Dear Readers, I first
became of Sandra when we both wrote for the same publisher. Soon after her
first book came out, I met her face to face at the national American Christian
Fiction Writers conference. We’ve been friends ever since. Redheads seem to
gravitate to each other at those conferences. Sandra has a unique writers voice
that can take serious subjects and find ways to help people deal with them, and
she does all of this through some serious humor. I know that’s an oxymoron, but
it’s true.
I transitioned last year from Laugh-Out-Loud fiction to Live-Out-Loud,
but I think humor will always be part of my storytelling. That said, I’m really
enjoying the opportunity to weave in deeper threads of life to my novels. For
instance, last fall’s Moments
of Truth addressed some pretty serious subjects along with the romantic
challenges of five best friends. I was able to do that in From
Bags to Riches, the wrap-up to the Jessie Stanton novels for Abingdon Press,
as well. In this book, the finale of the series, I was able to go deeper with
Jessie’s story than ever before. There’s a real freedom – for me as a writer,
but also for the readers – in not being limited to the feel-good
happily-ever-after. Not that my books will ever lose that quality … but I feel
like I’m writing a more grown-up, thought-provoking story these days and my
readers seem to be responding to it.
If you didn’t live in
the part of the country where you do, where would you live?
A couple of years ago, I packed up my entire life and moved
north again for the first time since I left in my twenties. I grew up in Cincinnati , but I spent my entire adult life in Los Angeles and Central Florida .
So coming back to Ohio
in time for the worst winter on record was a shock to my thin blood! Now my
blood has had time to thicken up, and I find myself really enjoying the snow
and cold weather. That said, my ideal spot to live would be San Diego … assuming I could afford it, of
course. It’s a pricey area of the country, but so beautiful.
What foreign country
would you like to visit and why?
There’s a slight
possibility I might get to go to Israel soon. Describe what you
think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.
I’d love to sail off to a deserted island somewhere; one of
those spots that have like ten villas on the whole island. Private beaches,
magnificent views, sun and sand, gentle breezes, and lots of peace and quiet. I
was born in Southern California , and my
parents used to always say that I’d never been able to shake my “California-ness.”
I recharge on the water like nowhere else.
Where would you like
to set a story that you haven’t done yet?
I’m new enough to Toledo and
the Northwest Ohio area that I’m still
exploring to find the beautiful places. Once I do that, I think I’d love to set
a book on Mackinac Island or possibly a teeny little lakeside town I’ve
discovered across the border in Michigan
called Luna Pier.
What is the main
theme of this novel?
The bottom line of Jessie’s whole story – but particularly
this third and final book in the series – is that our childhood experiences
shape a large part of who we’re going to become. I mean, you can certainly take
the girl out of Ohio (or in Jessie’s case, Louisiana ), but the Ohio
or Louisiana
in the girl is pretty much there to stay. We often spend so much time running
away from who we used to be that we miss the important fact that it’s the
foundation that helped form who we are. While our past never has to define us,
it’s imperative to learn from it.
Jessie worked so hard to put her Louisiana roots in the rearview mirror. Now,
in her quest to find the success, true love, and faith that has always eluded
her, will God really lead her right back home?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Jessie hummed along with James Taylor as Danny drove along
in silence. She glanced over at him and smiled. She loved the way he always
removed the elastic band from around the gear shift and pulled his shaggy, long
hair back into a ponytail before they set out anywhere in his open Jeep … and
the way he always reached into the box behind the driver’s seat and produced a
cloth band for her hair. Even the music serenading their drive embraced her
with a comfortable, predictable lull. She’d had so much instability in her life
that the calculability of Danny’s behavior had become a welcome warm blanket on
a chilly night.
“Hey,” she said suddenly as a thought struck her, a memory
of her best friend speaking to Danny in a whisper. “What was Piper talking
about?”
Danny’s dimples deepened as he grinned. “What do you mean?”
“Before we left the courthouse. She told you something like,
‘Today. Not tomorrow, but today.’ What did she mean? And where are we going, by
the way?”
“To celebrate,” he stated. “You have just been set free from
a barnacle by the name of Jack Stanton. You’re free. Your store can re-open,
and you can write your name with confidence again. You, my friend, are Jessie
Hart.”
Not that she’d ever actually been Jessie Stanton, but for a
dozen years or so, she’d been duped into believing it while living in a world
of utter make-believe, a world Jack had fabricated for the benefit of just
about everyone he knew – including her, his fairytale wife. Instead, Jack had
been a handsome cancer making his silent and diabolical way into every
available cell of her life, conning her into believing their world – his
business, the home they made, and the dreams they’d been dreaming – had been
built on a solid foundation of rock. But when the sand was discovered, that
life crumbled so quickly she’d barely had time to escape with anything more
than the clothes in her closet and the rock on her hand … both of which became
the stuff new foundations were made of. In her case, Jessie’s non-sand bedrock
came from the sale of nearly four carats of perfect Neil Lane clarity dropped into a platinum
setting, and the proceeds had funded a marginally acceptable apartment.
Combined with the designer labels left behind in her closet, the infrastructure
of her brand new life had been built: Adornments. Designer labels for rent to
wannabes with champagne dreams living on ginger ale budgets.
“Hey, wait a minute,” she blurted as she noticed the
familiar surroundings. “Where are we, exactly?”
“Somewhere we can celebrate.”
I’m eager to read the
book. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website: www.SandraDBricker.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker
Twitter: @SandieBricker
Thank you, Sandra, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
From Bags to Riches - Christianbook.com
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - Amazon
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - Kindle
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16 comments:
would love to win. angela in ky
I like the sound of this story. I'd like to read more.
Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am intrigued!
Melanie Backus, TX
I'd love to visit Israel too. A great first page.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Would love to win a copy.
I live in INdiana.
Blessings,
Cindy W.
Thanks for this interview with Sandra.
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Sandra, I'm already dreaming of that remote island you're talking about! Thank you for the interview with Lena! Thrilled to be enter to win your book!
Annie from MD
winning this book would be so awesome. Thanks for entering me.
Stella in Indiana
This book sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win.
Brenda in VA
So glad to see more books by Sandra. Would love to win!
This sounds like a great read! Thanks for a chance! Have a Blessed day!
Enter me!!
Conway, SC.
Sounds like a good read. north platte nebraska
oh, I love Sandra's books thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I want to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Michelle
Southern CA
Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
Melissa in NC
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