In The Spotlight: Author Sandra Orchard

It is my pleasure to introduce you all to Sandra Orchard! I have just read her amazing novel Fatal Judgement and LOVED IT!!!!! Romance, mystery, suspense, you name it, it had it all!! Here is a little bit about Sandra:

BIO ~
Sandra Orchard is a multi-award-winning Canadian author of inspirational romantic suspense/mysteries with Love Inspired Suspense and Revell. An active member in American Christian Fiction Writers, The Word Guild, and Romance Writers of America, she enjoys helping writers hone their skills. To find out more about her novels, and to read interesting bonus features, please visit www.sandraorchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Visit her blog this week and enter her giveaway for a chance to win Perilous Waters: http://www.SandraOrchard.com/blog

1)   Writing for the love inspired series must be different from writing a ‘normal’ novel. What can you share about this experience, especially since you have written and published a book independent of this series?
I thoroughly enjoy writing category length novels. I gravitate naturally to the tight, fast-paced style needed to make them work. They are easier in some ways to write, in that I don’t have to juggle as many subplots, but I inevitably end up with far more plot than I can fit in and must selectively pair it down to the elements that work best. Since I’ve written far more of these books than the three I’ve written for my Port Aster series with Revell, I consider them my normal. J However, I do love the room to widen my cast of characters and deepen characterizations afforded by the longer novels.

2)   When and where do you write best?
If my daughter kindly agrees to type my rough draft, I write best with pen and paper in a quiet room. However, since she now has two little ones keeping her plenty busy, I now tend to write best at my desktop computer with a CD called Happiness (piano music) playing VERY softly in the background, on a picturesque gray white screen, devoid of any type of word processing icons, in a software called Omniwriter, because it helps me to focus on writing, not editing.

3)   You must get asked this questions a lot, but what inspired you to write about Fatal Inheritance?
A couple in our church has two “horseless carriages” which they sometimes drive to church and for several years I told myself that one day I’d write a story that included them. Once I interviewed them, I couldn’t believe I’d waited so long! They shared fascinating stories about numerous tours they’ve been on with other enthusiasts. And of course, my mystery-writing mind was contemplating all kinds of ways bad guys could cause havoc on the tours. I scarcely scratched the surface with this book!

4)   Out of all the books you have written, do you have a favourite or one that has a special meaning for you?
Each book holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. I especially like Shades of Truth, inspired by the work of our pastor’s daughter at a youth detention center, and Critical Condition, inspired by the cancer fight of a dear writing friend and the steadfast love and support of her amazing husband through the twenty-year battle.

5)   Do you have a favourite bible verse?
”The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter until the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18

6)   If Hollywood made a film based on one of your books, which one would you prefer? Who can you see acting as the main characters?
Oooh, I think it would be fun to see them all as movies! But Deadly Devotion would probably be my first pick. Whereas my Love Inspired Suspense novel heroes are usually inspired by Mark Wahlberg, the dark and brooding Tom of Deadly Devotion is more suited to a young Hugh Jackman, and Kate would be Amy Adams.

7)   Can you speak any other languages other than English?
Franglais 😉 and a bit of sign language

8)   How do you like to spend your free time?
Playing with my grandchildren, hiking with hubby, reading a good book, or talking writing with fellow writers, including my younger daughter who just finished the first draft of her first novel, although she was published in short fiction long before I saw my first contract.

9)   5 interesting facts about yourself are:
-I love math, am one of those rare few that actually enjoy doing tax returns. J

-I’m a Jill of all trades; can install plumbing fixtures, hang a door, siding, install a window, build a barn, lay flooring, do trim work, and…have done wide variety of crafts from knitting, sewing, needlepoint, folk art painting. I pretty much did it all before I wrecked my back and started writing. J

-I homeschooled my children from kindergarten through to high school graduation

-I have an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science degree, sum cum laude, with a major in math and taught high school math before staying home to raise my children

-I won a silver medal in the Ontario Summer Games as a youth for orienteering and in the North American Orienteering Championships the same year.

10)   What is your favourite time of the year?
Spring, I get downright giddy every time I see new flowers burst out.

11)   What challenges arose whilst writing Fatal Inheritance?
Ooh, boy, mere weeks before deadline, I realized that the hero wasn’t who I thought it was. I’d never written by the seat of my pants, but I ended up finishing this book that way. It turned out to be an exhilarating experience.

12)   Fatal Inheritance had so much in it in so few pages! How did you do it?
I think this might be where my mathematical/logical bent comes in handy. I love to plot and I love to keep the reader guessing as to who the bad guy is, so I try to create elements that can do double and triple duty.

13)   I am aware that you have recently or are going to release your next book. What would you like to tell us about it?
Perilous Waters is already available at Harlequin.com and will be on store shelves and release from online retailers in early April. Each week on my blog this month (March), I am featuring some fun background details on the inspiration behind the story, in addition to the bonus features I offer for every book.
Here’s the book’s blurb:
UNDER SUSPICION 
For FBI agent Sam Steele, there’s no room for error or emotions on his latest undercover assignment. Getting close to gallery owner Jennifer Robbins while on an Alaskan cruise is the only way to catch her dealing stolen art. Out on the icy seas, Jen suddenly goes from suspect to victim when she’s targeted by a deadly enemy. And Sam’s mission goes from investigating an art crime to protecting the woman who’s begun to melt his heart. As danger looms closer, he’ll do anything to save her life—even if it costs him his own.

14) Was it difficult getting your first book published? How did you overcome these hurdles?
When I started writing fiction, I went in with my eyes wide open, knowing that it usually takes years and many manuscripts before a writer lands her first contract. So I persevered, read every book on writing craft I could find, wrote, wrote and wrote, attended conferences, paid for critiques, took online workshops and entered contests. I only began this journey a little less than ten years ago, and it is amazing how the available resources and avenues open to new aspiring writers has exploded in that short amount of time. But I am glad for the “apprenticeship” years I had as an aspiring writer. The Lord’s timing was perfect.

 

ATTN: Giveaway!!!!!!

Over this next week, Sandra is having a giveaway on her blog, as well as some other cool stuff! So don’t be afraid to pop in and say hi, and don’t miss out on learning more about her latest release Perilous Waters.