Today, I am really excited to have Sandra Owens on my blog. She is opening up about why she writes, where she would like to travel and some of her favorite things. Thrilled is just one word that describes how happy I am that Sandy has stopped by to answer some questions. For some of you that may not know she has written two fabulous historical romances, The Letter (see my review here) and The Training of a Marquess both can be purchased on Amazon. And when I say fabulous, I mean go to Amazon buy and read them this weekend. 🙂
RRG: What attracted you to write historical romances, especially during the Regency period?
Sandy: I would have to attribute my first book to my love of reading the genre. I’ve always loved to write, but only turned serious about it four years ago, and have since written three Regencies, two of them published. I pretty much considered my first book, Katie, Love, the Duke of Aubrey’s story, a practice book. Since publication of The Training of a Marquess and The Letter, I’ve received so many emails from readers wanting Christian and Katie’s story. I’m under contract for two contemporary romantic suspense books, but I’m working on Katie, Love as time permits.
RRG: Where do you get your ideas? One of my favorite scenes in The Letter is when Michael is writing to Diana about the cat and rabbit. Oh, I just giggled and giggled.
Sandy: That’s one of my favorite scenes too, Lindsey. I’m a panster, so I’m never sure what direction my stories are going to take or what my hero/heroine will say or do. As I wrote The Letter, Michael’s sense of humor emerged (I was grateful for that because it helped balance the dark side of the story). After Diana left him and he sat down to write his first note to her, I really had no idea what he was about to say. I honestly believe the rabbit and cats came straight from him because I don’t think I could have ever conceived of such.
RRG: Who’s in control you or the characters?
Sandy: I’m laughing here. You have no idea how much I wish I could say I have some control over them.
RRG: If you gave one of your characters the opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?
Sandy: “Any of you ladies in need of a cat or two? Things are getting a bit out of hand here and the furry devils are all over the place.” Michael, the Earl of Daventry, from The Letter.
RRG: As a child, what do you want to do when you grew up?
Sandy: When I was seven, my parents put me on a direct flight from Miami to my grandparents in West Palm Beach. The flight lasted twenty minutes maybe, but I was in awe of the stewardesses (remember they used to be called that?). I decided then and there I wanted to be a stewardess when I grew up. I never let go of that dream and I did achieve it after I graduated from high school.
RRG: Where is one place in the world that you would really love to visit someday?
Sandy: There’s so many places I’d like to visit, but number one on my list is Scotland.
RRG: Who is one of your favorite historical romance couples? (I know it’s hard to pick just one!)
Sandy: Oh my, I’m torn between Gabriel and Sarah in Judith James’ Broken Wing, and Christian and Maddy in Laura Kinsale’s Flowers From the Storm. Mmm. Wow, this is hard, but I guess Gabriel and Sarah by a hair.
RRG: What type of books do you like to read?
Sandy: Regencies, of course. Those are my favorites. Also, I love contemporary romances and romantic suspense. In non-romance, I’ll read anything Pat Conroy writes, and I love most of Anne Rice and Stephen King’s stories.
Sandra Owens Favorites:
Quote: Where there is love there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi
Snack: Habanero BBQ almonds
Beverage: Hot green tea and red wine
Movie: Camelot with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave. I have the DVD and watch it every Christmas morning. I’d guess I’ve done that for the past twenty years and still cry at the end.
Time of year: Spring when everything’s fresh and new and all the flowers are blooming.
Holiday: Christmas.
Cake or pie? I’m not a big fan of either, but a chocolate cream pie would be my favorite.
Thank you so much, Lindsey, for inviting me here today. I love your blog and these interview questions were fun to answer.
Thank you Sandy, for taking the time to stop by to answer some questions. I am honored you read my blog. I cannot wait to read more of what you write. Happy Writing!
Readers- Below is additional information about the books Sandra Owens has written. Happy Reading!
THE LETTER is a story of a betrayal that wasn’t. Even so, it still tore two lovers apart for eleven years. Michael Jeffres, Earl of Daventry, found his betrothed, the woman who meant as much to him as the air he breathed, in bed with his cousin on the eve of their wedding.
Diana, the daughter of a marquess, remembers nothing of that night. All she knows is she was forced to marry Michael’s cousin, Leo, and then spent the next eleven years in hell.
When the two lovers are brought back together by a letter from Leo a year after his death, they must struggle through all the lies and secrets before they can find a love that far surpasses that of their youth
Claire Tremaine, the widowed Marchioness of Derebourne, wears leather breeches, trains horses and helps the damaged ones find their lost spirit.
Chastain Warren, the Earl of Kensington, Chase to his friends, isn’t pleased when he learns he’s inherited the title of Marquess of Derebourne. Having recently lost his beloved wife and unborn child, the last thing he wants is to be attracted to Derebourne’s widow, but he is. This woman who wears breeches isn’t anything like the ladies he’s waltzed with in the ballrooms of London.
It doesn’t take Claire long to realize she wants this man, and when he resists, she comes up with a plan she calls The Training of a Marquess and works her horse whispering magic on Chase
Sandra lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She is a 2013 Golden Heart Finalist for her contemporary romance, Crazy for Her. A few highlights of Sandra’s life she fondly recalls are jumping out of a plane, flying upside down in a stunt plane, and riding her Harley in the mountains of Southern California and along the coast of Maine. Although those events in her life were great fun, nothing compares to the joy and satisfaction she gets from writing her stories.You can connect with Sandra on Twitter @SandyOwens1 and Facebook at SandraOwens.94043. Her website is: www.sandra-owens.com
-Romance Reader Girl
Romance Reader Girl 
