Monday, May 19, 2014

Fun Interview and Giveaway!

Happy Monday!

I'm excited because today I have a friend and special guest!
Please welcome to my blog Sandra Orchard!

Sandra has a new book out called Blind Trust. She will be giving away a print copy of this book, so don't forget to enter the rafflecopter below!

Welcome, Sandra!


Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

To quote Booklist’s review: “Orchard infuses romance with suspense and keeps the excitement coming page after page; readers will love the ever-deepening mystery as Kate extends her investigation and finds herself and her long-dead father tangled up in an international corporate conspiracy.”

What was your favorite scene to write?

The opening scene. This is the second book in my Port Aster Secrets series and hero and heroine haven’t seen each other for a while. It was fun to write this “reunion” in which she’s been caught counterfeiting and he’s the officer called in. His reaction: “If you wanted to see me, you could have just called.”

Since the store security guard who made the call doesn’t know their history and believes she is a thief, I had a lot of fun with the subtext of their conversation throughout the scene.


What is your dream cast for your book?

I’m not sure that “dream cast” would be the description, but…the heroine looks like Amy Adams and the hero’s description fits Dylan McDermott, although Mark Wahlberg is how he looks in my head. Not sure what happened there! My hero’s dad is named Keith and although I describe him as dark-haired, in my head, I picture him as Keith from the Partridge Family, their manager. Anyone remember him or have I totally dated myself? LOL


Can you see yourself or friends or family in any of your characters?
No, not at all. Except…okay, yes, there’s a bit of my daughter in Tom’s matchmaking sister. They both just want to see their brothers happy. J

What are you working on now?

Two things. I’m preparing class notes for workshops and a CE that I’ll be teaching at Write!Canada in June. And… I am writing the first draft of a yet-to-be-titled Love Inspired Suspense, in which an insidious stalker endangers the paramedic heroine. She was first introduced in Perilous Waters (April 2014), and also appears in my upcoming November release, so I’m enjoying the chance to tell her story.

FUN STUFF:

Where is your favorite place to write?
Oh, my newest favorite place to write is with my netbook while reclining in my zero-gravity chair. I love it so much that I bought a second one so that I can have one upstairs in my bedroom, which is a very sunny room, and one downstairs so that I can sit by the woodstove if it’s cold, or on the porch if it’s nice out. This chair has saved my back!

Favorite snack to eat while writing (or reading).
You have to ask? Chocolate, of course. Dark, Belgian chocolate to be precise. Mmm.

Hot and Humid or Cold and Snowy?
In the middle, please! Please. PLEASE! But if those were my only choices, I’d probably take cold and snowy, even after the never-ending winter we’ve just had here in Canada. Snuggling up in front of an AC just isn’t as romantic as snuggling up in front of a fire. 

What is one book everyone should read?
The Bible. It’s all kinds of books in one—action, mystery, drama, paranormal, how-to and of course, love stories.


BIO:
Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several inspirational romantic suspense/mysteries, including Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to her busy writing schedule, Sandra enjoys speaking at events and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Sandra’s books and check out the special bonus features, such as deleted scenes and location pics, at http://sandraorchard.com.

 
 
Blurb:


Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can’t believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker’s investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor’s innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation–and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world–and her budding romance with Tom–begin to crumble. To Kate, it’s clear that she won’t be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster’s secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom?
 
Thanks so much, Sandra!
 
 
 
How about you? What's the one book everyone should read?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

36 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Oh noes! Hope it's not too late for Kate and Tom!

Yay for such romance, mystery, adventure and intrigue! And chocolate!

Take care
x

Liza said...

This sounds fun! I like the counterfeit twist!

Stephanie Faris said...

Great interview! Chocolate is the fuel of all female writers, I'm convinced! Congratulations to Sandra on her new release.

Sandra Orchard said...

Jennifer, thanks so much for having me as your guest.

Stephanie, thanks for the congrats and the chocolate support. ;)

Kitty and Liza, great to meet you.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The Bible is a wonderful choice.

I remember The Partridge Family. For better or worse.

Patricia Bradley said...

I love your opening! I totally agree that the Bible is one book everyone should read. I use the Chronological Daily Bible and read through in a year. Reading in the context of the way things happened has helped me understand and see God's grace so much better.

Anita Mae Draper said...

Sunny bedroom...cozy woodstove...porch...Sandra Orchard novel...sounds lovely...zero-gravity chair...opens google search...

:D

Sandra Orchard said...

Oh, whew! Thanks Diane, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Hey, Patricia, I'm working through a chronological one now, too. It also has all kinds of extra archeology and historical stuff interspersed that's helped me to better appreciate the historical context, too.

Anita, your comment made me smile. You will love the zero-gravity chair!

Jackie Smith said...

Excited about Sandra's new book and can't wait to read it.
The Bible is the book everyone should read. There are many reading plans and many versions.

Wendy said...

I remember the Partridge Family quite well !! lol
Mark Wahlburg, Dylan McDermott, both hot...both will fit Tom's mannerisms too !
Can't wait to read the continuing story of Kate and Tom, and find out more about Kate's Dad !

Wendy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandra Orchard said...

Hi Jackie, great to see you here!

Soesty, I love that you see the fit in mannerisms with my actor picks. :) Having their faces smiling at me from the corner of the screen as I type is certainly encouraging. :)

Unknown said...

Fun interview! I love that you imagine some of your characters differently from how you describe them. Ha! I thought I was the only one who did that!

Cindi A said...


Sandra, I loved the first book in the series so I'm sure I'll enjoy this one as well. Congrats on the new release!

The one book that I believe everyone should read is the Holy Bible.

Sandra Orchard said...

Hey, Sara, glad to hear that I'm not the only one!

Thank you, Cindi. I sure hope you enjoy this one, too! :)

Melanie Backus said...

I think everyone should read The Thief.

mauback55 at gmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

Apart from The Bible - Little Women.

Sandra Orchard said...

Hi Melanie, Clive Cussler's The Thief? Or The Book Thief? My daughter loved that book.

Hi Mary, ah yes, it's been years since I read Little Women, growing up with all sisters, we could relate well in our household. :)

KayM said...

Other than the Bible, which isn't an ordinary book, so I'm not counting it, I'm trying to think of a book that would appeal to everyone. A non-fiction book that everyone should read is Heaven by Randy Alcorn. For fiction I would say A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, Bk 1) by Francine Rivers.

Wilani Wahl said...

I agree with Sandra about the Bible being the best book everyone should read. I have so many favorite books that I love to read over and over so it would be hard to pick a second book.

Thank you for this great interview and opportunity to win a copy of the book.

Sandra Orchard said...

Ooh, Kay, thanks for the recommendations. I haven't read either of those.

Wilani, you're very welcome. so glad you dropped by

maudemaxine@gmail.co, said...


Aside from the Bible. I recommend The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. Also The Redemption of Caralynn Hayman by Carole Brown. Both great books. Would love to win. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

Rita Galieh said...

Yes the Bible is a must, but as for fiction( based on truth) I love The Book Thief. It's about a Jewish girl hidden during World War II.She finds all sorts of ways to get her hands on books.

Your novel sounds like intriguing fun, Sandra. My email:
ritagal at optusnet dot com dot au

I'm an Aussie.

Merry said...

Everyone should read the Bible, the Word is powerful!
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Sandra Orchard said...

Ah, Maude, yes, the most memorable part of The Hiding Place for me, is when she tells her sister they need to be thankful in all things, including the lice (or fleas or something like that) and later it turns out to be the very thing that protects them.

Rita, my daughter loved that book! I watched the movie. Haven't read the book yet. :)

Amen, Merry! :)

Sarah said...

What is one book I feel everyone should read? Well, aside from the Bible, I would say Kyle Idleman's Not a Fan. It really encouraged and challenged my faith and is one of my favorites!
This book sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!
~Sarah

Sandra Orchard said...

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah. I love your avatar. Cool. I'll have to look up Idleman's book. I'm not familiar with it.

Pam said...

I agree with Sandra; the one book everyone should read is the Bible. If we all really read and lived by it, we'd have such a better world.
Thanks for the chance to win Blind Trust.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Sandra Orchard said...

You're very welcome, Pam.

The Happy Whisk said...

I wish your friend a ton of success and Happy Writing sessions. And now ... I'm going to Google that chair she mentioned.

Cheers and boogie boogie.

maudemaxine@gmail.co, said...

Hello. This sounds like a good book to read. Please put my name in the give-away. Thanks!
Maxie Anderson ( mac262(at)me(dot)com )

maudemaxine@gmail.co, said...

I forgot to answer your question. I think everyone should read The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
also, The Redemption of Caralynn Hayman by
Carole Brown. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com

Sandra Orchard said...

Thank you, Happy :) You will love the zero-gravity chair if you get one. It's worth going for the deluxe model for writing. My daughter is now using one, too. :)

Great to see you here, Maxie.

Virginia Winfield said...

I think everyone should read where the redfearn grows, the witch of blacbird pond and so many more.

Nas said...

Congratulations Sandra! Loved reading all your answers!

Sounds an awesome read!

Sandra Orchard said...

Thank you, Nas.

Virginia, those are great books. I enjoyed re-reading them to my children. :)