Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

MEET THE AUTHOR: SANDRA OWENS


I’m very happy to introduce you to 2013 Golden Heart Finalist, Sandra Owens.

sandra_headshot_md

The first line on Sandra’s home site says it all:

If you love sexy, tortured heroes and feisty heroines who find their Happily-Ever-Afters in spite of everything, then welcome to Sandra’s world. Sandra lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Most days, you can find her with her fingers on a keyboard, her mind in the world of her imagination. It’s a land where romance and happy endings exist, a land where anything is possible.

Sandra graciously answered my snoopy inquisitive questions on her writing process and a few on personal preferences:

What do you write?

First, Jacquie, thank you so much for inviting me here today.

I write both historical and contemporary.

 

What genre do you favor?

I loved writing the historicals, but my preference is the contemporaries. There’s so much more leeway to write a contemporary story, and I love writing about strong, independent, contemporary women, and the men they tame.  

 

When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

In my mid-twenties, I wrote a dozen or so short stories just for the fun of it. It wasn’t until later in life that I decided to get serious about my writing.

 

Are you published?

Yes. My first two published books were Regencies, THE TRAINING OF A MARQUESS, and, THE LETTER. My recent release is a contemporary romantic suspense. CRAZY FOR HER, a 2013 Golden Heart® finalist, is the first in a five book series of the men of K2 Special Services. Book two, SOMEONE LIKE HER, is due out January 6th.

 

Where can you be found on social media?

 

Website or blog: www.sandra-owens.com

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SandraOwensAuthor

Twitter: @SandyOwens1

 

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/embracingr/sandra-owens/

Linkedin: N/A

What do you think is the best way to publish these days?

For me personally, traditional. But I don’t think there is a right or wrong way. I think there are so many possibilities in the world of publishing today, and it’s a matter of what your goals are.

 

What are your favorite genres to read? Why?

Romantic Suspense. I love the romance and the edge of your seat thrills.

Do your characters talk to you?

They absolutely do. Unfortunately, their favorite time to talk is when I’m trying to go to sleep. Apparently, they don’t need sleep.

 

How do you approach starting a new book?

The only thing I must know to start is the book title, the H/h names, and the first line. Once I get those, I’m ready to go.

 

What is your writing process?

I’m a panster who is trying to learn to do a bit of pre-plotting. For the book I’m writing now, I wrote a synopsis before I started (not an easy thing for me to do), and I completed a fifty question questionnaire on my hero and heroine.

 

What are the best writing books or blogs you’ve ever read?

My favorite writing books are: GOAL, MOTIVATION & CONFLICT, A WRITER’S GUIDE TO CHARACTERIZATION, ON WRITING (by Stephen King), and STEIN ON WRITING. Three other books I use frequently are: THE EMOTION THESAURUS, THE POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS, AND THE NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS, all by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

What was your best date ever?

A weekend in Key West with my husband when we were still dating. He arranged to have a private dinner served to us on the beach with the whole shebang – small table, candles, china, wine and a scrumptious meal. Very romantic!

Navy SEAL or cowboy?

SEAL

Chocolate or chips?

Chocolate

Fancy restaurant or picnic?

Picnic

Beer or wine?

Wine

Favorite author?

Pat Conroy

Smooth or hairy?

Smooth

Crazy For Her Official Cover!!!

CRAZY FOR HER Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00MNNI41O

CRAZY FOR HER excerpt:

Standing close enough to feel the heat from Logan’s body, Dani fought the crazy urge to lean into his protective warmth. Moving to put more space between them, she faced him.

“Hello, Logan. Thanks for coming.” Once Evan had been their link—the friendship among the three of them had been easy and fun. Now that it was just the two of them, it was awkward. Eyes she’d always thought never missed a thing raked her from head to toe.

“You’re not sleeping,” he said, proving her right.

She laughed. “As usual, straight and to the point. I’m relieved to know you haven’t changed. I’m fine, thank you, and you?” she said, more to tease him than to remind him of social niceties.

Her reward was a slight twitch of his lips. “Forgive me. How are you, Dani?”

“I’ve been better. Come inside. Have you had lunch?”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to inconvenience you.”

Inconvenience her? She’d waited for him to get in touch with her after Evan’s death. One lousy phone call, was that asking too much? “Hi, Dani, you doing okay?” or “Hi, Dani, I miss my friend and I knew you’d understand.” But nothing. No call, no visit, no hint he cared.

“Bloody hell, Logan. If you’re gonna treat me like a stranger, then you can get back on your bike and go find someone else to annoy.”

“Bloody hell? Still writing those bodice rippers, are you?”

“They’re Regency romances. And no, I’m writing children’s books now.”

“I hope you’ve resisted inserting a ‘bloody hell’ here and there.”

Dani punched him on the arm, and he poked her back, his eyes turning soft as he looked down at her. Her resentment faded as fast as it had arrived because . . . because? She gave a little shake of her head. There’d been something in his expression—sadness, maybe?—but it’d disappeared before she could be sure.

“Come inside.” She climbed the steps ahead of him.

“What’s this?” He grabbed the gun resting at the small of her back.

She tossed him a look of mock astonishment. “Why, Logan, I would have thought you of all people would know that’s a gun.”

“Smart-ass woman.” He held it up for inspection. “Why’s a snub-nose special tucked into your waistband?”

“The answer to that is the reason I asked you here.” She opened the screen door and when he was inside, closed the heavy wood door, sliding both deadbolts into place. When she caught his eyes following her actions, she shrugged. “You’ll understand soon enough.”

Wow, great excerpt, Sandra 🙂

Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with us today. Sandra loves to communicate with her readers. Share your thoughts on the gorgeous cover of her book, Crazy For Her.

Have you read any of Sandra’s books? What did you think? 

32 Replies to “MEET THE AUTHOR: SANDRA OWENS”

  4. Hi Sandra, I am so happy for all of my Lucky 13 sisters! And yes, I have read Sandra’s books and loved them. But I can’t wait for the RS because it’s my favorite genre as well. It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with all of the books coming out of our GH class.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Sandy, please, please put that Key West date in a book:)
    January is just around the corner! Crazy for Her is crazy good and I can’t wait for more men of K2 and their women!

    Liked by 2 people

    2. LOL, Miranda, I should use that, shouldn’t I? 🙂 I can’t believe it’s almost January. Where has it gone? The only good thing about the time passing so fast is we’re just that much closer to RWA #15 and seeing all the Lucky 13’s again.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Anna, believe me, as a panster, it was very hard to write the synopsis, and I don’t necessarily expect the end story to be the same as the synopsis, but it did help give me a direction I hadn’t had with my other books. Whether I’ll do that again, I don’t know. However, the character interview, yes, that is definitely something I’ll do with every book from now on. I closed myself up in a room and read the questions out loud, and putting myself in the role of my hero/heroine, I had to give the first answer that came to mind. There were some surprises. That doesn’t mean I’ll use everything from the questions, but I felt like I knew my H/h better when I began the book than I ever had before.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Hi, Sandra. I’m a sucker for suspense and romance mixed together, along with a bit of adventure. I really like something else going on besides just the emotional tension between the h/h. One of my all time favorite movies is Romancing the Stone. BTW, I’ve never heard of the Thesauruses you mentioned. I’ll have to check them out. Great interview!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Larissa,
      I loved that movie also 🙂 Jane Wilder is a perfect example of a slightly nerdy, strong, sexy heroine! As to the Thesauruses, I highly recommend them, they are loaded with visceral senses which help me out a lot when the old brain is on vacation, lol

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    2. Larissa, thanks so much for stopping by! Definitely agree with you on Romancing the Stone. Loved that movie. Yes, those Thesauruses are a terrific aid in writing about the emotions of your characters. Highly recommend them!

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  9. Sandy! Wonderful interview & excerpt, my Lucky Sis! And am in complete agreement on all things–chocolate, smooth, wine, pantsy, and nightly visits from chatty insomniac characters. 🙂

    Oh, and your husband sounds like a total keeper! *swoons*

    Can’t wait for your next book to be released in the wild!!!!

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Hi Sandra,
    That is a great excerpt. It was short enough but at the end of it I know
    a) a bit about their past relationship
    b) that she cares for him
    c) that he probably cares for her too
    d) that there is a mystery/danger lurking.

    Really nice,
    Sylvie

    Liked by 2 people

    2. Thank you Sylvie! I love reading book excerpts, but one thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes they are really long, and I’ll end up skimming them. That taught me a lesson. Don’t wear out your welcome when it comes to excerpts. Keep them short, but attention getting. 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Sandra, I’m in awe that all you need is the h/H names and the first line to start writing a new book! Congratulations on all the well-deserved success with your K2 series. Crazy For Her is such an entertaining read. Can’t wait for the next one 🙂 Terrific interview!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Krista. I’ve always had an easy time with the beginning of a book. It’s the middle that I struggle with. I can honestly return the compliment – Broken Places was a great read, and I’m definitely looking forward to your next one. So great to see all the books coming out by the Lucky 13s!

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