Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!
With us today is Romance Author, Sandra Sookoo.

Welcome, Sandra!

Describe a typical day in the life of Sandra Sookoo.
Well, I get up around 7 a.m. and make sure the hubby is up too. Then I get his pills ready to go for the morning. While he’s getting ready for work and eating breakfast, I check email and social media. Once he’s out the door, I start my work day. Usually (if I don’t have errands to run) I spend a couple of hours working on writing or writing related stuff in the morning. After lunch I switch over to my freelance editing work then in the evening, if I still have energy after making dinner, etc., I go in for another writing session. Though some of this is modified since the hubby’s heart attack.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance … Writing
Summertime … Air conditioning
Disney World … Happy place
Winnie the Pooh … wise fellow
David Sookoo … soul mate

How many times have you been to Disney World? What is your favorite place there?
Oh, let’s see… At least ten times. I came to Disney late in life. My first trip wasn’t until I was 25 years old, but I’ve been in love with Walt and his mission since I was ten. He’s been my inspiration for my writing career. My favorite place at Disney World? Surprisingly, there are two and they’re hotels instead of parks. First, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I adore the easy access to the animals as well as the history/pictures of actual African safaris from the late 1800s. And the second is the Wilderness Lodge. I love walking the trails over the property and just “being”. The lobby is an awesome place to people watch. Hmm… okay, maybe I do have a special place in the parks. Magic Kingdom still makes me giddy.

What is your favorite junk food?
Cayenne flavored potato chips. Can’t get enough even when my eyes water from eating them lol

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Bake and cook. Also visit the Indianapolis Zoo. Animals are a great relaxation.

What are you a collector of? (ie: types of knick-knacks, purses, shoes, etc)
I have a few purses I actually like, but besides books, I suppose I’m a big fan of comfortable flats (shoes) Other than that, I’m not a collector. Just don’t have the room. Oh, but I do have an awfully large collection of Bare Minerals makeup…

If we were to come over to your house for dinner, what dish would you make us?
Depends on what you like, allergies, etc. lol But I’ve found almost everyone enjoys my turkey meatballs.

What is your favorite meal to prepare that you and your husband love?
Probably the simplest: pasta with olive oil, garlic and red pepper flake.

What is your least favorite household chore?
All of them? Lol But honestly, it’s dusting.

Have you read any books that have made you cry?
I’m sure I have cried over books. I just can’t remember one in particular off the top of my head. I’m more a crier over movies.

What three words best describe you?
Determined. Funny. Loyal.

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go? (Besides Disney World *g*)
Lol I’d love to visit Hawaii (though my hubby’s not a good flyer) Right now, as we’re still in the grips of the eternal winter, anywhere with sunshine and warmth sounds good.

What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?
Hmm, I do have pet peeves, but I think I’ll keep them to myself 

What is the most played song on your stereo/iPod/?
Well, I don’t have an iPod, so do most of my listening on my laptop when writing. Right now, it’s “Let it Go” from Idina Menzel OR “Timber” by Pitbull and Ke$ha. Though favorites change daily.

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
Anything Bruno Mars sings.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
LM Montgomery, Gregory McGuire, Michael Crichton, Donna Andrews, Elizabeth Peters. The list can go on and on, then we’d be here all day lol

Who/What are you currently reading?
The fourth book in the Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery. I’ve gone back to the classics for a bit.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Finding time to fit everything into the schedule. This year I’ve been forced to chop about ¾ of my planned work off the schedule. Releases for me will be few and far between in 2014. That’s okay.

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
Just remember that most of it is just noise. I’ve never been a “herd follower” so I’ve not been one to chase trends or write what everyone else is writing. I write what I enjoy and what’s quirky and true to me. I think readers like that. When the business gets overwhelming, I take a break from social media and all the “blah blah blah” for a while.

Did you always want to be an author?
Yes, from the age of ten. It’s was either that or a cake decorator, and I really suck at that, so it’s good writing has always been there for me. It was a great distraction from the crappiness that real life was.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
That largely depends where I am in life when I start a story. It’s different for each one.

 

Blurb for To Bed or To Wed

When an impromptu kiss captures the imagination, either a spark will ignite or family interference will snuff the match.

Charlotte Darrington adores being adored by the men in her circle. She’s in London at the request of her mother, and though her parent wants her to find an eligible gentleman and start a family, Charlotte delays. In her heart of hearts, she wants a man who can hold his own and won’t be cowed.

Nathan Brigham, Marquess of Ravenhurst, is annoyed with the interfering redhead leading his nephew into the evergreen maze. When he would have delivered a dressing down, she stops his words with a kiss. No matter that he finds her attractive and a welcome distraction from his darkly brooding life, he refuses to succumb to Charlotte’s charms. Above everything, he won’t become the savage man his father was.

Once they return to London from a house party at his country estate, the two can’t avoid each other. Stolen kisses and heated glances in shadowy halls as well as a questionable visit to White’s draw them closer. He can’t forget the demons from his past while her persistence to hear a declaration begs the question: to bed or to wed?
Excerpt:
One more turn and they’d arrive at the heart of the evergreen maze.

“Watch yourself, woman. You shouldn’t order me about.” She imagined she felt his anger flowing in her direction. “And if you persist in defying me, I will unleash my temper without regret.”

“Oh, bother.” Her pulse pounded. That legendary temper. She trembled but couldn’t decide if she wanted to see it or not. “Then, for the love of God, say nothing once we…” There was no more time for further conversation. They both entered a quaint circle in the heart of the maze. On a brilliant summer’s day, a quiet conversation or assignation at one of the stone benches would be ideal, but on a winter’s night, in the clear cold air, it was unfortunate.

A blond man she assumed was Jamie’s lover sat on a bench, breeches unfastened enough that his erect shaft had sprung free. In her shock, Charlotte pressed a hand to her mouth. She couldn’t look away from Jamie. He dropped a gentle kiss on the man’s lips then knelt in front of him. Seconds later, he took the engorged length into his month. The blond buried his hands into Jamie’s hair and guided him downward. Neither man noticed Charlotte or the marquess. Both men wore expressions of intense bliss. Soft sounds of enjoyment drifted on the air.

Behind her, Charlotte caught the swift intake of breath that signaled the marquess would either bellow or speak. Quickly, before they were discovered, she pulled him from the maze’s center and back the way they’d come. She gained the first turn before he stopped moving. He simply halted and she had no choice except to stop as well. The man wouldn’t budge. His arm tensed beneath her mittened fingers. The marquess resembled a boulder when he dug in his heels. “Lord Ravenhurst, please allow them privacy,” she whispered. “Let us return to the house and you can ring a peal over my head if you want. I shall be glad to take full responsibility.”

“I will do no such thing. I need—”

“Bollocks. Keep your voice down, you impossible man. There are worse things than your nephew finding love, however illicit.” I cannot imagine how this scandal will play out. I’m so sorry, Mother. Desperate that he’d interrupt what was meant to be a private and intimate moment, Charlotte could think of only one way to silence the angered lord. She crushed her fingers in the lapels of his greatcoat, stood on tiptoe, and smashed her lips to his cold mouth in an impromptu kiss.

Buy links for To Bed or To Wed:
Amazon
All Romance ebooks
ibookstore
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Author Bio:
Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction. In the past couple of years she’s concentrated on funny contemporary romance as well as Regency-era romance, but she will, on occasion, write paranormal or sci-fi. Whether you like sweet or erotic heat levels, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with. She’s also a hybrid author, choosing to publish both with small presses and doing the indie thing.

Offered representation in February 2014 by Scott Eagan at Greyhaus Literary Agency for Victorian-era historical romances, Sandra’s been hard at work researching, planning and writing a new series. When not immersed in creating new worlds and engaging characters, Sandra likes to read, bake, taste new teas, watch The Big Bang Theory and Psych as well as Finding Bigfoot, and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World: it’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. When she’s not writing or inventing new recipes, she spends time with her husband—goofing off and making moments count. Life’s too short to be serious all the time.

Sandra loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at sandrasookoo@yahoo.com, visit her website at http://www.sandrasookoo.com, or look her up on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media links:
Website
Believing is Seeing blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon page

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~