Sedalia author pens romantic thriller

Sedalia author Dale Thompson has written everything from romantic comedies to graphic murder mysteries, but his latest book focuses on a covert agent and his television jewelry host love interest.

Thompson, who writes under the pseudonym Pat Dale, has produced 12 novels, two novellas and numerous short stories.

He said he chose to write under the name Pat Dale for a couple of reasons. Thompson’s wife, Pat is one of his biggest supporters, and he wanted to write under a non-gender name.

“I started writing romances to prove that a man could do it,” Thompson said. “Pat has been a lot of help to me. She’s been my best critic.”

Thompson began writing seriously 14 years ago. After serving in the Air Force as an airborne electronics technician, he earned a music degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.

The trumpet player said he always knew he would become an author one day though.

“I always knew I had an eye for writing,” Thompson said.

In 1996, Thompson’s wife decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in accounting. While she was in class, Thompson visited a local coffee shop in Warrensburg, and with a notebook in hand, he began drawing inspiration from the people he met there.

After three months, Thompson had produced a 130,000-word book and decided to take some writing courses. One of Thompson’s professors told him he had the heart of a novelist and he should continue to write fiction. Six months later, he produced another book and has continued to write since.

“I just started 30 years too late,” Thompson said.

In addition to creating characters based on the people he comes in contact with, Thompson also draws inspiration from dreams and nightmares.

“Quite often I write in my sleep,” he said.

He often can develop whole chapters and scenes while sleeping and will wake up the next morning and begin typing.

“A Girl’s Best Friend,” Thompson’s debut print book, originally began coming to life in the summer of 2001.

“It was going to be a typical thriller book,” he said.

After  the Sept. 11 attacks, Thompson put the book down for a while and picked it back up in 2004.

“It’s a thinking person’s book,” Thompson said.

He described it as a double helix where two individual stories are wrapped around each other.

Thompson currently has four other books in the works.

“My ultimate goal is to be known as a mystery and suspense novelist,” he said.

Thompson will be signing copies of his book from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at Sedalia Book & Toy.

“A Girls’ Best Friend” can be purchased online at whimsicalpublications.com.

For more information about Thompson, visit patdale.net.

chudson@sedaliademocrat.com