Sandra D. Bricker has been publishing in both the Christian and general market for years with novels for women and teens, magazine articles and short stories. With 11 novels in print and 5 more slated for publication through 2012, Sandie has carved out a niche for herself as an author of laugh-out-loud comedy for the inspirational market. Sandie was an entertainment publicist in Hollywood for 15+ years for some of daytime television’s hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she left Los Angeles to provide care … and begin her writing career! Sandra has one novel releasing today and the other releases in October:
September 1, 2010: Always the Baker Never the Bride – Abingdon Press
Just ask Emma Rae Travis about that. A baker of confections who is diabetic and can’t enjoy them? When Emma meets Jackson Drake, the escapee from Corporate America who is starting a wedding destination hotel to fulfill a dream that belonged to someone else, this twosome and their crazy family ties bring new meaning to the term Family Circus. The Atlanta social scene will never be the same!
October 1, 2010: Love Finds You in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California – Summerside Press
Annie Gray has an epiphany: she is not living the life she’s always dreamed of. She decides to start fresh, drawing inspiration from her favorite classic Hollywood films. First, Annie moves into the picturesque Carmel bungalow belonging to her grandmother – a retired film star. Next up: landing an exciting job as a private investigator’s assistant. But Annie’s new boss is no Humphrey Bogart, and the work isn’t quite what she pictured. Just when everything in Annie’s screen-worthy plan teeters on the brink of disaster, she has another epiphany. Will this one land her in the arms of her own leading man?
RECOGNITION for Sandra D. Bricker:
- Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas is a 2009 finalist in the inspirational category of The Write Touch Readers’ Awards.
- Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas is a 2009 finalist in the inspirational category of The National Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas is a 2009 finalist in the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest.
- Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida is a 2010 finalist in the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest.
- Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida is a 2010 finalist in the Booksellers’ Best Awards.
Sandra, thank you for stopping by to visit with us today. Congratulations on the release of Always the Baker, Never the Bride on September 1st.
Thanks so much! I’m really excited to be here.
With three novels (The Big 5-OH!, Always the Baker, Never the Bride and Love Finds You in Caramel-by-the-Sea, California) releasing in 2010 (and three novels released in 2009), how have you juggled writing new novels and marketing the newly released novels?
In the beginning, it was quite a challenge, especially since I also work a full-time “day job,” so 40+ hours every week belong to someone else. But once I got into the groove of scheduling, it started to fall into place. Normally, the contracted novel has to be turned in about 8 months to a year before it’s released. So once the book has been written and turned in, that’s when I work on the proposals for the next ones. As those proposals make their rounds, I work on the revision edits of the contracted books. It’s kind of like one of those circus acts where they run around from one pole to the other to keep the plates spinning.
Would you share how you plot?
I’m not really a plotter, at least not in terms of outlining my whole story before I start writing. I usually start with one or two scenes or situations in my head, and I use that to inspire me as I write by the seat of my big old pants.
You’ve written romantic comedy, romantic suspense, mystery, and novels for middle grade readers. What is your favorite genre to write? To read?
Romantic comedy seems to be where publishers want me, and what continues to sell to them. It was a bit of an accident that this is the genre where I’ve been branded, so publishers are going to buy from me what they think my readers will want, and that has turned out to be romantic comedy. I don’t really regret that because I’ve always been a big fan of the genre, but for some reason it’s just not where I’d expected to land as a writer. Now that I have a few of them under my belt as a writer, however, it feels like home.
My preference to read is normally suspense. I really love a book that will keep me thinking, and that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
You have a Collie named Sophie, I have a rescue Jack Russell Terrier named Sophie! My favorite thing about my Sophie is that she loves unconditionally. The scariest thing is that she likes to hunt and has killed many snakes, including a copperhead that she killed (but it bit her and sent her to the ER for two days). What is your most favorite thing about your Sophie and scariest (if you have one)?
Oh wow. I’m sorry about your Sophie’s drama! Jack Russells are such high energy explorers though, so it’s not surprising that she went flying into battle against the wrong opponent. My Sophie is more of a comedienne. She’s always doing funny things to entertain me, and she really responds when I start to laugh at her. Sometimes I’ll watch her laying in the grass in the back yard, staring up at the sky, and I swear I can just see her wheels turning about what she’s going to do next. The only thing about her that really scares me is that she’s so unbelievably sensitive. If I raise my voice and correct her, she completely falls apart and takes it to heart, to the point of making herself sick. I have to keep that in mind all the time.
Sounds like your Sophie has a tender heart. So sweet!
I see you co-wrote a novel, Be Still and Let Your Nail Polish Dry, with Loree Lough. She is such a sweetie, was it a laugh a minute working with her? And how did you plot a novel with three authors?
Loree is truly one of my dearest friends. I’ve known her for ten years or more. She was one of my biggest supporters when I had cancer, and she’s one of the first writers I turn to when I need to brainstorm a new plot. Working with her on Be Still was a joy; all four of us really forged a special bond through that process, but it was a special situation in that it wasn’t a novel. It was a devotional, so each of us knew what our role was, but we worked on our portions of the book individually. I’m not sure I’d be able to plot a novel with anyone else.
Oops, I didn’t notice Be Still was a devotional, that cover so looks like a novel! I need to spend more time researching instead of being a SOP interviewer!
Thank you for stopping by to visit today Sandra, it’s been fun having you!
Thanks so much for having me.
WEB SITE: For more information, visit the author’s Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com.
Nice interview, Heidi. Sandie is one of my favorite romance authors. She has such a knack for incorporating humor and setting into her stories, and she writes heroines I can relate to.