Interview with Author Sandra Hill:
Hi Sandra. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can. What I do know is that you are a NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty Viking, Cajun and Navy SEAL books, and I believe I have read, and loved, every one so far! So lets get started, I can't wait...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
SO INTO YOU is my latest Cajun novel, featuring the LeDeux family and that wacky folk healer and general busybody Tante Lulu.
In this book Angel Sabato, a former professional poker player, treasure hunter, and, yes, once nude feature of Playgirl magazine with the header “His Poker is Hot, finally reveals his love for Grace O’Brien. Unfortunately, Grace, an ex-nun and poker champion, does not love him back. Not in the same way. Until the ultimate matchmaker, Tante Lulu, gets involved, that is. They don’t stand a chance.
Tante Lulu is also busy starting a foundation to help Hurricane Katrina survivors. She starts with the orphans of jazz legends Max and Ruby Duval who are living in a rusted-out trailer, avoiding the law.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
Amazingly, I have three books coming out this year: SO INTO YOU, the Cajun contemporary in August; VIKING HEAT, another Viking Navy SEAL time travel, in September; and SANTA, HONEY, a repackaged anthology in October. But even more amazing, I have five new novels coming out in 2010. A return to my first love, straight historical romance in January with VIKING IN LOVE; an anthology in April tentatively titled SO MANY MEN, SO LITTLE TIME with my entry “Fiddle-dee-dee!” It’s not a sequel to FRANKLY, MY DEAR and SWEETER SAVAGE LOVE, but it is the same time period and you may recognize some names. Then there is another Cajun contemporary in July, Dr. Daniel LeDeux’s story. Another historical in September (John of Hawks Lair finally gets his story with one of the Viking princesses from MY FAIR VIKING and VIKING IN LOVE). And another Viking Navy SEAL time travel titled EVEN VIKINGS GET THE BLUES late in the year, with Steven, Thorfinn’s brother as the hero, and Rita Sawyer, a stune woman, as the heroine. Whew!
- How do we find out about you and your books?
My website at www.sandrahill.net. And if you sign up for my mailing list, there will be newsletters announcing upcoming books closer to their publication dates.
- How may readers contact you?
- How many readers/fans contact you?
More than 20,000 to date.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Well, they certainly make me feel good. I welcome reader mail. Sometimes they even point out things about my books that I didn’t realize. I have the best fans in the world.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
The woman who told me that her sister died of cancer and asked that one of my books be placed in her casket, prominently, so people would smile at her funeral. The sex therapist who uses my books. The woman who told me the tag line on my books should read, “Better than a vibrator!” The guy from Norway who told me he heard I wrote a book about him; his name was Magnus Ericsson.
The many readers who tell me that my books help them through hard times. The many readers who ask me how their husband/lovers can find their Viking S-Spot. The many readers who say their husbands and boyfriends now call them “heartling” or “sweetling,” after reading my books.
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Because I love reading them.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Not much. My husband and sons don’t think I’m funny at all. And when friends and relatives ask if I’ve done all the sexy stuff in my books, my usual response is, “I wish!” Actually, I think the heroines in my books are women I would like to be. Tall and thin, of course. Adventuresome. Brave. Willing to take risks. And I’ve noticed the oddest thing lately. My next three books have heroines with red hair (which I do not). Maybe subconsciously I see myself as a redhead.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I’ve always been a writer, from an early age. And I was a newspaper journalist before starting to write fiction.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
A lot less time than it used to. Lately, I have been taking 4-5 months. But, you know, if I had a year or two, I would procrastinate and still be writing like crazy in those last weeks. I don’t think they would be better books for having taken longer.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I used to say, when my sons were still in school, that I was most productive from 8-11 every morning after they and my husband left the house. I am still most creative during that time. I leave the afternoons for writing-related stuff.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I can only work on one book at a time because I write in multiple genres. If I get into the “head” of a tenth century Viking, I can’t just switch to a twenty first century Cajun.
- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
Since my sons are grown, the interruptions are infrequent. And, frankly, I welcome the interruptions from my young grandchilden, ages 8, 6, and 5.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I love to read. We stay most of the year at our cottage on a fishing creek, complete with its own island; so, it’s a retreat of sorts. I used to love going to estate auctions; still do, but I have too many “things” these days, and would rather downsize than continue to collect.
- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?
In general, my family and my religion. In my writing...it is who I am, my identity. I cannot not write. And every once in a while I read an outstanding book that makes me think that this is why I started writing and why I aspire to continue writing.
- Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. TV, books, movies, family, people around me, my hair stylist, a critique partner. I always say that I now have a built-in filter for everything I see and hear, something that tells me whether I could use that in a book.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
Absolutely. These are hard times we live in, and everyone needs to smile once in a while. It’s a survival skill, actually.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
To me, they are important IF the author makes me care about the characters. If I’ve fallen in love with the hero and heroine, I want to know everything, including what happens in their love life. I don’t find them difficult to write.
- What kind of research do you do?
Extensive. I always say I could do a doctoral thesis on tenth century Viking. Navy SEALs and Cajuns have also become my specialties. I have a huge library on all subject related to these three. In the old days, I used brick and mortar libraries more often than I do now. Thank God for the Internet.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
No, not at the present time. Humor is what I do best. I had thought about doing Viking vampires several years ago, but that boat has sailed. I’ve also considered erotica, but I don’t think I want to go that far in my books.
- What does your husband think of your writing?
He’s never read any of my books, nor have my four sons. I think they are afraid of what they will read. But they are all supportive.
- Do you ever ask him for advice?
I ask my husband lots of research kind of questions, usually related to history. He is a History Channel devotee.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I am married, for a gazillion years, to Robert, a stock broker. I have four sons and three grandchildren. Graduated from college and worked as a newspaper journalist before breaking into novels.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert - Creme Brulee.
City - New Orleans.
Season - Spring.
Type of hero - Alpha.
Type of heroine - Mature.
- What are some of your favorite things to do?
Read, cook, meet with friends, go antiquing, travel
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
Lots of favorite authors: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Mary Balogh, Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Brockmann, Rachel Gibson, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, etc.
- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
I first started being interested in writing novels after having read Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwess, Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey, but I didn’t actually put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) until the 1990s.
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
RWA and Ninc.
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
They are great if you have the right mix of partners. I love brainstorming.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope I will still be writing and being published.
- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
Writing all my life, writing books for about 15 or so years.
- How many books have you written, how many have been published?
More than 30, all published.
- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
I’ve never gone back and read the book the whole way through, but I have gone back to read parts. And, surprisingly, I’m usually pleased and wonder where I came up with a particular idea.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
Different books for different reasons. I will always love Etienne from FRANKLY, MY DEAR and SWEETER SAVAGE LOVE because he is my favorite type of hero...a tortured hero with a sense of humor. Magnus from THE VERY VIRILE VIKING because a guy with ten kids is just so clueless and loveable. THE LAST VIKING because I believe is combines of the best of all ingreadients in a time travel. PEARL JINX because I love the premise of treasure hunting in caves for cave pearls, and I loved my Amish Navy SEAL hero Caleb. My upcoming SO INTO YOU because of the premise, a man being head-over-heels in love with a woman, to no avail; usually, the reverse is the case. Also, VIKING HEAT is my Private Benjamin meets Stripes story. So funny! And poignant! Then there is my upcoming VIKING IN LOVE, a medieval version of the Dixie Chicks song “Goodbye Earl.” You will love Caedmon, and wait till you see what his clueless men do with apples.
- What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
The easiest...THE BEWITCHED VIKING. The most fun...THE VERY VIRILE VIKING. The hardest...PINK JINX because it was my first entry into more mainstream women’s fiction.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
Always different. Sometimes a title first. Sometimes a first line. Often the setting. Characters absolutely. Plot usually comes last.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
Compelling characters and humor.
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
Hardest is starting a new book. Gotta get that first page just right. It’s never easy.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
Not any more. They often surprise me.
- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?
Not exactly writers block. More like writers malaise. Sometimes I keep finding other things to do instead of writing, like baking a cake when the last thing I need is a cake.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
The readers. No question. And I like being paid to do something I love.
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Reading.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Persistence, persistence, persistence. If you really want it, you must hang in there and keep writing, even after rejection. Join a writers group. Find critique partners. Attend regional or national writers conferences. Enter contest where you get feedback.
- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?
- What do I think about buying used books?
I buy used books myself, but I try not to buy books that have just come out. Most readers don’t understand that when they buy a book new it is like a vote for that author in the publishers eyes; used book purchases do not count as any vote as all. Why should that matter? Because if the author does not get enough “votes,” the publisher will stop publishing that author, or stop publishing that author in that particular genre. Readers would be shocked at the named of some well-known authors who cannot sell a book today. And readers have often wondered why there are so many particular kinds of books saturating the market, or why books of a particular genre are no longer available. It’s the “votes,” pure and simple.
Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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PO Box 604
State College, PA, 16804
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