Lisa Patton
Author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter
About the Author
Image credit: Lisa Patton
Series
Works by Lisa Patton
Associated Works
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Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Alabama
- Agent
- Scott Miller, Trident Media Group
- Short biography
- LISA PATTON spent over twenty years in the music industry before discovering her passion for novel writing. A breast cancer survivor, Lisa is now the bestselling author of WHISTLIN’ DIXIE IN A NOR’EASTER and YANKEE DOODLE DIXIE. Both novels have been featured on the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Bestseller List and in 2010 Lisa was selected by Target as an Emerging Author. SOUTHERN AS A SECOND LANGUAGE is the third and final book in what Library Journal calls, “the beloved Dixie series.”
Lisa’s fourth novel, RUSH, set inside a fictional sorority house at Ole Miss, provides not only a gaze inside the most exclusive sorority Recruitment in the country, but at the relationships between the sisters and the staff.
Born and raised in Memphis, Lisa spent time as a Vermont innkeeper until three sub-zero winters sent her speeding back down South. Currently at work on her fifth book, Lisa is the proud mother of two sons and a little Havanese pooch named Rosie. She and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee. To learn more about her, you can visit Lisa’s website at www.lisapatton.com. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Places of residence
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Tennessee, USA
Members
Reviews
If I ever wrote a book, this would be it. I've asked myself before, "In creating a story, what is your thing?" What is that 'thing' about my life that is unique and worth telling? Well, I don't have much. The only thing I've ever been able to think of is that I'm a Southerner living in the North, but I lack the creativity to make that a story. And then I found this book.
Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter is author Lisa Patton's debut novel. A Tennessee native accustomed to long summers and show more brief winters, she spent three long, brutally cold winters running an inn in Vermont. And thus, a story was born.
Leelee Satterfield is happy with her life in Memphis. She's got her family, her four best friends, her husband she's loved since the tenth grade, and their two beautiful daughters. When her husband Baker gets a little antsy, he is inspired to buy a Vermont inn and haul the family North to run the bed-and-breakfast. And Leelee agrees...only because she has been love with him forever. But things don't go as smoothly as Leelee hopes and not only is her relationship on the rocks, Vermont is COLD. When Baker picks up and leaves Leelee with the inn, she must try to make the best of her misery and prove she's not just a helpless Southern belle.
I swear Lisa Patton was reading my mind as she wrote this. Either that or we think eerily alike. Our shared bitter hatred of the cold is one thing, but she goes into such detail on the tiny nuances that are so defining of me and my life up here. Like:
"Memphis is my home. It always will be no matter where I live."
"I know people say the summer is sweltering, but it never bothers me."
Vermont = "a foreign corner of American" that is "sooo Yankeeish"
"When I took my first sip, I could tell right away that it was Pepsi. I hate Pepsi."
"...Northerners believe that anywhere with less than one million people is only a town." [We don't do 'towns' in the South.]
"Barbecue to Northerners meant 'grilling out' so if I wanted a barbecue sandwich I might as well set my tastebuds on a hamburger." [The word 'barbecue': North = verb, South = food.]
Not to mention references to Corky's barbecue, Johnny Majors and Neyland Stadium, Mother's Day Out, and First Tennessee Bank—those little familiarities that you forget don't exist everywhere.
Needless to say, I loved this book. A well-developed main character that grew as the plot progressed, an entertaining ensemble of supporting characters, and a pleasing but not lame ending. I may be a little biased for this book for all the reasons mentioned above, but I still think it'd be an enjoyable (and hilarious) read for people anywhere in the country (or outside of it!). show less
Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter is author Lisa Patton's debut novel. A Tennessee native accustomed to long summers and show more brief winters, she spent three long, brutally cold winters running an inn in Vermont. And thus, a story was born.
Leelee Satterfield is happy with her life in Memphis. She's got her family, her four best friends, her husband she's loved since the tenth grade, and their two beautiful daughters. When her husband Baker gets a little antsy, he is inspired to buy a Vermont inn and haul the family North to run the bed-and-breakfast. And Leelee agrees...only because she has been love with him forever. But things don't go as smoothly as Leelee hopes and not only is her relationship on the rocks, Vermont is COLD. When Baker picks up and leaves Leelee with the inn, she must try to make the best of her misery and prove she's not just a helpless Southern belle.
I swear Lisa Patton was reading my mind as she wrote this. Either that or we think eerily alike. Our shared bitter hatred of the cold is one thing, but she goes into such detail on the tiny nuances that are so defining of me and my life up here. Like:
"Memphis is my home. It always will be no matter where I live."
"I know people say the summer is sweltering, but it never bothers me."
Vermont = "a foreign corner of American" that is "sooo Yankeeish"
"When I took my first sip, I could tell right away that it was Pepsi. I hate Pepsi."
"...Northerners believe that anywhere with less than one million people is only a town." [We don't do 'towns' in the South.]
"Barbecue to Northerners meant 'grilling out' so if I wanted a barbecue sandwich I might as well set my tastebuds on a hamburger." [The word 'barbecue': North = verb, South = food.]
Not to mention references to Corky's barbecue, Johnny Majors and Neyland Stadium, Mother's Day Out, and First Tennessee Bank—those little familiarities that you forget don't exist everywhere.
Needless to say, I loved this book. A well-developed main character that grew as the plot progressed, an entertaining ensemble of supporting characters, and a pleasing but not lame ending. I may be a little biased for this book for all the reasons mentioned above, but I still think it'd be an enjoyable (and hilarious) read for people anywhere in the country (or outside of it!). show less
***Please Note: I received this book for free from Goodreads***
When I started this, I was worried that I might be missing out, since this is a sequel and I hadn't read the first book, but there was no need to worry. This book is very easygoing, and explains throughout with clear references to events in the first novel. So, while I may not have every detail, I had enough to get me through.
This book was a delightful read. It had all the southern charm you would expect, as well as good amounts show more of laughter to go around. The cast of characters is well rounded, a nice mix of prim and proper, nice, and downright jerks.
It's interesting to see all the change that Leelee goes through and handles quite well. She has her moments of breakdown, but for the most part she is a strong, determined woman. And her friends are the perfect support system.
Riley was probably the most interesting character. He was so sweet, but then he got to be a little bit annoying. Sometimes I wondered if he had ulterior motives in always coming over or wanting to know Leelee's whereabouts, but that was just part of her character.
This really is a nice summer read. show less
When I started this, I was worried that I might be missing out, since this is a sequel and I hadn't read the first book, but there was no need to worry. This book is very easygoing, and explains throughout with clear references to events in the first novel. So, while I may not have every detail, I had enough to get me through.
This book was a delightful read. It had all the southern charm you would expect, as well as good amounts show more of laughter to go around. The cast of characters is well rounded, a nice mix of prim and proper, nice, and downright jerks.
It's interesting to see all the change that Leelee goes through and handles quite well. She has her moments of breakdown, but for the most part she is a strong, determined woman. And her friends are the perfect support system.
Riley was probably the most interesting character. He was so sweet, but then he got to be a little bit annoying. Sometimes I wondered if he had ulterior motives in always coming over or wanting to know Leelee's whereabouts, but that was just part of her character.
This really is a nice summer read. show less
Rush at Ole Miss is the event of a life time for some young ladies. Cali is determined to go through Rush. She is from a small, rural town in north Mississippi so, Ole Miss is a bit of a culture shock.
Pearl is a housekeeper at the Alpha Delt house and has been for twenty- five years. All of the young ladies are her children. She gives advice, cleans up their messes and is a second mother to all of them. When the new pledge class finds out Pearl has no benefits with her job, they are show more determined to create a change in the old traditions.
There is good and there is bad in this novel. First off...The bad...is this the best written book I have ever read..NO! The conversations are stilted and the author states the obvious many times. That being said, I still love this book.
Now the good! The good definitely out weighs the bad. The setting is outstanding. Who does not love Oxford and Ole Miss. Yes, I am an Ole Miss grad, so of course I am going to say that. But the author really nails the location. Plus, one of the main characters in this book is Cali. Cali is from Blue Mountain, MS. Blue Mountain is in my county. It is just down the road from me. With all of this, I was on the look out for mistakes. And there are a few, but not even enough to mention. The characters fit so well together and really build a story about strength of character and love for others. There are several story lines running throughout this read, Cali and her adjustments, Pearl and her life-struggles, Lilith and her "traditions". All of these combine to create a unique tale of overcoming obstacles and old customs.
I read some reviews about this book. I think a lot of people got it wrong. They focused on racism. That is not really what this book is about. Well it is and it isn't. It is focusing on changing a system which should have been changed years ago and caring for others regardless of race, creed, or color! I think the author nailed it!
Ireceived this book from the author for a honest review. show less
Pearl is a housekeeper at the Alpha Delt house and has been for twenty- five years. All of the young ladies are her children. She gives advice, cleans up their messes and is a second mother to all of them. When the new pledge class finds out Pearl has no benefits with her job, they are show more determined to create a change in the old traditions.
There is good and there is bad in this novel. First off...The bad...is this the best written book I have ever read..NO! The conversations are stilted and the author states the obvious many times. That being said, I still love this book.
Now the good! The good definitely out weighs the bad. The setting is outstanding. Who does not love Oxford and Ole Miss. Yes, I am an Ole Miss grad, so of course I am going to say that. But the author really nails the location. Plus, one of the main characters in this book is Cali. Cali is from Blue Mountain, MS. Blue Mountain is in my county. It is just down the road from me. With all of this, I was on the look out for mistakes. And there are a few, but not even enough to mention. The characters fit so well together and really build a story about strength of character and love for others. There are several story lines running throughout this read, Cali and her adjustments, Pearl and her life-struggles, Lilith and her "traditions". All of these combine to create a unique tale of overcoming obstacles and old customs.
I read some reviews about this book. I think a lot of people got it wrong. They focused on racism. That is not really what this book is about. Well it is and it isn't. It is focusing on changing a system which should have been changed years ago and caring for others regardless of race, creed, or color! I think the author nailed it!
Ireceived this book from the author for a honest review. show less
Rush by Lisa Patton
Source: Netgalley and Overdrive Audio/Public Library
My Rating: 3/5 stars
Since Lisa Patton’s Rush is told in alternating points of view, I find it most appropriate to deal with my review in much the same; that is, I shall deal with this review in terms of the characters and how each impacted my overall impression and liking of the book.
Miss Pearl: I absolutely adored Miss Pearl and so much of that had to do with the voice artist who narrated her character in the audio show more book. Miss Pearl is what my granny would have called a “salt of the earth” person, a genuine, kind, caring, and generous soul without a mean bone in her body. For 25 years, Miss Pearl has looked after the young ladies of Alpha Delta Beta sorority and she has done so with gladness in heart. Miss Pearl sincerely loves her “babies” and she has given selflessly to each and every girl in the hopes of bettering their lives and not her own.
Wilda: Wilda is an admitted worrier and much of her worry is centered around what others think of her. Though Wilda is a nice person and wants to do the right thing, she is so wrapped up in what others think that she often veers off track and makes mistakes she later deeply regrets. It isn’t until Wilda has her moment of enlightenment that I was able to really get behind her as a character and root for her. When Wilda pulls her head out of her a$$, she is something of a force and sets about righting a whole host of wrongs.
Cali: If ever there was a kid to root for, Cali is absolutely that girl! From the minute she shows up on campus, Cali has a burning need to fit in and she feels deeply that she will fit in if she can just get a bid to a sorority. For much of the read, Cali involves herself in the plans and activities necessary to secure her place in a sorority house and though she never compromises her principles, she does come close to the line a time or two. When Cali realizes how close she’s come to compromising herself, she gets head on straight, strengthens her friendships with good people, and makes sure her efforts to get into a house are because of who she is. By the end of this long and winding tale, Cali emerges as a strong leader driven her by her own moral compass and need to see many situations put to rights.
The Whitmore Family: In truth, this entire family doesn’t make me ashamed to be any particular skin color, but ashamed to be a human being. From start to finish, the Whitmore’s are simply disgusting human beings with outdated and abhorrent views they aren’t afraid to vocalize. Even with the late in the game change of heart, I couldn’t get behind these characters or feel even an ounce of sympathy for any of them.
The Bottom Line: Rush is indeed a long and winding tale I am sincerely glad I listened to rather than physically read. The narrators for the audiobook are spot on and they very much impacted my overall enjoyment of this book. Overall, I did like this book, but I found the ending, though certainly sweet and endearing, to be completely implausible. Make no mistake, I WANT the ending to plausible, possible, and even a reality, but there are simply too many Whitmore’s left in the world for that to happen. With this in mind, it was the ending that kept me from rating an otherwise very good book a bit higher on the rating scale. The things I did like include Miss Pearl and Cali, the relationships between the various characters that do evolve over the course of the read, and the peek inside the world of sorority life. I suspect many will like this read, especially the relationships and generally uplifting nature of the story. I further suspect, many readers are far more tender-hearted than I and will absolutely love the ending 😊 show less
Source: Netgalley and Overdrive Audio/Public Library
My Rating: 3/5 stars
Since Lisa Patton’s Rush is told in alternating points of view, I find it most appropriate to deal with my review in much the same; that is, I shall deal with this review in terms of the characters and how each impacted my overall impression and liking of the book.
Miss Pearl: I absolutely adored Miss Pearl and so much of that had to do with the voice artist who narrated her character in the audio show more book. Miss Pearl is what my granny would have called a “salt of the earth” person, a genuine, kind, caring, and generous soul without a mean bone in her body. For 25 years, Miss Pearl has looked after the young ladies of Alpha Delta Beta sorority and she has done so with gladness in heart. Miss Pearl sincerely loves her “babies” and she has given selflessly to each and every girl in the hopes of bettering their lives and not her own.
Wilda: Wilda is an admitted worrier and much of her worry is centered around what others think of her. Though Wilda is a nice person and wants to do the right thing, she is so wrapped up in what others think that she often veers off track and makes mistakes she later deeply regrets. It isn’t until Wilda has her moment of enlightenment that I was able to really get behind her as a character and root for her. When Wilda pulls her head out of her a$$, she is something of a force and sets about righting a whole host of wrongs.
Cali: If ever there was a kid to root for, Cali is absolutely that girl! From the minute she shows up on campus, Cali has a burning need to fit in and she feels deeply that she will fit in if she can just get a bid to a sorority. For much of the read, Cali involves herself in the plans and activities necessary to secure her place in a sorority house and though she never compromises her principles, she does come close to the line a time or two. When Cali realizes how close she’s come to compromising herself, she gets head on straight, strengthens her friendships with good people, and makes sure her efforts to get into a house are because of who she is. By the end of this long and winding tale, Cali emerges as a strong leader driven her by her own moral compass and need to see many situations put to rights.
The Whitmore Family: In truth, this entire family doesn’t make me ashamed to be any particular skin color, but ashamed to be a human being. From start to finish, the Whitmore’s are simply disgusting human beings with outdated and abhorrent views they aren’t afraid to vocalize. Even with the late in the game change of heart, I couldn’t get behind these characters or feel even an ounce of sympathy for any of them.
The Bottom Line: Rush is indeed a long and winding tale I am sincerely glad I listened to rather than physically read. The narrators for the audiobook are spot on and they very much impacted my overall enjoyment of this book. Overall, I did like this book, but I found the ending, though certainly sweet and endearing, to be completely implausible. Make no mistake, I WANT the ending to plausible, possible, and even a reality, but there are simply too many Whitmore’s left in the world for that to happen. With this in mind, it was the ending that kept me from rating an otherwise very good book a bit higher on the rating scale. The things I did like include Miss Pearl and Cali, the relationships between the various characters that do evolve over the course of the read, and the peek inside the world of sorority life. I suspect many will like this read, especially the relationships and generally uplifting nature of the story. I further suspect, many readers are far more tender-hearted than I and will absolutely love the ending 😊 show less
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