David Patneaude

I first heard of David Patneaude years ago, after my son, who was in elementary school at the time, read one of his books, “Haunting at Home Plate” (Albert Whitman, 2000).

My son couldn’t stop talking about the story and he continued to enthuse about it weeks after he had finished it.

I finally decided to read it myself, curious to learn what it was about the book that had made such an impression on him.

It didn’t take long before I, too, was engrossed in the story and singing its praises. I realized that this was one writer who knew how to hook the reader’s interest and to keep it at a heightened level until the last page.

Both my son and I went on to read other books by Patneaude and each action-driven story was equally as engrossing and as much of a page-turner as the first one. We had high expectations for his work and never once were we disappointed.

Somewhere along the way, I learned that this talented author resided in Woodinville, which made my discovery of him even more special. I recently seized the opportunity to contact him after hearing of his latest release, “A Piece of the Sky” (A. Whitman, 2007).

In my communications with Patneaude, he told me that he has been writing, at least semi-seriously, for the past 20 years.

A love of reading and books were his inspiration to take pen in hand and become an author.

Book jacket courtsy of David Patneaude
Patneaude calls his latest book, “A Piece of the Sky,” a mixture of suspense, adventure and mystery.

His first magazine short story was published in 1988 in a periodical called “Creative Classroom” and his first book, “Someone Was Watching” (A. Whitman, 1999), was published in 1993.

Since then, he has written seven other novels and one collection of short stories. Thus far, all of his published work has been aimed at kids and he admits that he feels he has definitely found his comfort zone with this age group.

“I don’t know exactly how I decided to write for youngsters,” says Patneaude. “I think I had a story to tell and the characters just happened to be young ones. But I’ve found that kids are a wonderful audience.

“Some are really excited about reading, others have to be convinced, but they’re all honest about their opinions. I get some intuitive and hilarious letters and e-mails from kids, which almost makes the whole thing worthwhile all by itself.”

Patneaude disciplines himself to write almost everyday and views it as a “positive addiction.”

He works from an outline of scenes that he sketches out ahead of time, likening it to a skeleton before the flesh gets put on. But he admits that he is not tied to this structure completely and that he allows himself much room to maneuver around it.

For Patneaude, the writing part, actually getting through the first draft of a story, is probably the most rewarding aspect of the process. He also enjoys making revisions to hone the piece and get it to where he feels fully satisfied with the results.

Along the way, he seeks out feedback from a variety of sources, including editors, his critique group of local writers who meet monthly and also his wife, Judy Patneaude, Leota Junior High’s librarian.

He adds, “She likes to take a look at what I’m doing sometime during the process and I value her feedback.”

When a book is finally published, the culmination of often years of hard work, it is always very thrilling to Patneaude. After that, he waits for the response and reaction.

“I really take pleasure in hearing from readers,” adds Patneaude, “and finding out that the book gave them enjoyment and maybe even helped them look at their own lives a little differently. I mostly want them to have fun and remember what they’ve read, at least for awhile. I do get some great letters from kids, many of them telling me how much they love my books, but some not shy about offering ideas and critique. They make me smile and also take some mental notes.”

Patneaude is a fan of several well-known authors for children, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, M.T. Anderson and Markus Zusak, as well as local writer and friend, Kirby Larson, whose book “Hattie Big Sky” just won the Newbery Honor.

On the adult side, he’s always been impressed with Kurt Vonnegut’s work. “He’s a curmudgeon with a heart,” comments Patneaude about Vonnegut. “And he has a wild imagination, wonderful technique and a distinctive voice. I also enjoy Barbara Kingsolver’s writing, especially ‘The Poisonwood Bible.’ And Anna Quindlen has a terrific knack for turning clear thinking into clear writing and forcing the reader to think.”

Patneaude calls his latest book, “A Piece of the Sky,” a mixture of suspense, adventure and mystery, aimed at middle-grade to young adult readers.

The story is set on the southern Oregon coast, both in modern times and in the mid-nineteenth century. It’s based on a legendary meteorite discovered and subsequently lost by an explorer who traveled to the Oregon Territory in the 1850s.

Patneaude first heard about the legend from a co-worker at his former or what he calls his “real” job (supervisor at a life insurance company). He says that the story itself came from asking that famous question, “What if?” But first, he delved into the research process, which involved traveling to and exploring the area in and around Port Orford, Ore., where the action of his story takes place. He also made an in-depth study of meteorites.

The writing part came later. “I had to decide on a story and a way to tell it,” explains Patneaude. “I worked on it off and on for probably six or seven years, along with four other books that were published in the meantime. You might guess it’s gone through many revisions and you’d be right.

“But it’s always important to figure out how to revise to get the best story possible, which then hopefully leads to finding a publisher interested in publishing it.”

Although “A Piece of the Sky” is similar to Patneaude’s other books in that it has the element of mystery and suspense, it is different in that it includes a historical perspective.

“With the exception of ‘Thin Wood Walls’ (Houghton Mifflin, 2004), which was about a Japanese American boy whose family was interned during the war, and a chapter in ‘Haunting at Home Plate,’ my books have been all set in modern times,” comments Patneaude. “Adding a historical element really appeals to me. But the challenge with history is to not hit kids over the head with it. Getting them to connect with it on their level is the key.”

What Patneaude likes most about his new book, though, is the “object-from-outer-space” aspect of it, which has always intrigued him, both in fictional stories and in real life.

In “A Piece of the Sky,” he combines both these elements.

So, what’s up next for this prolific author? He explains that he has six projects in various stages of development, ranging from a picture book manuscript to several fairly edgy young adult stories. But as he is slightly superstitious, Patneaude doesn’t want to talk about them too much.

He says, “I just keep my fingers crossed and write at the same time – a trick that takes practice.”