Patricia Matthews
Encyclopedia
Patricia Brisco Matthews (July 1, 1927 in San Fernando, California
, USA
- December 7, 2006 in Prescott, Arizona
, USA
) was an American
writer
of gothic
, romance and mystery novels. She wrote under the pen names P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews and Laura Wylie. She collaborated with her second husband, Clayton Matthews
, on romance and mystery (suspense) novels; they were called "the hottest couple in paperbacks." She also collaborated with Denise Hrivnak as Patricia Matthews.
, the daughter of Roy Oliver Ernst and Gladys Gable. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies
school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles
, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Asociated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona
, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews
in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
Matthews started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Matthews' agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews. She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American Southwest
. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia died on December 7, 2006 in the Brisco family home in Prescott, Arizona
.
San Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- December 7, 2006 in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of gothic
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
, romance and mystery novels. She wrote under the pen names P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews and Laura Wylie. She collaborated with her second husband, Clayton Matthews
Clayton Matthews
Clayton Hartley Matthews , was a U.S. writer of mystery, erotic and romance novels, with more than 35 books and many short stories as Clayton Matthews...
, on romance and mystery (suspense) novels; they were called "the hottest couple in paperbacks." She also collaborated with Denise Hrivnak as Patricia Matthews.
Biography
Patricia Anne Klein Ernst was born on July 1, 1927 in San Fernando, CaliforniaSan Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, the daughter of Roy Oliver Ernst and Gladys Gable. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies
Meglin Kiddies
The Meglin Kiddies was a well-known performance troupe consisting of acting, music and dance. The troupe was composed of child-actors up to the age of 16. The troupe was started by Ethel Meglin in 1928. Meglin was a Ziegfeld girl in feature films...
school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Asociated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews
Clayton Matthews
Clayton Hartley Matthews , was a U.S. writer of mystery, erotic and romance novels, with more than 35 books and many short stories as Clayton Matthews...
in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
Matthews started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Matthews' agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews. She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia died on December 7, 2006 in the Brisco family home in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
.
Awards
- 1983 Reviewers Choice Awards for Best Historical Gothic
- 1986-87 Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Readers Award
Single Novels
- Horror at Gull House, 1969
- Merry's Treasure, 1969
- The Crystal Window, 1973
- House of Candles, 1973
- Mist of Evil, 1976
- Raging Rapids, 1978
- Too Much In Love, 1979
Single Novels
- Love Forever More, 1977
- Love's Wildest Promise, 1977
- Love's Daring Dream, 1978
- Love's Pagan Heart, 1978
- Love's Golden Destiny, 1979
- Love's Magic Moments , 1979
- Love's Bold Journey, 1980
- Love's Sweet Agony, 1980
- Tides of Love, 1981
- Embers of Dawn, 1982
- Flames of Glory, 1982
- Gambler in Love, 1984
- Tame the Restless Heart, 1985
- Thursday and the Lady, 1987
- Enchanted, 1987
- Mirrors, 1988
- Oasis, 1988
- Sapphire, 1989
- The Dreaming Tree, 1989
- The Death of Love, 1990
- The Unquiet, 1991
- Dead Man Riding, 1999
- Death in the Desert, 1999
- Secret of Secco Canyon, 1998
- Rendezvous at Midnight, 2004
Single novels with Clayton Matthews
- Midnight Whispers, 1981
- Empire, 1982
- Midnight Lavender, 1985
Casey Farrell Series with Clayton Matthews
- The Scent of Fear, 1992
- Vision of Death, 1993
- Taste of Evil, 1994
- Sound of Murder, 1994
- Touch of Terror, 1995
Anthologies in collaboration
- On Wings of Magic, 1994 (with Andre NortonAndre NortonAndre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
and Sasha MillerSasha MillerSasha Miller is the pseudonym of American fantasy writer Georgia Myrle Miller . She has also written under the names Georgia Sallaska, Myrle Benedict, and G. S...
)