Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today: After 25 years in higher education, Patrick R. Field traded in teaching and textbooks to pursue his passion of spine-chilling fiction writing. Holding a Ph.D. in Anatomical Sciences and Neuroscience, his experience informs his writing, a unique blend of scientific knowledge with supernatural storytelling.
Patrick’s novels are inspired by his favorite authors: Anne Rice, Edgar Allen Poe, and Joe Hill. Not surprisingly, Field enjoys bending and or blending the genres of paranormal fantasy, romantasy, mystery, and horror, with a dash of humor on the side. He also prides himself on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ protagonists in each of his novels to give each of these genres an underrepresented queer perspective.
Field’s first self-published novel, The Malevolent, released in 2021 under his pen name P.F. Roquelaure for academic reasons, was re-released in 2025 by The Wild Rose Press. His latter novels, Servant (2023) and The Bedfordshire Warlock (2024) also published by The Wild Rose Press, were written throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Servant and The Bedfordshire Warlock were semi-finalists in the Kindle Book Review Best of Indie in the Horror/Suspense category in 2024, 2025, respectively. In addition, The Bedfordshire Warlock earned third place for Horror for the NEST (National Excellence in Story Telling) Awards for 2026. Up next, Blood Crystal, a M/M romantasy set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina involving pirate lore and blood magic, and a short story The Strange Case of Edgar Delaney, a tale for cat lovers and paranormal fantasy.
Fun fact: The haunting that happens to the protagonists in Field’s novel Servant is based on actual events in the author’s home in the Poconos.
Website: https://www.patrickfieldauthor.com
Instagram: @patrickfieldauthor;
FB: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.field.71
Thanks so much, Patrick, for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?
Patrick R. Field: Being an academic scientist for more than 30 years, the last thing I wanted to do was write in a style that was modeled after the dull, fact-based (but important) research associated with the “publish or perish” expectations of the tenure system. So, when I started to write my first fictional novel, I wanted it to be free of the shackles of the natural world in my previous scientific papers…and what better way than to write about the supernatural, where I get to make up the rules. Add to that the gothic horror that I have loved since I was a kid, spicy M/M romance, and “Wala”- paranormal horror romantasy. The secret to balancing this brew is to have authentic LGBTQ+ protagonists exploring the supernatural world while dealing with realistic LGBTQ+-related challenges of the natural world.
JSC: Do your books spring to life from a character first or an idea?
PRF: Believe it or not, many of the inspirations for my books and short stories come from dreams. Vivid dreams that last all night long, no matter how many interruptions there may be during the night. I truly believe that there are forces in my home, which is haunted (check out the supernatural events that happen to Mitch and Buck in my novel Servantas they are based on real events in our home), that I am channeling when I’m writing. I’m not sure if the narratives are the point or is the purpose of my writing these stories to expose a new audience to the underrepresented LGBTQ+ POV in paranormal romantasy.
JSC: What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned in writing your books?
PRF: The most surprising and eeriest thing that happens when I’m writing is the loss of control – sometimes – of my narrative. The characters, setting, and past actions have literally taken over my mind and led me to write a different plot point than I expected. A good example of this is the ending of The Malevolent. I did not originally intend Griffin to have the outcome in the novel when compelled by Angelus Bartholomew’s ghost to do his bidding, but Griffin’s moral character and the essence of who he is, left me only one choice. My editor agreed with me when I presented an alternate ending, the original ending was the sincerest to the character.
JSC: What are your least favorite parts of publishing?
PRF: Excising the obvious quest to find a publishing house to accept your manuscript and the myriad rejections, without a doubt, the promotional component is my least favorite part. It is exhausting. My main piece of advice for aspiring authors is to inform them that promotion is no longer done by the publisher as in the past, unless you are a celebrity of some sort, but your responsibility.
JSC: What inspired you to write The Bedfordshire Warlock? What were the challenges in bringing it to life?
PRF: I have always been fascinated by the tragedy of the Salem witch trials. The fact that 25 innocents were either executed or died in prison due to property rights and not the practice of witchcraft is one of this country’s most shameful historical periods of time. I thought: “What would it be like if there was an actual witch/warlock that was caught up in the hysteria and executed before they were able to realize their full powers?” Throw in a reincarnation of this warlock, 300 years later into the body of a gay man in the early AIDS-era 1990’s, and a gothic quest to acquire the warlock’s powers and the foundation of The Bedfordshire Warlock is laid. The main challenge of this novel was to ensure the historical record was correct, whether that be the facts of the accusation/execution practice or the hysterical aura of the era. Editorial reviewers have stated that this is one of the main successes of the novel- something I’m extremely proud of!
JSC: What qualities do you and your characters share? How much are you like them, or how different are they from you?
PRF: My characters are amalgams of authentic traits from myself and important people in my life (husband, family, friends that are family), and fictional qualities that are interesting and vital to their motivations in the narrative. For example, Mitch In Servant is an author but he physically resembles my husband and likes to cook (like my husband), whereas Buck, Mitch’s husband, is a neuroscientist that physically resembles me who also likes to scuba dive (definitely not me!). I also add unusual experiences in my life into the narrative of my novels and short stories- an “air of authenticity” that many times does not have anything to do with the main plot line that makes my readers think “Huh.”
JSC: What fantasy realm would you choose to live in and why?
PRF: Oh, the world of legitimate supernatural powers: telekinesis, levitation, flying, ESP… just about anything that Samantha Stephens could do!
JSC: Which of your own characters would you Kill? Fuck? Marry? And why?
PRF: Kill? Ezekiel Sheppard in Servant, he is an evil SOB that is modeled after the most hypocritical religious zealot, a la Christian Nationalist. Fuck? Toby Blessing from The Bedfordshire Warlock or Christian Guttman from The Malevolent. Essentially, they are inspired by the same dude, a blond muscular, martial arts enthusiast that I lusted over for years. Marry? Any of my characters that have traits modeled after my husband, i.e. Mitch Macleod in Servant.
JSC: If you could choose three authors to invite for a dinner party, who would they be, and why?
PRF: Anne Rice, Joe Hill and Edgar Allen Poe; because their prose is my inspiration when I write. I would love to throw out a juicy subject like “What is the most horrible human trait?” and listen to their responses. I’m sure the conversations would be fascinating.
JSC: What are you working on now, and what’s coming out next? Tell us about it!
PRF: I have two novels and a short story on the back burner. I have a novel Blood Crystal, a yarn involving pirate lore, blood magic and a forever M/M love story, with a WWR in 2027. I also have a paranormal fantasy “whodunnit” looking for a home entitled Cat’s Breath, a brew of witchcraft, murder and a steamy “boymance.” Finally, my short story The Strange Case of Edgar Delaney, another tale for cat lovers and mystery fans as well, is making the e-zine rounds and will hopefully find a home soon as well.
And now for Patrick’s latest book: The Bedfordshire Warlock:
Elias Doever, accused of being a warlock by the residents of the Village of Bedfordshire, Massachusetts in 1692, is executed via the “ducking chair” into a well of holy water. A force erupts from his chest, killing him and escaping the well.
Three hundred years later, the force from the well, Beladon, contacts Dorian Leeves, a young man with supernatural abilities, and informs him that he possesses the same powers as Elias Doever. Dorian will accomplish his ascension into powers beyond his belief if he can re-unite the “three bloods” of Elias Doever, himself, and Beladon. However, the body was buried in secret unconsecrated ground.
Dorian’s new love interest, Toby Blessing, creates complications for his quest to find the skeletal remains of Elias Doever for his ascension. Dorian must decide whether to abandon his ascension and power or embrace a life with Toby in the present day.
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Excerpt
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Bell, Book and Candle Bed and Breakfast 4th week of October 1992
It took us more than four hours to get to the end of the Cape to arrive in Provincetown at noon, hitting most of the weekend traffic crossing the Sagamore Bridge into Cape Cod. As we departed this morning, I thought about the car ferry that leaves from Boston, but I was shelling out a steep amount for one night at a bed and breakfast the weekend before Halloween in P-town, also known as the weekend, where every gay man that ever wanted to dress in drag has the license to do so without any judgement. Hell, there are plenty of straight men that like to do that in P-town as well!
I was able to get a single Saturday night reservation at my favorite bed and breakfast: The Bell, Book and Candle, a kitschy B/B named after the famous movie that starred Kim Novak as a witch belonging to a modern-day coven in Greenwich Village during the swinging 1960s. I met the hosts/owners in Boston during a particularly wild weekend when I turned twenty years old.
They’re a cute British couple who immigrated to the Cape after they fell in love with P- town on holiday. Our meeting prompted an invitation for a weekend at their B/B and we’ve kept in touch ever since. Miraculously, they had a cancellation immediately after I called to inquire about a
room. I had nothing to do with the circumstances behind the cancellation. At least, I don’t think so.
As we drove down Commercial Street in the Mercedes, it turned more than a couple of heads. It isn’t your typical car that ventures down the rough pavement of this repurposed Portuguese fishing village. As we coast toward our destination, I can’t help but look over to observe Toby’s face as he gets his first impression of the denizens of P-town. His electric smile and accompanying laughter, reinforced by the squeezes of his hand lying on mine, relay the wonderment and joy he’s experiencing. The drag queens were out in full force advertising their shows for the Saturday before Halloween, one of the biggest nights in P-town. Not known for shying away from anything political, there were plenty of Hillary Clintonesque and Barbara Bush look-a-likes (the election was only two weeks away) amongst the usual bevy of Chers, Judys, Lizas and Barbras pedaling their acts. Focusing on two men our age holding hands out in public as they walk along the street, Toby leans over and kisses me quickly on the lips.
We park in the lot designated for our accommodations, the envy of many who are desperately trying to find parking in a town not known for its vast parking spaces (most of the fishing villages in New England originally relied on the ports rather than the land for transportation).
Checking in, I introduce Toby to our hosts, expats Nigel and Russell, who have been together for over twenty years, a rare sight in the gay male community. As rare as unicorns. Although they have an “open” relationship, which seems to be the key to success for long-term gay male relationships, AIDS has made this a more dangerous lifestyle choice.
I can tell that Nigel and Russell are taken with Toby. Why wouldn’t they be? He’s the perfect example of the All-American boy that so many gay men lust over, including me of course. I’m not a unique gay man; I’m not a unicorn.
As we make our way to our room, paraphernalia from the film that the B/B is named is strewn throughout the converted sea captain’s house: movie stills of Kim Novak, Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lanchester, and Hermione Gingold in various scenes of mod club life in Greenwich Village along with props from the movie that Nigel and Russell acquired from auctions at Sotheby’s in New York. Their prized possession is a signed movie still of Gillian Holroyd (Novak) posing with Pyewacket, the Siamese cat that’s her familiar in the movie. The movie is a favorite with gay men as the parallels aren’t hard to discern: an artistic, creative subculture with a belief system that’s not accepted by society. But instead of being discriminated against because of whom they love, they’re discriminated against because of the false perception that they gain their powers from being in league with the devil and their highly misunderstood relationship with the supernatural realm. The world of magic in the film has no connotations to worshipping Satan. Their naturally acquired powers, inherited through familial lines, require no obedience to any deity, rather, an appreciation and the ability to manipulate the natural world.
Our accommodation is a tastefully decorated room and private bath with a decidedly nautical décor. I notice that we’ve been supplied with masks for the festivities tonight. I appreciate this gesture from our hosts as the costume requirement of the weekend had completely slipped my mind. I’m also surprised to be supplied with this essential item as it’s expected that every queen in P-town plans for their Halloween costume months in advance. Then I notice a note next to the masks addressed to me:
“Dorian love, we know you will enjoy these. We remember that weekend in Boston and how much you like to…play. Enjoy! Love, N and R.”
I’m smiling and tittering as I read their note. Toby inquires as to what I’m giggling about. I hand him the note to read. After reading it, he looks at me and then asks, “Play?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you sometime when I’m good and drunk, which probably means this weekend!” I respond coyly.
Toby smiles and bobs his head. “Cool.”
It’s an unusually warm day for the end of October, so I suggest we go to one of the beautiful beaches of Provincetown. If not to go swimming, we can sunbathe. I avoid mentioning the gay nude beach because this is not the locale I want to see Toby naked for the first time, nor do I want anyone else ogling him. I’m not that secure in our relationship…yet.
Eating at restaurants is infamously pricey here. To coin a local phrase, “It is wicked expensive!”
So, I suggest that we shop at one of the local markets to get food for a picnic and then ride out to Race Point Beach on the mountain bikes that Bell, Book and Candle provide for their guests.
Toby agrees to my plan, and we ride out on one of the many bike trails that honeycomb the state-protected seashore. The hilly topography creates challenges when climbing the upgrades, but the ride is a good workout and makes the reward of relaxing on the beach that much more enticing.
Race Point is gorgeous today. The late afternoon sun reflecting off the water and the brown coarse sand is picture perfect. The dunes creating interesting shadows in the mid-day sun would be the only source of natural shade on an intensely hot day. However, due to the autumnal breeze and the reduced strength of the sun at this time of the year, becoming overheated is not an issue, and we lie in the sun’s rays without any protection (besides our sunblock). I glance at Toby while he lies there motionless on a towel under the warming rays of the sun. He looks sexy in his tan cargo shorts. His naturally brownish, year-round tan produces only a faint tan line at his waist.
He lies with his arms folded behind the nape of his neck, displaying his massive upper arms, and highlighting the perfection of his muscular physique. I look at him and wonder what it is that he sees in me. I know that I’m attractive in that pale, dark-haired English schoolboy sort of way, but what’s this blond sun-god doing with me?
As if he can read my mind, knowing that I’m thinking about our relationship, Toby moves his left hand toward me so that it lightly bumps my right hand. I take it graciously and enclose my fingers around his hand. It’s hard for either of us to believe that we can hold hands together on a public beach without any threat of being harassed or abused for being a same-sex couple expressing their affection.