Today I have author,Sandra Orchard, to talk about her thrilling novel, Shades of Truth! Welcome, Sandra!
When did you first realize you were destined to be a writer?
In Grade One when one of my stories was printed in the school yearbook. Eventually school killed the creative side of my writing. I thought I’d write non-fiction. Then after my mom died, I discovered Christian fiction. Seeing characters face and triumph over trials similar to my own helped me tremendously. After several years of reading novels, a yearning grew to write them.
Tell us about your book.
Shades of Truth is the second book in my Love Inspired Suspense series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line. However, you won’t be lost if you haven’t read the first novel. Each story stands alone. They simply share the same setting and some of the same characters. For example, the heroine in this book was the friend of Deep Cover’s heroine.
Can you give us a little blurb?
Sure...Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.
What do you enjoy most about writing? What part do you loathe?
I enjoy brainstorming new stories. I love the energy and creativity and the feeling that I can take this story anywhere. I loathe getting bogged down in the middle of writing the story, feeling like it’s not interesting enough, or that the pace is wrong and then grappling to know how to fix it.
What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from writing?
That I really can dream up stories. For many years, I didn’t think I had the imagination needed, but I cultivated (or perhaps revived it) and now story ideas continually crop up everywhere I look!
Tell us about the defining moment when you felt as if you’d finally made it as an author.
July 16, 2009. The night of the Daphne DuMaurier Award presentation at RWA’s national conference. The coordinator called me at home during the ceremony to tell me I won. I was thrilled. Over-the-moon excited. She tried to tell me more, but the event was too loud so she said she’d try later. After I hung up, I squealed and jumped up and down and hugged my family and squealed some more. Then I emailed a few writing friends who’d been rooting for me. Author Sandra Robbins emailed me back with “you didn’t just win your category, you won the whole show and an agent has requested it!” Needless to say, I went into another round of squealing and jumping.
Wow...that must have bee so exciting! What are you working on now?
I just finished line edits for the third book in my Undercover Cops series, Critical Condition, which releases in October. It's about a nurse, an undercover cop, and a murderer who’ll stop at nothing to avoid being caught.
Now…I’m brainstorming the second book in a trade-length romantic suspense series for which I recently received an offer! I hope to be able to discuss details very soon!!
Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?
One word. Persevere.
Outside of writing, what accomplishment are you most proud?
Raising and educating three wonderful, hard-working children who love the Lord (and their mom
Thank you so much for visiting with us! If you'd like to take a look at Shades of Truth, visit Sandra at her blog or author website.
Here is a sneak peek at Sandra's novel...
“You were going to talk to a guy who ran you down in broad daylight? What were you thinking?”
Kim’s expression hardened. “I was thinking about the damage that rumors of a hit and run by a former resident would do to the manor. I don’t expect you to understand, Ethan. You’ve only been here a day. You couldn’t possibly care about the manor’s survival the way I do.”
The woman was as loyal and compassionate as they came. How could he have suspected her of trying to protect a drug dealer?
“I’m sorry, Kim. I was out of line. Believe me, I want to help you.” More importantly, he wanted to get her out of here before the police connected her—or him—to the shooting. The last thing he needed was a cop unraveling his cover. “Come, on, I’ll drive you home.”
In the meantime, he needed descriptions of the kids vandalizing Kim’s car, because chances were good one of them shot Blake, or had seen who did. And Ethan needed to talk to them before the wrong cop got to them. Or Kim.
Witnesses in this case had a bad habit of showing up dead.
Shades of Truth is in bookstores and stores like Walmart and Target until early April, or click here: http://bit.ly/SofTonHqn to order at a 20% discount directly from Harlequin, and use coupon code FREESHIPAFFO to receive free shipping until Mar 31st
Check out these and other resources for both readers and writers at her website: http://www.SandraOrchard.com.
For updates on new releases, special subscriber-only reads and giveaway opportunities, sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/OrchardNews
You can also connect at: http://www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Or join in the conversations about characters on her blog at http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com