During Patra Ann Taylor’s early career as a writer, she worked as the Director of Marketing for two Chambers of Commerce, the first in her hometown of Lima, Ohio, and later in Charleston, S.C. where she cut her professional teeth writing tourism copy. By 1987, she decided to go it alone. She gained experience writing about anything that helped build her reputation as a freelance writer including press releases, advertising copy and newsletters. In the early 1990s, she wrote and co-produced a television commercial series called LAWTalk, a humorous examination of the law. In 1993, LAWTalk won numerous Addy Awards, including Best of Show, and was declared, “the best local advertising in the nation produced for under $5,000.”
About the turn of the 21st century, Patra began a decade-long stint as the local editor of Discover Charleston, and its sister publications, Connoisseur, Vacation Guide and Sea Island Concierge. Discover Charleston was featured in 15,000 upscale guest rooms throughout the Charleston area.
Patra also served at the editor/contributor to Southeast Film Guide; and has written articles for numerous print and internet publications.
In 2002, Patra landed her first work as a humor columnist. “Kitchen Sink Chronicles” became a readers’ favorite in the Charleston Mercury, a local newspaper. As her life evolved, so did her column. After 10 years of the Chronicles, the Mercury became home to Patra’s column, “Gray Matters,” which chronicled her brave fight against her mortal enemy, Aging. She also served as a features correspondent for the Mercury for more than 20 years. In that capacity, she interviewed numerous Charleston celebrities along with a few national figures including Tucker Carlson, formerly of FOX News; Bear Dyke, Washington, D.C. insider-turned-winemaker; Philip Claypool, country music singer and songwriter.; and Dr. Don Wilton, the pastor to Billy Graham. She also served as the managing editor of the Mercury.
Patra’s current passion is writing novels. She is the author of One Christmas, an historical novel set in the Midwest during the Great Depression; and is completing the first mystery in her upcoming Anna Ghere Mysteries series based on the same characters. Additionally, she is working on Mullet and Marsh Hens, a biography of Lowcountry legend, J. Sidi Limehouse, III. The mother of three sons, Patra lives in Mount Pleasant, S.C. with her husband, Stephen Bucher, and their Australian terrier, Olive.