Pat Engebrecht’s story exemplifies the power of determination, commitment, and hard work.
Pat Engebrecht is a successful fiction writer and entrepreneur with many accomplishments throughout her career. Her journey began in the 1970s when she was motivated to write fiction after a teacher critiqued her first essay with the question, “Do you do anything else?” Determined to prove herself, Pat rose to the challenge and wrote her first book, “Under the Haystack.” Published by Thomas Nelson in 1973, 
the young adult fiction novel was nominated for the Newbery Award and received positive reviews in the New York Times. This set Pat on a journey of becoming a successful fiction writer and entrepreneur that continues today – proving her doubters wrong.
Pat’s second YA book, “Promise of Moonstone,” was rejected by her agent and received poor reviews. However, she didn’t let this setback discourage her; instead, she saw the potential for it to be adapted into a television series and kept it as a script on her desk. The rejection might have stung at first, but for Pat, it was only the first step in showing her endless resilience and creativity.
Turning Tragedies into Entrepreneurial Opportunities
In 1974, Pat and her family were struck by a devastating event when a wave from the Barge Canal broke through and destroyed their home. Though it was a tiring time, Pat and her family were supported by friends and strangers who helped them rebuild. This experience taught Pat an important lesson about what truly matters in life.
The rebuilding process led Pat to start her own construction company, L&L Developers, which specialized in contemporary designed homes. It was a family business that employed her three children. Pat became actively involved in the Rochester Home Builders Association, participating in 3 Homearamas and winning awards for landscape and lighting.
Additionally, Pat was active in organizing, raising funds, and managing the construction of a platform tennis facility at the Tennis Club of Rochester, where she served as a certified teaching pro and competed in local and national tournaments.
Throughout her career, Pat attributes her successes to her supportive husband, Ron, and her children, who became her partners in the building business. Pat retired from L&L Developers in 2000 and spent 20 years in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband before returning to New York to reside on Canandaigua Lake in Naples.
Pat Engebrecht returns to the literary world with ‘No Dibs,’ a highly-anticipated sequel to her first book ‘Under The Haystack.’
No Dibs” by Pat Engebrecht is a powerful and emotional novel that tells the story of thirteen-year-old Sandy and her two sisters, June and Marie, who are left to fend for themselves on their run-down, debt-ridden farm after their mother unexpectedly deserts them. Sandy, determined to keep her sisters together, must take on the role of head of the household and navigate the challenges of growing up in a single-parent household. With the help of her only friend, Joe, she leaves the farm and moves to a small town with her sisters, earns small sums by doing odd jobs, and faces crises big and small with strength and determination. Through it all, the sisters bond and support each other as they navigate through the uncertainty and struggles of life on the brink of poverty.
“No Dibs” is a novel rich in family warmth, humor, and gloom. The readers will be caught up in Sandy’s journey as she stands at the threshold of womanhood and tries to hold her family together. Sandy is a relatable and courageous protagonist that readers will be able to relate with as she faces the mystery and thrill of first love while trying to make a better life for her family.