The Romance Reader's Connection

OCTOBER AUTHOR OF THE MONTH

 

 

 

Sandra 

Brown 

 

Click on cover to purchase book.

 

by Mellanie Crowther

Sandra Brown, author of fifty New York Times bestselling books, began her career in television, doing feature reports on "PM Magazine," a nationally syndicated program. Sandra's broadcast experience was good preparation for her career as a bestselling novelist, readying her for promotional tours and public speaking. Sandra began writing in 1981, and has since published 62 books and won numerous awards. Sandra first came to public notice as an author with romances she wrote for Bantam Loveswept. Arguably the most famous alumna of the now-defunct line, Sandra Brown has shifted gears and now writes mainstream fiction with a thrilling edge of suspense that frequently keeps readers up far into the night, turning page after page.

With such extraordinary success comes extraordinary pressure, some of it self-imposed. Sandra holds herself to a high standard of quality and will not submit a manuscript that does not meet her expectations. She once scrapped a book after seven months of work, because it just wasn't working out. Additionally, she is reluctant to disappoint her many fans, who she says expect a book from her every year.

Known for her solid family life and conservative Christian values, Ms. Brown never allows the dark side of her stories to triumph. Good will always overcome Evil in her print universe. Sandra is surprisingly uncomfortable about reaction to her books, preferring not to ego-surf the web checking out reviews. With one of her books having been made into a TV-movie, and several others optioned for feature films, there can only be more success in Sandra's future.

This month, Sandra's book HELLO, DARKNESS hits bookstore shelves, and Sandra kindly agreed to be interviewed as our October Author of the Month.

MC: HELLO, DARKNESS has been described as gritty, edgy, and compelling, among other adjectives. Is this book as dark as it's gotten for you? Could you go darker, edgier?

SB: The subject matter for HELLO, DARKNESS, sexual predators on the internet, is a sobering topic. I didn't set out to write a "dark" book, but how could it not have some edginess with that as the subject matter?

MC: How does the edginess of thriller plots affect your ability to incorporate humor and snappy repartee into the stories?

SB: I try to make the characters of every book as human as possible, as identifiable as possible. A sense of humor is a component of a character's personality. That doesn't necessarily mean they have knee-slapping laughs, but they can have smart and snappy comebacks in dialogue.

MC: What character is most like you, if any of them?

SB: None of my characters are like me. They are much braver, smarter, etc.

MC: Obviously one of your goals is to write books that readers just won't be able to put down. With the enormous success you've achieved, unparalleled by most of your peers, do you find yourself driven to write in certain ways, or to include specific subject matter?

SB: I like to know that readers were unable to put down a book, and I like to think that's because I've written an engaging story about compelling characters that the readers care about. I don't appeal to specific subject matter. Rather, I write about something I find interesting and hopefully my readers will too.

MC: One of your most successful books was SUNSET EMBRACE, a story that fans still talk about all these years later. Any possibility of writing more historical stories?

SB: I loved writing the three historicals, but at this point I do not plan to write any more. However, who's to say what's in the future?

MC: Do you do more publicity or less at this stage in your career? Do you enjoy doing tours and book signings? What's the most unusual thing that has happened to you in the course of publicizing your books?

SB: I do promotions, but it's generally a different kind than the tours and book signings I did earlier in my career. Now, I mostly speak only at the request of my publisher, do interviews that they arrange, and internet promotions.

MC: Do you ever check in on your fan groups online, or check out sites like BookCrossing to see what people have to say about your books?

SB: I'm too self-critical to read the reviews left on the internet. I also think that anonymity empowers people to say cruel things that they wouldn't otherwise say. I'm not secure enough to put myself through that kind of abuse!

MC: From the publication of your first book till now, in what ways has your life changed, beyond the obvious (i.e. financially)?

SB : I actually work harder now than I did when my career began. I have much more business to take care of, in addition to the time I devote to writing. I'm much more conscientious when I'm in public because I never know who is watching, and I feel as though I've lost some of my naivete, but that may be from maturity alone and not necessarily because of my career.

MC: Your Texas! Series was so popular with readers, and remains a favorite even now. Have you thought about returning to that series, or perhaps writing another series?

SB: I loved the Texas! series and to this day those characters remain favorites of mine. I even named my dogs Chase and Lucky after the Tyler brothers. But I seriously doubt I would return to that series or write another.

MC: What do you think your books tell your readers about you? What do you think readers would be surprised to know about you?

SB: I would hope my books would reveal to my readers that I am a moral person who values family and who has a profound religious faith. In my stories, Good wins out over Evil. I think my readers would be surprised to know that I live in fear of never being able to write another story. They would be surprised to know that I'm insecure about my ability to entertain them. My Texas accent might shock some!

MC: Did you name your heroine in HELLO, DARKNESS after your assistant, Parrie?

SB: Actually, I started writing about Paris Gibson before Parrie came to be employed.

MC: What's waiting in the wings for you?

SB: I just had my first grandchild in August and the second one will be born in December. I look very forward to happy times with my family. Professionally, I'm already writing a book that will be published in the fall of 2004. And after that another, and then another, and then another...

MC: Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

SB: To new readers and longtime fans, I would like to say a huge Thank You!

MC: And I'd like to thank, you, Sandra, for consenting to this interview and sharing your thoughts about writing with us. (By the way, your accent is charming and brought back fond memories of San Antonio for me!) Congratulations on your new grandchild and the one that's on the way. Thank you for giving so many of us so many hours of reading pleasure.

(Click here for review of HELLO, DARKNESS )

 

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