend her books to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction of the highest order.” Suzanne Francis, author of the Song of the Arkafina series from Mushroom Ebooks.
“While we are intrigued and caught up in the absurd story of a man who goes to the second funeral of his mother (long dead) and sees himself (living a life he doesn’t realize he’s lived) and his brother (with a trophy wife young enough to be his daughter), the real clues Bertram leaves us as to what’s going on are to be found in Bob’s perpetual headache, his troubled/troubling art, his mysterious reappearance in his hometown, and the questions asked by the friendly, persistent waitress. Meantime, I enjoy the dialogue, with unique phrasings such as “son of rabid dog”. Denver is an unusual setting that must figure into the story in multiple ways. I enjoyed the rock solid POV, as well as the nice, just-slightly-more-than-minimal descriptions (like the way Bob concealed himself in the lilac bushes or the description of the young couple in the diner). Above all I appreciate the way Bertram builds mystery on several levels into the story. Good job.” Lazarus Barnhill, author
