TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Party To Celebrate Author's 1st Novel

Photo from Gil Gott

The cover of "Stealing Dreams," a novel by Plant City resident Betty J. Patton.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

A party is scheduled tonight to mark the publication of "Stealing Dreams," a novel by Plant City resident Betty J. Patton.

The publication party, which is open to the public, will be from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at Joey's Italian Restaurant, 110 E. Reynolds St., in downtown Plant City, and will feature book signings by the author, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. There also will be a special musical rendition of a poem central to the novel's theme.

Published by AuthorHouse and available on Amazon.com, the book will be available at a discounted price at the party, said Gil Gott, the author's editor, publicist and husband.

Gott describes "Stealing Dreams" as a romance novel with a twist, in that it depicts the long-term effects child abuse can have on otherwise normal adult loving interpersonal relationships. Protagonists Jodi Geoffrey and Michael Chandler have diverse personal and professional backgrounds and struggle with the adversity that haunts their loving relationship.

Using a photograph he took at Cade's Cove in Tennessee, David Patton designed the cover of the 290-page first novel by his mother. The "Stealing Dreams" poem was made into a musical composition, performed and recorded by local developer Ed Verner on acoustical guitar.

Betty J. Patton studied writing at Hillsborough Community College; has worked for South Florida Baptist Hospital, Hillsboro State Bank and Sun Bank; has volunteered for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce; and is a Plant City Photo Archives volunteer in charge of digital imaging.

She was selected as one of the Eckerd 100 Women in 1998 and honored by the Gulf Ridge Council Girl Scouts as one of the women of accomplishment in 1999.

Her memberships include the Plant City Woman's Club, Romance Writers of America, the Tampa Area Romance Writers Association, the American Association for State and Local History and the Florida Association of Museums.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT