SABRINA JEFFRIES-Interview and Giveaway with the Author
About The Author: Goodreads
If having a colorful life turns you into a novelist, then I had no choice but to become a writer. My whole life changed when my parents moved us to Thailand when I was seven. Before I was eighteen, I’d eaten chicken heads and jellyfish, been chased by a baby elephant, seen countless cobras and pythons, had the entire series of rabies shots (yes, the ones in the stomach with those lo-o-o-ng needles), and played in rain forests and rubber plantations.
But if you’re wondering how the daughter of missionaries ended up a romance novelist, let me explain. When you’re in the boonies in a foreign country with only your pesky siblings for company, you read a lot. And I mean, a lot. I read everything—classics, children’s books, mysteries, science fiction, even comic books. Most of all, I read romances.
I cut my teeth on Cherry Ames novels, progressed to Grace Livingston Hill and Emilie Loring, graduated to Barbara Cartland, then got hooked on the hard stuff in college with my first Rosemary Rogers novel. I tried laying off the romances during my six years in graduate school, but it was fruitless. Woodiwiss and Lindsey beckoned.
Finally, I stopped fighting it. I tossed aside my Ph.D. in English and surrendered to the impulse to write a novel. And a romance writer was born! Now I live in North Carolina with my husband and son, where I write books full-time. Thanks to my colorful life, I have plenty of fodder for my novels, so I plan to be doing this for a very, very long time. Isn’t life grand?
FOLLOW Sabrina at : Website / Goodreads / Twitter/ Facebook / Pinterest
TRC: Hi Sabrina and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of BY LOVE UNVEILED.
Sabrina: Thanks so much!
TRC: We would like to start with some background information for anyone who does not know about Sabrina Jeffries. Would you please tell us something about yourself?
Sabrina: I’m the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-five novels, five novellas, and three short stories (some under the names of Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas), as well as a caffeine addict, Third Culture Kid, chocoholic, and jigsaw puzzle aficionado.
TRC: Your bio states that you were raised among the rubber plantations of Thailand. Have you ever considered going back to Thailand for a visit or to live?
Sabrina: I’ve visited four times since I lived there, but I doubt I’d ever go back to live, since all of my family is now in the U.S.
TRC: What are some of your fondest memories of Thailand?
Sabrina: I loved the people and the food. I miss eating fresh mangoes off the tree, shopping in bazaars filled with imaginative jewelry and clothes, and swimming in the clear waters off the coast. I DON’T miss the Bangkok traffic or the tropical heat and humidity!
TRC: Many authors face challenges in writing or getting their books to publication. What are some of the difficulties you have faced in your writing career?
Sabrina: The main one was in finding my niche, which involved finding my true voice. It took me a while (and three pseudonyms) to settle on a style that suited me and that appealed to readers. My other issue was in learning to work around the tireless effort of raising an autistic child while also trying to build a career. In many ways, though, my son’s autism forced me to think outside the box in both my life and my writing. Who knows if that would have happened in other circumstances?
TRC: BY LOVE UNVEILED is your latest (March 2013) release. Would you please tell us something about the premise of this historical romance storyline?
LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository
Sabrina: This is actually a revised reissue of one of my early Deborah Martin books. Unlike my Regency historicals, this is set in Restoration England. Miss Marianne Winchilsea is running for her life from those whom she believes have attempted to kill the king. Forced to disguise herself, she trusts no one—especially not Garett Lockwood, the Earl of Falkham, who usurped her family home and who seems to be her most dangerous enemy. And what Garett sees behind her masquerade is a beautiful half gypsy enrobed in mystery, deception, and burning secrets. A woman he should avoid at all costs. In a world where treachery and betrayal reign, a sweet seduction rules their hearts—and dares them to risk their destinies on a passionate love that all the powerful forces of the world cannot defeat.
TRC: You have some of the most beautiful and amazing covers for your books and novels. Do you have any say in the selection of models, style of dress or colors on the covers?
Sabrina: I do have some say, but Pocket gets all the credit for how beautiful they are. They truly have a wonderful art department. In the case of this cover, I did find a gorgeous Restoration corset and skirt on a site for costumes and I sent it in as an example of something they could use for the cover. And they did a gorgeous version of that! Sometimes I suggest ideas and such, but I’m not an artist, so they do the lion’s share of the design.
TRC: Is there one cover in particular that is your favorite?
Sabrina: I have several. I really like THIS cover and the one for my upcoming book, What the Duke Desires (Pocket Paperback, July 2013). I adored the cover for Beware a Scot’s Revenge, especially the inside art. I really like the art for Avon’s Dance of Seduction cover (which they’re using in a fashion for the reissue as well, since it was so pretty and timeless). I can’t pick just one!
PRE-ORDER What The Duke Desires: Barnes and Noble / Amazon / The Book Depository
TRC: You face writer’s block or struggles with plot head on-working on puzzles 😉 Any idea on the number of puzzles you have completed to date?
Sabrina: No clue. I have 22 puzzles in my office right now waiting to be done a second time (I always redo a puzzle once before getting rid of it). So that’s 44, just in the past five years or so. And that’s not counting the ones I got rid of or passed on to my sister (doing puzzles is a family obsession, apparently).
TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with family and friends or, other authors. With whom do you bounce ideas and why?
Sabrina: I have three critique partners: Pam Ahearn (who is especially good at picking up on plot problems), Rexanne Becnel (especially good at picking up on conflict and sexual tension problems), and Deb Marlowe (especially good at picking up on character issues and historical accuracy problems). They’re all great in all areas, but I tend to gravitate to whomever is best in the area I need. And they do the same, I’m sure, although it’s a bit one-sided between me and my agent. *G*
TRC: What five things would you like to accomplish in the next ten years?
Sabrina: World domination, having a movie made of one of my books, having a book picked up for a TV series, trying my hand at a new subgenre, and losing weight. But I suspect these are unrealistic goals. *G*
TRC: We understand you like to be in front of a crowd. Have you ever considered a career in stand-up comedy? Speaking of comedy, who is your favorite comedienne or comedy actor?
Sabrina: I have, actually, but I’m not THAT funny, believe me. I have complete respect for how hard it is to be funny night after night. I have a lot of favorite comedians and comic actors: Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy, Betty White, the entire cast of Big Bang Theory, Kristen Schaal, Kathy Griffith, and more others than I can count!
TRC: You have had a very successful and prolific writing career. Is there any subject that you will not address in your storylines or novels and why?
Sabrina: Not really. Maybe politics. I have strong political views, but I don’t feel that my role as a novelist is to stump for them. I’d love to have an autistic character, but that’s hard in a historical because you can’t convey what the person “has” by calling it autism. Although I am putting an Asperger’s character in the book I’m writing now. 🙂 But autism, severe autism, would be harder to characterize in a way that readers would recognize.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Sabrina: The second book in my Duke’s Men series, about a couple estranged for ten years, who find that their past isn’t at all what they thought.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Sabrina: Just that I appreciate the support of all my readers. I have some of the best readers around!
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food
Pizza, hands down!
Favorite Dessert
Anything melty and gooshy with chocolate in it. I’m not a cake person, so I prefer Chocolate Chess Pie and the like.
Favorite TV Show
Do I have to pick just ONE? Right now it’s probably Downton Abbey, but I love Castle and Bones and NCIS and a whole slew of other shows.
Favorite Movie
Do I have to pick just ONE? Pride and Prejudice would be a top contender, along with North and South (the BBC mini-series, not the Civil War thing)
Last Movie You Saw
Bridesmaids, maybe? I’m not sure.
Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark!
Last Vacation Destination
England and Scotland, for my hubby’s 60th birthday
Favorite Flower
Gardenia, hands down. I love the scent!
TRC: Thank you Sabrina for talking with us today at The Reading Cafe. We wish you all the best with your upcoming novels.
Sabrina is offering a GIVEAWAY paper copy of her June/July 2013 upcoming release WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES.
1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.
2. If you are using a social log-in please post your email address along with your comment.
3. Giveaway runs from March 13 to March 16, 2013
4. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
Great interview, Sabrina and Sandy. Nice to meet you. 35 novels, wow that is a lot. Congrats. I love the cover of What the Duke Desires.
Wonderful interview ladies. Love to hear from the authors. Congratulations on the re-release and I am looking forward to WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES !!
I am a big fan of historical romance series.
Sabrina, welcome. You brought back some great memories of reading Barbara Cartland which was my first contact with romantic writing. Sabrina your book covers are beautiful. Loved England and Scotland and hope to visit again. I enjoy all of the Pride and Prejudice remakes going back to Sir Lawerence Olivia. I’m raising a autisic son and I concurthat it opens a brand new world that I’ve learned to deal with and now actually enjoy all of his endeavors. Even when he’s being a brat. lol
Sandy nice job.
Dealing with autism certainly makes life interesting, doesn’t it?
Thank you Sabrina for the fantastic answers to our questions. All the best and the cover for What a Duke Desires is beautiful. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing the new release.
Thanks for having me, Sandy!
Awesome interview ladies!! Thanks Sabrina for letting us know some more about you. I look forward to reading your books!!
What an interesting life living in Thailand. I can’t even imagine trying some of things you have done.
Love your books and I look forward to this one!
suegaluska (at) yahoo (dot) com
Great interview and thanks for having a giveaway! I always enjoy sitting down with your novels, Sabrina 🙂
ahui55 (at) gmail (dot) com
Lovely interview! It looks like we read the same books growing up–I didn’t grow up in Thailand, but a small town in ND–I read every book in the town library, school library, and church (my Dad was the minister) library.
Great interview! What a wonderful adventurous life you’ve led! The cover for By Love Unveiled is gorgeous! Can’t wait for the new book, although I always lose sleep reading your books because I can’t put them down, but it is always so WORTH it! 🙂
Aw, thanks!
Hellions of Halstead Hall is my favourite series, but now that I’m finished those I really need another good book to read. Lisa_Butz2001@yahoo.com.
Sabrina I hear ya , I read my first romance novel when I was 16, and haven’t stopped since. I love the plots and the intrigue . And I can’t wait for your new book!
I read so many romances even before I was 16 that I think it worried my mother. Still probably worries my mother. She likes inspirational fiction or mysteries.
Loved the interview. I too, read, read, read. Have all of your books. Have reread some of them. have already pre-ordered the next. rejoicing@ec.rr.com
Thank you for the great interview Sabrina. I would really appreciate one of your great books to read during the dog days of summer.
jersysman@yahoo.com
I love all of Sabrina’s books. Can’t wait to read the latest. I have 2 copies of the Deborah Martin book, the original one. catlover0112 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the interview Sabrina. You have led an interesting life. I share you love of Jigsaw puzzles and do them more that once before passing them on.
Pizza, dark chocolate and hot men- we are twins separated at birth…..
LOL! I bet there are a lot of us out there. 🙂
I’m re-reading the Swanlea Spinsters series to keep me busy so I don’t go crazy waiting for What the Duke Desires!
Oh and I’m a big NCIS and Castle fan, Nathan Fillion just cracks me up.
Adria
adria(dot)rose_03(at)yahoo(dot)com
Not to mention that he’s easy on the eyes. Do you follow the actor on Twitter? He’s hilarious.
Umm, a slice of hot gooey pizza followed by a hot melty dark chocolate croissant and a hot steamy Sabrina Jeffries novel. I feel a hot flash coming on!
Thanks for a great interview. I am currently reading the Cynsters in order and having a great time of it. I am looking forward to your new releases. Are you planning to attend the RWA convention in Atlanta this summer? I hope to get to the writer signing event and would love to meet you. Have a great life, Cam
Thanks, Cam! Yes, I’m attending, and I believe that Stephanie Laurens (author of the Cynster series) will be, too, so you can kill two birds with one stone! So to speak. *G*
I am beyond excited for the new book coming out this summer! Your books (along with Lisa Kleypas) are my escape late at night when I need a break from either schoolwork, my babies, or my husband 😉 Oh, and I love that you like the BBT! I have all five seasons on DVD. Thanks for writing!
Chelsea Graves
(jesse.and.chelsea@hotmail.com)
Thanks for reading! I love Lisa Kleypas, too.
I would love a copy of this book! Sabrina is one of my favorite authors and I love the cover of this book!
Great interview Ladies, Congrats on your up coming read coming out in July. You sure have had an interesting life it sounds great mind you the needle thing makes me want to hurl , lol I so HATE NEEDLES and don’t you get like 21 shot . YUK but I do have to ask what is a Chocolate Chess Pie sounds Nummy .
Yes, 21 shots, 16 of them in the belly (just take a guess where the others go *G*).
Chocolate Chess Pie is a Southern dish, but there’s a local restaurant (Angus Barn) that makes a CCP to DIE for. I could eat it every day. But then I’d weigh 1000 pounds!
I would love to have this book to add to my collection…Once I find an author I really enjoy reading..which by the way is rare…(I only have four on my bookshelf at this time because I finally broke down and took all my Lass Small to the book store the last time I went)…Anyway….I like to keep them to read over again..also really rare..few books interest me so much that I like to reread them..but your’s I like…Great Interview…and Happy Writing!!!
Glad that you enjoy my books even though you’re picky!
Bonsoir Sandy and Sabrina
I love the interview! I just received your beautiful book By Love unveiled which I should read shortly. I just love the cover of What the Duke desires! My favorites books of yours are Your Lord Trilogy and Twas the Night After Christmas! Like you, I loved Downton Abbey, it reminds me of your beautiful stories, gowns & balls! Sabrina, what will be your next book?
Thank you for the giveaway!
Do you mean the one after What the Duke Desires? I can’t say much about it yet, because it’s a bit of a spoiler for What the Duke Desires, but it will be part of the series.
thank you for this interview. i like the cover of your book, ill have to check it out. i watch downton abbey too, and love pizza and chocolate
Great interview! Love Sabrina’s books, and I can’t wait for What the Duke Desires! I knew he would make a great story when he was first mentioned in To Wed A Wild Lord. Thank you Sabrina for your wonderful books!
Thank you Reading Cafe. Sabrina is one of my favorite authors and it was lovely to read this interview. Its nice to hear more about the women who write. I’m very much looking forward to the new book. I’ll be extremely happy if I’m the winner 🙂
What a great interview. Thanks for sharing all these tidbits, Sabrina! I love your books and can’t wait to read more 🙂
thebigbluewall77 (at) gmail (dot) com
Great interview! I can’t wait for What the Duke Desires! It’s a great cover.
enjoyed the interview. What the Duke Desires is on my wish list & I’m looking forward to reading it 🙂
It’s always exciting to see a new book out by you, Sabrina. Great interview, I love the covers, too!
mizz.crow at gmail dotcom
Sabrina Jeffries is one of my all time favorite authors! I really enjoyed reading the interview and hearing more about her childhood and some of the things which inspired her writing. I can’t wait for the new book!
Azacia at gmail.com
Great interview Sabrina. I have read most of your books and always look forward to a new one. The covers are always somehow YOU. It was great to learn more about you personally! And dark chocolate…no wonder you are so good at what you do! Its so inspirational!
Isn’t it, though? One can never have too much dark chocolate.
Thanks for the interesting interview, Sabrina. I love your books, and the cover of WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES is gorgeous!
Jennifer Ashley’s THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE has an autistic hero and I just love him. I’m sure you could write a great one too!
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
Yes, but isn’t he really Asperger’s? Or high-functioning autism? I think you can manage that in a historical, but a severely autistic person, like my son, would be hard to depict without calling it autism. Their behavior can be very similar to other disabilities when it’s severe.
Thank you for the giveaway. I really enjoy your interviews and books. You are one of my favorite authors!
I love your books!! My all times favorites are “To Pleasure a Prince” and “Only A Duke Will Do”. I also loved the Cherry Ames books when I was in grade school. Most people have never heard of the books.
lizsch110@aol.com
I loved all those books, though I haven’t read one in years. I wonder how I would find them now?
Great interview ladies. Welcome to TRC Sabrina. Wow u r a very busy lady. Congrats on the new release. I really like the covers of your books and look forward to reading them.
Wow, Sabrina. You have some amazing fans. Thank you to everyone who dropped by for out interview with Sabrina. It is always a pleasure to meet the fans as well as the authors.
Thanks for having me, Sandy!
What a great interview, I loved getting to know more about you Sabrina, especially your experience growing up in Thailand.
I love the interview!
Great interview with a favorite writer.
Great interview Ladies! Sabrina, I love your books and have read about 16 of them. I would like to thank you for sharing your imagination with the world.
You’re welcome! And thanks for reading them!
Great interview Sandy and Barb. Sabrina is one of my fave historical romance authors. Humm she loves pizza and chocolate so do I, I think they are a food group all on their own.
Great interview Sandy And Sabrina. Congratulations to Sabrina on a great body of fictional work. I am always impressed by the number of books some authors write.
OH SWOON! Love historical romance especially! What a wonderful interview and it was amazing to hear all about her Tailand experiences. I have a few of her books on my TBR pile .. will be more eager to dive in now!
Rachel 🙂
scrapbooktops (at) rogers (dot) com
That was a very great interview. I love historical romances. Like Sabrina, I also started reading the books of Barbara Cartland and Emilie Loring then moved on to historical romances. Oh, and as a teenager I was so in love with Sweet Dreams books.
I love your books. I started reading Rosemary Rogers books.