Author Intro with Desert Breeze Author Regan Taylor

Regan Taylor is a new author here to Desert Breeze! Welcome and thanks for taking time out on Christmas to hang out here with me on the blog.

From both Regan and I, and the authors and staff at Desert Breeze - Have a very merry Christmas with you and yours!

Steph

Now for the interview.

#1 -- How long have you been writing?

REGAN: Non-fiction since 1992'; fiction since 2003



#2 – Do you have a muse? If so, tell us about your muse.



REGAN: Oh yes. He's tall, blond and with green eyes. He likes to be in my books and does get a tad snarky when my hero is a brunette. Never tried a re head so I don't know what he'd do about that.

He tends to wake me in the middle of the night and then gives me a decision dream for my next scene.


#3 – Do you have any writing credits before coming to Desert Breeze?

REGAN: Yes.

Steph: Egg on me. I should have asked her what they were!

#4 – What genres do you like to write? Are they different from what you read?

REGAN: Mostly I write time travels and while the first book in my upcoming series with Desert Breeze is a time travel the rest of the series has what I hope readers will find an interesting twist on an old legend.

My guilty pleasure reading is westerns, both romance and straight western.


#5 – What are your hobbies?

REGAN: Reading


#6 – Where do you live? Does where you live inspire your writing?


In Marin County California. At times. The Photograph with Desert Breeze takes place in Napa, California. Book 2 does as well but there are scenes out at the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse and I've got some pictures I took out there that I use for inspiration.

STEPH: I'm down in Castaic, just north of LA. I've been up to Napa and Sonoma several times, the last in NOV 2007.

#7 – Did you do NaNoWriMo this year? Have you ever done it?

REGAN: I started to this year and got 47,000 words in before two things happened -- both good. I got the edits for a release elsewhere and I found a second job. The job has kept me out of writing but making bill payment easier for the past month.

['ve done it the past 4 years and each year finished a book which is now either published or contracted. I highly recommend it.


STEPH: Congrats! This was my first year and while it sucked the life out of me, I've got a book out of it! hehe

#8 – What’s your favorite movie?


REGAN: Final Countdown



#9 – Tell us three fun facts about yourself.



REGAN: I'm actually pretty boring but here goes.


One of my kitties is 21-1/3 years old (at that age you count in months) and is my vet's poster girl for That to do right for a kitty to live that long.

I read tarot

STEPH: Very cool about the tarot! I wouldn't mind having a reading. hehe


Hmmmmm, I'm actually very shy.



#10 – What’s your favorite – Christmas or New Years?


REGAN: Neither. For me from Thanksgiving till January 2 is a lot of needless drama and stress-based emotion. If you can't express those "joyous" and heartfelt feelings all year long are they real when you do it during that 6-7 week period? Now the Pagan new year (Samhaim or what cowans call Halloween) I do enjoy immensely. It's a time of renewal and growth. Time is very precious to me. As I've watched Molly -- the 21-1/3 year old kitty -- grow and go through her life I see more and more how each day needs to count and how precious life is. When my kitties have crossed the rainbow bridge, with each one, I've wished for just one more day. I do get that time in dreams, but it's not the same as holding someone or a beloved pet one more time. The most generous gift anyone can give me is their time be it to have a meal, go to a museum or simply go for a walk. Almost every night Molly and her brother Mel (who is 11) sit on the couch with me for a few minutes. I don't talk, they don't meow -- but they do purr -- we enjoy the quiet and each other's presence. When I go to a museum or meal with a friend we often don't speak but enjoy the simple silence of our time together. THAT is the best and greatest gift for me.

***********

Thanks for letting the readers here at Desert Breeze get to know you.
Smiles
Steph

The Reviews are in for Desert Breeze's "Christmas Stranger"

Marion Kelley Bullock's Christmas Stranger is the perfect book for the season. Melinda Jane Frazier, postmistress and farmer in Primrose, Missouri, accepts her single state. But her quiet existence changes overnight when strangers arrive during a blizzard. She hefts Papa's old rifle from the gun rack, cocks it and cracks the door open.

She opens her home to Zeke, a widower, and his young son Timothy. They fill her heart with unexpected Christmas cheer. Though Zeke insists he’s a drifter, Melinda begins to hope he’ll change. How can she bear to return to the lonely life she knew before Zeke drifted to her door?

*****

The Reviews:

Midnight Owl Reviews, Melinda
4.5 Stars

"A Christmas Stranger is a tale of one man’s wanderings leading him to a woman who has almost given up on love. Zeke has always moved from one place to another with his little boy, never expecting to stay more than a couple days. I loved that Melinda took these two in not knowing for sure if they will hurt her or not. These three were so great with each other to the point where you will cry at certain points and root for them at others. You will also want to give Zeke a hit upside the head so that he gets a bit of common sense. A really great read."

Here's a link to the complete review: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5099

********

Fallen Angels Reviews - Kara
5 Angels

"Christmas Stranger by Marion Kelley Bullock is a wonderful, gentle western historical, written in a style which reminds me of Catherine Anderson. The reader is quickly transported back in time and quickly achieves a real sense of the community, time and place...When you need a break from the upcoming busy holiday season, set aside a couple of hours and settle in to enjoy the heart-warming Christmas Stranger.


Here's a link to the complete review: http://fallenangelreviews.com/2009/November/kara-christmasstranger.htm

********

Coffee Time Romance - Matilda
4 Cups

"What a sweet and tender story about love, faith, and family. This is a great feel good read for anytime not just the holidays. Likeable characters in an entertaining read what more can you ask for? Go grab a copy."


Here's a link to the complete review: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/christmasstranger.html

******

Romance Junkies - Audrey Johnson
4 Stars

"CHRISTMAS STRANGER combines the magic of the Holidays with the enchantment of finding true love... Bullock’s use of verse and prayer in a truly God-fearing, caring community, teach the true meaning of faith. CHRISTMAS STRANGER beautifully demonstrates the wonder and meaning of the Season, and it will be impossible to finish this novel without discovering that your own spirit has been revived."

Here's a link to the complete review: http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Christmas_Stranger.shtml

Welcome guest blogger, Desert Breeze Author, P.I. Barrington

READING DIFFERENT GENRES

With the explosion of fantasy and computer graphed movies such as Twilight and now James Cameron's Avatar, more and more entertainment formats are intertwining genres' of fantasy, science fiction, murder mystery and romance. This is especially true with books, which spawned the crossover of genres' that literally began this snowball effect.

This, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.

It's my belief and my practice to read as many different genres' as I can, with the exception of non-fiction. Not only does it expand your mind, it expands your creativity and skill level.

One genre' can help another. An example would be world building and dialogue. If you're writing a science fiction novel, reading an historical genre' can help with using deferential dialogue: in other words, if you learn how people speak to a king or god or leader, you can transfer that type of dialogue into your science fiction if you have some type of authority figure that needs to be addressed with reverence or protocol. Historical genre' can also help with constructing a hierarchy of society in science fiction right down to where robots and/or alien characters stand. Cross-genre' reading almost always expands a writer's vocabulary, lending credence, authenticity, and descriptive prose to your most important tool: words!

If you write crime thrillers, reading a cozy mystery can give you comprehension of the way clues are distributed and relevant, an indispensable gift when crafting a murder plot. Cozies can also teach you how to create a suspect list and how to use 'red herrings' to throw the reader off for a surprise ending/twist.

Fantasy can give depth, conflict, excitement to your romance novel and make your characters not only interesting but on many occasions loveable in both the platonic and physical sense. Examples: Legolas in Lord of the Rings; Edward and Jacob in Twilight (definite romance/fantasy); Harry Potter & cast. Your characters' conflicts can grow and deepen as well with fantasy and/or paranormals and can include your main character's relationship with the supernatural. They can fear and hate it; you can give them the choice to sacrifice the fantasy/paranormal for love, hate, etc; they can use their fantasy/paranormal relationship to solve problems or crimes. Again, Fantasy and Paranormal can assist in world building and hierarchy construction as well as expanding on both these issues.

Reading different genres' aid writers in a myriad of ways and literally open up your particular genre' or genres' with uncountable facets like a high carat diamond. Not only that, but you just might discover an author or genre' that you love as well as your own standby favorite! I've been pleasantly surprised by other genre's that I expected to dislike and I've never regretted picking up a book that I normally wouldn't read and delving into it with an open mind. As that ancient television commercial used to say: Try it, you'll like it! I promise.

Welcome guest blogger, Desert Breeze Author, Melanie Atkins

A White Christmas? Not here!

I live in the Deep South, and I've never, ever seen a white Christmas. Sure, we had a dusting of snow, maybe an inch, a couple of weeks ago...but that was on December 5th. Weeks away from Christmas Day. My cats were startled by the quiet cold, by the way the damp snow chilled their paws. But they're adventurous beings, and they had a blast romping through it and exploring that new, strange world. The snow was pretty much gone by noon. Still, it was fun.

But snow on Christmas morning? It probably won't ever happen here in real life, even though I wish it would. Just once.

That's why I write. So I can make the improbable—and the impossible—happen. So I can bring fiction to life on the page, just for a little while. I love crafting an escape from the world, from the sagging economy and all the bad news. And while I write suspense, with plenty of dead bodies and baffling mysteries woven into the plot, the romantic twist guarantees a happy ending. Every time.

My next book with Desert Breeze, PRIME SUSPECT, is due out in February. It starts with a murder...but hang on for the ride, because I think you'll be smiling at the end.

Blurb: New Orleans Assistant District Attorney Marisa Cooper prosecutes murderers for a living, but the tables are turned on her when her ex-husband is found dead in her garage. To prove her innocence, she must team up with her former fiancée, Slade Montgomery, the detective who risks his career--and his heart--to help her find the real killer.

Hope you'll check it out! You can read more about PRIME SUSPECT and all of my projects at www.melanieatkin.com and http://melanieatkins.wordpress.com. Be sure to find me on Facebook and Twitter, too. (On Twitter, I'm melanie_atkins)
Thanks for allowing me to guest blog!

Welcome K Dawn Byrd - guest blogging about her ebook reader

Okay. I'll admit it. I'm one of those people who don't much like change. To be more accurate, I loathe change. When I'd heard snippets that ebooks were the way of the future, I fought it with everything in me. I've been a book collector for over 15 years and have well over 1,000 books in my home. For some reason, the very existence of ebooks threatened my beloved print books. I vowed that I would never buy an ebook, the enemy that might eventually extinguish the print books that I so love to hold in my hands.

My first experience with the enemy was when I read about an upcoming release on Michelle Sutton's blog. Her Danger at the Door was just the kind of book that I like to read. And, the mental health aspect woven into the plot piqued my interest as well. I followed the link to her publisher and found that it was available only in ebook format. I just HAD to have that book. I e-mailed Michelle and was told that if I wanted to read it that I'd have no choice but to read it in ebook format.

I failed at the first download to my Blackberry because I didn't know that having reader software on my Blackberry was a requirement. I e-mailed customer service at Desert Breeze and they were nice enough to send it to me in a format that I could read on my computer. On a mission, I wouldn't stop until I had what I needed to read it on the go. I downloaded the free Mobipocket software and have now read approximately 15 ebooks in .prc format since August.

That said, I absolutely love ebooks. I'm not killing trees, using expensive ink and lugging around a heavy objects. And best of all, I can read when I want my cell phone. I can read in bed with hubby right beside me and don't have to worry about disturbing him with a bedside light. I can adjust the font and backlighting and there's no need to spend money on an expensive Kindle or ebook reader since I have my cell phone with me at all times (many people have what they need to read an ebook in their pocket and don't realize it.) Also, ebooks are very inexpensive (Michelle's was $5.99 and many ebooks are free if they're in the public domain. Since I store ebooks on my computer (or a flash drive), they're not taking up room in my home and I can read them again if I choose.

I believe ebooks to the way of the future. After all, how many of us fought purchasing a microwave oven? A DVD player? A Cell phone? And, now an ebook? Progress will continue no matter how hard we try to fight it. I for one, hope that ebooks are here to stay.

Thanks for allowing me to share my experience. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

Featured Author Interview - Raine Falconer

Raine Falconer started writing 30 years ago, when she was living in Portland Oregon. She had been raised in Colorado and Arizona and she was firmly convinced that she had moved to an alien planet. What else could you do when it rained 300 days a year? She started to write.

Raine has a degree as a veterinary technician and she worked for years for a well known orthopedic veterinary surgeon. She's with Desert Breeze Publishing for her novel, "Twin Sons of Different Mothers."

It's great to have you here today. Raine.


#1 – Tell me about your muse – How long have you guys been hanging out?

I've been playing at writing for 35 years. It's a creative outlet which has always been enjoyable to me on a private level but only recently have I taken the next step...that of polishing and publishing...thanks to Gail Delaney and the crew at DBP. They're the best to work with!


#2 – Where did you find the inspiration for your new novel, “Twin Sons of Different Mothers.”

I think it's always been an idea that's been in the back of my mind. What happens when you take identical twins and subject them to sigificantly different upbringing? Obviously the extremes in this story are...well they're part and parcel of the story and it wouldn't have been the story without those extremes. Genetics has always fascinated me...

STEPH: I've always been interested in the same concept, Raine. It's no wonder, fellow author Celia Yeary said we had a lot in common. hehe

#3 - Cast the characters – Who plays Mac? Kieren? Mac?

Probably Adrian Paul...jeez, could we just clone him a bunch of times? Kieren-she's harder for me to identify, maybe Kyra Sedgewick but NOT with that corn-pone accent she uses in the Closer.

STEPH: I LOVE Kyra Sedgewick in the CLOSER!



#4 – I’m not familiar with the plot. Can you tell us a little bit more about the book?

Kieren is training her dog Kevin in a specialized type of scent discrimination and he figures in the identification of the murderer. Mac, the FBI profiler who comes in to assist with the prickly case falls for Kieren just as she falls for him. Though they work incredibly well together they have some real issues to work through personally, and the big question is.....do they? : ))



#5 – Do you still stay involved in veterinary medicine?

Since I bred and showed dogs for 35 years I've stayed involved as much as possible but it grows and changes as quickly as human medicine and is far more complex since it is the umbrella over a multitude of species instead of just one as in human medicine. I've always been fascinated by the really great vets because the other thing they don't have to work with is a verbal patient...(think about it!)



#6 – Where would you like to go visit in the United States that you haven’t been before?


The deep south and the northeast are big on my list.



#7 – Do you plot your novels out, or do you fly by the seat of your pants, going where the wind takes you?

I was pretty much a pantser with TSDM and I'm quite sure (grin) that I paid a big price in additional editing and revising on it. Much of my writing is, however, intuitive...it just seems to flow when my fingers are on the keyboard. I'm trying to organize myself on the second of the series however and I'm hoping that Gail and I will see FAR fewer edits because of it.....

STEPH: Gail rocks in my books. I know she works very hard on her edits.


It was nice to have you hear today, Raine.

Featured Author Interview - Marion Kelley Bullock, Christmas Stranger

Thanks for having me, Steph. I appreciate your interest in my newest novel, Christmas Stranger. I enjoyed writing it and getting to know the characters. I hope my readers will enjoy getting to know them, too, even my animal characters. Creatures like the donkey and the goat just seem to creep into my writing. Perhaps that's because my Abbie Cat often sits on my desk, or my lap, while I write.

STEPH: Abby sounds like a cool cat. hehe

#1 – Tell me about your muse. How long have you known her? Or him? (grin)

A muse has to do with Greek mythology, doesn't it? In high school and college, I read about the nine goddesses who supposedly presided over the arts and sciences. But it was all Greek to me (pardon the pun) .

I scribbled pictures in my notebooks and painted pictures. I wrote silly poems for my own amusement.

But I found my niche when assigned essays. One such effort referred to summer vacations, when my family camped out at the Morris Ranch on the Jim Ned Creek, near Coleman, Texas. I wrote: "I crawled from my sleeping bag at
daybreak and ran down the gravel beach for a plunge into the icy deep." Slight exaggeration — I couldn't swim.

It wasn't lying. It was simply a tall tale. Isn't that the very stuff that fiction employs?

STEPH: Ditto - fiction is just a tall tale you have in your mind. ;)

#2 – Where did you get the idea for Christmas Stranger?

Christmas Stranger came into being because of the germ of an idea. I read that in the old days many small towns had postmistresses. The job was ideal for women because they could locate the P.O. in their homes. I placed my heroine on a farm in Missouri, because I read of one such postmistress there. Also, my family lived there for a time. The idea grew and grew.

#3 – Cast the characters. Who is Melinda? Zeke?

Melinda gradually came alive in my mind. She loved the farm and didn't want to leave it, even after her papa died. But with only Brownie, her big lab, as company, she was lonely. She wanted God to send her a good man, one who would be content to live on the farm with her. She wanted a family.

Zeke? Well, he was more complex. A widower with a young son, he was a confirmed wanderer. One reviewer said she sometimes wanted to shake him. So did I. As a matter of fact, so did Melinda. But he declared he could never settle down again. Too much heartache in loving and losing.

STEPH: Your characters sound great, Marion. I picture a rugged, handsome devil for Zeke and a really sweetie for Melinda.

#4 – Why did you put the setting of Christmas Stranger in Missouri? Any special reason?

My family lived there for a time and I liked it. As I read up about farming and life in the 1800's, I became enamored with it. There you have it.

#5 – For those who aren’t familiar with Christmas Stranger, can you familiarize us with the plot?

Melinda lived alone at the edge of Primrose, Missouri. She farmed, sold milk, eggs and butter, and served as the town's postmistress. She'd had an opportunity to marry when she was younger. Mama had only been gone a couple of years then and Papa seemed so lost. There was no way she could have left him. Besides, she didn't want to leave the farm. So she told herself she was content, living there with her loyal dog.

When Zeke and Timothy arrived in the midst of a driving snowstorm, she swallowed her fear and invited them in. She fed them and put Timothy in Papa's room. Zeke slept in the barn, armed with Papa's warm coat and blankets. They stayed a while to make needed repairs after the storm. Gradually, Melinda began to believe they might stay forever. She dreamed that Zeke would ask her to marry him and they would be the family she yearned for. She knew Timothy shared her hopes.

But dreams don't always come true. Hopes aren't always realized. That's what this Christmas story is all about.

#6 – I see you like to read. What’s the book you’re currently reading?

I just finished reading Liam Roberts' The Y Factor. Next, I'm going to load Christmas Stranger on my Christmas present that arrived yesterday. A little Acer Netbook Aspire 1. After I read it, I'll read other ebooks by my fellow DBP authors. I've been reading them on my PC, with no problem. Now I can sit comfortably in my living room or in bed and read to my heart's content. One of these days, I plan to get one of the e-readers.

STEPH: Let us know which one you get!

#7 – I see you live in Texas. Tell us something about Texas that makes the state special to you.

Texas is a spectacular state. Its attractions include beaches, campgrounds, mountain ranges, and wide-open spaces. In a state this wide and diverse, you can find just about everything. (I'm a Texan, remember. So I get to brag). Seriously, though, Texas sunsets top the list for me. They stagger the imagination. If I got up earlier, the sunrises would probably affect me much the same.


STEPH: Texas sounds great, Marion. It's nice to see it through your eyes.

Featured Dec 09 Release - Christmas Stranger

ABOUT THE STORY:
Melinda Jane Frazier, postmistress and farmer in Primrose, Missouri, accepts her single state. But her quiet existence changes overnight when strangers arrive during a blizzard. She hefts Papa's old rifle from the gun rack, cocks it and cracks the door open.

She opens her home to Zeke, a widower, and his young son Timothy. They fill her heart with unexpected Christmas cheer. Though Zeke insists he’s a drifter, Melinda begins to hope he’ll change. How can she bear to return to the lonely life she knew before Zeke drifted to her door?


EXCERPT:
Timothy danced around the room. "I've got something for you. Wait here." He zipped into his room and returned, hands held behind his back. He handed her a card. "I wanted to give you flowers, but there weren't any — so I drew some."

A line of purple flowers staggered across the card. Under the blossoms, he'd printed I love you. Timothy.

Tears pooled in Melinda's eyes and she hugged him. She looked around to see Zeke's reaction, but he'd left the room. Maybe the moment was too sentimental for him. Or maybe she read too much of the Bible to suit him.

"Do you like it?" Timothy's eyes were bright, eager.

"Oh, thank you, Timothy. I love it." She wiped her sleeve across her eyes. "I have something for you, too, and for your pa." She heard the door close and saw Zeke walk back inside, with his hands behind his back. Thank goodness he wasn't upset by the Christmas spirit. What was he up to?

"Timothy, stop jumping around and come sit down. I've got something for you," Zeke said. He handed Timothy a box. When he opened it, Zeke started mooing and hee-hawing and making every different animal noise he could think of.

"Oh, Miss Melinda, look! Pa made 'em out of wood." Timothy's eyes shone with wonder. He jumped up and hugged Zeke. "Thanks, Pa. They're better than anything." He started marching them across the floor. "Here's Hotey and Bob and Becky and Brownie and Tiger. I love 'em, Pa!" Melinda pulled out two paper-wrapped packages. She handed one to each of them. "Just something I knitted," she said.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marion Kelley Bullock attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and attends their conferences.

Her articles, short stories, essays, and devotionals have appeared in Open Windows, Guideposts, Home Life, Church Administration, Mature Years, The Lookout, the Church Musician, Preserving Christian Homes, Living with Preschoolers, and other publications. She authored The Story of First Baptist Church Past and Present, (Olney, Texas). She also wrote Sunday school curriculum materials for preschool teachers and children, for several years.

She is a Christian and the wife of John W. Bullock, a semi-retired minister of music. They have three grown children and reared a grandson, now twenty-four. Their family is active in church and community, and Marion teaches adults in the Sunday school, is the pianist, and sings in the worship group.

Marion has worked at a variety of jobs, including church secretary, school nurse's assistant, Realtor, nursing home activity director, savings and loan clerk, and supervisor of preschool work in churches.

Aside from writing, Mrs. Bullock enjoys reading, painting, working crossword puzzles, playing musical instruments, and song writing. She and her husband love to travel.

Books by Marion Kelley Bullock at Desert Breeze Publishing:
Secrets of Old Santa Fe - July 2009
Christmas Stranger - December 2009

REVIEWS FOR CHRISTMAS STRANGER:
NIGHT OWL REVIEWS: 4.25
FALLEN ANGELS : 5
COFFEE TIME ROMANCE: 4

Featured Dec Release - Twins Sons of Different Mothers

ABOUT THE BOOK
People are dying in Colorado... violently and without apparent reason, stumping local police.

When Mac arrives in Colorado, his plan is to help an old friend solve the puzzle of the Alphabet Killer. On the tail end of a nasty divorce, he never expected to find a woman as intriguing and beautiful as his new, temporary partner - Detective Kieren Carlson. But she is both, and soon he finds himself as captured by Kieren as he is by the case.

Kieren is determined to solve the puzzle of the killings before more people have to die. With Mac's help, the truth is revealed one devastating and surprising detail at a time. But, can they stop the killer before someone else has to die?


*****
EXCERPT
"Superficially there seems to be no connection between any of the victims. No friends or employers… even acquaintances in common."

He was quick to point out that they might share a common connection through a professional relationship such as a dentist or family photographer but those were details they would need to correlate with time. Hopefully they would come upon something to lead them in the right direction.

"The cause of death in each case is garroting, though the wire or cord is missing. Generally we find that garroting is a method of choice when the death is intended to be quick and with little struggle. It must be accomplished by surprise. These people had no idea death stalked them. Undoubtedly they didn't see it coming."

He pointed at the names on the board. "Does anything stand out with regards to the names?"

He turned back to the group. Six pairs of eyes looked blankly at the board then back at him. Kieren, on the other hand looked like she was actually thinking about the question. She had written something in her notebook and busily connected words with long lines and arrows.

Mac continued. "What we do know about serial killers, statistically speaking, is that they tend to stay within their ethnic group. That is to say whites kill whites, African-American kills African-American etc. although there are notable exceptions to every rule. In this case we find that we have both women and children as victims, one Native American boy, and one child of mixed white and Asian heritage. These things make me question how these people are being picked. Is it truly a series of crimes of opportunity? Or were they picked for a reason and we don't know what that reason is yet? Detective Carlson, is there something you're seeing?"

Something flashed across Chase's face at the mention of her name, attracting Mac's attention, but he quickly covered it with a mask of control. "Yeah, Carlson…tell us what you see up there…" he muttered under his breath.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I started writing 30 years ago, when I was living in Portland Oregon. I had been raised in Colorado and Arizona and I was firmly convinced that I had moved to an alien planet. What else could you do when it rained 300 days a year? I started to write.

I have a degree as a veterinary technician and I worked for years for a well known orthopedic veterinary surgeon. They were some of the best years of my work life.

Books by Raine at Desert Breeze Publishing:

Unlikely Partners Book One: Twin Sons of Different Mothers - Available December 2009

Unlikely Partners Book Two: Pity the Pets - Available July 2010

Featured Author Interview - Sandra Sookoo from "Not Just Make Believe"

Thanks, Steph, for wanting to know more about NOT JUST MAKE BELIEVE. It was a joy to write.

A little about me. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a child and all through school I had two things that seemed to be a part of me. A book since I read at every opportunity and a notebook because I was constantly scribbling down my own stories. English grammar and literature were my favorite classes back in the day, but I lived—shined—in creative writing and would often entertain my classmates with my stories.


I’m so glad that today I’m one step closer to playing with the big dogs.

Anyway, now to your questions:

#1 – Tell me about your muse. How long have you guys been hanging out?

Hmm, that’s a hard one. I don’t think my muse has a name but she often makes an appearance with a groan—mine. This is what happens. I’ll be happily typing away on a story when midway through, the muse decides she’s got another, cooler idea and I need to work on it pronto. I give her “the look” and tell her no, I’m busy. She drops an anvil on my head like Bugs Bunny and screams “do it!” Really, she’s a horrible little thing, but she does give my awesome ideas.

In that case, I’ll jot down the ideas, maybe fiddle with an opening scene, and go back to the original book I’m writing. I fear the day there will be no more ideas.

STEPH: She sounds like a spunky little thing!

#2 – Where did you get the idea or inspiration for the plot of “Not Just Make Believe?”

Partially, when I set out to write the book three years ago, I had no plans to take my writing seriously and write for publication. I had asked my then nine-year old niece for an idea. She said write a story about a girl who lives in a hotel. Because I’m a huge fan of romance, happy endings and making characters squirm for that ending, I took her advice to heart and wrapped it all in a romance with a sarcastic twist.

The result? A funny, “keeping it real” Christmas romance. And yes, some of the thing that Andie has done have happened to me. I draw on life experience to base my contemporary novels on.

If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we have no chance. Luckily, I do embarrassing stuff all the time.

STEPH: I agree - laughter at ourselves is very important. Your book is on my reading list. It sounds great!

#3 – Cast the characters – Who plays Andrea? Maxwell?

Another tough one. I’m really liking the gal who plays the lead on the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva for Andie. Max? I don’t know. I haven’t really thought much about it.

#4 – I see you like to travel. What destination has been your favorite? Why?

Disney World, hands down, is my favorite place to go. Yes, I’ve been there like 9 times but each trip is different because the hotel sets you up for a new vacation. Because of the economy and other stressful events that have happened in life, my hubby and I had to cancel our anniversary trip to the World this year (we would have been down there this week). However, we’re planning to return next December.

The place was based on dreams and happy endings. What’s not to like?

STEPH: Our boys like going to Disneyland but we had to curb back a little this year. Hopefully, next year we can squeeze in a trip.

#5 – How did you get into collecting 1950’s retro aprons?

Funny story. I saw on of the frilly, girly confections at a store once and loved the glamour of it. Too expensive, I went to eBay. There is a huge call for these types of aprons. So, I bought a few and now the collection is growing. My sister gave me one for my b-day last August. I just think they’re impractical and sexy but they sure look good hanging in my kitchen. LOL

STEPH: It sounds like a really cool hobby, Sandra.

#6 – Did you have a real life inspiration for the character of Piper in “Not Just Make Believe?”

Yes indeed. My niece Jessica. She’s a powerhouse of energy and always has been. I wanted to capture that in a book, but I have to say, Piper is much more of a handful.

# 7 – How did you come up with title “Not Just Make Believe?”

When I wrote this book, the original title was Everyday Miracles. After a stint on the contest circuit, I thought it needed more of a punch so the title was changed to All I Want For Christmas is to keep my job. I loved that title. The book was requested partially and a full and after receiving rejections on it, Desert Breeze became interested in it. Gail had read the blurb on my website and inquired after it. I sent it over but the title was too long. After much debate, we finally settled on the current title.

STEPH: I think it's a great title.
#8 - What book are you reading right now?


Actually, when I’m in the middle of intense writing like I have been for the last month or so, I don’t read. It’s distracting, especially if it’s not in the same genre I’m working in. Every once in awhile I’ll pick up a book between projects or if I’m waiting on the hubs somewhere. I finished a novella from a big name print author a few weeks ago and came away very disappointed in the ending. That’s why I love trolling for e-books (I load them on my Microsoft reader on my laptop right now) Stuff coming out of New York is stale and over done. Same plot. Same story. E-pubs offer original material and I’m forever grateful for that.

I want an e-reader for Christmas. I think I’d be more apt to read more that way. I’m a computer/technology girl and have embraced the new trends. Can’t wait for the rest of the world to catch up.

Save a tree, save the planet, reduce your carbon footprint and buy e-books LOL

STEPH: Ditto. I want an ereader myself. I think the hubby ordered a Kindle... I can't wait to see if he wasn't teasing me or not.

Thanks for delving into my world for a bit. You can drop by my website http://www.sandrasookoo. The new version is almost ready to go live and I can’t wait! You can also find me on Facebook or at various blogspots around the web.

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Sandi, it's been great having you here today! Thanks for popping in. Keep the chestnuts roasting..