Interview with Sandra Sookoo

Please join us in welcoming Sandra Sookoo to Mistress Bella Interviews

Welcome Sandra, please tell us your latest news.

I'm very excited to announce my latest book release. The Haunting of Amelia Pritchart comes out September 30th with The Wild Rose Press. After that, my take on the Santa myth,  Exiles From Christmas, releases November 16th through Lyrical Press. Both are paranormal/fantasy romances. It'll be a very exciting few months!

When and why did you begin writing?

I wrote my first "epic" fantasy novel, featuring neighborhood kids, around ten or eleven. After that, I was never without paper and pen in hand, scribbling stories and creating new worlds. The enthusiasm hasn't dimmed since. I think I like writing because I can create a new reality much different from the one I live.  Escapism at its finest.

What books have influenced your life most?

I've always been a fan of Lewis Carroll's work. I love his weird and wonderful characters. Midway through high school I became captivated by Gone With the Wind. Agonized for months over the ending. It wasn't until my late 20's that I started reading historical romances, which evolved into paranormal romance now. I guess you could say, I love to read so                                                  there've been lots of outside influences.

What are your current projects?

Right now I'm writing a holiday themed novella. Once it's finished I need to do some formatting/editing on a different novel. After that I plan to write a story about a ghost in order to get the smaller projects cleared so I can start work on a paranormal novel at the first of the year.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

At the present time I'm trying to get my characters to be grounded and stay there. If they don't have a reason for doing what they're doing, the story won't work.  That's one of the cool things about being an author. Stretching your preconceived notions and doing things a new way.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I don't have a favorite.  I go through genre phases and there will be a favorite during a reading run, but to say an author comes head and shoulders above everyone? Not so much. Every book is wonderful in its own right.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

The day I went to the library and realized I'd exhausted all the Nancy Drew and Anne of Green Gables books.  I thought, well maybe I should try writing something I wanted to read. So began a love affair with words and imagination.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Depends on how much outside distraction there is. If it's a full length novel, usually a few months to write and get it self-edited. If the piece is a novella, a month or so, but if I'm really on fire with something the time span varies.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

That also depends on what else is going on throughout the day, but I try to get in a good 5-6 hours.  Some days more, some days less.

Do you have any strange handwriting habis, like capitalizing all your "r"s or dotting your "i"s with hearts, anything like that?

Nope.  Very rarely do I write out anything long hand anymore.  Only if I'm away from my computer.

What do you want to know about the future?

Nothing because that would cheat me out of the fun of finding out and getting there for myself.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

Probably night.  I usually turn in around midnight.  On the other hand I'm up at seven a.m. LOL

Do you like thunderstorms?

Absolutely! They're awesome, and living in the Midwest,  we get some really good ones. I love how the air smells just before the rain.

What is the best way for readers to contact you? Email, myspace, twitter, etc.

Email addy for reader mail is sandrasookoo@yahoo.com. You can also find me on facebook or my website http://www.sandrasookoo.com/.

Anything you would like to add?

Thanks for having me. It's been fun!