Sandra is offering to one randomly chosen commenter a printed edition of FATAL INHERITANCE. The winner will be announced here on Friday, September 13th, between 5-6 PM EST. For convenience, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!
What
3 words would you use to describe Sandra Orchard, the author, to a reader, and
which would you use to describe Sandra Orchard, the wife, mom, grandmom, and
friend?
As an author, Sandra Orchard likes to entertain her readers with fast-paced stories, likes to keep them guessing, all wrapped around intriguing characters. It’s really about trying to provide a good read!
As far as the family-oriented Sandra, and the friend Sandra, she’s industrious, dependable, and easy-to-talk-to.
What
is it about the blend of suspense and romance that appeals to you?
I
love the extra challenge of weaving a mystery around my romance that will keep
readers guessing and that will surprise them.
You
quote Elbert Hubbard (an American writer who was killed aboard the RMS
Lusitania, sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland in 1915) on your
website: There is no failure except in no longer trying. How has this
inspiration worked in your day-to-day struggles?
I first added that quote to my website as an unpublished writer as
reminder that no matter how many rejections or unflattering critiques I
received, they all served a purpose in honing my story-telling skills. They
didn’t tell me I was a failure as a writer. That would only happen if I quit.
Being published and having more books under contract doesn’t change the
I-don’t-know-if-I-can-do-this feeling when a story isn’t coming together the
way I’d hoped, or my beta readers don’t like what I’ve written. Perseverance
and leaning on the Lord are my mainstays.
Have
you seen a common theme develop among your novels?
Deception
vs. truth seems to be a big one. It was the primary focus of my Undercover Cops
series with Love Inspired Suspense, and looms large in the Port Aster Secrets
series as well.
Are
there any major differences (other than length) in writing a short contemporary
novel and a longer single title?
The
longer novel allows for deeper character development, more rabbit trails, and
more subplots. Funnily enough, I actually prefer reading shorter novels, and
I’ve finally figured out why. I tend to read novels, whether long or short,
within a few days, so for me, if the author keeps reminding me of things I
already know about the characters or plot, I feel like the story is dragging. Of
course, the reminders are probably helpful for readers who are only reading a
chapter or so every couple of days. Not so much for readers racing through the
book. I don’t tend to remind my readers of things, which is probably why
Publisher’s Weekly said of my 90,000 word Deadly Devotion, “Fans looking for a quick read and unique mystery will
surely enjoy it.”
What’s
the story about the goat on your website?
LOL,
my first response was “Goat? What goat?” Then I remembered the pic of my girls
and I (many years ago) taking our horse, goat and dog for a walk down the road.
My eldest daughter bought the horse with her babysitting money, but it was
lonely without any other horses around. Our horse expert friend told us that
goats make wonderful companions for horses (and were much less expensive to
upkeep), so…we bought our youngest daughter a goat for
her birthday. To be honest, I think the goat is more attached to the horse than
the other way around. The poor thing bleats and bleats if he’s left behind when
the horse is taken out for a ride.
Sandra's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Visit
with #ChristianFiction romantic suspense author Sandra Orchard on Everyone’s
Story. (Tweet This)
Why
does blend of romance & suspense appeal to author Sandra Orchard? (Tweet This)
What
do fans look for in a Sandra Orchard novel? (Tweet This)
Win
#BookGiveaway of Sandra Orchard’s FATAL INHERITANCE. (Tweet This)
Author Bio:
Sandra Orchard is an award-winning Canadian author of romantic suspense with Revell and Love Inspired Suspense. She is an active member of ACFW, The Word Guild, and Romance Writers of America. To find out more, and to read interesting bonus features for her novels, please visit www.sandraorchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
You can also visit with Sandra her blog www.SandraOrchard.com/blog
Sandra's 1st appearance on Everyone's Story: http://elainestock.blogspot.com/2011/08/when-one-dreams-bigdebut-author-sandra.html
A Note From Elaine:
In following professionals' advice, I've started an Author's Page on Facebook. I'd love for you to Like it at : https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaineStock
Thanks ♥
Great interview. I have also heard about goats and horses, but I always thought the horses were the ones to become attached. I have a question. When you start a storyline, do you already have an idea of how long your story will be or does it develop as you go?
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Katrina
Hi Katrina,
DeleteGood question. I'm getting better at judging how much plot I need to meet my word count, because since I now write on contract, I know how long my story must be. That is 55-60,000 words for my Love Inspired Suspense, and 90,000 words for my Revell series. Sometimes they end up a bit longer and I need to cut words. Often a first draft is a little shorter, but that's because I layer in more emotions and specific details on the second pass.
Katrina, so nice to see you again. I'm glad you enjoyed the interview!
DeleteAnother wonderful interview and an author I need to get acquainted with. I am definitely adding her books to my list of must reads and would love to win a copy of fatal inheritance.
ReplyDeleteAnn Ellison
abilene_nana@yahoo.com
thank you, Ann, I appreciate your interest!
DeleteAnn, you're such a sweetheart. I truly appreciate your visits. Glad you enjoyed the interview with Sandra.
DeleteHello, thanks for introducing me to all these wonderful writer's Elaine. You're blog is a wonderful encouragement to writers just starting off like myself to be able to read published author's stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra for sharing a bit of your journey. I appreciated reading your quote that you had put on your website even before you were published. I liked what you said about the only failure as a writer would be if you quit. I was interested to read that you write shorter novels. Would those be classified as novellas?
matt.linsey@gmail.com
Linsey, I am so thrilled that you're back visiting with Sandra and me this evening (I just commented back to you on Stephanie Landsem's blog segment--thanks for those sweet words!). Writing is so gratifying, yet demanding. I think we all need as much encouragement as possible, whether one is published or almost-there or just beginning
DeleteHi Linsey, I'm so glad you found the interview encouraging. Novellas are generally between 20 and 40,000 words. 50 to 70,000 word adult books are typically considered category books. So for example, I write for Love Inspired Suspense, which is the Christian romantic suspense imprint of Harlequin.
DeleteW
I always enjoy an interview with Sandra....she is one of my faves!!! I have read all of her books, but this one.....looked for it yesterday....no luck! Maybe I will win it here...thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteKeep on writing, Sandra!!
jacsmi75[at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks Jackie, you're one of my favorite fans, too. :) Yup, now that it's September, the new titles are pushing mine from the shelf. Thankfully it will be available at the online stores for awhile yet. ;)
DeleteJackie, a warm welcome to Everyone's Story. You're entered now for the Giveaway! Hope to see you again.
DeleteElaine forgot to leave my email
ReplyDeleteeppersonkatrina@yahoo.com
Got it, Katrina. Thanks!
DeleteThanks for the great interview and chance to win a copy of Fatal Inheritance. This is my first time to your site, but not the last!
ReplyDeleteBrittany McEuen
kbmceuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hello, Brittany. A warm welcome to you. Thanks for making my evening wonderful with your words :)
DeleteHi Brittany, thanks so much!
DeleteSandra, I must have missed your first appearance, but I'm happy to "meet" you now. Your books look intriguing. I love romantic mysteries. Best wishes for continued success.
ReplyDeletecaroline@carolineclemmons.com
Caroline, nice to see you again, my friend. Best wishes on the Giveaway!
DeleteNice to "meet" you, too. If you love romantic mysteries, then we're a fine pair. I love to keep my readers guessing. :)
DeleteSo glad to see Sandra on Everyone's Story! She's a great writer and I love her books. pat at ptbradley dot com
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, you're so sweet. Thank you.
DeleteI'm always happy to see you, Pat. I was wondering whether you're familiar with Sandra and her books :)
DeleteWhat an interesting interview, Sandra! I can't wait to pick up one of your books and start reading! I love romantic suspense, even better if it has a doctor or some medical in it (Kudos, Candace Calvert who led me here!), but I can't get enough of trying to figure out the suspense line! And I love finding books where the romantic tension is obviously there, but the characters are willing to take their time to figure it out, particularly, when God is at the center of the relationship! Question for you: When you start a suspense novel, do you already know the final outcome as in who did what and how they did it? or does that also develop somewhat over the course of the book? Thanks for persevering! I'm sure your readers are glad you did!
ReplyDeleteKtrim@teamjapan.org Kathy Trim 700 E Sunset Lane, Pretty Prairie, KS 67570
Would love to win a copy of one of your books!
Hi Kathy, I'm smiling at your question, because the answer is yes and no. Before a book is contracted I have to provide my editor with a summary of the book, which of course needs to include who done it and why. Fatal Inheritance happens to be the first book I've written where the villain didn't turn out to be who I thought s/he was. It made it very intriguing to write as I was discovering the ending as I wrote, but...was scary, too, since I was writing to a deadline! Funnily, the same thing has happened to me on the two books I've written since. I certainly keep my editor guessing. ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you like medical, Critical Condition is the book for you. :)
Welcome, Kathy, to Everyone's Story... as I was reading your comment I'd wondered whether you knew of Candace Calvert's novels I'm glad you will now be reading Sandra Orchard--awesome author, awesome woman.
DeleteHope to see you back here.
Thanks Sandra for such a detailed response. I've often wondered, because as a reader, naturally the author is trying to include some rabbit trails, but I find myself strongly suspecting one person but then, by the end, it may change to another. I can sometimes see how a plot could have turned either direction, so I wondered if authors ever find themselves stuck at a crossroads. I'm sure your editor enjoys the surprises. Must be kind of difficult to always read books where you already know the answer! I'll definitely be tracking down your books.
DeleteElaine, Thank you so much for the warm welcome here! I love reading all sorts of books, but often find them very unsatisfying when there is no message of hope to come away with (secular books). Candace Calvert is one of the first authors I actually started interacting with after reading several of her books. That has been such a positive experience that I've started actively seeking more. Candace is such a gracious woman and we share some things in common that are a bit unique so that gives us a bond that really allows us to encourage one another. I am always on pins and needles when it gets close to the time that a new book of hers will be coming out. I also enjoy finding great new authors and so I'm delighted to have discovered you and Sandra and will be looking forward to more. I'll definitely be back. I've bookmarked your site and plan to visit often. Thanks for your cyber-ministry to many of us who don't have the opportunity for this kind of interaction otherwise.
DeleteKathy, you just brought happy tears to my eyes :) I'll always cherish your words.
DeleteThank you, Kathy, I hope you enjoy them!
DeleteI often do get stuck at crossroads, usually because I've changed up the end of a chapter to make it more suspenseful, but that change then changes where I'd intended to go next. Or because the direction I'd intended to take the plot suddenly looks too predictable. The coolest thing as a writer is to find that I actually left other toys lying about in the scene that I can pick up and play with...ones I hadn't consciously included, but that turn out to add a nice twist. :)
Hi Sandra! Hi Elaine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great interview. And awesome for you, Sandra, making your 90,000 word novel fly by like a "fast read." :)
Thanks, Katy!
DeleteKaty, I'm thankful for your visit today. If you enjoy suspense and romance, you'll enjoy Sandra's books.
DeleteHope to see you again.
What an interesting title! The title alone would motivate me to buy the book. :)
ReplyDeleteElaine, as usual, excellent interview. :)
That is so cool to hear, Jennifer. Titles are always a bit of a trial and error thing. The working title for the book was Finding Home, but soon after I started writing it, another LI book came out with that title. So...I had to come up with a list of suggestions, my blog readers and FB fans helped me out, but ultimately my editor didn't pick any of those suggestions either. I think this was one we came up with from blending suggestions. :)
DeleteJennifer--so nice to see you again ♡
DeleteSandra, what a fascinating story behind titling FATAL INHERITANCE. While Finding Home is nice, your title ended up sounding intriguing and full of curious irony, which makes me wonder what's happening. LOL--that's my unsolicited 2 cents.
I agree, Elaine, it's a much more appropriate title for a romantic suspense.
DeleteElaine, I like how you laid out this interview and even included tweetables.
ReplyDeleteSandra, neat story about the goat. I agree with you about pressing on with writing (or whatever our passion). I always tell myself the only way to know I won't succeed is to quit.
Welcome, Janet, to Everyone's Story. I truly value your feedback on the blog... I try very hard to make it appealing and easy on the eyes, yet interesting. I'm glad it caught your attention :) Hope to see you again.
DeleteGreat to see you here, Janet, and so glad you didn't quit!!! with your debut novel releasing in less than 2 months. Yee!
DeleteElaine, I second Janet's comments on the layout. Very nice.
Thanks, Sandra.... I try :)
DeleteWe had a horse who slept with his favorite cat -- on his back. The two were inseparable. So why not a goat - lol
ReplyDeleteLisa, nice to see you. I'm getting this funny visual of your horse cuddled up with his cat... would love to see a photo of that!
DeleteLove it, Lisa! We had one cat who would ride the horse's back. Got a pic of that, Elaine. ;)
DeleteHi, Sandra!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your interview, & learning more about you & your writing!
Loved the horse/goat story - I live in the country, & was raised on a farm, but had never heard about goats being good companions.
Would love to read your book - thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Welcome back, Bonnie :) I've been enjoying your visits.
DeleteGood to see you here, Bonnie. Animals are such great fodder for stories. :)
DeleteCheck this one out for some more great pics, you might be able to relate to, including the cat riding horse. :)
http://sandraorchard.com/sandra-orchard/fun-friday-the-truth/
Sandra, I just checked out the cat riding the horse on your website. Adorable! I hope everyone else takes a moment or two to visit your site, smile at the photos and check out your other great features.
DeleteThanks Elaine. :)
DeleteI've read several of your books, Sandra and enjoyed them! I love romantic suspense! I enjoyed your interview! I look forward to this new book also!
ReplyDeleteValri Western
westernaz@msn.com
Welcome to this little corner of the world, Valri. I'm glad you enjoyed Sandra's interview. What an awesome fan she has in you. Blessings.
DeleteThank you, Valri. I'm delighted to hear that you've enjoyed my books. :)
DeleteI had no idea you had written so many romantic suspense stories. I can't wait to purchase some! I read all the time as I am "mostly" homebound so I am constantly looking for new material.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Snider
clsnider@att.net
Hello, Carolyn. I am so happy that you found your way to Everyone's Story and am thrilled that a book by Sandra Orchard will bless you with hours of entertainment. Hope to see you again.
DeleteThank you so much, Carolyn! Readers who buy our books are what keep writers going!!! And eating. :)
DeleteMy first three novels are now only available as Ebooks, or used, however, if the giveaway winner prefers to receive one of my out-of-print Love Inspired Suspense, instead of the one that's still available, I'm happy to make that substitution from my remaining stash. ;)
I have a couple of your other books and I would love to read this one. It is nice to be able to enjoy reading really good books by a Canadian author, has I live in Ontario Canada.
ReplyDeletesaritawhite@gmail.com
Hi Sara, I'm from Ontario, too--the Niagara area. :)
DeleteI'm especially excited that my publisher of Deadly Devotion allowed me to keep it set in Niagara, as American publishers are a bit nervous about non-US settings as they don't sell as well for them. Hoping mine proves to be the exception. ;)
Hi Sara and welcome to Everyone's Story. I'm a lover of my neighbor country to the north of us, actually only a few hours away from my doorstep. Blessings.
DeleteI am always looking for new authors to read and your books sound really good. Would like to win one.
ReplyDeleteJWIsley(at)aol(dot)com
So nice to see you here, Joye. Best of luck on the Giveaway--the winner will be announced tomorrow evening.
DeleteHope to see you again!
Hi Joye, delighted that you think they sound good. :) Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteHas another week wrapped up on Everyone's Story already? Wow! And what a week it was--thanks to the pretty amazing Sandra Orchard. Sandra, it has been a pleasure hosting you this week, as well as the 2nd time. From the looks of viewer hits and comments, it seems safe to say that you've gained quite a few new fans... fans whom I hope will always be eager to read your stories and be blessed by them.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks too for the giveaway of FATAL INHERITANCE. The winner of this book is...
Katrina. Congratulations, Katrina! Both Sandra and I will be in touch directly with you to make arrangements for you to get the book.
Blessings to all.
Elaine, you've been an awesome host! Thanks so much for having me! And thank you to all who visited and left comments!! Congratulations, Katrina. My email should be in your inbox, now. :)
Delete