Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Special Guest - Sandra D Bricker!

Please joine the White Rose Authors in welcoming author, Sandra D Bricker as our guest today.

“I'm going to be a writer when I grow up!"
Sandra D. Bricker declared these words to her father on a Sunday afternoon in Slidell, Louisiana. She was 5 years old, and was referring to being able to string her cursive letters together to write her full name for the first time, but the declaration proved somewhat prophetic. By the time she reached high school and her first article was published in The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sandie knew writing was what she wanted to do. For more than a decade, Sandie lived in Los Angeles and, while writing in every spare moment, she studied screenwriting and worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved cross-country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

"I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!” she declares. “Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to re-focus on writing novels in an effort to pursue my dream of a writing career.”

That career weaves a web that draws in every age of reader. Sandie's interest in telling a story knows no boundaries. Three novels for middle readers carved out the beginning of the journey; then Avalon Books followed up with two hardbound romance novels in 2001: unWANTED: Husband (romantic comedy) and Change of Heart (romantic suspense). The response was tremendous, and Sandie was asked to pen a sequel to Change of Heart ... and so Sins of the Past was released in December 2003. Next up was another romantic comedy; Wish I Weren't Here was released in February 2005.

“I’m a Christian woman, first and foremost,” she says. “So my newest book is also a bit of a dream-come-true. Summerside Press has chosen me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line in October 2008. Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas is a romantic comedy for the inspirational market. So the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

Future laughter is promised from this author. Her recent sales include Love Finds You in Big Sky, Montana and Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida for Summerside Press, and The Big Five-OH! for Abingdon Press (Spring 2010).After spending nearly 15 years dealing with her celebrity clients' fans, Sandie finds it amusing that she is suddenly the one getting fan mail!

"When people were actually buying my books at a recent signing, I found myself wanting to go around and invite them all to dinner or offer to bake them cookies. Hey! In fact ... maybe I'll do that very soon."

So what if she can't hook a fish? This city girl has a plan to snag something else ... and his name is Justin.Lucy Binoche is reasonably attractive, intelligent, she has French lineage and better-than-average hair. So why is she nearly 30 and still single? Justin Gerard is the rugged hottie new to her church's single group. When he signs up for a camping trip in the Ozarks, Lucy loses no time writing her name on the line beneath his. There's only one problem: Lucy's idea of "roughing it" is suffering through a long line at Starbucks. She assumes she can rely on the grace of God and the assistance of her friend to get her through. But at the campsite in Snowball, Arkansas, Lucy bungles everything she attempts as she tries to impress Justin. She can't fish, hike or ride a horse; caves make her hyperventillate and hot air balloons bring on nausea. Soon, events are snowballing out of control. Will Lucy pretend to be someone she's not to snag the guy? Or will she discover in time that there's someone else who loves her for just who she is?

Now a few words from Sandie.....I'd been published before Summerside, but never in the inspirational market. And that was the goal! When I heard about the new Love Finds You line Summerside Press was going to start, I was really excited. They turned down several of my proposals, and then one day my editor called to ask if I'd be interested in trying something specific. It seemed they wanted a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy for one of the two launch books, and they thought I'd be just the writer to give it to them.

I found this a little odd, since everything I'd submitted thus far had been rather serious in nature. But it turned out that the e-mails we'd been exchanging had them laughing at their laptops! So I dug in and put something together for Snowball. A week later, Summerside's Creative Director, Jason Rovenstine, told me I'd nailed it, and he invited me to be one of the launch authors for the line.

I was both excited and anxious. Launching a line can be exhilerating and wonderful, but it also means you're the first to dip your toe out there in the Great Unknown. My experience with Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas has resulted in a landslide of the greatest reviews I've ever received! A friend called me recently and asked, "Have you read the reviews on your book at Amazon?" I hadn't lately, so I stopped over to have a look. I was in tears by the second one. People had fallen in love with Lucy, and with her adventures in the quest for true love. But the greatest part was that, between the fits of laughter, so many of them seemed to be moved by her spiritual journey as well. As a writer who loves Jesus the way I do, there is no bigger rush than that!

There's lots going on in my life at the moment because of the success of Snowball, too. I've sold two more books to the Love Finds You line (Holiday, Florida will be released in November, and Carmel, California is slated for next year). In addition, I've sold a comedy to Abingdon Press for their new fiction line (The Big 5-OH!) which will be released in Spring 2010.

At the moment, I'm involved in some awesome promotion for a devotional that I co-authored with three other Summerside authors (Loree Lough, Debby Mayne and Andrea Boeshaar). It's called Be Still ... and Let Your Nail Polish Dry, and it's geared toward the busy woman on-the-go. We've already received amazing endorsements from Candace Cameron-Bure (remember D.J. Tanner on Full House?) and Robin Lee Hatcher. The authors have all decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (I'm a survivor). We have a blog devoted to the book over at http://bestilldevos.blogspot.com/ and I really do hope you'll all stop in there and say hello. We're so blessed (and humbled) by what the Lord is doing with that devotional.

So that's what's happening in my life these days. Thanks so much for having me here today!Blessings, Sandie Bricker

Thank you, Sandie for being with us today - please keep us posted on the Love Finds You line and the movies!

Well friends, hope you enjoyed this special guest. Join us on the 17th when Debby Mayne returns with her Love Finds You book!

Until later....Be Blessed!
Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

24 comments:

Debby Mayne said...

I'm glad you decided to give up being a publicist to write books, Sandie! Your stories are so laugh-out-loud funny, I smile just knowing you have more coming out. Can't wait to read Holiday, Carmel, and The Big 5-Oh!

Loree Lough said...

I want to say so many things that my fingers are trembling over the keyboard!

First...I love, love, LOVE you, girl, and I'm just thrilled at your success. You've worked hard and earned every word of the praise you get from readers and reviewers.

Second...I love, love, LOVE your stories. I'm never disappointed when I pick up one of your books, because the name Sandie Bricker on the cover means heart-tugging laughs and an intro to real-life gals (and guys!).

Third...I am so honored and proud to be partnered with you on the Be Still devo project.

Last...I can't wait to get my hands on LFY in Holiday, FL, LFY in Carmel, CA and every other story that's in your lineup!

Blessings, girlfriend...now get back to that computer so alla us fans are assured yet another amazing Sandie Bricker book!

Loree

Barbara Scott said...

Sandie, as editor and author, we are a match made in heaven! You make me laugh, and that's why I wanted you at Abingdon. I'm so proud of what you achieved in THE BIG 5-0H! I can't wait until it rolls off the presses for release in February of next year, just in time to relieve the blahs of winter.

Blessings,
Barbara

juliepollitt said...

Hi Sandie,

I loved Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas. I am so excited to read your upcoming books! You definitely have the love of Christ shining through in your writing. I enjoyed the interview!

Robin Bayne said...

Congrats on your success!!

Pencildancers said...

So much fun to learn about you!

Sandie Bricker said...

Oh man! I'm so honored that some of my favorite authors and my ROCKIN EDITOR from Abingdon poked their heads into the room while I was here. Thanks so much for the encouragement, ladies.

I'm a true believer in listening to that still small voice when you're finding your place in the world. It's almost ridiculous how long the Lord tried to speak to me about using my humor more in my work. It's such a JOY to find that groove that is so natural to me.

I'm a little embarrassed to tell you this, but ... when we were in the limo behind the hearse from the church to the cemetary the day of my mom's funeral, I was of course in tears and feeling like I couldn't get through the day. All of a sudden, I was reminded of one particular moment with my mom when we were watching one of those ridiculous movies that you only watch because it's on television on a rainy day. There was a funeral procession in it. When the driver jammed on the brakes, the coffin flew out the back of the hearse, and my mom turned to me and said, "Now that's what I call a really bad day."

I got to laughing so hard in the limo, and then I told the story and had everyone laughing. When we got to the cemetary and climbed out, cracking up and snorting and trying so hard to regain our composure, I think people were just appalled and horrified at us. But later, a friend came to me and said, "You really should write comedy, Sandie. Not many people could put people in stitches in this venue."

I think that's sort of telling. :-)

Thanks for laughing WITH me instead of AT me, gang.

Sandie

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Sandie! You are a joy to the people around you. Have you ever wondered why you have so much company? You truly shine with your love for Christ. We are celebrating all the "blessings" here at Abingdon and you are one of them!
Peggy Shearon
Abingdon Press Fiction Publicist

Debra Ullrick said...

What a fabulous interview! Rubbing elbows with the stars, eh? And now you're one. Whoo hoo! Way to go, Sandie!

And I don't care what anyone says, I'm still your number one fan. And I've only said that to a handful of people--literally. So there.

I've read everyone of Sandie's books and each one is absolutely fabulous. Her characters are amazing, and I hate to sound cliché but they're fresh and super unique.

I remember you telling me something about you weren't a funny person and yet they have you writing funny stories. Well, I've been told that I have a wonderful sense of humor (I certainly don't agree, just saying what others say.) and yet my stories tend to lean toward the more serious nature. Yes, there is some humor in them, yes, but not like yours. Your stories make me laugh, and I want to sit and have donuts and coffee with your characters on a regular basis.

I can't wait for your next book to come out. I'm suffering from Sandra D. Bricker story with drawl. *Shouting loudly over here, so cover your eardrums or suffer the consequences!!!* There. Whew! I feel much, much better. *smiling*

Keep up the awesome work, Sandie!

Debra Ullrick

ConTom said...

Sandie, I love Lucy, and I love YOU. I'm so glad you're writing for Summerside, and I can't wait to read or edit your next books. You've done a great job on Be Still, too, talking to busy women who need doses of sanity and laughter. Hoping you have a marvelous day, friend!

Connie Troyer
(one of Sandie's Summerside editors)

Rose said...

Hi Sandra,

Your "Love Finds You" is the first book I read in that series, and I really enjoyed the humor in the story.

Thanks for being a guest on our blogsite.

Rose

Annette M. Irby said...

Hi Sandie, so glad to see you here. I really enjoyed your book, LFY in Snowball, Arkansas. It was laugh-out-loud funny! I look forward to your upcoming books!

Annette

Sandie Bricker said...

Connie, Rose and Annette: Thank you so much for visiting, and for those great comments about Snowball. I actually STILL miss those characters! Wouldn't it be nice if I could write a Love RETURNS TO Snowball, Arkansas???

Sandie Bricker said...

Debra: You really ARE my #1 fan. I am just so happy to have A fan. LOL

Kara Lynn Russell said...

Sandie,
There's nothing I love more than romantic comedy (at least in books.) LFY in Snowball, Arkansas has been on my TBR list for a while, but I think it's just moved up a few notches. Thank you for joining us.
Kara

Fliterary said...

Great interview! I enjoyed learning more about Sandie and her books.

Thank you, both!

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

So glad to see you all here!

Thanks Sandie for joing us today.

Pass the word to your friends that we'd love to have them on the blog as a guest too.
PamT

Sandie Bricker said...

Bless all your hearts for making me feel so welcome! It was a lot of fun to share today with you, and I look forward to crossing paths again.

Jessica Nelson said...

Awesome interview! I've heard so much about this book. Congrats on the other sales too. :-)

Unknown said...

nice blog and u have lots of stuff....

http://bollywoodsprings.blogspot.com

Vicki Hinze said...

Sandie, enjoyed this article very much--and I'm glad you're writing. The world needs your humor!
Blessings,
Vicki
www.vickihinze.com

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Sandie,

You're living the writer's dream. And with Jesus at the wheel, no telling where you'll be navigated.

I didn't know you and Loree were working on something together. She and I have been emailing pretty often the past couple months. She enjoys my humor. I met Loree on ShoutLife and told her how much I have always enjoyed her books. Our friendship just took off from there. She tells me I am sooo funny.

We just did a book swap. She sent Love Finds You in Paradise Pennsylvania and she's got my debut book, Journey To Forgiveness. I told her she would laugh out loud, cry, then laugh again. I like writing humor, too.

I wish you God's richest blessings. I believe that He will takes us anywhere we will allow Him to.

I've been a recluse for 5 years. Not anymore! Between the flurry of book signings/presentations and newspaper interviews, I am hanging on to this tilt-a-whirl for.

Spin me for another round, Sam!

Congratulations and God bless you!

Laurie

Christa Allan said...

Better late than. . .School ended on the 26th of May, and I've been in meetings for five days. ACK! And the muckamucks frown on personal computering during their blahblahblah.

As a fellow Abingdon author, I'm so looking foward to our releases in 2010. You're an amazing and funny woman!

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