An Interview with Sandra Byrd

                                                         

About Sandra Byrd:

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd went on to publish more than three dozen books including her widely-acclaimed adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, and her recent 4-book young adult fiction series, London Confidential. Publishing her Tudor Series, Ladies in Waiting, is a lifelong dream come true.

A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra is also an accomplished non-fiction writer and author. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications such as Radiant, Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Magazine, Christian Parenting Today, Today's Christian Woman, the Oregonian, Pockets, Decision, and Guideposts. For nearly a decade Sandra has mentored hundreds of students through the Christian Writer's Guild.

Sandra resides in Washington State with her husband Michael, a chaplain, their two children, and a circus dog named Brie.

Read my reviews of the London Confidential Series book 1, 2, 3, and 4

1.What gave you the idea or inspired the London Confidential series?

I get ideas from life all around me. From the circumstances I and others go through, from exciting places and times in history, from an overheard conversation or remark. Anything is fair game! I also think it's fun to learn about how people can live in different places, and have different racial, family, or nationalities but deep inside, in the heart, we are all pretty much the same. We have the same needs, to be loved and to love, to feel wanted and have an important calling, and the same fears, rejection, embarrassment, being alone. Plus, isn't it just fun to go new places and meet new people, even in books?

 I moved quite a bit when I was growing up, so the challenges that Savvy faces in relation to that are ones I can relate to as well. I do love London , too! :)

2. What is the one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
Be strong and courageous. Dream big. Trust God even when it seems very dark. Love people but don't let them walk on you. Live with joy and faith.

3. If "Flirting with Disaster" were a movie who would you want to play the main characters?
Hmm. How about Emma Roberts for Savvy, Emma Watson for Penny, possibly America Ferrara for Hazel. The guys are much harder. Blonde and British? Curly brown hair and British? Maybe we'll have to go on a talent hunt!

4. Do you ever find it challenging to get to you keyboard everyday? What do you do when the words won't come?
The hardest part of anything is getting started. Getting started with a new book, a new chapter, a new page, or just sitting down at the computer and staying there till I've done my word count. Once I get about 300 words down on paper, I'm on a roll and I can stay in the zone. Those first 300 are hard, though.

5. What is your writing process?
I dream for a few months and let things knit together in my head and heart, jotting down notes as necessary. Then I throw some queries to my focus group readers and close friends. Then I outline - religiously. Next, I write, a word count per day, every day, till the first draft is done. I send it off to the focus group readers and beg them not to give me any comments for at least a week while I gather my marbles back together and take a long nap.When the comments come back, I tweak the manuscript. Then it's off to my editors, where I await round two!

6. What is the best advice youve ever been given?
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew10:39)

7. What are two things people would be surprised to know about you?
I eat Lemonheads nonstop while writing a rough draft to help me deal with the tension. If I had to be stranded on a desert island with only one luxury, it would be fresh lemonade. I guess I am a lemon fan.

If I weren't a writer I'd be a chef or a baker and my favorite non-writing websites and blogs are almost all related to food.

8. What is on your cd player/ iPod?
It changes every day. Today? Third Day, Abney Park, Redlight King, Jars of Clay, Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

9. When you're not writing, what are you doing?
Cooking and baking, spending time with my family and friends, music, and, of course, reading!


To see what's next for Sandra Byrd or friend her on facebook click on over to her website