Interview with NYT bestselling author Sandra Hill

Today's guest is just starting a week-long virtual book with Goddess Fish Promotions for her newest novel, The Norse King's Daughter. Please welcome New York Times bestselling author Sandra Hill.

Sandra is giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift card at the end of her tour to a lucky commentor. Details are below.

Bio:
Sandra Hill is the NYT bestselling author of more than thirty romantic humor novels. Whether they be contemporary, historical, or time-travel, whether they be Vikings, Cajuns, Navy SEALs, or Saxon knights, the underlying theme in all her books is humor and sizzle.

Welcome, Sandra, please tell us about your current release, The Norse King's Daughter.
Princess Drifa is the last of the five Viking princesses, each of which has an unusual talent for her time, whether it be building, cooking, or fighting. With Drifa, it is flowers, all kinds of flowers. She long ago gave up on marriage, especially after her short-lived betrothal to that loathsome lout Sidroc of Vikstead that ended with her hitting him over the head with a pottery jug. But wait, she’s in Byzantium to study the imperial gardens and she’s trouble, having been kidnapped by an overzealous Arab prince, and the only one who can help her is…guess who?

Sidroc has earned his fortune in the Byzantine Emperor’s Varangian Guard, happy to have escaped the lackwit woman who hit him over the head with a pottery jug and left him for dead. Why should he help her now? She has nothing to offer him that would warrant his putting his life on the line for her. Except…

What inspired you to write this book?
There was, of course, a need to complete this loosely linked series (books can stand alone and be read out of order). But I was also intrigued by the possibilities of a Viking woman in ancient Byzantium…talk about colorful backdrops! But more than that, I like to write books about second chances. And secret babies. And sex. And all of these mixed together with my trademark humor.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have a new series starting next May…the Deadly Angels series, beginning with KISS OF PRIDE, followed by KISS OF AWAKENING in October, 2012; and KISS OF SURRENDER in March, 2013. These are the most outrageous characters I’ve ever come up with…Viking vampire angels, who reside in Transylvania, but not Transylvania, Romania. Nope, these “vangels” call Transylvania, Pennsylvania their home.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I have always been a writer. From a young age, I was a person who liked writing essays and term papers in school. I served on high school newspapers and went on to study journalism in college, after which I worked for various newspapers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But I was also an avid reader from a young age, especially of romantic fiction. Eventually, my love of writing led to writing in the genre in which I love to read. Furthermore, since I can trace my paternal family tree all the way back to the tenth century and the Viking Rollo, first Duke of Normandy (called Norsemandy in those days), it made sense that my first book involved Vikings.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Yes, I write full-time. My most creative time is in the mornings, and I’m an early riser. Afternoons, and sometimes evening, I spend on writing-related work. Promotion, research, email, that kind of thing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I am known for writing humor. Often, I will go back over a first draft with the specific intent of beefing up the humor. And I am always open to new ideas for humor. You wouldn’t believe some of the places I find it. For example, in my Viking Navy SEAL books, that invention of Geek’s that led to www.penileglove.com, well, that came from an idea my hair stylist had one day when showing me her warm wax hand massage machine. And the Viking women making homemade condoms in my first novel? Well, have you ever heard of the condom museum in Canada? I kid you not!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I can’t really say, except I knew that I wanted to be an independent career woman. Even when I married and had children, I expected that I would continue working, by choice.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I love to hear from readers. Please visit my website at www.sandrahill.net. As always, I wish everyone smiles in their reading.

Thanks for being here today, Sandra. Happy touring!

Readers, Sandra is giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift card at the end of her tour to a lucky commentor. So leave a comment here and at her other tour stops this week. The more you comment, the better your chance of winning.