A Bookchat about Truth Be Told with Patricia Raybon

Patricia Raybon joins us for a chat about writing a story set in historical Denver, writing a Black American woman in the 1920s, and her latest release Truth Be Told. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! 

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
You're listening to the historical book show for
lovers of history and readers of inspirational fiction.
Join your host, Kylie And Darcy, for author
interviews, a pinch of the past and special
book worm reviews.
Hi. This is Kylie Wood. And Darcy Fran,
Today, Kylie is unable to join us as
she is not feeling well, but I have

(00:27):
Patricia Ra with me back on the show,
and we're super excited to discuss her new
book.
Christy award winner Patricia Raven was rear near
Denver Colorado under Bi Sky Bright sunshine and
the humbling mystery of Christ.
A newspaper journalist who turned to historical fiction,
she offers devotion writing for our daily bread

(00:48):
and writes the Anna Spain mystery series set
in Colorado dangerous 19 twenties clan era. Patricia
Raven, welcome back to the historical book where
show. Thank you. Was so excited when I
saw your invitation, I'm delighted to be here.
Yeah. We had you on the show in
20 21 to promote book 1 in the
Anna Spain mystery series, which was all that

(01:10):
is secret. Yeah. And then again, it last
year to
feature double the lies. And so today, we'll
be chatting about book 3 Right. In this
historical mystery series. Thanks for having me. I'm
I'm really excited.
Yeah I you were raised near Denver and
now right story set there, Albeit at the
Denver of a hundred years ago in your
stories. Why would you say is your favorite

(01:32):
thing about the city?
The weather.
And I say that because people have the
impression that we're snow bound
and it's cold and the weather's awful and
just the worst thing ever. But
dimmer in the high plains and it's...
Actually very moderate
climate,
people

(01:52):
play golf and
tennis and people are outside all the time.
All year won't, when there is a blizzard
and we get them, then we're on the
news. And so I I think people who
don't live here think, oh, it's like that
all the time,
I it Darcy because
it's us
may sound like a small thing, but it's

(02:12):
1 of those things that reflects
our misunderstanding about a lot of things that
we may not be familiar with or no.
And and so that impression that people have
about something like weather.
Sadly
can leave people or leave all of us.
I was the wrong impression about a place
or about a people. And so I... Somebody

(02:34):
asked me 1 time, I was talking about
Colorado whether and he said, what difference doesn't
it make, You know, it's it's weather.
But the difference is
because
of the modern climate, you know, your outdoors
a lot.
And there's something about that.
We run face walk out of my house,
you know, you breathe deeper, you

(02:57):
sort of look up at this guy hear
the birds,
it's just closer
to a god's world and god's creation and
and even to 1 another and,
after we record today,
ask my husband and, you know, let's come
for walk. And so there's something about being
able to do that all the time.

(03:17):
And,
appreciating how it operates just 1 other small
thing about that. That's my favorite thing about
the city. I love the
atmosphere
of it in terms of the weather.
Just that chance to get outside because, like
you say, in in a lot of ways,
you know, got god did create us to
live outside
so... Yeah. To live outdoors, so to have

(03:40):
that environment that makes it so easy to...
Get out and enjoy that. Absolutely.
So with that in mind, what is your
favorite non book ish activity?
Well, I I love walking.
I... I mentioned that a second ago. I
like the ideas I get who's walking around.

(04:00):
I'll say that. But another thing when I
saw your question,
Darcy.
I
love organized.
Really relief. Yes. And that's...
I don't come to that naturally. My mother
wasn't an organizer. If you opened
to my late mother. If she opened any
kitchen cabinet or, you know, bathroom cabinet, everything's

(04:21):
just lined up side by side.
And but over the years I've learned it
really helps me manage a time so much
better.
So I really enjoy it. And
I love what I discovered when I clean
off my desk, a clean on the closet.
My neighbor across the street is a professional
organizer.
And

(04:41):
and so she
affirm that as
an activity that's
in a worthy of my interest and my
excitement.
Yeah. It's it's kind of something that is
necessary, like you say to, you know, streamline
your life and and balance time efficiency. So,
yeah. Getting to the point where you enjoy
it, you know, and just... It's it's part

(05:03):
of the game. Alright. So speak. So
I didn't say, crochet or, you know, which
is fine. I like crochet, but I do
really enjoy organ
Really enjoy organizing. See hashtag goals. We... I
gotta get there 1 of these days.
So now, you've written 3 novels in the
19 twenties which is such a fascinating time

(05:24):
period. Although, sometimes, I think it's reduced to,
like, flap dresses and extravagant. But what is
something you find interest about the 19 twenties
that most people probably don't know about. Yes.
Well you're right. A lot of people see
it as flap and speak.
And the Anna stories aren't that at all.
But the thing that I love inviting people

(05:46):
to think about is that the twenties arrived
after the end, of world war 1,
which, of course, we ended in 19 18.
And so skirts were up,
And
pear was down. And what lemon were cutting
neck... Cut their hair and we're wearing
these sleek garments of of of the the

(06:07):
time. But the other thing that I'd love
thinking about is that women was a time
when woman we're finding their voice.
You know,
prohibition had arrived,
started in 19 20 and end it didn't
end until 19 33.
And and so
anytime you're trying to
leg

(06:28):
somebody's morality. It's it just does not work.
And so at the same time,
and that... And this makes a lot of
sense in context,
The suffrage jet movement was just on fire.
Women were fighting for the rights. The nineteenth
amendment for women in the Us was finally
signed in 19 22. So women finally had

(06:51):
the right to vote. So this idea this
kinda hollow idea that the whole arrow it
was about people going to speak ease it's
missus the all these other really vital things
that were going on. Especially for women. And
so I like thinking about that as I'm
working on these novels, but also
sharing that and talking about that 1 with

(07:13):
Beloved, people when I go to talk to
The clubs and library groups, that kind of
thing. Yeah. Yeah. That is funny because I
think in my mind, yeah, I've skimmed over
the 19 twenties when it comes to, like,
for instance, how women were finding their voice
you see it in, like, Victorian novels where
they portray women who are right on the
cusp of leader ship in in a male

(07:35):
dominated field or something. And there were absolutely
pioneers in those field.
Yeah. The 19 twenties women actually had the
right to going cast their vote and suddenly,
you know, 50 percent of the population
having a say in government, which state didn't
get to you before. So, yeah. You're right.
That's a huge step, and we just... We
kinda skim over that, You know? It's, like,

(07:56):
talk about the ground breakers and then we
talk about, maybe, I know that the sixties
and and things happened there. But, yeah, there
were so much right there in 19 20.
Yes. That's a good point. Yeah. It's it's
a lot of
opportunity for your female characters to be exploring
things that, you know, their mothers and grandmothers
could only dreamed of. Exactly. And so
that context

(08:18):
really
helps us
understand and appreciate these stories a lot more.
And
it excites me when have a chance to
talk to women about, oh, what does it
mean to have a voice in a world
where you didn't before? So that, you know,
that really just makes anna Bangs character makes
sense for the time when the stories happen.

(08:40):
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, is there anything else especially interesting that
you haven't covered in other interviews that you
could share with us? Or maybe even something
God is laid on your heart that you'd
like to share with your readers?
Well, there is and part of that is
because this is only the second interview that
I've had so far about truth be told

(09:00):
this third analyst spain story, and I
was thinking this morning that I need to
in interviews say that bravely say that the
books dare to
tell the truth about some things.
Since it takes place inside the world of,
black believers,

(09:21):
and in this era. And so I'm telling
the truth in these stories about the social
culture of the day at the time.
Racially included again. But I think I mentioned
it Darcy because we're in a season now
where people don't wanna talk about that. And
so in the church, you... Even when you
hear a lot of pushback about discussing

(09:41):
black history, for example, sharing black stories,
narratives and understanding.
People
have written me... Not very nice email about
that.
And so
so I had to decide,
Darcy
if
I... As I go out. And share a
with people this third anna novel.

(10:04):
Was I going to kind of tip toe
around all of that,
and or let myself get sort of suppressed
and
feel nervous about it or just honor the
reality of truth telling in general, and that
is when we tell the truth about things
and just talk about things,
people get liberated.

(10:25):
And so
I decided.
Yeah. I I just can't run behind
a wall and being afraid to say, yeah,
this
This is what's happening in my world at
the time of my character. And and what
does it mean for her And what does
it mean for us today? To spend some
time with her and look at with how

(10:46):
she deals are good it. Well, and I
think you hit it when you said, you
know, not be afraid because
Like, you say, even in the church, we
get afraid of saying the wrong thing
and
getting caught up in
this that or the other, maybe because for
some of us,
we don't understand the concepts and the... Right.
The the truth enough, You know, so we're

(11:09):
we're afraid to talk about it. We're afraid
to get pulled into that.
But
you make a good point. You know, you're
writing a historical
character. So you were just telling the truth
about what her life would be. You know,
It's, like, the facts are there. Things are
documented. You're not
necessarily diving into
all that sticky stuff. You're just telling it
the way it was because, yeah, like, say

(11:30):
the truth the truth freezes us, you know,
knowing what happened and how that influences us
today. And, you know, it's like, that can't
be a bad thing to share because, like,
Jesus said it, you know, truth makes us
free. So...
Well, and and I think that the black
experience
and how we would not have survived the
worst of it, the enslave era without

(11:52):
Jesus.
And so I'm always surprised that people don't
want that to be talked about. It's a
great story how a whole you know, a
whole culture and a whole people
are here today thriving and working and and
living and connecting because of him.
So let us let us tell that story.

(12:13):
It's it's
it's pretty don't amazing, You know, easy.
Mh.
So I understand how it's hard and my
husband and I were talking back at this
morning. He said people, sometimes I wanna hear
about these things because it's hard to hear
about,
other people's hurt. And the truth of that
hurt.

(12:33):
But
I think in Christ, we can go there
at, you know, as we say,
and
because when we do, then we find out
something interesting about ourselves.
Yes. You sure. Well, thank you so much
for sharing about that. And
I'm I'm excited for what these stories are

(12:54):
sharing and and how God's gonna use them
to make a difference because sometimes.
It's easier to experience things in fiction. You
know, it it can be a safe way
to learn and to, you know,
expand our horizon. So Yeah. Thank you for
sharing that. Yeah. I'm I'm looking forward to
to what these books continue to accomplish. I
think it's really great. Thank you.

(13:15):
Well, let's go ahead and read the back
cover blurb and dive into some specifics about
the story?
Yes.
It's a lovely June night in 19 24.
Amateur detective anna Spain is ming bravely at
a high class political fundraiser
in the lush backyard garden a famed political
fixer Cooper Coats, 1 of the wealthiest men

(13:36):
in Denver black neighborhood of 5 points.
But when Coats his young daughter, discovers a
pretty stranger dead in her garden shed, Anna
is thrust onto the baffling new case while
already reeling from another recent discovery. A handwritten
letter found buried in her own garden. That
reveals the identity of her mother. Not ready
to face the truth about her hidden past,

(13:57):
Anna throws herself into solving the mystery of
the young woman's demise. With the help of
her pastor boyfriend, Jack Blake, the orphan boy
Eddie, and her trustworthy church friends,
Anna follows the clues to 3 seemingly disconnected
settings, a rundown traveling Carnival set up downtown,
an upscale black women's Civic club and a

(14:18):
prestigious white seminary on the outskirts of Denver.
Intriguing advice also comes from a famous real
life Denver visitor, but is Anna on the
right track or just running in circles, fleeing
from complex racing in her heart. In a
taught heart gripping narrative driven by secrets, romance,
and lies,
Anna must unravel a case with higher stakes
than she imagined, 1 where answers about a

(14:40):
lovely woman's death point to truths and intentions
still t today.
Well, I don't know which is more intriguing,
finding out the cause of this lady's murder
or uncovering the secrets in that letter. So
way to pull a in.
Well, my... You know, my editors reminded me
that readers are ready to learn about Anna
ashley's mother. It's that

(15:02):
of
that backstory has
been a thread that's been woven through all
3 of them novels so far.
And so
I knew that in addition to the news
mystery, who who killed this young woman found
in the
the garden shed of cooper coat that I

(15:23):
also needed to address the larger mystery what's
which is who is
anna missy mother, her unknown mother.
Once
I inherit my editors on that end, made
that part of the story then the story
was ready to be written.
Well, that's the thing about, you know, writing
a character, the same character through series. A

(15:45):
lot of people these days, you know, have
different characters in kind of connected stories. But
you have the same central character through all
of these novels. So
I guess I guess it would be kind
of a challenge keeping the story creative
with the main character as well as with
her adventures. Right.
My
answer to that or my strategy for that

(16:05):
is to make each story new.
And I needed to learn that because
I really only presented it to 10 day
the first novel.
All that is secret. And They came back
and said, can you turn this into a
series.
So unlike an author who would
go to them right off the out of

(16:25):
the gate which a series concept.
I had to figure out, oh, if if
I say yes, how I I'm going to
make that happen.
So I started reading about it, Darcy and
what I kept seeing people say is with
each story with each book. Yes, you have
the same central character
and characters,

(16:46):
but make each story new. And I I
love a historical series
fiction series 2.
And so we think that we want the
same story each time.
But what they were saying is
what people will really enjoy better is
the same characters that in a completely new

(17:06):
story.
So
for example, with with number 1, all that
is secret,
Anna comes back to Denver to solve the
c case murder of her estranged father.
Here, she is a a Sherlock Holmes fan,
and she comes back to solve this murder
well, and
2 double the eyes.

(17:27):
She is raising the clock
to solve the murder of a young trick
pilot,
before she gets
framed for the crime by the client.
So, you know, there's... Right. Because she has
a very personal stake there and which is
different from
almost leisure solving of a cold case. Right

(17:48):
Right. So same character different story.
So this, you know, and so in book
3 as you've just read, she's out of
this lush garden party when
the the body of a, young. Stranger is
discovered.
And then she suddenly expressed into that
scenario, who who is this young woman who

(18:08):
killed her and why.
So
that they are each different stories and in
in an interesting way, Darcy, they can almost
be read in stand.
And so,
Oh, good to know. So if anyone is
listening and thinks this story is great, but
they can't commit to the first 2 novels
right now, they can start with book 3
and still enjoy it.

(18:29):
So that's
that's been my way that I've attempted to
learn to offer the readers
a new
dorian each time.
I think that's really cool in learning how
to strategize that. That's that's really neat. I
mean, I'm nerdy, like, hearing on some of
the process that goes into the story here,

(18:49):
but that seems really cold me. So... Yeah.
I also wanted to ask if you can
tell us without spoilers, who the real life
Denver visitor is because I love it when
real life characters show up in novels.
Well, I thought about your question. And so
it is a spoiler to say who it
is.
Okay. But I will say that I

(19:10):
did not see the character coming.
And
also,
I wasn't
sure
ex how to
treat the character or handle the character
in in this story although, I... I in
the past, I love reading novels where our
real life character
suddenly arrives and shows up.
Of course. And so what I didn't expect

(19:31):
is how much I would enjoy
this character in the story.
Really.
And so it was interesting to me that,
you know, when you have somebody who's
very well known,
and has been written about a lot
and whom may have been photographed or and
and or recorded. And there's just a lot

(19:53):
of information. So
occasionally,
when the character talking to Anna,
I'm using
words if this person actually said,
but they just happened to fit their scene
at the moment.
But other times because
the character so well known. I felt more
comfortable than I expected,

(20:15):
having the character have be in conversation with
Anna.
Keeping
the character as I understood this person,
keeping that person's
personality,
accurate and their exchanges
you know, on point.
So I enjoyed it so much that I

(20:37):
can that for a the next that I'm
working on, and I'll share we'd get you
about that in a second.
There are
some real life characters in there.
I
fun.
The idea of it sounds daunting because this
character really lived. You don't wanna mis them.

(20:59):
But you bring a great point, like, in
the 19 twenties
for sure,
people if they're well known, we're still well
documented. It's almost like you can get to
know them. So you you might know what
they would probably say in a situation because
you research them get to know them that
well. That is funny. I hadn't thought about
that side about it that you really can,
like, get to know these people. Right.

(21:21):
So oh, that's... And actually,
I found myself learning more
about this person then
I'd sort of generally new.
Mh. And
and so in in the in note of
the novel, Of course, I I'm have to
add opportunity there
to sort of fill in all the the

(21:41):
holes and
add more information, but
I enjoyed it so much. I... I really
loved how his character,
but richness of his character added to the
story.
Yeah. Oh, I can't wait to find out
who it is. And let's see how they
interact on the page. That that is really
fun. Because, you know, it brings to life

(22:02):
a fact that we're writing his... Reading historical
fiction. Right. But,
you know, it's because it really happened or
could have really happened. There were real people
who lived like this in this time period.
Mh.
So... Yeah.
That's that's exciting.
So who was your favorite supporting character in

(22:22):
this story? I feel like, you know, the
main characters get a lot of screen time
Mh Page. Time. So
who was who was 1 of your favorite
supporting characters who maybe didn't get as much
attention.
Well, there is a
a run rundown traveling
carnival in this
in this story.

(22:42):
And 1 of the characters
Darcy
is the young black high
artist,
who is working
3 stories in the air,
decline
gravity, and as I say, define gravity and
common sense.
Mh. And does
testing both her self work as young black

(23:04):
woman in dangerous times.
And also,
anna courage to pursue this dangerous case.
So I love his character. She shows up
in chapter 3, and then
starts to play a really pivotal role in,
a how story unfolds.
In terms of
what happens in terms of anna something the

(23:26):
crime.
And in terms of her impact on,
what Anna understands about herself. By the end
of the story.
So
and again,
I've I love how these, and I know
you've heard other author say that I love
how these people just show up.
He's in the page. And so what I

(23:47):
had to do since historical fiction then I
had to go back
and find out where there,
African American
high rise trap, artists and it turned out
there were.
And wow, you know, and were there,
these...
What we would called Met they called in
these colored
Carnival

(24:08):
because there were me on the big,
main
carnival and circus of the day.
But with... There were these other
car was, my husband in Saint Louis and
he he said he remembers, you know, that
these
these black circus and black carnival would come
to town.
And so

(24:29):
reading about those
situations then
excited me to
make that
situation part of this story too,
especially in contrast
to some of the other elements in the
story. So I I love this character, Darcy.

(24:49):
She was just,
you know, so
you know,
unconstrained.
And that's inspiring. You know, we like we
like to meet those people whether they be
real or fictional. Yeah. And
know, And get to know them. So, I'm
excited. Now. I'm excited to meet her because

(25:10):
what a what a great profession to put
her in, you know, it's very challenging for
her, you know, physically and mentally, and then,
you know, in her time period.
Being a a woman performing and a black
lady performing. It's like, that gives her a
lot to go up against, but it sounds
like she's a pretty amazing lady. So... Yes.
I think you're. You, enjoy here a lot.

(25:30):
I.
Well, with 3 Anna Spain novels
behind you, What's next for your writing?
A world war two's spy novel.
Oh my gosh.
In fact, my deadline is,
about just 4 months away.
And well,

(25:52):
yeah. I'm so excited about it. It's
set in a
black finishing school.
Oh, wow. Of that aaron, this that
there was a whole
finishing school movement in the black world because,

(26:12):
white finishing schools and white colleges and universities,
at all over the country.
Would not open their doors to black
enroll to black students.
And so the
the counter point to that were people, you
know, in the in in the black world
who were, okay. Came out of

(26:34):
slavery
reconstruction era hungry
for education and opportunity.
And so
many,
Darcy would be
assistance of missionary societies,
and white churches
set up a separate
black schools.

(26:55):
And 1 of them was not far from
where my mother grew up.
And also not far from a,
Us army base were thousands
of prisoners of war
were held.
Doing what we're too.
So I'd always known about this and and
and my mother and father met each other

(27:17):
in this
setting.
He was at the on space,
she was nearby at the nearby
town.
And,
and my mother was
a graduated on H,
I historically black college and University. So she
was,
trained to be a teacher.

(27:37):
You,
and and so I found a wonderful,
biography,
a woman who started 1 of be most
successful,
or, if you can see 1 of the
most successful
finishing schools of that time.
And so,

(27:58):
me. So when I mentioned that to my,
to know, this has never happened to me.
Right away, she said, oh I love that
story, can you just give me
a pager or 2, what it could be?
And I'd I sent that to her, and
they said, yes.
That's never happened to me.

(28:21):
Weeks and weeks and running
book proposal.
Right. They could... Like me, they could see
you know, the,
just really interesting
potential in a story like for sure. Yeah.
Well, and we're... I mean, World war 2
is a popular genre right now. For good
reason, there's always something you... Explore for this

(28:42):
this, for instance, like AAA
black finishing school near a prisoner board camp.
What can you do there? Plenty.
It's.
But, you know that's something that I had
would... Had never heard of. You know, no
we hadn't explored that before. So... Yeah.
You know my... Sounds really fun. I changed
the tagline line on my

(29:03):
my website. And now it says,
great mysteries
real history.
But so so I really do
love
sharing
history that a lot of people otherwise would
not know.
Absolutely. So story definitely falls into that bucket.
Yeah. Keeping up the tradition for sure. And

(29:25):
I'll I love it that it's kind of
inspired by places, you know, that your your
parents met. That's that's... Even though the story
will be probably completely different, you know, it's
like, it kind of started with that tiny
colonel. So that's kind special. I like that.
Yes.
Well, for our listeners today, Patricia is offering
a copy of the mystery novel we've been

(29:48):
discussing truth be told.
To enter, you can check out the giveaway
page on our website, historical dot com. Copy
or you will also find the giveaway link.
As always in the show notes for this
episode.
So, Patricia, thank you so much for joining
us today? Where can our listeners connect with
you?
Patricia ray on dot com,

(30:10):
and I,
I'm only so honored when people stop by
that website.
And then there, they can click the link
to sign up for my readers circle.
And now The insider news. Yes. Skip the
insider News, not more than once a month.
And

(30:30):
So then in in the reader circle, I
share
updates,
backstory,
offer giveaways,
share,
exclusive previews of
the books and the models, and
and I think people will really enjoy it.

(30:51):
So... And when they sign up, they get
a free prayer guy
people seem to really enjoy. It's called the
busy person's guide to hearing God.
That sounds very practical.
That's the gift as people join the reader
simple.
Oh, that's lovely. And, of course, the link
for this will also be in the share

(31:12):
notes and on our blog. But you can
find it at patricia ray dot com.
So once again, thanks for joining us. I'm
really excited for this story that just released
and also the 1 that you'll be writing
soon. This sounds...
You've got such great characters and I love
the themes in the history that you floor.
So thanks again for joining you us. Thanks

(31:32):
for having me, Darcy.
My best to Kylie too.
You've been listening to the historical book show
where history meets fiction. For more information found
us at historical book dot com.