Giving advice comes naturally to sassy matchmaker Patti Novak. In eighth grade, the North Buffalo native was voted the next Ann Landers, and as founder of Buffalo Niagara Introductions, Novak, 48, has linked thousands of clients with her hands-on approach.

Remember "Confessions of a Matchmaker?" The 2007 A&E reality series put a national spotlight on Novak and her tough-love style. After writing a relationship advice book called "Get Over Yourself" in 2008, Novak has settled back in her Tonawanda office doing what she does best — making matches.

On Saturday, Novak will kick off a new advice column in the Life & Arts section of The Buffalo News as the Queen City Matchmaker, answering questions from readers about dating and relationships. You could consider it a perfect match — a column written by a Buffalo woman for the people of Buffalo.

Have a question for Patti Novak? E-mail her at queencitymatchmaker@gmail.com

Here's a glimpse of how Novak runs her dating service:

PeopleTalk: How does your job break down?

Patti Novak: Interviewing is Number One, because that's the deciding moment, whether we are going to work together, and then the matching process and then the feedback and the coaching. The coaching is where they are tripping up. No one has taught them to date.

PT: You turn people away?

PN: Just because they walk in the door doesn't mean I can help them. That's why the interview is free. I've had the prettiest women walk in this door who I've said no to because I didn't feel emotionally they were ready. They're angry, bitter. They're still harboring whatever they went through in the past, and that's the last thing men and women want from me in this service. It happens at least once a week, and they're hard to like, those angry, bitter men and women.

PT: You screen based on history.

PN: I need to know where someone has been to understand where they are, and hopefully take them into the future.

PT: Why is that so important?

PN: I tell people: If you're looking for a golf partner, go to the golf club, but if you're really looking to move forward in your life, and find someone special, then I'm your girl. Whether or not people marry is not my business.

PT: Tell me about your love.

PN: I fell madly in love on the sixth date, I got married October '08 at Shanghai's. I met him at 54-40 two weeks after my dad died in July '02, and I would run into him at Thursday in the Square — all summer long. We didn't start dating until January '04.

PT: Patti, were you a party girl?

PN: Yes, I was. I grew up in Buffalo — there's a church and a bar on every corner — raised by Irish and German, a family of partiers, so definitely. I was married for 17 years, and split up for 10. I was a matchmaker at the time. I couldn't date the men in my service. I was in a pickle.

PT: Have you always made matches?

PN: If I wasn't matchmaking, I was problem-solving. So many of my friends when I was young were naturally pretty and slender, and I was one of those with pimples and braces and glasses. In fact my brother, freshman year, I introduced him to my best friend, my first legitimate match. They've been married 26 years.

PT: How many dates does it take before you "know?"

PT: How long was your shortest courtship?

PN: Five weeks: They met fall '04 and they married in fall '04 — in Vegas. They each had teenage children. People always ask me when they should introduce their teenage children. I say you must be exclusive six months to a year.

PT: What would you never tell a person?

PN: I would never call somebody homely or not attractive. I might say they have beautiful eyes, or a great shape, but you need some image work: a dress, different makeup, a haircut. I always try to mix the tough with the love. Otherwise, I don't sleep well at night. I really care about these folks when they walk in the door.

PT: How can you care about strangers?

PN: It's about energy and exchange of energy, so when someone does come in here, it doesn't take long for me to like them.

PT: What is the age range of your clients?

PN: Since "Confessions of a Matchmaker," they start calling me at 21. My oldest couple is behind you (in a photo) on the shelf. He's 78 and she's 74.

PT: Do opposites attract?

PN: Early in life, they often can. The introvert will be attracted to the extrovert for obvious reasons, but 15 to 20 years later the things they liked about each other are the things they do not respect.

PT: How important is flirting?

PN: In dating, it's important. I think excess flirting is annoying. That's my personal opinion of flirty people, but to be able to flirt with your eyes and gesture is very important. If he looks twice, you're in.

jkwiatkowski@buffnews.com