Saturday, February 9, 2013

Sandy's inspired by the Greek gods

Hi Sandy, welcome to the adventure. Please tell us a little about yourself
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
At the fearless age of seven, I wrote stories. I read them to my classmates. From there I branched out to poetry and my own greeting cards.  As a teen I watched the soap, Dark Shadows. When the series ended, I continued to write the character’s stories.  I laugh now, but I think that’s what hooked me on the paranormal genre.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I’ve always read. Books in general motivated me, but what put my pen to paper was sheer boredom.  My creative muse shrieked to express herself. There was no choice but to write.
What books have influenced your life?
I’m addicted to Pride and Prejudice. I love Stephen King, J. R. Tolkien, but Diana Gabaldon is my all time favorite author. She’s a master of description. I read and re-read her Outlander series.
In which genre do you prefer to write?
Paranormal and fantasy romance.  I hope to one day write a historical romance, but the Greek gods and Vampires aren’t done with me yet.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I never thought about writing as a career when I was younger. I wanted to by a doctor or a therapist or an actor. I wrote over the years, but didn’t make it my career until I was older. 
Can you give us details about your upcoming release?
Thank you for asking. APOLLO’S GIFT is the first in my Greek gods series. It came about in an odd way, total inspiration on the fly. I was pitching another book at a conference and they asked if I had anything else. I pulled APOLLO’S GIFT out of the ether on the spot. Fantastic news, they loved the idea. Now I had to write it.
 APOLLO’S GIFT
 BLURB:
The golden god, Apollo, will pay any price to win the heart of Cassandra, reincarnated, prophetess of ancient Troy. Even his soul.
Cassie Priam is licking her wounds, following her latest romantic disaster. To hell with love, it’s fiction, and she’s done believing in myths.
A snare has been set, and Apollo stepped into it when he wagered with Hades. Gaining Cassie’s love is a herculean task. She refuses to believe he exists, despite her attraction to his chiseled perfection. He’s a dream. The kind that keeps her up at night and invades her thoughts during the day. Why can’t a man like that be real?
But Cassie’s dreams veer into reality as visions of destruction threaten and Apollo appears in the flesh.  Can Apollo and Cassie learn to love, and believe in each other before Hydra levels Athens, and they lose both their lives, and their souls to Hades?
APOLLO’S GIFT is the first novel in the Greek Gods Series. The romantic fantasy centers on Olympian deity and their efforts to gain love while they save mortals from the threat of evil in the form of Hydra.
“Bringing back the Greek hottie like no other, every woman needs a myth like this.”
Krissee Mark, author of The Dark Muse Series.
TAG LINE:  Sometimes love is a gift from the gods.
EXCERPT FROM APOLLO’S GIFT
            Her mind wandered as the slight, graying figure droned. If Cassie couldn’t date Medina, at least she could admire him from a distance at Starbucks. Maybe he’d get to know her over coffee and ask her out. Cassie sat up straight and grinned at the thought. He was a student, that should be respectable enough for her parents. Of course, the idea was silly, but there was nothing wrong with using her imagination as long as her feet remained on the ground.
            “I forbid it.”
            “What?” She scanned down her row. All eyes were focused on Simmons. Was she hearing things? It had to be imagination combined with lack of sleep. Cassie focused on the professor and the way her ancient fingers wrapped around the top of the lectern. Nothing like John Medina’s hands. She’d noticed how he held his cup with nice capable hands, and she’d liked the look of them.
.           “I have decreed, and it is so.”
             The slight accent, his rich tone of voice that held a knife’s edge, and underneath an imperious command. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. That had signaled warning since childhood, or at least, inconvenience. The last time she’d felt that tingle, she’d hiked up Mount Parnassus.
            Cassie froze in her seat. Once might be imagination, but hearing voices twice could be signs of mental instability. She glanced over her shoulder. “Did you say something?” she asked the two girls seated behind her. One continued to type on her laptop while the other stared down her nose and shook her head. Still Cassie’s neck prickled. What was it? The rumble reminded her of those wicked dreams of Apollo. A rush of heat flooded her face.
            “Cassandra,” the voice whispered into her right ear.
            “Oh no,” she murmured. The seat beside her was empty, or should be. She stared forward, afraid of what she’d see if she turned her head.
            “Look on me.”
            Heart pinging, she gathered courage and turned to face the voice and her fear. Apollo, shimmering with light from his position beside her, golden mane flowing over his brawny, nude shoulders as if blown by a breeze, his eyes blue as the Adriatic, and that smile. No man should wield such a weapon. It turned her legs to mush.
            She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. He had to be a dream or a figment of her imagination. She refused to acknowledge the Greek god. Had she fallen asleep in class? Cassie trained her attention on Simmons. I am not crazy. It’s sleep deprivation, that’s all.
            “Beloved.” Apollo, clad in a loincloth, his rippling muscles open to inspection, leaned closer.
            This delusion was insistent, but Cassie could be just as stubborn She stared forward. Ignore it and it will go away. It worked with stray dogs. She must have fallen asleep. That had to be the explanation. Wake up, Cassie.
            Apollo caressed her jaw with the tips of his fingers. “Must I convince you of my existence each time?”
            Her heart thumped and her mouth went dry. It’s not real. It’s not real. He pressed a kiss to that sensitive spot below her ear. She shivered. “Oh God,” she murmured. Heat trickled from her neck down to her belly.
            ABOUT SANDY L. ROWLAND
Born and raised in Southern California, Sandy has always loved animals, nature, theatre, and learning. She attended Fullerton College and then married. After multiple moves around the western states while raising three children, they settled in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She’s worked in retail, banking, and graduated from Myotherapy College in massage therapy where she taught, before opening her own practice combined with life coaching.  Sandy’s love of reading and expressing herself through words whispered, actually screamed, until she returned to writing.
Living between the twisted red rock of Southern Utah and the granite mountains of the Wasatch, Sandy explores life with her loving husband and family.  She serves her local chapter of Romance Writers of America, and is an award-winning author of paranormal and fantasy romance.
Her coaching blog, A WRITER’S HEART, can be found on her website: www.sandylrowland.weebly.com
She encourages all to believe in themselves and reach for their dreams.
                                 “Love and success follow the brave.”

  •                      Ovid

37 comments:

  1. Fantastic, fun interview and excerpt, Sandy!! I enjoyed them!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Vonda. I'm honored.You know I'm one of your fans and it means so much to have you stop by.

      Delete
  2. Wonderful interview! Enjoyed the excerpt. I hope I have time to read this soon! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. I know what you mean. My reading stack grows deeper by the week.thank you for the wonderful support. I hope all good things for you!

      Delete
  3. And I bow to your creative muse Wendy. You beat me all out on creativity. I'm so glad that you're back to writing. Yeah!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the interview and Sandy!!! You picked the translation of one of my favorite latin Ovid quotes. I can see my TBR pile needs to grow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mary. And thank you for taking the time to check in. I hope life is treating you better. Hugs!

      Delete
  5. Great interview ladies! Congrats, Sandy. Apollo's Gift sounds "heavenly." *grin*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Calisa! Jean made it easy and fun. And it is heavenly. Grin back.

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. You crack me up Lesli!
      Hugs and catch you Wednesday.

      Delete
  7. Great article, Sandy and Jean. Good luck with your fun book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Doree! I'll take that luck.
      And best to you on your new series.

      Delete
  8. Beautiful cover! It sounds like a fun story, and, lucky me, it's in my to-be-read pile! I'm looking forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cindy. I know what you mean, my too-read-pile is deep.
      It is a fun read. I hope you'll enjoy it.

      Delete
  9. What is it that is so irresistible about Greek Gods? My fave was always Ares.
    Good luck with your book. :)
    Stopping by from the MFRWorg hop.
    bidelia78@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by. Greek gods are the ultimate Alpha male. that's what I fall for every time.

      Delete
  10. This one must go into my to be read list. Being Greek I'm kind of partial lol. enjoyed the excerpt looking forward to more of the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Elise. I have Greek friends and have always loved everything about Greece. I think you'll love the book.

      Delete
  11. I adore Diana too. Did you know she never set foot in Scotland before she wrote Outlander? Amazing research skills! Many of her passages have made me weep with their beauty. *sigh* My greatest inspiration. :)
    Warm Regards,
    Christine London

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Christine. Yes, Diana is a wonder and I'd love to be so talented. She does draw a tear or two.
      Best success to you!

      Delete
  12. Just wanted to stop by and say great job everyone. You all have done MFRW so proud!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nice Excerpt. And that book cover! G-R-E-A-T!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can thank Kelli Ann Morgan of Creative Designs for the fab. cover. She is a wonder!
      Thank you for stopping by.

      Delete
  14. Enjoying the blog hop so much fun to see different author sites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great to meet you here, Tina!
      Blog hops are fun. I love hanging out with Jean.

      Delete
  15. I cannot wait to read this I love love love books that feautre gods .Have a wonderful week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Wanda! I'm glad that you stopped by. I think you'll love Apollo's Gift. It's loaded with fun.

      Delete
  16. I love the excerpt, Sandy. It's great to hear more about you though this interview.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carole. I always love to hear from you.
      I love the new health articles you're posting.
      thanks for all you do to support those of us with dietary issues.
      Hugs!

      Delete
  17. As is usually the case with a guest interview, I'm giving away a copy of Apollo's Gift to a lucky commenter. And the winner is:
    Wanda F!
    I'll be contacting you Wanda and see how best to get that book to you.
    Thank you everyone for making this a wonderful experience.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks Jean and Sandy for the enjoyable post. Sandy good luck with the series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Donna. It's been fun. And thank you Jean for the opportunity!

      Delete
  19. I love a sexy God. Love the cover and the excerpt. Thanks for sharing
    Lynda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by. There is no greater Alpha than a god. I'm glad that you enjoyed the post.

      Delete